Is the Magic lost...???

[bumbershoot]

Also about time to expand to Universal parks a bit.

Is the magic lost when you move offsite to a rental home or condo after all your previous visits have been onsite only?

Well first, you should read some trip reports of people staying at those rental homes. Some of them look AMAZING, with loads of space for family and family time and shared meals and swimming where the only kids you have to or want to discipline are your own.

Second, if you stay up AT universal, there's magic to be *found*, not lost. It's the only way my family wants to do Universal. Turns a themepark trip into an actual *vacation*.

 

[HatboxHaint]

We've always been onsite, we like the bubble too much.

What about 1BR villa (renting points)? No idea how old your kids are but the living room area in some resorts have a pull out couch and a sleeper chair, I know these aren't the same as beds just throwing it out there.

You can stay at certain resorts and get amenities like get a full kitchen and 2 bathrooms, one including whirlpool tub and standing shower and private space from the kids if desired. The biggest other advantage is in room laundry 1 load free (detergent provided), so you can pack lighter.

Could save $ by ordering groceries and large cases of water/drinks for parks to offset the cost of the more expensive room. Less Trash, Towel, and Turn Down are the only less than desirable parts about villas

I gots 4 kids....that bumps to a 2 bedroom. oops had 1 too many to be a lifestyler..

 

[HatboxHaint]

Well first, you should read some trip reports of people staying at those rental homes. Some of them look AMAZING, with loads of space for family and family time and shared meals and swimming where the only kids you have to or want to discipline are your own.

Second, if you stay up AT universal, there's magic to be *found*, not lost. It's the only way my family wants to do Universal. Turns a themepark trip into an actual *vacation*.

Which Universal Hotel do you like?

 

[Surgie2]

We have stayed off-site several times with older kids and all adult trips. It's always been fine but we don't know what we're missing having never stayed onsite LOL. For our multi-generation trip next year, we wouldn't consider off-site. With 4 kids under the age of 6 (one of which will just have turned 1), we want the convenience of a monorail hotel and the ability to book FP at 60 days out rather than 30.

Have you considered a split stay? Off site in one of the suite-type hotels and then move onsite for a few days? Just in case you were feeling some lost magic...

 

[loveswdw]

If DVC rentals are too pricey, have you looked at rentals over at the Bonnet Creek resort? While technically not on Disney property, it's still in the bubble. You won't get the extras that a Disney resort gives (free transport, parking, EMH) but their villas look nice and roomy. You can get some rentals there fairly inexpensive. There's a whole Bonnet Creek thread over on the Orlando Hotels and Attractions board.

 

[IrishNYC]

If DVC rentals are too pricey, have you looked at rentals over at the Bonnet Creek resort? While technically not on Disney property, it's still in the bubble. You won't get the extras that a Disney resort gives (free transport, parking, EMH) but their villas look nice and roomy. You can get some rentals there fairly inexpensive. There's a whole Bonnet Creek thread over on the Orlando Hotels and Attractions board.

That's all exactly the opposite of being "in the Disney bubble."

 

[loveswdw]

That's all exactly the opposite of being "in the Disney bubble."

Then I guess it would depend on whether they want to pay for 2 rooms and have Disney "free stuff" (which isn't free) or pay less, spread out in a villa and drive yourself to a park. When I think Disney bubble, it's being inside the WDW resort area. Bonnet Creek is as close as some of the Disney resorts. It's just another option for the OP.

 

[spiceycat]

That's all exactly the opposite of being "in the Disney bubble."

hey you can see the fireworks from Bonnet Creek - so can understand wanting to stay there.

of course my favorite place is where I own DVC - BLT!

 

[Dakota731]

We did all star family suite with our family of six. It worked out great for us. And we love Universal! We've stayed at Hard Rock and Portifono Bay and both were amazing! As my kids got older they wanted more and more thrill rides!

 

[scrapquitler]

Kids are getting older... and we have more than Disney allows in a single hotel room and DVC 2bedrooms are expensive even when renting points. Also about time to expand to Universal parks a bit.

Is the magic lost when you move offsite to a rental home or condo after all your previous visits have been onsite only?

Consider two value or moderate rooms instead of a DVC 2 bedroom, that's an in between option.

We like staying on site, and we like staying off site, they are just different. We approach our trip in a different way when we stay offsite. When we stay onsite, we don't rent a car, and we only do Disney. When we stay offsite, we rent a car, we eat some meals out of the park, we do some other activities outside of Disney (like Universal, a side trip to Daytona, a visit to Kennedy Space Center, etc). It's not less magical, it's just different.

