On Property versus Off Property

[Sophiesmom]

If it were me, I would choose onsite. As others have pointed out, when you add in the cost of food, the difference would be negligible, and that is not factoring in convenience and atmosphere. Are you flying to Orlando or driving? If you are flying, you could eliminate the rental car and make use of DME and the Disney transportation system - which would be a significant savings. Also, while staying onsite, you can make use of EMH.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I don't think there is ever a time when it's actually more cost-effective to say onsite, no matter how anyone tries to justify it. In September you can get a hotel off-site that is technically more luxurious than the Disney values and even moderates for $50-60/night. The real question is whether it's worth it to you to stay onsite. We used to always stay off-site, in nice hotels very close to Disney for GREAT prices, until we made the decision that we wanted to stay onsite just once... and now we are hooked! To us, it's worth it to pay extra for a little more Disney magic. But if we were strictly trying to save money, there is no way I'd stay onsite, free dining or no.

Free dining for a family of 4 (when kids are considered Disney adults) is a great discount. This would otherwise cost well over $200/day for us.
For 1-2 ppl, not such a great deal.

 

[geraghty]

If staying in a value wouldn't the op only get the cs dining for free? I don't think I could spend 50$ a day without any TS meals.

 

[Marionnette]

I am looking at possibly going on a solo trip in Sept. Disney is offering free dining. So I checked on their web site and for a 6 night stay at All Star Music with 6 day base tickets and free dining it is $995.16. If I stay off property with same 6 nights and 6 day tickets plus the $90 to park for the week it comes to $670.31.

That is a difference of 324.85. Which one sounds like the better deal to you? Can I save money in the long run by paying for my meals as I go or is it a better deal to use the free dining offer and stay on property?

Thanks!

Bryon

That's basically $54/night for 2 CS meals and a snack nightly plus a refillable mug. Ask yourself if you would spend that amount each night for the same amount of food. Probably not, considering that the Disney accountants value the QSDP at $37.58/night per adult. Then think about how much you would spend OOP for food, either onsite or offsite. Would you spend $325 on food for yourself for 7 days?

If your question is about money and only about money, then the offsite resort is still your more economical choice.

 

[rustyanchor]

Free dining for a family of 4 (when kids are considered Disney adults) is a great discount. This would otherwise cost well over $200/day for us.
For 1-2 ppl, not such a great deal.

This person already said they are going solo. But even for a family of four, if your interest was trying to have the cheapest trip possible, you could definitely feed a family of four for less than $200/day (eating breakfast in the hotel room, eating offsite for dinner, etc). Personally I don't like worrying about that stuff while I'm on vacation, but if someone wanted to go to Disney on a budget, yes, it's VERY possible, and staying offsite is going to the be cheapest option too.