Deluxe or FREE Off Property Hotel?

[jrt1176]

As of right now, we're planning on next May...

Either the 1st or 2nd week of May.

What hotels, other than the Monorail hotels, are the most convenient, transportation-wise?

We stayed at the WL last time, so I would like my niece to try another hotel.

Other than a day each at HS & AK, we'll mostly be in MK and EP, etc. I don't know much about the other hotels, but is there one that's nearly as convenient as a monorail hotel?

 

[nkereina]

I know that monorail resorts are more convenient but couldn't you just stay at a less expensive resort to try and reduce your costs? If it were me, that would sure make me feel alot better about not using the "free" accommodations.

This. IMO, the jump in cost from moderate to deluxe is hard to justify, so we are content with moderates. Still get a lot but for a lot less.

What hotels, other than the Monorail hotels, are the most convenient, transportation-wise?

I prefer the Epcot area resorts such as BWI, YC/BC and Swan Dolphin. Both Epcot and DHS are in walking distance and there is a boat that goes between them as well. You also are in walking/boating distance of each of these resorts, so it opens up a lot in terms of TS possibilities if you don't have a car.

If you're trying to go cheaper, I think POR/POFQ (both mods) are great because they have a boat to DTD. The buses to/from DTD can be few and far between and very frustrating, but the boats from the Port Orleans resorts are consistent and peaceful. We tend to go to DTD a lot more when staying at POR.

 

[jrt1176]

I agree that it's hard to justify the costs, but I think you're paying for the convenience of the location along with the amenities, etc.

I think I would prefer staying close to the MK and that really only leaves the monorail hotels... We stayed at the WL last visit and I would like my niece to try another hotel.

I've stayed at all the monorail hotels in the past and the Swan and Dolphin as well. I don't mind the Epcot area at all, but I think my niece would really enjoy one of the others.

I'll definitely take a look at some of the Mods... We weren't in the room much on our 1st visit with her, but we will have 4 in the room this time, so I'm thinking the bigger, the better.

This. IMO, the jump in cost from moderate to deluxe is hard to justify, so we are content with moderates. Still get a lot but for a lot less.



I prefer the Epcot area resorts such as BWI, YC/BC and Swan Dolphin. Both Epcot and DHS are in walking distance and there is a boat that goes between them as well. You also are in walking/boating distance of each of these resorts, so it opens up a lot in terms of TS possibilities if you don't have a car.

If you're trying to go cheaper, I think POR/POFQ (both mods) are great because they have a boat to DTD. The buses to/from DTD can be few and far between and very frustrating, but the boats from the Port Orleans resorts are consistent and peaceful. We tend to go to DTD a lot more when staying at POR.

 

[SA mom]

We've stayed off property at Buena Vista Suites and it was very convenient. There are hotels that are even closer.

$2500 is a lot of extra Disney Magic: Bibbity Bobbity Boutique, character meals, tours, character meals, etc.

With that said, we now stay at the Swan for on points for free. It is the best of both worlds.

 

[jrt1176]

Did you mind staying off property? I just think the daily transportation to the parks would wear on me...

I guess, to me, staying on property is part of the vacation...since we have always done that.

I think I like the fact that it would be easy for someone to head back to the room or meet us later if they wanted... Then again, we'll probably all stick together, but it's nice to have the option.

We've stayed off property at Buena Vista Suites and it was very convenient. There are hotels that are even closer.

$2500 is a lot of extra Disney Magic: Bibbity Bobbity Boutique, character meals, tours, character meals, etc.

With that said, we now stay at the Swan for on points for free. It is the best of both worlds.

 

[Shaden]

If your points could get you one of the hotels that is right by DTD, so your could still use the WDW bus system, I would go with free !!!

Actually, I might go with free either way, free is free. If that means you can stay longer, or can book another trip sooner etc etc .... do it !

 

[auntmeme7577]

I have lots of hotel points from my work travels. I will often redeem those points for gift cards...Disney if offered, or Target then use the Target gift cards to buy Disney gift cards. Those can easily pay for the room onsite or tickets or meals in the parks. I just bought $200 dollars worth of Disney cards this week at Target using my hotel points gift card rewards.
I like staying on property but also love to stay somewhere where we can have some room offsite.

 

[Dannek]

I guess it depends on two things...

What do you mean by "offsite"?
and do you want to be closer to the MK or the other parks?

If by offsite you mean a non Disney resort, then the Wyndham Bonnet Creek and the Hilton/Waldorf are about the same distance from the MK as the Art of Animation resort for example. They are closer to Downtown Disney, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios than the Poly, the GF, or the Contemporary.

That's better proximity to three of the four parks that you mentioned vs the monorail resorts...
If I could stay at the Hilton or Waldorf for free and be close to DTD, Epcot, and HS vs. paying top rates to stay at at monorail resort and only be close to MK, then if it's free it's for me..

