Off property or AS Value Resorts

[joedplumber]

Look at my ticker...gave up off site long ago !!! I get saving some money, I do. If that's what you like go for it ! Not a real Disney vacation however.

Your joking right?

 

[Lewisc]

And I get that it's a big deal for some people, but for others it just isn't.

But again, that's personal preference. I won't argue preference, but when someone claims things like the onsite transportation is faster than driving, I have speak up. Because it just isn't so.

Faster is function of crowd levels, location of your offsite resort, location of your WDW resort, what theme park we're talking about and the abiility of Disney to secure additional buses for peak times. Some circumstances driving is faster and other times not. Disney has several resorts within walking distance of 2 parks.

Disney transportation makes it easier for families who may want to split up. Easier for people who want to pair dinner with adult beverages. Easier for people who think not having to drive helps make a vacation enjoyable.

What I find interesting is the number of posters who think the only way to enjoy a Disney vacation is the way they do it. edited to add this comment doesn't apply to the poster I quoted. It applies to both sides. Posters who claim the only way to have an enjoyable Disney vacation is to stay onsite, even if it means sneaking 5 and even 6 guests into a value resort. Posters who claim the only way to have an ejoyable vacation is to rent a condo or vacation home (almost?) as big as their home. Some people don't want to cook on vacation. Part of the appeal of a vacation is having 3 meals a day served to them, or at least getting a counter meal. Part of the appeal is daily maid service.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both. It's a matter of how you want to allocate your vacation dollars. It's really about money. Would people stay at WBC if they could book a DVC property, same number of bedrooms, for the same price? You can stay onsite and still drive to the parks. You have a choice. The reverse isn't really true. Most offsite resorts have poor shuttle service.

 

[nugov2]

I just read through all of this thread and want to say I couldn't agree more with the the son who couldn't believe people pay to stay in a hotel when they can have a house. My dd(8) said on our trip basically why cram a family in a bedroom for a week when you can have a whole house. All goes back to beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

And also the poster who said you sometimes beat off site with WDW transportation. That is true, but I think the posters point was that you can't necessarily count that as a perk of on site...because it is just as much a perk of off site as it is on with all values and some mods even. Plus keep in mind some people think riding public transportation is a con...not a pro so that too is in the eye of the beholder. I avoid public transportation at all costs if possible.

 

[maxiesmom]

But again, that's personal preference. I won't argue preference, but when someone claims things like the onsite transportation is faster than driving, I have speak up. Because it just isn't so.

If you have no sense of direction, driving can take longer.

And I really don't know if I agree in any case. There are so many variables that it is harder to say which is faster. How fast does the bus show up at the stop? How bad is traffic on which road? And then do you factor in having to park the car and ride the tram to the front of the park, instead of being a short walk away from a Disney resort bus stop?

I don't think you can really claim one way is 100% faster all of the time.

 

[nugov2]

Faster is function of crowd levels, location of your offsite resort, location of your WDW resort, what theme park we're talking about and the abiility of Disney to secure additional buses for peak times. Some circumstances driving is faster and other times not. Disney has several resorts within walking distance of 2 parks.

Disney transportation makes it easier for families who may want to split up. Easier for people who want to pair dinner with adult beverages. Easier for people who think not having to drive helps make a vacation enjoyable.

What I find interesting is the number of posters who think the only way to enjoy a Disney vacation is the way they do it.There are advantages and disadvantages to both. It's a matter of how you want to allocate your vacation dollars. It's really about money. Would people stay at WBC if they could book a DVC property, same number of bedrooms, for the same price? You can stay onsite and still drive to the parks. You have a choice. The reverse isn't really true. Most offsite resorts have poor shuttle service.

I couldn't agree more....either way you are on vacation in a great place. I think these topics get heated b/c on site is critical to off site as not being a WDW vacation or Values get slammed by deluxe/mod guests as the only way to do WDW. I posted this before...I know people who like the values and other who will only stay at GF. There are just so many factors and money isn't always the biggest issue. For some it is space, others convenience. You could spend 10,000 at WDW off site just as easily on site.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

If you have no sense of direction, driving can take longer.

And I really don't know if I agree in any case. There are so many variables that it is harder to say which is faster. How fast does the bus show up at the stop? How bad is traffic on which road? And then do you factor in having to park the car and ride the tram to the front of the park, instead of being a short walk away from a Disney resort bus stop?