 

[Dashzap]

Our last trip we did a split stay; first few nights we were at Cabana Bay to see Universal, and then we stayed at the Dolphin to do WDW. (Yes, Dolphin isn't quite the same as a Disney resort, but you do have the proximity and transport which is a big part of the on site attraction for us.) We always rent a car.

We loved Cabana and all the Harry Potter stuff at Universal so much that the WDW portion of our trip was a let down. One teen opted to play on his laptop in the room rather than go to MK or Epcot. He was ready to hit the parks again when we decided to drive back up to Universal for a last park day.

So offsite can be magical, too, depending on where you are staying and what you are doing.

If you are just going to Disney parks and are staying offsite, a car is a must.

 

[revdon64]

We love on-site but may have to reconsider in the future. Have you looked at the suites at AoA and ASMu? They're comparable to two rooms at a value resort.

 

[Surgie]

We have never stayed onsite in many previous Disney trips so we didn't know what we were missing and still had fun. Next year we are so looking forward to a multigenerational trip and staying onsite for the first time ever at the Poly. So there will probably be no going back to off-site for us!

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

On our February stay we did a split stay, three nights at Royal Pacific at Universal followed by three nights at Disney at Pop Century. We splurged on RP as we wanted the included express pass, and it is a beautiful resort. Granddaughter loved the Harry Potter areas in both Universal parks, which was the reason for the Universal stay. Staying on site at Universal is SO EASY and stress free, you either take a short lovely boat ride to the parks or a nice ten minute walk. The City Walk area is nice for dinner and walking around, oh and for ice cream!

We then had a day off to move and enjoyed having what felt like a second vacation at Disney. Everyone loved Pop Century, it was really a great six days! Expensive to do it this way with two days park at each, but for this trip it worked well.

 

[IndianaRRT]

I agree with some PP that it is what you make it. It's vacation! Some prefer on-site, some like a mix, others prefer off-site, but no matter what, the magic is in the time with your family. We stayed off-site for our first family trip because we took a short journey to Daytona for a day, and it was wonderful. We've done on-site for the rest because, like others, we enjoy the bubble and convenience. You should do what is best for your family. To me, the magic in any vacation (WDW or not) is in all the little moments that make us laugh out loud or reach for a hug or exiting a ride either exhilarated or swearing we'll never do it again! LOL! I'm sure what ever you choose will be great!

 

[Marbel]

Just got back from staying off site. Previous 2 trips were on site, Pop and Fort Wilderness The magic wasn't the same, not gonna lie ... BUT ... we are a family of 6 and we stayed in a rented townhouse in Crestwynd Bay, right next to Windsor Hills, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, full kitchen, washer/dryer, etc. We drove down, so we had our car. Parking spot right outside our front door. Really close to World Drive. It took us far less time to get to AK (super close!), Epcot and HS than it did from Pop and FW. We were in the parking lots within 15 mins of leaving the house. MK took the same or longer than the bus from Pop and the boat from FW.

So, while we would love to stay in the bubble, a rental makes more sense for our family in terms of space as well as cost and location.

 

[LisaCM614]

I gots 4 kids....that bumps to a 2 bedroom. oops had 1 too many to be a lifestyler..

I see in your signature you stayed at AoA - what do you think about staying in a family suite there? I've been able to use credit card points to pay for a night or two at AoA - we had a Lion King suite and it worked nicely.
I also see lots of folks recommend two rooms. That never made me feel comfortable since Disney doesn't guarantee connecting rooms. My kids will be older teens in a couple years and then I might go the two room route but until then I don't feel comfortable making that suggestion to anyone without knowing their kids ages.

 

[mousefanmichelle]

I think it just depends on you. I like to stay off site because I get more bang for my buck and I like to have a condo - eat on the lanai for meals, they have way better pools for my older kids and 2 bed/2 bath, kitchen, washer/dryer. Can't go wrong. I get more staying off site than I do onsite for my family of 5. I don't want just a room anymore and I don't want to break the bank renting dvc or 2 rooms or a villa but that could just be where I am at in my life. I don't feel it's an inconvenience to drive my car or a rental car if we fly down. I like to stay on property as well and am doing so for just my daughter and I in 10 days so it really just depends on you.

 

[maxiesmom]

I've stayed on and off site, and I much prefer on. If staying off site is the only way I could go I would do it, but as long as I have a choice it is on site.

 

[bumbershoot]

Which Universal Hotel do you like?

I personally prefer Portofino Bay Hotel. Next is Royal Pacific, and last on my list for the deluxes there is Hard Rock. I haven't stayed at Cabana Bay or Sapphire because my family demands the unlimited Express Pass, and you don't get those included with your stay at CB or Sapphire.