Dilemma

[miss_bell]

We really do not know what to do, we have been pricing up and looking at various options for a trip to Florida in 12 months time, we currently have a quote for £2004 for a studio room at Old Key West with park tickets and dining plan. We have looked at staying off site and it does work out cheaper we feel maybe it wouldn't feel the same and it would be more stressful driving about and having to go to restaurants plus having to budget for meals.

What do you all think, where offers the best value for money including food, petrol & parking costs offsite or onsite? Do you think the dining plan gives value for money? I really want peoples opinions on this.

 

[skelfbsfb]

It really all depends on you. We personally love staying onsite, we have tried staying off site and in a villa and its not for us. As for DDP we have paided for this ourselves as we like to have as much of our holiday booked and paid for before we go so its only spending money for clothes etc we need. When we stayed off site sometimes we were waiting up to 45 mins just to get into some resturants, but like I said it all depend on how you like to holiday.

 

[Invisable89]

I know what you mean it's all so expensive!


You might be able to get cheaper accommodation by renting DVC points via this website http://www.dvcrequest.com there's also a thread in the DVC Rent/Trade by the man who own's the website, here : http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2386546

You can save ALOT of money by doing it that way, it's so easy & stress free!

(HOWEVER i'm not 100% sure if you can rent the points if you're from the UK).

 

[wayneg]

You don't say how long, how many people and if the DDP is free or priced into the offer.
There are some fantastic deals August thru Nov with 42% off OKW & free DDP then its well worth staying onsite, other times of year it depends what deal you have been offered.

 

[miss_bell]

Thank you for your replies, I will look into the renting of DVC points.

Wayneg we will be staying 14nts, 2 adults and the DDP is free. I think the accomodation is on the 42% offer 6th May to 20th May.

I'm just wondering is it worth staying onsite or not.

 

[Invisable89]

I think it IS worth staying onsite. I've always stayed offsite in villa's when i've gone & i always felt very jealous of the people that were staying in Disney Hotels!

However i also liked the feel of having your own space/pool - it's alot easier as you can do everything your way in your own time. There's no rushing to get up in the morning to get breakfast. You don't have to rely on Disney transport (unless you hire a car) so no faffing about. But it depends really, i did get a bit bored after so long in an offsite villa - i just wanted to be out all the time. Atleast with staying at a Disney Hotel you can go off & explore.

Unless you do 1 week hotel & 1 week villa? That's what i'm thinking about for the near future.

 

[wayneg]

Thank you for your replies, I will look into the renting of DVC points.

Wayneg we will be staying 14nts, 2 adults and the DDP is free. I think the accomodation is on the 42% offer 6th May to 20th May.

I'm just wondering is it worth staying onsite or not.

If its with free DDP its not worth renting, you would need 198 points for a studio for those dates say approx £7pp = £1,386 before you start with tickets and food.

We are just as happy staying offsite as onsite but while the 42% discount & free DDP is on I would take advantage while it lasts, we did August 2009, August 2010 and doing it again August this year.
The chances are this could be the only time you get to do it at this price, regular price for OKW is about £200/night, DDP about £70/night per couple so you are getting to stay there about half price. Once the economy recovers the prices will go back to normal.
Yes you will save a few £ offsite and you miss out on dining at some great places offsite but this deal is too good to turn down for us.
If there were 3 of you or even 4 in the room then its 100% better value onsite when only 2 less value but still worth it IMO. Last year we ate approx $160per day of free food (3 of us)
Advatages, all prepaid food, great places to eat, free parking. Easy transport to parks.
Disadvantages miss out on offsite restaurants, internet access $10/day. Tied to Disney, slightly more expensive to offsite but depends where you would stay.

 

[Daysleeper40]

I don't know much about the DDP - when you say it is free, is it actually completely free food (within however many credits you get)?. If it is then that has got to be a HUGE saving. How much cheaper are you working it out to be staying off site?

Personally, we would never choose to stay onsite at Disney as our holidays are geared much more towards the other non-disney parks. Staying off site makes complete sense for us but if you are only going to "do" disney parks then staying onsite seems the better option. Especially as there are only the two of you - I can see why a Villa would be a good option for a bigger family with kids but not so much for two adults.

 

[miss_bell]

Invisable89 - that is a good suggestion 1week onsite and another offsite, i'm going to price that up as that would give us some freedom but also gives us the advantage of disney EMH and DDP

Wayneg- never thought of the economy and it's recovery but you are right this kind of deal will not be available and then will be out of reach for us. we did stay at POFQ in Aug 09 we got an ok deal staying there with the QSDP and we did enjoy staying there but I think the main problem this time is family telling me it's not worth the extra money.

Daysleeper40 - yes its a free DDP 1 TS, 1QS and 1 snack each for eveynight we stay, I think this could save us alot of money! As i'm only looking at accommodation at the moment and i don't want to stay in a motel or anywhere bargain basement £700 would be the accomodation and then we would need to add on park tickets, hire car, food and parking.

 

[Daysleeper40]

TBH it doesn't sound like you would be saving all that much by staying off site and I get the distinct impression you would prefer to stay onsite anyway and it is your family that are making you think twice. So I suppose the question is - are your family who are telling you to stay offsite either paying for your holiday or coming with you?

If not then just ignore them and do what you want and can reasonably afford to do! You only live once

 

[miss_bell]

Daysleeper - yes it is more my family who are talking us out of staying at OKW, we already have the money saved up so that won't be a problem and no they are not coming with us although I think they would invite themselves IF the price was cheaper or if we booked a villa!

 

[Daysleeper40]

Daysleeper - yes it is more my family who are talking us out of staying at OKW, we already have the money saved up so that won't be a problem and no they are not coming with us although I think they would invite themselves IF the price was cheaper or if we booked a villa!

okay... then there is a new question - and be honest now:

Do you actually want said family on vacation with you?

 

[miss_bell]

That's easy NO

 

[Daysleeper40]

That's easy NO

I think you have answered your own dilema

 

[dixonsontour]

I think the current okw/ssr deal is hard to beat - hence lots on here are booked on it.

We did OKW 2010 and i'd like to do it again in 2012.

(DH wanted to go offsite this year)

 

[miss_bell]

Thank you everyone, although I now have a new problem, split stay or not??