House versus resort for a family?

[Amirah95]

I love that fact that we don't have to pack much clothing because of the washer and dryer. We also like the fact that I can cook up a full course meal in minutes (and bake a cake--my first night ritual) and sit for dinner in a dining area to have dinner on non-park days. We can freeze our water bottles in the fridge. Don't forget the large closet space. I love having two bathrooms and when I want to take a nap I can go into one of the bedrooms to relax away from my DH and DD when they are watching TV or playing a game. We don't rent houses because it is only three of us, but we stay at resorts (DD meets lots of friends her age) and we like participating in their activities too after a long day at WDW.

I think I mentioned this before, we like staying offsite because we love having a good amount of space and there are so many offsite things to do that interest us. Sometimes I think that WDW is one of those things to do in Orlando not only "the" thing to do while we're there.

 

[disneycrazzzy]

I vote for off-site too. Once you've done it (I've stayed on site as well), it is hard to go back to a hotel room. I must admit the primary reason I choose to stay offsite is money. I can't justify spending more money for theming. I've never thought Disney transportation was more convenient than a rental car. Other than money, my reasons for staying in a house with kitchen, pool and washer/dryer are:

1) less packing
2) don't have to sit in restaurants with my kids for every meal
3) my favorite shirt can be clean every day
4) two bathrooms when everyone wants to get ready
5) a separate bedroom for kids so we can watch TV, prepare for the next day, and/or do laundry while they get some rest
6) Refrigerator for drinks and snacks and leftovers
7) Two TVs, so the kids can watch cartoons or play Nintendo while we watch a game or news or a movie
8) my kids can be rowdy and yell and jump and run without worrying about the neighbors
9) Kids can swim while we keep busy nearby
10) No crowds in the pool -- peaceful
11) Our car is in the garage a few steps away
12) staying away from a gift shop around every corner
13) hot tubbing after the kids go to sleep
14) need I go on?

On the other hand, if I had no kids and unlimited funds , I would love to stay at a Monorail resort and immerse myself in the Magic.

 

[TandCmum]

well this is our first trip with two kids who will be nearly 2 and 4, and we couldn't decide which to do so are doing both. 6 nights onsite (not sure where yet)to start with, do the early entries whilst we have jetlag form the time difference (coming from UK), eat in the disney hotels and have the perks of onsite. The when we have completely exhausted ourselves we are retreating to a gorgeous villa in Rolling Hills (only 5-10 mins from Disney) for 10 nights where we will take life a little more relaxed whilst still doing the parks. I really didnt fancy not having the conveniences of the villa with two kids so young, but did desperatley want to do onsite.

Hopefully after this trip we will know which we prefer, and if we like onsite we may consider saving for DVC.

Suzanne

 

[Mainebound]

Originally posted by TandCmum
well this is our first trip with two kids who will be nearly 2 and 4, and we couldn't decide which to do so are doing both.
Suzanne

Hi Suzanne,

This is what we are doing, as well, but our March 05 trip will be a bit shorter than yours, and "on site" for us this year will be Universal (the perks are just too amazing to miss, unlike WDW resorts IMHO). Our boys were 2 and 4 in March 04 and we had a fantastic on-site trip! This trip will be a bit longer so we too want some of the conveniences of a villa. Have a great trip!