Offsite during the week between Christmas and New Year's?

[gabriellyn]

Hi y'all. We are planning a trip at the end of the year. We have traveled to WDW during this time but we stayed on site. This time there will be six of us and I just cannot justify the cost of a Deluxe Villa. My options are either offsite or booking two rooms at a Value. I am leaning toward off-site this time as the prices are so much better but I am worried about the crowds, driving, parking, etc. during the holidays.

Does anyone have any experience with off-site hotels during this time frame? Pros and cons of your experience would be great if you can provide them.

Thanks in advance for your help with this!

 

[mareed]

We've stayed offsite at that time 3 different times. All in the Formosa Gardens area near Animal Kingdom off 192 about 2-3 miles from Disney property. We had no trouble with our touring using good strategies - arrived prior to park opening each day, avoided EMH park, etc. Crowds are insane during this time, but that's the same whether you're on-site of off. We had absolutely no trouble driving and parking and I guarantee we were frequently home sleeping in our beds much earlier than Disney resort guests who left at park closing and had to wait on busses (& then stand for the trip home).

 

[gabriellyn]

Thanks for your response! I think you are right. I can't tell you how many times we were stuck standing on full buses or had to wait for another bus. Not very magical...

 

[iloveokw]

Staying off site works if you are at the parks when they open so you can't get shut out by the crowd levels closing a park....especially the Magic Kingdom. I also wouldn't plan on leaving and returning. I would stay away from parks with EMH.

 

[gabriellyn]

Staying off site works if you are at the parks when they open so you can't get shut out by the crowd levels closing a park....especially the Magic Kingdom. I also wouldn't plan on leaving and returning. I would stay away from parks with EMH.

Yes, that will be the challenging part! I think I will have to build in a couple of no-park days to compensate!