Ever gone off-site after only doing on-site?

[minniesota]

My sister wants to take advantage of an RCI week at Vistana Villages. Our families have been to WDW 4 times and we've always stayed at GF, YC/BC. Our kids love staying at the same resort (we usually get connecting rooms) but will we be happy staying at Vistana after all our magical stays on-site? We would be renting our own unit at VV. How inconvenient is it to get to the parks? I'm such an on-site advocate - it's hard to imagine staying off-site. Anyone been in this position?

 

[minniesota]

Sorry, guys. I posted this on the WDW resort board for input too, but they moved it here!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Seems that you would get some good input on the WDW--I wonder why they moved it...

I've stayed off-site once. I ws going that time and meeting my sister during the off-season. She had a car so we didn't need to worry about transportation and I had an AP so we didn't have to pay for parking. It was fine. It (Radisson Resort Parkway) was as close to the parks as many of the on-site places, so that really wasn't an issue. It was just a standard hotel room, so we didn't have the space that you would have.

What time of the year are you going? How much money would you be saving by staying at VV? I can sure justify staying off-site if I am saving money and getting more for the money that I am spending (in space), especially if I wouldn't be taking advantage of the early opening days.

T&B

 

[snoopy]

Up until last July, I only stayed on-site. In July we stayed at Cypress Pointe Grand Villas, then this last January at Vistana Resort. I doubt we will ever stay on-site again, at least for any length of time. We LOVE the extra space, the washer & dryer, separate bedrooms, and leaving the WDW madness at the end of the day.

BTW, we are a family of 4 - my husband and I, and two kids ages 5 and 8. If it were just me and my husband, I might have a different opinion.

 

[spiceycat]

I love to stay at different places - I also love WDW - so I brought DVC - that insured on-site - I also have a SA timeshare to trade and we have stayed at some of the best timeshares in the area - I have already stayed at Hilton Grand Vacation Club at SW - lovely.

this year I have Sheraton's Vistana Resort (this is closer to WDW than where you will be staying - but much older) for Thanksgiving. Next year (2005) for the July 2 week (including of course July 4) - I have the Orange Lake.

All 2-bedroom - they are all great places to stay.

Just don't do the sales pitch. Unless you are staying on a marketing deal - you certainly don't have to.

I have also stayed through II getaways to the Marriott Grande Vista - also lovely....

Now staying off-site is not like staying on-site. No free parking at the WDW theme parks - the service is some cases is better in some it is worst (but I have bad service at a WDW resort too).

the differences to me - it is far away - believe me - it is...

I happen to love WDW transportation.

if you can help it don't park at the MK - park at Epcot and ride the monrail - you will have to change monrails - but at the MK you park your car then you have to ride their trans then you have to ride a monrail or the ferry.

if you were staying at a WDW resort - you would either take a monrail or boat directly to the MK - or you bus would let you off at the near the front gate.

No surprise hour - no E-nights -

it just depends upon you want more room and family near - or the convenience for staying on-site.

Now some people hate to stay off-site - as I said I happen to love both!!!

staying off-site gives you a much better chance to see Seaworld, US/IOA and other things that are out there. When you stay on WDW property you generally stay on WDW property. there are several great places to do and see that aren't on WDW property.

try it - if you hate it then you know. However if you don't try it you will never know.

 

[ILUVDXL]

We stayed on property for 9 years, then 2 years ago my DH went to work for Radisson. With his employee discount, Disney can't come close to what we pay. It also allows us some extra days stay. We still miss being on property. DXL has always been our resort of choice, but we make sure we visit many times over the course of our stay.

 

[dg39]

We always stayed on site. Either the CR Tower or main building in the GF. Our worst mistake ever was to first stay at the concierge in the GF for 7 nights then move over to the Marrott World Center for the remaining 5 nights. While we do love the MOWC, the rooms are large, the pools can't be beat and the grounds are beautiful, I'll NEVER stay on site and then go off site during the same vacation ever again. We all missed the magic of disney and the way they spoil you.

 

[stacy6552]

in a word...no.

we went from disney resorts to a downtown disney resort and couldnt believe how different it was. No pixie dust, ANYWHERE.

That being said, our neighbors own at the vistana villages and go every year and do enjoy it (though theyve never stayed with disney to compair).

Why not split the difference and stay at the BC villas?

 

[eeyore0062]

We have done this twice, once in the Courtyard Marriott in the Disney Village and the other at the Howard Johnsons East Maingate.

The 1st time was fine, we had our car and came and went as we pleased. The 2nd time wasn't so great. The rooms were mildew-y smelling and being on 192 was no picnic, as far as transportation to and from the parks, even with a car.

