Driving to parks...comparing onsite to just offsite

[LadyBeBop]

Our next trip isn't until October 2013, but I'm getting a head start in planning. We'll stay in a timeshare. We'll probably try to trade into one of the DVC resorts. However, we're still open to offsite.

I already decided, if we can get Bay Lake Tower or one of the Animal Kingdom Lodges, we'll take it. But we'll probably get one of the Epcot resorts.

We'll have a car, so we can drive to the parks. Our itinerary is still sketchy this far off, but we'll definately spend a day at the MK...maybe two, and a day at Epcot. Unsure about AK and Hollywood. We just spent a day at AK last year. But if we end up at the AK lodge, we'll spend a day in the AK park. We'll also spend time at Downtown Disney as well.

I guess my question is...is it always quicker to drive to the parks if we stay onsite? Or might it be quicker to stay offsite...especially if we stay at Bonnet Creek or Sheraton Vistana? And how does Orange Lake fit into the equation? We've stayed at Orange Lake several times.

Sorry for being wordy and such...hope y'all understand. And thanks in advance.

 

[Mickey2013]

From what I understand, it is quicker to drive yourself even when onsite to all parks EXCEPT MK. Because you need to go thru the TTC.

We were fortunate to have good bus service so we found it all worked out w/ the buses being quick, BUT many others disagree.

 

[Boog's Mommy]

Staying on property will always be quicker than staying off property, because you will automatically be closer to the parks on site. However, if you did stay off property, keep in mind that Route 4 seems to always have traffic. so try to get an off property site that is fairly close to the entrance of Walt Disney World. They have several entrances.

We have driven 8 out of the 10 times we have been there while staying on site and driving our own car has always been better than riding Disney transportation. Much quicker and we never had to wait in the long lines after parks close.

 

[tkldisney]

I've done both onsite and off and prefer driving to each park where we stay. MK is probably faster using bus, but still prefer to drive. One thing to remember, if offsite you have to pay for parking at the parks. You pay once each day, keep your receipt and you can hop to another park and don't pay again that day.

 

[cheryterese]

We stayed off-site on our last trip and it worked so well for us that we'll be doing it again on our upcoming trip.

We stayed at Indian Ridge Oaks, south of Irlo Bronson Hwy. We were a 12-15 minute drive to each park except for MK which took about 30 to 40 minutes with the extra step of the TTC. Traffic was never a problem coming south of the parks.

The Unofficial Guide has a great section on considerations for off-site locations.

 

[LadyBeBop]

The Unofficial Guide has a great section on considerations for off-site locations.

That's why I posted this question. I saw the comparison guide in the Unofficial Guide. It looked as though it would be quicker to stay at Bonnet Creek...or even our old standby, Orange Lake. We've stayed at OL twice...loved it both times. But we were thinking it would be better to stay onsite this time.

 

[cheryterese]

That's why I posted this question. I saw the comparison guide in the Unofficial Guide. It looked as though it would be quicker to stay at Bonnet Creek...or even our old standby, Orange Lake. We've stayed at OL twice...loved it both times. But we were thinking it would be better to stay onsite this time.

I think if you stayed onsite and used your own car it would be similiar drive times with those off-site locations you are mentioning. And then you would probably be better off taking Disney transportation to the MK to avoid the TTC step. Have fun, whatever you decide!!

 

[goofy4tink]

The time spent driving from an off-site resort vs an on-site resort really shouldn't be the driving (forgive the pun) force behind where you stay. You need to decide if you want to be able to use EMHs or have packages delivered back to your room, or to just immerse yourself in the Disney magic.

Driving from off-site can be almost as fast as driving from on-site, other than MK.