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

[2disneyboys]

we have mostly stayed onsite and actually, our upcoming trip in April are staying offsite Windsor Hills.

We have AP so don't need to pay for parking @ the parks. I also agree w/ you.. I always feel like I am "wasting" my $$ if I stay onsite and DON"T do the EMH's..and DH likes having a room with a door! We got a 3 br house (8 people) w/ a private splash pool for 8 nights for alittle under $700. My sister & her family are joining us and spliting the cost of the house.. its costing each of us $350.00for the week....

I can totally justify staying onsite, but I'm finding out I am able to go for twice a long for the same price or less in much nicer/bigger accomoditions... def something to consider!

 

[Taratink]

Emme- I totally understand where you're coming from. There is less pressure to do everything disney. I also find it easy to get to the parks from our offsite property resort. I have stayed on and offsite and we prefer the extra room. Many people that I know that stay onsite never leave to try different restaurants. They want to stay because they spent so much money to do so. I don't think you're silly at all.

 

[Deb123]

I think you got a great deal, the place looks pretty good. More money saved is more money you can spend!

 

[ccgirl]

My family doesn't do well with hotel "rooms" either. We keep trying. We got sucked into the free dining in December. Figured we could stick it out at a Value for 3 nights. We walked in and my DD8 said, "this is it?" We are very much used to 2 BR timeshares. Anyway, we made it the first 2 nights and then checked into our timeshare a day early. My DH was sick so we were stuck in one little room. So glad the hotel was at the beginning of our stay. We always get a rental car when we stay on property. I have stood holding a sleeping child on a bus more times that I care to.

 

[Emme]

Thanks Deb and TaraTink !! We are getting close only about two months or so...

 

[shalom]

Oh - to answer a previous poster - they probably haven't stayed a large convention resort. Thre's one in Disney backyard - to name one - where the parking is FAR from yoru room - the Marriott World Center. They offer a shuttle to the parking LOT!

Yeah, I have stayed in a large convention resort, but I've managed to avoid them for years because I hate that sort of thing. Now you bring it up, I'm thinking conventions can be a similar immersion experience, although what you're immersing in is a different kind of thing. People who want to spend all their time immersed in the convention like to be on site; I like to be able to get completely out of that environment for at least part of every day. Same with Disney.

I've always compared Disney resorts to ocean-front resorts, which tend to have smaller units and more parking hassles, etc. But the convention resort is a good comparison, too, just never thought of it before.

 

[twinsmommy06]

i too stay offsite and love it. yes we pay for parking but i find it much cheaper,

 

[LisaTC]

Hey, Emmy! Your MBMB buddy here. I think I would consider offsite if I'd been to Disney as many times as you or others on the board. Newbies like me need to be onsite. I don't want to drive any more than I have to because I have no idea where I am going since I've never been. If this was my 10th trip, I can definitely see the cost advantages for sure. Take the deal.

 

[Emme]

YAY! Lisa! Great to see you on the DIS~

 

[shalom]

Newbies like me need to be onsite. I don't want to drive any more than I have to because I have no idea where I am going since I've never been.

I think "need" is too strong. We were off site the first time we went to WDW, and the driving was no problem at all. We were close to WDW and the signage both inside and outside were clear. Admittedly, I'd been poring over the maps for quite some time, because I like maps. I think it's more that people who don't like to drive on vacation, or people who don't like to drive in a new place, "need" to be onsite.

Emme, thanks for a great thread. Your initial observations were thought provoking and thus some of the comments were just as thoughtful.

 

[*disgal*]

I can totally justify staying onsite, but I'm finding out I am able to go for twice a long for the same price or less in much nicer/bigger accomoditions... def something to consider!

BING!! We have a winner!!

When all the comparisons I do are done, the above reason is usually the bottom line.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to stay at BLT in a 2 bedroom, and while I am dreaming, have a MK view and park hopper passes to go to dinner every night at Epcot. (angels singing)

But, in Reality-ville, it's not likely to happen anytime soon and I prefer length of stay with some breathing room for most trips. (and yes, Brian, I'm sure my DH loves the closed door thing)

 

[*disgal*]

My family doesn't do well with hotel "rooms" either. We keep trying. We got sucked into the free dining in December. Figured we could stick it out at a Value for 3 nights. We walked in and my DD8 said, "this is it?" We are very much used to 2 BR timeshares.

this is funny, ccgirl. And this was us too. We did POR with five of us for free dining. 10 nights!! I don't think we can do that again.

Every time we would get discouraged about the room, I would chant....."free food, free food, free food..." I think WDW might have to do better than free food next time to get us into that room again.

 

[Brian Noble]

Newbies like me need to be onsite. I don't want to drive any more than I have to because I have no idea where I am going since I've never been.

Not wanting to drive is one thing. But, if you are reasonably confident in your ability to read a map (or, you own a GPS with a recent map update) the WDW area is surprisingly easy to navigate.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

this is funny, ccgirl. And this was us too. We did POR with five of us for free dining. 10 nights!! I don't think we can do that again.

Every time we would get discouraged about the room, I would chant....."free food, free food, free food..." I think WDW might have to do better than free food next time to get us into that room again.

We did the same -- 10 nights with 5 of us at POR -- and just about went crazy. POR is out for us because we're a family of 6 now, so it's going to take a lot more than free food to get us back there too. We did 2 rooms at a value for FD on a bounceback (which gave us the regular DDP because it was a bounceback), and much prefer that to POR. Now that the FD is only QSDP for the values (and we would have to pay $10 per person to upgrade to DDP), it's harder to justify the value.

 

[mousiemom]

for those of you who have stayed in condos/homes, who did you go thru and what is the rental policy, (deposits, etc)

 

[4forMe]

for those of you who have stayed in condos/homes, who did you go thru and what is the rental policy, (deposits, etc)

We book through www.floridasunvacationhomes.com. The are a reputable company and have been recommended many times on this board. The last house we booked with them was exceptionally clean. They also offer 15% off on stays of longer than 7 nights, and our trips are usually 8-10 days. They also offer free pool heat in the winter months.

Other management companies recommended on these boards are:

www.allstarvacationhomes.com
www.ovhfl.com

You can book privately through an owner on these websites:

www.vrbo.com
www.homeaway.com

We have to give a deposit of $250 when we book. The remaining balance is due 45 days prior to the trip. I think most places require the balance 45-60 days prior.

Please be aware that the state of Florida also charges a 13% sales tax on rentals which is usually not included in the prices you will find. Be sure to inquire about extra fees for cleaning, pool heat, use of a barbeque grill, etc.

 

[mousiemom]

thanks for the info! we've never stayed off-site before and i find this thread to be very interesting. the houses are beautiful and all the room!!!

 

[LisaTC]

Not wanting to drive is one thing. But, if you are reasonably confident in your ability to read a map (or, you own a GPS with a recent map update) the WDW area is surprisingly easy to navigate.

I would say that is more of what I meant. As a newbie, I'm going to be focused in seeing what and how much I want and not concern myself about how I will get to my car and get to point Z from point A and all points in between. I see offsite as more space, better price and something I would definitely consider in any future trips.

 

[HeyMickeyUSoFine]

Guess I'm just silly then

LOL

 

[luckyj191]

Don't forget the prospect of having an extra bathroom in an offsite place (obviously not counting regular hotel rooms)!! This would make a huge difference in larger groups or families (especially with teenagers!) when everybody is rushing around to get ready to go in the AM!