Getting to the parks from offsite?

[nancy drew]

so, when you stay offsite, do you drive to the parks or use a shuttle? i have 2 little ones (2.5yo and 4yo) and i would rather not rent a car and drive us around on vacation. do the offsite hotels have decent shuttle systems? we would need to go back to our room for naps midday, is that possible?

 

[Darcy03231]

I rent a car and drive. The shuttles don't make a lot of trips each day. There's usually one or two trips in the morning and another couple at park closing. I like to be able to come and go when I want, not on someone else's schedule. The one time we used a hotel shuttle service we used it to get there and then ended up using a taxi when we wanted to leave.

 

[MiaSRN62]

No offsite hotel shuttle runs on as regular a schedule as disney busses do. I know at my offsite timeshare (Vistana), the shuttle runs like 4 different times in the morning and then 4 times in the evening. They don't even run late enough if I wanted to stay late in the parks or do something like a Pirates and Princess Party or other late night event.
I have heard certain offsite hotels have better shuttle times than others, but they could never be flexible enough for me. I rent a car when staying offsite.

 

[dougsmom98]

I know you said you don't want to rent a car a drive around on vacation, but public transportation with little ones is not easy. I would much rather have my own car where I can put the stroller and diaper bag... in the trunk than try to balance them and the kids in a small amount of space in a shuttle bus or van. Some people say that it is hard to drive to the parks, but I really don't think it is. I live a very small town in Maine so I am not use to lots of roads or busy traffic, but I think the roads are so clearly marked and easy to use around Disney so it makes driving easy.
Good luck.

 

[spiceycat]

do the offsite hotels have decent shuttle systems? we would need to go back to our room for naps midday, is that possible?

offsite does not have decent shuttles.

and no if you are using offsite shuttle - it is not possible to come back for midday naps.

the morning are only going to the parks, the late afternoon and evening are only coming back from the parks.

you might consider DTD - but really most of the time the value resorts are cheaper.
www.downtowndisneyhotels.com

 

[spiceycat]

here is a special on DTD hotel
http://hotels.travelzoo.com/orlando-hotels/374832

but definitely check to see how much a value resort would cost you for the same time.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

I would also recommend a rental car, especially with two little ones. I wouldn't want to rely on public transportation if one of them were to get crabby and need to leave asap

 

[DOOM1001]

I wouldn't trust or have to deal with what times off-site shuttles run.If you stay off-site RENT A CAR!!!Staying in a Disney resort I wouldn't even worry if I was at a park 3 hours after a park closes,I know I'll be able to get a bus to take me to my Disney hotel.

 

[nancy drew]

so, from pricing things it looks like staying offsite + renting a car is more expensive than staying onsite and using disney transit. so what is the appeal of staying offsite? im not trying to stir the pot or anything, promise!!!!!!! im genuinely curious!!

bottom line is i want a vacation that is easy on me (im a single mom, i want to truly be "on vacation" and not feel like im cleaning and chauffeuring 24/7 like i do at home) and easy on the checkbook. the linked deal is really awesome, but when i price out the cost of that hotel with a rental car and flight, it is the same as staying at a value hotel and using the bus. but if there is something im not seeing that makes an offsite hotel worthwhile, id love to hear about it! i have often found that im just not seeing the full picture, which is why i appreciate these boards so much!!!!!

 

[kokomos]

We will be driving down, so we dont have to rent a car, 10 of staying in a 6 bedroom house for 1000.00 for 8 nights, If we stayed onsite we would need 3 rooms at a value resort at 900.+ per room =2700.00 ( dont think so)
Offsite means a kitchen ( not that I will cook) , private pool, watching tv without waking others up, privacy & space !

Now I have been a single mom on a tip to Disney and I stayed at the AllStars. If it were were only me and my 2 kids going I would stay onsite. The value resorts especaially the All Star movies are alot of fun to kids.
You really want need the extra space with 2 little ones.

If you can book it for Sept you will probally see free dining. That alone is worth staying on property.

 

[DOOM1001]

Staying off-site I know I can get hotels that go for $120 or so on the hotels website for $45-$50,I'm a 4 hour drive away so I take my car and don't have to worry about a car rental but I know you can find car rental rates of $20+ bucks a day.But to me it sounds like you should be staying onsite as you don't want to be playing chauffeur during vacation and it's honestly a better experience when doing Disney to stay there!!!

 

[nancy drew]

We will be driving down, so we dont have to rent a car, 10 of staying in a 6 bedroom house for 1000.00 for 8 nights, If we stayed onsite we would need 3 rooms at a value resort at 900.+ per room =2700.00 ( dont think so)
Offsite means a kitchen ( not that I will cook) , private pool, watching tv without waking others up, privacy & space !

Now I have been a single mom on a tip to Disney and I stayed at the AllStars. If it were were only me and my 2 kids going I would stay onsite. The value resorts especaially the All Star movies are alot of fun to kids.
You really want need the extra space with 2 little ones.

If you can book it for Sept you will probally see free dining. That alone is worth staying on property.

oh definitely for a large group it makes sense to stay in a house offsite!!! ive seen some of those houses and they are awesome!!!!!!

good point about the free dining. thanks!

