1st Family trip

[minerva78]

I've been trying to plan our first family Disney trip for a while. Had to cancel a trip we were planning for May and now my goal is December 12 - 19, which I think will work out better. As always, I keep debating the onsite vs. offsite thing, but onsite during my dates have the advantage of potentially being a free dining time. The thing is, I've planned out a potential schedule, planned out potential meals, and the cost of staying in a standard room at a moderate resort with free dining vs. staying offsite at WBC and paying for food and parking is almost exactly the same price. I'd only do 5 TS meals if offsite vs. 7 onsite, but neither of the two extra TS meals are ones I am really wanting to do, just 2 extra to fill in. But it's still two extra meals, plus snacks, which I didn't really estimate, so onsite technically would be more economical, plus the perks. Given this, you would think staying onsite would be a no-brainer if I either get a PIN or it's offered during my dates.

But why is it that I still want to stay off site!? Would I be insane for actually choosing to stay at Bonnet Creek if free dining is offered?

I realistically know that tons of people stay offsite and go to Disney, more people stay offsite than onsite. But reading on these boards and reading planning guides makes it sounds like you're just not experiencing Disney if you don't stay onsite for your first trip. I went to Disney twice as a child and stayed in offsite hotels and I still remember it being magical, but whatever. The problem is that my husband really doesn't want to go to Disney, he'd much rather cruise, we both love cruising. We've done 4 cruises just us, and our first cruise with our girls last year, and they loved it. We have another family cruise booked for December 2016, but I want to do Disney before then.

So I'm trying to figure out a way to make this a vacation everyone will be able to find something to enjoy. For me, I am a person who goes to bed late and gets up early, even on vacation, which I think is why a two bedroom offsite appeals to me so much. On our family cruise, we had a balcony, so I always had somewhere I could go when I got up early, and I often just hung out around on the ship after the rest of the family went to bed, that's easy to do on a cruise ship. I don't see myself heading over to MK though while everyone else is asleep in the hotel.

I don't know, I guess I'm just wondering if I'm putting too much stock in this separate bedroom thing. Everyone talks about being in all of the "magic" 24/7, but doesn't that get overstimulating? I'm not planning on being in the parks from open to close - some late mornings, some leaving in early afternoons, one full day at the resort. Cruising is relaxing, I realize Disney is not, so I want to build in as much down time as I can. We're driving down, so we'll already have a car, and Bonnet Creek seems close to everything.

Would it be crazy to stay offsite for a first family trip, even if free dining is an option? Am I underestimating the onsite experience?

 

[CanadianChickie]

It's completely up to you. We personally have never stayed onsite. My husband is very done with the "magic" by the afternoon parade and he NEEDS to get away! So an offsite condo works best for us. (never stayed at Bonnet Creek but hear it's great). Depending on the age of your kids you may be over estimating your price of eating off site. Depends on how you do it. We eat breakfast in our condo (so very cheap) so don't waste time in a restaurant. Get there early. We have both packed a lunch (good when the kids were younger and needed to eat immediately) but then you have to carry it (we used the stroller the first time). Second time just grabbed quick service lunches. When they were really young we would just split meals between them. Also I find US restaurant meals incredibly large. We would take our leftover home and every few nights just eat leftovers and hang out by the pool. We always pack our own snacks (granola bars, fruit, bottled water which can refill at fountains etc.)

But being in Dec if it's super busy maybe you would be better to stay onsite. Then again if it's super busy maybe you will need to get away from the busyness?