Do u ever feel like kids missing out not being onsite?

[princessap]

we have stayed at bonnet creek twice and loved it. But we only did 2 parks while we were there. Our next big trip will be 10-14 nights and we are doing every park, mnsshp, BBB and lots of character meals. I am debating a split stay between on and offsite but am now leaning towards offsite the whole time.
and spending the money saved on lots if experiences for my kids.

does anyone feel like they are missing out on anything by not staying onsite?

why can offsite not purchase dining plan?

 

[leblanat]

Our first trip we stayed at Coronado Springs on site, our second at Staybridge Suites off site. My kids really had no idea they were having two different experiences. You have to transport to the parks from the resorts, on-site or off. At CS there is no Mickey themeing so no difference there. In fact some rental homes would have way more Disney themeing than many on-site resorts. They had pools at both places. The only difference was a much more comfortable, spacious room off-site. No waiting for a bus because we rented a van. We spent less money and had breakfast included in a two bedroom suite. While we miss free dining, we may never stay on-site again.

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

I think it depends on the ages of your kids and how much time you plan on spending at your hotel.

When I was a kid, we always stayed in a cheap simple hotel offsite with just a basic pool and very basic rooms. But we were at the parks from open until close almost every day, and maybe only a few times came back early enough to actually use our hotel pool. So I don't feel like we missed out on anything.

Now as an adult I've gone twice with our kids, and they are younger so we don't spend nearly as many hours at the parks. We stayed onsite with them once and offsite once. And both were lovely! (onsite was at Saratoga Springs, offsite was at Wyndham Bonnet Creek). Very nice pools and activities for kids at both places. But I don't feel like they missed out at all by staying offsite.

 

[earthfaries]

No. Your vacation is about the fun times you have, not the resort you stay in. Yes, some may argue that being in a Disney hotel (more likely a mod or deluxe) will make a magical experience even more magical but that's not necessarily true.

Before we moved here to Disney we came here every year. We started by staying at POR, then CS, then Shades of Green and then ASM. After the first years of staying on site in anywhere from a value to a deluxe we booked a trip staying in a condo, right next to WDW.

I will tell you we never went back to onsite after that! The kids loved it! Ask them today which they liked better? Which trip was more memorable? They'll tell you the condo!

It was beautiful and they had space! Space to relax in the mornings and watch Disney cartoons before their day in the park, space to eat breakfast and I loved the washer and dryer!

Anyway, it sounds to me like you filled your vacation with FUN and new experiences and I don't think it can get any more magical than that .

Have fun!

 

[earthfaries]

No. Your vacation is about the fun times you have, not the resort you stay in. Yes, some may argue that being in a Disney hotel (more likely a mod or deluxe) will make a magical experience even more magical but that's not necessarily true.

Before we moved here to Disney we came here every year. We started by staying at POR, then CS, then Shades of Green and then ASM. After the first years of staying on site in anywhere from a value to a deluxe we booked a trip staying in a condo, right next to WDW.

I will tell you we never went back to onsite after that! The kids loved it! Ask them today which they liked better? Which trip was more memorable? They'll tell you the condo!

It was beautiful and they had space! Space to relax in the mornings and watch Disney cartoons before their day in the park, space to eat breakfast and I loved the washer and dryer!

Anyway, it sounds to me like you filled your vacation with FUN and new experiences and I don't think it can get any more magical than that .

Have fun!

 

[m3retired]

Like the previous poster, I think it really depends on the ages of the kids. When our kids were little, and required supervision, we stayed off site. We rented a home, and LOVED it. We still went to all the parks, and we had our car. Loved the private pools at each house--the boys slept so well after a swim before bed.

When the boys got to be older teenagers (14 or so), they didn't need us to watch over them every minute. Then we switched to on site (actually bought into DVC). The boys could use the Disney transportion to go places on their own (as long as at least two went). I don't like waterparks, for instance...but my sons didn't care for the MK. We generally met up for TS meals, but the DP ensured they could eat or drink when they needed to, and naturally they had a curfew in the evening (generally an hour after whatever park they were foing to closed). Destinations were always common knowledge. Surprisingly, even with the "freedom", they spent at least half their time with us doing things together--even when we had their friends along with us.

