Holy snaps! Looking at these prices!

[LMN]

My family has never stayed off-site before and really never considered it. Until now. We love being onsite and being surrounded by all things Disney. We are looking to book a vacation either during Winter Break (1st week of February); Spring Break (2nd week of March) or right after school is out (June 6th). I priced all 3 out today and am SHOCKED at the prices I'm seeing! And I won't even get into the airfare! I think we will probably end up driving because of that (18 hours one way).

Has anyone else gotten sticker shock from these prices while planning your own trips?

Anyone considering staying offsite because of it? If so, where?

 

[bennifer]

I never thought I'd stay offsite again, but we're planning a trip for 4th of July week with 6 adults 1 child, and holy moly, the price difference for staying offsite crazy! I like being lazy and not driving, and also having the DDP, though. It's really a tough call! If it were totally up to DH, there would be no question- on site forever. I'm just thinking that we may be able to stay longer, too!

 

[ARAITHEL]

I did some fast figuring for the option of staying off site for our trip in January...I found it NOT THAT MUCH different from staying on property. I think we would have saved 2-300. With that we have no DDP and would have to drive. No thanks. Not worth it.

 

[OurBigTrip]

I found the prices to be only slightly higher than 2013 prices, so no sticker shock for me. I was kind of surprised they didn't go up more than they did.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I found the prices to be only slightly higher than 2013 prices, so no sticker shock for me. I was kind of surprised they didn't go up more than they did.

This!

I think because we never have a significant break between trips, we don't notice the increase that much.

However, looking at the price difference of our trip in 2009 compared to our trip this year is quite a shocker!

Much easier to absorb the difference in small doses...

 

[Missyrose]

My family has never stayed off-site before and really never considered it. Until now. We love being onsite and being surrounded by all things Disney. We are looking to book a vacation either during Winter Break (1st week of February); Spring Break (2nd week of March) or right after school is out (June 6th). I priced all 3 out today and am SHOCKED at the prices I'm seeing! And I won't even get into the airfare! I think we will probably end up driving because of that (18 hours one way).

Has anyone else gotten sticker shock from these prices while planning your own trips?

Anyone considering staying offsite because of it? If so, where?

Totally get where you're coming from. We planned an extended family trip back in March 2012. The cost of our rental house turned out to be how much one of the two (or three) rooms we would have needed at a value would have cost.

Everyone had their own space, we had a splash pool, full kitchen and washer/dryer. Turned out to be the best thing for us price-wise and trip-wise.

Don't discount the pluses of offsite stays. Having a car can get you from Point A to Point B faster than Disney transportation and being able to sneak in a cheaper offsite meal or two isn't always a bad thing!

 

[plumsiren]

I'm curious - what was the airfare that you encountered? Nonstop or not?

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

I did some fast figuring for the option of staying off site for our trip in January...I found it NOT THAT MUCH different from staying on property. I think we would have saved 2-300. With that we have no DDP and would have to drive. No thanks. Not worth it.

When you figure in $15 a day for parking, it narrows the difference. And for those that wouldn't rent a car, even more so. After the experience I had last year staying off-site (witnessed a drug deal), I will never stay off site again. I know this isn't the only place I could stay, but the places I saw, the prices weren't any different than staying at All Star Movies.

 

[bennifer]

When you figure in $15 a day for parking, it narrows the difference. And for those that wouldn't rent a car, even more so. After the experience I had last year staying off-site (witnessed a drug deal), I will never stay off site again. I know this isn't the only place I could stay, but the places I saw, the prices weren't any different than staying at All Star Movies.

If I want to see a drug deal, I'll just stay at home! Lol! Seriously, thank you. I hadn't factored in the price of a rental car plus the $15 per day. It's one of those expenses I tend to overlook!

 

[Missyrose]

When you figure in $15 a day for parking, it narrows the difference. And for those that wouldn't rent a car, even more so. After the experience I had last year staying off-site (witnessed a drug deal), I will never stay off site again. I know this isn't the only place I could stay, but the places I saw, the prices weren't any different than staying at All Star Movies.

Where did you stay offsite? That really has not been many people's offsite experience.

 

[mum2four]

Totally get where you're coming from. We planned an extended family trip back in March 2012. The cost of our rental house turned out to be how much one of the two (or three) rooms we would have needed at a value would have cost.

