Offsite Before Buying DVC

[FayeW]

I am looking for opinions from DVC owners who previously stayed in the offsite villas, condos, or townhomes. We love the offsite accomodations we have been able to get at very reasonable prices, and a regular hotel room (2 beds, bath, TV) doesn't cut it anymore for our family of four. DVC ownership intrigues me, although I have never stayed onsite in the past. Can any of you with offsite experience help me understand what made you choose DVC instead of continuing to rent the 1 or 2 bdrm units offsite?

I am considering renting points for part of our stay in Dec ( 2 bdrm, OKW) so I can "try before I buy". The great deals on skyauction seem to be dwindling, and if I am going to end up paying $1000. to stay offsite (granted, it would be a 3 bdrm townhome or condo, and it would be for 9 days!), then buying into DVC may start to make sense. Our children are 11 & 9, if that helps with the suggestions.

 

[JimC]

We bought DVC to enjoy one bedroom villas for about the cost of on property moderate resorts. We enjoy our Disney time in the resorts as much as the theme parks and other recreation options.

We have stayed off property when we have had free accommodations and used it to get in an extra trip or an extension of an on property trip.

I know that the lodging industry has been raising rates aggressively around the country this year so I suspect that business is very good right now.

 

[mikesmom]

We stayed offsite in "larger" accomodations, DH does NOT think his idea of a vacation is sharing a bedroom with a teenager. But I digress..

All it took was one trip onsite at the BWV in a 1 bedroom. Onsite did make the difference for us. Not the "magic" because we really don't get Disney that way. Being able to go back to the room and take a rest and then return to the park was fabulous for us. Yes, we always said we'd go back to the (offsite) hotel and then come back in the evening, but we never came back. Frankly, battling the highway crowds in the Florida heat was too exhausting. I don't care how "close to the maingate" or "less than 5 minutes from WDW" the hotels were - it was only 5 minutes if you were a bird and could fly because the traffic was horrendous. By the time you got to the front of the park, got a shuttle out to the car, got in line to get the car out of the lot, and then drove in traffic to the hotel, you've shot an hour, easy. Just not worth it twice in 1 day!
Onsite it is also easier to give DS more freedom. He was 16 when we bought in. If he wanted to stay in the park while we older folks went back for a rest or swim, he could use Disney transportation to get around on his own. We weren't all joined at the hip because of transportation back to the room.
Also there was the noise factor. It may be our rotten luck, but it seemed that every hotel or Villa we had was noisy. If we didn't hear the neighbors coming and going (or partying) at all hours, we heard the traffic from the highway. DVC rooms are apparently very well insulated - we never hear any noise, not even in rooms right over the Boardwalk.
Anyway, that first vacation at BWV was such a big step up in relaxation and vacation quality that we were hooked. We're in our 6th year now and we have never regretted it.

 

[Granny]

This is really the old "should I stay off-site or on-site" discussion. There is no correct answer, it's really a matter of preference.

If you are happy to stay off-site, you will probably be able to save money over DVC. There is no doubt that Disney charges a premium to stay on their premises, and the same holds true for DVC.

However, many find that they enjoy vacationing and remaining immersed in the Disney experience even when returning to their resorts for the evening. There are many benefits to staying on-site, such as the Extra Magic Hours, free transportation around the property, etc.

Our family used to stay in off-site villas for at least part of our vacations. But the theming of the Disney resorts and the benefits of staying on site made DVC the perfect fit for us.

There are other perks and benefits that DVC members enjoy, but frankly they shouldn't be much of a part of your decision process. Perks and benefits can come and go...the bottom line is whether it is worth a premium to you to stay on-site at WDW.

As indicated, there is no good or bad decision. It's a personal preference.

 

[FayeW]

Thanks for the thoughtful responses. I really am trying to avoid the "onsite vs offsite" debate. So many of those responses revolve around those who stayed offsite once, for one night, had a lousy experience, and vowed "never again"! That's why I was specifically looking for people who had stayed offsite in more than just an offsite hotel...people like me who look for at least a 2 bdrm, and have honestly given offsite a chance. We loved Cypress Point Grand Villas, but our last place, Bryan's Spanish Cove, was just OK. The pool area was basic. I think that now that we are a little more experienced, we are looking for something that has more of a resort feel, with more elaborate pool and recreation areas. I am not seeing a lot of those types of properties on skyauction's Ready, Set, Go inventory, so now we are looking at renting from owners, etc at the more upscale resorts. The price tag for those properties is triple, or quadruple what I usually pay at skyauction, which has led me to consider DVC. I know there are others like me, and I wondered what drew them to make the decision of DVC over other vacation ownerships.

