Convince me to stay on-site!

[trivial]

I initially planned to stay off-site, primarily due to cost savings. Then someone introduced me to the idea of renting DVC points, and I never looked back... I'll never stay off-site, and it will be thanks to renting DVC points. We stayed at the BoardWalk Villas, and I heartily recommend it... great room, great atmosphere, extremely close to Epcot and MGM, and then there's the boardwalk...

 

[Mortlives]

Just curious....

To those who responded to the "magic never ending" on-site, do you believe this holds true at Fort Wilderness Campground Resort also?

I sincerely hope so, we're staying there in August. Considering the campfire, the electrical water pageant, the petting zoo, etc. it certainly seems like it could be magical. Not to mention just jumping on a boat to get to the Magic Kingdom... We're looking forward to it.

By the way, welcome to the Dis!

 

[Kevin355]

Having stayed off property with kids, then splurging to stay on property with kids, it is a no-brainer. On property is the best. My boys were 7 and 5 when we stayed off property for the last time. Parking was a bear, leaving the park at close was a bear, and time was limited.

In 2003 when we finally stayed on property, we just let Disney transportation do the driving. And the resorts are excellent. Experiencing the Magic in the parks is great, but the resort magic is not far behind. You can come back to your room after the morning park tour,swim or relax, hit another park, and the extra Magic hours are the best.

It may cost a little more, but the ease and extras far outway the cost.

 

[Jaime]

Our first trip we stayed off site...our second trip we split it 1 week off-site doing non disney things followed by 5 days renting points at the BWV...we had 2 bedroom villa boardwalk view...it cost us $300 a night...all I can say is WOW...the themeing is great...the kids loved the games on the boardwalk...we watched the MK & EPOCT fireworks from our balcony...we could walk or take a relaxing boat ride to EPCOT or MGM. The last trip we did 7 days at the POP with free dining...it was nice but gotta say we prefered renting points and staying at a DVC resort. We are staying at Saratoga in Dec...we are a little concern about location but I figure it will be about the same at the POP for getting around.

I think you will have a great trip where ever you stay but do think you're trip will be more relaxing if you stay in the EPCOT resort area because of ease of access to the parks.

 

[SnoFun68]

I sincerely hope so, we're staying there in August. Considering the campfire, the electrical water pageant, the petting zoo, etc. it certainly seems like it could be magical. Not to mention just jumping on a boat to get to the Magic Kingdom... We're looking forward to it.

By the way, welcome to the Dis!

Thanks for the welcome.

I'm thinking along the same lines as you. I'm thinking as long as it's on Disney property you can't go wrong, even at Fort Wilderness.

We will be heading down in September and trying out one of their cabins. We have a travel trailer, but I'm not thrilled with the campsites and the drive.

Have fun in August and let me know how your experience is at FW.

 

[Troy08]

[ But since this may be a once in a lifetime trip, we are considering staying on-site at least for part of the trip.
>>>>>>>>

Doesn't that line say it all? If it is a once in a lifetime trip , don;t you want all the magic and memories you can get??? Since it appears that money is not an issue, any of the Deluxes would more then suit your needs.

 

[AndyMcV]

Ok, you asked for it.

First off I love this thread!

For us really it's a combination of being immersed in Disney, the convenience and the relaxation factor.

When I go in vacation it usually takes me a good week to really get relaxed to enjoy what I'm doing and not to think of work and other worries. That's pretty bad. However when you go to Disney and stay on site all that goes away quickly. Right away I know that most/all things are taken care of for me. That statement there just relaxes me. I know when I get on the plane on day one I can have just a big sigh of relief. I appreciate it and so do my wife and kids. That's what a vacation is for.. to relax and have fun, right?

So being on site there's no figuring out transportation from the airport, no renting a car, figuring out where to eat (or wasting money on crummy places to eat), driving to and from the parks and fighting the traffic, feeling that I wish we had of just stayed on site.

It's weird but being on-site gives you this sense of a special community that you're a part of. Again a feeling you can’t describe. Knowing that you don’t have to “go home” to a hotel that is far away and is accessed by your car and your driving at the end of a great day is a wonderful feeling.

Our first trip we stayed at the Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista just off the east gates International Drive. It was a nice place to stay no question. However we felt outside. Walking around our hotel was just not good enough entertainment being that close to Disney. During that trip we were at MK on day and stopped at the CR for lunch. My DW said wouldn't it be awesome to just stay here and not go back to the other hotel?? I looked around and said wow you are so right. This WOULD be awesome. So we switched to the CR for the next 4 nights. WHAT a difference it made. It was SO convenient, so relaxing, so cool! The ability to wake up, walk from your room and 2 minutes later your riding on the monorail to the MK or Epcot. Priceless This trip was kid free as we didn't have any yet and even still it was a tonne of fun.

Our next trip in 2005 was incredible. We were totally immersed in Disney for 12 days with our 3.5 year old DS. We stayed at the Swan this time. The location was fantastic right beside Epcot and the Boardwalk. There were SO many things to do and see without even going to a park. Yes, without going to a park. Talk about immersed.

I remember one night walking leisurely from the Beach Club to Epcot with my DW and DS after eating at Beaches and Cream on a warm summer night. We took our time looking around enjoying the view of the Boardwalk the resorts, the boats, the sand and the water. Everyone we saw had a smile on their face, holding doors for other people and just generally being in a great mood like us. It was something you can't describe but you felt... magic. And, also something you'd never get being off-site.

I know there are people that for some reason don’t see the benefit in staying on-site. It’s their choice and I respect it. I think though that those people have never actually stayed on-site for more than 2 or 3 nights. From the posts that I see on this board and our experience is that once you stay on site it’s really REALLY hard to go back to staying at a hotel off-site.

For us (unless it wasn't possible financially) when we stay at Disney it'll always be on-site for sure. I really can’t imagine it any other way.

 

[Shorty82]

Many of the reasons to stay on property have already been mentioned but a few were missed.

One is that you can have anything you buy in the park delivered to your resort's gift shop. No need to lug the souviners around all day and to your car. This is wonderful, especially for more expensive and/or fragile items.

The last time we went we stayed on property for the first time and we loved it. We drove only twice the entire week we were there, once to get some medicine for a rash my brother developed on the way down from an all night off-property pharmacy and the second time was to get to a priority seating at Bouma's at the AKL that the bus would not get us to in time.

It was wonderful letting somebody else drive, being so close to our room, always being in the magic, etc.