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

[emer95]

So far I'm happily booked at Staybridge Suites for 8 nights this August, but lately I've been wondering if we should at least try staying a few days on-site, just to see what the big deal is. We've never stayed on-site before. I figure if we only stay one or two nights, it won't cost too much and it will at least give us an idea of what we'll want to do on another trip.

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?

 

[ALostBoy]

Hi,
We have and it almost felt like 2 vacations. I had points
at Holiday Inn and the HI Express at Summer Bay had a
great deal, 10,000 pts instead of the 20,000 it now takes.
I had enough points to stay 5 nights at the HIEx and we
stayed 2 nights at the Poly on the AP rates. We enjoyed
getting a taste of the Poly and had a blast. We had no problem
with changing resorts as we drove to WDW. I would do
it again.

 

[disneyfan719]

On my last trip, we spent one night at POP and the rest of the time at the Vistana Sheraton (which is only about a 3 minute drive from Disney). I am definitely a On-site girl! However, we didn't pay to stay at Vistana since my grandparents were there using their time share and had a spare room.

That said, the only thing that I would change is that I would have stayed off-site first. It was really hard to get used to not having the on-site advantages after having them the first two days.

 

[MiaSRN62]

We own at Vistana as well as being DVC Members (stayed at OKW, BWV and VWL, Vero). We'll often split our stays. Someone mentioned it feels like two vacations in one which I agree with. It can be a little bit of a pain to pack everything up. We check-in early and then just have the resort store our luggage until a room becomes available while we go play in the parks for the day.

 

[DJT]

In September we stayed offsite, then moved to Pop for a few days and then my DH told me he wanted to go back offsite, as he preferred it to Pop. So, we moved back offsite. He couldn't sleep on the beds at Pop. He could feel the springs in the mattress. Since it was just the two of us, it wasn't a problem to pack and move. I have to say, I enjoyed being offsite more than onsite. Maybe it would have been different if we had stayed at a different onsite hotel.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

On my last trip, we spent one night at POP and the rest of the time at the Vistana Sheraton (which is only about a 3 minute drive from Disney). I am definitely a On-site girl! However, we didn't pay to stay at Vistana since my grandparents were there using their time share and had a spare room.

That said, the only thing that I would change is that I would have stayed off-site first. It was really hard to get used to not having the on-site advantages after having them the first two days.

This is funny to me, Michelle and just goes to show how different we all can be.

Our first "real" stay off-site (we don't talk about the motel experience we had for one night before we moved to ASMovies ) was at Vistana and that made us realize how much we loved being off-site. Well, it's not off-site we love, so much as it is the bigger, cheaper, condos we love.

We had stayed at ASMovies before and my DH loved it. THEN, last trip we were at VIstana and he said Allstars never again.

That's why it's hard sometimes giving advice on this board. We don't really know the person we are giving advice to, and their likes/dislikes. But all we can tell them are our experiences, right?? I guess that's best.

 

[spiceycat]

yes I do it alot - stay at a timeshare offsite - then a couple of days generally Tuesday and Thursday - stay also on on-site - at either a DVC resort or Pop Century (I love that place!!!).

you stay stay onsite for the best of Disney - the early morning and late evening hours and their transportation. You stay off site to enjoy non-Disney things and to relax.

my pick either a DVC resort (generally OKW) or Pop Century has to do with price - sometimes I get the card and can get PC for $49 to $69. then it is definitely PC - otherwise we happen to love OKW - this is one Disney resort that I can relax at - so that makes it much harder to leave....

 

[barrett7890]

we're doing this in october

9 days on International Drive then 9 days at POP

cami
x

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

We stay at my in-laws 30 minutes away at the beginning and end of the trip. This way we check into the Disney hotel super early, check the luggage, get the room we really want and don't waste any travel time. We usually end up taking my in-laws to DTD with us the day before we check in. They get good time watching their granddaughter play at the jumping fountains and I get to shop!!! Sounds like a win-win to me.

