Offsite vs Onsite?

[Kallie724]

I'm trying to figure out what to do...I can stay offsite and only have to pay the transfer fee to my name. I'm not sure what the place is called...my friend is checking it out for me but told me it's only about a mile from Disney. I figured the costs of the transfer fee, park tickets, parking and meals at the park would come to about $1500.

I priced staying at a value onsite and with the hotel, tickets, and I did free dining (with the upgrade to reg. dining) would cost $2600.

That's a crazy difference. We've only stayed onsite so I'm used to the easy access to the buses and do the rope drop.

Anyway I'm just trying to figure out how everyone does the off site and if you have gone from onsite to offsite what did you like and what did you miss.

It will be me, my husband and DD5. Thanks for the help!

 

[bcinohio]

We did a number of trips onsite at the value resorts and like it. We are a family of 5 (with grandma) and needed 2 rooms. We did our first trip offsite in 2010 and loved it. We rented a house at Sunset Lakes. It was just a few miles away from the parks. Animal Kingdom was about 5 min away. We had 4 bedrooms/3 baths, pool, and gameroom. Also had a full kitchen for simple meals and snacks.I don't cook on vacation but simple breakfast and lunch is ok. I liked having my own car. We always went for rope drop so got to the parks early and parked close to the front. It was easy getting in and out in the afternoon and also at closing time. We got to the car faster than waiting for a bus. It cost us half of what it would have to rent 2 rooms at a value resort. It really saved a lot.

We liked it so much that we just returned from a WDW trip and stayed at the same house again. It was a great trip.

I do not miss staying onsite. It was much quieter in the house and we all slept better. We enjoyed having much more room. Anytime at Disney is great fun for us.We do not need to stay onsite to make it a great trip. We don't feel like we missed anything staying offsite.

Good luck on your choice and have a great trip!!

 

[bankr63]

I'm trying to figure out what to do...I can stay offsite and only have to pay the transfer fee to my name. I'm not sure what the place is called...my friend is checking it out for me but told me it's only about a mile from Disney. I figured the costs of the transfer fee, park tickets, parking and meals at the park would come to about $1500.

I priced staying at a value onsite and with the hotel, tickets, and I did free dining (with the upgrade to reg. dining) would cost $2600.

That's a crazy difference. We've only stayed onsite so I'm used to the easy access to the buses and do the rope drop.

Anyway I'm just trying to figure out how everyone does the off site and if you have gone from onsite to offsite what did you like and what did you miss.

It will be me, my husband and DD5. Thanks for the help!

There's really nothing to "doing" offsite. It's pretty much the same as onsite except that you drive to the parks, and pay for parking. You lose some magic, you gain some conveniences.

I'd love to hear what resort this is, but in general comparing a timeshare villa(assumption as you state a transfer fee) to a value hotel room is not apples to apples. A 200SF value room will not come close to comparing to a 600-800SF (likely) luxury Timeshare villa.

It's that value the keeps us offsite. Sure we lose a little Disney magic at the resort (that's what everyone complains about), but we save enough $$$ to go back to WDW a LOT more often, and we're a LOT more comfortable when we are there. I'm pretty sure I'm coming out ahead in the total Disney magic consumed category in the long run.

 

[jlevis]

You need to figure the cost of a car if you need to rent one. We stay offsite in our timeshare. We've only stayed onsite once, years ago, and it was fine. The bus system got us to and from the parks easily. However, going anywhere else was not so easy. We're AP holders so parking is not an issue and we drive to Orlando so we have a car. Our villa is a deluxe, 2 bedroom with full kitchen and laundry facilities in the villa. It is much nicer that a value and we enjoy the room and the amenities. I think once you try it you'll be hooked.

 

[Momma2PrinceNPrinces]

^^Ditto! We went last yr in May. We would never be able to afford to go back if we stayed onsite. If we ever did onsite, it would be like a once in a lifetime trip.

 

[spiceycat]

if you go offsite - either update your gps - or get a good and recent map of WDW and the area.

it is fairly easy to get lost at WDW - some of their signs (too me) are misleading.

if you need to save money - definitely go with offsite.

did you find the name of the timeshare?

 

[Anc96]

As you can see from my signature, we started onsite. Pop was the first, and only value we ever stayed at. I quickly knew that a value resort wasn't for me. So it was either mods, or deluxe. To save money to stay longer, we started splitting our stay, on and offsite. But as prices continued to rise, including rental cars, I decided that offsite was better for us. We have usually been staying at very tastefully disney themed Windsor Hills townhomes, or condos. Very easy to get to Disney, SOOO much room! I think the townhomes there are 1400 sqft. And when we get a townhome, we have our own splashpool too. Great for cooling off after a long day.With the disney theming, imho better than some of the disney mod resorts, we don't feel like we lose any magic at all.
We have ap's so parking fees is not a problem. I've never really had any problem nagivating disney property, I feel they do a good job with their road signs.

We like a longer vacation, so for us, off property is the way to afford it, in much more comfort than we ever had, even more than our only time concierge at the Beach Club.

What do we miss about onsite.. really nothing. It was convenient to have our packages sent back to the resort. Something we can definately do without

What do we like better? We save lots of money (that's my favorite like), we have loads of room! My daughter's fav like is the splashpool any time she wants. I am not a personal fan of disney transportation.. I decided to drive even when on property though. For someone with a young child like you, your child can nap quietly and peacefully in his own room, and you and your wife can watch TV, or whatever.. without disturbing him. You have a full kitchen to keep stuff, or even cook if you do that on vacation. And a washer and dryer right there! Very important to me since you have to pack less, and I hate going home with dirty clothes. The resort facilities arent nearly as convenient.

Maybe to some, you lose some of the magic. Not to us... we spend loads of time at the parks, so we take some magic with us, and make our own too

 

[Kallie724]

Thanks everyone! No I haven't gotten the name of the timeshare yet but as soon as I do I'll be asking questions about it We will be driving so renting a car won't be a factor. Unfortuntaly we were wanting to go the first weekend in March but I just found out the YES program isn't offered at that time...so if we bought tickets from Undercover Tourist our total cost would increase by $400! I'm debating to maybe wait and see what dates in Feb. the YES program is offered. Our March dates can be pushed back to late April or early May if need be to help save more money if we can't get the YES program.

My husband still isn't completely onboard with Disney yet so I'm trying to do this the penny pinching way to make it more enticing :

 

[Beth D]

The other thing about on vs. off-site to consider- You don't have to immerse yourself 24/7 in Disney culture. I like Disney, I really do, but I didn't drink the kool-aid. You can control how much mouse you want to experience, and there is a lot to do around there besides Disney.

The first week of March is Bike Week in Daytona. Some additional traffic in Orlando, but not as busy as later in the month or April when you get into spring breaks! Try for late Feb. if you can. The crowds are much smaller!

 

[sympatico]

The other thing about on vs. off-site to consider- You don't have to immerse yourself 24/7 in Disney culture. I like Disney, I really do, but I didn't drink the kool-aid. You can control how much mouse you want to experience, and there is a lot to do around there besides Disney.

I agree, after a day at the parks I like a little peace and quiet without people all around me. We usually rent a pool home and the privacy, space and private pool is the "magic" for me.