Is off site worth a $400 savings?

[DisneyMom5]

We have the opportunity to use someone's off-site condo. It would be at least a $400 savings, and that's assuming that rates come out for Dec. similar to last year (Pop @ $55/night), so it could even be more. Is it worth the off-site hassle? Or would we be disappointed?

 

[dpic]

I understand you have to draw the line somewhere, and $400 is not pocket change. However, I'd rather sleep under the porch at GF than stay in the nicest hotel off-site.

 

[Pixiedusttravel]

That's a tough question. If it was the only way that your family could go, then yes, it's worth it. $400 is a lot of money. But for our family, we knew the first time we stepped foot on Disney Resort Property that there was no going back to off-site hotels again! (Thank goodness for credit cards! )

Hey, dpic! I love your counter!!!

23 days until we leave!!!!!

 

[iwannbindisnee]

Well, wiht a large family, $400 can buy some meals--but I just love the total disney experience, it's really hard to stay off site. Let me just give you an example & yoiu can see the plus & minus of staying offsite. My DB has DW & 5 children (9 & under), so similar in ages & numbers! We all went down in Feb-I stayed on site, they stayed off site near Celebration in a rental home w/pool. That was a great plus for them--the kids wound down everyday in the pool & they didn't have all pack up & walk to the pool, they went out their back door. Of course if you are staying in a condo, the trek to the pool may be the same as staying on site. The biggest thing was having to pay everyday at the parks for parking ($7) & the traffic getting there. W/ no traffic they were only 15 minutes away. With traffic it could take 45 minutes or more! They always gave plenty of time to get there! Some people like knowing that they set the time they leave & don't ahve to wait on a bus. I like not worrying about traffic & the bus drivers can always find another way around an accident. (I was on the bus one night when there was an accident & he was notified & sent another route) I am "directionally challenged" so if I had to find another way it would have been very frustrating. Also, a really cool thing about staying on site is getting the wakeup call from a Disney character! Can't get that off site--just another bit of disney magic that the resorts offer. Is it worth $400+?? Only you can decide! But enjoy the wonder in your children's eyes--that why I sent w/ my brother & family & was I ever rewarded! ( my kids are older, so the wonder is "different!")

 

[webray]

Just depends on where it is and how the traffic pattern would be. When it is busy, the traffic is a nightmare so onsite is definately a plus.

We have done both..onsite and off. You will have a great time either way..and if the condo is nice it is much better than a room at a value resort..more space and all.

 

[CarnotaurDad]

Don't forget the extra hours. Depending on your kids ages - if they can stay up late...wow, MK open 3 extra hours! It is a massive incentive to me. I love Pop and its atmosphere. Who knows about rates though. Either way, you're going to WDW in Dec - it's all good.

PS: depending on when in Dec, I wouldn't worry about traffic. It is pretty quiet around there until vacation week.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[iwannbindisnee]

The counter says November-if it's THanksgiving could be a big prob-if other times, traffic could be ok! & the EMH's that is a plus too....decisions, decisions! I am of the opinion once you stay on site, you never go off site again! ha!

 

[teribell]

From you signature it looks like you really want to stay on-site.
Even though $400 seems like a bunch of $ ...
Look at it this way:
If there are 8 of you going and you are staying for a week
that's less then $10 per person per day.
Seems like it would be worth the extra $ to stay on-site.

 

[LovePug]

Posting this under "Disney Resorts" you're probably going to get most people saying "no". Under the budget board....probably a whole different perspective . I think the answer to that is very individualized. If you don't think you'll enjoy yourself as much offsite, and you can afford it, then I'd just stay onsite rather than risk your whole trip.

I, personally, love staying offsite and don't find it a hassle at all. Our suite is very close to the parks (closer than some of the Disney resorts) and we drive, so it's very easy for us to do.

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

There are Hotels offsite?!??!?!??!?

