Changing off-site to onsite for FP+?

[kaymom]

My husband wants to change the accommodations for our trip because of the FP+ and because he's worried that I'll be miserable trying to figure out how to tour the parks with all of the changes. Currently we have a non-refundable deposit of $250 for a townhouse at Windsor Hills (stayed there before and love it) and the total cost for 7 nights is $825. Now for similar accommodations we can book at OKW for $2450 for 7 nights. Would it really be worth it? Is staying onsite $1600 more magical? We've never stayed onsite. Either way, we will have a rental car.

 

[vicki_c]

It's not even $1600 for you.

It's $2450-$825=$1525
Plus
$250 deposit you would be losing

So, $1775

 

[Alesia]

Off-site guests should be able to book FP+ in advance for trips that begin after April 7th.

I wouldn't change from off-site to onsite just because of FP+

 

[married2mm]

You could keep your townhouse and book cheapest value accommodation-for the disney perks-and it wouldn't cost as much as okw.

Not ideal for everyone-but we've done double bookings-and had a fab time.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

As a PP mentioned, perhaps consider a throwaway room - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3218652

 

[kaymom]

I knew it wasn't exactly $1600 But when you are blowing that much more money on a room, it's not worth it to think about the deposit you'll be losing too or you won't enjoy your trip!

 

[blessedby3]

I booked a "throw away" reservation for us too. We are staying 2 weeks at Bonnet Creek in June. My dd's and I are going to stay at AOA for 2 nights (not a throw away) and so we were eligible for FP+. My DH, DS, DSIL were not staying at AOA but I went ahead and booked a cheap room through Orbitz for one night at ASM for the guys so they would have access to FP+. If the offsite pre-booking of FP+ goes through like it seems it will, then I will cancel the reservation. I just wanted to make sure we have our options open at this point.

OP, we have stayed at all levels of WDW resorts and enjoyed them all. Since our family size is so big, it costs us a lot more to stay on property than off. We started staying off property on our last visit in 2012 (at Bonnet Creek) and we love the space that we get for the great price. We will be most likely staying off property from now on. You really have to decide for yourself if it is worth the extra cost. At one point I would have said yes, because we do love staying in the "bubble"…but at this point in our lives with older kids and a new DSIL in the mix, it is better for us to be off and save a ton of money in the process. By staying off we are able to stay for 2 weeks this June instead of 1 :good vibes and we can't wait!

 

[blessedby3]

It's not even $1600 for you.

It's $2450-$825=$1525
Plus
$250 deposit you would be losing

So, $1775

I knew it wasn't exactly $1600 But when you are blowing that much more money on a room, it's not worth it to think about the deposit you'll be losing too or you won't enjoy your trip!

Of course you could add back in the $15 a day you would have to spend for parking (if you were off)…but that doesn't really make too much of a dent in that large of a difference

 

[kaymom]

Off-site guests should be able to book FP+ in advance for trips that begin after April 7th.

I wouldn't change from off-site to onsite just because of FP+

Thanks for your input. Our trip is for April 26-May 3. I think you are right, and if I really have to have it all, I'll take the advice of booking a room we won't be using. We then could have MB and free parking along with an option to come to that resort's pool for a mid-day break. Lots to think about now!

 

[kaymom]

Of course you could add back in the $15 a day you would have to spend for parking (if you were off)…but that doesn't really make too much of a dent in that large of a difference

I agree!

 

[Trinity88]

We're here now, staying offsite. I was really worried about booking FP+ at the parks instead of ahead of time. But we haven't had any issues yet. Now, the make up of my family helps - for example we were at AK today and DH took the older girls to EE at rope drop while my 3 year old and I got FP+ set up. Tomorrow they'll ride Space Mountain at rope drop and we'll get FP again.

I can't say if the cost difference is too much or too little, cost wasn't our reason for staying off site (kids getting sleep was our reason). But I can say FP+ hasn't been the nightmare I expected it to be.

 

[kaymom]

We're here now, staying offsite. I was really worried about booking FP+ at the parks instead of ahead of time. But we haven't had any issues yet. Now, the make up of my family helps - for example we were at AK today and DH took the older girls to EE at rope drop while my 3 year old and I got FP+ set up. Tomorrow they'll ride Space Mountain at rope drop and we'll get FP again.

I can't say if the cost difference is too much or too little, cost wasn't our reason for staying off site (kids getting sleep was our reason). But I can say FP+ hasn't been the nightmare I expected it to be.

Ours wasn't really cost either, just more space, a kitchen and laundry, plus better sleeping arrangements. Thanks for the update! Part of me wants to just roll with what my husband wants to do because I've never gotten to stay on property and Old Key West looks fun, but the fact that I could buy a new refrigerator for my kitchen with the cost difference--that's a little crazy!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

The throwaway room needs to only be booked for your first night *and you shouldn't cancel/get your money back once you have your MBs/FP+ set up! Sheesh! You don't need to sleep there; you'll only get free parking for the days of your reservation but you'll have FP+ for all days on your tickets *which you link to your room reservation, the thread I shared above explains it all.

 

[Alesia]

The throwaway room needs to only be booked for your first night *and you shouldn't cancel/get your money back once you have your MBs/FP+ set up! Sheesh! You don't need to sleep there; you'll only get free parking for the days of your reservation but you'll have FP+ for all days on your tickets *which you link to your room reservation, the thread I shared above explains it all.