 

[deejay-55]

We have stayed onsite and offsite and always rent a car - t hat way you can enjoy more of what Orlando has to offer.

 

[stepnut]

so, from pricing things it looks like staying offsite + renting a car is more expensive than staying onsite and using disney transit. so what is the appeal of staying offsite? im not trying to stir the pot or anything, promise!!!!!!! im genuinely curious!!

bottom line is i want a vacation that is easy on me (im a single mom, i want to truly be "on vacation" and not feel like im cleaning and chauffeuring 24/7 like i do at home) and easy on the checkbook. the linked deal is really awesome, but when i price out the cost of that hotel with a rental car and flight, it is the same as staying at a value hotel and using the bus. but if there is something im not seeing that makes an offsite hotel worthwhile, id love to hear about it! i have often found that im just not seeing the full picture, which is why i appreciate these boards so much!!!!!

Staying offsite + renting a car is not only less expensive, but roomier, quieter, and much more enjoyable to me. Depending when you go, you can get an enormous 3BR condo for $80 a night, rent a car for $20 a day, and have the freedom and flexibility to come and go as you want, cook meals in your own place, not to mention drinking my own Starbucks in my jammies in the morning once my feet hit the floor. I can't imagine ever staying on-site, squeezing my family of 4 into a 400 square feet hotel room, listening to a zillion families within earshot, standing on long lines for busses, and having to hoof it to a food court to get instant coffee in the morning. I'm just not into calling all that Disney "Magic".


But I know others disagree. It's all personal preference.

Stepnut

 

[misskrystal]

We always stay off-site and use taxis. We just love being on I-Drive and enjoy walking to Starbucks every morning. We also like the freedom of having non-Disney options for food and entertainment.

The shuttles for me are a little too limiting though. I don't mind using one to get to where I'm going, but I always take a taxi home.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Nancy Drew....
Staying offsite in a villa is the only thing I'd considered if not staying onsite (not a regular hotel room).
Since it is just you and your two dd's (and especially at their age).....ONSITE is the way to go. Disney busses---while crowded at certain times of the day (avoid the 8:30 am to 10 am time) and of course park closing-----are quite reliable and usually run every 15 min. You won't get that at an offsite hotel. If you can't be at the bus stop by 7:30--7:45 am, then I'd wait until after 10 am to board. After many years of staying onsite, I've seen a pattern with this. Also, even though you may need to skip the fireworks shows, leave at least 1 hour prior to park closing or you will get very crowded busses as well. The way we avoid the crowded busses if we want to see the fireworks at the end of the day, is to hang out until most of the crowds have left. In the MK, we usually grab a Casey dog and sit down and watch the hoards parade down Main Street to the exit. We linger for at least 45-60 min after the fireworks and the crowds do get lighter.

I think your children would love the whimsical themeing of the All Star Movies or POP Century resorts. I know my kids, when they were little, were just in awe of these resorts. Also, staying onsite, any souveniers you purchase you can have sent to your room instead of carrying them around in strollers and having to worry about leaving them while you go on rides.

I vote onsite for your situation. Have a great time whatever you decide

 

[spiceycat]

the linked deal is really awesome, but when i price out the cost of that hotel with a rental car and flight, it is the same as staying at a value hotel and using the bus.

if you are talking about the links I send.

that hotel is in DTD - they have buses that come every 30 minutes. they are not offsite - but onsite - just not WDW owned. their buses also will allow you to watch the night time shows. offsite buses won't.

so they cost less at times. - but always and I mean always check the WDW value resort before you go with anyone else.

if you are a AAA member - then call Disney and mention it - you get a room discount. (if you want a package discount you must book thru AAA)


now to your other questions - why stay offsite - well I go both. I also happen to love villa.

when you can get a villa for a week for around the price of a moderate for a day or two - sometimes even less - it is a deal. but I drive my own car.

 

[Girlpower]

Staying offsite + renting a car is not only less expensive, but roomier, quieter, and much more enjoyable to me. Depending when you go, you can get an enormous 3BR condo for $80 a night, rent a car for $20 a day, and have the freedom and flexibility to come and go as you want, cook meals in your own place, not to mention drinking my own Starbucks in my jammies in the morning once my feet hit the floor. I can't imagine ever staying on-site, squeezing my family of 4 into a 400 square feet hotel room, listening to a zillion families within earshot, standing on long lines for busses, and having to hoof it to a food court to get instant coffee in the morning. I'm just not into calling all that Disney "Magic".

Totally agree...This will be our second year offsite, and I totally love it. Now if I was a single mom with two young kids and really didn't want to drive, I probably would consider onsite rather than taking a shuttle from an offsite location.

 

[spiceycat]

here is another DTD hotel
http://hotels.bookit.com/florida/or...ID=C30626x025&utm_source=tzads&utm_medium=cpc

DTD hotels have their own bus system - but every 30 minutes is generally what they are doing.

ask the driver when you get on.

sometimes the MK/AK will be slower - because MK and AK are not near each other.