For those who prefer to stay offsite.

[Halloweenqueen]

Reasonable rates for a large family. More suite selection.

 

[ahill004]

With two small children we prefer to have a condo (for the same price or less than value resorts) where we can have a separate bedroom from them. That allows us to stay up and read, talk, watch t.v., etc... without disturbing them. Plus it gives a more space to move about. Cramped in a one bedroom value for that same amount is not worth it for us.

 

[qtwns]

The cost and room size. We are a family of 5 and a regular room is way too small and expensive. We like staying in our big 2-3 bdrm condo with kitchen, etc. We like our own transportation, too. The only Disney transportation we like is the monorail and the TTA! (If that counts!)

 

[boakl1968]

We have three kids and we need at least three bedrooms, a kitchen and a seperate room for lounging/TV watching. When we all try to cram into one room nobody sleeps well and we end up grumpy by day 3 and all the Disney magic is gone. When we keep the sleeping arrangements like they are at home, we are all well-rested and we have a great time.

While Disney does offer multi-bedroom accomodations, they are ridiculously expensive! We'd rather buck up the $11 for parking and save on the lodging, the food, and the convenience of having a washer/dryer. It is no big deal for us to travel <15 minutes to the parks from an offsite house. We have found that it often takes that long (or even longer!) when we have used Disney transportation. We live within 8 hours of the park, so we drive, which makes rental car fees a moot point for us.

 

[neilsalop]

Voted other, as although cheaper hotels would make me consider it, I would also like to see Disney link up with US and Seaworld to supply transport between the parks. But to be honest I actually enjoy staying offsite, we can eat where we like, visit parks etc when we like and enjoy the extra freedom to enjoy the whole of Orlando rather than 'just' WDW.

 

[Praying Colonel]

The old (pre 08) version of the DDP brought us onsite. If they returned to it again (I'm not holding my breath), we'd come back.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I don't think we will ever consider onsite. Having a vacation home is just so nice! We all have space, our own pool, and kitchen. The adults don't have to go to sleep at the kid's bedtime.

Having a rental car isn't a major expense and it saves us money shopping offsite and eating some meals at home or in area restaurants. We just like the freedom.

 

[iHEARTflorida]

OTHER, i need space!!!! i know disney has villas' but they then cost to much. we need to two bathrooms, two/three bedrooms.

 

[DisneyMOM09]

I chose cheaper hotel rates. We are a family of five, fortunately our youngest will turn 3 on the day we leave Disney so this trip it wouldn't have been as much of an issue as in visits to come. We could stay at a value for about what we are paying for a room off site, but we would be five people in a small space with 2 double beds. The hotel we chose to stay at has 2 queen beds and a sleeper sofa, also includes a refrigerator and a microwave! We are driving down to Disney so transportation is not an issue. We planned to rent a car to drive down regardless of where we chose to stay so that did not come into play. The big kicker that made us choose off site was the price difference, even with the hotel fee, and the parking fees for Disney we will save @ $1000 off of what I had estimated our costs to be if we stayed in a deluxe room at Disney. Yes, the pool at our hotel is not as themed as Disney ( my kids could care less as long as there is water) and we won't be finding hidden mickeys in our bedding, but for $1000 I could buy a few Mickey blankets to bring with us! I really wanted to stay at the WL or the Beach Club, but couldn't justify that kind of money for a hotel room that I won't be spending that much time in!

 

[kat777]

My first choice would be more luxurious hotel rooms. So you see the price tag, see the room, and the two bear obvious relation to each other.

Failing that, prices that make it more viable for two people to share a room and that generally reflect the standard of the hotels more...

 

[Goofy'slady]

In my 25 trips to WDW I've only stayed on-site once and that was last year for a quick 4night 5day trip just for hubby and I minus our two little girls. We usually rent condos/houses and that is what we did last month for almost two weeks. However, that being said we are planning on taking our girls back next May for a slightly early 5th grade graduation present for our oldest daughter and we're doing a split stay visit with 4nights at POR and 3night at WL. If the deluxe accomodations where a bit cheaper than perhaps we'd stay our entire stay at WL instead of spliting the stay but since the chances of that happening are slim to none we're sticking with our split stay. Hey, the way I figure it a split stay is better than no stay at all and besides we'll get to check out both resorts at the same time. Pretty SWEET if you ask us.

T.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

Folks with larger families can find very reasonably priced condos to rent offsite.

Disney's Home Away from Home accomodations are outrageously overpriced. For a large family you would need a 2 bedroom, have you looked at Disney's prices for those things??? Ouch.

Now that the All Star Music has those family suites, at least there is a somewhat reasonable on site alternative.

 

[Abharmagic]

Cost, coupled with more a luxurious hotel- any Disney resort I have ever stayed in can't hold a candle to the amenities and luxury of offsite hotels and/or rental homes.

