Could it be Staying Offsite is Easier or am I Crazy???

[Emme]

Maybe I am just oversimplifing but after much consideration I actually concluded offsite is easier. Now we have done both on/off but this trip is only for 5 days and after researching we are convinced offsite is easier.

We are booked offsite at Quality Suites Palm Pky. $54/night Suite, full hot breakfast, kitchen etc. near DTD.

By staying offsite we do not have to..
1) stand around and wait for busses (almost feel we have to take buses while onsite)
2)get up super duper early for EMH(again feel obligated to use EMH onsite)
ALSO...
3)Have no cancellation fees if something occurs and we need to change/cancel reservations within 24 hours
3) Only paying $53 a night so we can stay in the park all day without thinking hmmm I paid ---I really should be using the resort pool/features.
4)Actually have a bedroom door we can shut and give ourselves some privacy
5) Frees up so many more dining choices (Orlando Ale House...YAY)
6) Full hot breakfast to hold us over until lunch

Do you think I'm just making it sound good? I really have myself convinced this is the way to go this time around. Any input?

 

[TotoToo]

By staying offsite we do not have to..
1) stand around and wait for busses (almost feel we have to take buses while onsite)
2)get up super duper early for EMH(again feel obligated to use EMH onsite)
ALSO...
3)Have no cancellation fees if something occurs and we need to change/cancel reservations within 24 hours
3) Only paying $53 a night so we can stay in the park all day without thinking hmmm I paid ---I really should be using the resort pool/features.
4)Actually have a bedroom door we can shut and give ourselves some privacy
5) Frees up so many more dining choices (Orlando Ale House...YAY)
6) Full hot breakfast to hold us over until lunch

Do you think I'm just making it sound good? I really have myself convinced this is the way to go this time around. Any input?

You got it! It makes no sense at all to me that anyone would pay more to stay in smaller, far less equipped rooms, deal with frustrating on site transportation and off site busing, eat the sub-par food that is standard fare at the majority of on site sources and deal with a cramped hotel room vs a true 1 (or more) bedroom condo. Do it cheaper and far more enjoyably away from the everything Disney nightmare and you'll likely have a much more relaxing and memorable trip. Enjoy!

 

[travelfanatic]

I agree with ToTo Too! Cute name by the way! I used to think we had to stay on site but then I realized there are much nicer accomadations for much less outside the world. I have saved a ton staying offsite!! The last time we stayed onsite I had to stand on the bus EVERY single time. I told my husband that I had paid good money to stay on site and I don't expect to have to stnad on a bus every time I get on one and this was in the off season! I would much rather get in my own car and be able to have a nice enjoyable ride back to my hotel. Besides, I have been standing all day I am ready to sit down! So, I agree with you on all accounts. I doubt very seriously we will pay big bucks to stay onsite again.

 

[mm80507]

I am seriously, almost 99% sure, considering staying offsite this go around. We just upgraded our tickets from the last trip to seasonal passes. We take our own car, only live 6 hours away, but would have to pay to park in parks. My husband seems to think the buses are the way to go...doesn't want to walk any extra to our car. What do you all think about traffic when driving your own car? Is is seriously a hike to the car? I'm like the previous poster...I hated riding the buses back at the end of a long day, dealing with other tired people, who were giving my tired children dirty looks. I think to have our own car would be a welcome, familiarity we would need. But, as I'm needing to build ammunition to convince my husband of this, I'd appreciate any thoughts!

 

[Brian Noble]

Do you have kids? Most husbands are easily convinced once you tell them that, offsite, you can have a suite, with a master bedroom door that closes...and locks.

 

[chipscamping buddy]

Maybe I am just oversimplifing but after much consideration I actually concluded offsite is easier. Now we have done both on/off but this trip is only for 5 days and after researching we are convinced offsite is easier.

We are booked offsite at Quality Suites Palm Pky. $54/night Suite, full hot breakfast, kitchen etc. near DTD.

By staying offsite we do not have to..
1) stand around and wait for busses (almost feel we have to take buses while onsite)
2)get up super duper early for EMH(again feel obligated to use EMH onsite)
ALSO...
3)Have no cancellation fees if something occurs and we need to change/cancel reservations within 24 hours
3) Only paying $53 a night so we can stay in the park all day without thinking hmmm I paid ---I really should be using the resort pool/features.
4)Actually have a bedroom door we can shut and give ourselves some privacy
5) Frees up so many more dining choices (Orlando Ale House...YAY)
6) Full hot breakfast to hold us over until lunch

Do you think I'm just making it sound good? I really have myself convinced this is the way to go this time around. Any input?