Everyone had their own space, we had a splash pool, full kitchen and washer/dryer. Turned out to be the best thing for us price-wise and trip-wise.

Don't discount the pluses of offsite stays. Having a car can get you from Point A to Point B faster than Disney transportation and being able to sneak in a cheaper offsite meal or two isn't always a bad thing!

I've been eyeing those vacation homes for our family of six as well. We love the convenience of WDW transportation so we're still willing to pay to be onsite, but some day, maybe not. When your family size exceeds the standard "family of four", offsite options start to look more tempting.

OP, I get where you're coming from on airfare as well. We normally drive (24 hours one way for us). The region where we live has limited and expensive airfare options. We saved about $1000 this year driving vs flying.

 

[kmb584]

Yep, absolutely!

We go twice a year and at least one of those trips is spent off-site at either Wyndham Bonnet Creek or Sheraton Vistana Resort. The fact that I get an a beautifully updated 2-bed, 2-bath unit complete with living room, dining room, kitchen, washer and dryer (I'm a laundry FREAK!), patio or balcony for less than $1,000 for 10-11 nights is has doing a every time I book at either resort!

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

We are taking the train, even the normal low airfare on Allegiant is almost double each person each leg, double from our trip last year.

The rooms at condo's were up too. There is a convention dd wants to o to in March so we will stay off site and maybe do Universal.
I have stayed offsite and never say drug deals, but stayed at suites or condo. Blue tree resort Lake Buena Vista is very nice and close, an exit away. Off site food, Shopping is nice.

 

[eliza61]

My family has never stayed off-site before and really never considered it. Until now. We love being onsite and being surrounded by all things Disney. We are looking to book a vacation either during Winter Break (1st week of February); Spring Break (2nd week of March) or right after school is out (June 6th). I priced all 3 out today and am SHOCKED at the prices I'm seeing! And I won't even get into the airfare! I think we will probably end up driving because of that (18 hours one way).

Has anyone else gotten sticker shock from these prices while planning your own trips?

Anyone considering staying offsite because of it? If so, where?

LOL. If I did not have my dvc, no way, no how would I pay Disney prices. My family is too big for values and we don't like them so that's not an option.

Interestingly enough I hear a lot about being "surrounded" by Disney but most of the deluxes and not "Disney-fied" almost all are based on some other place. I tried to price out a vacation for next August in cash and sweet lord!!

Good luck and please rest assured my family has had absolutely fabulous vacations off site.

 

[Minnie121]

I stayed offsite last year, the week before Thanksgiving. We drove(about 22 hours). Stayed at Worldquest Resort which is a 5 minute drive to the gates of Disney. It was wonderful! We had a 3br/2bath condo with full kitchen, dining room, washer/dryer, and a huge community pool. Paid , I think about $1200 for 8 nights. We used our own car so no car rental. Even adding gas for the car, an overnight hotel stay on the way to Florida, and the parking fee at the parks, we still came out way ahead. We couldn't afford airfare for 6 people plus the cost of staying onsite, tickets, etc. There are tons of condo type places very close to the parks. Good luck with your decision.

 

[plumsiren]

After the experience I had last year staying off-site (witnessed a drug deal)

Don't forget the guy whose family got sick because the people in the room next to them were smoking METH...at Pop!

 

[cobright]

Anyone considering staying offsite because of it? If so, where?

My family tried the offsite thing twice and I will never do it again. I will stay home from a free trip rather than stay off-site. Okay that might be an exaggeration, but not by much.

Stayed at two of the Wyndham properties and we did get sq. ft. like a deluxe disney resort for $$ like a value (actually closer to mod). Which was the whole reason we tried it ... twice.

The mentality is, "wow it's so much cheaper, we can stay longer or go earlier and more often!". But what you end up with is a 10 day stay at a glorified motel with nine 8 hour trips to Disney World. That's how I describe it and let me assure you, taking nine 8 to 10 hour disney vacations in a row is a LOT different than taking a 10 day Disney World vacation. It's hard to quantify and explain just why this is so but if you are going on vacation to enjoy 'Disney' then you will feel the difference.

Practically speaking, it was so hard to restrain myself from showing the staff at the offsite property just how disappointed I was with them. They were not as nicely attired, the resort was less clean (wouldn't call it dirty except in parts you don't usually see like the common area bathrooms, ugh). The staff was unhelpful and boring. It seemed like I ended every conversation with the resort staff by saying "No no, it's fine... you're doing your best." It was maddening.

