Do you PREFER to stay offsite?

[baileybrad]

I do not think anyone should ever stay off-site for a Disney vacation without a vehicle. That being said, I find the "too much downtime point" shakey at best. Staying at some of the nicer nearby resorts, timeshare properties, and private homes offer in many cases much more "accomodation bang" for the buck. We have done both types of vacations many times and have great trips both ways. If money or points were no object a DVC property in a 2 bedroom would be our 1st choice. Unfortunately, for most, money is somewhat of an issue....it sure is for us. The argument that is sometimes made about on-site being the only way to immerse oneself in the "magic" is not really true. You can have a great Disney vacation on or off site. A great vacation is about family. Some of our best Disney vacations were had staying at Dixie Landings in a 4 square hotel room. Did the Disney atomsphere contribute to our enjoyment...sure but without the joy of ourselves and later our firstborn son no amount of "magic" would have provided what was needed to have a magical time. I hate for folks who do not stay on-site to somehow have the feeling that they are somehow not having a Disney vacation. It is just not true.

 

[Beejayjay]

Offsite wins for me every time - for the amount of time actually spent in your room/suite, I just cant see that the extra green that Disney charge for, from what I read here, are much smaller rooms tahn offsite hotels for less money, is worth the time saved getting to the parks. I know thats probably a very simplified view of the likely benefits of staying onsite, but its the biggest one I can see. I also think that being immersed in that much "magic" 24/7 might get a bit overbearing for me.

Having the additional expense of travelling all the way over from the UK also means that staying offsite can be the difference between having a comfortable time financially or scrimping in order to have the amount of time I'd want in Disneyville. Having to worry about whether I can afford that extra purchase would spoil my enjoyment.

I also like being able to set my own agenda as to where I eat, shop, go in general, and I'd imagine being onsite would tend to bring out my lazier side and limit what I got round to doing.

Add in the fact that I can get a really nice hotel 20 minutes from the parks for $ 40 or 50 a night, and staying onsite doesnt make a great deal of sense to me. Maybe one day I'll try it and find I'm wrong, I just doubt it !

 

[baileybrad]

Not really wanting to be argumentative (I really do believe in the saying "live and let live") but I am not sure how folks who have never stayed on-site or only stay on-site can be so sure about what they are or are not getting. It seems to me that it is difficult to be positive about a certain type of vacation experience or resort if you have never stayed there. My feelings that great trips are had on-site and off-site is based on many such experiences of both. My only real fear for those that choose to go the off-site route without using valuable sites such as this one is that there are some really bad motel choices in the Disney area and some really good ones and sometimes the price isn't all that much different. Picking a bad one can really make for a poor vacation....and I don't care how "little" time you spend there, it isn't much fun at all.

 

[tlens]

We've done both. I love staying on-site. We've stayed at the Polynesian, Dixie Landings (I still like that name better) and Caribbean. That was fine when it was just my husband and I. now that we have a 2 1/2YO, our needs have changed. We've styed off-site at Orange Lake in a 2 bedroom and are booked at the VV for next month. We need the kitchen and the extra space now.

I can't compare a 2 bedroom Disney to a 2 bedroom offsite because we could never afford $450/night. Being Cdn, $450 USD is $715.00 Cdn. Our entire stay next month at VV is only $829.00 Cdn.

But I can compare a regular 192 hotel room to a Disney room and Disney wins hands down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Lisa P.]

We've done both... I can compare a regular 192 hotel room to a Disney room and Disney wins hands down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IF you compare a Disney value hotel (small room, exterior entry, food court, frequent bus shuttles, about $100/nt) with a "regular 192 hotel room" (usually medium sized room, exterior entry, minimal food service, limited shuttles, about $50/nt), that's not a fair comparison.

IF you compare a $100/nt Disney value hotel room with a $100/nt offsite luxury hotel room or 1BR villa at one of the nicer resorts in the area, that's a fair comparison. Onsite, you receive the convenience of Disney transport (no need for car, better when families split up or solo travelers), a more consistent expectation for those unfamiliar with the area, and Disney-Disney everywhere you look (a mixed benefit at best, for some of us!). Offsite, you receive loads more space, a kitchen, sometimes inroom w/d and jacuzzi tub, better pool areas w/hot tubs, sometimes room service, and a more upscale resort. Depending upon your needs, either may be preferred.