1) This is silly. You can drive just as easily onsite as off, and you have even less distance to cover.
2) Many consider this a privilege not a burden. I am not a great fan of the morning hour, but the three extra hours at night are great. I can enjoy more of the afternoon doing other things because of those three hours.
3,4) Off site is indeed cheaper, although $53 for a suite is VERY uncommon. The rooms at WDW are small compared to a comparable rate outside the park. This is a valid reason and one of the best to stay offsite. Don't forget to add the crazy parking fees at WDW to your calculations, but still you can always save staying offsite.
5) Again, this is a silly statement. If you have a car, you can go anywhere you want. There are no armed guards keeping you on property. We routinely eat outside. Many of the full service restaurants at WDW serve better food than most outside restaurants, but very few outside restaurants cost $30 a person.
6) MMMM. I love my breakfast. While DW thinks this is a silly reason, I personally think this is the best reason.

If you don't like EMH and don't mind driving, stay offsite and save money!

 

[Emme]

1) This is silly. You can drive just as easily onsite as off, and you have even less distance to cover.
2) Many consider this a privilege not a burden. I am not a great fan of the morning hour, but the three extra hours at night are great. I can enjoy more of the afternoon doing other things because of those three hours.
3,4) Off site is indeed cheaper, although $53 for a suite is VERY uncommon. The rooms at WDW are small compared to a comparable rate outside the park. This is a valid reason and one of the best to stay offsite. Don't forget to add the crazy parking fees at WDW to your calculations, but still you can always save staying offsite.
5) Again, this is a silly statement. If you have a car, you can go anywhere you want. There are no armed guards keeping you on property. We routinely eat outside. Many of the full service restaurants at WDW serve better food than most outside restaurants, but very few outside restaurants cost $30 a person.
6) MMMM. I love my breakfast. While DW thinks this is a silly reason, I personally think this is the best reason.

If you don't like EMH and don't mind driving, stay offsite and save money!

Guess I'm just silly then

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Do you have kids? Most husbands are easily convinced once you tell them that, offsite, you can have a suite, with a master bedroom door that closes...and locks.

I completely agree!!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

3,4) Off site is indeed cheaper, although $53 for a suite is VERY uncommon.

True but for not much more you can get a 2 br condo and still have a full kitchen, washer/dryer, and parents & kids have their own bedrooms & bathrooms.

 

[travelfanatic]

I am seriously, almost 99% sure, considering staying offsite this go around. We just upgraded our tickets from the last trip to seasonal passes. We take our own car, only live 6 hours away, but would have to pay to park in parks. My husband seems to think the buses are the way to go...doesn't want to walk any extra to our car. What do you all think about traffic when driving your own car? Is is seriously a hike to the car? I'm like the previous poster...I hated riding the buses back at the end of a long day, dealing with other tired people, who were giving my tired children dirty looks. I think to have our own car would be a welcome, familiarity we would need. But, as I'm needing to build ammunition to convince my husband of this, I'd appreciate any thoughts!

When we stayed offsite last time it was quicker driving than waiting on a bus. We were staying at a hotel in DTD to give you an idea of drive time. the only park that takes a little longer to get to the car is MK. But we were on monorail within minutes and on the tram immediately after that. Again, it was refreshing to sit down. I was worried about traffic getting out but there was none. I was a piece of cake! The other parks were even better. We have AP's so parking is free for us anyway. It was also MUCH easier getting my stroller back in the car than folded up and put on the bus.

 

[shalom]

Do you think I'm just making it sound good? I really have myself convinced this is the way to go this time around. Any input?

I know a lot of people who've done both who far prefer offsite. I'm one who first started looking into onsite options and went, "I want to stay at them all." Then I quit looking resort pics and started looking at pictures of the rooms...

Plus we stayed in a suite this past Christmas that reminded me how much I really want the full living room, full kitchen, and the porch, because even in winter, having that porch means having more light in the unit. The rooms were huge and the service was excellent, they pulled out the sleeper sofa and redid it and even set up the stuffed animals so they were watching TV or whatever, great hot breakfast every morning, lots of stuff in the shop onsite to make in the microwave and a fridge for leftovers and yadda yadda, but while I enjoyed all that I still wanted a condo.

It's fine to list the advantages and disadvantages, but for me, it ultimately comes down to what works for you. If the Disney magic isn't enough for you to justify the higher price, I do agree that in a lot of ways it's more convenient to be offsite.

3,4) Off site is indeed cheaper, although $53 for a suite is VERY uncommon.

