We are currently booked at Port Orleans Riverside for a week in March. It's me and DH and our girls ages 4 and 8. My sister and her hubby are also coming and have two kids ages 2 and 5.
I would really like to get. 3 bedroom condo/villa/house or something with more space, a kitchen and maybe even washer/dryer.
Some things I'm concerned about:
The bus system, we would drive to all parks except MK, only because I've heard it's hard to drive to. Thoughts?
EMHs, think we will miss them!
These are my only concerns as I think we would appreciate the extra space and ability to cook a few meals.
Thoughts? Recommendations?
I've done both - my take:
Airport - Onsite you check bags at departing gate and never see them until they're delivered to your room. You wait a short time at Orlando Airport for bus to fill to take you to Disney resort.
Offsite same as onsite at departure, and my wife and in-laws grabbed porter to get luggage while I secured the minivan at Orlando. Porter loaded van at curbside.
We were away with our luggage faster doing it ourselves.
Check-in - At onsite resort, we stood in line to check in while kids watched a TV in the lobby, then waited for transportation to our room. Luggage did not arrive for several hours.
Offsite (Windsor Hills) we pulled to gate, showed guard the pass we had received weeks in advance, then drove to our townhome. Had our own assigend parking spot a few feet from front door. Luggage unloaded, swimming trunks on in matter of minutes.
Accomodations - Onsite we had two 340 square foot boxes, each equipped with 2 double beds and a lavatory in the main "living" area. Small fridge and I think a coffe maker. Very old mattresses.
Offsite, 3BR townhome, all ensuite. Living room, full kitchen, dining room table for 6, splash pool on screened in lanai. Full size washer/dryer...can you say "dry swimming suits?" Wife and I had King bed, kids had twin beds in Disney themed room, in-laws had Queen on 1st floor. DVD and game systems trhoughout, although we never used, and flat panel TVs throughout. Free WiFi.
Bedtime - Onsite wife an I tried to remain quiet in dark while kids tried to sleep. Same thing in a.m. Lavatory in main sleeping area was hassle in middle of night (if you wash your hands.)
Offsite we put the kids to bed and came back down to relax, talk, consume adult beverages, check out internet for attractions we hadn't thought off, etc. Same thing in morning - showered and had first cup of coffee before kids ever got up.
Breakfast - Onsite we had a choice. I would take my Bedhead on a walk to the food court and truck back what I thought everyone would want so we could take turns eating on a bed, or we could all get up and take our bedheads to food court to eat as a family.
Offsite we ate as we got up, usually me and the in-laws were up and showered before everyone else. While wife was in shower, kids straggled down and got to sit in jammies at a table and eat. Bagel, cereal, fruit, eggs, pancakes - whatever they felt like.
Transportation to/from parks - Onsite we had to walk across a
Walmart sized lot (Caribbean) to wait for bus. Usually entailed a decent wait as all buses don't go to all parks and buses the bus going to "our" park was full. With kids and grandparents, standing wasn't an option. Delivery at the park was good. Coming home was slightly better at park as there were separate lines for each resort. However, the bus stop hadn't moved, so long trek to room upon arrival.
Offsite we walked 3 feet to van. At AK, EP and HS we parked close due to buying a
AAA pass. For MK, we parked at transportation center and rode monorail. The walk was less than the resort lot we experienced onsite. We used tips we learned here to mitigate time - shortcut to AK and using resort monorail instead of TC monorail at end of the day (don't tell anyone).
Meals - Everybody eats the same at the parks. Onsite we felt like we were eating the same food while at the food court. I'm sure some resorts have better options, and if you have a car, more still.
Offsite we had every option available. Nice restaurants, fast food, make something at home, you name it. Gave the kids a sense of normalcy after a day of sensory overload.
Intangibles - If you need to be immersed 24/7, probably better to go onsite. Funny, though, my kids didn't know they weren't immersed. WH is so nice and the townhome was decorated in such a way that they thought they were at Disney.
Second, hard for some (not me) to quantify the value of personal space. My kids referred to onsite as "the hotel" and offsite as "our home." They used phrases like "my room, our pool, our TV."
Third, hard for some (again, not me) to quantify the value of community (family) space. Sitting down to eat with the whole family is a big value to us. Couches to sit together on, snacks and drinks in a kitchen and a private splash pool - huge. Sitting on bed to watch TV or eat - not so much.
Lastly, freedom - to go here or there, on your schedule and by your route. To stop for ice cream on the way home.
We stayed onsite because we bought into, "You're hardly ever in your room." At that time we didn't realize just how early the parks closed relative to our bedtimes, or how tired our kids would get at parks. We learned that you're in your room a whole lot more than you probably think, and if it's a 340 sf box, you're going to be sorry.