Other people value the experiences differently and don't feel cheated out of a vacation when they stay offsite, ymmv.

 

[Srbright]

The mentality is, "wow it's so much cheaper, we can stay longer or go earlier and more often!". But what you end up with is a 10 day stay at a glorified motel with nine 8 hour trips to Disney World. That's how I describe it and let me assure you, taking nine 8 to 10 hour disney vacations in a row is a LOT different than taking a 10 day Disney World vacation. It's hard to quantify and explain just why this is so but if you are going on vacation to enjoy 'Disney' then you will feel the difference.

Okay. Most hilarious real life interaction on the DISboard yet. I run to DH (actually we are sitting in two recliners next to each other) and I say "wow! I love this! This is the best explanation of how I feel about staying onsite I have ever read!". And he says.... "Of course it is. I wrote it."

So I scroll up, see that yes he did write it and say. "Oh."

He says "Don't you ever look at the authors when you read the posts? You don't, do you. You don't care who writes them."

Stacy

 

[ARAITHEL]

When you figure in $15 a day for parking, it narrows the difference. And for those that wouldn't rent a car, even more so. After the experience I had last year staying off-site (witnessed a drug deal), I will never stay off site again. I know this isn't the only place I could stay, but the places I saw, the prices weren't any different than staying at All Star Movies.

totally one of those expenses and hassles that I took into consideration. I like having everything "paid" for when we leave with minimal tips being the only expense. I'm scared of "hidden fees" and sometimes that happens at hotels...like parking at the parks and maybe even "parking fees" up to $10 per night at other hotels...

 

[eliza61]

My family tried the offsite thing twice and I will never do it again. I will stay home from a free trip rather than stay off-site. Okay that might be an exaggeration, but not by much.

Stayed at two of the Wyndham properties and we did get sq. ft. like a deluxe disney resort for $$ like a value (actually closer to mod). Which was the whole reason we tried it ... twice.

The mentality is, "wow it's so much cheaper, we can stay longer or go earlier and more often!". But what you end up with is a 10 day stay at a glorified motel with nine 8 hour trips to Disney World. That's how I describe it and let me assure you, taking nine 8 to 10 hour disney vacations in a row is a LOT different than taking a 10 day Disney World vacation. It's hard to quantify and explain just why this is so but if you are going on vacation to enjoy 'Disney' then you will feel the difference.

Practically speaking, it was so hard to restrain myself from showing the staff at the offsite property just how disappointed I was with them. They were not as nicely attired, the resort was less clean (wouldn't call it dirty except in parts you don't usually see like the common area bathrooms, ugh). The staff was unhelpful and boring. It seemed like I ended every conversation with the resort staff by saying "No no, it's fine... you're doing your best." It was maddening.

Other people value the experiences differently and don't feel cheated out of a vacation when they stay offsite, ymmv.

wow, where did you stay? I always thought of the values as glorified motels.

Anyway in 2011 dh and I stayed at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando for about 1/2 the price of the cost of the Beach club (where we usually stay) lol I guarantee you that is hardly a "glorified" motel. It's one of the reasons why I won't pay for Disney deluxes, lol their staff makes you say "Oh yeah, this is what a deluxe is supposed to be, some body ought to tell the mouse world".

True, for my family since we spend so much time at our resorts (we go when it's Africa hot so a good 4-5 hours midday is spent there), the quality of the resorts is super important. I think the other issue is that we are "older" so the things we value has changed. big bathrooms, our own bedroom, luxury are way more important than when our kids were smaller and the emphasis was on just getting to the parks and sleeping. I think the last issue is that we have been going to the world for a long time so we do notice the "slide" in quality. I know the things we get discouraged about wouldn't bother the first timer but we notice them. Stuff like staying at the GF and having to wait 30 minutes to get your car from valet. Now for most folks that's a non issue, but we pay the extra for service and when it is constantly poor, it's hard for us to not compare it to what we would get on the outside if we were paying the same price as the GF. Now that we've found the food to also be going downhill and we're eating offsite more and more, we really can't justify paying onsite deluxe prices
I'm super glad they are building a dvc there so next time I stay it will be on points.