I don't think you can really claim one way is 100% faster all of the time.

Oh no doubt, if you fail at basic directions, or if you stay on the other side of town, your drive will be long.

Traffic is less of a factor IMO because the buses are subjected to that as well. And I'm not saying driving from offsite is fastER than riding the buses (especially at MK where you can avoid TTC). I'm simply saying that if someone claims the buses are a real time saver - enough so to justify staying onsite - I'm saying, "I doubt it". Nothing more

 

[aubriee]

Seems like most "offsiters" explain what a great room it is.Seems like when they go back to hotel their in for the day .Sounds like too much time in the room if you ask me! Most onsiters like the convenience of being able to get back to hotel and get some rest for going out again, whether to the pools or parks at night or DTD.
I stayed off site long time ago......until that one time and then never again. 2 people , 4 people, 6 people , it doesn't matter .On site the only way to go Go Big or Go Home

Not at all. I was one who always said that if I couldn't stay onsite, I would not go. Then last fall, about two weeks before our trip, a coworker offered me a one bedroom condo at her timeshare just one mile outside Disney gates for just $400.00 for the week. It was too good of a deal to pass up. We already had resort reservations at CBR using an AP discount, but decided to give offsite 'just one try'. We called and just had Disney move our onsite reservation to May. We loved offsite. Most days we spent 1/2 day in the parks, then went back to our condo to rest and swim for a few hours, then were back at the parks most nights. We were only about maybe 7-10 minutes from the WDW gates. Before even leaving Orlando, we decided we would probably never stay onsite again. After we got home, I got some quotes for Wyndham Bonnet Creek, booked a one bedroom through a third party for just $89.50 per night, and canceled our onsite May ressie. We absolutely fell in love with Bonnet Creek and now can't imagine staying anywhere else. I have already booked one bedroom condos for both my upcoming solo trip Sept 14th-22nd and our Dec 6th-16th trip. We'll also be staying there again next May. We have AP's so go to WDW several times a year. Even the AP discounts at a value resort can't beat the deals I can get through a third party for a nice one bedroom condo at Bonnet Creek ($74.00/night in Sept and just $60.00/night in Dec).

Wyndham Bonnet Creek is physically inside the WDW gates, so closer to the parks and DTD than alot of the onsite resorts. We don't care for WDW transportation, so rent a car anyway. With our AP's, parking is free at the parks, so parking fees are not an issue. We love staying at a Deluxe resort with a living room, seperate bedroom with king size bed, two TVs, jacuzzi tub, walk in shower, fully equipped kitchen, washer/dryer, balcony, mutliple hot tubs, pools, pool slides, two lazy rivers, and a free mini golf course for cheaper than we could get even a value room through Disney. I don't need that much room for my solo trip in Sept, but afte running the prices, I just could not see paying more to stay at a Value resort, when I could stay at a Deluxe resort and be just as close (if not closer) to the parks. I'll have no problem taking a midday break at Bonnet Creek, then running back over to the parks in the evenings. Bonnet Creek is close enough, that I can jump in the car, get back to Bonnet Creek, and be watching TV from my jacuzzi and sipping on a wine cooler and eating cold grapes and cheese out of my fridge, while alot of the onsiters are just getting on the bus to their resort.

 

[aubriee]

I was an onsite SNOB until my May 2013 trip with the family to WBC. I'm a believer. There is life after onsite. The only thing I didn't like was driving to the parks but I don't like to drive. It was easier to transport 9 people in cars then to catch the shuttle bus. Because we saved so much money staying offsite we ate at the parks or Disney hotels whenever and whatever.

So my new rule of thumb is 2 people or less onsite. More than 2 people offsite.

See my post above. We stayed at Bonnet Creek this past May too and fell in love with it. No way can I see ever staying in a tiny onsite room ever again, no matter how many people are with me. Even for my solo trip coming up next month, I decided to go back to Bonnet Creek. I wanted to make it a budget trip, so considered staying at a Value. However, when I ran the numbers Bonnet Creek was significantly cheaper than Pop. I'll also be going over to Universal a couple of days and out to the outlet, plus want to try some offsite restaraunts I've read about, plus I hate squeezing onto the jam packed WDW buses with the sweaty masses and crying kids. No way, give me a nice air conditoned quiet car with my own music playing. The price difference between Pop and BC will just about pay for my rental car. Why the heck would I choose to pay more to stay at a Value resort, when I can stay in a one bedroom villa at a Deluxe resort cheaper and be closer to most of the parks.

