Argh, MIL wants to stay onsite!

[Twoboysnmygirl]

It's the Onsite/Offsite debate! Tell me what you think?

We are planning for a big family trip (8 of us) for Jan. 2010. After looking at onsite rates for two rooms or two bedroom suites, I decided to look offsite. I found some GREAT villa's, 5bedrooms/kitchen/pool/spa/gameroom for half to FOUR TIMES cheaper than what we would pay onsite. My fav. even had a view of the fireworks at night and disney decor.

So, I told my MIL about it and she was worried that the magic wouldn't be the same. What do you think? Have you done both? Is it worth it? (we ARE on a budget, even though she wants to pay for a lot of it, I don't want to break her bank!)

I would love some pro's/con's and personal experience. For now, we're just looking at our options, but it seems to me that with a bigger group that wants to stay together, it would not only be more spacious, but we would save a TON on lodging AND eating (b/c we would have a kitchen).

I may totally change my mind this week though b/c I'm leaving for WDW tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!! It's my first time and just my daughter and I are going with a friend. Maybe I'll come back thinking my MIL is right and I will want to be immersed in the magic 24/7!

 

[Brian Noble]

I've done both. I do think staying onsite has some value. The biggest perk for me of being onsite is the transportation flexibility. Not that it's faster---often a bus between a Disney resort and a park takes longer than driving from one of the better-located off-site developments to the same park. But, it is easier. It's easier to split up. It's no problem if everyone wants to have a margarita (or, perhaps, a second). Being onsite often means you don't need to spend money on a rental car, assuming you are flying in, which makes up a little bit for the extra expense.

The "magic" people talk about strikes different people differently. It's nice not leaving the Disney Cocoon, but it's hard to know how much that matters to you until you try it. It is very subjective. I found that it mattered less to me than I expected it would---it's still nice, but for me personally it's not a thousand dollars nice.

Depending on when you go, and your specific touring patterns, Extra Magic Hours can be nice too. Truth be told, I've never used them. Perhaps we will on my next stay.

The rest of the perks are what I'd call "minor conveniences". Nice, but not of any significant value to me.

Having enough space to spread out is important to me. Having a kitchen, and a private washer/dryer, is too. So, my onsite stays are exclusively in DVC units, at least in a 1BR for the four of us. If we can't get that, we stay offsite. We find our eating patterns are the same whether we are in an offsite condo, or an onsite villa: breakfast in the room (toaster waffles, bacon, eggs, fruit, etc.). Lunch is in a park. Dinner is usually in a resort or park restaurant, but once or twice might be at "home".

In the interests of full disclosure: I stay in DVC units through exchanging some of my other timeshares. This does end up costing me a little bit more than it would to stay offsite, but the difference is very modest. If I had to pay market rates for DVC units, even point rental, I would have a hard time justifying it compared to the many wonderful offsite locations available for much less money.

So, if it were my money, and I had a larger group to book, I'd be getting that pool home in Windsor Hills, and use the extra money for other things. That said, if you can imagine going more than once, it's worth trying it both ways---each person will weigh the costs and benefits differently, and it's hard to know how your preferences will mesh with the available options unless you try a few of them out.

 

[PEANUT1]

We have done both and I agree..it's different. It's not bad, but we prefer to stay onsite...hence we now own DVC. I would say the cost of renting a house/villa outside is substantially less and you 'll get more. If this is a cost issue, I would simply tell her that if she wants to stay onsite, then she has to help pay. Or, she could stay somewhere else...that might not be a bad thing

We did a grand gathering for 13 at Wilderness Lodge a few years back. I don't think it would have been as enjoyable if we stayed offsite. We had 3 rooms and it was really nice. The atmosphere is amazing and the price tage there won't break the bank. I would stay offsite in a heartbeat versus staying at a value however. They just don't appeal to me.

You may want to consider renting a 2BR villa from a DVC member. I think the cost would be about $2500 or so to rent a week at that time of year. I would start looking now and then someone could do it for you at the 11 month point. That is not too expensive and you'll still get the whole disney experience. You will also get the EMH benefit and can do the dining plan if you want. You can't do this if you stay offsite.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Thank you! Where do I find info about renting from a DVC member? 2500$ for ALL of us in one villa for the week, ONSITE, would be doable. When I was looking, I was getting prices like 1200$ a NIGHT?!?!?!? I think that was a AKL.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Well said Brian. But...
if my MIL wanted to pay for even half of an onsite trip, I'd just go with the flow. (for us this wouldn't happen in a billion yrs) If paying yourself then you have more reason to disagree but not so much when it's her $$ and she's wanting treat.
Either way you're in Disney and will have fun.

Definitely wait until after your first trip to form an opinion.