 

[Taratink]

Before I got married I have stayed at an offsite hotel and then moved to the CR. I have heard of a lot of people doing that. Now I have kids and my husband refuses to switch hotels. I would prefer to move because there are so many great hotels to stay at. I am more adveturous so I like that idea. My husband likes to get used to one place. You will have a great time no matter what.
Tara

 

[pixelpixie]

Totally agree with Mom of Sleepy, Bashful and BabyDoc! For our honeymoon almost 10 years ago we stayed at the CBR. It was nice staying on site when it was just the two of us. But last year we took 4yo daughter and stayed 7 nights at the Sheraton Vistana and 1 night at the AKL (was supposed to be 2 but got chased out by hurricane!). Anyway, I was really looking forward to the stay at the AKL but ended up enjoying our time at the Vistana much more. I'm glad we stayed one night at AKL because it was a great experience but I would not have wanted an 8:30-9:30 bedtime for my whole vacation. The spaciousness of our two bedroom condo at the Vistana allowed me to wash clothes, prepare backpack and fannypacks, lay out clothing, have a glass of wine, or spend quality time with dh after little one went to bed. I won't stay on site for more than a couple of nights until kids are much older and we can get 2 rooms. Just my 2 cents

 

[Tiger Fan]

We almost always split our stays between on and offsite. We like both for various reasons. Owning a timeshare allows us to be able to stay one week for a really great deal, then we like to be onsite for some of the perks there as well. It's not a big deal for us to pack and move, I guess we're just used to it. For our 3 weeks this summer we'll be at a total of 4 different resorts (2 offsite and 2 onsite). Good luck in deciding and have fun.
Lisa
Tiger Fan

 

[laurabelle]

We are doing this for the third time in July, because we love the perks of both! We like to spend the bulk of our trip at our timeshare rental first, then finish our trip with some onsite magic. By then we've eaten (most of) our groceries, washed all of our laundry in our villa. We'll pack just enough for our Disney resort stay and keep the rest of the luggage in the car.

 

[AJKMOM]

We usually split at least one night off, and rest on at DVC. Not too much hassle. Jan., 2004 it was 4 nights Cypress Point GV, 2 nights Royal Pacific at Universal, and 5 nights at BWV. 3 Vacations in one!

 

[mbb]

We always do this..we start out off site, and end up at WDW...like other's have said, it's like getting two vacations

Our very first trip, we stayed on, then went to the Wyndham Orlando...lovely hotel, but it just killed us being able to see the DTD hotels in the far distance, and feeling like our WDW magical vaction was OVER...and we were still in Orlando! LOL!

So offsite for us, then onsite..from now on For 2006, we're in a villa for three weeks, then wrapping up DVC style...thinking we're going to try WLV!

 

[ColoradoBelle1]

Coming from Colorado, the first day is usually over before we land. So most often we opt for an inexpensive off site hotel and then get up early to start our REAL vacation.

Recently bought into DVC. Just can't see paying those weekend points! So we stayed the weekend at Wyndham Orlando (the one nearer Universal...and nope, couldnt see Dis from there, but I'm nearsighter )

I think if I had a really early morning flight (tho I never do that...I try for the last flight out to lenghten all vacations), I might be tempted to stay offsite that night too...especially if it was a weekend night. For me, an early flight would mean I packed the night before anyhow, so why not just check in the car and stay at an airport motel.

I figure this can easily save $200-$300 and since I travel a lot, it quickly adds up. i guess it would work out similarly if you drove to Disney too.

But I can also see how people just like to settle in and not worry about anything until it is time to leave. To each his own!

 

[Aimeedyan]

Yes, we've done that a couple of times. Last May, we moved 5 times in a 9 day period - way too much!! But I don't mind moving twice at all, like we did this May. esp when you want to get the perks of Disney and see what all the onsite fuss is about but save some money and try a nice villa or vacation home out, too.

 

[cymomtx]

We did something totally different. We had two large families staying at two different offsite TS. During this time we also had a lock-off at OKW. This worked out wonderful. Both familes had parking passes to OKW and we used that room as a day room. We kept lunch food and drinks there and would go back to eat and take a rest during the hot time of the day and also go swimming without having to leave WDE.

 

[ncbyrne]

DH and I love splitting our stay. As others have mentioned, it's like two different vacations. The first time we did this was a 16 day trip. In order to stay that long we had to find ways to cut the budget.Started out at a motel on 192 for 8 nights that included breakfast in the price. Then moved to Grosvenor for 4 nights and ended with 4 nights at POR (Then Dixie Landings). It was a wonderful trip and every aspect was great. Last year, on a 12 night trip we started at HI near DD on Hotel Plaza Blvd (great internet rate...and we liked being able to walk to DD), then moved to Dolphin (got DIS rate) and finally to Sheraton Safari (ended with 4 days doing offsite stuff and used Starwood points for upgraded room). My next trip is this coming October. DH wants to try the new dining plan. We're only staying 8 days this time, so we've opted to stay all nights at CSR. I think I will miss moving...we'll see.

 

[Cindy B]

We've stayed onsite at Universal (Royal Pacific) and then onsite at Disney (pop). We did that last year.

this year we are doing Cypress Point and then Coronado.