On site did not impress me

[LadyJayne813]

We just returned from our first trip onsite at pop century. I can honestly say now with 100% certainty that we are offsite people!!

We were at pop century for 2 nights, and was honestly not happy. The pop was so far away from everything. We had a car, and the first night missed the exit. It took forever to get turned around. We arrived late, and the food court was closed. Going to get something off property at that point at 1 am waa not an option. Normally if we were off site, we could have run over to wawa or something similar in less than 5 mins.

The rooms were very small, and the outside kind of made me cringe. The pop is an honest to goodness motel 6 with large plastic decor. I did not like sleeping so close to the door on a creaky bed!!

I never thought the holiday inn lake buena vista or caribe royale were luxury hotels, but compared to this those places are like the ritz!!

I did not feel onsite magic, and do not see what there is to love about pop. Did I miss something??

 

[kerplop]

This is going to be our first trip off-site, but honestly I'm far more excited about it than I ever was about staying at a value. I think if I could afford deluxe, that would be one thing, but since that's never going to happen for us I want to get the most value for my money. We always drive - we hate the buses - we never used EMH, and we don't go at busy times so ADRs and FP+ aren't a big deal, so the "value" on-site was never there for us. The rooms are small, dark, and like you said a motel with theming. When Disney can get me a 2 bedroom condo for $70 a night, then we'll talk!

 

[olwyngdh]

It is all in what you like. I love Pop and have no interest in staying at a deluxe, or even a moderate as i figured out planning this next trip. I hate the interior hallways and love the fact that at Pop I can open my door and step into full immersion. I love the over the top theming and the huge icons. They make me happy and lighten my heart. I stayed off site once and never want to do it again. Yes, the condo was nice, but not nice enough to make up for the traffic, the drive, the cost to park at Disney, the resort fees on top of the cost for the condo....the added stress just wasn't worth the cost savings for me. I didn't even like staying at Shades of Green, even though the location is excellent and the price is only slightly higher than a value.

 

[maxiesmom]

I always wonder what Motel 6 people have stayed at when they compare any Disney resort to a Motel 6.

I have stayed off site, and plan to do so again in the future. But I would much rather be on site, and have Disney everywhere I look and CMs taking care of me. I understand the decor was not to your liking, but the fact that you missed the exit and took so long to get there was not the fault of the resort. So it is not fair to add that to your list of reasons why you disliked it.

At least now you can say you tried a value resort. But you still don't know if you are on or off site people until you have tried both moderate and deluxe resorts. The themeing is totally different, and the rooms are larger than the values.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I will agree with you 100%, OP. We get superior accommodations, tons more space, better (and more expansive) resort amenities, and a HUGE savings by staying offsite.

I always wonder what Motel 6 people have stayed at when they compare any Disney resort to a Motel 6.

We stayed at a Super 8 (close to a Motel 6, perhaps a tiny step above) a few years ago while at a basketball tournament for our then-highschooler, and the room blew away our room at POR. So while the hotel itself lacked theming and ambiance of the Disney resorts, the accommodations itself were far larger and WAY more comfortable.

The value resorts are definitely motel-style. Themed, yes and perhaps arguably better maintained....but the exterior entrances. limited space, and basic room amenities definitely put them on par with a motel.

 

[princess aleya]

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy your stay at POP. It's one of our favorite values, we have stayed there four times and look forward to it each trip. We usually drive to Orlando but once we get to the hotel, we park our car and take Disney transportation for the remainder of our trip. It's easier for us to relax and let them do the driving. We have only ever stayed offsite for one night before checking in on property, we just love the feel of being surrounded by everything Disney the entire time.

 

[LadyJayne813]

I am not blaming the resort that I missed my exit. My point was that getting around on property to me was more difficult than offsite. Ease of getting around effects my decision on where to stay on vacation. There are not easy turn arounds. If i missed my turn off property, I could have made the next u turn and been back on my way within minutes.

I do not use public transportation at home, and won't while on vacation. So disney trans does not affect my opinion.

 

[ArwenMarie]

We like (need? ) space and when you compare the price of something like OKW or SSR to the offsite villas, even paying the hotel rate, it's mind-blowing. I do think there is something fun about being close to the parks but once you get out of that radius and into the remote Disney resorts, I really think offsite is the way to go as long as you have a car.

 

[Ametista]

We have always booked resorts through Interval or stayed at vacation rentals like Paradise Palms. A couple years ago we got way cheaper flights the day before our resort res so we booked a night at Pop. When my daughter walked into the room she walked through it, saw the tiny bathroom, and she looked at me and said "This is IT??? We are supposed to spend the night here?????" Even at age 5 she was horrified by Pop, compared to what we usually get.

We spent most of that night standing outside chatting because we were so claustrophobic in the room. We didn't use the EMH and walking aaaaaallllllll the way out to the car was such a pain in the butt. Anyway, it made me really happy that we are lucky enough to have so many incredible offsite options because there is no way we would be doing DW if we had to stay onsite. And no, I would never pay for deluxe.

