I just don't see it anymore; convince me I'm wrong

[Bete]

I'm starting to think about a DW trip early December, 2012.

I'm just not getting excited about staying on site anymore. We really don't need the EMHs and we haven't really taken advantage of this aspect too much over our last three trips. It doesn't suit our schedule.

We go by car to Florida and it seems easier for us to go to the parks by car; because, we stay at the value resorts. Also, we have a scooter and wheelchair in our party which can make for some undesirable wait times with the buses especially on the return trip back to the resorts from the parks.

The dining plan prices are going up in price and to be honest this is getting less attractive to us; because, we have a vegan (limited choices and cheaper choices) in our party and a small eater in our party; so, it doesn't seem worth it for us. Also, I'm getting tired of the same old Disney eating places. We have less choice of places with the vegan in our party. We have a picky eater, too. I'm doubting there will be free dining when we go next year. With the Fantasyland expansion I think Disney will be tighter on the deals especially free dining for December.

I did some research and it seems so much nicer to have a bigger place and a nicer place off site, close by. The resort I'm looking at would have a small kitchen, 2 separate bedrooms (1 king in one BR and 2 queen in the other), two bathrooms and a living room, 3 TVs, free hot good breakfast, and even an evening hot snack with wine included or other non alcohol beverages. We could even bring our dog along at no extra cost. It would probably be about $50 to $60 more per night than a value resort at Disney, but with the included food and the space and amenities I would say it's break even in comparison mode on dollars. I feel it would be so much nicer to relax at this resort than a value Disney resort.

Also, we could try other restaurants and not be as bored and come out money ahead on meals. Heck, we could cook some meals ourselves, too. In our case, this might be nicer; because, we could customize the needs of everyone in a better way.

We don't have kids in our group; so, the theming aspect of Disney all around us at the resort doesn't really make a difference to us. We get enough with the parks especially with Xmas time there.

Add to this that we would like to do SeaWorld, Universal and so forth and Disney on site just doesn't seem that great; since, we would be venturing off site anyway.

Is anyone else felling like this? I keep thinking I'll be sorry if I make the move to off site, but it seems so attactive to do so, right now.

There was a time I was sold on on site, but not any more. Tell me I'm wrong.

 

[BrerMama]

I could have written this. Completely agree.

 

[catne]

Never thought I'd say it, either...we've stayed at all levels, multiple resorts. And while we enjoyed it, with the demise of deep discounts AND the sky-high rate increases put in place while the deep discounts were going on...well. Cannot see paying over $200 a night rack rate for even the refurbished moderates. The rooms are still smaller than hotels at the price-point (most places you'll get a very large room, or even a 2 room suite for that price.)

We haven't used EMH for years...we book through the parks & get all we want to do done by early afternoon. We like Disney restaurants, but we are passholders, so I think we'll get the Tables in Wonderland card this year and call it quits on the DDP (we really would rather get one appetizer to split, and probably only occasional dessert to split...instead of no app, and 2 desserts we cannot finish. AND we'd get a discount on adult beverages with the TIW discount card...on DDP there's no discount on booze, and no choice on the app vs. dessert debate.) And we always drive everywhere, anyway (gave up on the Disney transportation...unless we're staying at monorail resort or boat-ride away to a park, we drive everywhere.) So driving from outside the World wouldn't be that big of a deal for us, especially if we get something in the vicinity of WDW

I've been looking at vacation homes to rent in Windsor Hills...and also looking forward to the Drury Hotel opening in Orlando this year...that's our favorite on-the-road hotel between Nebraska & Florida. Marvelous customer service, nice rooms, and cannot beat the buffet breakfast (HOT & cold foods) as well as the evening snacks & drinks. It may be a bit of a drive to WDW from the new Drury (it's closer to Universal) but I think it would be worth it.:thumbsup)

 

[brandip22]

I can certainly understand this and it all depends on you and your family. For us, it's just not "disney" if we don't stay on site. I want to be surrounded by the magic at all times. We use our car to go to AK and HS, but that's it. Try it and see, though- you may love it offsite and if not, you can go back to on site next year!

