Just can't justify it... staying onsite

[SweetAlex]

Hey everyone! It's great to be back... and the fabulous reason I'm back is because we just booked our third trip to the Mouse House . We're so excited to go during the holiday season this time (Dec 3-9). We've never seen Disney all done up for Christmas but I hear it's absolutely incredible.

So after our last trip, DH and I swore that the next time we go, we were going to stay onsite. We've never done that before and really wanted our kids to have that experience. However, when we started pricing it out and realizing that it would cost about $1,000 more just to stay onsite, we just can't justify it. We could afford to but we just keep thinking about how little time we spend in the hotel and how much $1,000 could buy. If staying across the street means we have $1,000 more left in our savings (for next trip!)... then it's a no-brainer for us.

How do so many justify it? Is it really worth it when you aren't even there most of the time? This may shock you all but I'm not even a cheap person!

 

[there7777]

Location, location location!!! You also spend good hard earned money on park admission. I have found when staying offsite I am not able to spend as much time in the parks because of travel time and the added extra magic hours you have if you are a resort guest! Staying at Disney Is also an important experience in itself! Each resort has new and different activities as well. Stayed offsite once and will never do it again!

 

[Angrose]

I sooo get what you're saying. We are looking at going the weekend after Thanksgiving. We have never been there at holiday time and have never stayed onsite as a family (DH stayed at DLH a few years ago for a conference, so not fair). I have a place already booked on Habor, but am now considering GCH. Why? My MIL will be visiting from the UK and this will be her first, and most likely only, trip to DLR. I really want to be super close walking distance because I know she will struggle with the walking. I also think we will be in the room a lot so she and DS6 can take breaks. MIL is also a sun worshiper so if the sun is out, she will be at the pool.

Staying at GCH will hurt a little, especially since I'm saving for a new car, but I am trying to think of the overall experience our family will have and the memories we will create. My MIL has done so much for us in the past and it means so much to us that she is coming to visit us, I am willing to sacrafice a trip next year and souvenirs if it means spoiling her. Besides, we are lucky to live in No.Cal so I know we will be back in the future.

The cost is still making my stomach churn a little bit, but hopefully that feeling will go away when we finally step into the Grand in 5 months!

 

[5forMickey]

How do so many justify it? Is it really worth it when you aren't even there most of the time?

YES -- It's definetly worth it if you like staying there, but then I can't think of one of the motels on Harbor I would stay at even if they were free. I like to stay somewhere I think is nice!!!

I don't really think justifying it has anything to do with it, I think we all have our own preferences and that is how we live. The reason there are so many choices in life is so that we each can choose what pleases us. I would probably stay home before I would stay at most of the close offsite motels, I would be miserable in them, no matter how much time I had to spend in them.

It's not a cost factor, it's a comfort factor. And for many reasons, I would not be confortable at the offsite loctions that are close enough to walk. There are some very nice Hotels that would require using ART or shuttles but I'm not a fan of that. Are the onsite hotels expensive, yes, you are paying for the location you are staying at. Everything at Disneyland is expensive. I doubt anyone would visit Disneyland if we had to justify the associated costs, we visit because we enjoy it, just like some of us stay on site because we enjoy it

 

[luulu1999]

Hey everyone! It's great to be back... and the fabulous reason I'm back is because we just booked our third trip to the Mouse House . We're so excited to go during the holiday season this time (Dec 3-9). We've never seen Disney all done up for Christmas but I hear it's absolutely incredible.

So after our last trip, DH and I swore that the next time we go, we were going to stay onsite. We've never done that before and really wanted our kids to have that experience. However, when we started pricing it out and realizing that it would cost about $1,000 more just to stay onsite, we just can't justify it. We could afford to but we just keep thinking about how little time we spend in the hotel and how much $1,000 could buy. If staying across the street means we have $1,000 more left in our savings (for next trip!)... then it's a no-brainer for us.

How do so many justify it? Is it really worth it when you aren't even there most of the time? This may shock you all but I'm not even a cheap person!

I completely agree with you, I had said we were going to do onsite this time too but I just couldn't do it!! We are staying at Park Vue Inn which is RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET from the entrance and I am great with that!

