Just curious: Why do you stay OFFsite?

[doubletrouble_vb]

Location, location, location? I don't usually stay offsite just to go to Disney. I stay offsite when I'm sampling the various parks in the Orlando area. Since I have Westgate I will usually stay at the Lakes for proximity to multiple locations that I like to hit.

The kids like it too...not that I have any of my own but my niece was rather disappointed in BWV as compared to the Lakes. That was a reaction that sure surprised me!!! And if she felt that way her sister sure would feel the same way.

 

[MossMan]

Another reason my wife and I now like staying offsite is the marked improvement in offsite choices in the last 15 years or so. When we first went to Disney, offsite meant some bland motel – cheap, reliable and decidedly uninteresting.

The changes since then have been almost revolutionary. The selection offsite nowadays is staggering. There isn’t another city in America that even comes close to what Orlando regularly offers. Think about it. You can get a nicely furnished 2 bedroom condo in an upscale resort for something like a hundred bucks a night. Sure, it will cost you more than this at Christmas – but it can also cost you a lot less at other times of the year. In the city I live, a hundred bucks will barely get you a standard room at a mid-level hotel no matter what time of year you go.

As much as my family loves staying onsite, we have never been disappointed staying offsite. Whirlpools in the bathrooms, big screen TV’s, multiple pools, our own laundry facilities and all for a killer price (most of the time.)

Oh, and like I said in my previous post – the sex is better too.

 

[WIcruizer]

I agree with all the comments. Moss isn't lying, he's just saying what many of us are thinking. There's something *Magical* about vacation sex, and I'm not giving that up for 10 days to be crammed into a hotel room on site.

Another point is that we always have a car- whether we drive down or get a rental. We despise the Disney Transportation. It's a blast to drive the parks every day. It's like vacation starts all over again every day. And getting in a convertible with radio on..warm breeze...great feeling leaving the parks. More magical than 100 sweaty people and screaming kids o nthe Disney bus.

Finally, most people in here seem to keep saying off-site= cheaper. It's not a matter of being CHEAPER, it;s a better VALUE. Where we stay off site is usually about the same price as the moderates, but we get so much more.

 

[Taratink]

We do both on and offsite visits. We love having the extra room that an offsite villa has. My husband gets overloaded with disney magic and he needs to escape. I love both but offsite makes more sense for us with a 4 and 6 year old children. We stayed at the WL last year and it was beautiful but we really needed more space.
Tara

 

[wayneg]

Main reasons for our offsite August 25 night trip.
Not impress with Allstars so would have to be moderate hotel
Quote I got was $4,301.42 Incl. ($172/night)

Courtyard by Marriott $1089 Incl. ($43/night)

$3,212 In my pocket not Disneys.

 

[MossMan]

We despise the Disney Transportation. It's a blast to drive the parks every day. It's like vacation starts all over again every day. And getting in a convertible with radio on..warm breeze...great feeling leaving the parks. More magical than 100 sweaty people and screaming kids o nthe Disney bus.

I couldn’t agree more. I know that many people love Disney Transportation, and I will admit that they do offer a pretty good service. But taking busses is the absolute last thing I want to do on vacation.

The onsite resorts are so sprawling, you invariably end up a long ways from the bus stops. I hate waiting for the bus and I hate crowding on to already crowded busses. Then if you want to travel some non-standard route, you will have to transfer. It’s time consuming and you have to march to someone else’s schedule.

So even if I do stay onsite, I end up getting my own car anyway. Tell you what though, it takes less time on average to get into the parks staying offsite with a care than it does staying onsite and relying Disney Transport.

If you had asked me 10 years ago what my preference was, I would have argued quite vigorously that onsite was the only way to go. But I have to say that my last few offsite stays have turned my thinking around.

 

[disneymom3]

I LOVE sitting in our living room of our villa and watching TV and having a cocktail with DH. We get take out from Chilli's, watch a movie and just chill and in the meantime, the kids have all been asleep for an hour or more. I love having the space to spread out and relax and room for the kids to play.

We have stayed onsite at the Poly--good sized rooms for a hotel--but I cannot imagine staying in one with three grown boys. Ugh. I can't even think about it without getting claustrophobic! It got rather old with three kids who were little.

 

[Kitty 34]

I LOVE sitting in our living room of our villa and watching TV and having a cocktail with DH. We get take out from Chilli's, watch a movie and just chill and in the meantime, the kids have all been asleep for an hour or more. I love having the space to spread out and relax and room for the kids to play.

We have stayed onsite at the Poly--good sized rooms for a hotel--but I cannot imagine staying in one with three grown boys. Ugh. I can't even think about it without getting claustrophobic! It got rather old with three kids who were little.

That's how I feel with my boys. First of all my shortest son is 6'2 so being in one room really doesn't sound much like a vacation anymore and I agree with one poster....I would rather pocket the $$ I save getting a suite offsite than giving that extra money to Disney for two rooms.

