Is staying off site at WDW all that bad?

[caliope]

We've done both. Though we currently prefer onsite, there are circumstances in which offsite is better.

For our 2013 trip, it was me, DH, our then 16 month old DS, my mom and dad, and my sister, BIL, and niece (10) and nephew (6). For this large group, the best option was a time share condo offsite with 3 bedrooms/3 bathrooms/kitchen/living room. It was close enough to the parks for us to take mid-day breaks and return in the evenings, which was essential given our son's age at the time. We had three cars for the whole group, which was also essential. We thoroughly enjoyed that trip despite not being "in the bubble" and it's what hooked us on returning more frequently, after an 18 year hiatus from WDW.

While we did spend time in transit each day, we knew before we went that it would be a factor, so it was never a frustration. There were definite perks to being offsite, such as the money we saved (and put toward another vacation later!) and access to a full kitchen, as well as access to the local area via our car.

Though since then we've only had onsite stays, mainly because it's just been the 3 of us in my immediate family, I'd never tell someone that offsite will be bad for them. In fact, I have a good friend who stayed at the Doubletree last spring with her husband and two children and they had a fabulous time. As others have said, attitude is everything in making any vacation special.

 

[writerguyfl]

I think some opinions here are based on faulty information. Just like not all Disney Resorts are equal in terms of experiences, neither are "off-site" hotels.

Unlike many off-site hotels, the DoubleTree Suites Lake Buena Vista offers continuous theme park transportation every 30 minutes starting one hour before park opening and ninety minutes after closing. Shuttle service is shared between the seven Disney Springs Hotels. Each bus runs to two parks, usually one bus to the Transportation and Ticket Center (for Magic Kingdom) and Disney's Animal Kingdom and a second to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. The entire route is run within 30 minutes. In my experience, the trip isn't any less convenient than using Disney Transportation at a resort that has multiple internal bus stops.

The DoubleTree Suites is also walking distance to Disney Springs. (Plus, they offer bus service there every evening.) It's also walking distance to some off-site restaurants. Maybe it's me, but the thought of having to eat every 14 days worth of meals at only Disney restaurants/quick-service locations is not a positive. A quick walk to McDonalds, Perkins, Taco Bell, etc. doesn't ruin the vacation "bubble" for me. That's especially true when you realize that off-site restaurants are much cheaper (for the same or better quality).

Be cautious with regard to some opinions posted on this thread, as some do not apply to the DoubleTree Suites.

 

[klmall]

We have stayed both on and off-site and prefer onsite now. If we can splurge we try to rent something with two bathrooms such as a 1 br at BLT. We almost never all leave for the parks together in the AM but instead meet up midday. And DH uses an ECV at Disney so we need multiple forms of transportation available to get everyone to the parks. We definitely prefer driving a car to some parks though or riding the monorail. Going only every three years allows us to afford onsite and stay the way we want!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I think some opinions here are based on faulty information. Just like not all Disney Resorts are equal in terms of experiences, neither are "off-site" hotels.

Unlike many off-site hotels, the DoubleTree Suites Lake Buena Vista offers continuous theme park transportation every 30 minutes starting one hour before park opening and ninety minutes after closing. Shuttle service is shared between the seven Disney Springs Hotels. Each bus runs to two parks, usually one bus to the Transportation and Ticket Center (for Magic Kingdom) and Disney's Animal Kingdom and a second to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. The entire route is run within 30 minutes. In my experience, the trip isn't any less convenient than using Disney Transportation at a resort that has multiple internal bus stops.

The DoubleTree Suites is also walking distance to Disney Springs. (Plus, they offer bus service there every evening.) It's also walking distance to some off-site restaurants. Maybe it's me, but the thought of having to eat every 14 days worth of meals at only Disney restaurants/quick-service locations is not a positive. A quick walk to McDonalds, Perkins, Taco Bell, etc. doesn't ruin the vacation "bubble" for me. That's especially true when you realize that off-site restaurants are much cheaper (for the same or better quality).

Be cautious with regard to some opinions posted on this thread, as some do not apply to the DoubleTree Suites.