 

[aubriee]

I disagree with the opinion that it is much easier and/or quicker to take a mid-day break when staying onsite. I found it was actually quicker and easier to jump in our van, drive to the condo, and park right in front of our door for a break than it was to walk from the bus/monorail stop to our rooms onsite. Then if you return to the park from offsite later in the day, the parking lots have cleared out a bit and there is usually a fairly close spot available (especially off season). Late afternoon July 4th weekend this year I found a parking spot at Epcot closer than the value stops. The walks from the park entrance to bus/monorail stop and then from bus/monorail stop to your room can be VERY long and the wait can also be long. (At least if you're taking the tram to your car you are guaranteed a seat on the tram and in your car.) I have found the walks to/from value resorts to bus stops are quite lengthy and time consuming.

As far as the "Disney Bubble" theory goes, I am a huge Disney World fan and can't wait until I can afford to go again, but there is nothing magical about paying more money for less quality! The "Disney Bubble" barely seems to reach the value resorts these days. The rooms were small, grungy, and lacked theming. The Pop food court/main pool was in no way "magical" in my opinion. We avoided the main pool altogether because it was so crowded and loud, but the bowling pin pool near our room was great. Food service at Pop was extremely slow even though the lines only had a couple of people in them and it was not crowded overall. The cashier lines were slow even in non-peak times. It was very loud, and the tables, floors, and drink stations were dirty even during non-busy times. I saw CMs literally standing around leaning on trash cans in the eating area while dirty tables/floors were in their sight line (more than once I saw this). I would've rather grabbed fast food (basically same quality as what the kids chose at Pop) and ate in the comfort of my condo kitchen or bigger hotel room enjoying a nice quiet meal with my family.

I agree! We have a handicap tag, so get to park in the closer lots. At Epcot we just have to walk straight up the sidewalk (over by the monorail rail) and straight in. We are always pretty much closer than any of the bus stops. At DS, if you walk straight out, the first bus stop is CSR. Directly across from that stop is the handicap parking lot, so maybe 2 minutes from the front gate (and definitely closer than all the bus stops, except maybe the first two). Coming out of AK, turn left and the handicap lot is right there. We usually park on the end and you can see the car from the gift kiosks right outside the gates (again closer than the bus stops). Only at MK does it take any time to get to your car, as you have to take the ferry or monrail to the Ticket Transportation center, but we love the ferry. From the parking lots, it's just a short drive back to Bonnet Creek in a nice, quiet, air conditioned car. Unless someone just happens to catch a bus as they are walking up, we can always be back to our condo at Bonnet Creek faster than someone waiting for a WDW bus.

I too would rather grab fast food somewhere and take it back to the condo to eat in the quiet of the condo watching TV or relaxing on the balcony looking at the beautiful lake than fight the crowds in a noisy, nasty food court. Plus right down the road from Bonnet Creek at the Crossroads (maybe 5-7 minutes) is a big variety of restaurants where you can sit down, get a good meal, and pay alot less than you would at a WDW restaurant. For that matter there are several onsite eateries right there at Bonnet Creek. You can either eat in one of the Wyndham restaurants at the hotel, or grab something from one of the pool bars or pizza place and eat next to the lake or carry it quickly back to your room. For that matter they have free grills for use. Stick a baked potato in the oven, then go downstairs and grill some steaks, take them back upstairs, add a bag of salad mix and eat salad, steak, and baked potatoes on your balcony while you look at the lake, people watch, or depending on which way your balcony is facing watch the fireworks from Illuminations or Wishes.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I am offsite...

The hotel rooms are nicer, the perks are often nice (free breakfast, real rewards programs etc..)

I wouldn't pay that much money in the "real" world for an exterior access hotel with thin walls... putting a Disney character in front only adds a little value not twice the going rate

So true. The values are a Motel 6 with the Disney name slapped on it. No thanks. For the same $ you can get something really nice off site. Check out the Bonnet Creek thread on the Orlando board. They are very nice condos and right next to CBR but technically offsite.
Now that our kids are teens, they like EMH. When they were little, we never did EMH anyway since the hours were usually something like 10pm-1am or 8-9am. They are not morning people & can barely get there at 9 so 8am is worthless. EMH is not a huge value to everyone. YMMV.