 

[MaMa3Princess]

Value Value Value!!! We are a family of 6 and we would never beable to go to Orlando 2 and 3 x's a yr if we stayed on site. We are very excited to get a Pool home for 700 dollars. Cant wait to just wake up and take a swim or even come back from a long day at the park order in and sit around the pool. Cant beat going down with clean laundry and coming home with clean laundry. Also we can take those 1,000 of dollars and spend on stuff like Jet skiing and LOTS and LOTS of souveiners!! Oh and vacation Sex is wonderful

 

[Jailen's Gma]

Two reasons: my grandson, age 8, requires a jaccuzzi tub and a patio and since I can't afford that onsite, we stay offsite. And I don't regret it.

 

[WillCAD]

Strictly money.

I can't afford the rack rates, even at the All-Stars, so if I can't get a good discount at a Disney resort I go off-site and get a larger room, usually with more ammenities (fridge, microwave, etc.) for less money.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Lack of room discounts on site caused us to look elsewhere-Pop was nearly 800.00 for 7 nights last October-got a 2 bedroom condo through Skyauction for $353.00 just offsite.

Benefits: Quicker travel time-no wait for Disney busses.
Easy to do other Orlando attactions-our DS LOVES Sea World.
money saved on meals-better quality meals-a fridge to chill leftovers.

We felt like we had more "freedom"-in more than 1 way-if you know what I mean.

The resort had MANY activities for the kids-the dive in movie was great.

Especially during mid-offseason-EMH is not needed with good planning-use fastpass wisely-stay away from the EMH parks that day-the others are not as busy. Take advantage of full operating hours and you will be fine.

I guess it really depends on what vacation means. We have done both offsite and onsite. If you want a Disney vacation-immersed in Disney from start to finish-stay on site. If you want a vacation that includes Disney-then try offsite. We love the Disney parks but Orlando has much to offer-during our 7-8 day trip we are normally at Disney 3-4 days at the most. There is no need to pay Disney rates for an Orlando vacation.

 

[DawnM]

Off-site for the same reasons as many others.....

1. Cost effective
2. I can get a condo with a kitchen and TWO TVs......essential with
small kids
3. More room


Dawn

 

[isla bonita]

To all who enjoy the off-site villas we as owners thank you for all your kind compliments.
I first went down with my side of the family for my moms 60th bday her treat to the whole family. I told my husband bring a clean credit card and when I have had enough we are leaving. It turned out to be our best vacation go figure? Never would have guessed it.
Now that we own we bring friends and family down when ever we go and have wonderful times together. The memories are priceless. It is always and adventure.
It is great that we have all these options to choose from for our vacations. Have great vacations this year to all of you and if you are in EI in Feb drinks are at our house.

 

[Nite0wl71]

We are never in the hotel that much and as far as the extra hours go 1-2 is not that much. We always go during Easter and the MK is open from 8-midnight. That's enough time for us. My DD12 also likes to swim and shop so if AK closes at 8 pm we have time. I always got park hoppers but we never left the park we were in This time I am actually thinking of not adding them.

I was just pricing packages and to stay at a value the hotel rate is $140 a night, The Comfort Inn in LBV is $59 and with AAA it is $53.

We also like to eat at different places. We have taken the hotel shuttles and driven ourselves. I just can't justify the extra money

 

[steph73]

Honestly?

The only reason we stay offsite is because my parents own a timeshare through Hilton Grand Vacation Club and allow us to use it. We can stay in a fantastic 2 bedroom suite with all of the amenities close to WDW for free... and that's haaaaard to pass up.

Last time we went (way back in 2001) we did stay for 3 days onsite at CBR. We ADORED staying on-site, frankly. But not enough to justify passing up a gorgeous free suite.

 

[TnTWalter]

We'd like to go down with my parents, bro and SIL and niece [she'll be 17/18 when we go] and my family [me, hubby and kids who will be 8,6,5]. Ideally the mom and dad would have a king room, bro SIL and niece would be in separate room and my kids in the 3rd room and me and dh on sofa bed or something.

My bro SIL and folks have stayed at the Marriott condos there and enjoyed them. We have only been for the first time and did connecting rooms at POP. Loved being close to everything and the bus system.

Trish

 

[spiceycat]

Cypress Pointe
Celebrations World Resort - not really - but they do have a 2-bedroom that they can connect to a 1-bedroom.

Orange Lake
Summer Bay
hilton grand vacation club (HGVC)
Embassy Vacation resort at Grand Beach
Oasis Lakes at the Fountains
Sunterra Resorts Grand Beach
The Blue Heron Beach Resort (never heard of this one - must be NEW????)
silve lake

 

[jekajekalynn]

$$$$ is why. I would LOVE to stay onsite at GF or whatnot with my dh if we were just going by ourselves, but we always go to "the world" with a small army. So unless you want to pay through the nose for a few onsite suites, or try to cram everyone in one big onsite family suite (eww?? 3 men in a bedorom?? can we say "Body noises?" ) , then I always get a 3 or 4 bedroom vacation house. With the cost split up it only costs us around 400 for the whole week.

 

[LovePug]

We started staying offsite because we take our ug: , but now I've gotten used to all the space of the suite (or house) we stay in and I don't know if I'd change to staying onsite at this point . Unless Disney starts allowing pets onsite, I guess I won't need to make that decision (one less thing to worry about when I'm planning ).