About to do airbnb in conjunction with Disney... First off site stay.

[LinaNate]

We've been to WDW several times and have always stayed onsite...Normally with a dining plan. When we went in January, during COVID, with no FP+, no dining, reduced park hours, no extra magic hours, we didn't use park transportation and it was still a pretty good trip. We've started to see how we could easily enjoy the same kind of trip, minus the staying on property. [Hold the wet noodles] Honestly, the rooms we keep getting at CBR aren't all that impressive for the huge price tag... and when I did a trip quote for a family of 5 I've seen the crazy limited availability for our party size... and the costs have gone up about $1000

So we booked an airbnb this time and will drive to parks each day. Help me remember all the ways it will differ.
- we pay park parking each day
- no parking charge at hotel
- no ability for room charges
- no access to EMH
- no FP+ if it comes back
- no early window for table service booking
- different park pass availability for off site guests

What am I missing? What else would need to be considered?

 

[Carol_]

I think you got it figured out. Breakfast at Perkins near DS. They had awesome Disney-trained servers and a balloon-shaping entertainer there earlier this year. So much cheaper than on property dining.

 

[Darcy03231]

We're a large family and have been staying off-site for years. Honestly, I prefer it.

I think you've pretty much covered everything on your list.

 

[LinaNate]

Thanks! I have this nagging feeling I'm missing something BIG...

We're a large family and have been staying off-site for years. Honestly, I prefer it.

I think you've pretty much covered everything on your list.

 

[LAH LAH]

Literally just booked our Airbnb for our July vacation after religiously staying on-site for the past 6 trips. Saved nearly $1,000 and I am looking forward to seeing how much (or if) we miss being on-site. 4 guests in our room this trip (me, my 21 year old daughter, and two of my sons *10 & 11*) and we needed more than just 2 queen beds. Now we will have the extra room of a condo, a bed for each of us, and will save some money. Good luck and happy Disney-ing!!

 

[LinaNate]

With potentially continued reduced park hours, I'm excited to be in a larger/ more roomy location with the option to cook our own foods when we aren't able to be in the parks! Now we just need to secure a rental car to drive from Illinois.

I hope your July trip is amazing! It seems like more dining is coming back. Maybe shows too?! Fingers crossed. We really miss Fantasmic.

Literally just booked our Airbnb for our July vacation after religiously staying on-site for the past 6 trips. Saved nearly $1,000 and I am looking forward to seeing how much (or if) we miss being on-site. 4 guests in our room this trip (me, my 21 year old daughter, and two of my sons *10 & 11*) and we needed more than just 2 queen beds. Now we will have the extra room of a condo, a bed for each of us, and will save some money. Good luck and happy Disney-ing!!

 

[georgina]

We've been to WDW several times and have always stayed onsite...Normally with a dining plan. When we went in January, during COVID, with no FP+, no dining, reduced park hours, no extra magic hours, we didn't use park transportation and it was still a pretty good trip. We've started to see how we could easily enjoy the same kind of trip, minus the staying on property. [Hold the wet noodles] Honestly, the rooms we keep getting at CBR aren't all that impressive for the huge price tag... and when I did a trip quote for a family of 5 I've seen the crazy limited availability for our party size... and the costs have gone up about $1000

So we booked an airbnb this time and will drive to parks each day. Help me remember all the ways it will differ.
- we pay park parking each day
- no parking charge at hotel
- no ability for room charges
- no access to EMH
- no FP+ if it comes back
- no early window for table service booking
- different park pass availability for off site guests

What am I missing? What else would need to be considered?

I wouldn't say NO FP. We were always able to book FP when staying offsite, just not as early as on-site guests.

 

[LinaNate]

I wouldn't say NO FP. We were always able to book FP when staying offsite, just not as early as on-site guests.

I really hope FP+ returns along with the fireworks!

 

[davper]

You might want to consider an annual pass for one of your party. It comes with free parking at parks, 20% of merchandise, 10% of dining, and photopass is included. The additional cost of the pass could more than pay for itself depending on how long you are going for.

 

[LinaNate]

Are they back to selling annual passes again?

You might want to consider an annual pass for one of your party. It comes with free parking at parks, 20% of merchandise, 10% of dining, and photopass is included. The additional cost of the pass could more than pay for itself depending on how long you are going for.

 

[davper]

Sorry, forgot that part.
I was lucky in buying mine the week before they stopped selling them and just activated the vouchers 2 weeks ago. So I don't think of them as missing.

 

[georgina]

I really hope FP+ returns along with the fireworks!

Yeah, I didn't see if you said when you were going. We'll be there the last week in Sept and I am not too optimistic.

 

[LinaNate]

Do you mind sharing the cost of the pass? I can't find a cost since they aren't selling them now but I want to crunch numbers.

I'm figuring these number for our trip:

• Parking Parking = $150
• Memory Maker = $169
• Park Tickets for 1 person = $560ish
• AP potential food savings = $100 - Food budget = $1000 (assuming we eat all meals in parks- which isn't likely)
• AP potential merch savings = $40 - Rough Merch budget = $200

I'm sitting at about $1019 to compare to the cost of a single AP. I can't remember how much they were running when I checked a few years ago.

You might want to consider an annual pass for one of your party. It comes with free parking at parks, 20% of merchandise, 10% of dining, and photopass is included. The additional cost of the pass could more than pay for itself depending on how long you are going for.

 

[LinaNate]

We are aiming for around thanksgiving for our trip.

Yeah, I didn't see if you said when you were going. We'll be there the last week in Sept and I am not too optimistic.

 

[hpsalb]

We stay both on and offsite - more offsite than on in recent years - and your list seems about right, other than FP+. When it was available in the past, offsite could book, but not as soon as resort guests.

I’ve found that we typically spend less on food staying offsite. Mostly because it’s usually closer/easier to a grocery option and we have more space and equipment to cook. It offsets (or surpasses) the difference in parking fees.

 

[maxiesmom]

No splitting up unless part of your group is ok using Uber/Lyft to get around. Keep in mind too that as of now the parking lot shuttles are not running. So you may have a bit of a walk getting into the park.

 

[frannn]

The only other thing I would be missing if it came back & we were offsite is the Dining Plan.

 

[shawthorne44]

I think they've announced the return of the parking lot tram.

I think you'll enjoy your offsite stay, and you'll find that you save more than you expect.

Think of the times that you've walked out of the parks 20 minutes from hangry and 30 minutes from passing out from exhaustion. Your favorite drive thru is awesome in that situation.