Offsite - Your Opinion

[kizzabel]

Hi all

Im strongly thinking about booking offsite for this time next year and getting an AP. Id be bringing my DS who will be 2, almost three at that stage for his very first trip.

Im getting prices of €196 - €225 for monday october 10th to thursday 13th october.

The Kyriad being cheapest and Explorers being the dearest, Dream Castle and Magic Circus are the same price €216.

So im wondering...

Of these 4 hotels which in your opinion is best? I need some help to make my mind up over which to choose.
Or do you think I would be better waiting for a DLP package?
How busy is the park at that time of October?
Decisions decisions!!

Thanks in advance, any help and advice is very greatly appreciated!

 

[loladelorean]

I'm considering this too for June next year! I've never stayed offsite but have been looking into all the hotels, and if we're staying offsite I'll be going for Kyriad on that first trip as it's on quite a tight budget. The hotel looks really nice for the money and has had a lot of good reports from DISers.
However, the Dream Castle looks amazing - much more appealing to me personally than Magic Circus or Explorers but I suppose the theming is a matter of taste.
Because I'll be getting AP I'm hoping to do 2 nights Kyriad in June (budget trip with boyfriend), 3 or 4 nights Dream Castle for Halloween or Christmas with my sister and possibly one or two friends. Finally, add myself on with the sneaky local tax trick to a trip booked at an onsite hotel (4 or 5 nights) with my mum and sister in May 2012 for 20th anniversary.
The cost of my AP will be worthwhile if I stick to all these plans
You can tell I've thought a lot about this what I did was look at old trip reports where people had stayed offsite, found these more helpful than tripadvisor.

 

[DLPdaft]

Hi all

Im strongly thinking about booking offsite for this time next year and getting an AP. Id be bringing my DS who will be 2, almost three at that stage for his very first trip.

Im getting prices of €196 - €225 for monday october 10th to thursday 13th october.

The Kyriad being cheapest and Explorers being the dearest, Dream Castle and Magic Circus are the same price €216.

So im wondering...

Of these 4 hotels which in your opinion is best? I need some help to make my mind up over which to choose.
Dream Castle and Magic Circus are true 4 star hotels - with the Dream Castle having the edge I think (I'd love to stay there)
Or do you think I would be better waiting for a DLP package?
for price comparison, I just paid £266 for a one-adult package for 3 nights/4 days 6th to 9th October this year (this was with 30% off I think) - so you'd maybe be looking at a little more, but not much I would have thought, if a similar offer comes out for next October (as your DS is free anyway).
How busy is the park at that time of October?
Midweek its lovely and quiet - most things are a walk-on.
Decisions decisions!!

Thanks in advance, any help and advice is very greatly appreciated!

Hope this helps ,

 

[A Small World]

Ive stayed at Kyriad, Explorers and Magic Circus twice each and would stay at either of them again. Ive heard good reports of the Dream Castle as well although Ive not stayed there.

I like the rooms at Kyriad - nice and light and airy with tea and coffee facilities and free wifi however there is no swimming pool.

The theming of explorers is fun and the bar area is nice. The pool is really good fun and there is also an indoor play area as well as an area where you can sit with a drink and watch the children in the pool, play area etc

Although the Magic Circus is nice and the rooms are nice the public areas didnt appeal to me at all - it reminded me too much of an airport waiting area.

Where did you get those prices? You can often get good deals at the offsite hotels through sites like Benotel

 

[Ware Bears]

Many booking sites (Benotel included) will allow you to cancel without penalty provided you give enought notice (usually 72 hours). You could always book under these conditions then cancel if there's a good Disney deal nearer the time.

 

[nightrider68]

As there is 5 of us and after a couple of not so good experiences at DCR, we always stay offsite.

Last year we took the children out of school and went the same date as you have mentioned and it was amazingly quiet. Nearly every ride was walk on.

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

I don't have a vast amount of experience - have only stayed onsite at the Santa Fe and offsite at the Magic Circus.

These are my thoughts-
advantages of staying offsite IMO -
more for your money with an annual pass
I like a hot breakfast and not having to book a breakfast time - for this reason I choose either the Magic Circus or Dream Castle. These hotels are available for pretty good rates - I paid 200GBP for three nights in February at the Dream Castle. I could have stayed at the Santa Fe for a similar price but for me there is no comparison. I'll take the Dream Castle over the Santa Fe just for the breakfast and room quality.

Have fun choosing!

 

[kizzabel]

thanks so much everyone for your replies. i am going to have a look at hotel photos now and i think i'll book in the next few days.

i can then compare prices for onsite when the time comes and if its better i can then cancel, thanks for that tip ware bears.

i would dread a busy park especially as it would be my 1st trp with DP or a friend. my little man is looking up at me and blowing kisses and winking, i swear he knows what im up to!!!

thanks again everyone

 

[Michael623]

Before our last trip I crunched the numbers every which way I could and it still came up cheaper to book a discounted package (Sequoia Lodge) than to stay off site with APs. If you plan to return within the year the APs are the way to go, no question but if not you really need to check the package prices.