We will be staying on property, or at least in the village from now on!

 

[maciec]

We have pretty much always stayed on site except for once. We took advantage of a friends week at Vistana Resort. We got an old room not one that is pictured on their website. We asked to be switched to another room and they put us in a new older room. We settled and LOVED the extra room. It was a 2 bedroom with a full kitchen, 2 full baths, washer/dryer, family room, and a screened in porch. We also got a chance to see other parts of the WDW area that we have never seen. We went to US and SW. Two things that we would have never done staying on site.

What we didn't like ...... we never actually felt like we were at Disney and that we were missing out by staying off-site. There is definitely magic when you stay on site.

Now we are in a predicament because my parents bought a Marriott timeshare that we can use for free when we want to go to WDW. We are going in October and are staying at Marriott's Grand Vista. People have said that it is much nicer than Vistana Resort so maybe we can get the magic back. I don't care how much time I spend at a resort, if I'm not happy there, I'm not going to have a good trip.

My advice is to go and try staying off site just once to see what it's like. At least you will know. I would not advise splitting the stay unless you did off site first and then moved to a Disney Resort.

Good Luck!
Melissa

 

[spiceycat]

do your parent own at that Marriott - or can they just trade to it - if they can just trade to it - they might one year be able to get a DVC resort from II.

It has happened!

now if they own at that Marriott - I think the 50 mile thing comes in to being and they can't trade to any of the Orlando timeshares (except other Marriott).

I would definitely ask II.

however I happen to love this place - it is a first class resort. One of my favorite off-site places - I have been there twice and I am going back this May....

 

[minniesota]

Thank you so much for all of the great advice! Now just to throw another thing into the mix, my sister received the (not so popular on the resorts board) Visa 7 nights for 4 deal. She is not a Disney Visa card holder but they are enticing her to become one! I think we have to pencil this all out to see what will work best and what everyone will be happy with. Mom and Dad have only been to WDW once and we stayed at VWL and BC - they fell in love with the whole experience. Sis and I are heading down to Florida tomorrow for a long weekend with mom and dad (no hubbies or kids!) so we'll have lots to talk about.

 

[disneysteve]

I've stayed onsite and offsite many times. My first 5 or 6 trips were onsite. We now stay exclusively offsite and love it. It is far better for lots of reasons:

cost, obviously.
space - we can get a 2-bedroom suite/condo for less than an onsite value resort
amenities - full kitchen, washer and dryer, private pool, multiple rooms, tvs and bathrooms, etc.
convenience - park right outside our door, be in the parks in 10-15 minutes, not have to deal with Disney buses
relaxation - onsite is hustle and bustle all the time. after a busy day in the parks, its great to come back to a condo or house and kick back and relax in spacious surroundings
sleep better - we all do when DD has her own room.

It would be awfully tough to lure us back onsite unless Disney drops the rates on their suites drastically which I know will never happen.

Steve

 

[maciec]

SpicyCat......

We have had our request for a trade into II for a DVC for about 5 months now. No luck. We are going to wait until March sometime and if we don't hear anything we are going to trade into Grande Vista. They own 2 Marriotts (one in Myrtle Beach and one is West Palm).

I would rather stay at a DVC, but I think we will be happy at MGV.

Thanks for the input.

Melissa

 

[Gretchen]

I second the "in a word No". If you have been to WDW 4 times and have only stayed at the GF, BC/YC, you will not be happy with offsite, and I would really think not happy with Vistana especially if it is an RCI trade. If you are used to the 'Magic" you get at WDW Resorts (as I am) you will really miss it if you stay off site. To me, there are 2 types of vacations, regular vacations and Disney vacations. If I'm going to WDW, I want a Disney vacation!
Have fun!
gretchen

 

[MICOL]

We did AKl then Por then Holiday Villas and enjoyed all 3. We went to AKL on our first trip to WDW and of course that was great. Offsite we enjoyed the 3 bed condo and full kitchen and living room bathrooms for our group. The WDW rooms are small.

 

[Rippington'sFan]

Onsite vs. Offsite. I'm just not sure what to do. Maybe you all can help. When it comes right down to it are the benefits of staying inside Disney really just being able to utilize early entry and make priority seating and park for free if you have a car?
Currently we are booked at the Doubletree Guest suites. We got a pretty good rate for late August. Even though the doubletree is technically inside Disney (near downtown disney) it is not considered a Disney Hotel so no early entry or priority seating. Also they have their own bus transportation etc... We will have a car so no big deal with the transportation.

