Now what???

[indimom]

I've been planning a trip for over nine months. I set the date for May 29-June12. After crunching all the numbers and going over it, I decided to stay off-site in a two bed/two bath condo since it came out within $1 of staying at a Disney value. I really fell in love with the idea of SPACE.

NOW, I got a pin from Disney for 30% off a value. I could save almost $800. We are not rich, so I'm having a hard time ignoring this. I just can't decide what to do now...
With the condo I get space, a kitchen for breakfast & W/D for the laundry. But I have the inconvenience of driving and parking fees.
With a value, I've got to share a room with the kids for two weeks, lose the kitchen, but get the transportation system and EMH (which we LOVED on our last trip).

WHY ME????????
Please tell me, what would you do?????

 

[princess lovers mom]

on site in a minute.....how much time do you actually spend in the room anyway????

with that discount have you looked at the moderates - bigger rooms

 

[Nadjalu]

I agree, onsite!

 

[JohnnyB2]

Hi! I would stay on disney propertytake the savings for the DDP,add park hoppers and enjoy the trip

 

[BradyBz12]

If the bottom line is that you'll save money (incl. meals if you won't have a kitchen on property) then I'd stay on property every single time. The convenience alone is huge for me, and you also get the added perk of EMH.

 

[Enchanted_Mama]

is your visit two weeks? If so, I would definitely go with the condo. You can do a lot of meals in (pack lunches for the parks) and save a lot of $$ that way. Plus, 2 weeks in the same room with your kids doesn't sound like a vacation to me.

 

[michellewill4boys4]

I would stay on site. It's just something waking up inside of Disney.

 

[Coach81]

Onsite is the only way to go... no traffic, parking problems.. etc, etc.. etc..

 

[mjkacmom]

I can't imagine living in one small room for 2 weeks with my DH and kids! Can you break it up?

 

[pilesoflaundry]

How much will you spend on breakfast now that you won't have a fridge or a kitchen? Crunch those numbers. I can't imagine 2 weeks in a value, no fridge with kids.

 

[Disney Fool]

is your visit two weeks? If so, I would definitely go with the condo. You can do a lot of meals in (pack lunches for the parks) and save a lot of $$ that way. Plus, 2 weeks in the same room with your kids doesn't sound like a vacation to me.

On the other hand: cooking and cleaning up the kitchen and making lunches doesn't sound like a vacation, either!

 

[LISMYLIFE]

I would choose the condo hands down. We love having the space at the end of the day. I would change one ticket to an AP to cover parking. Then add Tables in Wonderland to help with the cost of meals.

 

[nhl66pens]

I stayed off-site once and on-site once. It isn't bad off-site, but as long as the cost is equal or better on-site, you get so much more by staying on-site. The DME alone is worth it to me. You get picked up and don't have to take your luggage to or from the airport. The EMH's are another great benefit. Plus, you get to carry around one card (KTTW) that allows you park entry, and charging anything at Disney to your room. So you don't have to carry around a bunch of cash or credit cards. I'm trying to convince myself to spend $5000 and go again next Christmas.

 

[Honeybell]

My family has never been unhappy staying off site. The kitchen and the laundry make it worth while. This is also ideal if the people in your group don't go to bed as the same time. Depending on where the condo is, driving and parking don't necessarily take more time than the Disney transportation.

 

[OhThePain]

I'd say to stay with the condo. Yes, it's great and wonderful staying on-site. I have always stayed on site, then again I am only 25 and luckily don't have to worry about kids (as far as I know ). But I also value the idea of having some space and time for yourself and you have to remember this is a vacation for you as well and if the idea of space is going to determine how relaxed you feel in the end, then stick with what is best for both you and the kids. You are staying for 14 or 15 days, you don't really need the EMH in order to see everything. Meals can be more cost effective in the condo. Plus, the worst thing would be to feel like you need a vacation from the vacation because you are missing out on your space.

 

[chicagoshannon]

We love staying off site. We do have an annual pass this year though so save on parking fees. Staying for 2 weeks in a tiny room with only double beds does not sound fun to me. If it were just 1 week maybe, but not for 2 weeks.

I'd stick with off site.

 

[Tinkh]

I would stay on-site. We stayed off-site a few times and the experience does not even compare in our opinion.

 

[cheryterese]

I would still go off site. We had a similiar decision after we found a rental house we loved - 4 bedrooms, pool, hot tub, kitchen, etc. and then Disney came out with its 4/3 promotion. We still went with the rental. Why? 1.We can cook our own breakfasts and pack lunches, which will save a ton. Also, it's just no fun for us to eat out all of our meals with 3 little kids. (We're still doing ADR's and take-out for dinners - can't cook all of my vacation!) 2.Our own pool and hot tub. 3.The biggest reason of all - the SPACE!! Two of our three kids still nap, so we'll return each afternoon, most days, and while they nap the rest of us will swim and relax in the rest of the house without twiddling our thumbs in the dark trying to be quiet for 3 hours! Also love that my husband and I will have the evening space and freedom as well to swim, hot tub, watch TV, etc. - we don't all have to go to bed at the same time. We're not second guessing our decision at all. We go next week, so I can let you know if we had any big issues being off-site. I also love the fact that we won't need to deal with WDW transportation.

 

[wahoostampingirl]

Off-site. Being in one room for 2 weeks with the kids will get everyone cranky. We only stay on-site for short trips. Anytime it's a week or more, we get a condo or a townhouse. Even the kids agree that it's much more relaxing to have space after a day at the parks. Since your going for a long trip, you might not do the parks every day and then the space is even more important.

We're leaving tomorrow for our annual Jan. trip and we're staying at a townhouse with it's own pool. This was $2000 less than the 1 BR villa WITH the 4/3 discount onsite. For SIMILAR accomodations, you can't beat the prices offsite.

 

[BLAMBKY]

I would choose the condo hands down. We love having the space at the end of the day. I would change one ticket to an AP to cover parking. Then add Tables in Wonderland to help with the cost of meals.

Ok, we do the condo thing... does buying one AP make up the difference in parking fees? And what is the Tables in Wonderland???? TIA!