For all you experienced WDWers, how hard is it to get offsite for a break in the PM?

[bradshaw9499]

I need some good experienced advice....

We are planning a trip in late Nov - early Dec. We have two children (5 & 2) and will probably be staying offsite at either Marriott's Horizons Resort or Marriott's Imperial Palm Resort. (Horizons is on/close to Westwood Drive, Imperial looks like it is right off 536)

My question is this: How hard is it go get offsite in the afternoon for a break? Our plan is to get to the parks in the early morning, head back to the hotel for lunch and a break in the afternoon for a few hours, and come back for more fun later in the afternoon. A friend of mine says that it isn't worth the headache and that we should just stay on-site, but the appeal of a huge suite with a full kitchen and washer/dryer is pulling me in that direction.

This is the biggest sticking point I have to work through before making our reservations. I haven't been to Disney since I was a young girl and my husband hasn't been since he was a teenager - so it's been a while!

THANKS!

 

[WillCAD]

It's not hard at all. The only thing to consider is time.

The farther off-site you are, the longer the travel time each way.

You also need to consider how much time it takes to actually get out of the park; if you are all the way in the back and decide to go, then you have to trek all the way to the gate, then get to your car, all of which can take up to 30 minutes. It's best to start working your way toward the front of the park in the late morning, so that you won't have so far to go.

Traffic is not usually bad, and parking lot at hotels are always empty in the middle of the day.

On-site is always nicer, but I have stayed off-site more than I have on-site so it doesn't phase me a bit. But when I go looking for accomodations, I always start with the places closest to WDW and work my way out from there. I won't stay in a place more than a 5-minute drive from the edge of WDW property.

 

[spiceycat]

well you could stay on site at OKW and get everything in a villa.

but OKW is more expensive that your choices.

plus that is a very popular time for DVC members. So unless someone has a cancelation - I doubt you could get it.

You could have a 2-bedroom villa for $220 a night Sun-thurs at OKW. fri/sat nights are more - alot more - $540 per night. So for 7 days $2,218

now I go back and forth - but I don't have kids who only want to swim.....

staying offsite can be done in less time than actually using WDW transportation (no waiting - except at the MK).

however since your main park will be the MK - then you might consider onsite because getting back and forth to the MK parking lot is a BIG pain....

the MK resorts have cut down on the cars parking there and walking/monrailing to the MK. they give you a parking permit for 2 to 6 hours. If it is only 2 hours be sure to be back and move your car off their property.

mostly they give 3 hours. at times no entry.

 

[horseshowmom]

When DD was younger we used to do that quite often and never had a problem. Everybody was a lot more rested and still seemed to see as much due to the parks being the most crowded in the middle of the day.

That said, it has been several years since we were at Disney, and things may have changed. Also, we were usually there the end of May/first of June, so the park hours might have been longer during that timeframe.

 

[spiceycat]

forgot for the other theme parks - around 15 minutes for Epcot (provided you don't need the tram) - around 12 minutes for Studios (provided you don't need the tram).

AK is the furthest out - I would say at least 45 minutes. you will need a tram here - no getting around it.

the MK will be the worst because once you park the car you still aren't at the park.

my time estimates are you in the park.

be sure not to come to any park during early or evening EMH. Some people no longer get the park hoopers - the evening are longer - so they just come to the evening park and stay all day.

 

[Keacc]

We have found that our own transportation is much faster than Disney's unless you are staying at a monorail resort. Waiting for crowded busses that may stop at other locations can take you longer than driving in and out of the park. Rememeber that there are no direct routes to resorts from parks. You may actaully go outside of the park before getting to your destination.

 

[spiceycat]

here is mapquest for getting to Epcot - believe me it is not long from Imperial at all

http://www.mapquest.com/directions/...8|-815085|407-239-4200|US&1qc=Hotels & Motels

here is MK

http://www.mapquest.com/directions/...15805|407-824-4500|US&2qc=Tourist Attractions

but as I say - it getting from the parking lot to the park - where it will cost you time

 

[spiceycat]

here is studios
http://www.mapquest.com/directions/...15581|407-824-4321|US&2qc=Tourist Attractions

 

[isla bonita]

The time of year you are going the parks are not open that late I would not even bother myself to leave. When the kids have had enough leave.