It's still about a mile from Doubletree Guest Suites to Disney Springs to walk it.

 

[Disneyland1084]

I

It's still about a mile from Doubletree Guest Suites to Disney Springs to walk it.

I walk six miles a day, so walking a mile there will be nothing to me. Maybe I'll feel different in the hot and humid weather.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

We have stayed both on- and offsite many times over the years (family of 6) and far prefer offsite for the amenities (especially room to spread out) and cost savings. You have a great attitude going in, so the Doubletree will be a good choice for you. As others have said, they have continuous shuttle service to the parks and they also have a shuttle to Disney Springs in case you don't feel like walking there. Have a great trip and be sure to try Blaze Pizza and D Luxe Burger at Disney Springs! We had great meals there in August.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

This is your difference. DLR is 160 acres (0.25 sq miles). WDW is 43 sq miles. DLR has three hotels on the property. WDW has over 25 hotels on the property. WDW is the size of San Francisco. Can you walk around San Francisco? I think not. You are a mile from Disney Springs staying at the Doubletree Guest Suites. And you are still miles from any of the four theme parks. Staying at a Good Neighbor hotel at DL is not the same as staying offsite at WDW.

Getting to the theme parks from your hotel and then back to the hotel is going to eat up your time. Plus getting between parks if you decide to go to a different park on the same day. Your bus will not drop you off at the MK; you'll be dropped off at the Ticket & Transportation Center - then monorail or take a boat over to the MK.

My guess is that after a few days of spending a lot of time riding to where you want to go you will try to find something onsite. Two weeks offsite is a long time.

I think your DLR numbers are off a bit, but your point is well taken.

MG

 

[Gr8t Fan]

I have reservations at Double Tree Suites in Disney Springs (in case nothing better comes up) for my first trip to WDW next June. It's DH, me, our two DD's and DH's sister. That makes 5. If a good deal comes up at a Disney resort for a room that can fit 5, we will take it. Otherwise, we find that it's cheaper to stay off site. We will be there for TWO weeks with ten day park hopper tickets. I'm familiar with the perks I'll be missing out on by not staying on site. But what I really want to know is, is staying off site ok? Are the trips still fun? I know some say it takes away from the Disney magic. If this matters, most of the times I've been to Disneyland I've stayed at a good neighbor hotel and it NEVER took away from any of the magic. Of course I would love to stay on site at WDW, but if we can't justify the extra money, then what's the point? Please tell me all the goods to staying off site please.

To further answer you post, our daughter is a CM and can get us a room on property for way less than retail, and we still choose to stay offsite in a condo (WBC is our favorite) with room to spread out, a full kitchen and a washer & dryer.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

We are a family of 5 and always stay onsite, we go 2 weeks and then add on a cruise at the end of the trip. This year we booked offsite to check it out and the savings were insane when we thought about it....well about 3 months before arrival, we chickened out and booked onsite again! We go every year and all our 'kids' cost us adult prices, so we figured we may as well just bit the bullet and do it. I like reading this thread to see what other people think, because maybe one year we will have the courage to go all the way through with it, we booked onsite again for next year. LOL.

 

[writerguyfl]

It's still about a mile from Doubletree Guest Suites to Disney Springs to walk it.

According to Google Maps, it's about 3,600 feet. That's 0.68 miles. It's a 14 minute walk. I timed it last time I stayed at the DoubleTree Suites.

Everyone is different. But, if you're unable to walk long distances, Disney World probably isn't the right vacation choice.

 

[Deb & Bill]

According to Google Maps, it's about 3,600 feet. That's 0.68 miles. It's a 14 minute walk. I timed it last time I stayed at the DoubleTree Suites.

Everyone is different. But, if you're unable to walk long distances, Disney World probably isn't the right vacation choice.

I also used Google Maps from Doubletree Guest Suites to Disney Marketplace and it was 0.9 miles to walk.

