Is it really worth the money saved to stay in DD?

[tinkerszs]

We are first time visitors. We have to travel between 7/3/11-7/9/11. We have looked at Pop Century. It's okay, however just by looking through book-it I found cheaper deals with airfare to the Best Western in DD. Hmmm . . . is it really worth it to stay onsite? We plan on living in the Magic Kingdom and Epcot for our stay. So basically we would sleep. Usually we stay in our pop-up camper on vacations so we don't need tons of fluff. We'd like to save on meals. Pools? Eh . . . . we may not even have time. So any ideas? Off-site a better deal for us? (Kids are 6 and 8) Thanks!!!!!!

Shell

 

[zianha]

I prefer to stay on site and I always do a value resort but we don't spend much time in the room anyway. I've stayed off site before and of course you can get a room or even a campsite for less than the price of the Values but for me and my kids it's worth it staying on site because we like using Disney transportation and it's easier going back to our room to rest midday then hit the parks again in the afternoons and evenings. Have you looked at possibly staying at the Fort Wilderness campsites? I've only done that once long long (long) ago but I remember how much fun it was! No matter what you decide, I'm sure you will have a wonderful trip!!

 

[Disney grandma]

With the ages of your children and being first time visitors, I would say stay on Disney property. You will get the advantage of early and late magic hours and direct transportation by bus to each park. You will get free transport from the airport, not sure if that's included in your DD Disney hotel price. Also being there in July, you will find that a break in the afternoon at the pool would be a wise idea, the parks get very hot, and you could return in the evening hours.

 

[Jenny-momof3]

I agree with the PP...you're going to want those pools! We do 4th of July every year. And the heat is so intense that you have to take a break for a few hours in the afternoon. Any other time of year my kids can easily go from park open to park close...but in the summer...no way! it's just too hot!!

The ease of staying onsite and hopping into an air conditioned bus is worth it's weight in gold in the summer. When we stayed offsite one summer it was miserable opening up the steaming car, letting it cool down before we could even think of putting the kids in, then driving back to the resort.

 

[3pletprincesses]

We have done both. Although you can find cheaper and bigger elsewhere, I find that staying onsite is a must with little kids. I stayed onsite for the first time last fall and honnestly it was the best. It was nice to be in the middle of it. The girls loved it and still have the Let's talk about Disney moment every day. It was nice to be a few minutes away from our hotel when the girls got tired vs driving a bigger distance plus we love the dining plan and the EMH.

 

[Reddy]

make sure you add the price of parking to the amount if you are driving
if you are morning people like us - that extra hour in the morning is alot of rides quickly

 

[tinkerszs]

Okay . . . .what about downtown Disney? (I'm finding it's lots cheaper). We won't have a car.

 

[brianz09]

I've stayed both on and off site, including the Downtown Disney hotels and recommend on site. The DD hotels have bus transport to the parks, but not as frequently as I recall. Pop with kids is great and you will use the pools for sure! Either way, best of luck!!

 

[baler31]

If you are unwilling to rent a car I would never stay offsite. If you find a much less expensive package for air/hotel, I would rent a car with the savings. You will also save by being able to dine offsite as restaurants and even fast food service at Disney is much more expensive than comparable offsite fare.

 

[Boardwalkin]

I am assuming you are talking about BW Downtown Disney. My advice is for this location. Any other BW location and I would say stay on site. I normally recommend on site stays, but DD hotels are still officially on Disney property. Still a great location.

Staying at Pop or BW is about the same distance from any of the parks. The buses are not as frequent (30 min vs 20 min), but I don't think that is a huge issue. The things you are giving up is the Disney theming, Magical Express, and extra magic hours. You will have to determine how much that is worth. If you are saving a lot of money than you can't go wrong with BW. If price is close I would say stay at POP.

 

[Disney grandma]

Okay . . . .what about downtown Disney? (I'm finding it's lots cheaper). We won't have a car.

