Help! - on/off site split stay - best of both or just a hassle?

[Torontonian]

Help a newbie decide!, We (Me, DH, DD9, DD6) are doing a second wdw trip in March and are considering a split stay. We want to do the Disney parks and see some of Orlando outside of Disney – Seaworld, Universal, outlet shopping, offsite dining, maybe Kennedy Space Centre, a beach etc. The first time around last year was just a whirlwind, we packed in 4 parks in 4 days dawn till dusk and did not venture outside of Disney once. We stayed at CBR with free QSDP. It was great but exhausting. We left with a list of things to do on our second trip (Bibbidi bobbidy Boutique, character meals, a resort pool day and other Orlando attractions)
This time around, we’d like to take a more leisurely pace with 8 nights in Orlando. We are considering 5 nights at POR – this time with standard dining free (we’ll get to do some sit down table service – yay!) Then, do you think we should switch to an offsite for the last three days? The reason is we won’t be doing Disney parks, and I really don’t want to book a non discounted room with dining credits we won’t use.
So disboard experts, is it a hassle to split stay? Any suggestions for an offsite hotel for the last 3 nights? Something clean, safe, free parking, breakfast would be nice. I got a quote for Wyndham Bonnet Creek for $460 for the three nights for a 2 bdrm. Is this good? We are total travel rookies and trying to understand the differences between renting a timeshare and a more traditional hotel.

Also, should we get a rental car right from the airport for the entire stay? Is it possible to rent from POR? Should we just forgo onsite with free dining and do an entire offsite stay? I’m trying to get the best of both worlds, and I really like the all inclusive feel with the dining plan. But we do want to see some of Orlando. Also what are some of the must see/must do offsite attractions?
I’m so glad I found this board, I’m so overwhelmed, but you guys are amazing with all of your knowledge. I’d appreciate any suggestions you can offer!

 

[CharmedLife]

Personally I find split stays to be a huge hassle. I hate having to repack my bags, check out, find transportation to the new hotel, check in (and maybe leave bags with valet due to the lag between check out time at one hotel and check in at the other) and get settled in a new room. Even though we were switching from one WDW hotel to another, it felt like we spent an entire day in the middle of our trip doing it.

We did a split stay last year and spent two nights at Portofino at the end of our trip, but that was purely so we could get the early entry to HP World at Islands of Adventure. I'm GREATLY looking forward to NOT moving on our upcoming trip, 7 nights at Bay Lake Tower...

Of course the benefit is getting to experience two different resorts, and possible savings depending on the deals you can get. I'm sure you will find as many people who love to do split stays as those who feel like me, so it's really a matter of preference for what you want to do. Just understand the time that you're giving up in order to jump from one to another.

I don't think Bonnet Creek is going to get you much closer to those other Orlando attractions than the WDW resorts, so I wouldn't do it just for logistics (and if you have a rental car this is not really going to make a difference, anyway). To me the biggest drivers would be $$ or something like the Universal Front of the Line benefit.

 

[minnie mum]

First of all: Welcome to the Dis, fellow Canuck!

I'm not going to attempt to answer all of your questions at once. I don't think the Dis has that much bandwidth. But as to your first question- by all means do a split stay. If you can be really organized, it doesn't take all that much time to move all your stuff to a different hotel.

It makes financial sense to move offsite for the days when you will be doing non-Disney stuff. You can look at this forum for ideas on offsite resorts.

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=15

If you explore some of the other forums, you will find more ideas for other parks and activities.

Re: car rental. Just my opinion, but there's really no need for a rental car at WDW if you are happy to take DME from the airport and use their bus system. You could just rent a car for the period after you leave WDW. If you check online, you will find car rental offices at various places in WDW (the Car Care Center, Swan/Dolphi, some of the DTD hotels- depending on which company you rent from). You can pick up your car there and drop it at the airport when you leave. Check the Transportation board for more info and for possible discount codes. OTOH, you may find a really great discount if you rent for an entire week rather than just a few days.

Looking at all of the offsite places you mention, I do have to say that there is no way you can see and do all of those things in 3 days. Pick the ones that are most important to you and leave the rest for another visit.

 

[Pakey]

I have done several split stays. I do not find them a hassle at all. I think it depends on how you prepare for them.

We pack our bags planning for it. We do not undo the bags that are for the second part of the split stay. Only our toiletries are shared between the two segments. So it's very easy.

I would not pay to stay on Disney property if I was not going to be using the amenities of the close proximity to Disney attractions. Not for the cost of those rooms. The one thing you need to consider is that you have to be out of your Disney room by 11am and you will not be able to check into your new room, wherever that is, until probably 3 or 4. So you will have a gap of time where you are homeless.

The biggest difference between a hotel room and a rental is that you will not have daily cleaning.

I agree with PP that 5 days at WDW plus 3 days to try to do all of those others things is giving you another non-relaxing vacation. If I only had 8 days, I would just stay at WDW and do things at a slower pace.

 

[pjhootch]

I think 8 days is enough time to stay in 2 different hotels. I wouldn't move hotels normally, but if you really like to stay on property while at Disney, I certainly understand not wanting to pay Disney prices while you do non-Disney days.

You can get very nice rooms with more space for less money off property.

I see people are assuming you would go to Disney first and then move off property. I suggest doing your non-Disney portion of the trip first. Personally, I would only rent a car when I'm not at Disney. Getting around Orlando is a pain until you get used to it.

There are beautiful beaches an hour and a half away from Orlando. We usually do it as a day trip. Either coast is great, depending on what you're looking for. We sometimes do a day at Universal. It takes 2 if you've never been there before. It also used to be pretty reasonable to go... but since Harry Potter opened their prices are just as nuts as Disney tickets.

Seaworld is cool if you've never been. There are a million "attractions" in the Orlando area, some cheesy, some expensive. Personally, I like getting off property and finding some real seafood, since we are landlocked in the midwest and nothing here is fresh or very good. If you haven't seen alligators, go see some! lol. There are everglades tours and airboat rides you can drive to with a car.