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

[dtsaos]

We're considering it for an upcoming trip. We'll have our car with us since we're driving down. Thought it might be a nice change with all the extra room you can get for the money. We usually stay on site so we're not sure if we'll be able to deal with not being at a disney resort, but we are staying for a total of 10 nights and for the first half we'll be at Boardwalk. Double tree guest suites looks nice, anyone ever try that one? Any thoughts?

 

[lclark0621]

I have stayed offsite before, but not since I started paying for my trips. When I was younger sometimes my family would choose to stay offsite.

I know you can get "bigger" rooms for "better prices" offsite. And I know there are a lot of beautiful hotels offsite.

But for us, being right "in the magic" is to much of an appeal to us. I could never imagine staying offsite again.

 

[webray]

We used to stay offsite when the budget didn't allow onsite. For us, the traffic getting to and from the parks during peak hours just wasn't worth it.

 

[spiceycat]

do both - I would change your reservation - do off site then onsite - so you won't feel you are cheated.

I love WDW - but I also like to do SW, US/IOA - doing those parks it is better to stay offsite.

 

[teedee]

I have stayed offsite before, but not since I started paying for my trips. When I was younger sometimes my family would choose to stay offsite.

I know you can get "bigger" rooms for "better prices" offsite. And I know there are a lot of beautiful hotels offsite.

But for us, being right "in the magic" is to much of an appeal to us. I could never imagine staying offsite again.

This is exactly why I stay onsite, at least for the last 10 years. I also hate the traffic around WDW, especially in the Kissimmee or International Drive area. I love parking my car the first day I arrive and not getting back into it until the day we leave.

Terri

 

[dtsaos]

We will be doing seaworld and possibly universal so we'd obviously do those during the off site stay. Plus, we're going in Sept. after labor day so the traffic may not be as bad as it would during a busier season. (I hope)

 

[GJM]

We have stayed on & offsite when we drove down to FL. The Holiday Inn Family Suites. We didn't have a problem with it. No problems driving to the parks, we also did Sea World & Universal. My DS still talks about his hotel! I don't feel like I miss out on any of the "magic". I'm on vacation and don't have to work, cook or clean or make my bed, that's magic to me!

 

[Steamboat Girlie]

This past September we stayed off property for the first time in about 10 years. Never again. Don't get me wrong, the townhouse we rented was lovely, but the trip lacked that certain magic. I absolutely hated driving back and forth. Too much thinking involved. I would just rather stay on site and be engulfed in the magic and not have to deal with the real world for my vacation.

 

[Kimberle]

We're considering it for an upcoming trip. We'll have our car with us since we're driving down. Thought it might be a nice change with all the extra room you can get for the money. We usually stay on site so we're not sure if we'll be able to deal with not being at a disney resort, but we are staying for a total of 10 nights and for the first half we'll be at Boardwalk. Double tree guest suites looks nice, anyone ever try that one? Any thoughts?

We have. It is NOT the same trip. For a 10 day stay, I'd do 4-5 at the Boardwalk like you've planned, "do" WDW. Then move to an offsite hotel and "do" Sea World, US, IOA, shop, etc. Bush Gardens was fun, too. It's a little over an hour from Orlando.

We either like to "do" WDW or stay off site and maybe just do MK 1 day and the rest basically a "non" WDW trip.

 

[edcrbnsoul]

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








j/k we did once the hotel and the stay were very nice just felt disconnected from the magic.

 

[3for Me]

I have to agree - tried it once at the Hilton - still had EMH and everything. It just WASN'T the same. Wish I could say it was, because it was MUCH less expensive.

If you are planning to do US/IOA why don't you consider staying on-site there. Their hotels are beautiful - comparable and in some ways better than WDW deluxe and you are so close to their parks. Usually less expensive than a WDW deluxe as well, and well worth it for front of the line priveledges alone!!!

 

[Tissa]

we can stay at a chain hotel anywhere. Where else could you stay at a hotel that has a giant Buzz and Woody outside. My sons still talk about being able to stay in Andys Room

 

[nluvwithmickey]

Never have and probably never will....

I got spoiled the first time we went we stayed at a value resort and we were hooked!!!

After driving for 27 hours we did not want to see the car again for 10 days!!!

If I had started out with an off-site hotel I probably would have kept with that, But now that I've stayed at a Disney resort, there's no going back.

Better off staying in value resorts cause if I have a tasteof those deluxe resorts I keep hearing about I'm gonna get even more spoiled and won't want to go back to value.

 

[vicceja]

Hi!

I don't know if I would ever consider Off Site Property...I don't know I think the entire Disney Experience begins at the Disney Resort

Ely

2005 - POR June/July
2003 - AS June/July

 

[littlegreydonkey]

we stayed offsite every year until I 2004 (when I was running the half marathon so needed the buses). We love it - we get the shopping in, go to the other parks, eat our fill of taco bell (hey, you don't get it here it's a luxury) and to us 192 feels like a special place as all our memories are there. If we need a Disney fix in the meantime, we go to Marketplace or Downtown Disney.

This year when I come to run the full marathon, we'll have a week offsite, then a week onsite (at AKL), but I wouldn't miss that first week for anything. Also, given the choice between offsite and a value, I'd chose offsite, I didn't like Pop Century at all, too noisy, too busy, too small a room, too far to get anywhere, give me my comfort suites any day.

 

[Bride In The Attic]

We stayed at the Hyatt Grand Cypress one year - very nice hotel but I would never stay off site again.

For me, personally, I would rather not go than stay offsite. When I go to WDW I enter my Disney bubble...for me that means immersion in the magic. Room size is not a big issue with us - we are out and about most of the day. And with the broad range of prices now at WDW resorts we don't even consider off site - when planning our trip it's just a given we will stay at a WDW hotel.

Just my two cents!

 

[Bride In The Attic]

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

Perfect!

 

[DocDisney]

The only time we've stayed offsite was at the Caribe Royale three years ago on a mousesaver special. It was nice, big room and lovely pool. Actually closer to MK, MGM, & Epcot than some of the WDW resorts ...for $89/nite. But no Mickey.

 

[ElizabethB]

We liked our stay at Holiday Inn Family Suites better than our cabin at Fort Wilderness. We thought it was more convenient and a better value -- better pools, much better transportation (we rented a car both times and also rented a golf cart at Ft. Wilderness), hot breakfast included each morning, etc.

Although we almost always stay on-site, we would certainly stay off-site again and likely would pick HIFS for its proximity to WDW, separate king room and included hot breakfast. Unlike some, I would definitely stay off-site rather than not go.

 

[clkelley]

The only time I stay off-site is for a last minute "gotta get outta town" the AP is burning a hole in my pocket type trip, and I can't get a room at the values.

The hotel really doesn't matter to me, it's the transportation. I park hop, A LOT. Especially on my solo trips. A typical day for me involves at least 2 parks, mini-golf, lunch or dinner at a resort, and Pleasure Island. Having to worry about where my truck is really bugs me. Plus I HATE carrying keys.

Carol