Cost comparison on-site vs off

[BellyBaby]

For those who tip the "Mousekeeping" staff on-site at the resort, it is also an expense. Not a huge one, mind you. Unless you have the unfortunate accident of giving away a $50 bill instead of a $5 bill, like another poster had! wups!

Whatever u do, have a good time with the family.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Have you looked into renting DVC points? We did it for our last trip this past December, and the price was pretty good. We had looked at staying off site, since there were 9 of us. It was going to be about $200/night for a condo (I don't remember where we were looking), plus the $14/day to park, and the price to rent a car. We rented points for a 6 night stay in a 2 bedroom villa at Animal Kingdom Lodge for about $1600.

When we looked at the $1600 to stay on site in a 2 bedroom, versus the $1200 to stay off site, as well as $100 to park all week, and $100 or so to rent a car for the week, we chose on site.

Either way, you'll have a great trip! Enjoy yourselves

 

[mrsklamc]

Jen- Was that a lower than average rate for the points? I thought it would be more but it's been awhile since I looked.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Jen- Was that a lower than average rate for the points? I thought it would be more but it's been awhile since I looked.

I rented them for $10 per point, and that seems to still be the price on the rent/trade board. We specifically picked a time in the lowest point season though, and stayed Sunday - Friday, to avoid the Saturday night.

 

[mrodgers]

Wow, I just looked up this Windsor Hills place. The 3 bedroom is bigger than our whole house. I'm curious since I can't see any rate numbers, how much would it cost to stay at Windsor Hills for 6 nights in June for 3 bedrooms?

I found it comical the comments about "if you don't want to cook, laundry, and make the bed... stay onsite." I didn't know it was a worldly rule that you absolutely have to make a bed or that you have to cook and can't bring as much clothes with you if you stay off-site compared to on-site.

 

[abmitch01]

for mid May, we paid $1800 total for a 5 bedroom with pool for 10 nights and divided it among 3 groups of family members. So for me and my two children, it was $600. The house was spotless, gorgeous and the pool fantastic

if you look on VRBO you can see prices. We rented directly from the owners though. There's a spot on the WH website where you can have the owner's contact you with quotes

 

[Tiana]

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[BuzznBelle'smom]

We love, love, LOVE staying off-site! Windsor Hills is fabulous. Sooo much nicer than cramming into a hotel room! We're seriously considering selling some of our DVC points--we like staying off-site THAT much!

Now, we're a family of 6, so we would need 2 hotel rooms, but it still would be a cramped situation in a hotel.

A few other thoughts--even if you don't want to cook and clean on vacations, just doing simple breakfasts can save a ton of money. We also like simple Mom-prepared meals (like spaghetti with jarred sauce and frozen meatballs, or sandwiches--that sort of thing). The kids like being able to snack at will. Heck, DH likes being able to go in the fridge and grab a lemonade or beer to enjoy by the pool.

For our family, the relaxation of off-site is priceless. having a pool literally 5 feet out the door is a huge draw. Other popular items--DD15 likes having her own bedroom with a private bath, DS12 likes the free movie and video game rentals. There's also free wi-fi where we stay (we do a 4BR house, it's ~1200 a week--you could go cheaper, definitely).

We've also really enjoyed expanding our "Orlando horizons" if you will--we've done Universal, Sea World, Gatorland, and a number of off-site restaurants.

We have annual passes and AAA, so we get free, up-close parking.

Now, I'm not knocking staying on-site. Our next trip will be 1 week of each. A 2BR DVC villa is roughly the same size as a 2BR codo or townhouse, and you do have the benefit of Disney transportation, EMH, etc. But, you pay for that--just understand that the cost is included. For us, a 2BR villa rental would be $3500 for a week--for much less space than we get off-site (that's based on $10 a point, to go in the summer).

Anyway, good luck with your decision. I would say, if you're a party of 4 or less, planning to do "commando touring", and will eat most meals in the parks, on-site is probably the way to go. If you want to relax, have more people, and want to save a few $$ by making a few simple meals--go off-site. Or do a split stay!

 

[DisKim]

I have done both on site and off. I love being on site for the whole "Disney" experience. That being said, although I adored Beach Club last summer, I did not adore cramming all 6 on us (youngest was an infant) into one room. I had a pin code and was pricing out 2 rooms, FW cabins, etc. I am now staying in a 2 bedroom unit in Bonnet Creek for half of what I was quoted for those rooms. I have stayed in Windsor Hills and loved it there but I had it in my head that I wanted to be able to see July 4th fireworks from our hotel in order to avoid the park crowds. From what people say, you can request a fireworks view at Bonnet Creek. This seemed the perfect fit for me. We have 2 bedrooms, laundry, kitchen, etc. and we still get the resort feel. BTW, $14 per day to park does not outweigh our savings. In addition, we don't do EMH because my kids can't get up early enough or stay up late enough, so we will just avoid those parks. I usually go to the park that had EMH the day before. That generally works out well for us. Also, having a kitchen will help us stick to our diet. We are still doing our favorite onsite meals though! Also, no one mentioned this, but having a car gives you more freedom in choosing meals. I remember trying to get to Boma from POR without a car. It took forever! As a previous poster said, parking actually takes a lot less time at all the parks with the exception of MK. However, my kids like getting to choose the monorail or the boat. It's part of the whole experience and doesn't bother us. Good luck with your decision. Remember, it's Disney - you'll have fun no matter what!

