Any of you On site people ever try staying off-site?

[mickeymousefan]

We have done both, but our off site trip was before we had our 2 DD's. Now that we have kids, I wouldnt even think about staying offsite. The buses are conveinent and you cant beat the feel of the Disney hotels. Since we drive, we have no issues getting to Sea World or going off properrty to explore the area. As another poster said, you can stay at a chain hotel anywhere!!!!!

 

[Divamomto3]

I've stayed at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. But I was a teenager. I remember being "wowed" by the lobby and the awesome pools. It was the nicest hotel I had even been in up to that point. I remember it being close to Downtown Disney and I remember taking a bus to the Magic Kingdom. I don't remember any "problems" with traffic or missing the magic b/c it was my first time in DW and also because when you're a teenager, nothing bothers you! Now, it would be hard for me to stay offsite. I'd feel like one of the ugly stepsisters! LOL But I also kind of felt like that at the Swan too, and that's smack in the middle of the Boardwalk. I felt like I was watching the party through a window. For me, it's WDW Deluxes or bust!

 

[Divamomto3]

Oh and I've taken a cab to Seaworld and back with no trouble at all! I also think you can get a bus from the TTC to Seaworld also....it's one of the city public buses.

 

[micksterlee]

I get lost just trying to find Orlando not to mention finding WDW. DW has vowed we will never stay anywhere that requires me driving from one park to another. Guess the old gosh I am lost routine worked!!

 

[TXTink]

Yes we refer to it as the "incident" we do not speak of the "incedent".

We will always stay on site.

I don't even care what level, as long as we are on site. We have stayed at all 3 levels of resorts (4 if you count the villas). While I love staying at deluxe, I don't mind staying at the value or moderates either! Hey, I'm at Disney!!

 

[AndyMcV]

Hi dtsaos

It's definitely a personal decision onsite or off. For us we would never stay offsite again when travelling to WDW.

In 2000 we had a split stay first at the Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista and then at the Contemporary. The Embassy Suites was a really nice hotel and very close to Disney. The rooms were really large and the breakfast was awesome (not continental but full buffet). However after staying at the Contemporary and then the Swan (in 2003) we'll always stay onsite.

The location and convenience from getting to the parks and back to the resort is fantastic. To be able to take a break from the parks in the afternoon for a swim and then go back at night is a great feeling. To be included in the nightly fireworks. To be able to take a leisurely walk and get the true Disney feeling all around you. It is (as you know) hard to explain to someone who has never stayed onsite. It's just a feeling. It's like another level of relaxation and a lot less things to worry about.

Personally if I were you I'd spend my nights at a Disney property. Take an extra day and drive to the hotel(s) that you think you might like to stay at. Get a good look and see if you would actually want to stay there. Alternatively... book 1 or 2 nights at the offsite hotel then you get to stay there for sure but if you don't like it you're only there for a short time.

Andy

 

[lovepooh]

We stayed offsite in 1993. Awful experience! I love Disney resorts because of the "magic". I wouldn't trade that for anything. I went to Orlando last year for a convention (not with family) and we stayed at the Caribe Royale. The hotel was very nice but I hated dealing with the "offsite transportation". It took forever to get back to the hotel. I would never plan a family vacation to Disney and stay offsite. If you have to do it, stay offsite first and then stay at Disney!

 

[vanyel]

Several trips were a combination on/off. I will never stay offsite again unless I fly in late and just spend the first night in a offsite hotel. It wasn't the same. Part of the "magic" for me is staying onsite. A wdw resort isn't just a place to sleep, it's part of the vacation.

My bil keeps criticizing us for going to WDW & wasting our money at the Poly or AKL when we could rent a condo and have all that space. I don't care! It's onsite for me and this time when we fly in later, we're staying at POP for the first night.

 

[chobie]

I have if we could not get a code. I pricelined and have gotten Wyndom Resort, Hilton and Hyatt Grand Cypress. Both the DTD hotels gave us a room high up with a balconey overlooking DTD, the views were awesome. The Hyatt was the best room we have stayed in and the pool was the best for many reasons including being open 24 hours. I prefer on-site, but we do have a car and I cannot bring myself to pay over $100 for a value resort.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

Yes we refer to it as the "incident" we do not speak of the "incedent".

Very funny.

 

[Evil Queen]

Can't remember the hotel oldest and I stayed at when he was a "pup". Camped at KOA one trip. Camping was great and fun, but last night horrible thunderstorm (enough it drove us from MGM). Ended up getting cheap hotel close by. Plus, the drive time wasn't a thrill, but really never did hit traffic, so that was cool.

Next trip stayed at a Value. Will never stay off site again, unless it's a thrown together trip next year, but our plan is to try different resorts throughout the year after Sept. trip.

