I will NEVER EVER, EVER, EVER stay off site again!!!!!

[BuzzandWoody]

We stayed at OKW but couldn't get Sunday.
I think WDW was filled this weekend. Presidents day holiday.
We were leaving at 6am Monday so we didn't want to spend alot.
All All Stars were booked up. And didn't want to pay moderate prices for just the short time there.

CRO reccomended the Grosvenor. It wasn't Disney!

The staff wasn't rude, they just were not like the CM's when you stay on site.
The bus, ha! Had to walk from way out in the parking lot. Lot's of bus traffic, I thought the driver was joking when he stopped out there.
I was tempted to use Disney transportation to Downtown then walk to the hotel. Same distance!
But I'm honest, stayed with what was provided for us. We hiked back out to the middle of nowhere in the parking lot. And me all the while saying, "I WILL NEVER STAY OFF SITE AGAIN!!"

The view of the downtown area was nice, a little loud with PI.


So the moral to my story is.....................

That's right, I will never stay offsite again.

 

[B3LM]

Sorry to hear that the transportation was bad. We'll be staying off-site for the first time over Easter break (just can't afford Disney resort prices at that time of year). Fortunately, we'll have our own vehicle and free parking because of our APs. Otherwise, I don't think I'd stay off-site either.

Beth

 

[Babblin'Boo]

I hate the offsite transportation. I stayed at Howard Johnson's "Nicky Bird" hotel (more like a motel) lured by the free transportation to the parks.

Here's my experience: Buses are Laidlaw school buses (you know the story: Uncomfortable, tiny seats, skimpy aisles, no A/C). They are on a schedule. If you arrived at noon and your bus had just left, you have to wait about four hours to catch the next one. They are always late. If you were dropped off at the park early and wanted to take a break by 3:00 PM, chances are you have to wait until past 6:00 for your bus to pick you up. Those buses leave you W A Y far back in the parking lot, only Disney buses leave you closer to the gate.

On top of it all, the drivers always made sure you saw the tip jar before you stepped out.

After that vacation, I too swore to myself I'd never stay offsite ever again!

 

[IAMaGR8DISMOM]

Staying offsite is not for me either!!!

We did stay offsite once and never again. We never realized how much more "magic" there is staying on site, until we stayed offsite. We were taking things for granted, "arn't all hotels this nice"? Nope!!

When you check in to a Disney hotel on property you get immersed in the entire Disney experience.

 

[LKS]

BuzzandWoody,

It may never come up again, but use of Disney transportation comes with your park hopper or AP, not just the Disney room, so you would have been absolutely fine to ride the bus to Downtown Disney and walk over to the hotel if that worked better for you.

 

[BuzzandWoody]

LKS,
You are right it will never be an issue! LOL

But thanks for mentioning that. I didn't know it.
See that I was even feeling guilty for wanting to do that, and I could have. We have both AP's and park hoppers.

 

[MysticDDA]

I must agree. I stayed offsite once when I had a conference on International Drive. Will NEVER do it again!!!!

 

[caskar]

We stayed at the Courtyard DDD. The hotel was ok and the pick up for all the parks was right outside the front door and on time.(better than disney transportationIMO). The thing I just couldn't stand was when you got to the parks the bus would stop in the parking lot and we were forced to walk with two young girls through the parking lot watching out for the other buses coming and going. Another thing was when we wanted to go back to the hotel we stood out in the parking lot and waited on the numbered square assigned to the bus. Summer in the parking lot is not a lot of fun.

 

[cottontail]

Hi: Your title "I will never, ever, ever, ever will stay offsite again"

reminded me of the wizard of oz when dorothy said "theres no
place like home".
We consider a disney resort like our home away from home.

Deb.

 

[TDC Nala]

I do not like staying offsite.

Even for my April weekend when I couldn't get into the moderates or All-Stars, I plan to stick with my Swan reservation even though I could probably stay offsite for half the price of the Swan, even with a discount.

Go figure. However, on some trip in the future I plan to spend a weekend over at Universal and check out one of their hotels.

 

[Poohbear123]

Thanks for bringing me back INTO reality! I was ALMOST going to stay off-site for a short trip in August, but, thanks to this thread, I will stick with ON-SITE! I have been checking off-site prices, including the"free" Hotel transportation, but now I realize it is NOT THE SAME! Thanks again!

 

[Rpsemont]

This thread needs a little balance. The first time at WDW 3 years ago we were a DXL and the busses were horrible! We always rent a car (and drive, even when we stay onsite) That being said, if you have a car, while offsite doesn't have the excellent themeing, you can often get alot more bang for your buck. We stayed at the Grosvenor and loved the proximity to DD. It was probably even more special because it was only $39 on priceline.

 

[Lucky4me]

Off site in a 3 bedroom executive vacation home. Jacuzzi master suite, laundry room, full kitchen, private screened in pool, and fifteen minutes from front door to turnstiles at Disney. Total privacy, and so quiet you can hear a pin drop. At $89 a night, how can you go wrong? We'll never stay in a hotel again, on or off site......

 

[Humpbacks1962]

Offsite at the Ramada Limited right on Universal Street: A stranger pops into my room in the middle of the night thinking it is hers. I found out those key codes are shared all throughout the hall in those cheap hotels! But when you aren't in the room, there is no stopping a drunk or daring one to go around playing with those keys opening other people's doors.

Sure, it never happened to you. But the dirty towels tucked away dry in the bathrooms, the toilets that wouldn't flush, the foul smell coming out of the sink when I brushed my teeth, the A/C that did not work, the bed that was broken, the "free transportation to the parks" that was hot, smelly and untimely the fact that I have no guarantees it won't happen again does not bring me back to any of those cheap hotels ever.

Wanda