Yes, but since the OP's trip is in May, she shouldn't need the throwaway room at all. By then off-site guests should be able to book FP+ in advance.

 

[Networth]

To wether onsite is worth it or not. I refuse to stay off site. It does not feel remotely the same to me. So when we do Disney we stay on-site but everyone values things in different ways. Seeing as you have never stayed on site I would try it at least once.

People can enjoy their rental houses/private pools/kitchens/backyards etc. I have all those at my own house. When I'm on vacation I want a house keeper/maid, I want theming, I want service full service concierge/room service/baggage. I want a spa on site and signature dining downstairs. I want the monorail 2 mins from my room, I want to see the fireworks at night from my balcony and hear the MK train from my balcony when I get up in the mornings. These are things offsite can never give me, which is why I am willing to pay the premium Disney charges.

 

[hockeygirl14]

Having stayed on and off property I do see your dilemma. I don't think that FP+ will be a big issue; however I do think everyone should stay on property once! Have you considered other resorts besides OKW? There are plenty of options that won't cost you as much. If you stay on property you can also have access to the dining plan (which no one seems to have mentioned) but if you are spending all your time in the parks it might be something to look into as well
Personally, I would switch to on property because you can rent a house anywhere and its good to change it up once and a while! After staying on property over the summer my mind was blown and also opened to how different the whole Disney experience is when you are submerged in the bubble!!
Good luck!

 

[kaymom]

To wether onsite is worth it or not. I refuse to stay off site. It does not feel remotely the same to me. So when we do Disney we stay on-site but everyone values things in different ways. Seeing as you have never stayed on site I would try it at least once.

People can enjoy their rental houses/private pools/kitchens/backyards etc. I have all those at my own house. When I'm on vacation I want a house keeper/maid, I want theming, I want service full service concierge/room service/baggage. I want a spa on site and signature dining downstairs. I want the monorail 2 mins from my room, I want to see the fireworks at night from my balcony and hear the MK train from my balcony when I get up in the mornings. These are things offsite can never give me, which is why I am willing to pay the premium Disney charges.

I totally understand.

 

[kaymom]

The verdict is in. I thank everyone on this wonderful site for saving my family lots of money, but making our vacation 10X more magical. This is what I decided to do: We are not going to do a throw away room, but it got me thinking. My BFF is a DVC member and loves the Beach Club. So, I booked our first night's stay at the BC, keeping our condo for the same night (they don't care whether we are there or not because it is keyless entry) and we are going to live it up on our arrival day at the pool/Epcot for fireworks that night/and spend the next day in Epcot. It's so fun because we'd already planned to go to Epcot the next day, so it works out beautifully. We'll just pack up our stuff and leave w/bell services in the am and walk right into Epcot. Then we'll move to our condo that night. The CM I talked to said that we would get the MB, be able to make our FP+ reservations for the entire park ticket length, and have 2 free days of parking. We were also able to get DDP for the 1 night and a great rate for the room(military). So excited I can barely contain myself Because of the DDP, we are going to Chef Mickey's!

 

[nugov2]

To wether onsite is worth it or not. I refuse to stay off site. It does not feel remotely the same to me. So when we do Disney we stay on-site but everyone values things in different ways. Seeing as you have never stayed on site I would try it at least once.

People can enjoy their rental houses/private pools/kitchens/backyards etc. I have all those at my own house. When I'm on vacation I want a house keeper/maid, I want theming, I want service full service concierge/room service/baggage. I want a spa on site and signature dining downstairs. I want the monorail 2 mins from my room, I want to see the fireworks at night from my balcony and hear the MK train from my balcony when I get up in the mornings. These are things offsite can never give me, which is why I am willing to pay the premium Disney charges.

I have stayed onsite, but never with my family. I don't need to try it with them to know that 565 sq feet(size of a suite)a standard is under 300 won't work for the 5 of us. Unless we are only gone a couple of nights we always rent houses on vacation. I have stated this before, but there are many homes all decked out in WDW theming. You can pay extra to have your house cleaned while you are there so that is available and really besides a quick wipe down and your bed made you don't get much more. They devote about 10 minutes each room. Unless you are huge pigs what needs to be cleaned in a house? Even in hotel room my family knows to pick up after themselves. Especially if you don't cook there and dine on site every day like we did. I find having laundry access a perk, I don't like packing dirty clothes.

I can hit the WDW spa everyday, but yes, it isn't on site. Off site can see the fireworks while floating in their pool if you pick one close enough, but hearing the monorail is not an option(but again, that is a perk for me I don't need to hear a train) It is just a quick drive to enjoy everything WDW resorts have to offer(minus the pool...but I'll take my private pool and resort pool over just the resort pool any day). And unless you want to eat at the same restaurant having it downstairs only is a perk once or twice. I know I like to dine at a different place for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Obviously people have different needs, neither one is wrong. I just don't think you have to try it to know you won't like it.

OP we stayed off site not b/c of savings either before the new FP+ and I would book just the one night throwaway room to have access just in case they don't have the system rolled out to offsite by then.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

OP - sounds like a great plan! Enjoy your holiday!