IF you try to compare a $350/nt Disney deluxe hotel room... there's no comparison offsite... offsite are rarely that expensive, except perhaps at the concierge suite level - which we've never tried. The onsite deluxe resorts are great but their usual prices are, to us, ridiculous!

 

[daveyh]

We have stayed at several off site hotels and love the Disney Avenue area, just five minutes or so from Downtown Disney.

The hotels are great standard there, and usually have free shuttles to Disney, so we can forget the car altogether.

We eat at Rainforest or Planet Hollywood, or walk up to The
Crossroads Mall to TGI or something

Pleasure Island is available in the evening along with the huge
AMC cinema, so we get a balance of things to do.

Mears run shuttles to Universal so no problem getting there.

Its great to be so close to Disney, without the added expense to be honest.

 

[rcomputer]

Our preference these days is a non-Disney onsite hotel specifically on Hotel Plaza Boulevard. This is based on our current needs: lowest cost (means more visits); best bus service to Pleasure Island.

Our requirements for a hotel at WDW are: new mattress; coffee maker; fridge desirable; quiet rooms (we get home quite late from Pleasure Island and rise late compared to families with children); no smell

The main inconvenience of the Downtown Disney hotels is access by car (although the widening of Buena Vista Drive may ease that marginally). Apart from Pleasure Island we mainly drive rather than using the bus service. When we do use a bus we find the scheduled service for DD hotels better than the ad-hoc Disney hotel buses. Disney hotels often take a long while to drive out of (GF for example)

When we stay offsite it is either in Palm Parkway - driving into WDW through the back entrance (the warehouses); the 535/536 junction using 536/Epcot Drive; specific parts of 192 using I4 and Osceola Parkway.

We always have a car as it costs little more than a shuttle trip, allows more time in WDW, is usually faster than hotel transport (MK being the usual exception) and provides a home for our bags on the last day.

 

[Beejayjay]

Hotel Plaza Boulevard - is that the road that leads from Crossroads thru to Disney Downtown, where the Hotels are laid out on either side ? Or a totally different place ??

 

[rcomputer]

That's the one - from the WaltDisneyWorld sign to the Marketplace and Buena Vista Drive

 

[Beejayjay]

Thanks rcomp !

I stayed at the Courtyard there a long time ago, around 94/95 I think, just as it became a Marriott (think it might have been a HoJo before then ?) and it was about the only time I've not enjoyed my stay in a Disneyville hotel. It started badly when we couldnt find the place cos they hadnt thought to change the sign from the old owners name - driving about for 2 hours after a transatlantic flight is not a good start. And it was being renovated during our stay, again, not conducive to a relaxing stay.

However, its in an excellent location and I'd definitely consider a hotel on Hotel Plaza Boulevrad again - any suggestions ? I'd be looking to pay about $100 a night max, and will be there in mid/late October.

The Grosvenor looks nice - anyone stayed there ?

 

[rcomputer]

The Grosvenor is ok - the rooms are nice and a good size. Have not stayed there since last year but i think they have a fridge.

There are (dearer) tower rooms and two low-rise wings. The outside motel-style corridors are a bit naff - well the carpet gets rained on so will get a bit mouldy I suppose.

Check mousesavers.com for good rates at the Royal Plaza (never stayed there) You might be able to get something at the Wyndham Palace (used to be Buena Vista Palace) through Priceline. The Best Western (was Travelodge) also features on Priceline from time to time. Good info on Priceline rates, hotels and bidding is at www.biddingfortravel.com.

 

[Katiebug]

I would rather stay offsite. We did stay onsite last year and we probably spent three times as much as the year before when we stayed offsite.

I truly believe that Walt Disney would roll over in his grave if he knew how expensive it is to eat and sleep at Disney nowadays.

I like the freedom of being offsite because you are not trapped at Disney and paying Disney prices for every single thing.

