How awful is it to stay off-site?!

[tamaraten]

Just wondering after reading so much about the fabulous FOTL perk. I was planning to stay off-site but after reading about this perk, I'm feeling a little worried. The problem is that my family consists of 6 people (DH and 4 kids) and to stay on-site at Universal would require 2 rooms which is quite expensive, many times the price of a great place off-site.

I guess I would like to hear from off-siters who can assure me that it won't be a nightmare!! Our trip is planned for Sunday December 5th to Thursday Dec. 9th, 4 park days, with 2 or 3 (probably 3) being Universal.

Thanks!

 

[strawberryblonde]

Ten years ago, early Dec. was slowest of the slow season for WDW. I'm not sure how it is now for all the parks, and of course now Universal has Harry Potter in the mix which is confusing everything. I'm still thinking it will be slower in early Dec. than Oct. and for sure, less crowded than xmas time, summer or spring break. I'm thinking it will even be less crowded than May.

I loved staying onsite, but my main reason for onsite was not FOTL (although that was a fantastic perk!), it was so I could walk to everything. That makes all the difference in a park vacation to me. I do not like having to wait in a line of cars to be told where to park....often as far as possible from citywalk. Those parking garages are huge! I love not having to drive. I love walking everywhere so that I can eat what I want on vacation and not gain any weight!

My DH loved HRH so much, he really felt on vacation there. He enjoyed hanging out in the lobby with his laptop and a beer. I loved the pool area and the roomy entryway/sink vainity area in our room.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[PlutoLuvr]

We stay offsite and onsite, both regularly, and have a blast doing both. We'll be down as the same time you are and actually staying onsite this time, but two years ago, we went the same time and stayed offsite and had a wonderful time. You're going when the crowds won't be crazy, and you're allotting a few days. You'll be fine without FOTL.

I'm one of the grass is always greener girls. When I'm onsite (at WDW or USO), I always miss the space of our timeshare, a full kitchen, Whole Foods, easy access to Publix and really nice non-theme-parky restaurants. When I'm offsite, I always miss being able to catch a boat/bus/monorail to my hotel and not having to worry about drinking and driving.

:::sigh:::

But it's a great slow time of year for you to be going without needing FOTL.

 

[damo]

It isn't awful...it is just a different experience. It is a lot less time efficient.

 

[tamaraten]

It isn't awful...it is just a different experience. It is a lot less time efficient.

Exactly what I mean. Standing in line for hours with four kids can be tough. Especially if that happens with a lot of the rides.

 

[tfoster]

Can't share our experience but I can share our plans. We're like you in that we're a family of six. We're also going in December (for the first time) but a little later than you. The price was a little scary, but ultimately, we decided to stay on-site and get the two rooms. Especially with four children, it's hard for us to always stay on the same schedule. We won't have a vehicle so if we were off-site, it could be a real pain for, for example, me to go back to the hotel with the two younger kids while DH and older two stayed at the parks.

Of course, we did consider the hotels within walking distance too but the FOTL perk along with how nice the Uni hotels are supposed to be is what made us decide to bite the bullet and stay on-site. We're going Dec 19 - Dec 24, so it's kind-of like a big Christmas present to ourselves.

I'm sure you'll have a great time either way!!

 

[ky07]

While I have never been during Dec but have done June and July with me Dw and 2 Ds's and still managed to get done what we wanted but this was pre WWOHP but like the others said in Dec you should be fine

 

[Bobo912]

I've done both. Stayed off-site 2nd week in April and attendance in the parks was very low. Would have been a waste of money to stay on-site just for FOTL. Stayed off-site once near the end of June and it was still okay not to have FOTL although crowds were heavier then. I love staying on site though because the hotels are nice and it's just so convenient. If I were you, I wouldn't worry.