 

[Lisa P.]

Faye, it sounds as if you are trying to make a careful, cost-conscious decision. We are very cost-conscious too. We've stayed in both hotels and timeshare condos, both offsite and w/DVC.

Your answer depends partly on how much you value the onsite experience. We are just as happy at a high-end offsite timeshare resort. Regardless of where we are staying, we prefer to drive, not bus (every DVC resort offers a bus to at least half the parks plus water parks). We use turnstile-package-pick-up rather than next-day-resort-gift-shop-delivery for our purchases. We use our credit cards for purchase protection rather than using our room key. We buy non-expiring park hoppers to stretch our usage over several years (rather than APs). We visit other area parks and attractions during our Orlando vacations. None of us care to get to the parks early for Extra Hours. As you can see, the onsite benefits simply don't matter as much to us as they do to some others.

The DVC resorts are really beautiful. However, we have learned through TUG (see my sig below) to select only the nicest timeshare resorts so we stay in beautiful resorts offsite too. In the past few years, it seems that more offsite area resorts are incorporating the kinds of details in building design, decor, music and lighting, resort activities and customer service that used to be rather unusual outside Disney. Some are such a short drive to some of the parks that it has taken me LESS time to get back and forth for an afternoon break than dealing with onsite transport to an onsite resort.

Your answer depends somewhat on the time of year you like to travel. We visit during all times of the year. We prefer quieter times. But when traveling with others we can end up there on Christmas week or other major holidays. DVC points are very high during these times. Inexpensive offsite timeshare rentals can be tough to find during holiday weeks. But owning and/or trading to offsite timeshares for majoy holidays is downright reasonable by comparison. Something to consider would be an offsite resale purchase if you want consistently nice, high-end offsite properties (learn to exchange into them at TUG) and you want to try trading for a relatively low cost. If you never expect to visit during school breaks or major holidays, continuing to rent (either DVC or offsite) may make the most sense.

Your answer also depends on how much you value a 2BR vs. a 1BR or studio. Do your children mind sharing a sleeper sofa or using inflatable mattresses? Do you mind having them sleep in your living room? The need for a 2BR w/2 baths for our family is the main reason we sold our DVC. DVC gets quite pricy if you always need a 2BR, especially on weekends.

If you have a wonderful time in offsite timeshares but the cost of renting has gone up and/or you want an easier time managing the quality of your accommodations, it's reasonable to consider renting DVC points for a portion of your next trip. But before you buy, compare the costs with those of a quality resale offsite or within a system that allows you to reserve vacations at their Gold Crown Orlando area resorts - like Sunterra (Cypress Pointe), Fairfield (Bonnet Creek), Hilton (HGVC), etc. 300+ DVC points (2BR week during school breaks) starts at $25,000 resale w/annual fees of $1,200+. Points for a 2BR at one of these offsite companies start around $5,000 w/annual fees of $600+.

I've included our family's reasoning and preferences so you can see if yours may be similar. For someone who is adverse to the offsite option, the lower cost simply wouldn't matter because the option is not acceptable. You mentioned having enjoyed CPGV. So you may want to consider adding a couple of rental nights at DVC to an offsite stay to see for yourselves if the differences are worth the cost to you. Just a thought! BTW, CPGV is Gold Crown. Bryan's Spanish Cove is not - by a long shot. TUG would help you to be more informed when making selections for renting or timeshare trading.

You are likely to find mostly people here who really care about the onsite "thing" (magic, convenience, benefits, whatever) - because this forum is for DVC members. If you ask on the Orlando forum, you'll find more people like me - who enjoy onsite but enjoy offsite as much or appreciate the monetary value of offsite resorts more than having the onsite thing.

Either way, definitely learn more at TUG (see my sig) before you buy anything for thousand$ of dollars!

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I think Lisa P. gave you great advice. The main thing I find onsite good for versus offsite is if I know I plan to partake. Being able to catch a bus or walk home is great for that.

Also if I plan a relatively intense Disney experience then reducing the trip to and from the condo is pretty good.

