Am I REALLY missing something by staying off-site?

[davidmj]

good plan i think that is very wise!!

 

[disneysteve]

I was thinking maybe staying at a condo the first 6 days and maybe staying at the Poly for the last 3 just so we can have a taste of staying on-site. Any advice?

I would make the on-site stay the first 3 days, not the last 3. That way, you have the following 6 days to relax in the more spacious offsite accomodations rather than ending the trip in the cramped room.

Onsite has no appeal whatsoever to me. I'm with you as far as having the space, the seperate rooms, being able to put my daughter to bed in her room then DW and I relaxing on the sofa, having a full-size fridge in the kitchen, etc. I wouldn't stay onsite even if the price was the same as the offsite place.

 

[disneysteve]

And if you stay on-site, you don't have to lug your purchases around the park with you. You can have them delivered to your hotel free of charge.

You don't have to lug them around if you stay offsite. You have them sent to the front gate and pick them up on your way out.

 

[disneysteve]

there is a DoubeTree Suites on the property but not owned by Disney....you can get it on the website right now for $143.10/night!!

But in comparison, I can get a 2-bed, 2-bath condo offsite for $40/nite. So I would spend less for a week than I would for 2 nites at the DoubleTree.

 

[C.Ann]

I'm with you as far as having the space, the seperate rooms, being able to put my daughter to bed in her room then DW and I relaxing on the sofa, having a full-size fridge in the kitchen, etc. I wouldn't stay onsite even if the price was the same as the offsite place.

---------------------------

I have to agree with this.. Going solo - or just 2 people - is one thing, but I'd never be comfortable with 2 adults and 2 children in one room.. That's just waaaay too cramped for me..

I stayed onsite alone and it was nice - but certainly no more magical than when I didn't stay onsite.. If there "is" such a thing as "magic" in the hotels (which I truly don't believe there is - my "magic" comes from the parks) it would defintely be wiped away with the inconvenience of spending that length of time in one tiny room..

Still - if you'd like to try it for one portion of your trip, go for it! The point is to go and have a good time - why not try it out both ways and see for yourself?

 

[5boyz]

Hey disneysteve!!!! where are these off site 2 bed 2 bath condos for $40/night. I am going with my family of 6 in July!!! I would love to know about them!!!! Thanks!!!

 

[tripplanner2]

I am also curious. I have been looking at some of the homes and different options but they seem like the same price as staying onsite. I would also have to rent a car and pay for gas so there is really no savings. But, for $40 per night thats another story.

 

[spiceycat]

there was a time with skyauction you could get 1-bedroom and occasionally a 2-bedroom for 211....

$195+15+1 ($1 bid).

I love it - but right now RCI is having to defend itself in court. If they win - I think these things will be back - if they lost - then I am not sure.

some people say it won't change - others think it will...

RCI is being sued over renting so called surplus to non-members - When it was not in some conditions surplus at all.

 

[spiceycat]

I think when you travel in offseason and send an email to these owners - sometimes the owners of the condo or homes will actually lower their price to attract your business....

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

We tend to split up sometimes and the onsite transportation is great for that. As a family of 5, the more room the better, so staying at one of the DVC villas onsite is a must for us. We also take advantage of the extra hours and package delivery. Even without these perks, staying onsite is just magical for us. I am not sure if it would be as magical if we were not staying in a villa. I think the most important part of staying onsite vs. offsite is to do what you can afford.

 

[disneysteve]

Hey disneysteve!!!! where are these off site 2 bed 2 bath condos for $40/night. I am going with my family of 6 in July!!! I would love to know about them!!!! Thanks!!!

The last 2 trips (Nov. '04 and '05) we booked through SkyAuction. $260 for the week which is just over $37/nite. Will those deals continue to exist? I don't know. I guess it depends on that case spiceycat mentioned.

But even without SkyAuction, you can find things through VRBO.com or other sites. Maybe not $37/nite, but certainly for under $75/nite, you can book a 2 or 3-bed condo which puts you in the same price range (or less) than the Disney Values and there is no comparison between the accomodations. How can you compare one room at All-Star to 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, full kitchen, balcony, living room/dining room, washer/dryer, stereo, VCR and more?

Can you tell I just don't get the onsite "magic" thing?

 

[MiaSRN62]

How can you compare one room at All-Star to 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, full kitchen, balcony, living room/dining room, washer/dryer, stereo, VCR and more?

It's the experience/ambience of staying onsite that some just don't see. Comparing some offsite 2 bedroom villa to a disney resort is like comparing apples and oranges (particularily because there are good villas and then there are rundown villas offsite).
Steve, you don't get the disney magic thing, but that's totally alright (and I don't need to tell you that ). I think one either gets "it" or they don't. Some people just don't like to drive cars at all while on vacation. Disney transportation is great for those folks. It's nice that Orlando has something to offer everyone Everyone's perceptions and experiences will be different. And, for the record, we do own offsite (at Vistana) so I can speak from both sides of the coin. Sure our Vistana timeshare is very nice....but I sort of pang to be onsite every once in awhile and it's why we bought DVC. We have almost always split our stays between on and offsite and still plan to.