Katiebug the Ladybug

 

[gibbys1]

when we were a little younger and not as well off financially, offsite was the best bet. Lots of low cost dining alternatives. Now that we are a little older and wiser we prefer to stay onsite,especiallly if we can get a decent rate. over Easter this year we paid full price at AS Sports but the conveinence was worth it.

 

[DisneyAlly]

We've been to WDW three times and Disneyland twice.
We have stayed onsite two times and off site three times. The best and most memorable trips were the ones on site.
I thought the off-site stays were "less magical" because we visited the Disney parks less rather than something lacking in the off-site hotels themselves. When we were staying off-site, we only spent total of 2 days in the Disney parks.

If I have my choice, I will stay in two resorts - start with an off-site to enjoy other Orlando attractions and end our trip with a stay in a monorail or Epcot resort.

 

[emmalgin]

Can get a timeshare for 1/3 the price. I paid $299/wk for a 2br at Orange Lake in April. It was so hot my family needed the breaks from the parks.....

Most mid-range hotels off site have fridges/microwaves and also offer breakfast ($20/day savings for family of 4).

And being able to close the door on the kids and your own TV can be priceless imo.

 

[Lanshark]

We've probably made 25 trips to WDW over the years. Our first was our honeymoon in 1979. With that said we always stayed on-site until about 3 years ago. We had planned a trip and were all excited but the tuition at my kids schools went up by an unexpected amount. We make the choice between not going and choosing to stay off-site (we had APs). We stayed off site and have done it every since. DH has no problem at all with driving around. Everything is close and clearly marked. Kids are older so the appeal of the taking the monorail back for afternoon naps is gone. With the money we have saved we have been able to purchase AP's and go more frequently and stay longer. The on-site hotels are wonderful but you definitely pay a premium. To be honest we spend very little time in the room anyway. My priorities in a hotel are
1) Its Clean and comfortable
2) Location
3) 2 queen size beds and either a sleeper or roll away
(I have a teen DD and a teen DS)
4) Pool area
5) Cost

I can stay 3 nights at a Marriott for what one night at the Contemporary cost. The moderates, IMO, do not accomodate a family of 4, with each child needing a separate bed, very well.

 

[Katiebug4685]

ah Disney hotels..
Whenever my family goes to WDW (which is usually everyother spring break) we always stay on Disney. We live in the panhandle off Florida and we drive the 7 hour trip down there and by that time my dad doesn't even wanna think about driving into the park. We love getting there and letting everyone else do the driving for us so we can be a tourist and sightsee. All Disney hotels let you put your hopper pass onto your hotel key and we all like that because we don't have to keep up with very many cards. I couldn't really get the whole ''vacation'' feeling unless i am at Disney. I went once with a few friends and we stayed offsite at Qaulity Suites Maingate East. It was horrible. The rooms were livable but not like what the looked like on the internet. The kitchen looked as if it was about to fall off. The shuttle only runs twice a day and if you miss it you would have to call the front desk to come pick you up (for a small fee if i remeber right) But it was cheapper than staying at Allstars. As for my family and I if we can we will always stay on Disney.

 

[Grog]

We're currenently planning a trip for April, 2003 and after weighing the options decided on the DTD area hotels instead of an on-site Disney resort. The reason is that DTD and PI are open later than the parks, so it will give us something to do in the evenings after the parks close. Then when we are tired, we won't be miles from our hotel

 

[lovingthemouse]

We usually stay off property - have a timeshare in LBV which we find is less expensive for us, and on occasion we'll end our stay at the Dolphin using the teacher discount. But this fall we are trying the Amerisuites in LBV - cost is great for the services, location is wonderful and their "bountiful" breakfast sounds good.When you work hard for your money, which we all do, i like to know we're spending it wisely, and this is the way we choose to spend it. In our opinion, "magic" can be created anywhere you stay!

 

[nluvwithdisney]

On our trip last week, we had a timeshare package with Summer Bay Resorts. We were upgraded to a 2 bedroom 2 bath condo. For two people that was a lot of room. I'm sure it is ideal for families with children. There were 3 tv's and a kitchen. It was very nice however, we didn't like the drive back to the condo, especially from Universal. We decided that we will pay more for the convenience at Disney. Even Universal is not that far to us when we stay at a Disney resort.