Christmas Week is it essential to stay onsite

[ANGIELAST]

We are visiting Christmas week and are staying in a Villa. We have the chance to book a 2 bed suite at Endless Summer Resort (the premium hotels are out of the budget).
Is it worth doing? Will it make any difference? Or should we save the pennies and drive up and park. We have never done Christmas before. We do have a disability pass
Thanks

 

[CAPSLOCK]

The main differences:
Early entry
Easy & reliable transportation to the parks via bus - vs a crowded parking garage. Either way, you go through the same security hub into CityWalk.
Ease of going back to the hotel for a break mid day.

Are you by chance annual passholders and/or have you looked at annual passholder hotel rates? They do have some for the 2 bedroom Endless Summer suites for Christmas week depending on your exact dates. https://reservations.universalorlan...px?hotelID=15783&lang=en-us&hgID=641&currID=1
You'd need the power pass due to the blockout dates on the lower tier passes, but depending on how much you'd save on the suite that could still work out cheaper. Plus with the power AP you also get food & merchandise discounts almost everywhere on property. Only one person would need to get an AP.