Ever stay both on and off-site on the same trip?

[DMRick]

We stayed at the Hyatt (now closed) and then moved onsite to Music. Wasn't worth the packing up and moving. We're usually onsite people, but we did like the Hyatt, and it took just mere minutes for us to get to Disney. I bid and got the Hyatt very cheap, and I did wish we had just stayed there. Took up too much time to move, re-check in, etc. We enjoyed eating out of Disney too, although I wouldn't do it on a regular basis.

 

[RedRuby]

My poor overwhelmed dh (I tend to talk about Disney a LOT these days ) thinks it's crazy to have to pack up and "move" to another hotel while we're on vacation, and he's just as happy to stay put at Staybridge (hey- that should be their motto! ). Any thoughts? Opinions?

A similar issue: which order to do onsite/offsite?

If you are splitting a visit between onsite and offsite, which do you do first, and why? I'd imagine that Disney season dates would be a factor for some people, experiencing the magic first for others, etc....

This is my self-serving question of the day since I've just found out our friends have a timeshare week they can't use...and their dates are flexible at this point.

--Barbara

 

[jolee]

We are staying at the Comfort Inn in LBV this summer. We found a great site that we got the hotel for 3d/2n for a total of 58.00. the site is ibidusa.com. we are also taking the kids to see pirate's dinner show that my husband found on this site. check it out!

 

[seashoreCM]

One time I stayed on=site just before Christmas but didn[t realize that a continuous stay into the holicay rate season would be all at the lower previous rate. Came down 0n checkout day, holiday season began that night. Asked for a manager and then "named my own price" to extend my stay (face to face, not Priceline) the price being the same price I paid the previous night. He declined (preferring that rooms go empty) and I then checked out as scheduled and went off site.

Another time I arrived just before new Years but booked on site for several days starting just after New Years when the rate was down again. I could have stayed off site nearby very reasonably for the first 2 nights but I neglected to reserve early enough. So I got caught in the Corey Sandler Econoguide 20 mile commute to Disney, fortunately it was not bumper to bumper.

A third time I booked my first night off site and the rest of my stay on site. QWas a peak travel time and I wanted the flexibility to do voluntary bump off my Disney bound flight (did not succeed), possibly arriving the next day.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[HappyLawyer]

we will be doing both on our next trip only because we are doing the disney cruise and comming down a few days earlier, after we check into orange lake cc for the next two weeks

 

[Jakesmom1]

We have done it as well, but we do offsite first and then on site. Just too hard to leave the 24 hour magic once you have it...

A tip to the packing unpacking dilemma ( my DH hates this part) is to pack two suitcases. One for each hotel, then you dont have to pack and unpack everything.

 

[slk537]

We did this last November/December and I didn't like it at all. We own an Interval Intl timeshare and I was always so happy with it - always felt so lucky to be in a 2 bedroom condo/villa vs. onsite in a hotel room. We tried Embassy Grand Beach for our honeymoon (loved it!), Vistana (great!), Blue Tree (nice), and then...then we got Old Key West through Interval. The rooms weren't much different than what we were used to, but the whole experience had me looking towards the trip we had planned at the Celebrity Suite and Spas and wondering if we could possibly get Disney. So...we bought our DVC membership that trip. And our next trip, we ended up staying at AKL one night, keeping the II trip from Saturday until Wednesday (in a 3 bedroom) and then moved over to the Villas at Wilderness Lodge from Wed-Wed. in a 1 bedroom. And the whole time we were at the Celebrity (which was very nice, HUGE, and conveniently located by SuperTarget, lots of restaurants, etc.) I was dying to give up all the extra space to get back on property. And when we got to VWL - it was just wonderful.

We love our II membership and will continue to use it, as we like to visit WDW as much as we can. But the split for us wasn't easy. It really is a totally different experience.

 

[familyfirsttimer]

I was considering doing this next spring staying at Vistana a few nights and then moving to Pop (or similar). My question is what do you do about the rental car? Obviously, once we move into the "world", we have no need for the car. We really loved just getting on a bus and letting someone else doing the driving/navigating! I would hate to have to pay for a rental for 10 days if we only really need it for 5.
Any advice? Thank you!

 

[mbb]

then do DME to POP?

DME will take you back to MCO at the end of your vacation...

Check over on the transportation board..someone there will know if it's possible to do this - then let us know!

HTH!!

 

[Lisa P.]

We consider the theme pools a treat and a nice ending to a longer trip (8-12 nights). It's not unusual for us to spend a full week in a timeshare 2BR or 3BR condo, followed by a night or two in a hotel onsite.

However, if the onsite stay were going to be more than a couple of days in a hotel room, then we're best to start in the small room and then spreading out later in the trip, regardless of the onsite/offsite thing. Perhaps, having 3 teenagers makes a difference.

We usually drive so don't have a rental car. But there are a few rental car companies which have drop-off locations at WDW, where it's possible to get transportation to DTD or a theme park and then back to a Disney hotel. Then you'd only have to pay for transportation back to MCO one-way (unless it's included in your ME room package).