On the other hand if my Disney experience isn't going to be commando style then staying offsite is just fine.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Hi Faye,
We stayed offsite 3 times, twice in Vacation homes, before joining DVC.

We purchased DVC instead of a vacation home. We really enjoyed staying in the homes, we were seriously considering purchasing one.

Before we purchased, we decided to try onsite first and take a look at DVC which I had just read about here.

We loved the homes, but after staying onsite at the BC and CR, I began to understand the difference. Coming and going to the parks was so much easier. Lots of entertainment. The boys made fast friends and really socialized. In the homes, they were isolated and only had each other to play with.

I agree, that as they grow, they can have more freedom around the world, whereas in the homes, I'd probably drop them off and pick them up or we would all be forced to leave together. I wouldnt want a teen/young adult driving a rental in Orlando.

Also, I thought about bringing family, which if we owned a home in Florida they would come. They would need transportation to the parks also. They would need rides to restaurants and shopping etc. I could see that getting really old really quick. I wanted family to be able to tour as they wished.

We didnt even look at any other timeshare, because only DVC met all our needs.

No regrets, no maintenance, no problems!

 

[ScottOKW2K]

As a DVC family that has done both on-site and off-site (after purchasing dvc !) I think we would fit the target group your question applies to. We have found that our likes/dislikes were grouped in the following areas:

If our trip was going to be mostly Disney Theme parks, then we had the most positive experiences staying on-site. This includes either staying in dvc properties or booking rooms in the moderate or deluxe properties. As a family of only three we were comfortable in all three, though we always stayed as a family in a 1-bedroom or above when staying dvc.

If our trip was just disney water parks ( have done this several times ) then off-site is ok. We have found that driving to the water parks is much more convenient for us tham taking the bus there, even if staying on-site. We have stayed at the Cypress Pointe area several times and found this area convenient to drive into Disney quickly, and still have reasonable room prices with good quality accomodations.

For completely non-disney off-site was ok then , too. We had one trip that was Discovery Cove / Seaworld and stayed at Marriot's Cypress Harbour. This resort was very nice - easily on par with our experiences at our home resort Old Key West.

This all being said , we still prefer the on-site experience the most. There is just something so nice and relaxing about entering Disney property and effectively vanishing off the face of the earth for a week or two. My fondest wish - to stay there soo long and relax soo much that I forget my name .

 

[Granny]

Thanks for the thoughtful responses. I really am trying to avoid the "onsite vs offsite" debate. So many of those responses revolve around those who stayed offsite once, for one night, had a lousy experience, and vowed "never again"! That's why I was specifically looking for people who had stayed offsite in more than just an offsite hotel...people like me who look for at least a 2 bdrm, and have honestly given offsite a chance.

I wasn't trying to engage a "debate"...to me, the decision will probably come down to "how important is it to you to stay on-site at WDW?". I think there has been a lot of great advice here, and LisaP provides the alternative to DVC ownership that I have a feeling might work very well for you. Good luck in your decision.

 

[FayeW]

Thanks everyone! Everytime I think I have made a decision for our upcoming trip, I read about another awesome offsite property and then I am all in a dither again!

Lisa P, thank you so much for all the great advice. I really appreciate the time you spent to give me such a comprehensive, informative, and well thought out response. I think my family is just like yours! We prefer to drive, we visit US/IOA every trip, generally don't buy much in the way of souveniers (not too much to carry, anyway) and EMH really means nothing to us since we typically go during a slower period (1st week of Dec).

I have made contact with an owner at Marriott Cypress Harbour, offering a 2bdrm for $750. That is $350 Less than OKW for 5 days, so it is a significant savings. That property gets amazing reviews, so I think that if it is available for my week we will rent there.

Thanks again!

 

[crisi]

While we are onsite snobs, if I weren't, I would have never bought DVC. There are simply too many decent properties to be had cheaper offsite. We don't drive, want our kids to grow up knowing the bus system so we can cut the apron strings when they are teens - so for us, onsite is where it is at. But there is a premium involved - and as much as an onsite snob as I am, its pretty close to my value line currently.

The real reason I'm posting though is that your target time - the first week of December - is a really busy DVC time. So you may find yourself more frustrated because of the low season as a DVC member. You'll want to book early, particularly if you want a smaller resort, and if your home resort isn't the small resort you may find yourself out of luck.

