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

[GoofyinNY]

We're staying off site at the Nick Hotel for part of our June trip because DS just loves Spongebob. We were actually going to stay off site for the whole trip as I got this great deal for 5 days at Sheraton Vistana with NO sales pitch. I booked Vistana, but DH insisted that I cancel it and book the Poly (at 10 times the amount!! DH told me that he doesn't gamble, drink, smoke, or play expensive sports and that he works 24 - 7 as a firefighter and that he wants the Disney magic that comes from staying on site. It works for me! Gotta love that man!

 

[Sarahsal]

When we were younger, poorer and didn't have children, we stayed off-site, and it was fine. However, when our dd's came along, I can't even imagine going back to an off-site hotel for naps. Even now, when we just need a pool break, I think off-site would be more difficult, but plenty of people do it! (Just not us.)

 

[DizzyBell]

We stayed offsite for many years. We would stay in hotels (30 years ago) and then moved onto rented villas... NOTHING... can compare to staying onsite. The experience... the buses to go back and forth.. the perks for the parks.... the resorts and the MAGIC... We have for many years now stayed onsite and there is no villa offsite... no hotel offsite.. that can compare with being there! IMHO

 

[ktink]

I think we will always stay on site. It just makes the whole trip magical. I hope we can always afford to do so. And I would rather stay at a value than a condo off site.

 

[Gymbomom]

We stayed for 3 & 1/2 weeks last trip. Our family came in about a week after us.
That week we had some hotels booked, I can't remember which one, it was right by Disney, and considered a resort and then a couple of days at the Dolphin.
It was a nightmare driving to the parks.....it was so bad. I just remember thinking how spoiled I was for never having to deal with that.
The Dolphin was great, so we only had a couple of bad days, but enough to remind me it might be cheaper, but it isn't worth it.
It is like you step outside those Disney arches and entrances and it is complete chaos!!

 

[jwsteelman]

We would never stay offsite. It is to convienent to go back to your room for a midday break then go back to the parks. I also would not want to deal with the traffic everyday of driving back and forth.

 

[erinz]

We stayed at The Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista Dec 2003. We were totally happy with it. A living room, bedroom, kitchenette, free breakfast every morning for only $120 per night. Traffic was never a problem.

THIS December however......CR TOWER HERE WE COME!!!!

 

[jenjersnap]

We're staying off site at the Nick Hotel for part of our June trip because DS just loves Spongebob. We were actually going to stay off site for the whole trip as I got this great deal for 5 days at Sheraton Vistana with NO sales pitch. I booked Vistana, but DH insisted that I cancel it and book the Poly (at 10 times the amount!! DH told me that he doesn't gamble, drink, smoke, or play expensive sports and that he works 24 - 7 as a firefighter and that he wants the Disney magic that comes from staying on site. It works for me! Gotta love that man!

Aw, that is so sweet! What a wonderful hubby. Can he have a chat with my Scrooge McDuck of a DH, please? He finally "gets" the on-site mentality but I think he secretly believes pampering ourselves is immoral when, well, our first kid is going to college in 13 short years.

 

[LibertyLover]

A couple of years ago I attended a 3 day conference in Orlando. The hotel was located just outside the Main Gate. Truthfully I can't even remember the name of the chain at this point. The room was large, had a convenience kitchen and was, in general, ok. But every evening I was there, I went over to WDW for dinner and to walk around. The last day I ditched the conference entirely and spent the day at DTD. I found the driving, parking (and paying for parking), walking to the parks' entrances and than trying to remember where I had parked my car to be annoying. And staying off site just didn't give me quite the same feeling. It's ok and if I have to I'll do it, but I much prefer the quality, convenience, theming and feel of a Disney resort.

 

[mcbj]

I actually like talking with everyone on the buses. Also as a shopper, I LOVE the package delivery.

 

[robinb]

I'm answering without reading what others have said, but here's my 2 cents worth:

I have stayed off site at the Wyndham Palace, the Hilton, the Wyndham Orlando, the MCO Hyatt, a Renaissance Inn on 192, Summerfield Suites, a Comfort Inn (yuck!), an Econolodge (double yuck!) and a Days Inn (triple yuck!).

I stayed at the Hilton when my husband was in Orlando on business. We stayed at All Star Sports for 2 days before the Hilton and ASSp for 3 days after. I couldn't wait to get back to the All Stars. It's not that the Hilton was bad. It was really quite nice. But ... it was then I knew I was an on-site fan and I have only stayed off-site once since then. I regretted it and I will never stay off-site again.

ETA: If you ask the same question on the Orlando Board you are bound to get different answers .

 

[skiwee1]

We used to stay offsite years ago. We decided to try onsite once and will never stay offsite again! Even if we had to go less often we would do it.

 

[drumflower]

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!!!

I agree! We stayed at Royal Pacific and it was beautiful! Plus if you are a onsite resort guess you get to front of the line access. It is even better than fast passes!

 

[WonderWomanDC]

Hmm very interesting responses. We are staying offsite for the first time in November, at the Grand Bohemian in Orlando. We have APs and don't really mind the driving back and forth, since we don't have kids. I'll be interested to see if I miss the onsite experience...I have a feeling I will. We have another trip in Jan. and I'm not booking that until I see how I feel about November!! LOL

 

[CharmedLife]

Did it once, DH and I vowed we would never do it again. To us Disney is about more than just the parks, it's the whole property, and that includes the hotel. We don't go into the parks every day, we hang out at the hotel, do DTD, golf, Boardwalk, etc. You get the picture...