 

[cyansmom]

HI!

We stayed both on and off-site last year since we were there for 2 weeks. We stayed at the Best Western in DD for the first night since we arrived late. That was okay for one night. We then went on-site. We rented DVC points and stayed in a 1bdr at OKW for one week. That was fabulous! Loved having the space and being on-site! Then we moved to Doubletree suites in DD for 3 nights. Used our Hilton Hhonors points to stay. The suite was roomy for the 5 of us. We were still close to Disney...and to Crossroads. We ended our wonderful trip with a 3 night stay at AKL concierge level! That was a great way to end our trip. It was really peaceful and relaxing. My boys loved it! We stayed our last night at the Hyatt MCO. It was really pricey for the size of the room but can't beat the convenience since we had an early flight. If you can find a great deal on DVC points, I would stay there again! Also if I could get a great rate @ AKL...I would end my trip there. My family was not enthused at having to pack and move 5 times but afterward, they thanked me for planning such a great trip. We were able to experience the best of the WORLD...IMHO!

cyansmom

 

[Amyrlin]

We have a truly split holiday. WE start off we two nights at RPR to get FOTL passes, then 5 days on international drive at Sheraton Studio City. Then we move to POFQ for 5 nights and then last two nights as AKL Concergie with the sunrise safari on the last morning. However, there are only two of us and we travel light, so not a lot of unpacking and packing.

 

[AndyMcV]

My DW and I on our first trip to WDW stayed at the Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista. A very nice hotel. On the last 3 nights of our trip we then stayed at the Contemporary. Wow what a difference. We were so spoiled. Of course this was the first time we had ever stayed on site.

We've since then found the Swan and Dolphin and with the discounts that you can get we have a hard time choosing any other given the price difference.

 

[spiceycat]

I like off-site first. I work pretty hard - so my vacations are important to me.

timeshares are definitely better than hotel rooms. Although I still will stay in hotel rooms - Laquinta (because they allow pets), and Pop (because it is so darn cute) plus it is disney.

however one of my timeshares is DVC.

so I do this - generally stay in an off-site condo for the week. then a day or two or three using my points get a studio at OKW (or 1-bedroom). I try to pick nights that have E-nights - Wedneday night - allows MK and thursday (check out) allows Epcot. Tuesday (morning - Studio, evening - AKL). so any of or all of these nights work really well for us.

although I still appreciate my staying in OKW for 5 days straight. I don't like to stay Fri/Sat too darn expensive - so Pop is still nice for those nights.

even with the 25% DVC members get at OKW (even a studio) is too expensive for my taste. Pop is fine!

 

[UKDEB]

Because we visit from the UK for 2-3 weeks at a time, we tend to rent a pool home for the duration and then take a couple of nights out mid-trip to stay onsite (either at WDW or US). This isn't a compromise for us - a couple of days in a hotel room is enough and we love all the benefits of having a mega-luxurious, palacial villa. And, because we don't have to pay out hotel prices for the entire trip, it means we can afford 'deluxe' for the onsite part (we've stayed at the Beach Club, Contemporary, Grand Floridan, Concierge at AKL, HRH and PBH and in a Grand Villa with BW view at the BoardWalk).

Whilst we end up paying twice for those few nights accommodation, the benefit is that we just pack an overnight bag for the onsite part of the trip. Then we return to the space and peacefulness of the villa and return home to the UK with a suitcase full of clean clothes!

 

[familyfirsttimer]

Is it really worth it when you factor in that you have to rent a car and also pay for parking if you go to the parks on those days?
I am getting myself even more confused seeing all these options. I am wondering if it is not just better to split the say with a value first and then move to a mod/deluxe for a few days.
Can you tell me what you guys think. I know in the off-sites we will probably have more room and if we have a car we could grocery shop. Other than that what are the advantages/disadvantages?

Thank you. BTW did I mention how I love these boards!

 

[spiceycat]

you don't need a car to grocery stop

www.wegoshop.com

great service, even better people!

Now if you are staying offsite a car is the best transportation. but most big places have a bus system. It is generally shared and goes to a park on its schedule not yours. So when they say last bus - I would ge there at least 15 minutes earlier just in case it arrived early.

you miss it. You pay for a taxis back to your resort.

a car is much easier.

I have an annual pass - so parking is free for me. I drive my car from Al - so I already have my car.

Now if you are flying - Disney is even better. they started DME (disney's magical express service) - that transports you back and forth to WDW.

the best thing about this service. IT IS FREE. if you are staying on-site at one of the WDW resorts. this does not include dolphin, swan or the dd hotels. It does include all the WDW resorts including DVC resort. It also includes SOG (but I am sure they are paying Disney for this use)

that with www.wegoshop.com is a great plan.

if you stay onsite Disney will move your luggage.

If you want a kitchen - then rent points from a DVC member, or try a cabin at FW.

but remember you can get a great timeshare using skyauction for around $211 to $300. with Disney what you will pay for one night! (OKW studios and value resorts are generally cheaper)