 

[crazymomof4]

Re: transportation
I've never stayed there so haven't any first hand experience but have Double Tree on "the table" for if we ever have to or want to stay off-site, so I've read about the hotel.
About transportation to and from parks, mousesavers states this:
"DoubleTree Suites by Hilton is one of the Disney Springs resort area hotels that operate their own bus system to the theme parks. The buses run all day (from before park opening until after park closing) about every half-hour, and are much better than the transportation offered by most non-Disney resorts around Walt Disney World. (In fact, the buses are more comfortable than Disney’s own buses!) However, be aware that the drop-off point is slightly further from the theme park gates than the Disney resort bus drop-off, so there’s a little extra walking."

 

[fairygagamother]

You might want to consider a split stay. First half off property & last half in the bubble. But don't do it the other way around--you would not want to leave Disney once you're there!

 

[writerguyfl]

I also used Google Maps from Doubletree Guest Suites to Disney Marketplace and it was 0.9 miles to walk.

Using the "Measure Distance" function on Google Maps (accessed via right-click):

Converting feet into miles:

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Will you rent a car? We have stayed off site and enjoyed ourselves! I agree with PP. it's attitude!

 

[pepperandchips]

Wow! Many good points made here. I just wanted to point out that there are many threads over in the Orlando Hotels & Attractions forum where you have tons of posters (myself included) devoted to offsite resorts. I'm another Wyndham Bonnet Creek (timeshare) fan girl and as previous posters have mentioned, Uber is a great option in Orlando. Most of my rides were $8. (We did not have 5 people so did not need Uber XL). I don't find that cost too dissimilar from using ART at Disneyland, its of course all about your touring style. I have stayed at the offsite hotels on Hotel Plaza Boulevard (not Doubletree though) and we enjoyed that experience - this coming from someone who has also stayed at the deluxe hotels onsite. It's all about expectations and it sounds like yours are reasonable.

Have a great trip!

 

[sharadoc]

I think offsite is perfectly fine if you have a car and spend most of the time at parks. We like to use the resorts as much as parks - activities, pools, etc. so we prefer onsite. If you want to do more than WDW, then off site is the way to go. Tix to Universal, Sea World, Cape Canaveral, etc can really add up.

 

[CitrusSwirlGirl]

You might want to consider a split stay. First half off property & last half in the bubble. But don't do it the other way around--you would not want to leave Disney once you're there!

Yes! We've gone a day early to try an offsite resort in the area--Wyndham Grand, Waldorf, Gaylord Palms being a few of the nicer ones we checked out. But, I really do prefer staying onsite. For me, the onsite resorts are as much a part of my vacation as the parks themselves.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Staying off site is like man with fat cat... Hard to get around...

 

[leebee]

Offsite is amazingly fun! Having space to spread out, a kitchen for early-morning or late-night snacks, a big bathroom/more than 1 bathroom, privacy, screened balcony/patios, the independence of driving and traveling on your own schedule, and having your own pool make for magic and luxury in our book!

We have stayed both on and off site, and have had great vacations in both locations. I don't get the whole "bubble" thing. A resort is a resort, a hotel is a hotel, and value hotels are more on the "motel" end of the scale. If you are willing to pay beaucoup bucks for Mickey images on your wallpaper and bedspread, that's your choice! When we stay onsite we rent a car as I HATE the buses (standing around waiting for them, standing in line for them, standing on them... there is a theme here), and it's always faster for us to drive. People complain about the "distance" to the parks when staying offsite, but we've never needed more than 20 minutes to drive from our offsite hotel/condo to a theme park. If you add up the walking time from your resort room, standing inline waiting for the bus, and the actual riding time, it doesn't take any longer to drive from many, many offsite locations. (HOWEVER... I really wouldn't stay offsite without a car. DTS has a decent shuttle schedule, but many offsite hotels DON"T- they run buses that start later in the morning, run infrequently, last bus is before park closings, etc. Really kills your vacation to be tied to a bad bus schedule.)

With the number of nights you will be staying, there is no way I'd shell out the money to stay onsite. It sounds like you have a great deal at the DoubleTree Suites (and that you have a car) so hold on to that reservation, but maybe look for an offsite condo/villa and see if you can get even more space for your money!