 

[WILDERNESS FAN 55]

Not at all. I was one who always said that if I couldn't stay onsite, I would not go. Then last fall, about two weeks before our trip, a coworker offered me a one bedroom condo at her timeshare just one mile outside Disney gates for just $400.00 for the week. It was too good of a deal to pass up. We already had resort reservations at CBR using an AP discount, but decided to give offsite 'just one try'. We called and just had Disney move our onsite reservation to May. We loved offsite. Most days we spent 1/2 day in the parks, then went back to our condo to rest and swim for a few hours, then were back at the parks most nights. We were only about maybe 7-10 minutes from the WDW gates. Before even leaving Orlando, we decided we would probably never stay onsite again. After we got home, I got some quotes for Wyndham Bonnet Creek, booked a one bedroom through a third party for just $89.50 per night, and canceled our onsite May ressie. We absolutely fell in love with Bonnet Creek and now can't imagine staying anywhere else. I have already booked one bedroom condos for both my upcoming solo trip Sept 14th-22nd and our Dec 6th-16th trip. We'll also be staying there again next May. We have AP's so go to WDW several times a year. Even the AP discounts at a value resort can't beat the deals I can get through a third party for a nice one bedroom condo at Bonnet Creek ($74.00/night in Sept and just $60.00/night in Dec).

Wyndham Bonnet Creek is physically inside the WDW gates, so closer to the parks and DTD than alot of the onsite resorts. We don't care for WDW transportation, so rent a car anyway. With our AP's, parking is free at the parks, so parking fees are not an issue. We love staying at a Deluxe resort with a living room, seperate bedroom with king size bed, two TVs, jacuzzi tub, walk in shower, fully equipped kitchen, washer/dryer, balcony, mutliple hot tubs, pools, pool slides, two lazy rivers, and a free mini golf course for cheaper than we could get even a value room through Disney. I don't need that much room for my solo trip in Sept, but afte running the prices, I just could not see paying more to stay at a Value resort, when I could stay at a Deluxe resort and be just as close (if not closer) to the parks. I'll have no problem taking a midday break at Bonnet Creek, then running back over to the parks in the evenings. Bonnet Creek is close enough, that I can jump in the car, get back to Bonnet Creek, and be watching TV from my jacuzzi and sipping on a wine cooler and eating cold grapes and cheese out of my fridge, while alot of the onsiters are just getting on the bus to their resort.

Yep it's cheaper.....sounds like a nice Florida vacation. When my family goes we do a WDW vacation.
Why do all the offsiters say "I can jump in my car" ???

 

[ICF]

Yep it's cheaper.....sounds like a nice Florida vacation. When my family goes we do a WDW vacation.

It's still a WDW vacation --- not sure why you cant get that through your head.

Why do all the offsiters say "I can jump in my car" ???

Cause walking would take FOREVER.....???

 

[Lewisc]

So true. The values are a Motel 6 with the Disney name slapped on it. No thanks. For the same $ you can get something really nice off site. Check out the Bonnet Creek thread on the Orlando board. They are very nice condos and right next to CBR but technically offsite.

Not true. You're not going to find a Motel 6 with a pool as nice as a Disney value. Pop has a bar near the pool area. With a food court as nice as the one you'll find a Disney value. You won't find luggage services at a Motel 6. The level of cleanliness and service at a Motel 6 is far below Disney standards.

It's still a WDW vacation --- not sure why you cant get that through your head.

I only picked a couple of posts near the end to comment. Not trying to pick out 2 posters.

Some people don't understand why some posters think differently then they do.

Some people think a WDW vacation is WDW 24/7. That means never leaving the property on your way to your resort. Hidden Mickey's in the resort. Mickey soap and shampoo. Mickey wake up call. Mickey waffles for breakfast. Charge back to your room key. Souvenir delivery back to your resort.

To those posters staying offsite means their vacation is an Orlando vacation, not a WDW vacation. I'm

not sure why you cant get that through your head.

The reason people stay offsite is to save money. Most people would have more then enough space with a 2 bedroom DVC resort, reserved through CSR or point rentals.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Yep it's cheaper.....sounds like a nice Florida vacation. When my family goes we do a WDW vacation.
Why do all the offsiters say "I can jump in my car" ???