 

[whacked]

I feel the extra hours are more important than the savings. Being in the park without large crowds is worth too much to us.

In the off season the parks close early enough that the extra hours add a significant percentage of time that you can be in the parks.

The time savings getting in the parks is big for us too. The kids have a limited amount of time they survive in the parks before we go back for some R&R. Staying on property makes this possible, especially when the hours are short.

For me, If I'm going to spend the money to get there, I'm going to stay on property.

I'm coming from the West coast though, so my expense in getting there is high too. $400 may be a smaller percentage of my budget.

 

[Bride In The Attic]

However, I'd rather sleep under the porch at GF than stay in the nicest hotel off-site.

Amen to that!!

 

[MidgeD79]

Try posting this on the orlando resorts w/poll

 

[etwinchester]

As a child, we NEVER stayed onsite. I'm already planning for the next trip and I'm staying ONSITE one way or another...

It would be our first vacation as the 3 of us and I'm determined to make it magical. Can't wait to see what it is like!!!

 

[SeaSpray]

Since you have a large family, my first thought was that the $400 would come in handy for other things such as food, souvenirs, etc.

But the more I think about it, the convenience and time-saving factor of being onsite, especially with a large family, seems that it'd be worth more than the $400 savings. I voted for staying onsite, for that reason.

I hope you have a great trip either way

 

[DisneyJen0504]

No way....you can save in other ways and still be able to stay onsite....way more magical!!

 

[riu girl]

$400 savings:
What I would consider:
1. Now you will have the cost of a rental car (assuming you were going to simply use DME to/from airport)
2. Cost of gas and parking at WDW each day for the duration of your holiday.
3. Food cost savings since you can buy groceries for the holiday and prepare many meals at your condo vs. buying all meals at WDW.

Personally, I would stay on site but that is only because DH and I both have no sense of direction and the thought of driving to WDW every day from an off site condo terrifies us. Example: when getting from MCO to WDW last year it took three maps and a lot of confusion. Once on site we only used the rented van once. We are intrigued by DME and can't imagine staying off site ever due to the ability to use DME.

Good luck with your decision.
Suzy V.

 

[funnybunny921]

i like the point rui girl makes, but I was wondering how long that is for? i mean if you are staying 10 nights i would eat the 400 and stay on site but if it is 100$ a night in savings I would consider staying off site. As a kid my family never stayed on site, but we weren't flying down anyway, so the car thing wasn't a problem.

Really you must do what you can afford if you can affor onsite then do onsite if you can't don't go broke, it's not worth it.

 

[Lewisc]

It's not just the $400 savings. You're also adding a kitchen, probably a washer/dryer, maybe an extra bath, living room and so on. You're getting a lot more space. Some of the condos are pretty close to Disney.

1) How much do you have to pay your friend? Take a look and see what you can get a condo through skyauction or hotelkingdoom.

2) Will you rent a car if you stay on-site? If not that will reduce your savings.

3) Do you want to back to your hotel for a swim/nap and then go back to the parks. On site works better.

4)Would you at least cook breakfast in your condo? That will save some money. You can certainly find cheaper offsite restaurants than onsite.

5) Will your family want to split up? Are some of your kids old enough to go to DQ by themselves? Would DW want to go back to the hotel during the day with a baby while the rest of you stay in the park? If so on site is better.

If the entire family is going to stay together during the day and if you're not planning to take an daily afternoon break I'd probably save the money. The fact that you bothered to post indicates that the money is significant to you.

 

[bugsy]

From you signature it looks like you really want to stay on-site.
Even though $400 seems like a bunch of $ ...
Look at it this way:
If there are 8 of you going and you are staying for a week
that's less then $10 per person per day.
Seems like it would be worth the extra $ to stay on-site.

an extra note..if you brought cereal or ate "continental" style for
only 1/2 of your stay, then you would also recoup the extra
<$10.00 per day additional upfront..I vote for on site