Do you lose the magic staying offsite????

[Barbossa]

Speaking from SoCal for DLR (where everything is relatively close to the parks), I'd say that staying off site lessens the magic a little bit, but pads my wallet a whole lot. Gimme HoJo any day.

 

[slk537]

We've done both - we used to stay in a 2-3 bedroom condo timeshare every time we went to WDW. I could never understand why anyone would pay hundreds and thousands of dollars to stay in a small hotel room when they could save a bundle and stay offsite in a condo with a full kitchen, hot tub, multiple rooms, full kitchen table, extra bathrooms, etc. We always had more than enough room and we loved the magic of the parks.

Then we traded our timeshare into OKW and stayed in a 2br onsite for the first time. Before we flew home, we had purchased our first contract for DVC. Since then we have stayed onsite and now do longer trips in smaller accomodations (studio vs 1 or 2 br) and we absolutely love it. The joy and magic of a WDW trip for us comes equally from the parks and the resorts.

That said: I do believe you can enjoy WDW from offsite. It might be harder once you have enjoyed the onsite perks and immersion, but for first timers, they will love it no matter what. And there is a lot to say for having offsite large and spacious accomodations.

 

[Suzie Zoo]

I have never stayed ON-site, and Disney has always been magical for me.

Ditto

I will be staying onsite when I go in February... but it's only because it will be easier for me because I don't want to rent a car. The only think I plan on doing in the hotel room is sleeping and bathing.

 

[ntsammy5]

After 32 consecutive onsite trips we're staying offsite in less than two weeks. I expect the trip to be just as magical as all the others and cheaper too!

 

[DisneyKT]

I have stayed on and offsite. I like both. But from now on it's offsite since we get the house for free. So now that's our magic.... Have fun.

 

[monkeyboy]

I only stay onsite and at concierege level

I roll like that.

 

[rie'smom]

We've done both and we've loved both.

Onsite:

I cannot stand the all mickey all the time, including the soap.

We seldom if ever do EMH, so that's not an issue.

The DDP is not a good fit for us. We ALWAYS leave unused credits.

I do like the convenience of being close to the parks at either an MK resort or better still, an Epcot resort, including the Swan/Dolphin.

On the off chance we do want to go to EMHs,we can.

Offsite:

It's a few minutes more of driving time to the parks-5 minutes.

I love the extra room!

More food choices and better restaurants (except for the S/D).

Peace and quiet!

 

[GeorgeG]

We've always liked staying on-site. When you're off-site, you're, well, off-site. The magic, at least for us, was a total Disney vacation.

Now, staying off-site is where we live, but we still stay on-site once in a while as we did 4-5 weeks ago with 3 nights at the Wilderness Lodge.

 

[C.Ann]

I'm going to respectfully disagree. Have you ever enjoyed Stormalong Bay? Or the savannah at AKL? Or enjoying a boat ride from your hotel to the parks? Disney hotels are full of the "magic". You're enveloped when you stay on-site. The real world is "out of sight, out of mind". To me, that's a real vacation.

That being said, if the only way I could go was to stay off-site, I wouldn't hesitate.

------------------------------------

Ah...but see? That's the "problem" - at least for me.. I've stayed off-site (twice) and on-site (three times), but for an extended stay (longer than a week) I loathe being immersed in Disney 24/7.. I need a break from "everything Disney" - a place where I can spread out and relax, visit Sea World and Universal, etc..

When I have stayed on-site, I have enjoyed the resort, the transportation, etc. - but the "magic" for me doesn't begin until I walk through the gates of the Magic Kingdom (always the first and last park I visit).. The hotel is "just" a hotel - decorated in a Disney theme (which is great - no doubt about that) - but it's not where the true "magic" is for me.. I've only been able to find and feel that inside the parks..

Obviously it depends on the individual, but I think it's sad that people are told (or led to believe) that an off-site stay will put them in a position where they're going to "miss out" on all of the "magic"..

 

[MickeyCrazedMom]

Oh, yes. The magic is in the mind. I have never stayed on site and I have felt it for years. If I didn't I wouldn't have returned almost 20 times. It is what you make it. With a large group and a big house it can be a blast. This was our 11 person trip last February. The big house actually added magic to the trip.

Check this out...there was magic alright.

http://animoto.com/play/vKd745jDk41oBt4yimvhGg

.

Great video - thanks for sharing!!!

 

[MickeyCrazedMom]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I really appreciate the help.

We usually stay at POR because we bring my mom. This year we have a new baby so we would have 5 of us plus a crib in the room. We would be staying for 8-10 days while my sis will only be staying for 5. We will have 3 strollers which seems like such a pain with the bus. It just seems like on site will be so difficult this time around. DH is really hoping for some more down time this visit and I think that may be easier off site where I am not so tempted to jump on the bus! I would love to show the kids the ocean for the first time too.

But I do like the dining plan. And renting a car, paying for parking, bringing a car seat and 2 boosters on the plane, all seem like a pain! Obviously I still haven't made a decision but you are all making me feel better about it still being a magical vacation if we choose to stay offsite. Although after our last trip DS told everyone his favorite part of Disney was the hotel - so it may break his heart if we don't go to "court orleans riverside!"

Thanks again everyone!

 

[stacyp9]

I am a believer in staying on site. I like that a bus picks us up at the airport and takes us to a place and we never leave that place until it is time to go home. I have no complaints about ME or the bus system. I like that I don't have to drive and park and can completely block out the real world for a week.