 

[DharmaLou]

We are staying onsite for our trip this fall. It will be our one and only time. It's a bucket list thing for me, so we are making it work. But it's our one and only. It IS expensive, but I'm willing to do it for the experience once.

 

[whoever]

How do so many justify it? Is it really worth it when you aren't even there most of the time? This may shock you all but I'm not even a cheap person!

EMH alone is a MAJOR value for us, and the proximity of the Grand CANNOT be beat. I stayed offsite on my solo trip, and the walk to/from was MISERABLE. I'll never have my family stay offsite. I will add that the offsite hotel was probably the least nice hotel I've ever stepped foot in.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

This is the age old debate...with no right answer. It all comes down to priorites, which are different for everybody. Location is a huge one for us. I know many of the offsite motels are just as close if not closer, but I personally like the stroll through DTD. I know some people disagree because it gets crowded, but I feel like I'm away from reality walking that way - the so called "Disney Bubble". We also don't just use our room for sleeping/showering. We go back for breaks, we swim and if we have concierge, we spend a lot of time in the lounge. The pools at the Grand and especially DLH can't be beat. There is a feeling that is hard to put into words about the magic I feel staying onsite. EMH doesn't hurt either That said, we've stayed off site plenty of time and likely will in the future. But when we can afford to stay onsite, we do. Disney is about more than parks to us.

ETA: I really prefer staying some place with indoor corridors and while there are plenty of motels directly across the street, hotels (and nice ones) get much further out.

 

[Angrose]

I completely agree with you, I had said we were going to do onsite this time too but I just couldn't do it!! We are staying at Park Vue Inn which is RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET from the entrance and I am great with that!

I will be interested in hearing your review of PVI since that is what I currently have booked, until I muster up the courage to book GCH. I hope you have a great time!

 

[whoever]

We are staying onsite for our trip this fall. It will be our one and only time. It's a bucket list thing for me, so we are making it work. But it's our one and only. It IS expensive, but I'm willing to do it for the experience once.

Be careful... our first visit as a family was at the Grand, and we haven't stayed anywhere else since (except me slumming it on my solo trip where I was going to be in the room for only 4 hours).

 

[pattyduke34]

I would love to stay on site, but the way I look at it with staying across the street on Harbor is that I get to go 3 times a year instead of once every 18 months!!! The walk is just as close to get to the parks for the most part or a little closer,,,I do get to stay at DLR my next trip, but only because I got a great deal on Dapper Days rate!!

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

YES -- It's definetly worth it if you like staying there, but then I can't think of one of the motels on Harbor I would stay at even if they were free. I like to stay somewhere I think is nice!!!

That's a bit harsh. Have you actually stayed in any of the Good Neighbor hotels on Harbor? Some are quite nice. The HoJo is amazing (and very popular)--and closer to the front gates than Paradise Pier. Maybe your definition of "nice" needs to stretch a little.

For OP, IMO, unlike at WDW, the closeness of everything at DLR--including the Good Neighbor hotels---keeps you in the parks and out of your hotel much longer than in Orlando. Unless you intend to spend a significant amount of time in an on-site DLR hotel, if you think it's a financial stretch then you'll probably be happier staying in a GN hotel and spending the money within the parks.

 

[SweetAlex]

Be careful... our first visit as a family was at the Grand, and we haven't stayed anywhere else since (except me slumming it on my solo trip where I was going to be in the room for only 4 hours).

Haha! Maybe it's best we stay away then. We don't know what we're missing that way and since the offsite hotels across the street are fine for us (we spend all our time there at Disney), we should stick with that and not "break it"

 

[smiles33]

We recently returned from an incredibly disappointing stay at the DLH. My last few posts here have all been a real downer, because I'm still in shock how badly it went. Granted, I had high expectations--I expected some special Disney touches I read about here (e.g., Goofy and other characters wandering the lobby of the DLH, towel animals, super friendly CM, CM acknowledging my 5 year old's birthday with a birthday button or maybe even a signed photo of Mickey, good service after shelling out money to rent a pool cabana at the DLH pool, making the most of EMH by riding TSMM more than once or maybe riding CS back-t-back, etc.). We had NONE of that, though I know most of that stuff isn't guaranteed even though lots of people justify the expense by citing these things. EMH was the biggest benefit I knew was guaranteed, but TSMM and CS were both down on our 2 EMH days in DCA so we "wasted" EMH standing in line standby for RSR. So all that extra cash was spent for 1 extra ride on RSR. Not worthwhile for us (we got 3 rides a day, 2 with FP and 1 during EMH stand-by).

