Advice from those who've done Offsite and Onsite with kids?

[stairstepmom]

We're planning a trip for next October, will be us plus our 6 little ones. MIL (and possibly FIL - they are separated) will also be tagging along, but I think we all prefer for them to have their own space to retreat to after a day of chaos (er... I mean FUN!) with the kids

So, we'd been planning on booking 2 rooms for us at CBR for 6 nights. We will likely do MNSSHP, will probably not use extra magic morning hours (hard enough getting all the kids ready and out!) but would consider using evening ones but it's not a dealbreaker for us. We were really interested in doing the Plus Dining Plan, too. We were planning on having quick breakfasts (muffins, etc) in our room before heading to the parks.

However, just came across the Sheraton Vistana Villages and they look SO nice and ROOMY and the cost of a 2 bedroom villa per night is the same as 1 room at CBR - and we'd need 2!

We plan on driving down there so we will have our own car anyways, and we were not looking forward to doing bus transportation with 6 little ones and a double stroller in tow, but we also liked the option of one of us grown ups going back with one or two of the littlest to regroup at the resort if needed.

So... we've decided we should either do 6 nights at CBR as planned with 2 rooms (which works out to $6200 total for pkg/food/gas/extras/etc) OR switch to Sheraton Vistana for 8 nights in a 2 bdrm villa (which works out to $4700 for room/tix/food/gas/parking/extras/etc). Having the extra 2 nights would allow us to have a slower pace and give us the option of breaking up at least a couple of our days if needed.

I really wanted the kiddos to get the whole "Disney experience" with an onsite resort, but it seems insane to spend an extra $1400 to stay 2 nights less in more cramped quarters.

Anyone who has experienced WDW both off and onsite have any advice to share? Thanks!

 

[MomofKatie]

We have one DD, and for us, offsite makes more sense. We avoid EMHs even when onsite because of the higher crowds, so that isn't a perk. The only "Disney experience" we miss when offsite is waiting in line and then being crowded on the buses. We'd much rather take a short stroll (or tram trip) to our own car than deal with Disney transportation. It takes us a shorter time to get to most of the closer offsite resorts in our car than riding the bus to the Disney resorts.

There is a daily parking fee, but the offsite hotel $$ savings more than makes up for that. The Dining Plan is nice, but we spend less by budgeting out meals and eating offsite occasionally.

Between 6 days onsite, crammed into 2 regular hotel rooms, or 8 days in a 2 bedroom villa- it would be a no-brainer for me. Longer time at WDW, less $$, and more room would win out!!

Hope this helps you make your decision!

 

[KNJWDW]

We have done both and also have stayed at all levels of the resorts through the years, from Pop Century to the Yacht Club. If we are lucky enough to go again this June, we will be staying offsite. There are so many beautiful rentals to choose from. We will rent a house this time with its own pool. The pool was a big issue last year. We loved staying at the Yacht Club, but the pool was too crowded, it was very difficult getting even one chair, unless you were there right at opening. We can probably rent a nice home/pool for half of what we spent onsite last year and we had a PIN code! The kids will be happy either way.

Amy

 

[kathy884]

I'm an offsite fan myself. The little ones will enjoy Disney, SeaWorld if you're doing that, etc. but I found when mine were little is that their favorite thing of all is playing in the swimming pool at the resort. I'm personally a big fan of a condo for a longer stay, and a kitchen is so nice (so nice not to have to go out to eat for every meal).

 

[Darcy03231]

I've done both and when traveling with large group I much prefer off-site. We're a family of 6 and my mom usually travels with us. We rent a 5 bedroom/3 bath private pool home. There's plenty of room for all of us! The only way we stay on-site now is if me and my mom take a quick trip - just the two of us. I also like having the space so the kiddos can go to bed at night and the adults can stay up.

Meals are also easier with a house/condo. You can start the coffee while you shower and get breakfast ready easily (and cheaper than staying on-site). We also do a lot of late lunches/early dinners in the house. We keep it pretty simple and I find its faster. While the kids are in the pool we get dinner ready.

 

[Hemlock]

I have never stayed offsite myself, but am seriously considering it for our upcoming trip. I did want to mention that since you posted this on the "Orlando Hotels and Attractions" thread, you will most likely meet people who love offsite.

If you posted this same question on the "Disney Resorts" thread, you will get tons of people who will tell you that nothing beats onsite. You may want to try posting your question on the Disney Resort thread just for fun and you will see what I mean. No matter what you decide, you will have a great trip. Happy planning!

 

[iluvtig2]

we stayed at Vistana Villages. (We are going there tomorrow, as a matter of fact!) The rooms are very nice. Check in/out can be a bit trying, as there are so many units. But, we loved it! Remember to take a break, and you'll be grateful that you can get away from the chaos, I mean fun!

Pools are beautiful, love the washer & dryer & full kitchen.

Have a blast!

iluvtig

 

[bonoriffic]

We did the Contemporary with our 1.5 year old. That was great as you could walk to MK and take the monorail back. Our next trip was off site as we now had 2 kids, 1 and 3 years old. There was no way we would have managed on site, even with a deluxe, with each kid having slightly different sleep schedules.

We went to Bonnet Creek. The space was amazing. We saved a small fortune on food, and that included us eating almost every breakfast and dinner at a Disney restaurant. The "Disney experience" for the hotel wasn't lacking. You have a great pool, it is right in the middle of all things Disney. Being able to head back for lunch and naps and everyone having their own space was well worth having to pay $14 to park at Disney each day.

