help- husband wants to stay offsite

[lumpysluck]

please help- first trip to disney world for dd 9 and dd 5. my husband hates lines, waits, car rides etc... he wants to stay at the sheraton vistans b/c we have some friends staying there. I feel that we should stay inside b/c dd 5 still naps and husband likes to sleep late and and nap as well- also is the dining plan worth it? what value resort is best- we will be booking two rooms any help would be graeatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Robo]

please help- first trip to disney world for dd 9 and dd 5. my husband hates lines, waits, car rides etc... he wants to stay at the sheraton vistans b/c we have some friends staying there. I feel that we should stay inside b/c dd 5 still naps and husband likes to sleep late and and nap as well- also is the dining plan worth it? what value resort is best- we will be booking two rooms any help would be graeatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are Disney World veterans of over 20 years of trips.
I'm with YOU on this, for sure.
We'll never stay off-site again!

Values:

All Star Sports
All Star Music
All Star Movies
Pop Century

Take your pick.

 

[charlielinda]

I hate to post this but we always stay off site at a nice timeshare resort (which Sheraton Vistana is). We just returned from just that propery. We found it extremely convenient to get to all the parks (though you need a car). We loved having the space, loved the grounds and pool. We had breakfast every morning before we headed to the parks -- and yes we were at the parks every morning for the opening. I'm always tempted to stay on-site but then I sit down and really think about it I like to have more space and more options and the Sheraton or other timeshares gives us that. You'll have a great time no matter what you -- this isn't something to have an argument about -- you are going to Disney!

 

[ldo]

I have done both, off-site at Vistana and onsite. It will be almost impossible to come back in the middle of the day to nap--unless you plan to go early and then go back much later---one key thing would be how late 5 yr old can stay up to go back in PM, and if you are going at a time that parks are open later at night. If so, then it's not too bad.
My kids actually did a nap in the stroller---this worked pretty well--I sat in shady place and people watched and husband took older child on rides. When we stay off-site, we usually wind up just doing a whole day and leaving right before dinner to go back to condo.

 

[disneyfan55]

please help- first trip to disney world for dd 9 and dd 5. my husband hates lines, waits, car rides etc... he wants to stay at the sheraton vistans b/c we have some friends staying there. I feel that we should stay inside b/c dd 5 still naps and husband likes to sleep late and and nap as well- also is the dining plan worth it? what value resort is best- we will be booking two rooms any help would be graeatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think a lot of time is wasted if staying off site. Just my opinion. I don't know if you are driving or flying, but I would want a car if staying out of the park. There is a parking fee of I think $9 per day now another cost. I realized that many of the offsite properties have shuttles, but it still takes up time. We are on the free dining plan starting Sat. I don't know if I would pay the price for it since I really don't have to eat at all the TS restaurants. It would depend on where you wanted to eat whether or not it is worth it. In 2008, there will be no appitzer or tip included either. In all of our past trips we really only at about 2 times in TS restaurants on a 7-10 days stay and really didn't spent all that much on food. We most times drove and brought along snacks, drinks and breakfast cereal.

We did stay in the All Star Music with my kids High School Band back in 1995. It was fine. We will be staying at the Sports the end of the week, so I don't know yet!! I've been looking at this site and have heard good and bad. The value resorts are a lot less themed than the moderates or deluxe, but the price is right!!

To me it is much easier staying in the park than not.

 

[Jrabbit910]

I am another fan of staying ON SITE... I have stayed off and I dont think the two compare. If your going to plan a strictly disney vacation then stay on site. Transportation to and from airport, transportation to and from parks, extra hours for you and your family (esp if your dh likes to sleep late)... all and all its a great deal to stay on property.
As for the Dining Plan, yes I do think its worth it but you will get alot of mixed reviews. I personally favor it. If you are booking a 2008 trip the DP is different then the 2007.
As robo stated the values are Sports, movies, music & pop... I like all of them but I prefer the Sports. Again, depending on the season you go, check refurb schedules & if the resort you like is undergoing some refurb and you think it might effect your trip, plan a back up.

 

[disnut8]

please help- first trip to disney world for dd 9 and dd 5. my husband hates lines, waits, car rides etc... he wants to stay at the sheraton vistans b/c we have some friends staying there. I feel that we should stay inside b/c dd 5 still naps and husband likes to sleep late and and nap as well- also is the dining plan worth it? what value resort is best- we will be booking two rooms any help would be graeatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stayed onsite when we could afford it, now stay offsite. My two cents.