I actually wished we had stayed at HoJo's Kids' Suite again while on our trip--especially after the first very uncomfortable night in the bad beds. I can't believe a 2 star HoJo has better beds than the supposedly 3-4 star DLH! Next time we go, I'm either going to splurge on GCH or head back to HoJo's Kids' Suite. We've stayed at HoJo twice and I love the space, the Keurig, microwave and the fridge (DLH didn't have a coffeemaker or microwave), and the uncrowded walk (when you cross at Manchester) versus fighting the crowds in DTD. Yet GCH's location is probably the best if you get the right room. I'm just nervous of being severely disappointed again after shelling out so much money if we splurge on GCH.

 

[SweetAlex]

That's a bit harsh. Have you actually stayed in any of the Good Neighbor hotels on Harbor? Some are quite nice. The HoJo is amazing (and very popular)--and closer to the front gates than Paradise Pier. Maybe your definition of "nice" needs to stretch a little.

For OP, IMO, unlike at WDW, the closeness of everything at DLR--including the Good Neighbor hotels---keeps you in the parks and out of your hotel much longer than in Orlando. Unless you intend to spend a significant amount of time in an on-site DLR hotel, if you think it's a financial stretch then you'll probably be happier staying in a GN hotel and spending the money within the parks.

We're totally find with the hotels across the street. I won't stay at the "cheap ones"... I need a good comfy bed and clean room at the end of a tiring day but there are some very nice ones that get excellent reviews. They aren't all "dives" IMO. And yes, we spend every waking moment at Disney when we are there so we don't spend time at the hotel at all.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

We're totally find with the hotels across the street. I won't stay at the "cheap ones"... I need a good comfy bed and clean room at the end of a tiring day but there are some very nice ones that get excellent reviews. They aren't all "dives" IMO. And yes, we spend every waking moment at Disney when we are there so we don't spend time at the hotel at all.

Not to hijack, but my partner and I have a similar issue. We were pixie-dusted a short stay at GCH which we plan to use this summer. We are looking forward to it, but we also realized unless we spend a lot less time in the parks than we usually do, it will pretty much only be a nice place to sleep and wake up.

 

[mummabear]

Yes I totally know what you mean. We are staying at DLH this trip but I fully expect it to be a one time thing, as we are people that would rather spend that $1000 towards another trip, something else on the trip, more days on this trip etc.
I have always wanted to stay on site and the upgrade from offsite was my birthday gift.
I figure some things you just have to do, then you will know if they are worth it (like for us we are saving to take the girls for a xmas home in Canada, DH hates the fact that our flights will cost twice what they would to visit another time of year and to spend so much to go somewhere we visit so often BUT the only way to experience the Christmas train, carolling ships, cutting down a real tree etc is to spend that extra money, we won't get that experience visiting in September)

 

[Canadiantinkerfairy]

We have stayed at both GN hotels and DLH. We are in love with DLH. When we stayed at the DLH we were not expecting a lot of extra magic. It was there, but not expected.
I am nervous for our upcoming trip because we are staying onsite and I know the expectations for the extra magic will be higher for the kids. I know its not always going to happen, but the kids don't really get that.
As far as GN hotels, we have been very happy when on a tighter Disney budget to stay there and it was great.

 

[Apps]

I think its only worth it if you stay during a hotter season for the afternoon pool break. So nice to be close to the parks for easy access after pool and nap. All other seasons, I'd opt for the good neighbor hotels as its only a place to sleep.

 

[momof2n2]

I wish it were only $1000 more for our family to stay on-site. We have 6 kids, so it is upwards of $5000 to get similar lodging onsite.

For an arbitrary week in mid November (12-19) it is $3,779.00 for Staybridge Suites, $9,659.10 for DLH, and $12,621.00 for GCH!