More often then not, driving yourself from A to B is faster & more direct than using WDW transportation. MK would be the exception.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

We have done both. When we had the kids with us we stayed on site because I thought there would be more activities around the pool in the afternoons to keep them occupied/evening movies, etc. But when it is just DH and I we stay off site. Bigger better room and free breakfast for a lot less money.

Now that we are Wyndham timeshare owners we will be staying exclusively at Wyndham Bonnet Creek, even when we have our kids with us. They have 5 pools, 2 slides, 2 lazy rivers, free putt putt, activity centers, game rooms.

And even if you don't own at Wyndham you can rent a reservation from an owner for about $100 a night for a 2 bedroom with a full kitchen and washer and dryer/jacuzzi tub.

Unless I am using my Wyndham points to trade in through RCI to stay in a DVC villa on property I don't plan on ever staying on site again.

But some ppl are die hard ON SITE ppl and wouldn't stay off site no matter how much better/cheaper/bigger it is.

I wouldn't take Disney buses to get myself around if you paid me. We drive ourselves around everywhere we go. And always will.

We also DO take an afternoon break every day when it is just DH and I. We go to the park at opening and stay until a little after lunch. Then go back to our room from about 2 to 5 for DH a nap and me some reading the DIS!! Then we go back out either to a park again or some other activity like Cirque or Blue Man Group. We don't spend a lot of down time on vacation. And going back to your room offsite is just as easy and 90% of the time FASTER than waiting on a bus.

We also don't ONLY go to Disney parks. We have US/IOA season passes and we go there and sometimes places like Sea World and Busch gardens.

I also like the ice maker and full size fridge you get in of site condos/suites.

 

[maxiesmom]

More often then not, driving yourself from A to B is faster & more direct than using WDW transportation. MK would be the exception.

For some it is not about the drive being faster. It is about being able to relax and not drive at all.

This seems to be one of those subjects where people have their viewpoint and nothing is going to change it. Those who love off site have their reasons for loving off site. Those who love on site have their reasons for loving on site. And to each of them, what they love is better.

Neither way of vacationing is wrong. And what bothers me is some of the tone of a few posts, which comes across as people who don't see things the way they do are stupid. No one has outright said that, but it is there none the less.

Really. Do what works for your family and makes them happy.

 

[wishing4PA]

My dd(8) said on our trip basically why cram a family in a bedroom for a week when you can have a whole house. All goes back to beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

And also the poster who said you sometimes beat off site with WDW transportation. That is true, but I think the posters point was that you can't necessarily count that as a perk of on site...because it is just as much a perk of off site as it is on with all values and some mods even. Plus keep in mind some people think riding public transportation is a con...not a pro so that too is in the eye of the beholder. I avoid public transportation at all costs if possible.

You're right, it is definitely a very personal decision.
For us, being in a hotel screams "vacation" far more than being in a house. We're in a house the rest of the year, so in a hotel we can enjoy seeing other guests, seeing more of each other because DH isn't off in one room watching football with us off doing our own things. Being in a vacation-oriented hotel or a Disney resort also means I can walk to a place where I can buy some delicious meal someone else has prepared for me, which is different from what I would normally get at home.
And we don't have public transportation near my house. We have to drive to get anywhere at all. Ugh. So I do enjoy the Disney transportation system. Being able to just walk out my door without keys every day is such a treat!
But I can understand why someone else might feel differently.
OTOH, I'll probably continue to let first-timers know about the perks I find to being in a Disney resort.

 

[ICF]

OTOH, I'll probably continue to let first-timers know about the perks I find to being in a Disney resort.

As you should.....and we'll let them know the perks from our viewpoint too.

 

[jperrot1]

That's a tough one. You have to factor in a car rental for most off site resorts, even if they provide Disney transportation because most off site resorts that provide Disney transportation have limited times for drop off and pick up. Then factor in daily parking at WDW. You might have to factor in resort parking where you are staying as some will charge daily rates.

Also, you have to factor in the shuttle price from the airport to the resort as Disney's magical express is free.

With all the above stated, there are some great off site resorts with great offerings that are very close. So it's a tough decision. We decided this year to stay as the ASsports rather than off site but it was a tough one to decide so......

 

[joedplumber]

Yep it's cheaper.....sounds like a nice Florida vacation. When my family goes we do a WDW vacation. Why do all the offsiters say "I can jump in my car" ???

I will send you a few of my photo albums from both onsite an offsite stays and I guarantee you won't be able to pick which one was a Florida vacation and which one was WDW vacation. Lol