First Trip to Disney...On or Off site?

[RDM83]

I will be going with my DH, DD6, DS3, DD 18 mos. and DBF This will be our first trip to Disney World in April 22nd to 27th, 2010. We will have park hoppers and will not be doing the dinning plan. I have already put down a deposit for the Cabins @ Ft. Wilderness and we will be taking advantage of the full kitchen.

My mom and Dad both work for Marriott Hotels and I can get a pretty decent discount for a room $39/night and $129/night with a full kitchen and 2 bathrooms, plus complimentary breakfast.

My question: Should i use my mom's friends and family rate or should I just make my dream come true and be Immersed in THE MAGIC 24/7????

 

[disneymom3]

Only you are going to be able to answer that, honestly. There are people on here who swear that there is no other way to do Disney but to stay onsite. I have to tell you, however, that after an 11 days onsite trip, you would have to give me the hotel for free to do that again. We even stayed at DVC with an RCI timeshare exchange so it cost us the same as being in a timeshare offsite which we have done many times. The thing for us is that we want easy access to a grocery store, we want to be able to eat at restaurants that are NOT Disney and a biggie is we want to be able to watch television with channels more than those owned by Disney. If I never see Disney Channel again, I can die a happy mommy. We just felt rather trapped...and we even had our own car.

 

[sksjasams]

Since its your first trip and also a short one, I would stay onsite. If you were staying for 2 weeks, I would have a different opinion. We stayed at POP for a week for our first trip and I wouldn't have changed a thing. We loved "the magic". I think you will love the easiness of staying onsite and you will have a great time!

Enjoy your trip!

 

[ceecee]

We personally love staying onsite. Price out the difference and see what's best for you. Keep in mind...no parking, driving or getting into a hot car. Plus if you want to break up the day with the younger kids staying onsite would be a real plus!

 

[kimntrent]

Which marriott vacation club is it? I have stayed at one and omg it was glorious. I would stay there in a minute.

 

[AmandaLee]

This will be my first trip to Disney as an adult and we are staying offsite at Marriott's Grande Vista. I feel bummed that we will miss out on the 'extra magic hours', but I also enjoy the flexability of coming and going as we please. One thing you do have to factor into the price of your F&F discount is: car rental fees (if you are flying), parking costs, gas, time...you can save money by having your own kitchen and making some meals. For us, staying offside was cheaper because my MIL/FIN gave us a week at their timeshare, so it was free accomadations

 

[robinb]

I certainly hope "DBF" = "Dear Best Friend" and NOT "Dear Boyfriend" . Just kidding!

So you will have 3 adults and 3 small children? My only problem with your plan is that the cabins at Ft Wilderness are pretty remote and I think you lose a lot of the advantages of staying onsite. The bus transportation is not convenient and if you drive you're not saving a whole lot of time being on property. Which Marriott properties are you thinking of? If you're at Marriott's Grande Vista it will be about a 20-30 minute drive. The Marriott Orlando World Center is just across I-4 from WDW and very, very close. I think if you stayed in a hotel room with 3 adults and 3 kids you will need 2 rooms.

How tight is your budget? Are you planning this trip as a "Once in a Lifetime" trip? Most of the people who come here to the DIS start out that way and then realize that they want to go back ... and sooner than later! If your budget is a bit tight, I would stay off site and save your money. You are going at a time when the crowds will be pretty low. IMO, Extra Magical Hours for resort guests is not really an advantage if the parks are not crowded. Just plan to go to the parks that do not have EMH.

The biggest disadvantage to staying off site is that your friend is stuck touring with you since she doesn't have an easy way back home. The MOWC runs a shuttle but it's $15 per day and I am not sure about the schedule. If you were onsite then one of you can always return back to the cabin easily without worrying about the other.

 

[RDM83]

I was looking at the Resdence Inn @ lake buena vista, wanted the ROYAL PALMS but there is no availibility, the RP are BEAUTIFUL!

 

[RDM83]

I certainly hope "DBF" = "Dear Best Friend" and NOT "Dear Boyfriend" . Just kidding!