Since you are from South Carloina, I would assume you are driving and will have a car. A car is absolutely essential when staying offsite since you will have to drive everywhere. If you plan on relying on offsite transportation, your husband won't like it if he doesn't like waits.

Since you will be driving - add on another $11/day for parking. We have Annual Passes so our parking is free.

Since you will be parking in the park lots, your husband will have waits. For the parking trams. That is the worst thing, in my opinion, about parking at Disney World. Trams are plentiful but the operators will wait for a tram to be as full as possible before they leave for the front of the park. You might be the first to board the tram, but you'll sit there for a while until al the stragglers fill up the tram. On the way out of the park, you will have to wait in line to board the trams and then go through multiple stops until you reach your parking areas.

Here's something to offer as a compromise. Stay onsite (still assuming you are driving). Drive to the parks. You will get free parking since you are a resort guest. You can use the car to go back and forth for naps and then return when you want to. YOu'd still have to deal with the trams, though. Or, you can split up and use the buses which are not that crowded during the day.

If your husband likes to sleep late and you and the kids are up earlier, a Disney resort will have tons of things to do for you until your husband gets up. I'm sure your offsite places does as well but so does Disney.

 

[ntsammy5]

If your husband likes to sleep late and you and the kids are up earlier, a Disney resort will have tons of things to do for you until your husband gets up. I'm sure your offsite places does as well but so does Disney.

The good thing about this is that you can take transportation to the parks and he can drive later and meet you.

I've done both and on site is more fun. DSis lives less than 20 minutes from WDW and she stays on sit a few time a year!

 

[boomhauer]

Divorce him.

 

[Chuck65]

Tell him everything is booked for offsite and the only thing available is onsite.

 

[Jrabbit910]

Divorce him.

 

[Robert P]

Solution: Trade old husband in for a newer model.

 

[Mickiethepooh]

Better yet, leave him home, It sure sounds like he will have a rotten time and make everyone esle's rotten as well.
Sleeping late and doing Disney do not go together, it sounds like it is being set up for a one time trip that will result in one of those families that don't like Disney and it is all because of the way they went about it, Those that did not learn the ins and outs first.

It really will be easier and better all around if you stay On Site, but it sounds like he does not have a clue and you won't convince him. I hope I am wrong.

 

[tweedlemom]

If he doesn't like waits or lines, tell him about Extra Magic Hours, and how only resort guests can enter the park 1 hour early on certain days, and stay longer in the parks on certain nights as well. If he doesn't mind getting up early and being at the park at rope drop, EMH can save you a ton of time, as you can ride all the most popular rides with little or no wait. An hour later, when the park is opened to all non-resort guests, you have already gone on all the popular rides and have saved yourself a ton of time NOT waiting in lines! Good luck!

 

[momof2n2]

I'm an offsite person. I have actually never stayed on-site. I just can not justify spending extra money on rooms I never plan to see.

But - I do agree that going back to the room to sleep is not worth it. I'd rather see a family do the parks from earliest opening to latest closing every other day, than waste time going to/from rooms to sleep. Have a "full day" at a park and then a "quiet day" where you sleep in a bit then go to the water park and DTD. Then another "full day" at a park.

My other reason for not doing onsite, is I just can't afford the multi-bedroom suites, and I don't want to HAVE to go to bed just because the kids have to. And I like to get up, shower, dress, prepare before they wake, not have them wake as early as DH and I do. And I also like preparing our own quick breakfasts so we can hit the park and PLAY, not eat.

The cost of two value rooms is what at best?... $150-$160??? That's a lot per night for what is available in Orlando/Kissimmee. Hear him out. He might have a great idea!

Having your car will help a lot!

 

[momof2n2]

Sleeping late and doing Disney do not go together, it sounds like it is being set up for a one time trip that will result in one of those families that don't like Disney and it is all because of the way they went about it, Those that did not learn the ins and outs first.

That sounds true, too.

 

[seashoreCM]

Sleeping late and off site don't go together.

Would DH let you hold the car keys and make the transportation schedule?

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[goofyernmost]

Stayed onsite when we could afford it, now stay offsite. My two cents.

Since you are from South Carloina, I would assume you are driving and will have a car. A car is absolutely essential when staying offsite since you will have to drive everywhere. If you plan on relying on offsite transportation, your husband won't like it if he doesn't like waits.