I was comparing Pop to DD in my opinion above. I believe it would be better to stay at Pop than offsite for the reasons above stated. Unless it is a great difference in price, the convenience for you would be invaluable with young children in July.

 

[Belle599]

Given it's your first visit, I would say stay on property at least the first time. In the future consider staying off-property (rent a condo or vacation home) and then compare.

 

[shalom]

We'd like to save on meals.

If you don't want to have a car I highly recommend on-site, but if you're on-site it's going to be tough to save on meals. There are a lot of partial menus available on the Internet, to give you an idea of the prices you'll be paying, but be aware that a sandwich that costs $6 in January could cost $7.50 in July. Dining prices at Disney raise in high demand times just as room prices do.

And if you don't have a car, you won't be able to stock up on cheap snacks, either. The prices in the resort shops are just as steep as in the parks. Some people bring a suitcase of snacks, which can help, as can splitting meals, depending on family appetites. If your family has healthy appetites, the QS dining plan is probably your best bet for staying on-site, but of course the only way to know is to sit down and crunch the numbers.

The downtown Disney off-site resorts do have shuttles that work well for some people, but not as many as the Disney resorts. I've never heard if their food prices are better but that'd be something I'd look into for sure.

 

[racechick8293]

Off-site can be significantly cheaper, and allows for even greater savings with having that option of dining/shopping outside of WDW, but I agree with the others that a car rental would be required.

 

[ToddyLu]

As a first timer one of the things that is tough about WDW is just the shear size and scale of it. I mean it is huge...I know you know it is big....but you have to consider getting from one place to another and Disney does a pretty good job getting you to all the parks on their transportation. Pop doesn't share a bus with any other resort. The bus pulls up right outside the hotel and then takes you right to the gate.

When you drive to MK you do not park at the gate. You park at the near the TTC (Ticket and Transportaion Center), then take a boat or monorail in. If you are on a Disney bus then they take you right to the gate. Pop is huge, the food is decent and yes, overpriced. You get large servings at Disney and the girls could split a breakfast platter that costs about $6.99 I think. You get eggs, breakfast potatotoes, Mickey waffle, biscuit and bacon. If you buy the refillable mug at Pop then ALL your drinks there will be included for the price of the mug $13.99--a good deal. You are talking about saving a few bucks for convenience at this point.

I recommend emmersing the girls in Disney completely their first time by staying onsite. Then you and Dad can decide how you what to do future trips-I believe on-site at a value will be cost effective in the end.

As a background--DH and I go to Disney every year. We do not have chidlren and just completed our 10th trip.

 

[momof3girls6712]

We live in Florida, but we never go to Disney without staying onsite. My kids just don't like the concept of going to Disney and not having it be a all inclusive vacation. For us it is about the experience of the vacation. We are a family of large eaters so for us, we save by being onsite with the dinning plan. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Kae]

I got to go with onsite too. you have ME so no fee for gett from airport to the resort.

Kae

 

[dgaston]

While I even own DVC I do not think that on-site is the only way to enjoy WDW. I would strongly recommend spending $20 on TourguideMike, no matter where you choose to stay. His Best Days, Best Parks feature is invaluable.

I have stayed at other DTD hotels and find the transportation very good. Yes they run on 1/2 hour schedules, but that's not terrible. You will not be right at MK, but have to take the monorail or ferry. One disadvantage is having to pay for a shuttle from the airport for each of you.

Do consider the campground option. Fort Wilderness is the BEST campground I have ever stayed at.

So DTD BW may work for you!

Happy trip planning.

 

[disneychic2]

Another thing to consider would be to ship some food ahead of you to arrive at the Pop century. Things like pb & j, cereal, fruit, chips, bread etc. That would save you money on food. I agree with the majority of posters: staying on property is the best! Having said that, your trip to Disney will be wonderful no matter where you decide to stay! Enjoy!

 

[jenstall]

I agree with everyone else that without a car, staying on site is your best bet. If you are still considering the Best Western though, you might want to check to see if there is a Resort Fee. Many of the Downtown Disney hotels tack one on.