Does Anyone "Prefer" Offsite?

[Emme]

We have stayed both on and off and I know soooo many love onsite and would go no other way...BUT, are there some of you that actually prefer offsite and why?

I love staying offsite but close by (Lake Buena Vista, downtown Disney...). I find the little extras like breakfast, fridges, cheaper rates make choosing offsite occasionally a lot of fun and a great value.

I would love to hear from others and why they enjoy staying offsite.

Emmy

 

[threeboysmom]

I've stayed both onsite and offsite and have come to this conclusion: If it's just DH and I, then onsite is WONDERFUL and can't be beat! If we have the 3 boys with us, however, offsite is the only way for us to go. Our family needs separate bedrooms for a good night's sleep and privacy since we all on different sleeping "schedules". Also, it's nice to be able to have breakfasts in our room each morning - saves our family of 5 lots of $$ I'd rather spend elsewhere.

 

[TheRatPack]

Originally posted by Emme
I find the little extras like breakfast, fridges, cheaper rates make choosing offsite occasionally a lot of fun and a great value.

I would love to hear from others and why they enjoy staying offsite.

Emmy

We have stayed both onsite and offsite and although onsite is more magical it's just more economical for us to stay offsite. Our room at the hotel we stay at now is huge in comparison to those we've stayed at onsite (we usually would stay at a value or moderate resort). We also enjoy having the 2 bathrooms, separate bedrooms and the kitchen. Renting the fridge at Disney hotels is okay, but you just don't have the space to really 'eat' much. We also get free breakfast where we stay and it's close to most restaurants for supper after the parks. We also enjoy being able to crate our dog while we're out during the day, Disney requires you to kennel them if you are onsight at one of their resorts, which turns in to more $$.

 

[WIcruizer]

We prefer to stay off-site, but it must be the LBV area. We don't like the I Drive area, and especially don't like staying further away than that. It's becoming popular to rent condos and homes miles away from WDW, and then I think you lose a bit of "magic." But staying in the LBV area, we actually feel like we're still on-site. Heck, you can see the search lights from Paradise Island.

We like it because you do get a bigger room with more emenities for less money. Last time we had a 2 bedroom suite in LBV for LESS money than a standard, small room in a mod on-site. Such a no-brainer. Secondly, we're not mass transport type of people so we always use a car going to the parks. I'm not bothered by it at all. After being on my feet all day, it's rather relaxing to roll down the windows, put the radio on and ride home in comfort while we watch others push and shove to cram into the buses.

The restaurants are better and less expensive than on-site. And finally, our kids are night owls. We get back to the hotel late, and it's basically a place to sleep. We've stayed on site twice, and it didn't seem any more magical than LBV.

 

[Sarahsmom85]

I have never stayed on site. I know I have missed alot after seeing the Disney planner CD, but when my daughter was little they did not have all the resorts they have now. Now since my daughter is older we like to rent the villa or condo. I like the kitchen, seperate bedrooms. I have never stayed farther than the 192 drive. When I get me some grandchildren (in 8-9 yrs) then we will have to try a on-site. LOL

 

[ncbyrne]

We like onsite and off and split every trip to include both. Since the onsite resorts have so much to offer, we save the majority of park days for offsite stays. By staying offsite for several days, we save enough $ to afford a longer trip than if we stayed onsite for the whole trip.

 

[pjlla]

I have stayed on-site and off-site....although admittedly, the last time I stayed on site (CBR) was in 1992 for my honeymoon!! We stayed off-site during our last visit in 2002 with our kids. We really prefer/require a suite. The kids cannot settle down to sleep if DH and I are up and around and the lights are on. And I can't get regrouped and ready for the next busy day if it is lights out by 8:30pm!! We compromise..... I get to go to WDW and we stay off-site for the family's sanity!! PLUS..... I am extremely cheap (hence I am reading the "budget board"!) and even though I have the $$ to spend to stay on-site, I just cannot make myself spend it just for the "luxury" of the extra magic!! Also, we cannot imagine not having a car and so that eliminates one of the main benefits of staying on-site... using their transportation. And the free bkfst buffet our suite offers is a real time and money saver!!! Perhaps when the kids are older and we all go to bed at the same time, then we will consider staying on-site again, but for now off-site works for us!! (We do travel around on our non-park days and check out the resorts.... DS had to see the giant Buzz and Woody at All-Star Movie!)...................P

 

[Robinrs]

Done both and prefer offsite at DISNEY but ON at Universal.

 

[MICOL]

We have stayed onsite twice and offsite once. We loved both. We did offsite as we had two families of 4 and it was nice to have a large condo. The offsite saved us a bunch. Breakfast each day was bought at Publics. Packed knacks and water bottles for the days. Ride from Kiss was easy.
Onsite is costly but magic all the time. AKL was amazing, POR was great and relaxing. Sorry but you can't go wrong either way.

 

[Mickey527]

When I am going to Uni and Sea World I prefer to stay offsite because once I am on Disney property I can't leave.
But when I am planning to do the parks and WDW stuff I prefer on site.
Having the kitchen or even a small fridge and microwave does make things alot easier. That is why I finally bought into DVC. I bought only 170 points (alot of DVC board readers seem to have 400 or more points. But I use my points wisely, I don't stay in a DVC during the weekends. I was able to get 3 - 5 day trips this year with my 170 points, a few in a studio and a week in Jan at a 2 bedroom. And I have some points that I transfered for next year. I am using my points this year for my son's honeymoon too.
It's also nice to have a washer and dryer. Peggie

 

[crabmeal]

We've only stayed off site but I don't see us staying onsite.We rent a villa and with 2 little kids it is really great. Having lots of space and a full kitchen is a geat plus for us. I admit I would like to stay onsite but only if it was me and DH!