When they were 16 or so, we also let them know they could buy things on their room card if they wanted. I was SOOOO apprehensive about that, but the first year, they bought NOTHING!!! I almost had to force them to buy things.

So, it's really a personal call, based on the ages, their maturity, and your comfort level. Staying in an offsite hotel, I suppose we could have done the same thing, but my comfort level would have been MUCH lower.

 

[iamadisneynut]

I've done onsite and offsite with my kids, and when asked my daughter said she preferred our offsite trips with all of us because we have so much more space.

So, no I don't think the kids are missing out at all!

 

[darrius1st]

we have stayed at bonnet creek twice and loved it. But we only did 2 parks while we were there. Our next big trip will be 10-14 nights and we are doing every park, mnsshp, BBB and lots of character meals. I am debating a split stay between on and offsite but am now leaning towards offsite the whole time.
and spending the money saved on lots if experiences for my kids.

does anyone feel like they are missing out on anything by not staying onsite?

why can offsite not purchase dining plan?

I use to feel the same way until last year while on a 2 week stay we took a tour of DVC and to me it was obvious to me that by not staying on site I was doing the right thing. I don't know how large you family is but there are 7 of us and we i looked at the cost one trip for 1week on site added up to 2 trips for 2 weeks offsite. None of the onsite resort pools compare to Bonnet Creek and while at Bonnet creek you are just as close to me offsite is the way to go. We have now had 6 or 7 trips now we find the best resorts with the best pool and try them out. We have found that the parks are great but the best times have been when we have found fun at the resort with the different activities they have like movie night on the lawn of karaoke by the pool, these are the times you will treasure and your kids will never forget.

 

[m3retired]

The "more space" was never an issue we had to consider, because when we stay on site, we always do at least a 2 BR, sometimes a grand villa.

 

[At World's End]

I don't buy into the "onsite magic," and I don't really think my kids could care less about where they sleep. If they have a great day at the parks and can swim in a pool, that's all that matters to them. For us, we stay offsite because it means we can be on vacation longer and more often, do special things (like the pirate cruise, the kitchen sink at Beaches & Cream) and eat better food offsite. If I gave my kids the option of 7 days onsite or 10 days offsite, they would choose 10 days for sure. If I gave them the choice of a trip every year offsite or a trip every other year onsite, they would choose offsite for sure. Your vacation is about having fun times with your family. Make the most of it however you can.

 

[Brian Noble]

In any Disney-oriented vacation, there are three things you might want in your lodging:

1: To be "onsite" in a Disney-owned resort.
2: To have a reasonable amount of space.
3: To pay a reasonable amount of money.

For the most part, you can't have all three of these at the same time. So, you have to decide which are most important to you, and which one you can live without.

We absolutely require separate sleeping spaces for parents and kids, and we strongly prefer having a full kitchen and in-suite laundry. For us, "reasonable space" is the most important of those three. So, that generally means a 2BR condo. We can technically fit in a 1BR condo, but consider that an unnecessary sacrifice.

We do consider the onsite experience a little nicer than the offsite one, in general. And, we have stayed onsite several times through exchanging our (non-Disney) timeshares. So far, I've stayed at OKW three times, VWL twice, and BWV. I enjoyed each one of them.

But, if exchanges were no longer possible and we had to rent, we would stay offsite instead. We like it a little bit more onsite, but not enough to justify the price difference. Of the offsite places we've stayed, I'd rather pay market rates for Bonnet Creek, Windsor Hills, or Vistana than e.g. rent from a DVC owner. The savings are just too substantial for what amounts to minor differences in a vacation.

