DVC or Offsite?

[OneThree]

Having never stayed on site at WDW, I’m not really familiar with what makes one place better over another. We are looking for a place that can fit up to 8 and both OKW and SSR have options or we could go off site for something like Margaritaville. Our group is four adults, two senior citizens and two teenagers.

Given those options, is there something that makes one better than the other? I know we will need to bus or drive in most cases. We are planning four days for WDW and one at Universal.

Thanks in advance for any insight. Also, if there are other resorts we should look at please let me know.

 

[TCRAIG]

A coupla things to consider - staying at SS or OKW will get you free parking at all the Disney parks, the ability to make dining reservations 60 days in advance vs 30, 1/2 hour early entry at each park and since DVC is considered Deluxe Resorts, depending on what days you are there, extended evening hours at the parks…
Plus - both those resorts have great access to Disney Springs and beautiful ground and nice big rooms and reliable and safe bus transport - allowing (for instance) your teens to come and go as they please - or maybe some want to hang at the pool while others want to go back to a park…it gives you more flexibility

 

[holden]

Since your visit to WDW is short, I'd recommend staying onsite. Either get separate rooms or a large DVC villa. Not sure what the relationships are in your party, but I'd recommend a Grand Villa if you are going DVC. All of those adult bodies will need their space. If a GV is out of your budget, the 2 bedroom units at Bay Lake Towers and Kidani have an extra full bathroom that other DVC 2 bedroom units do not have.

With your party, if you go 2 bedroom dedicated unit you'd have 4 people in a room with two beds, 2 or 3 people in the living room on sofa bed/chair and 2 in a room with a king.

SSR and OKW are fine, but you will be sharing two bathrooms there in a 2 bedroom. Not sure how important that is to you.

 

[_19disnA]

Might also look into a rental home somewhere in the area. Orlando is a BIG draw for tourists and there many options for a party of your size that would provide more living space (i.e. mutliple bedrooms, kitchen, pool, etc.) There are some older threads on here that discuss that further.

Everyone has their own view of where to stay at Disney and it mostly relates to your budget, which park(s) you plan to spend the most time at and what you think about the subjective topic of hotel theming.

 

[Best Aunt]

For DVC, make sure you are aware of the bed situation in any unit you are considering.

At SSR, a 2-bedroom villa has:
1 King Bed and 2 Queen Beds and 1 Queen-Size Pull Down Bed and 1 Twin-Size Pull-Down Bed

At OKW, a 2-bedroom villa has:
1 King Bed and 2 Queen Beds and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa and 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair

If you're paying cash, they probably are pricey.

 

[hertamaniac]

I agree with the previous poster about the 3rd bathroom at BLT and AKL-Kidani. We just stayed at SSR (2BR) and OKW (2BR) over the past couple of months. I did a review of them in the trip reports section if that helps at all.

With a rather large group, I would certainly be thinking about that 3rd full-sized bathroom.

 

[CarolynFH]

the ability to make dining reservations 60 days in advance vs 30,

This is no longer the case. Everyone can make dining reservations 60 days in advance. The difference is that offsite guests have to make them day by day, 60 days from the date of each desired reservation. Onsite guests have the privilege of booking all dining reservations for their entire stay, up to 10 days, at 60 days before checkin to their onsite resort.

For some very popular restaurants, being able to book an ADR for the 5th day of your stay when you're 60 days from checkin (60+5 from the date of the ADR), for example, can be the difference between being able to book it vs. it being booked up.

 

[_19disnA]

I have seen lots of dining threads where people have found openings in previously unavailable restaurants closer to the date. I assume many people book up a lot of different reservations and then closer to their travel dates start cancelling ones they no longer want to avoid the no-show fee. I wouldn't choose where to stay just based on the dining reservation window.

 

[DeeBee3]

I would choose to stay on-site and then Uber to Universal (unless you have a car).

Since you basically have 8 adult-sizeish bodies, you need more rooms. Unless you splurge for a Grand Villa as mentioned above. With that many adults (I'm including teens in that) everyone needs space and BATHROOMS. i would price out the combinations for different rooms - like 3 studios vs. 1 bedroom and 1 studio, etc. You can find all the room layouts on here or elsewhere.

 

[MsChristy12]

I agreed with others, since your stay is short I recommend staying on-site as well so you can take advantage of some of the resort perks. OKW has the largest villas so you will probably feel more comfortable with that many people.

 

[DisTravels]

Having never stayed on site at WDW, I’m not really familiar with what makes one place better over another. We are looking for a place that can fit up to 8 and both OKW and SSR have options or we could go off site for something like Margaritaville. Our group is four adults, two senior citizens and two teenagers.

Given those options, is there something that makes one better than the other? I know we will need to bus or drive in most cases. We are planning four days for WDW and one at Universal.

Thanks in advance for any insight. Also, if there are other resorts we should look at please let me know.

If your group is likely to return to the room during the day (siesta, lunch, whatever), and would use the 1/2 hour early entry - then on-site provides two nice perks there. Also, not sure the mobility of your party, which could also be a factor with Disney bus vs Uber/Lyft vs driving.

If your group is mobile and plans on being at the park all day, you may consider some of the timeshares (e.g. Marriott Palms) in the area and Uber/Lyft to/from the parks. Will probably be more cost effective or you may be able to get two 2br's for what accommodations on-property runs.