My real question is... We are leaning towards keeping our reservation at the Doubletree Guest Suites. Our only other choice is one of the Value Resorts. Do you think we would be better off at the Doubletree guest suites or the Value resort? For 5 nights it will only cost approx. $100.00 more for the Doubletree suite which will give us much more room. The drawback is we cannot utilize the early entry or priority seating etc... which I guess is really not such a big deal to us unless one of you has another opinion on that. We have a car so we can eat dinner outside the parks etc...
Any thoughts or suggestions on if we should reconsider staying at a Value Resort or stick with the Doubletree? We are really not fussy people when it comes down to where we stay. I have heard the Value Resort rooms are kind of small but we could deal with that if we were convinced staying at a Disney resort is the better way to go. Our kids are 8,5. It will be our 1st trip to Disney.
I would appreciate any thoughts on this.
thanks,

 

[spiceycat]

don't give up yet - DVC can and do come in the last 3 to 2 months period - why - because alot of DVC member do not understand that getaways are not a good deal to trade their points for - so they do it.....

most DVC members only belong to II through DVC - not a direct membership - so they can't understand what they are letting go of for say 207 points can be rented through II for a getaway generally less than $800 (sometimes alot less) - considering points go on the open market for around $10 a point - you can see my point.

a few months ago DVC started to promote the getaways and the response from people (who only own DVC) is pretty good. (sad but true)

so you might get lucky - if you find where you are on list - especially if you are in the top 3 I would definitely wait.

Also I would go list the Marriott at Myrtle Beach on the dvc rental/trade - site here on this board - there has already been talk about trying to trade there when DVC allows it (probably sometime next year).

You can list the other Marriott too - I am not familiar with it - so I don't know what the response would be.

but I would think in fairly short order you will get a DVC member willing to trade your Myrtle Beach.

Try it! then no one pays the II exchange fee and also you won't get hit with the $95 exchange fee that DVC charges.

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by Rippington'sFan
Onsite vs. Offsite. For 5 nights it will only cost approx. $100.00 more for the Doubletree suite which will give us much more room. The drawback is we cannot utilize the early entry or priority seating etc... which I guess is really not such a big deal to us unless one of you has another opinion on that.

I have heard the Value Resort rooms are kind of small but we could deal with that if we were convinced staying at a Disney resort is the better way to go. Our kids are 8,5.

First of all, you can do Priority Seating no matter where you are staying. That is not limited to Disney hotel guests. As for early entry, not everyone agrees that it is so terrific. Many people purposely go to the park that doesn't have EE that day because it tends to be less crowded.

Onsite vs. offsite is a constant source of debate around here. Here's my input for what its worth. I've done both numerous times. I've stayed at value, moderate and deluxe Disney hotels, so I think I speak with some experience.

Value rooms are tiny. In fact, even the moderate and deluxe rooms are quite small considering the cost. We were at AKL last year (visiting friends) and were shocked how cramped the room was. I love my wife and daughter dearly, but after a week in those accomodations we would all be ready to kill each other.

I don't know about you and your family, but we all sleep much better when DD has her own room. DW and I can stay up later, watch TV, read, have a snack, etc. without disturbing DD. In the AM, DD can wake up before us and read or play GameBoy without waking us. That alone is well worth going offsite in my book.

We prefer to eat breakfast in our room and get going, not have to deal with a restaurant and spend a fortune for breakfast. The offsite suites/condos/houses have full kitchens so we can easily do that.

We do not like Disney transport, except for the monorail. Even when we stay onsite, we drive our own car everywhere we go. Yes, you do pay $7/day to park if coming from offsite (unless you have AP) but that cost is minor in the overall budget.

There are those who say you "lose the magic" if you stay offsite. IMO I think that's BS. The magic is what you make of it. Millions of people go every year and stay offsite. They can't all be having such a lousy time.

As for your specific reservation, there are many offsite suite hotels that may offer a better deal than what you are paying. You can get a suite hotel or condo for less than the cost of a Disney value resort if you look around. Check hotelkingdom. Also check Windsor Palms http://www.windsor-palms-resort.com/

Happy to answer any other questions.

Steve

 

[angbuz]

I am new to these boards and this is my first post. I appreciate your insight on staying off-site, you helped to ease my mind a lot. First, I panicked when i read Rippington'sFan post about priority seating being only for on-site guests. Thanks for clarifying that for me. This is our first trip to Disney so this is all very new to us. I have two small kids (5 & 1). We originally planned on staying on-site but then started thinking about staying off-site at the Radisson Resort Parkway. We will be renting a car if we stay off-site and I know that we have to pay for parking at the theme parks, do you know if we could utilize the monorail at all (thought my 5 yr old would love to ride it)? I'm trying to do as much research as possible b4 we go on May 15th but again, i'm new to all of this and any information i get is very helpful. Thanks!