So you will have 3 adults and 3 small children? My only problem with your plan is that the cabins at Ft Wilderness are pretty remote and I think you lose a lot of the advantages of staying onsite. The bus transportation is not convenient and if you drive you're not saving a whole lot of time being on property. Which Marriott properties are you thinking of? If you're at Marriott's Grande Vista it will be about a 20-30 minute drive. The Marriott Orlando World Center is just across I-4 from WDW and very, very close. I think if you stayed in a hotel room with 3 adults and 3 kids you will need 2 rooms.

How tight is your budget? Are you planning this trip as a "Once in a Lifetime" trip? Most of the people who come here to the DIS start out that way and then realize that they want to go back ... and sooner than later! If your budget is a bit tight, I would stay off site and save your money. You are going at a time when the crowds will be pretty low. IMO, Extra Magical Hours for resort guests is not really an advantage if the parks are not crowded. Just plan to go to the parks that do not have EMH.

The biggest disadvantage to staying off site is that your friend is stuck touring with you since she doesn't have an easy way back home. The MOWC runs a shuttle but it's $15 per day and I am not sure about the schedule. If you were onsite then one of you can always return back to the cabin easily without worrying about the other.

OH WE ARE NOT THAT MODERN DBF is definitely best friend

I am not on that tight of a budget but am not willing to do a once in a lifetime either, somewhere in between.
I guess being that I have little ones I will be able to come and go being on Disney property.
The cabin also has a full kitchen just like the suite, very important.
Plus for my DH the fishing, horse back riding, nature feeling is a big deal, but he is letting me call the shots. IDK

 

[RDM83]

Which marriott vacation club is it? I have stayed at one and omg it was glorious. I would stay there in a minute.

I was looking at Residence inn @ lake buena vista, Royal palms has no availability

 

[laurafergie]

The Fort Wilderness Cabins are not anymore remote than any of the other resorts and it has the added advantage of being on the Fort Wilderness Campground which has TONS to do. Nightly campfire movie, tennis, shuffle board, new refurbished pool, pony rides, blah blah. Not to mention the least expensive buffet on Disney property is at the Trail's End on Ft Wilderness.

We are a camping family and love it there. I have also stayed at All Star Sports, and Port Orleans Riverside and did not find the buses at Ft Wilderness any worse than the other resorts. Though I will admit that the internal buses can get a little tedious. That's why so many people rent golf carts. But you get to ride a boat to the Magic Kingdom, which is awesome.

Since you have a shorter trip this time - stay on Disney property and soak up all the Disney magic.

Go check out the Camping Board here, lots of info there.

 

[jgates]

I have certain tolerances for staying off-site. I would stay in the Marriott Village at Little Lake Bryan. You however, would still probably want 2 rooms or a nice room at Springhill Suites (has kitchenette). Fairfield Inn & SS both give you a continental breakfast - don't think Courtyard does.

You do need to weigh other options too - parking fees if you are staying off-site plus rental car. The MV has a shuttle but I have never used it so not sure just how frequently it runs or good it is.

But that is our primary choice when we have to stay off-site - we have been there a couple of times.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

If your budget allows, Id recommend you stay on Disney property. The cabins are really nice and it will give you a chance to take full advantage of extra magic hours. ( I think the morning hours are best. It may only be one hour but if you arrive as the gates open, it is so very worth it...especially in the busy spring break season.) Plus, I would imagine that staying on property would make it easier to get back quickly to your cabin for meals and resting, etc...

 

[dougsmom98]

I would stay off site. If you stay off site, you will never know what you are missing and you will still have a blast. We have never stayed on site and we probably never will. Every year, we still have fantastic vacations and we eat at wonderful off site restaurants. It sounds like you can get a great room at a great price, go for it.

 

[jenseib]

Definately onsite. I can't imagine ever staying offsite again, unless we aren;t doing Disney..which I would have a hard time going to Orlando and not doing. LOL!

 

[Planogirl]

Both ways are great to me so just decide your needs and wishes (and budget) and go from there. I personally prefer having a car so Disney transportation means nothing to me but you might feel differently. That hotel price is pretty nice too...