 

[Traveliz]

We generally stay onsite however last year for a large family gathering we were tempted by staying offsite.

In the end we decided to stay onsite and I really think especially with the large group it was much easier logistically. Yes you do lose out on some space but you gain alot in ease of breaking up/splitting off even within individual families. We toured alot together (no one wanted to leave my side) but there were things I did not want to do at all and after lunch one day we had (of our group of 11); one go to work (she worked at Epcot), three go back to the hotel pool, three go character hunting, and the rest went to DisneyQuest. It was just so easy to do without having to figure out how to logistically move all those people and where we would meet back when.

Liz

 

[Twilightlover]

I think if she wants to pay for some of it why deny your family the fun. The bonus to me are the magic hours, the on-site service and the general "wrapped up" in Disney feeling one can only get when staying on site. Think about how nice it will be to not have to drive or staying in the parks longer. I've stayed off site and it's just not as fun. Even going back to your room on site is fun because you don't really leave the magic. The DME is amazing. and I love the fact that you can check in whenever and not worry about your bags, even your carry ons. Though expensive I would only stay on site for Disney.

 

[PEANUT1]

Thank you! Where do I find info about renting from a DVC member? 2500$ for ALL of us in one villa for the week, ONSITE, would be doable. When I was looking, I was getting prices like 1200$ a NIGHT?!?!?!? I think that was a AKL.

Most Dvc'ers rent their points for around 10$ a point. You have to find the DVC points chart...its on the DVC link and look where you want to stay. Look at the 2BR and see how many points it is per week and multiply by 10$.
Here is the link. http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-vacation-club/DVCpoints.shtml

For example. At AKV for a week in a 2BR savannah view it's 270 points for the week in January so it would be about 2700$. For a standard view its 213 points a week which would be around $2130. I would suggest at around a year before the trip, post on the DVC rent/trade board that you are looking for a rental and post your dates and where you would like to stay. Someone that owns at the resort you want can book your trip 11 months out. January should not be too difficult to get bc its not peak season. I think the marathon week can be slightly more crowded as well as MLK weekend. Good luck if you have any more ?, you can PM me.

 

[dioxide45]

With 8 people, even two rooms onsite or a two room villa at a DVC resort will feel cramped. I would vote for three rooms onsite, that will up the cost though. You can't beat the offsite prices. Though with offsite you will need a couple if not three cars. Even with three cars, rentals in January are cheap. You can more than cover the cost of the rentals with what you save on accomodations.

 

[fiasco]

hee, we're in the exact same situation. we're going in late Dec with my ILs and my MIL insisted on staying onsite. i'm cheap (errr, frugal) and wanted to stay offsite, both to have more space and save money.

well, i ran the numbers. we have three kids and the cost for a condo + rental car(s) + carseats + parking + gas + food + park tickets came out to be only a few hundred less than staying onsite and getting the dining plan. considering my ILs aren't in the best shape and might tire before we do, and the fact that we have a napping infant, the conveniences of being onsite far exceeded the cost savings. also, we wont be spending our time grocery shopping or cooking- we can just eat when we want to eat, on the dining plan, and not worry about it.

so while i cant give you pros and cons of both, i can say that you should run all the numbers and see what the spread actually is... if it's significant savings, go for it. but if it's only a few hundred, the convenience may be worth it.

~fiasco

 

[moon]

I'm siding with your MIL. To me there's nothing like staying on-site. I want Disney 24/7, and I'd stay at a value over any villa.

JMO.

 

[Darcy03231]

I went last summer with extended family and there were 9 of us. We rented a 5 bedroom, 3 bath private pool home and couldn't have been happier. We loved having all the space, the full kitchen, the washer & dryer and the private pool. Our party was 4 adults, 3 teens, 1 child and 1 toddler. I found it was much less expensive to rent the house and two cars than it was to stay on-site. It was also much faster getting from place to place in our own car rather than waiting for the bus. I was able to rent the house for $700/wk including all taxes. We were 7 miles from WDW and it took us about 15 min to get from the house to the parking lot at MK - less time than its taken in previous years to get the bus from our resort on-site to MK. I also found we saved a lot of money by eating in, especially breakfast each day.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

And remember that if you rent DVC points you are not charged tax, while any commercial rental (or hotel) has a 12.5% or 13.0% (depending on county) lodging tax added.

 

[Julylady]

I am a DVC owner who has also stayed off-site for certain trips. We stay off-site when traveling with teens. They really enjoy the privacy that the extra space provides and LOVE the private pool. We also tend to do less Disney parks and more Orlando attractions which the older kids enjoy just as much (a day at the beach, Arabian Knights, etc.) Even the 2-bedroom DVC villa didn't seem to provide enough room for our group.

