Advice please!

[amacspad]

Hi, I have a couple of friends who want to book their first holiday to WDW next year, they don't drive. We have been going since 1992 and and have stayed on and offsite with a car, since the first time we stayed onsite have never wanted to stay offsite since, especially with the perks, free magical express from airport, theming etc and could never imagine staying offsite without a car, only problem is everybody else they speak to are telling them to stay offsite and no way should they pay Disney prices and how busy and expensive the restaurants will be (we usually try and get the free dining), I don't want them to save all that money for a magical holiday and be disappointed, please can anyone advise the best for them

Debs x

 

[Elise79]

If they are going next year I would advise them to wait to see if they offer free dining again.

If they can't drive on site will be a lot easier for them transport wise. Yes, you can stay offsite without a car but you will be restricted by either the hotel shuttle or using public transport which will eat into their valuable holiday time. The other option will be taxis which will become costly quite quickly.

The possible compromise is a DTD resort hotel. They have better shuttles to the Disney parks and are close to the a Crossroads area for a good choice of restaurants.

 

[amacspad]

Thanks Elsie, I have suggested waiting to see what the offers will be, I can't remember when they came out last year, I know we booked last may for this oct and got $200 gift card and free dining so fingers crossed, and I will pass on your advice, thank you

Debs xx

 

[chmurf]

you'll probably see 2015 deals by the end of april this year. There are a lot of us here praying for free dining

Offsite without a car means you need to rely on shuttles.
Hotel shuttles are hit or miss (especially when they're complimentary)
schedules might get you inside the parks too late for the quiet morning hours, and require you to get out of the parks too early.
It will often require you to take a taxi back to the hotel, because the shuttle will be full, late (or left early)

at the end of the day, Disney restaurants might be pricey and busy. But if you consider the time lost with transportation, and the money spent to go to those restaurants, it will rarely save you money
now, what about evening spectaculars, you're not going to see a 9:30 fireworks show, then spend 1 hours back to the hotel (granted that you get a shuttle) and then go to an offsite restaurant to eat.

offsite and no car might sound less expensive on paper. But when you factor in the time that's lost, the hidden costs, and the exhaustion, you realise that onsite is a good option (without a car that is) and I think you, yourself, realised that. Now it's up to you to pass your experience onto your friends.

 

[amacspad]

Thanks Cmurf, I totally agree with you, just hope I can sway them to stay onsite, I'm sure they will enjoy it more!

Debs xx

 

[zippy99]

We stayed offsite one year with friends - they wanted a villa and we thought we would give it a go.... Not for us

It is your holiday too, so select what you want we regretted staying offsite, we never stayed late in a park, getting back to the villa was like game over for the day and food became a pain do we go out do we eat in - we spent more on food that year than had we paid extra for Disney and got free dining.

Rather like Chmurf we are onsite fans too - I will NEVER forget our friends saying to us "so how does it feel to have the freedom of a villa and not being trapped in the Disney bubble" and all I could think was offsite was our most restrictive and least enjoyable holiday ever!

I know I have said it before - but it is your holiday too - do what you want and your friends can follow suit or stay for cheap off site on their own! Sounds mean but having been there done that I speak from personal experience!

 

[kieras nana]

I don't think they are going together,if I understand correctly the OP,is just trying to give them,the best advice she can,regarding different options.
I couldn't personally stay offsite,without a car.i would hate to have to rely on shuttles & public transport.
For me,it would be a DTD resort hotel,as fully on site,isn't for me either.
Tracy x

 

[amacspad]

Hi Zippy99, thanks for your reply, we are not actually going with our friends, just trying to advise them what to do as it is their first trip and everybody is telling them to stay offsite but I think it will be a nightmare with them not having a car so trying to get them to see onsite is best, we are going back at the end of oct this year for the Halloween & Xmas seasons staying at OKW, I will always stay onsite now wether it be value or deluxe depending what offers are out there!

Debs xx

 

[amacspad]

Hi Kieras, which hotel do you stay at, we have stayed at Saratoga Spings, that was lovely but think it will be too expensive for our friends (unless there a really good offer!

Debs xx