 

[TnTWalter]

after doing offsite last summer...it's going to be REALLY REALLY hard to get me back onsite...

We are a family of 5 which severely limits where we can stay....2 rooms at POP, crammed into a POR room, paying crazy amounts for the ASM suite with fold-out beds for kids or expensive cabin or the fabulous but costly Poly, etc.

I have received at least 4 pin codes since last summer......and try as I might to make it 'close' I can't....

the last 40% off any category was tempting but again....need 2 rooms at value or 1 room POR....and it's still cheaper offsite....

We did Windsor Hills 3 bedroom condo...tons of room...amazing uncrowded pool....we actually got to and from FASTER than the buses [I didn't believe this when people would say it]...

We didn't hop...we went home in afternoon to swim chill etc. and then went back to same park for evenings....

Obviously can't do dining plan....but we did it twice before our oldest became and adult and they stopped including tips. I don't think dining plan is as cost effective as it used to be personally....

I did miss the nice sit down meals but not that much!

We stayed the longest this time 8 days 7 nights and it was the cheapest!!

We did drive so we didn't have rental car price to add in....

Trish

 

[TnTWalter]

I rented them for $10 per point, and that seems to still be the price on the rent/trade board. We specifically picked a time in the lowest point season though, and stayed Sunday - Friday, to avoid the Saturday night.

5 nights 6 days is Sun-Friday....



For all:
I've looked into points too.....if you can do a studio [family of 4 or less] it's a MUCH better deal than the regular resorts and you get to stay deluxe and can get dining plan without having to buy tix.

I was just checking rates and they're $10 a point now....

If you're a family of 5 or more you have to do 1 bedroom or more. It says 4 for 1 bedroom but they allow 5 legally in 1 bedrooms.


But we did a 3 bedroom condo for $450 for 7 nights 8 days...Sat-Sat.....
see there's the rub...how do you beat that?

Oy....I will do onsite again....just have to 'suck it up' and know it's not for the value. LOL.


Trish

 

[crisi]

We own DVC and I've always been an onsite snob. But I've stayed offsite for conferences and visited Disney and you can get a LOT more room for a LOT less money offsite than on. If I were buying DVC today, I wouldn't - we'd condo offsite.

In ten years we've taken advantage of EMH maybe four times. We don't rent a car and fly in - so Disney transportation (plus a cab here and there to avoid those long bus lines at closing) is wonderful.

Disney is also a place where more days become practically free for tickets (at what, five or six days?). If you have the TIME (i.e. vacation time), and are driving, you can often get a much longer trip for the same money.

I'd also look at cancellation policies - which is why I'd discourage anyone from renting DVC points - at least without adding on insurance - cancellation policies on DVC aren't great and owners don't often give you much flexibility if you need to cancel.

 

[TnTWalter]

We own DVC and I've always been an onsite snob. But I've stayed offsite for conferences and visited Disney and you can get a LOT more room for a LOT less money offsite than on. If I were buying DVC today, I wouldn't - we'd condo offsite.

In ten years we've taken advantage of EMH maybe four times. We don't rent a car and fly in - so Disney transportation (plus a cab here and there to avoid those long bus lines at closing) is wonderful.

Disney is also a place where more days become practically free for tickets (at what, five or six days?). If you have the TIME (i.e. vacation time), and are driving, you can often get a much longer trip for the same money.

I'd also look at cancellation policies - which is why I'd discourage anyone from renting DVC points - at least without adding on insurance - cancellation policies on DVC aren't great and owners don't often give you much flexibility if you need to cancel.

good advice crisi

 

[TnTWalter]

since there are a few threads on this it got me thinking about it...

so as we were driving today, I asked my kiddos what their fave place at Disney was...Poly? Pop? or Windsor Hills....now to be fair only my oldest remembers POP.

They all preferred Poly for the monorail, and it was 'relaxing'. They all preferred Windsor hills for the pool and they had their own rooms.

In the end I told them to pick one....it was a toss up for my oldest, she can never decide. My middle LOVED the Poly, and my youngest said 'I don't care. I just want to go to Disney...'

so there is my official poll result!