Assuming you'll stay in the parks and not spend all day lounging at the resort, you'll get plenty of the Disney theme and magic at each park. How much attention are the kids paying to the resorts theme when they are just splashing around in a large pool?

Good luck in whatever you choose.

 

[Micca]

I'm a die-hard "stay on site" kinda guy, but we're talking a big chunk of change here. $100, $200 difference? No question. $2500 dollars???? Sheesh, that's a major portion of ANOTHER trip to WDW. If it's a crummy hotel that'd be one thing, but for a nice major chain, something to think about. Nice problem to have.

 

[Shaden]

I'm a die-hard "stay on site" kinda guy, but we're talking a big chunk of change here. $100, $200 difference? No question. $2500 dollars???? Sheesh, that's a major portion of ANOTHER trip to WDW. If it's a crummy hotel that'd be one thing, but for a nice major chain, something to think about. Nice problem to have.

Yea thats my thoughts, really you could do a budget trip to the world on $2500 while staying ON site. So if its one stay off site and another budge trip off site, or just one trip on site ???? .... pretty easy for me

 

[chasgoose]

I'm a die-hard "stay on site" kinda guy, but we're talking a big chunk of change here. $100, $200 difference? No question. $2500 dollars???? Sheesh, that's a major portion of ANOTHER trip to WDW. If it's a crummy hotel that'd be one thing, but for a nice major chain, something to think about. Nice problem to have.

The thing is though, if OP is planning to go on more vacations she can probably use her points for those too. Its not really $2500 vs. $0, its $2500 now for an onsite resort and free for a later vacation vs. free for offsite at WDW and whatever the hotel costs on her next trip.

Given that most chains charge a lot of points for their Orlando resorts relative to their room rates making points not a great value and that staying onsite at Disney is a great benefit (at other destinations, staying at a chain resort isn't as much of a tradeoff) I think it still makes sense to spend the money for a Deluxe resort and stay free on the next vacation somewhere else.

 

[HM]

We used to be "stay on site" folks for every trip. We still do that, but if a special deal comes up for offsite that will ease the budget, you betcha we take it. I've had three offsite trip and too many to count without thinking about it onsite trips.

I had a trip just last summer that was all Disney, but we stayed at a Marriott timeshare (free) down International Drive. We really had no problem with driving and parking during our trip. (There was one day the main road in 535 was backed up because of construction, we just got onto I4 to the next exit and came in near AK and had no problems once on property). That free place saved us many hundreds of dollars and made the trip possible.

 

[jillmc40]

I am always faced with this decision...I have a timeshare in Orlando, it is a 2 bedroom condo. I love it! I love going back to the room at night, I love having a car, going to grocery, etc. The driving doesn't bother me at all...BUT, we have ap's, so we have free parking, we get there early so we don't have traffic and we can walk to the gate instead of taking the tram...All that said. We now stay an extra 2 or 3 nights at the end of our TS week in a resort we want to stay in, and I don't feel bad about the cost because it is only 3 nights max. Plus we get to check our luggage at the hotel - that in itself is worth it!

When we go for a long weekend, we stay on property since it is usually holiday time and we want to be near MK. We did just buy VGF though, so let's see how I soon change my tune

I should also say that I live near NYC and work in the city...So while driving is a pain for most, for me it is a novelty I am taking a vacation from public transportation when I go to Disney

 

[HM]

One other thought.

Once we did a trip to Orlando that was not a Disney trip and use a free week of points to stay at Marriott World Center. We had three day tickets to US/IA and did Seaworld. We also did a Disney waterpark. If you stay offsite, it's a lot easier to do things other then Disney. (We did visit DTD several times too).

 

[bookgirl]

I was hoping you all could weigh in on this and help with my decision.

I'm planning a trip next year for my niece's 2nd visit. My brother, who didn't get to come on her 1st trip, will be with us and my mother.

I was thinking of staying at the Contemporary with the convenience of the monorail and being close to MK.

Last time we stayed at Wilderness Lodge, which we all loved, but I thought it would be nice to stay somewhere different.

We'll spend most of the week at MK and EP with 1 day each at HS and AK.

My dilemma is that I have enough hotel points to get 2 rooms off property for the week and a rental car for free...

I have stayed off property 2 times, but I was young. So, I can't recall how it was going through the process of getting to the park, etc.

I imagine that staying off property would save at least $2,500, which would pay for all the dinners, snacks, BBB and things my niece wanted, etc.

Is staying on-site worth that much? Will driving to the parks and back to the hotel take a toll? We don't really go back to the hotel for breaks, but what if we wanted to? Or what if my mother or someone wanted to join us later or head back early? Plus, there is just something about staying on property and being surround 24/7 by all the magic.

I see all the benefits of staying on-site and I have a feeling I will probably end up doing it... But, It's hard to justify not saving the money and using it to pay for all the expenses...

Thanks

Free trumps everything except your bottom line.

I would not stay free at some hotels, but if it was a hotel that I would be comfortable paying for then free wins.