That being said - we are trying to plan a trip for the spring and for alot of reasons it might make more sense to stay offsite. We will be going during a busier time (ie more expensive) and we will have 10 of us. I think it may be fun to all stay together in a Windsor Hills home. I am just so worried that it will not be as "magical". Especially for my dsis and dbil since this is their first trip.

What do you think???

My kids are better rested off-site and that makes the parks more magical.
My pocket book is less stretched off-site and that makes hubby feel more magical.
I get my own personal pool and hot tub off-site and that makes me feel more magical.

 

[McRed]

We just got back from WDW last week after staying off site. I have stayed on site during previous trips, and really enjoyed the experience. I think that staying off site can be great way to go IF it is the right place. We got really lucky, and were able to use a great Condo Complex very close to WDW. This place even had a Disney Booth in the main clubhouse, so it really did not feel too much like being off site.
There were three heated pools on the property, and a little waterpark on site as well. We were so close, that during late night swims we could here the fireworks from the park.
We saved lots of money, and it allowed us to make several trips to the coasts for some much needed beach time.
Another factor in our latest experience was that the weather was absolutley fabulous. It only rained once during the whole week, and that was at night and little bit that morning. If it had been raining alot, staying ON-property would have been much nicer.
I can see where staying off-property at the wrong place could take some of the Magic away. If it is done right, staying off-property can be a special way to go as well.
That being said, I'm trying to convince the DW that we should try taking the camper down and staying at Fort Wilderness for our next Disney Adventure.

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

In recent years, I've stayed off-site on most of my trips...

--once in a Marriott timeshare, which was nice but a little on the small side.
--once in a private home we rented from a couple off eBay...it had three bedrooms, two baths, a heated pool, washer and dryer, and everything you could ever need in an accomodation. It was our BEST experience.
--once in Buena Vista Suites, which was good, but again, crowded.
--once in the WDW Swan, which was okay, but very small.

The long and short of my thoughts on Disney are this:
you spend so much of your life with your kids...and you don't get to go on vacation very often. If you want to stay up and have a drink with your hubby after the kids go to bed, you can't do it in a Disney hotel room. And if you want privacy, you can't do it in any of these junior suites. Purchasing more than one hotel room can get really expensive, so my vote for the best value is an area rental home.

Having said that, I have to tell you that in January we're staying at the Hilton at DTD. We've got two rooms this time and are only staying there because we have enough Hilton points to pay for it that way.

Part of the magic of Disney is enjoying the solitude that comes with having a little privacy...and you can't beat the off-site rentals for that experience!

 

[raysnkaysmom]

havent gone thru all the replies...just wanted to answer my thoughts...
My very first trip I was lucky enough to stay onsite...half at a value, half at a moderate... The next 3-4 trips were offsite, then I stayed at Bonnet Creek, which is onsite, but not Disney...
Being in the Disney vicinity and my outlook is what makes it magical... I haven't lost any of the magic where I've stayed

 

[mickeysgal]

I think magical is a state of mind. Honestly in the right frame of mind or alot alcohol in me, walmart can be magical

I couldn't read further without posting my reply. This cracked me up. Tina, that's priceless....and most likely true.

 

[Cindy F]

Have you thought about Fort Wilderness? That's onsite so you would get all the amenities plus more room. If there's 10 of you, you could rent a cabin and Tina's 5th wheel, that would be plenty of room.

Tina's 5th wheel can sleep 9 so you could even just do what a lot of other folks do and have tent next to the 5th wheel for extra sleeping room. Or you could rent a cabin and the 5th wheel and have plenty of room and all still be onsite/together.

We've never stayed onsite in the 25-35 times we've been and always had a great time but we are looking forward to our campground trip....mostly because of the direct ferry boat to MK, the nightly campfire and smores with Chip and Dale, and outside movies before the campfire at night. Oh and we're also looking forward to Bay Lake Beach at the campground.

Anyway, it's just a thought-camping isn't for everyone!

http://www.campatthefort.com/index.asp

 

[Planogirl]

Unless I can get a favorite like the AKL, I personally prefer to stay offsite. I like the space and conveniences and (usually) lower costs. I don't enjoy paying a lot extra and being cramped just to have a few extra Disney decorations.

I love Tina's answer. I agree (alcohol or not), magic is a state of mind not a place.

 

[aprilgail2]

I feel its much more magical staying onsite. I have stayed off site twice, once in a hotel and another time in a rental 3 bedroom house. They were both nice but I just didn't get the whole "disney feel" on either of those trips. I will only stay onsite now. I do not use the busses no matter what- I am just not a bus person-I like coming and going as I please and I like my car there waiting for me. Since if you stay in a on site hotel you park free in the parks all I have to pay is the car rental and last year I got a week for 89.00-can't beat it. Most days we go in the morning, go back to the hotel and then head to another park in the afternoon/evening so I don't want to be to far away from the parks. Plus I like the whole feeling of the grounds at POR- makes me feel like I am in a totally different place.

 

[tw1nsmom]

We've done both, and I do prefer to stay onsite, but the time we rented a house was really nice too. It was a much more relaxed vacation and we loved having a kitchen and our own pool.

If I had to do one thing over again about that trip, I would have made sure that we had separate cars for each family. We took my mom and her gentleman friend and we all shared a minivan. There were times I could tell that they were tired or wanted to do something else, but went with the flow since they didn't have their own vehicle.