 

[snappy]

Weekends take so many more DVC points, that is what we have done too.
Plus, if you can stand the pain of moving, you get to try out different Orlando hotels.

I got a great Travlezoo deal on the Omni last year. That lazy river, zero entry pool section, and big slide was awesome. We could have easily skipped going to the park on the days we stayed there and had a blast.

 

[disneysteve]

It's the experience/ambience of staying onsite that some just don't see. Comparing some offsite 2 bedroom villa to a disney resort is like comparing apples and oranges (particularily because there are good villas and then there are rundown villas offsite).
Steve, you don't get the disney magic thing, but that's totally alright (and I don't need to tell you that ). I think one either gets "it" or they don't.

Agreed. I've stayed onsite 8 times in various accomodations from Fort Wilderness to the Contemporary. I've loved every trip. But at this stage in our lives, we find more than enough "magic" by taking a ride over to the Poly one morning and renting speed boats for an hour or having dinner at Boma one evening or browsing the shops on the Contemporary concourse. We don't feel we need to be staying there to experience the magic of the Disney resorts.

To us, the magic is being able to spend a week together each year at Disney in spacious, comfortable accomodations.

 

[Local_Girl]

As I'm planning each trip, I think "Perhaps we should stay onsite this time...". Then the reality sets in and I realize that we can go for 2 full weeks offsite in a nice, spacious condo for about the same price as 2 nights in a deluxe concierge room, or perhaps 5 nights at a moderate resort. It's a no brainer for us, as we get all the magic we want/need in our daily visits to the parks and resorts. We enjoy longer trips, DH prefers to drive vs. taking a bus anyway, and we like to have a few simple (homemade) meals occasionally instead of eating out every day for 2 weeks. It's also nice to be able to do some laundry during a trip of that length.

I'm glad that there is a variety of accomodations, offsite and onsite. I'm also glad that there are many who will only stay onsite...more choices/options for us!

 

[5boyz]

Thanks disneysteve!!!! I will look into the website you gave me!!!! I am not that fussy about staying on or off!!! The only reason I am looking to stay on is because my 15 &16 years old sons can come and go pretty freely. Our friends are staying at POR and my boys want to stay there with them!!! But they only have 4 in their family.....we have 6!!! So rooms double!!!!

 

[disneysteve]

The only reason I am looking to stay on is because my 15 &16 years old sons can come and go pretty freely.

I think this is an excellent reason to stay onsite. As much as I enjoy and prefer staying offsite, when DD is a little older, if she wants to bring along a friend, I would consider onsite so that they can get around and back to the room on their own. Heck, that's what my best friend and I used to do every year when I went with him and his parents.

 

[5boyz]

Last year we went with the same friends we are going with this year and they have a 15 yr old too so it was great!!! They met up and did whatever!!!We would meet up every so often and it worked out for all as I have a 9 yr ds and year old dd too!!! My dh would rather stay on but doesn't care as long as we go!!! He liked the cabins....he likes quiet, I like thing happen' and hoppin'!!! LOL!! That was my one stipulation if we went......I AM NOT STAYING AT THE CABIN!!!!! I want to stay off as we are going for 10 days and gettting 7 day water plus (even though that adds 6 more days) but anyway I LOVE to shop at the outlets and see what is going on outside Disney!!!! But for the boys and daddy I will stay on!!!!

 

[dkort]

I saw this topic and had to give my opinion. I have stayed on and off. I have absolutely no desire whatsoever to stay on ever again and neither does my young daughter or husband.