 

[bearzabout]

Be careful about taking I-4. You never know if it will be backed up. Make sure to stay off of it during rush hour. Learn the backroads with the least amount of traffic.

I think you will find that someone in your family may be too tired to return to the parks in the evening, so expect to stay around the condo a night or two and find out what restaurants are nearby.

 

[Lisa P.]

When ours were young, we stayed onsite more than offsite. Now, with older teens, we're basically offsiters. If you stay at Horizons (which I would strongly encourage with children the ages of yours), plan on 45 minutes for RT travel & parking, plus time spent at the resort for your "break," for nap or swim - maybe slightly less for Imperial Palms. So a 2+ hr break would be reasonable. Frankly, it's NOT much different from waiting on buses, riding, then walking across a large Disney resort to your room.

Oh, and there's no need to take I-4 to reach either of these resorts.

You're going during a fairly quiet time in Orlando. Therefore, the traffic will be minimal but park hours are shorter. My suggestion: Visit the parks only every other day or 2 out of 3 days. On "theme park" days, stay for the whole day but take it at an easy pace with something restful midday, especially if your 2 yr old will nap in the stroller or on a booth bench in a restaurant. On "off" days, plan to enjoy your resort and rest up. You'll all have a better time if you don't overdo it and you'll return home refreshed rather than exhausted.

Guests at Imperial Palms may use the beautiful resort pool facilities at the Marriott Orlando World Center. And Horizons guests enjoy lots of family-friendly resort amenities right there. Both have fun water play areas for kids. At the ages of yours, don't be surprised if they actually enjoy these resorts MORE than the parks - especially if it's warm enough to swim during your stay. By alternating days, they won't be wiped out by the middle of the week. HTH! Have a fun time!

 

[bradshaw9499]

Gosh, thanks for all the great advice!

I think we've pretty much decided to stay offsite. I'm thinking of asking my parents to join us for the vacation and if they come, we'll probably stay at the Imperial (larger suite).

If anyone has anything else to add, I'm all ears. I can't believe how intense the planning is for this trip. And I'm STILL three months out!

Jennifer

 

[bradshaw9499]

Lisa,

How can I get to WDW and stay off I-4?

Sometimes I feel like I'm going to another country!

Jennifer

 

[Jason71]

Lisa,

How can I get to WDW and stay off I-4?

Sometimes I feel like I'm going to another country!

Jennifer

Speaking only for Marriott Horizons, I-4 is your best bet to get to the parks, even with traffic (and it is usually not that bad in the afternoons). You are literally two minutes from the on-ramp, and then only have two to four exits before the parks. Coming back, the exit drops you two blocks away. Not a lot of turns to keep track of--one each way really--and once you are on WDW property the signs are clear.

That said, if you can navigate WDW--which I find harder than navigating Orlando's surface streets--take World Drive to International Drive, and turn left at the 7/11 onto Westwood Blvd. Or, if you can get to 535 via Hotel Plaza Blvd., turn left, go up a block, turn right onto Palm Parkway and follow it to Central Florida Parkway, then hang a right onto Westwood.

In my own experience (living across the street from Horizons), when I leave home I can be standing in PI/DTD in about 10 minutes, EPCOT/MGM in about 20, and MK in about 30-35. The lake is the main problem at MK, you usually have to wait for the ferry and there always seems to be a line for the monorail.

 

[spiceycat]

Imperial you don't need I4 - that is the long way. just take 536 (the highway in front of MWC). this goes directly into WDW property.

from Horizons turn right (turn left for I4) - where the road dead ends - turn right now you are on ID - get in the right lane - when this road dead ends turn right - go straight at the intersection (soon you will be in front of MWC) - kept going on this road until you see the signs for the WDW park you want.

 

[Area 4]

There are plenty of very nice places to stay in the 535/lake buena vista area close to I4 and Downtown Disney for it to be any sort of a problem.