Since you will be driving - add on another $11/day for parking. We have Annual Passes so our parking is free.

Since you will be parking in the park lots, your husband will have waits. For the parking trams. That is the worst thing, in my opinion, about parking at Disney World. Trams are plentiful but the operators will wait for a tram to be as full as possible before they leave for the front of the park. You might be the first to board the tram, but you'll sit there for a while until al the stragglers fill up the tram. On the way out of the park, you will have to wait in line to board the trams and then go through multiple stops until you reach your parking areas.

Here's something to offer as a compromise. Stay onsite (still assuming you are driving). Drive to the parks. You will get free parking since you are a resort guest. You can use the car to go back and forth for naps and then return when you want to. YOu'd still have to deal with the trams, though. Or, you can split up and use the buses which are not that crowded during the day.

If your husband likes to sleep late and you and the kids are up earlier, a Disney resort will have tons of things to do for you until your husband gets up. I'm sure your offsite places does as well but so does Disney.

I have always stayed off-site. I wouldn't dream of going there without a car even if I stayed on-site.

Some of the advantages are:

Come and go to the parks, as you please, no waits for buses or following anybody elses schedule.

Parking may be $11.00 per day but you will be saving anywhere from $100.00 per day and up on a comparable room or suite. $11.00 sounds pretty cheap to me when you consider that.

Freedom to take your meals at any type of restaurant possible. Route 192 is wall to wall restaurants, if you got the cash you get the hash! or whatever you decide you want. Numerous buffets, family restaurants, low, medium and high end. It's all there.

Buying a soft drink and water for less than the cost of the Louisiana purchase price.

The argument that I have heard over and over is, you can take the kids or yourself back for a nap, pool, etc., if you stay on-site. I would wager that I can get to my car and back to my hotel off-site faster than you will get to yours on-site. In other words it takes no less time to go off-site then transportation on-site.

The discovery that there is more to Florida then Walt Disney World. Shocking, I know, but there it is!

The peace of mind of knowing that you didn't leave every single cent with the Disney Corporation. Priceless (It's no longer Walt Disney, it's a huge corporation. It's about the same as sending money to your rich uncle.)

Anyway, as much as I love WDW, I have no need to spend my entire vacation being amused by a five foot mouse named Mickey.

 

[maxiesmom]

If you DH wants to sleep in, staying onsite is a must! I have done many stays offsite and a bunch on site. Staying off-site, even at a resort fairly close to the parks, you really need to get up at the crack of dawn. And going back to the hotel for naps is a pain. Staying on-site will give you the flexibility of splitting up. Hubby can sleep in, you and the kids can go to the parks, and he can meet you later. All without fuss.

Disney busses run about 20 minutes a day, starting a couple of hours before park open, and lasting for a couple of hours after park close. There is no resort off-site that can come close to matching that.

Honestly, it sounds like you need to educate your DH on what a Disney vacation is like. It is not a vacation you typically come back from feeling relaxed and well-rested. If he wants to sleep in, he can. But if he does, he will have to wait in longer lines, because the best time to hop on rides without a wait is at park open. As it is you will still have many lines to wait in. Security check at the parks. Putting your ticket into the little machine to get in the parks. Lines at the restaurants. Lines for the rides/attractions. Lines to rent strollers. Lines to buy stuff. And if you do happen to stay off-site, lines for the trams that pick you up and drop you off in the parking lots.

Best of luck to you!

 

[Tink215]

Tell him everything is booked for offsite and the only thing available is onsite.

I have actually done that before.......

well If hubby does not like lines and driving and likes to sleep late then I would not suggest staying Off Site....First of all Traffic in Orlando is CRAZYY!!!! The time you waste getting to and from your hotel is a waste and well he does not have to drive if you take Disney transportation.......My Hubby always wanted to stay off site until We did a couple of trips on a Fl resident rate at the Values.....Now we stay on site and we park our van and he enjoys a driving free vacation....HE LOVES IT..........I can tell you that my last time staying Off site it rained pretty bad and I had to stand in the rain at my Hotels Designated spot for our Bus shuttle that was late with a 2 year old in hand......NEVER AGAIN........Talk about the Disney Perks like Not driving....He can sleep in late and then meet you at the Theme park no driving just walking to the front of the resort to catch your bus.......Good Luck......Hope he changes his mind.....