Here's the popular reasons why people stay in Disney hotels:
1. I can go back to my hotel to take a break.
This cracks me up. It's not like Anaheim where you really can just walk out of the rapids ride at Ca Adventure, walk into the Grand Californian through a turnstyle, press an elevator button and head up to your room. To get back to any Dis hotel in Orlando, you have to definitely either take the monorail, a boat, a bus or be in for a decently long walk. No advantage with this one that I can see. By the time you're done doing that, you can get in your car, head back to your hotel and then return in the evening. No advantage here.
2. I want to feel like I'm really at Disney.
Another funny one. I guess these people need hotel staff telling them to "have a magical day" for them to feel like they're in Disney.
3. The Disney hotels are all kid friendly.
You're in Orlando, the number one family travel destination in the US. Find me a hotel that is NOT kid friendly.
4. I can get to the parks earlier than everyone else.
True, but you can't do this every day for every park. The first time I heard this I thought it was a great idea. I figured I could just get up early, get to any park of my choice and go in before everyone else. Wrong! Certain parks have early entrance only on certain days, meaning that if it's Tuesday, it might be the day for Epcot and nothing else.
My solution? I decide what park I want to go to and check to make sure that its not an early entrance day. I then get there when it opens. I have never had a problem getting on my rides of choice.
5. I can have my souveniers sent back to my hotel.
What in the world are you people buying?
6. The hotel concierge at Disney can make my reservations for character dining.
Hello? 90 days prior to any visit, call 407-WDISNEY and ask for disney dining. Make your own reservations.
7. Disney offers the magic express and will take me directly to my hotel from the airport for free. This way I don't have to hassel with my bags and getting a cab or renting a car.
What in the world is this all about? For the price that Disney charges for their hotels versus a hotel outside of the "world", you can hire a limo service to do all of the above for you, and you don't have to get onto a bus.
8. Nobody does it like Disney.
What is it that Disney does when it comes to hotels? I've stayed at the GF and Poly and other Disney properties before I figured out all of the above. The room I was placed in was sooooo small compared to 4 star hotels in the Orlando area, yet the prices are so outrageous. Plus, there are absolutely no king beds at the Poly, yet during high season, prices run $400 plus per night!
All of the major chains offer extras like points, free stays, free breakfasts, manager's receptions, etc. When you compare, dollar for dollar what you get at a Disney hotel even with all of the so-called "extras" from Disney, you are literally giving your money away staying on property. And for what? Souvenier shipping? Early entrance?

The saddest commentary is when I read so many stories of families literally saving up their money for a Disney vacation. Rather than stay off property, they have this compelling need to want to experience the Disney vibe. Not being able to afford the Grand Floridian or other comparable property, these families will end up at one of the bargain resorts like the All Star Pop or Music, hotels that are really glorified motels. Sadly enough, a little research would get these type of families into a solid 3 star outside of the world for the price they paid for a motel experience. This would probably also give them free breakfast or snacks or something else for their hard earned money.

Remember what I said in the beginning. This is simply MY opinion.

 

[MiaSRN62]

dkort says : I can go back to my hotel to take a break. This cracks me up. It's not like Anaheim where you really can just walk out of the rapids ride at Ca Adventure, walk into the Grand Californian through a turnstyle, press an elevator button and head up to your room. To get back to any Dis hotel in Orlando, you have to definitely either take the monorail, a boat, a bus or be in for a decently long walk. No advantage with this one that I can see.

The big advantage for us (and I'm thinking many others as well), is that you can split up. If one child is sick, either mom or dad can hop on a bus and go back to the hotel with them. If you have a teen, they can hop on a bus and go back to the hotel if they choose. WDW transportation gives added freedom in that the whole family doesn't have to load into the car to drive another family member back to the hotel and then return later and have to park all over again. Now that I have a teen, this is an added luxury. I can just tell my son to go do some of his own thing if he chooses. We traveled a couple years with my ailing mil who was undergoing chemo and radiation treatments. She tired very easily and she could very easily hop on a disney bus after 1-2 hours in the park without one of us having to drive her back to the resort and then come all the way back to the park again. It made her feel much more independent and like she didn't have to bother us with driving her around when she didn't feel well (not that we would feel this way). So I can think of several reasons disney transportation can be a plus.

I can get to the parks earlier than everyone else. True, but you can't do this every day for every park. I decide what park I want to go to and check to make sure that its not an early entrance day. I then get there when it opens. I have never had a problem getting on my rides of choice.

You are very fortunate if you've never experienced some of disney's 60-90+ wait times for popular rides. I don't know how you do it, because in dozens & dozens of visits over the last 10 years, we've seen some killer lines. And we go during Oct, Nov, July and Aug most frequently. Witnessed 2-3 hour waits for Soarin' last Aug. Having those early entry (and after park closing access on some days) has proven invaluable to our family. We can get through 4-5 rides in that first hour most times. The crowds really build after 10-11 am. We pick the early park entry and then "hop" to another park around 11 am when it starts to get crowded. Works great---and we stay both on and offsite so we notice a difference.

dkort says : 5. I can have my souveniers sent back to my hotel. What in the world are you people buying?

LOL.....well, let's see.....we've purchased art work, water globes, clocks, clothing, toys, disney electric monorail train.....I could go on with things we've purchased for ourselves and others over the years and found this service to be wonderful. It's a pain to cart those things around when you're going on rides and attractions. I know you can have them shipped to the front of the park, but that doesn't work when one "hops". So package delivery may not be a perk for everyone, but we love it.

I could go on a bit about what you stated dkort, but you are most definitely entitled to your opinion----I respect that. You sound a little anti-disney though ? Of course this is your opinion and is fine. You at least sound equally opposite of what you are putting down the onsite experience for. I just think there are different people who enjoy different types of vacation experiences. It's terrific that Orlando can please just about everyone. I don't think onsite is the only way to go any more than I feel offsite is. It's why we split our vacations and do both onsite and offsite. For us, it's the best of both worlds. Def a different experience with each for us.
Everyone needs to learn what works best for them and go with that.