Likewise, there is NO WAY we would cram the four of us into a single hotel room for a week, even if it were free. That's simply not vacation for us.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

I think it is us adults that look too much into this and second guess ourselves with unnecessary guilt. I think staying onsite has both its pros and cons and may be a bit overrated. The Disney resorts may be lively and have fun theming, but the "magic" you experience while on a WDW trip is truly what you make it. Kids are not really hard to please, and after a full day in the parks and character meals my kids just wanted somewhere to unwind and have downtime at the end of the day and I don't think they would have cared if we were at a Disney hotel or the Holiday Inn I think you have to put your needs and preferences first in terms of what is best for your family then weigh your options from there. In fact, my oldest DD is begging to stay offsite in a condo or vacation house for our next WDW trip because she says she would prefer more space and doesn't want to have to share a bed with her sister again while on vacation

 

[spiceycat]

the kids will be happy no matter where you stay.

now I like both - have stayed and will continue to stay offsite. but also love on site at WDW - so own DVC too.

offsite varies a heck of lot more than Disney does. some places for little money are GREAT. others you might check in but you would also immediately check out. Now because of the downturn there are less of these places and more really nice places offsite.

you can purchase Disney dinning plans offsite - because Disney only makes money but requiring you stay onsite and buy your tickets from it also.

now you can save a little money by renting a reservation from a DVC member - but for 10 days - that is a heck of a long time in a studio - so would go for a 1-bedroom at least. renting from a DVC member the 1-bedroom is twice as much as a studio.

now renting from Disney it is not so much. but Disney costs a ton more than a reservation from a DVC member.

the choice has always is yours.

if you love offsite - then stay offsite. remember character meals are not only on Disney property - but some are offsite - just not with disney characters - think there are some in the DD hotels.

 

[Beth D]

I agree with much of the above posters. Vacation is what YOU make of it, not what DISNEY TELLS YOU it should be.

We stay offsite every year, and visit a park a day or two. Orlando is so MUCH MORE than Disney. They have great beaches an hour drive away, baseball games in the spring, and TONS more to do.

Lile many above, we have a condo with full kitchen and washer/dryer. We chill by the pool half the time, as to us, that is a vacation.

 

[famousmockingbird]

Nope. We've done both, and had a great time each way. I actually think mine likes off-site better because we are able to have more room to spread out.

 

[Hasil72]

I used to think that. I had always stayed on-site before our kids, then once we started taking them, we moved off-site into a villa rental off 192. I'd get that twinge of disappointment as we'd head to the parking lot each night. We tried BWV for the first time in December and surprisingly, they want to go back to renting the house. The 1BR was great but they liked the space of the house and DS needs some down time. Looking out at Epcot from our balcony was amazing but also compelled us to spend more time there and we're not typically rope drop until close people.

Only you know what's best for your family but if you're that torn, do a split stay and see how it goes. I have to admit, even with staying off-site we always plan one night on-site for EMH or just lounging by the pool most of the day then hit the park that night.

Good luck!!

 

[disney-akj]

We have done both and we now like off-site better (which I never thought I would say). The space off-site is great so no one feels crowded. The cost saved helps us spend more money on character meals, etc. I love having a full fridge for drinks, snacks, etc. Also with WBC, it doesn't even feel like you are off-site for us except when going to the MK because then we can not park directly by the park. (When we stayed on-site we usually drove to most parks except MK). So for us, the vacation is more magical by the added advantages to being off-site.

 

[mickey2minnie1]

I am so glad I found this thread. We have had great codes and were able tyo stay at the Poly for the past three trips. We have loved our home away from home.

Now times are tougher and my thought is to stay at Windsor Hills in a condo for 10 days instead of onsite for 4. I have been feeling remorse, like we are not immersing ourselves and the kids in the magic. I guess I am the sucker that buys into the plan.

I feel so much better now. I have even found condos that are themed Disney for my kids and ME, lol.

Thank you for helping me to let my guilt go!

 

[Darcy03231]

We've stayed on-site and off-site and my kids prefer staying off-site. After our last on-site stay they begged me to get a house again. We love having all the space to spread out, a full kitchen, game room and private pool. My kids were very disappointed with their pool experience on our last on-site trip. It was so crowded they really couldn't swim or play in the pool.

 

[kathy884]

No way. Your kids are going to love the trip. It's about family time and anywhere you stay I think you'll have a blast. I'd only do onsite if you want to do it. // DS has always had as good a time if not a better time offsite.