 

[Lisa P.]

Having done both many times, we generally prefer offsite these days, occasionally tagging a night or two onsite onto the end of an offsite week.

First, offsite is far less expensive for our family of 5 (2 adults, 3 teens). Onsite, we only fit in a Deluxe room (only 1 bathroom, ) or in 2 connecting rooms or in a $uite - all much more costly than our spacious 2BR luxury timeshare villa for a week (under $400/week).

Second, DH has become tired of Disney over the years. Leaving the hustle, bustle & marketing machine of Disney at the end of the day (and on resort swim days) is a very good idea for us. With more space (most villas sleep 8), we've been able to travel with other families or bring our kids' friends on several vacations. Our teens love this and we appreciate the affordable, added space offsite.

Driving is easy from the closer resorts offsite. We're used to using Package Pick-up at the front of the parks regardless of where we stay. And with 3 teens, no one is interested in rising early enough for EE while vacationing. So the primary onsite perks are pretty useless to us. BTDT!

 

[iluvflorida]

We stay offsight because we do much more than disney. We like the resorts like Orange Lake, Vistanna, Westgate, Wyndam Palms. We stay for 4-5 weeks so like the space in a condo and the resort activities. It is usually quiet durning the day as most go to parks.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

I'm torn..We have stayed bothoff and onnsite. I normally go fo the best bang for the buck. About 2 years ago we stayed at At Gaylord Palms for a wonderful price and absolutlely loved. However this past trip we stayed at OKW and FELL in Love. Our next trip we are tryig thr nre Ritx Carlton/

 

[abbyndrewmom]

I prefer off site for the extra perks but I love the Early Entry mornings so i try to split our stay between on and off site hotels. In 2002 when they cancelled EE mornings I wa thrilled because we could stay off site the whole time. For our upcoming March trip we are staying at the Amerisuites hotel and the All Star movies. i am not looking forward to checking out of the Amerisuite and cramming ourselves into the All star movies.

 

[mearjan]

I have saved tons of money offsite and really have only stayed onsite once and that was at universal but the price difference i have never been able to justify paying that much more this summer we had a 3 bedroom house with the pool and for all 6 of us we only spent 250 dollars for food for 8 nights. Our next trip will be onsite if at all possible as i want the kids to have the experience at least once.

 

[Tiggernut_jadie]

We've only ever stayed off site but I have thought about staying on site for part of the time. However, as we do much more than Disney - USO, Sea World, Kennedy etc, the extra expense of staying on site seems a bit much!

We've stayed on IDrive and at LBV and much prefer the LBV area - it's 'almost' Disney but, as someone else said it is nice to get away from the disney overload and back to an ordinary hotel room!!!

The transport also isn't a 'draw' for us as my DH uses public transport to get to work and back all year - I'm a community nurse so I get the car! - and the idea of having to stand all the way back to our hotel after a long day at one of the parks, makes us shudder!!!

Our next trip is our daughters first trip and the suite we're staying at is $64 a night for a two bedroom/2 bathroom suite - less than a standard room at one of the ecomomy Disney resorts......you do the math!!!!

 

[Kay1]

It's getting to the point I prefer offsite. When you budget, accomodations are a big part of that budget and you can get a lot more for your money by staying offsite.

We'll be staying at the new Pop Century in a couple of weeks and I have mixed feelings about it since I know the room will be pretty small and has no kitchen. I think I would cancel if my father weren't coming and meeting us.

We've been spoiled lately by offsite suites and apartments. It's just so nice to have all that room and freedom to stay in and reheat Chinese or Thai or Italian food.

We recently stayed at a DoubleTree and had a two bedroom, two bath apartment I got on Priceline for $34 - two stories and two televisions, too.

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by Emme
We have stayed both on and off and I know soooo many love onsite and would go no other way...BUT, are there some of you that actually prefer offsite and why?

We ABSOLUTELY prefer offsite. Of course price is one reason, but definitely not the only one.

Onsite we are crammed into a little room (even at the deluxes) where none of us gets a good nite's sleep. Offsite we get a multi-room suite where my wife and I get to sleep in a seperate room from our daughter.

Onsite we are limited to our plug-in cooler to store food. Offsite we get a full kitchen with a full size refrigerator/freezer.

Onsite, we have one tv and often disagree on what to watch. Offsite, we get 2 or more tvs and everyone's happy.

Overall, we just find staying offsite to be far more comfortable, far more convenient and obviously far cheaper.

Steve

 

[mom2twinz3]

Offsite for us because of our large family. We have 5 kids, and Disney just cannot offer us anything affordable that will fit all of us. We just got back from HIFS and we found that most comfortable and well-suited to our needs. The Entertainment rate, and free breakfast buffet made it all the more sweet. The only drawback was sharing one bathroom, however there were two blow dryer/vanity areas so that compensated a little for that.

Also, it was soooo close to Disney, it felt like being onsite.

Mary