Anytime we've wanted to go, we could have gotten a 2 BR that sleeps 8 for $50/night through RCI. We've got a place this May for less than that renting points, so you don't have to be an RCI member or rent by the week to get that sort of deal. The place we went last year, which is admittedly a snazzier resort closer to WDW with fancier pools and a lake and whatnot, we can get a 2BR that sleeps 8 for $70/night. Peak times I'm sure you're right, but when we go that price doesn't seem unusual.

 

[shalom]

Sorry, duplicate.

 

[Brian Noble]

I know a lot of people who've done both who far prefer offsite.

I've done both---about half and half. There are two ways to make the comparison: equal dollars, or equal space/amenities.

For equal dollars, it's almost a no-brainer. For about what it costs to stay in a Value resort, or maybe a little more, you can usually score a 2BR condo with a kitchen, washer/dryer, in a nice resort-style development, no more than 15 minutes from any theme park parking lot. I wouldn't stay in a single Value or Moderate room with the four of us if it were free---that's just not vacation to me. And, honestly, I don't even consider offsite hotel rooms, because I don't "do" hotel rooms. The good news is that Orlando is chock-a-block with outstanding villa/condo rentals, and it's a renter's market even when the economy is strong.

For equal space/amenities, things are different. When I stay onsite, I do so only in a 1BR or 2BR DVC villa---even if I'm traveling alone. (Remember, I don't "do" hotel rooms). With the kids, we almost always go with a 2BR villa for the four of us so that everyone has their own bed and I don't have to give up my living room for the night owls/early birds. If the cost were the same, again it's a no-brainer; I'd rather stay onsite. I'd even pay a little more for it. In a villa, I still have my kitchen, I still have my washer dryer. I can drive if I like or take the bus as I choose, I can avoid EMH if I like, or partake if I choose. I still have my privacy. I can go to an offsite location for dinner if I choose, or we can "eat in" because we have real dishes, cutlery, and a dining room table. (Well, usually. The one thing that bugs me about DVC is that many of the resorts don't have what you'd call a "dining room table".)

But, the reality is that for most people, the cost is not the same, or even close. So, the question boils down to how much more, if any, would you spend for the onsite experience? Alternatively, how much are you willing to give up in terms of space, amenities, etc. for the onsite experience? For me, the answer is "not much". So, when I can score a great deal on an onsite stay, I will take it. When I can't? Lots of other great options in Orlando.

 

[Hemlock]

Do you have kids? Most husbands are easily convinced once you tell them that, offsite, you can have a suite, with a master bedroom door that closes...and locks.

Have you been talking to my husband??

 

[Brian Noble]

No, but I am a husband. We're all mostly the same.

 

[MomofKatie]

What do you all think about traffic when driving your own car? Is is seriously a hike to the car?

We always walk less when we drive than when we have taken Disney transportation. A park-by-park breakdown:

MK- the longest time (but not the longer walk) from car to park- longer than by bus, since you park at the TTC and must then take the ferry or monorail. However, the tram takes you to the front of the TTC. It is a 2 minute walk at most to the ferry dock/monorail station. Then, you are let off closer than the bus dropoff area once you get to the MK.

Epcot- If you arrive before RD, you can walk from the lot to the front gate in less than 2 minutes. Even if you take the tram from a farther-flung lot, you are dropped off at the gates. The busses can be a real hike, depending on which resort you are staying at (the Values stops take forever to get to).

DHS- Again, if you arrive early, the walk to the gates is less than 5 minutes. The tram drops you directly at the front entrance.

AK- There can be a little walk to the front of the park from the lot (strangely, if you arrive early, you will have no tram to drive you in and the walk can be longer than any of the other parks). The tram, though, if you get to ride on it, takes you right to the front of the park. The bus lots are farther away.

And the busses to/from ALL parks can be extremely crowded, noisy, sweaty, and you might have to stand on them through the entire vacation. The lines at the resorts in the morning and at the parks at the end of the day can be loooong (especially the end of the day, when you are tired and the kids are cranky). The time it takes to load ECVs can be frustrating as well.

Overall, even if staying onsite, we ALWAYS drive to the parks (with the possible exception of MK). Getting in your car, being able to crank the AC and have a seat, is heaven after a long day at the parks.

 

[shalom]

What do you all think about traffic when driving your own car?

Traffic depends on where you stay. It's dead easy to get in from the houses to the north east without hitting any traffic, and the traffic isn't a big deal coming in from the south end of International Drive via World Center drive (or at least it wasn't for us, and I've heard people who go at busier times say the same). If I remember rightly, there's a back way from Orange Lake that's pretty easy, too.

