Off site at Christmas?

[ADisneyQueen]

I am torn. What is it like staying at WH or somewhere else Christmas week? I have a great code for Disney resorts for the week ( 40% off) and booked CBR. But, this weekend we had a short stay at a hotel and bedtime was rough with two kids going to bed at different times. I know we are usually really tired during our WDW trips and fall alseep fast, but now I am second guessing my decision and thinking we should book offsite or do a split stay since we also want to go to Sea World. How is the traffic that week>?

 

[dougsmom98]

I think if you plan to get to the parks when they open you will be fine staying off site and you would like the extra space of WH, but if you plan on sleeping in then I would definitely stay on site because sometimes parks reach capacity. When we stayed off site 6 years ago, we never had that problem, but it could happen. My only other concern with off site is whether or not Disney has morning EMH every day at MK for on site guests. They didn't use to do this, but I have read that for super busy times (like Easter week), they do this. I am a die hard off siter because I have a family of 6 and we LOVE the extra space of a villa, but I will not go to a park on an morning EMH hour day because it puts off siters at a huge disadvantage. So, if they have morning EMH for the entire Christmas week, then in my opinion it is not worth going to the park and if I could afford it, I would stay on site.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

We always take afternoon breaks, too. I hope I would be able to get back into the parks around 4 or 5.

 

[dougsmom98]

When we stayed off site the week between Christmas and New Years, we never had trouble getting back into a park later in the day at 4-5 pm. I think they reach capacity around noon-1 or 2 pm and then it starts to thin out after that as people who were there at opening leave. I would not leave for a break on New Years Eve if you want to be at the parks for any evening festivities. On New Years Eve, we went to Animal Kingdom because we knew it would have the most reasonable crowds because they don't have evening festivities. We went back to the hotel and had pizza and beer and relaxed for the evening.

You asked about traffic in your other post. If you stay in the Windsor Hills and Formosa Gardens area, I think you will be fine because you can use the Sherbeth Road shortcut and avoid the multiple lights on 192. We didn't find the traffic to be horrible and we stayed in that area when we were there for that week.

 

[Miniefan]

I was wondering something along the same lines. I have two kids ds 12 and dd 9. We just came back from a 5 night stay at Four Points by Sheraton Studio City for our trip to Universal this summer. This is the first time we have ever stayed anywhere other than wdw value resort while in Orlando, and although the rooms were considerably larger than that of a value resort there was definitely a problem with kids and sleeping arrangements and changing clothes/privacy issues. We are going back to wdw December 16-23 and while I am waiting to see if Fl resident or passholder rates will be for those dates I am seriously considering staying offsite or at a condo. I was also concerned with capacity and parking fees everyday. We had to pay $12/a day to park at Universal and $10 the day we went to Wet and Wild, having always stayed on property we have never really paid to park anywhere and honestly the extra $70 we spent to park I would have rather been buying souvenirs!! I am not sure what to do either.

Kim

 

[DisneyDadof3]

I was wondering something along the same lines. I have two kids ds 12 and dd 9. We just came back from a 5 night stay at Four Points by Sheraton Studio City for our trip to Universal this summer. This is the first time we have ever stayed anywhere other than wdw value resort while in Orlando, and although the rooms were considerably larger than that of a value resort there was definitely a problem with kids and sleeping arrangements and changing clothes/privacy issues. We are going back to wdw December 16-23 and while I am waiting to see if Fl resident or passholder rates will be for those dates I am seriously considering staying offsite or at a condo. I was also concerned with capacity and parking fees everyday. We had to pay $12/a day to park at Universal and $10 the day we went to Wet and Wild, having always stayed on property we have never really paid to park anywhere and honestly the extra $70 we spent to park I would have rather been buying souvenirs!! I am not sure what to do either.

Kim

If you'd rather have extra money to spend on souvenirs - stay offsite. You can save more (and have more space) than the 70 spent in parking. Also, you could buy annual passes if you have another trip in the next 365 days and then parking is free....

Honestly, I know people love onsite, but we have a hard time figuring it out as we enjoy our space, kitchen, laundry, etc.

To each their own

 

[Miniefan]

If you'd rather have extra money to spend on souvenirs - stay offsite. You can save more (and have more space) than the 70 spent in parking. Also, you could buy annual passes if you have another trip in the next 365 days and then parking is free....

Honestly, I know people love onsite, but we have a hard time figuring it out as we enjoy our space, kitchen, laundry, etc.

To each their own

Thanks for your input. This past trip to Universal ( which I thought was going to be a cheap quick little trip) we actually spent more than we normally do at wdw. I think that it would be best for us now to be at a condo or at the very least someplace with more space and kitchen facilities. We spent on average with parking, meals, snacks, drinks and souvenirs about $200 a day. We had some planned meals at T-rex cafe, hard rock, jimmy buffett, pat o'briens, and almost every meal was $80-100, and I am so over that! We are definitely at a been there done that point with the restaurants at Disney/Universal. This next trip I will only plan a few, and be packing a crock pot. Thanks for your thoughts.

Kim

 

[ADisneyQueen]

Yes, minifan, we had the same problem with space/privacy and only one bathroom. When the kids were babies/small children they would just dress in the room, but now times have changed. At least at the mods there are two sinks, with 3 ladies we need that!
I think if I drove to FL, I would stay offsite. But the car rentals for my week are $400+, so it is a hard decision. I did find a 2 day rental for $100 which I booked for our Sea World days.