 

[Sweettears]

I wouldn't go to WDW and stay off-site. I need to be in the magic at all times. i stayed at the Swan my last trip and that wasn't Disney enough for me. Having said that, to each their own. Nothing wrong with staying off site if it works for you. For us, we take enough other trips during the year that staying on-site makes the WDW trip unique.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

We always used to stay offsite. Then we started saying onsite and enjoyed it. I'll still say onsite for my solo trips because I can save money not renting a car.

But now that the kids are older and bigger we need our own beds and our own space so we are talking about staying offsite too. But I won't cook. Part of a vacation for me is not having to cook. I do it 100% of the time at home and it gets frustrating that no one else helps.

We've never done the dining plan so that never factors into our decisions but I could see how it wouldn't work for you either.

We enjoy SeaWorld, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure too but we usually do those on seperate trips from Disney.

I think you should stay offsite and try some offsite restaurants. Then come back and tell us how it all went and which restaurants were your favorites.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Everyone is different and if off-site appeals to you, try it! Just wondering though, is the 'free' hot breakfast and evening snack vegan or fit your special diet? It's an awesome benefit, but most typical 'free' breakfasts (and especially evening snacks) are not usually vegan. And that should be all fine too considering you would have a small kitchen and could bring, store, and prepare your own food. Good luck with your decision!

 

[LindaBabe]

Do you have the capacity in your vehicle to transport your whole party, plus the ecv & the wc? Will anyone in your party want to return to your resort at a time different from the rest?

Tinkerbellie16 has a point about the likelihood of non-vegan breakfasts. Maybe a DVC villa on rented points where you could prepare some of your meals would help you out. Especially BLT or an EPCOT resort where you could have two park monorail or boat access. You can always drive off property to eat, where ever you stay, if you want to.

 

[fla4fun]

For me, staying off site would be staying home and doing day trips, so I much prefer staying on site.

However, it is definitely possible to find a nice hotel or condo for less money, and since you have a car, you wouldn't have to worry about transportation. So it's all in what works better for your family.

 

[Bete]

before and the breakfast suits us. The evening snacks are not the best for vegan, but there can be a few selections to get by on, here and there. Besides, you can have a drink in the evening.

One reason I think I'm willing to try off site is this year we went to Williamsburg, VA and stayed in Yorktown and we didn't feel inconvenienced by not being right in Williamsburg. Again, we stayed in a wonderful, roomy place with enough extra amenities that we really liked.

I'm going to try it and I'll report back later this year.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

As long as there is Free Dining we will continue to stay on-site. We have had Free Dining in December 3 times and it keeps us coming back - saves us a fortune. We plan to visit next December and hoping that next year's free dining discount includes the new Art of Animation Resort, because that's where we would like to stay.

 

[Bete]

As long as there is Free Dining we will continue to stay on-site. We have had Free Dining in December 3 times and it keeps us coming back - saves us a fortune. We plan to visit next December and hoping that next year's free dining discount includes the new Art of Animation Resort, because that's where we would like to stay.

I wouldn't be suprised if December free dining is not going to happen next year. You have the expanded Fantasyland coming in late in the year at MK. You have a new value resort, too. Now, add to it that there's a new announcement coming on Dick Clark's NYE program on ABC where many think it will be a promo for getting a free day of park tickets when you buy a certain amount of days or a free day including park tickets and resort. All of this is leading in a direction of NO free dining come next December in my opinion. I hear you about free dining in December, but it has to happen first.

We have seen less percentage discounts on resort only promos lately. All of this may lead to less and less discounts next year. I know late August and September still have free dining and that may always continue; because, it's the worse time for hurricanes. To be honest this is how free dining got started; we did the very first free dining promotion that year. By the way, the same year there was no winter free dining. The following year they did free dining to include late fall and winter. This free dining promo may not last forever and if it's still around it may become exclusive to hurricane season. If ever there was a time for Disney to quit this promo this may be it. Disney does not like this promo, but they know their guests love this promo; so, we all have been lucky to get it for a while.

If the economy tanks again next year then we all have a chance for free dining again in winter 2012, but I just feel there are big clues of this promo being dropped next year except for hurricane season. The prices have gone up on the dining plans for next year, too and revised to take away a snack for QS plans and the pricing for regular TS plans have gone up significantly. Including a resort mug for the regular TS dining plan is not that significant compared to the price increase. I think this will make it all harder for Disney to agree to free dining come next December.