 

[Momto8]

We stayed offsite in '79, '85 and '95. After that we've always stayed onsite, with the exception of the first 2 nights of our trip a few years ago when we tried to save some money. Those 2 nights just reminded my DH why he REFUSES to stay offsite. He absolutely hated driving in the traffic on 192. He doesn't care if we could get a suite for less money with free breakfast or dinner, he won't stay offsite again. Thank goodness he feels this way because I feel the same way.

For us, we feel that we miss the whole "magic" when we stay offsite. My DH just loves the fact that we can park the van and not have to get into it for 11 days. Another poster stated that they don't understand why someone would rather ride a crowded bus than drive their own car. Well to my DH part of the vacation is not having to drive. It doesn't bother him about waiting for a crowded bus. I know the buses can get very crowded, but I've been in crowded buses where there is a lot of interaction with the driver and the passengers. Actually it can be fun riding the buses, meeting and talking to different people from other parts of the country. Last trip we met and enjoyed talking with a family who had 4 small children. We also had fun talking with a group of teenage girls on a basketball team that were there for the holidays.

Staying onsite is not for everyone and I respect everyone's differences. This is just how we feel. Thank goodness not everyone likes to stay onsite or we would never get discounts!!

 

[Poohlovr]

After a couple of events, we decided that on site is the only way for us to go.
The first was the night it took us a full hour to get out of the MK parking lot after park closing. After we made it through the crowds on the ferry and the tram, it still took an hour just to get out of the parking lot.
The second was the day we were heading out to the parks from the Swan and my grandson became ill. He and I went back to the room and the others went on to the park. Later in the day, when he felt better, he and I went to the park and stayed until he got tired and wanted to return to the room. Off-site, we would not have been able to do that. We would have been stuck in the room.

THe only excepetion to this was one time my DH went just for a long week-end. We refer to that as our "Priceline" trip, because everything was booked through them--even our 10.00/night room. It was a quick budget trip and just the two of us. The convenience was not as important as the budget.

 

[jenjersnap]

In December we split stays on-site and off-site and ... we went about it totally the wrong way. Big lesson learned. We went from AKL to FW cabins to the Homewood Suites LBV (just for two nights so we could do SW) , that was completely the wrong direction to do it! Always go up the hotel star scale so that your vacation ends on a high note. When we left WDW, I felt demoralized and depressed; the trip sort of ended on a downer because of it.

We might stay off-site again, who knows what the future will bring? I would like to visit US some day and experience their hotels. Staying on-site, however, makes me so happy - it's a pure emotion rather than tangible worries about transportation, etc. that will keep me coming back.

 

[Del]

After reading all of these posts, I am certainly in the minority. We've stayed on and off-site. My fav on-site was CR tower---beautiful but expensive even with code. Wonderful magic! We stayed last Dec at Vistana Resort--beautiful, close to the park, no traffic---2 bed, 2 bath, beautiful kitchen/living area. My DH and I had privacy--the kids each had their own bed and slept great! For a wonderful rate of $149/night. We spent the days at the park, ate at our fav Perkins rest.----there certainly was magic there too. To each their own. But I'd rather go to a nice off-site every other trip if it means I can go Dis more. Good luck. Del

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

We did it the other way round. After always staying offsite, we stayed onsite for our honeymoon last year. Stay offsite again--??? NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS. Onsite is fabulous, hardly any driving back and forth and right in the heart of the magic.

 

[cinmell]

We never stayed off site once we stayed onsite. I think the last time we stayed off site was 1989. I like being able to take boats, buses and the monorail as opposed to having to drive to the WDW parks. I also love the convenience of being able to get back to the resort quickly for rest or to go swimming.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

We have stayed off site years ago at the Sheraton Safari. Now that the one ds has asthma, no we would not. I want to be able to get him back to the room asap and hooked up to the machine if he has to. Also that way the rest could still be in the parks. That could not happen if we were off site. Also my dh works long and hard all year and part of his vacation is NOT to drive. He looks forward to that and the disney busses. Onsite is so much more convenient, for rest, air conditioning, pool breaks, refillable mug runs etc. And now I just love those extra late EMH for resort guests with 3 teen ds.

 

[gizfish]

We were thinking of staying off site for our spring trip this year. But when I read about the changes to the "extra magic hour" program, I was sold on staying on site. While we would never use the extra AM hour to go to a park, I know for sure we will use the extra three hours in the evening, and we can only do that staying on site.

 

[Crazy Kanga]

We have stayed at all levels of resort on property and at a nice 2 bedroom condo off property. By far the worst trip we had was the one off property. I would not do it again if I could help it. Only if it were free, and then I would have to think twice about it. You can't put it into words. It is what it is. Magic!