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Does your family stay on-site or off-site when you travel to Walt Disney World?

We have been to Disney 4 times in the last 8 years. 1 time we stayed at universal and spent majority of our time there. One time we stayed offsite and the other times we stayed on site.

We will probably always stay on site. We enjoy the convenience, flexibility and using the dining plan. It works for us.
 
My family likes to mix both on site and off site. We normally plan a 2 week trip. The first week is off site at a rented villa; we enjoy the private pool and taking a few days in between Universal/Sea World to relax. The second week we move to the Disney bubble on site and really enjoy that, especially with all the Disney perks.
 
Before we moved to FL last year we always stayed on site. Of course we are DVC members so its kind of a no-brainer.
 


When we first started going to WDW in 1988 we stayed offsite, then in the early 90's (around 1993) Beach Club started having great AP member discounts, we once got a Beach Club room for $93.00. Well, that first stay got us hooked on staying onsite. We have stayed on site ever since, then in 2003 we purchased DVC and so, of course, we stay on site. We do occasionally, when having a late flight in, stay offsite our first night.
 
As my sig indicates, most of our trips have been offsite. We prefer it for all of the usual reasons (space, amenities, cost, convenience, etc.). We're not opposed to staying onsite. Offsite is just so much nicer.
 


Been many times since '93, and only stayed offsite once, at the Doubletree. That was for a wedding, and friend did the "price searching" and said it was the best option at the time. Also had a rental car, so that was nice, since I don't drive, and that's why I mainly prefer to stay on site, with all the wonderful transportation options, besides the awesome surroundings, and "being in the bubble" the whole time, and the perks. Was a dream of mine to try/stay every place on property, until the economy tanked, and they started building 'em too fast, and it got too expensive (especially since I started at the values and moderates, so have mostly deluxes left to try). Made pretty good inroads though, and it sure was fun! :) I was also VERY blessed to have DVC friends "put me up" over the years, and also won a DVC contest and got 225 points a year to splurge on for 3 years too - that was AWESOME!!! :) :)
 
We've never stayed on site but I think we will when our grandchildren are old enough to go and let them have the whole experience.
 
I've done both, but I do prefer on site. It's so much easier to just fly in, take Magical Express and stay in the Disney bubble.
 
Minus a few short onsite stays, we mainly stayed offsite for the bulk of our trips from 1985 - 1998. In 1998, we were up stranded at Epcot because our offsite resort's complimentary transportation failed to make several of its runs. After seeing the sea of Disney operated buses come through as we waited, we pretty much vowed that all future WDW trips would be onsite.
 
TiggerTrigger said:
Minus a few short onsite stays, we mainly stayed offsite for the bulk of our trips from 1985 - 1998. In 1998, we were up stranded at Epcot because our offsite resort's complimentary transportation failed to make several of its runs. After seeing the sea of Disney operated buses come through as we waited, we pretty much vowed that all future WDW trips would be onsite.
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Tigger - Yes, as I mentioned also, transportation has always been a HUGE plus for me! I remember one time in particular staying offsite, and my friend who was driving the rental car was at another park. I not only had to leave the park much earlier than I would have wanted to to catch the last bus back to the hotel, but the "bus top" was just a numbered parking space out in the middle of the Studios parking lot - far out, and hard to find (at least for me), plus (of course) no place to sit (unless you wanted to sit in a parking space), and although not during the summer (thank goodness), no shade or cover. Nothing against that hotel, and things may have changed since then (this was quite awhile ago, '01 I think), but just was NOT was I was used to as far as transportation options.
 
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I've never stayed offsite. Don't think I'd like it, either. I *have* downgraded from staying at a Deluxe to staying at the All-Stars for budget reasons, and that's as close as I'll ever get.
 
I have a few favorite Disney resorts that I wouldn't mind going back to but otherwise it's offsite all the way.
 
Stayed off site, and at Bonnet Creek couple times. We just cannot stay off site anymore. We love the resort and ease of being on property. We always rent a car so we can travel at ease. I don't like buses. Sorry Disney, don't want to be on a packed bus after a long day at MK.
 
I think, with multiple young kids, off site is a must. Unless you have a ton of disposable income, you can't afford to not stay off site. There's so many properties that you can get for a steal vs. on site prices.
 
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In the 90s and early 2000s, we stayed offsite due to cost. Then they happened to offer free dining during the week we were going, and it allowed us to stay onsite. Every trip since then, we couldn't imagine staying offsite. When you factor in the parking, time to commute, extra magic hours, and the Disney theme they know if they can get you to try it once they've got you! It certainly worked for us!
 
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