How important is it to YOU to stay on property?

[theSurlyMermaid]

When I was young, my parents took us once and of course, we stayed offsite. My dad would always go the cheapest route, always. Most of what I remember about that vacation revolves around being in the car.

Since then, I've gone with friends and now, my DH. NEVER will we stay offsite. It's simply not an option, it just ruins the whole thing. My parents have mulled the idea of visiting Disney with us, and my dad STILL doesn't want to stay onsite. He gets angry when my mom asks him if they could just do it once. I guess old habits die hard.

 

[Kimberly815]

As much as I would love to stay onsite, the budget just won't allow it. I am sure that we will try to someday.

However, I have found no issues with staying offsite. We have picked relatively nice 3-4 star hotels, all for far less than $100 a night, and enjoyed them. We have always rented a car, and had no issues or long car rides. . since most hotels we selected were about 2-5 minutes from Disney property! It may not have quite as much magic, but it was clean. comfortable, and cost effective.

I will stay where ever the buget allows- because at least I get to spend all day everyday in WDW! (I do hope that we get to stay onsite eventually though! )

 

[Patty3]

Only onsite. It's part of the magic, running into the charcters in the lobby, the special soaps, the enchanted resorts themselves...

I agree with you.

 

[T-i-double-g-err]

Only onsite. It's part of the magic, running into the charcters in the lobby, the special soaps, the enchanted resorts themselves...

I agree with you.

Ditto! I'd also add the benefit of convenience.

 

[Randy K]

Even though I'm just preparring for my 2nd trip to WDW I could never think of staying off site. Staying on-site was at least 25% of the fun. And I actually enjoyed using the Monorail and Boats for transportation. The Buses are nothing special but not bad either.

 

[jenrose66]

I would never stay off property. The Disney resort is part of the experience. It just wouldn't be the same staying off property.

 

[AdventurerKat]

I prefer to stay onsite, but I have done offsite. Often, if I am without my kids and am mostly there to go to DTD/Pleasure Island, I will Priceline a room in that area so I can just walk to DTD. I have stayed offsite with the kids a couple times but didn't like that too much so I don't think I will be doing that again.

 

[tinabheart]

I have a lot of family in Lakeland, Florida, and growing up we always did day trips to WDW. For the first time in 15 years, I went back this year and stayed at CBR for a week. I cannot imagine not staying on site. In fact, we were planning on returning next year and decided we could just stay at my parents in Sarasota and just make a day trip, or stay at a value for maybe two nights. My DS12 said that he'd rather not go to WDW at all if we couldn't stay at CBR! That might mean no trip to WDW in '06, but I have to agree with him.

 

[minijeanie]

having stayed both,,, I love staying onsite, but particularly if it is deluxe.
If not, timeshare gives you big room with washing facilities..which is a major plus for me.

so...my opinion is to stay at least 4 days onsite and then you can go elsewhere.

by then you will welcome a bigger room

Disney's rooms are so darn small..

 

[jimmiej]

We WILL NOT stay offsite!

 

[Stacerita]

The first time we went to WDW we stayed offsite. We enjoyed ourselves and had a good time. But I felt that something was missing. Plus, it wasn't that fun traveling to and from every day and dealing with a rental car and all. But now that I have stayed onsite, I dont think I will ever go back to staying offsite. I wont say never, but if I had my choice it will always be onsite.

 

[BkrsLoveDis!]

I've stayed onsite for all of our visits except the last one. My parents wanted to schedule a "family reunion" but scheduled it off site so we did SSR for a long weekend and then moved to Doubletree in Disney Resort area. It wasn't the same and we'll probably never do it again.

Oh and we purchased DVC this year so we're pretty much guaranteed to stay on site always now!

 

[HunnyPots]

I'm really conflicted over this right now. We are watching the budget a little closer this time so we have considered both the value resorts and staying off-site. But from what I've seen so far, staying off-site may not even save us that much once you figure in parking and extra gas money for driving in city traffic every day. Unless we stayed someplace REALLY cheap and that scares me. Plus, we love EMH and the perk of shipping packages back to your resort. Now if Disney offered some room-only discounts again, the choice would be easy.

 

[Mad4Dizne]

Our last WDW off-site was a disaster, a "budget" hotel that also came with guys sitting in lawn chairs outside our room with beer bottles all over--rather scary..... It was a national chain that was suppossed to be "family friendly". That hotel, though about $60/night, after you figured in parking/rental car/etc....we could have stayed in a value, been much happier and actually saved. After that last incident we have sworn off, off-site. That being said we have a relative that loves the Peabody, and we have stayed in Universal Hotels (Hard Rock ). But I would really, truely do any one of the values before staying off-site. Just makes our vacation more "magical"!!!!!

Enjoy yourselves--no matter where you stay!!!

 

[cobbler]

I'm really conflicted over this right now. We are watching the budget a little closer this time so we have considered both the value resorts and staying off-site. But from what I've seen so far, staying off-site may not even save us that much once you figure in parking and extra gas money for driving in city traffic every day. Unless we stayed someplace REALLY cheap and that scares me. Plus, we love EMH and the perk of shipping packages back to your resort. Now if Disney offered some room-only discounts again, the choice would be easy.

I would go for value. Do you have AAA? They offer room only discounts 20% off the values during value season and 15% off during regular and peak season.

We stayed offsite the night before we were to check into SSR. I will tell you, even though we were 2 miles from property, we felt like we could have been in a totally different city.

If you can swing it go value and check into AAA.

 

[J&J]

We stayed off site last April never again. Stayed at a Radisson changed these three different times. After only staying in a Disney hotel the experience of an offsite hotel was horrible. Rooms are dark no disney themes hard to get to and from the parks. Stay on a disney hotel and enjoy.

 

[Minerva]

I'm really conflicted over this right now. We are watching the budget a little closer this time so we have considered both the value resorts and staying off-site. But from what I've seen so far, staying off-site may not even save us that much once you figure in parking and extra gas money for driving in city traffic every day. Unless we stayed someplace REALLY cheap and that scares me. Plus, we love EMH and the perk of shipping packages back to your resort. Now if Disney offered some room-only discounts again, the choice would be easy.

Don't forget to figure your time in there too, it's worth something especially when you've got tickets that are good all day and you're spending a portion of that day in a car instead of in the parks. If you like to take a break during the day the amount of time traveling to and from your room alone could be a deal breaker.

 

[The Sweetness]

We've only stayed onsite once. It was at the ASMO, the Dalmation bldg, and we were the first guests to use the brand new room. It was really a nice treat to know that and made me feel special. Next time around, Ill be staying there again, or POP, as thats all I can afford, but for 8 nights, so that we wont be so rushed. I feel like I need to be onsite with my 2yold as she may need to leave the parks for a nap, or at least late afternoon to eat, bathe and get an early nights sleep. Wouldnt make sense for me, DH, and DD15 to all have to go *home* early every day. Just me or DH can handle it

 

[kupperman]

I've stayed onsite and offsite. There is just something about being onsite that can't be beat. I just love to be immersed (sp?) in the Disney atmosphere 24/7. Being offsite just doesn't compare to being onsite.

 

[jesszac610]

Though I've never stayed off-site before, I know many people, including my family members who have and they don't seem to enjoy Disney the way my family and I do!