But if you're further north on International Drive, where you'd be taking I-4 in, there's a lot of traffic. Same if you're further west and coming in on Irlo Bronson, I believe. Also, some places you stay right by your car and some places you're in a big building with a parking lot right beside it, but I've never heard of any off-site resort where you have to walk so far to your car as you do at most of the Disney resorts. Disney resorts, seems to me, pretty and theme trump convenience.

I don't even consider offsite hotel rooms, because I don't "do" hotel rooms.

We have no problem with hotel rooms (although we usually get a suite) driving to and from our vacation, but we've definitely gotten to the point where hotel rooms are just not vacation for us.

The one thing that bugs me about DVC is that many of the resorts don't have what you'd call a "dining room table".)

They have some other quirks that seem cheap to me, but that's one that particularly bugs me as well, because we do eat in the villa most of the time -- sometimes we're eating food we picked up from a restaurant, but it's still a real meal eaten there.

We'd stay onsite in a DVC unit if we could trade into it, but even renting points at the going rate it costs five times as much as staying just offsite in a (by our standards) nicer resort, plus our TS just totally changed how we do RCI, making it harder to get those deals, so I doubt we'll do it often. I keep thinking if it's just hubby and I that we'd be happy staying onsite in a hotel room doing the dining deal sometime, but OTOH, the one time we had a one BR condo to ourselves, we thought that was cramped. So when it comes right down to it, maybe not.

 

[Brian Noble]

We have no problem with hotel rooms (although we usually get a suite) driving to and from our vacation, but we've definitely gotten to the point where hotel rooms are just not vacation for us.

That's about where we are too. I can put up with it for a night "in transit". But that's about it.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

You are not crazy for thinking you will prefer offsite. If you have convinced yourself that you will like offsite better, then likely you will. Plenty of folks prefer offsite.

There are times when I don't mind staying offsite. Usually I prefer onsite, but there are some really nice places offsite. One reason to stay offsite that is perfectly valid is that you simply want to try something different. There is nothing wrong with that notion. Sometimes you can get a nicer room offsite for less money. Sometimes it's just nice to see the REST of the Orlando area beyond WDW. Oh, and the 45day policy is just for packages. If you have aroom only, I think the fee free cancel period is 5 days. Not as good as 24. EVen with packages, you can still get most of your money back. (A good number of folks don't seem to know all that)

The price you quote, seems a little low to me. In that price range, I would not expect anything fancy, but maybe you got a great deal. You may find though that it's not as nice as a WDW value. I have a very high level of confiedence that WDW resorts are clean; I've not always found the offsite places to meet the same standard. That's one of the biggest reasons why my general offsite low-end limit is around $100 when picking hotels. (call me an insect-ophobe, but I think the risk/cost of dealing with bedbugs or roaches that followed me home would be over $50.)

I do think perhaps the reasons you give here for why offsite is better are not the strongest ones, but you also don't have to justify your choice to us.


Oh - to answer a previous poster - they probably haven't stayed a large convention resort. Thre's one in Disney backyard - to name one - wher ethe parking is FAR from yoru room - the Marriott World Center. They offer a shuttle to the parking LOT! And that resort is just off Disney preperty. I also had a hike to my car the one time we stayed in one of the non-Disney DTD resorts. (used to Grosvenor) Neither was worse than the parking at GF. GF general parking is pretty far from many GF rooms.

 

[Emme]

The price you quote, seems a little low to me. In that price range, I would not expect anything fancy, but maybe you got a great deal. You may find though that it's not as nice as a WDW value. I have a very high level of confiedence that WDW resorts are clean; I've not always found the offsite places to meet the same standard. That's one of the biggest reasons why my general offsite low-end limit is around $100 when picking hotels. (call me an insect-ophobe, but I think the risk/cost of dealing with bedbugs or roaches that followed me home would be over $50.)

I do think perhaps the reasons you give here for why offsite is better are not the strongest ones, but you also don't have to justify your choice to us.

I am not justifying anything . I was just sharing with others why I thought I had made a decent decision. This was not a cause for debate just some good natured fun and opinions.

As far as my $50 deal I did get an extremely good rate. Quality Suites matched a lower rate I found on Avista and then gave me another 10% off hence the $54 a night. The reviews on Tripadvisor were good. I wouldn't compromise my family no matter how low the price was. I did my research.

Take a peek...
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re..._Suites_Lake_Buena_Vista-Orlando_Florida.html