offsite cheapness vs. bad traffic

Jennie in TO

Mouseketeer
Joined
Dec 12, 2003
Messages
97
Hi! This is my first post and I have many questions! One of them is the advantage of the cost of offsite lodging versus the disadvantage of getting in and out of Disney. How bad is the traffic....really....at about the end of January?

I hate spending oodles of time in traffic but the idea of doing meals in your own kitchen vs. spending oodles (5 people) at the park, and also having to spend extra for lodging that fifth person scares me.
 
Going at the end of January shouldn't pose a problem for you.

It's a pretty slow time, so traffic shouldn't be a problem, except on I-4 during rush hour. If that's how you're able to afford to go, I say definitely do it.

Having said that though, there is a Doubletree Suites on Disney property. I don't know how much you're looking to spend on lodging, but for the end of January, I got a rate of $144/night (including taxes) through www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com. They offer two-room suites, and you will be on-property so will save lots of travel time.

Good luck!
 
I find it just as convenient to drive from offsite as it is to wait for and take the busses on Disney property. You have to pay for parking, but if one of you buys an annual pass, parking is free. I don't know how long you are staying, but that might be an option.

My favorite offsite is Sheraton Vistana Villages. Sheraton will price match any rate you find at another website, and if you get the condo through the Sheraton site, maid service is provided daily (some condo's charge extra for daily maid service). It is a straight shot to Disney with very little traffic, maybe a five minute drive.
 
You didn't say if you were renting a car or really where you want to stay. Highway 192 is close to Disney and the traffic seems to be ok. If you stay at a hotel that has a free shuttle that might help. Also, Lynx public transit will take you from 192 to MK. the travelodge main gate east at 5711 W Irlo Bronson(192) has large rooms sleep 4 and a lot of room for a cot. They also have rooms with kitchenettes, often for the same price. Or, you may consider staying at All Star and get 2 adjoining rooms. I really don't know what your budget is. Check the boards or even Roomsavers for discount pricing. Meals are definitly cheaper off site but even on site there are ways of stretching a dollar.
 

We've just done some calculation and have found out it is way cheaper to stay at a value resort with the Canadian dollar "at par" deal. If we do the cheaper offsite hotels, we lose big time because we don't get tickets at par, or rooms.

So now that I've figured that out, where do I find info about doing meals cheaply? None of us are big eaters. And meals aren't "at par" :(
 
We too are doing Can $ at par. Isn't it Great? We normally go for 2 weeks but this time are going for 3. At that price we can't afford to stay home. I phoned to see how much I would save if I just got the room only at $55 for the last night without the ultimate park hoppers pass and found out I would only save $1.40. Imagine that! 70 cents per person.!! Anyway, I digress. You will end up eating most of your meals on property. We eat most of our breakfasts in our room. We get the refillable mugs and find we save a bundle there. With the hot water from the food court you will find you can prepare oatmeal, mr. noodles, minute rice, etc. You will soon realize if you save on some meals you can splurge on others. We like meals where we are entertained such as Prime Time, Sci Fi, Reasaurant Marakesh,and Hoop de doo. Pecos Bill has salads large enough for 2. There is a Mc Donalds within walking distance from AS Sports, further for Music and even further for Movies. But since you have a car you can easily travel to 192 to Burger King , Ponderosa Western Sizzlin, KFC. IHOP, Waffle House, Cracker Barrel, and so on. Those of us without a car will have to take the Lynx. If you find you are too tired to go out, the food courts at All Stars have a small selection of small areas where you can get burgers fries, sandwiches, soup , pasta salad and so on. There is a microwave and a toaster there you can use. Also there is the option of takeing fruit and snacks into the parks with you. I personally don't care for the water at Disney. The last time I was there I ended up buying Aberfoyle water from Guelph at the wallmart on 192.
 
Since you'll have your own car, you'll save a BUNDLE on meals. You don/t have to eat on property. You can go to a grocery store and pick up; a few non-perishable items to keep in the room. If you take a cooler, you can buy things like cold cuts, and yogurt and just refill the ice daily. A pain in the butt, but you'll save lots on food.

Eat late lunches. Lunch menus are generally the same as dinner menus, but at a much cheaper rate. Then later in the evening, just grab something small like a hot dog or a burger.

As someone else said, you can always go to off-property restaurants and eat cheaply there.

Lots of ways to save on food, especially since you'll have a car! :)
 
Since you'll have your own car, you'll save a BUNDLE on meals. You don/t have to eat on property. You can go to a grocery store and pick up; a few non-perishable items to keep in the room. If you take a cooler, you can buy things like cold cuts, and yogurt and just refill the ice daily. A pain in the butt, but you'll save lots on food.

Eat late lunches. Lunch menus are generally the same as dinner menus, but at a much cheaper rate. Then later in the evening, just grab something small like a hot dog or a burger.

As someone else said, you can always go to off-property restaurants and eat cheaply there.

Lots of ways to save on food, especially since you'll have a car! :)
 
I'm the Queen of cheap - so I vote for off-site.. We had no problems with traffic - was at the parks in less than 10 minutes when we stayed at the Tropical Palms Fun Resort.. It's off the main drag behind Old Town.. GREAT place!
 
Hey, C Ann, what did you think of Old town? We love it especially on Sat. night.
 
Originally posted by pampam
Hey, C Ann, what did you think of Old town? We love it especially on Sat. night.
------------------------------

We LOVED it! Especially the music.. A nice break from total immersion in Disney.. :)
 
We have stayed offsite many times at various times of year and at various locations in Kissimmee and LBV. We have NEVER encountered significant traffic getting to or from Disney property. I think the many benefits of staying offsite far outweigh the supposed convenience of staying onsite.

Steve
 
We've always stayed off site at LBV,there's plenty of restuarants in the area & WDW is right on your doorstep.We've never encountered bad traffic except on I-drive about home time (18:00).We have thougt about staying on-site but it does seem that you pay alot extra for the priviledge & as I mentioned earlier LBV is only a stone's throw away!:wave:
 
Couldn't agree more with Shooby doo - wwe've stayed on I-drive a coupld of times and found it very busy - especially at weekends and evenings! The last two visits we stayed at the Comfort Inn LBV and thought the location was great - we're planning on staying in LBV again next trip. WE were one block from the Disney entrance and about 5 mins max from Downtown Disney. WE were actually closer to much of the parks than guest staying in the All Stars resorts! And as someone else sadi - all the convenience without the extra cost. We would have driven to the parks even if we stayed on site - we're not mass transport people! - so the transportation system wasn't an advantage either!

Each to their own, but I would recommend the LBV area to anyone!!! ::yes::
 














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