 

[stacym]

I said other due to cost/room size as well. Can't beat free, my mom has a time share so we get a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom place. We have 5 people in our family so all of us being in one room for a week or more would not a vacation make!

 

[JEmaryland]

For my husband and I, it's definately price! In August, we're staying at a 3 star hotel right across the street from Downtown Disney with a free shuttle to the parks. The best part is, it costs the same as a value resort.
Last time I was in Disney (in high school), we spent about half an hour at a value resort. Our room was dirty and when we reported it to a manager, he upgraded us to Carribbean Beach (which is extremely generous!). I LOVED CB, but it's just out of our price range during August. Value resorts are out of the question for me. I'm really not a screaming-loud-kid person. I know that's hard to avoid in Disney World, but the value resorts are crawling with them.

 

[dobtia]

I voted other for several reasons:

* Our timeshare has been paid off for years. Our fees are cheap. Our extra days are cheap. We get a good deal.
* Location. Our timeshare is so close it might as well be on property. We always budget for the parking so that is nothing. We always get in and out of the park quick. It is not a long drive home . Last year we went with friends who stayed at POP and we beat them home every time.
* We love having space to stretch out in. We always scedule part of the day for rest, swimming and the such. The space is nice.
* We love having the a full kitchen, washer, and dryer.
* We do Disney stuff all year. The 24/7 magic is not that big an issue. We make our magic always.

This is just how we like it. Would we stay onsite, yes we would. It is special, you have to know it is. In the end for us our timeshare lets us go every year. It is Disney. No matter on or off it is about having the best time possible for you.

 

[djm99]

For many years my family and i would only stay offsite. Last year we took a chance and booked a package online. I literally stalked the disboards codes board and found a wonderful 40% off - the hotel room code which made our stay onsite sooooo worth it. I learned something too. I'm 'never' staying offsite again. It was sooooo convenient. No rental car, no drama about when its time to leave (we traveled with two other families). Those families could come and go as they pleased back to their rooms. No one was inconvenience about sharing a vehicle. Taking a mid-day break was reasonable during peak times. I loved the extra magic hours (especially at night). Lines were virtually zero, even on the big rides at night. One day we wanted to do some offsite shopping to we went to downtown Disney and caught a cab (which we shared - $11) to one of the outlets. It was lots of fun.

Any who, I understand the thinking that you save more staying offsite, but IMO, we didn't - we just got more hotel/condo space and we ate more meals in the condo. Staying offsite does not IMO maximize the Disney experience? With rental car and gas being so high. Too much time is spent on getting ready. If you stay onsite - you are already ready. You’re already there. I don't care how close your hotel/condo is to Disney it takes roughly 45 minutes - 1 hour from your hotel/condos front door to the parks entrance. If you don't believe me time yourself. We've stayed in condos on 192, roughly 3 miles from Disney. After traffic on 192, trying to find the theme park of the day, parking, waiting on the tram, getting yourself organized then getting to the front gate. It is nearly an hour.
Even if your family isn’t ready when staying onsite you can walk around the resort (and be a part of the Disney experience) or go to the food court, or shop in the gift shop, or take pictures of the scenery. Any way onsite your always engulfed in the Disney experience. Offsite, your just visiting Florida.

 

[Amirah95]

I chose Other. We like having the extra space so we stay off-site in a private home, condo or resort. Maybe when The kids grow up and are on their own we'll start staying on-site again.

 

[MelanieC]

We stayed offsite in 1995 our first visit to WDW. In 1996 we stayed at the SOG. In 1999 we stayed at the Movies and we have never looked back. For us - its the Disney gift shop, the icons at the Movies/Pop or the little subtle Disney things. It's just feeling like your part of the Disney Magic. We stay at POP now and we LOVE it.

 

[davinakb]

We are leaning heavily toward offsite for our next trip. Getting a 3 bedroom condo for $99/night is going to be hard to pass up. I really don't want to squeeze into a hotel room anymore if I have the choice. We are also probably going to drive, so we'll have a car. If you stay close to WDW, you can get to a park quicker by driving than you can using Disney transportation (with the exception of maybe the MK).

I guess I'd want the deluxes to be deluxe and the values to be good value.

Cost, coupled with more a luxurious hotel- any Disney resort I have ever stayed in can't hold a candle to the amenities and luxury of offsite hotels and/or rental homes.

Here, here. I voted cost, but it also has to do with situation, and as so many have mentioned, it's the value of the $ to the room (not just the resort). IME WDW resort public areas (grounds, pools, lobby) are nice, but rooms are lacking; the Monorail is convenient, but not $$/day vs. driving; WDW is huge, so location is relative. We just get so much more for less off property, freedom to move on our schedule and the savings to do more Disney (longer stays, signature dining, etc.). For the situation, if we were flying and needed the ME, the transportation (no car rental), needed EMH due to short trip, etc. then we'd consider it.. if the price was right. FWIW.