Are we making a mistake by staying off Disney property?

[RoLaren]

I think you'll be much happier on property and using Disney transportation! It's so worth it!

I too agree that packages are usually not the best deal. If you don't care about park hopping you will be fine with the one day single park passes but if you want to hop parks, then look into getting a length of stay pass, compare the cost and make your decision based on what will work best for your family. All the different ticket descriptions are on the WDW website.

You can also take a boat to the Downtown Disney area from POR, so you can do that in the evening if you like if you've had enough park time.

A link to the countdown clock info can be found in the Dis Technical forum.

 

[dzneelvr]

STAY ON SITE!
I can never understand those folks who want the Disney experience but don't want to "stay" in Disney.
I know it costs a few pennies more, but IMHO it is the ONLY way.

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

Stay on-site even if you can only afford a Value resort.

Personally, I would never consider staying off-site unless I was staying at one of the Universal Studio hotels.

 

[simonmunro]

You'll be so happy there!

 

[Disney Doll]

yes

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by scrapcreator
OK, here's what I did: We've got reservations at Port Orleans Riverside for $314.46 total From the sounds of it, we will be much closer (and happier) than at the Ramada Inn Maingate and the price isn't that much different after figuring in taxes. The Dream Maker Package would have upped the price to 965+ so, at this point, we are leaning toward single day park tickets (since we are only going to WDW one day and Epcot one day).

I'll be searching the board for more helpful hints. Thanks so much for helping! I feel pretty good about the decision. Now to contact Costco and find out where we can get picked up for the cruise (they were going to pick us up at the Beach Club)

Thanks again!

Jeanne

PS Where can I find those countdown tickers?

You'll love POR. It's my favorite onsite resort I've stayed in so far!!!

The countdown tickers can be found on the Tech board from the main DISboards site.
http://psiklops.brinkster.net/CDTimers/CDTimerGen.htm

Have a great trip!

 

[scrapcreator]

Thanks for your help!

Jeanne

 

[tar heel]

I'm really glad you decided to stay on site. We've stayed at POR twice, and it's a great resort.

Now here's a little hint, and I know this is silly . . . It sounds like you are planning to go to Epcot and the Magic Kingdom. You will be in WDW while you are Epcot. You also will be in WDW when you are at your resort. WDW is the whole thing -- MK, Epcot, MGM Studios, AK, the resorts, the water parks, etc.

 

[bridgettesmom]

Well done!!! You will not regret it!!! POR is beautiful !!

Have fun!!!

 

[scrapcreator]

Can you tell we are first timers, LOL! Guess I need to change my countdown clock too. Here in soCal we just have Disneyland and California Adventure. Thanks for the heads up, tar heel.

Jeanne

 

[AlvaroLuis]

We've stayed off site for the last 15 years...some good experiences and some not so good...bought a timeshare in '93 and happily stayed offsite ever since. Will be staying on site (ASMo, WL and OKW) next January!

For tickets I would suggest buying one day passes. Get the tickets for the second park when you buy the tickets for the first park and you'll get a discount (I think $5 off per ticket)

Enjoy!

 

[rocketralph]

I think you made a great decision on staying onsite without a car. $79 offsite is way to much. We stayed offsite at the Fairfield Inn in Lake Lake Buena Vista for only $49/night.
Everybody is right, once you stay onsite, you really don't want to go back. Just like on the cruise, once you get a cabin with a veranda, you don't want anything else.

Plus they open one of the parks an hour early for onsite guests so you can take advantage of beating the crowds.

 

[Lisa BC]

Jeanne,

You could save yourself a few dollars by going to Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party ( MNSSHP) on Thursday night. It is a special ticket event, that officially starts at 7 pm, but they will let you into the Magic Kingdom around 4pm with your MNSSHP ticket. Those tickets are around $32 ($39 with tax).

So you could "sleep in" on Thursday morning, take some time to enjoy your resort & swim, have an early dinner, then head off to the Magic Kingdom for the party. The park is open until midnight for the party, but hey that's only 9pm California time....

I hear that the park really empties out after around 10pm... so you can walk on many of the popular rides. The regular one day admission is around $58 dollars. The cost savings would buy you a really nice dinner. Or better yet a cab ride from the airport to your hotel Wednesday instead of a Mears shuttle that stops a lots of hotels on the way to Disney.

Have fun!

 

[DISNEYBIGGDOGG]

We use to stay off sit all the time until we discovered that staying on-site was better and at times more economical, depending on where you stay. We are a family that spends all day at the parks so the all stars is fine for us. every now and then we stay at the AKL, when we can get the Florida Resident rate and pay around $120/night. GL in whatever you decide.

 

[erinz]

I TOTALLY agree with Lisa BC!!!!!

What a perfect idea!

 

[PamNC]

Yes.

You're making a mistake staying off property.

If you're having doubts, my advice is don't do it. We did it once, NEVER AGAIN. We really missed being immersed in Disney 24 hours a day...and we definitely missed the service and convenience.
NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER AGAIN.

PamNC

 

[AlvaroLuis]

Lisa BC just came up with an excelent idea on saving money on your ticket to MK, my only concern would be if all the rides will be open during MNSSHP. We went last year and I'm almost sure they handed out a brochure which stated what was open that night... In any case, we did Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and IASW with little or no wait.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Do you have a way to get to Port Canaveral? You might want to consider DCL transfer. DCL will pick you up from your resort. Then on the way back, they can drop you off at MCO. DCL bus only picks up/drop off from/to MCO and from/to Disney resorts.

We are doing Disney Cruise as well in December. We are doing the cruise first. DCL transfer from MCO to Port Canaveral. On the way back, DCL bus to CSR.

Good luck and have fun!!

 

[scrapcreator]

Fantasia, just checked on our voucher and there's no problem (in fact it's even easier) staying on property. We had a voucher, but we were going to have to find a way over to the Beach Club to get picked up. Now, no problems

Lisa BC, thanks for the heads up, I had no idea that there even was a Mickey's Halloween Party (what can I say, newbies here). Sounds like a lot of fun! Sounds like I need to go in search of info.

I'll be back. Thanks again! This board is so awesome :thewave:

Jeanne

 

[susy]

I would stay at a value over over offsite anyday. I don't trust offsite shuttles. You are dealing with Orlando weekday traffic-ugh-that should be reason enough to avoid it like the plague!