Ha Ha.

I would still love to try a moderate. I want to do Caribbean Beach....I think we'll drag someone else along to justify 2 rooms at a moderate! LOL.

Trish

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

I jsut want to add--where the cost comparisons are even close, it's generally with a family of 4 or less. For these families, onsite with a code, etc. can be a deal, especially if you don't mind Disney transportation and aren't picky about the size of the beds (values have full size, I believe).

As I mentioned, we're a family of 6--and DH really likes his king bed. DVC 1BR and up offer king beds, and a number of offsite choices do, as well. I also find that my gang gets along better with the additional space. One time, we inadvertently booked a 1BR AKL villa (youngest was 2.5, so it was "legal"). I wouldn't do it again or recommend it. We were cramped, you couldn't move in the living area when the beds were open, everyone was snapping at each other. A 1BR is the same size as 2 regular hotel rooms, so that tells me that a "vacation" needs more room for us.

 

[crisi]

Disney is also a place where more days become practically free for tickets (at what, five or six days?). If you have the TIME (i.e. vacation time), and are driving, you can often get a much longer trip for the same money.

To expand on this - if someone were saying "I have three days at Disney, where should I stay" - my advice would be "stay on the monorail" - time is of the essence with a very short trip - time becomes much more valuable than money (as long as you have the money to spend).

If someone were saying - "we have two weeks" - get yourself a condo or home offsite! Time becomes much less constrained and the space offsite - even over a DVC room - is far superior. And with that much time, the appeal of other Orlando area attractions and the need to eat a homecooked meal increase.

 

[scoobydoo2010]

This webpage has a good guide of a vacation home vs.a resort hotel set-up.

http://www.magicalvacationhomes.com/vacation_home_vs_hotel.htm

I think it is all the little things that add up, plus I prefer having our own place for privacy!

 

[torinsmom]

Wow, I just looked up this Windsor Hills place. The 3 bedroom is bigger than our whole house. I'm curious since I can't see any rate numbers, how much would it cost to stay at Windsor Hills for 6 nights in June for 3 bedrooms?

I found it comical the comments about "if you don't want to cook, laundry, and make the bed... stay onsite." I didn't know it was a worldly rule that you absolutely have to make a bed or that you have to cook and can't bring as much clothes with you if you stay off-site compared to on-site.

We stayed in a 3 bedroom Emerald Island townhome June 18-25 and it was only $450 for the whole week! Lots of room, full kitchen, washer/dryer and really close to the clubhouse/pool. It took us between 5 and 15 minutes to get to all the WDW parking lots. We had to pay for parking, but we left every day at lunch and came back in the evening. This is the one we stayed in
http://www.vacationhomerentals.com/vacation-rentals/Kissimmee-Florida-vacation-rental-townhouse-proID-42665.html

When we stayed at Pop,we had to walk to the bus stop in the morning, wait for a bus, maybe 2, before we had a spot, and likely had to stand up. When we were ready to leave, we had to wait in a killer line again for that bus and then walk a mile back to our room. I'm sorry, but it's worth $14/day to park to avoid that mess! And not having a fridge or a microwave really did suck. When we wanted something, we had to walk all the way to the main building to get it.

Besides, I saved at least $250 over staying at Pop, so what's $98 in parking fees? We saved more money by eating offsite, and driving over to Target(2 miles from EI) when we needed to buy ponchos, snacks, etc. It was a very relaxing to be able to spread out. DS brought his Xbox and played that when we took a break, and I sat on our little patio and read, or watched tv, or used the FREE internet. It was really awesome! We will never stay onsite again!

Oh, and who needs EMH? We managed to do everything we wanted and never waited more than 20 minutes. This was summer crowds times, so I imagine it would be even easier other times.

Marsha

 

[Planogirl]

I jsut want to add--where the cost comparisons are even close, it's generally with a family of 4 or less. For these families, onsite with a code, etc. can be a deal, especially if you don't mind Disney transportation and aren't picky about the size of the beds (values have full size, I believe).

As I mentioned, we're a family of 6--and DH really likes his king bed. DVC 1BR and up offer king beds, and a number of offsite choices do, as well. I also find that my gang gets along better with the additional space. One time, we inadvertently booked a 1BR AKL villa (youngest was 2.5, so it was "legal"). I wouldn't do it again or recommend it. We were cramped, you couldn't move in the living area when the beds were open, everyone was snapping at each other. A 1BR is the same size as 2 regular hotel rooms, so that tells me that a "vacation" needs more room for us.

Actually, it's normally just my son and I and I don't ever save a bit by staying onsite. I admit that I do have trouble getting discounted rooms when we go though. The dining plan actually ends up being more expensive with just the two of us.

I do like the moderates or deluxes onsite though. I'll be back when I finally find a good deal.