 

[littlestar]

We stayed part of our trip last week at Marriott's Horizon resort and then checked into Old Key West on our DVC points on Sunday. I really enjoyed Marriott's Horizon's resort. It was charming. We walked across the road and took a look at Cypress Harbour - very nice resort that had grounds that reminded me of Old Key West. You could always stay part of a trip onsite and see how you liked it. Only you can make the decision if it's worth it to your family.

There are some really gorgeous timeshare properties in Orlando. And I think the amenities/pools/slides offered by some of the offsite resorts are on par with some of the Disney resorts anymore. The reason why we still want to stay onsite at least part of our trips is because of the Disney transportation to the parks. Our group can split up and come and go for an aftertoon break or whatever - it makes it nice and convenient. And then, of course, I have to include my love of Disney's Wilderness Lodge resort and Beach Club resort as why we have kept our Disney points and not sold them. I just love these hotels. VWL and BCV give me a resort hotel experience with the added bonus of the roominess of a condo.

Having said the above, I will admit that I have been trying to purchase a non-Disney timeshare that will trade through Interval. I did quite a bit of research on tug and I know what I want, but, I haven't won one yet for the price I want to pay. So our family does plan on owning another timeshare besides Disney. I want to be able to join Interval and have access to their "Getaway" weeks for extra vacations. But we still plan on keeping most of our Disney points, too. We are going to do a combination of offsite and onsite for the best of both worlds and occasionally stay at the timeshare resort we've been trying to buy that is not in Orlando (if I can ever be the high bidder on some of these auctions I've tried for ).

 

[Muushka]

We have been DVC owners for the past 6 years. This past week we were traveling with friends and thought it would be easier to rent a 1 or 2 BR offsite for the high Fri/Sat points (rather than booking 2 rooms at a Motel 6 ).

We stayed at Bonnet Creek and loved it. For our future WDW visits we will plan on only staying at our home resort (VWL) and then ending it with a stay at Bonnet Creek for the relaxation portion of the trip. Of course this depends on whether we can get a great rate at BC or not. BC had it's drawbacks though. We always have a car so driving to the parks is nothing new to us, but if you had to depend on the bus transportation at that resort, it would be a little difficult. On the last night we were at BC our friends went to MGM to see Fantasmic. The last bus left MGM at 8:30 and that is what time the show began. The other parks were a little more reasonable.

But on the plus side, BC has so much more room than DVC resorts (except OKW). And they had a lazy river at their pool!

 

[crisi]

Bonnet Creek wouldn't be a bad cab fare if you needed to grab a cab.

 

[SoCalKDG]

I am considering renting points for part of our stay in Dec ( 2 bdrm, OKW) so I can "try before I buy". The great deals on skyauction seem to be dwindling, and if I am going to end up paying $1000. to stay offsite (granted, it would be a 3 bdrm townhome or condo, and it would be for 9 days!), then buying into DVC may start to make sense. Our children are 11 & 9, if that helps with the suggestions.

My first trip to WDW was staying offsite at the Holiday Inn Family Suites, similar to a smallish 1 bedroom. Had a good vacation. Our first trip onsite was at the BWV's, had a great vacation because I felt I was always on vacation instead of interupting my vacation to go back to our room.

You really need to stay onsite first(you mention that you haven't yet) before any real decision can be made. Rent a Sunday-Friday trip and try it out. It should also be mentioned that the onsite DVC's are very different from each other, thus you should check them all out on your next trip as you can purchase them via resale.

 

[Mary Ellen]

We stayed at Marriott's Sabal Palms and Royal Palms in 2-br units (along with other assorted hotels and motels) before we bought into DVC. We were quite happy with both 'Palms' and the location couldn't be better for an off-site property. If we were to get another 'timeshare' it would most likely be a Marriott. We've never regreted buying DVC and love not having to drive everywhere. Even if we don't go to the parks each day we still have the rest of resorts and DTD with easy access.

For easy access to the 'outside' world, OKW would be my pick. BWV is our home (and favorite DVC), but OKW has easier car access (both to the rooms and freeway), larger units, and a more relaxed 'condo' type atmosphere.

When your children get older, you (and they) might appreciate the freedom they have using the WDW transportation, while you and DH/DW do other things.

We also go to US/IOA each trip, but stay at the hotels there for a few days before (or after) the WDW portion of our vacation.

Good luck deciding what will work the best for you and your family.