Plus, I think at the end of the day at a park when I saw all of the "on-site" people going to their buses, I'd feel really sad and wish I were going with them.

 

[minnie61650]

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

ITA
Double Tree Suites...Been there-- done that-- It was nice but I'm not going back!

I am 55 years old and travel several times a year. I often stay at 4 star hotels.
So the deluxe resorts do not have anything special for me.
All Star is like being in the heart of the Magic and that is where I want to be.
The buses are wonderful.

Bus rides are quite short from the ALL Stars according to PassPorter.com

All Star Buses-CBR buses-----PO buses--- Contemporary
MK 20 min---- 20 min-----------10 min---20 min(mono)
Epcot 10 min-- 15 min-----------10 min---15 min
MGM 10 min----12 min-----------15 min---20min
AK 10 min------20min-----------15 min---20 min
DTD 15 min----20 min-----------15 min---35 min

It only takes 10 minutes to get to Epcot,MGM and AK from All Stars.
MK is 20 min away. That's the same amount of time it takes on the monorail from the Contemporary.



I have visited WDW more than a dozen times with the 1st time in Oct. 1971. It was brand new. I've stayed at FW, Disney Inn, a few the of Hotels on hotel Blvd., CBR and the towers at the Contemporary. I got to see the MK from my balcony at the Contemporary and I'm happy I got to experience it once. I just prefer the All Star Resorts.
The theaming is pure Disney.
My last 4 visits have been at The All Stars and this fall when we take dd,dsil, and our grandson age 3 we are staying at the All Stars Music. I thought about AKL and even though we can well afford AKL I just wanted Alex to experience the Disney Magic at the All Stars on his first visit.
Where else can one find Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse at the pool?
Have a great time at Disney!
Linda

 

[Sammie]

We have stayed offsite, it was ok, but defnitely not as much fun.

I do love these threads though. You read so many threads lately about the the poor service at Disney, unfriendly CMs, rooms in bad shape, it goes on and on, then someone will ask Would You Stay Offsite and you get pages of replies saying, absolutely not.

Also when you read these; "I will never stay offside threads", you have to then understand why Disney can charge the rates they do and not offer discounts unless they absolutely have to.

It seems some do not read their own comments, because at times they seem to contradict themselves.

 

[johnvree]

ITA
Double Tree Suites...Been there-- done that-- It was nice but I'm not going back!

I am 55 years old and travel several times a year. I often stay at 4 star hotels.
So the deluxe resorts do not have anything special for me.
All Star is like being in the heart of the Magic and that is where I want to be.
The buses are wonderful.

Bus rides are quite short from the ALL Stars according to PassPorter.com

All Star Buses-CBR buses-----PO buses--- Contemporary
MK 20 min---- 20 min-----------10 min---20 min(mono)
Epcot 10 min-- 15 min-----------10 min---15 min
MGM 10 min----12 min-----------15 min---20min
AK 10 min------20min-----------15 min---20 min
DTD 15 min----20 min-----------15 min---35 min

It only takes 10 minutes to get to Epcot,MGM and AK from All Stars.
MK is 20 min away. That's the same amount of time it takes on the monorail from the Contemporary.



I have visited WDW more than a dozen times with the 1st time in Oct. 1971. It was brand new. I've stayed at FW, Disney Inn, a few the of Hotels on hotel Blvd., CBR and the towers at the Contemporary. I got to see the MK from my balcony at the Contemporary and I'm happy I got to experience it once. I just prefer the All Star Resorts.
The theaming is pure Disney.
My last 4 visits have been at The All Stars and this fall when we take dd,dsil, and our grandson age 3 we are staying at the All Stars Music. I thought about AKL and even though we can well afford AKL I just wanted Alex to experience the Disney Magic at the All Stars on his first visit.
Where else can one find Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse at the pool?
Have a great time at Disney!
Linda

Maybe I would feel that way too if I traveled a few times a year and stayed in nice resorts. But WDW is usually our only real vacation and travel each year. When I am there, I want to be pampered with a large room and lots of amenities. That's why we stay at a deluxe resort. If we went twice a year, we would definitely try the other resorts.

As far as on-site vs. off-site, that's a non-issue for us. On-site is the only way we would go to WDW. If we won an all-expense-paid trip to WDW in a hotel off property, I would probably turn it down. Staying on-site is very important to us.

 

[minnie61650]

We have stayed offsite, it was ok, but defnitely not as much fun.

I do love these threads though. You read so many threads lately about the the poor service at Disney, unfriendly CMs, rooms in bad shape, it goes on and on, then someone will ask Would You Stay Offsite and you get pages of replies saying, absolutely not.

Also when you read these; "I will never stay offside threads", you have to then understand why Disney can charge the rates they do and not offer discounts unless they absolutely have to.

It seems some do not read their own comments, because at times they seem to contradict themselves.

ITA Sammie
Love your post especially
"It seems some do not read their own comments, because at times they seem to contradict themselves. "


Linda

 

[skiwee1]

We used to stay offsite because we thought onsite wasn't worth it. Were we wrong! We tried the CBR once and never looked back. We went from there to the WL and finally the Poly. If we can't stay onsite then we don't go to WDW.