help us decide - offsite or keep pop room?

[davinakb]

We've saved money staying off site, but it varies per trip: time of year, length of stay, number of people, size of place, etc. FWIW:

Longer trips (week or more) we have gotten deals via a friend's timeshare company, or private villa rentals. Always had 2-3 BR places for less $ than on property. Last Christmas & NYE, I think the 4BR house we had (9 nights) was about $150/night (and the only day we worried about park crowds was NYE at the MK, where we just went way early and stayed all day). Usually we are under $100/night, even for a large place.

Medium stays of 4-6 days, the space of a suite, condo or timeshare is nice, if you get the deal. Look around VRBO and see if you can find some place in Windsor Hills or Emerald Isle that will deal for your dates. If you do a small grocery run (basic breakfast, park waters and snacks) you can save and still have $ for one on-site meal a day.

Shorter stays of 2-3 nights, you are probably looking for a hotel or hotel/suite/vacation club place. Short trips, we try Priceline (if only 2 people in the room). hard to say what deals they will have at the time. For more than 2 people, try the Mousesavers, AllEars and other sites for deals on bigger places with kitchens like Sheraton Vistana. I'd also suggest something like the SpringHill Suites, Marriott Village. it's not too far, close to shopping and restaurants, decent breakfast included.

 

[hollybearsmom]

Thanks for all the tips.
Some I have checked already and they are higher than on site for that week...and Priceline I don't mind, but we have (4) with the kiddos.

We'll have to wait and see if i get any responses this weekend! Keep hoping.

 

[Traveliz]

Seriously with kids that young I would stay on site - sounds like you are going Christmas week? I can't stress enough how important that extra hour can be that week especially since MK is open every morning for resort guests an hour early - Last year on the 28th of December - a day when MK closed for a time in the middle of the day -- we were finished with 10 rides and shows before 11 am. That first hour made it all possible. Being off site there would not be a morning that you could get to MK at opening.

You can still choose days to "get away from it all" and be on site. We have done that by taking a day to go to the outlets and a meal off site. Even a day of mini-golf and resort hopping can seem like getting away from it.

And honestly you won't feel like you are getting away from anything by going off site - you will be driving into a sea of traffic that might be at a stand still.

Liz

 

[bob6sims]

I would also go for staying on-site .
We stayed at the POP last year and it was ideal .
We didn't do the dining plan as felt it was a bit expensive for us (we have 4 children). We went to DTD a few times and ate there - there are plenty places to choose from - covering all price ranges . Since you are taking your car you can even go offsite one day to go to the shops/mini golf/all you can eat buffet restaurant.
You can cut back on your ticket by not having the park hopper option and no water parks too. The pools at the hotel are fine for the kids - we were in the 80's section and the pool was nearly always quiet .

Happy planning

 

[jamie&Greg]

I know money is tight right now - but I say STAY ONSITE!!! It adds so much to the magic to be right in Disney!! And there is alot to be said for just parking your car and not driving the whole vacation!!!

Some people think Disney transportation is over-rated but I it is better then paying $12 for parking and fighting the car-crowds!!!

Sounds like you got a room for $116 per night in December - that sounds fair to me. In order to save any real money you would have to find something for under 80$$ and that is just $20 a day after you pay parking.

 

[stacyp9]

I know money is tight right now - but I say STAY ONSITE!!! It adds so much to the magic to be right in Disney!! And there is alot to be said for just parking your car and not driving the whole vacation!!!

Some people think Disney transportation is over-rated but I it is better then paying $12 for parking and fighting the car-crowds!!!

Sounds like you got a room for $116 per night in December - that sounds fair to me. In order to save any real money you would have to find something for under 80$$ and that is just $20 a day after you pay parking.

LOL, I think the $12 is completely worth it to assure that I have a seat, a pile of snacks in the glove compartment, and the ability to leave immediately without having to wait around for a bus. I guess it's all about what's most important to your family

 

[stacyp9]

We have to cut expenses for our trip as much as possible. We are thinking about dropping the dining plan.....and then we are trying to decide if we should only stay on property a few days, then staying off property three nights.
Will we really save money? Should we try to get a condo? Or priceline for a hotel and hope for the best? I tried windsorhills site earlier today and mostly I got the "weekly rentals" and high season quotes. What should we do???

First decide what your budget is. Then decide what things are most important to you, big meals, lots of space, lowest cost, towel animals etc. Then estimate how much time you will spend in your room/condo/villa and it's facilities. Make sure you compare apples to apples by including taxes, cleaning fee's, etc. Once you have all that in front of you start looking into options and check off how many of the criteria each meets. The decision becomes a lot easier.

Remember also that many owners will negotiate on their prices. Remember also that splitting stays not only increase hassle but can increase cost. Discounts, at least with condo's and villa's often happen with stays of six or more days.

 

[rdevine10]

We just got back from 8 nights at Pop with 2 kids (3 and 5). We had a fantastic vacation, but, its likely the last onsite trip for us for a while. I have decided that anything over 4 nights needs to be a condo style vacation for us. And, that will likley mean offsite.

Going during a busy time though, I would really want the extra magic hours.

