Need your advice, on-site vs off-site

[ajwolfe]

We are going to WDW in Jan 2006, our ds will be 2.5 yrs old at the time. We have found a great house off Disney with a private pool and hottub for a very reasonable rate. Now here is the problem: In the beginning I was wanting to stay on Disney (budget would only afford Value) and use the Dining Plan but DH was against the dining plan. Well now, after some more discussion he likes it. So we are stuck: do we stay on site in a Value resort and not be as comfortable or do we stay off site and have a ton more space and just pay for our meals as we go (and probably not eat as many big meals). Do you really think with a 2.5 yr old we will get that much good out of the table service meals? I know we would do some regardless but probably not one every day. Really needing some insight here.

Thanks

 

[maps]

I would definitely take the pool home vs a value room. So much more room. We would eat breakfast early in the home and then get to the parks before they opened. Went back to the house for lunch and dip in the pool. Went out to dinner or if we got back late we would order pizza or chinese to be delivered.

The kids would wind down for bed and once they went into their own rooms to sleep, my husband and i would go out the hot tub and sip wine under the stars.

Can you tell I have been staying in a rental home for the last 3 yrs and would never want to stay in a cramped hotel if I can avoid it.

 

[VAN]

If you are going to be in the parks every day, I would plan to stay on site. The park hours are going to be shorter and it will be getting dark early in the evening.

I don't know about you, but I HATE driving in a strange place in the dark. And the traffic can be horrific in Orlando once you get off-site.

I don't know about getting your money's worth on the dining plan, but if your DH is willing, I'd go for it and plan a nice dinner every evening about the time the parks close.

If you have been in the parks all day, you will be tired and will just want to go to sleep anyway!!! A big 'ole house is going to be an excuse for your DH to pick up groceries for you to cook or pick up take-out on the way "home." January is going to be a little cool to spend much time in the pool anyway.

I would stay on-site for your January trip!

 

[isla bonita]

I don't know your child but I have had 3 and they can all be different. My first I could take him anywhere and he was a joy. My second was a nightmare if he was in a highchair longer then it took to eat. He is very busy. My third is great except when she is tired the dinner would have to be canceled. Only you know your child will he tolerate the late night dinners or just the fact he will be confined for a longer period of time. We stay in a rental home and have been for the last 4 vacations. It suites us. We all have room and we do eat only breakfast or take out I would never cook on vaca. We purchase the dining card and get 20% off our meals. What a treat.What ever you choose will be great. You can't loose your going to Disney.

 

[dtauer]

With a 2 1/2 year old, you will have enough room in a Disney resort, even a value. The majority of the people in this "Orlando Hotels" area of DIS will suggest off site. The majority in the "Disney Resorts" area will suggest on site.

We've stayed at both and enjoyed both. For our next trip we will be staying off site just because there are no general public codes for the Disney Resorts, at least not yet. If my kids weren't older and we weren't so cramped in a standard Disney room, we'd be on site. For a good price we will always stay on site, even if it's "cozy". I just refuse to pay "rack rate" so we won't be staying on site this time.

 

[disney 4me2]

I think you will have a better time if you stay offsite. You will have more room, and a 2.5 year old can get overstimulated at Disney. Disney is great, but it is also nice to relax in a quieter, spacious setting at the end of a busy day! We stayed offsite last month, and it was quite easy getting back to our resort in the afternoon, for pool time. We then drove back to the parks later in the afternoon. We had sooooo much more room staying offsite, and our pool was great too!The main thing is, take you time with your toddler, have fun, but don't be afraid to rest in the afternoon, or whenever you all need a break.

 

[ajwolfe]

Thank you for your thoughts, it's great to hear from those with experience. What is the Disney Dining Card and were do you purchase it??

 

[disneysteve]

I would definitely go for the offsite house. As mentioned, little kids are easily overstimulated at Disney and it is nice to have a quiet place to come back to at the end of the day (or in the middle of the day if neeed). Also, all the extra space and a private pool are both huge pluses in my book. You will have a much more relaxing trip, IMHO, if you stay offsite.

 

[Gillian]

We did both when our son was 2 & then 2 1/2. Both were fun, but I'll share my experiences.

He was very easy going - slept in his stroller sometimes, was very good at restaurants, slept well in a pack n play.

His favorite rides were the busses and the monorail! That was one neat part about staying onsite.

It's nice to have the space to spread out, but we were usually tired enough that we didn't stay up much later than DS! We did stay in deluxe resorts with a balcony so we had a place to relax for a little while.

You will not have to pay for your son for the meal plan, but you also don't have to pay for him at buffets and some of the family style meals. That might be something to consider in your budgeting.

One issue we did have with the off site stay was DS falling asleep in the car for the trip back and then waking up when we got there. Sometimes he didn't want to go back to sleep. This was mainly in the afternoon, and with shorter park hours, you may not be returning for a mid day break anyhow.

Traffic (march & september) was not a problem. We stayed in Windsor Palms and took back roads.

When there are just 3 of you, it's fun to stay onsite. Now that we are a family of 4 with 3 different sleep schedules, it's less comfortable in one room. I'd say stay onsite while you can!