I know it's hard to think of a promo going away when it's been around for a while, but Disney has done this for a while; so, just don't be suprised if it dissappears except for hurricane season. We have taken advantage of free dining, too; infact, we have specifically gone twice in a year to do it. I just don't see it being a forever promotion; hurricane season may be one exception to the rule.

 

[2girlsR2good]

I've been thinking the same thing. We're taking 2012 "off" for Disney, after three trips in this calendar year with our APs.

However, I think we will have three trips in 2013 with the way I'm projecting the school calendar to fall. Which means--AP's again!

When I think about how much the APs will cost and the price for the onsite stay, I'm more seriously investigating offsite options for the holiday trips. We'll likely be there Jan 2-5 or so when swimming is iffy, meaning the pool won't matter as much. I think we may have our nieces with us for that trip, meaning either two rooms at a mod with the stress of kids having an exterior door or a two bedroom off-site booking.

We drive down and usually drive to at least AK and HS anyway. AP means free parking. We'll have TIW card again, which means free valet if we dine in a resort restaurant. Will I miss the Disney theming? Yep. I'll miss the boat ride to MK for sure. But I think I'll decide that it's worth it.

Thanks for the post and sorry for the long addition, seeing your comments got me to think through my options a bit.

 

[Asellus]

tornado season? ^_^ I think you mean hurricane season.

I actually have never stayed on site so my next trip will be the first time I'll be trying it. (my sister works for Marriott so I am used to staying at Marriotts fairly deeply discounted, the free dining is the only thing that breaks even with my discount) However my husband likes to avoid driving whenever possible so on site appeals to him. (I can see us easily staying at the Poly or CR in the future when we can afford it)

 

[mickeynut1]

June 2001 was our first trip to Disney and we stayed offsite. Then in 2002 we stayed onsite and haven't stayed anywhere else since. We love being immersed in the magic 24/7 and being on Disney property does that for us. If Disney scales back on discounts, we will just cut our trips down by a day or two, but we won't stay offsite. We use Disney transportation from the time we get there until we leave and we just take every day as it comes and are never in a hurry getting from one place to another. With that said, if we have to wait a little bit for a bus, boat, or monorail, it doesn't bother us. Some people prefer offsite for larger accommodations, kitchens, etc. and that's great if it fits their family. But for us, onsite is the only way to go for a Disney vacation.

 

[Belle102498]

My family and I are going in October 2012, and I am thinking that this is going to be the last time for a while. My brother and his family are staying offsite, my parents are staying at a different hotel offsite, and my husband and I are staying onsite since we won't have a car and are flying in. The difference in prices on site vs. offsite is astronomical! For 2 weeks in October my husband and I are paying over $6000 !!! where the rest of the crew is paying less than $2,000 for the same 2 weeks, for a hotel that is equivalent to the one we are planning on staying at. This is without the tickets, which we already have...and no dining plan needed for me and my husband because we don't eat that much! I think Disney is starting to go a little crazy with their prices, and my husband and I are going to start going towards a cheaper route. I am thinking either Universal trips only, or Cruises other than the Disney line. As beautiful as Disney and their cruises are, it's just getting to the point where they are pricing us out of going there. Sad but true, and I will miss Disney

 

[mommykds]

We love to stay on site however our next trip will be off site to save some money. The resort rates are just too much for what you get. Of course we miss the Disney magic 24/7 however we can stay longer if we go off site which means more Disney magic in the parks for us.

 

[Bete]

tornado season? ^_^ I think you mean hurricane season.

Sorry, I corrected my error. I have no clue why I did it that way other then that's what happens by us.

 

[Safari Queen]

The on-site resort stay is a large part of the WDW experience for us now that we are part of DVC. We love the DVC resorts and spend a large amount of time there relaxing. We tried Vistana once and really didn't enjoy it.

 

[Bete]

The on-site resort stay is a large part of the WDW experience for us now that we are part of DVC. We love the DVC resorts and spend a large amount of time there relaxing. We tried Vistana once and really didn't enjoy it.

member puts you into another category. I know we could rent points, but it's quite expensive to do for all others. I can understand why you would like on site.