We find that meals also work better off site. Teens (at least the ones in my family) tend to have unusual eating patterns. They would rather graze throughout the day than sit down for actual meals. When we stay off site, we buy lots of different types of snacks and let them pack them up for each day. Having multiple bedrooms also allows for different bedtimes. We all don't need to be on the same schedule.

The downside is that unless you have multiple cars you all have to come and go to the parks at the same time. We don't like waiting for buses so typically rent a car regardless of where we stay, but it is convenient to let part of the group come later or leave a park earlier when bus transportation is available.

The issue of "being 100% part of the Disney Magic" is interesting. I can't say I ever felt out of the magic by staying off site. It was different, but just as good.

When we travel with younger kids, staying at WDW is the best. If you plan to spend as much time as possible at the Disney parks, I would stay on site. If you don't mind taking things a little slower and doing less Disney and more relaxing at the House, try staying off site.

We have a one-week onsite planned for OKW in November (2 little girls, 4 adults) followed by an off-site vacation in a 4 bedroom townhouse in April (3 teens, 4 adults). I know they will be two totally different experiences!

Donna

 

[Brian Noble]

Even the 2-bedroom DVC villa didn't seem to provide enough room for our group.

One of the things I've never liked about the DVC units is that the living spaces are pretty much all designed for four people, even though as lockoffs they sleep 6 comfortably (and 8 if you squeeze). The table has only four chairs (or maybe even two in e.g. VWL), etc. It's worse outside of OKW, where the living room can be tight even for four adults.

Most other timeshares in the area have 2BRs that not only sleep 6-8, but can actually "live" that many, as well. On the other hand, I think most of the Windsor Hills floorplans are a little short on common space for their sleeping capacity as well.

 

[cigarboo]

If M-I-L is willing to pay for most of it, then I'd stay on site. Don't know what kind of budget you're on, but if M-I-L doesn't seem to mind picking up a big part, then I would think YOUR personal budget should still be in line. I think the last thing you want to hear over and over again from M-I-L is, "see, we should have stayed on-site" and "IF we were on-site..." If everyone/family gets their own room, then space may not be that big of an issue. Price out a few hotels, on-site and off and see what M-I-L thinks. Maybe she has no idea about the cost difference. Many people get into their heads that on-site is the only way to go, until they see the price.

 

[davinakb]

If everyone/family gets their own room, then space may not be that big of an issue. Price out a few hotels, on-site and off and see what M-I-L thinks. Maybe she has no idea about the cost difference. Many people get into their heads that on-site is the only way to go, until they see the price.

Good idea. Also show her pictures if you happen to be getting a themed villa, mention extras like video games, internet, extra baths for the larger group. Perhaps also work out a transportation plan, should the group want to split. We prefer the space, comfort, amenities of off site, which cannot be beat for the price. We use those savings to enjoy longer stays, and more "Disney magic" like character meals, signature dinners, outlet souvenir shopping, etc. Perhaps show your MIL how, with the money saved off-site you can splurge on more character meals, souvenirs, etc. FWIW.

 

[Frothy]

If all you intend to do is Disney everyday then that's the only reason for staying on site. I've done both and there's no way I'd stay on site again. We rent a fabulous home, get out and see other parts of Florida and we enjoy our time in the extra space a home provides. Everyone gets their own bedroom and we all love the pool so much and the fact we don't have to share with other people. It's more relaxing. Price doesn't come into it for us as we want to enjoy ourselves but of course, we enjoy the money we save by staying in a home as it goes further and allows us to go out every night for good meals at great restaurants.

MIL is probably resistant because this is new to her. It's understandable but once she's stayed in a home and realised how close to Disney you still are, then she'll probably come to realise she's panicing for no reason. Another solution maybe to split the trip... a few nights on site and a few nights off site. She can then see the difference and next time it will be easier.

 

[d1gitman]

w w w . d v c b y r e q u e s t . c o m is good site to look at for DVC rentals

 

[d1gitman]

You could look into Cabins at Fort Wilderness too.

At an avg of $100 night, you could get 3 rooms at a value resort for under the $2500 you mentioned. I have found the suites at WDW to be very expensive. The family suite at All Star Music is similar in cost to 2 individual rooms, so i don't see the advantage in that.

If MIL is offering to pony up, don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

We have stayed offsite 1x and onsite 7x (8thx coming up in 6 days). We love being immersed in WDW and 'feel the magic'.

We have not tried DVC rentals as of yet, but it is high on our list when free dining in the fall dissappears. Studios at Old Key West are roomier than regular rooms at the other resorts. Renting DVC points is a way to get OKW studio rooms for prices near what value resorts cost.