The two greatest things we loved other than space was saving on luggage as we had the washer and dryer and did a load halfway through. Just having the full kitchen was great to have snacks, drinks, etc. whenever we wanted.

If you are worried about time or distance, Bonnet Creek is literally next to CBR. Here is a time lapse I took of going from Hollywood Studios parking lot to the hotel. http://www.vimeo.com/16382062

 

[ohiodad]

We only stay offsite now, usually at Marriott Cypress Harbour. 1200 sq ft 2 bedroom 2 bath room, full kitchen, washer and dryer for less the price of a disney deluxe ( about 240 sq ft). We also rent a car and are happy to pay for parking to avoid disney buses. On average it takes us 8 minutes from resort parking to epcot parking, probably less time then you would spend waiting for a bus. Time you save in the morning with two bathrooms and the money you save on breakfast alone is another huge plus.

 

[bankr63]

Another vote for offsite.

I might suggest you look at your options a bit. The Vistanas are great resorts (we are owners) but there are other similar quality resorts that may meet your requirements even better - shop around a bit.

Several resorts have 3 bedroom units as well. That would allow you to fit your family comfortably into one unit, possibly with no one on a sleeper sofa. Then just add on a studio or one bedroom for MIL/FIL to allow escape space. Based on the prices you mentioned, I think you can stay within that budget.

Wherever you end up, have a great time!

 

[racechick8293]

I love offsite. For the amount of time actually spent in the room vs. the money saved, offsite works much better for me. I also like getting wifi, a fridge, and microwave for free, as is common at the offsite hotels I've stayed at.

 

[Brian Noble]

I've done both onsite (in 2BR villas at OKW and VWL) and off (in 2BRs at Vistana, Bonnet Creek, and larger private homes).

We also have a car either way, and we also skip EMH. There is a small advantage to being in a Disney resort, and I would pay a little extra for it, but not a lot extra. To get 1/3 more time, and pay 1/4 less, seems like an easy call to me. Your kids won't care as much about "the Disney magic" as you'd think. Mostly, my kids just want to have a pool they can swim in.

 

[MinnieForMe]

We could never go back onsite unless we rented DVC as the kids have come to expect their own room and a hot tub in the unit. A washer and dryer is so helpful when you have little ones. You can carry less clothes and do a quick load each night. The one thing we don't miss at all is the bus system at Disney. For us, it was awful. The kids would be exhausted and melting down (of course, they were toddlers at the time) and buses would just go by us as I'm handicap. People would be put out if they had to move for my wheelchair. What a mess! We now stay off-site and with a rental car come and go at our schedule.

We adore the Vistana and will be staying there again this year. However, you should also check Windsor Hills (we're trying this for the 1st half of this year's trip) and Bonnet Creek. You don't need to stay on property for the magic!

 

[Zeebs]

holy moly, how you could even consider a hotel with 6 children makes you a much much better person than me.

I have three, I would NEVER EVER spend a week in a hotel room with them if I had another choice.

We are heading over for our second trip and have hired a 4 bed house with pool for significantly less than a room onsite.

Our first trip we had just the two kids and we took our inlaws, we stayed in a 3 bed condo at Windsor Hills (you can see pics on my trip report)

If you want to add some "magic" many of the places have decorated kids rooms, which my eldest loved.

OK we never had an onsite stay to compare it to but we had a great time, and certainly didn't feel like we missed out on anything.

Have a great trip,

Kirsten

 

[stairstepmom]

Thanks all - I think we're sold on offsite!

Now of course we've been looking at Bonnet Creek and strongly leaning toward that over Vistana Villages. Love how close it is and the options for swimming seem great. And yes, I think a 3 bedroom would be much more comfy for us and then MIL/FIL can share a 1 or 2 bedroom if they like. We did a huge rental house on Captiva Island a few years ago with our family and not having our own completely private places to escape to really made for a more stressed, everyone-is-getting-on-my-nerves trip, so I love the idea of having separate villas!

Now I'm just trying to figure out which building to request (and hope to get!) at BC and if they have 3 bedrooms on ground floor levels? Or if the balcony doors have child-proof locks? Being on a higher floor with so many little ones and access to a balcony is a little too scary for me!

 

[spiceycat]

boy just the opposite - would be afraid the kids would get outside on a lower floor. so always request higher.

now deciding onsite or offsite is tougher for me. Love them both. You can look in renting DVC reservation from a DVC member to save you some money for onsite - for offsite these

www.vrbo.com
www.condodirect.com
www.windsorhillsrent.com

would also suggest Sheraton Vistana Resort - not Villages. the resort is closer several miles to WDW.

this is from the home site of the dis
http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/dreamsres/index.htm

 

[azrealtor]

I am with spiceycat on that one. Would not want the grow level just incase my kids decided it would be fun to explore. Rather be higher then I know if they get on the balony they cant just walk off. OR have someone walk off with them --

Not sure what the cbr is --- I have stayed on site and off. Onsite is really nice if you are on the monorail. I have to fly and do not like renting a car to fight on where we are going. With kids it is REALLY nice to take the monorail over for a couple hours come back for naps and relax then head back over. This helps me and my kids reenergize.

It maybe too early for you for looking for the specials also. I would keep a watch they may come up. They just had a 35% off.

Good luck!