Have fun!

 

[Camno's Mama]

We are trying to make the same decision right now. We are going in January, we just decided to change our trip dates from April to make it cheaper. We have a reservation at POP, but I just can't imagine all of those days onsite without a car. If we stay offsite, we can get a car and still be a little bit under the price of the room at POP with Magical Express. Also, I know parking costs money, but ten bucks a day for a fridge outweighs the 4/5 days we will be going to the parks. If we only go four days, it will be more cost efficient, actually,

We also get a lot of gift cards for restaurants for Christmas...we are hoping to use those on vacation. (You should never depend on gifts, but some people are just dependable like that!) While I don't think Disney CS is that expensive if you are careful, I can't imagine only eating those things my whole trip. We are healthy eaters, and I have a feeling I'll be itching by day three for something my body is used to! So, we would probably end up wanting to go offsite anyway.

We've only stayed in a condo up until this point. We were hoping to try for a different experience, but I really think you save money. I'm really not sure what we will end up doing, but if you are looking to save a few bucks, you wil definitely enjoy the condo experience. They are nicely decorated, you can do your laundry for free, lots of snacks to bring into the parks if you're like me and stuff the backpack, room for the kids to run around, and a comfortable space to spend time in if you have a day or two where you are not going to the parks. It's a hard decision, but you will be happy with either one.

Good luck!

 

[specchalakani]

I just made this same decision!! I had a room at POR during a time that the resorts are said to be completely booked. I started looking around and found a great deal on a Disney View room at BWLBV for under 100.$$ on Travelzoo. This will end up being a 350.00 savings for me on the room alone. If I do a car through them it will still end up being 250.00 less than staying on-site.

I also was just not thrilled about staying at a huge resort that is booked with significately smaller rooms.

Also, at the DTD resorts you aren't turned away at the parking lots if the resorts are full.

I've never stayed off site and am actually looking forward to the new adventure. Lets face it, the Disney transportation ain't nothin to write home about either.

Good luck with whatever you decide

 

[jillianjewels]

thanks for all the replies. We are trying to do it to save money. I was sure I could do better than 120 a night. Even with the parking. And yes, space plus a kitchen is a huge pull to stay off site. But, I didn't have any more luck last night than yesterday finding someone with great prices and availability at the same time....augh! Wish me luck for today!!!!!

I would try condos direct. They have some great rates. But I have never stayed at any of the properties. We are having the same debate as yourself. I think we might stay offsite for part of the trip.
I hope this helps!
Jennifer

 

[Teacher03]

We just faced the same dilemma. We were booked at CSR and very excited about it, dining plan included. I started crunching the numbers, and we decided we could stay offsite for about $1500 less than onsite. As a plus, my hubby and son has decided to go, which would have been impossible onsite. We rented a condo at Windsor Hill through florida sun vacation homes. Our trip isn't until next June, but you might give them a try.

 

[korg]

I haven't read the 3 pages of replies but here's my advice. If you intend to rent a car you can save money staying off site, especially if you get a place with a kitchen. You can save big money by simply having breakfast in the condo each morning rather then eating out every meal. Plus you get no more ticket deals from Disney by staying on their property. (Which is why i now stay off property now when I go.)

IF however you plan to do nothing but Disney parks you can save money by not renting a car and using their Magical Express service and in that case it may be just as cheap to stay on property and you get the 24 hour Disney atmosphere. But you WILL have to eat out every meal.

No matter how you cut it a Disney trip is expensive.

 

[FayeW]

We are renting a condo at Windsor Hills from Florida Sun Vacation Homes. You can go to www.floridasunvacationhomes.com and put in your dates and the type of accomodation you are looking for. It will show you everything that is available for your dates.

The Buena Vista Suites deal for $89. sounds really good, also.

 

[karebear06]

I think you will regret staying offsite during christmas. It sounds like you got a real good deal at the pop. I agree with the posters saying you are guaranteed to get in a park when some offsite guests may not.
This is how I justify things. You only live once. A year from now am I really going to worry about the money I spent or am I going to wonder what my potential memories at WDW during christmas could have been.

just my 2 cents

 

[PixIeTwInKle]

Check out Staybridge Suites, LBV. It is right at the enterance to Down Town Disney.

I am planning a trip for may and was trying to make the same decision as the OP. But how much would you really save by staying offsite if you have to rent a car to get around (we are flying). If you were to stay at this hotel could you just hop on the disney buses and use them to get around to the parks?? Or is a rental car a must when staying off site?

 

[gtalum]

Are you flying in, or driving?

If flying, it's very hard to beat a Value resort, using Disney transportation, and sticking to CS meals for your trip. If driving, you don't need a rental car, and that makes offsite a better value proposition.

This point cannot be stressed enough. If you fly in and would otherwise need to rent a car, then from a purely dollars and cents standpoint staying on-site is probably a good deal. otherwise, again from a purely dollars and cents standpoint, staying off-site is probably the better deal.

Further, only you and your family can put a price tag on the "magic" of staying on-site. Personally I think staying on-site is extremely overrated and would only do so if it works out to be the better financial deal.