Oh yeah, and not even having a coffee pot in the room???? That alone ensures I will never stay there again. I hated having to get up and make myself presentable, walk to the cafeteria, stand in line, etc just for a cup of coffee.

 

[stasijane]

I love staying both off site and on. Depending on what I have going on for the trip. For longer just enjoy myself trips I love off site. If I have a race or will be doing F&W I stay on site for the transportation.

 

[Jiminy'sGirl]

We stay on site mostly, but I sooo agree with you about Pop. If I'm going to be surrounded by large tacky décor I choose ASMo, because at least it's Disney-related! Haven't tried AoA yet, but probably will.

We love the Epcot resorts, but each time we stay at the (no longer) Peabody Orlando or the Sheraton Vistana we kinda question why we don't stay off-site more. I guess the answer is that they each offer a different kind of vacation experience, and both a great!

 

[kathy884]

We like (need? ) space and when you compare the price of something like OKW or SSR to the offsite villas, even paying the hotel rate, it's mind-blowing. I do think there is something fun about being close to the parks but once you get out of that radius and into the remote Disney resorts, I really think offsite is the way to go as long as you have a car.

That's very much the way I feel. // It felt faster to get the parks from our offsite condo than from POR on the one trip that we stayed at both. I was so happy to go to the condo (didn't like being limited to Disney dining). // The only time I really and truly loved onsite was a stay in a tower MK view room at the Contemporary, and DH has a conference there, so company paid for three nights and the one night we paid for, we had a convention rate. // Looking at retail prices or prices with a PIN, this is not anything I would even consider. It's just out of our vacation budget and not in our perception of good value. // When I compare renting Disney points for a condo vs. staying in an offsite condo of comparable size and quality, renting Disney points is more than three times as expensive. Again, it just isn't even in the running given what we budget for vacations.

 

[bankr63]

Welcome to the Offsite Crowd Lady Jayne!

I see the discussion aligning as usual between those who place more value on the immersive Disney experience, and those who place more value on, well, value. Nothing wrong with either view, but a large number of those who haunt this board are firmly in the offsite camp. I don't ever foresee staying onsite unless I somehow come across a killer deal for DVC points for a 2BR Deluxe. We would never stay in a regular hotel room onsite or off for more than a night, anywhere. But that's just the way we roll...

 

[pigletto]

I was a die hard on site fan. I loved each and every one of those trips, and I love being immersed in Disney. But a few things happened. One was that my kids got older and at 17 and 10 years old it's just not as easy for all of us to share one room for 10 days as it was when they were little. I'm not one who can happily stay at the value resorts for a week or more. It just isn't our thing.
Moderates and renting Deluxes became the norm, and the norm became expensive.
My trip budget did not increase anywhere near as fast as Disneys room rates did over the last 8 years.
So with a need for more space, and a desire to stretch the budget further I opened my mind to offsite. For less than I spent on last years trip to Disney (by more than $1500) we have a 10 day trip planned with 7 nights in a 2 bedroom at Sheraton Vistana Resort, with another 2 nights onsite at Universal.
By staying offsite we were able to use our savings to get Universal Power Passes for all of us as well.. which means our tickets for our next trip are taken care of.
That feels good. I can't speak to how it's going to feel to be offiste for the first time because we haven't done it yet, but the SVR looks beautiful and I am looking forward to all the space to spread out, a full kitchen to make some meals, new restaurants to explore and all the amenities of the resort!

 

[Bete]

There will always be two sides on this one.

We have stayed mostly on site through the years probably over 40 times. We have stayed at all levels including concierge onsite. We are avid users of fastpass and we have utilized extra magic hours especially the morning ones.

We now stay offsite because our dog travels with us. We will probably never kennel our dog overnight any where. Anyway, we get a delightful breakfast included which absolutely keeps us full until evening. We get a full kitchen where we stay. There's more room, too. There is an evening reception 3 of the weekdays and this serves as a meal for us. We like it.

The downfall on staying offsite now is the fastpass system. You are more or less a second class citizen, now at Disney World. The advantage is great with getting 60 days out instead of 30 days for fastpass reservations. For the popular attractions it makes a great difference. It makes a difference on time slots for the rides, too. I can see doing more backtracking with making choices for fastpass at the the 30 day mark with getting the rides you want. I can also see losing out on some choices.

Nowadays, we don't need to be commando at the parks and we don't need to maximize our days at the park. We take a laid back attitude towards WDW, now. We concentrate on the shows, parades, fireworks and live entertainment. Rides are not a priority. With that in mind I can live with being a second class citizen with fastpass.

I will say I will not go back as often to WDW, now. We will continue to do offsite and go less often.

 

[Buzzsgramma]

To each his own....off site to me would be the Swan and Dolphin....

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We just returned from our first trip onsite at pop century. I can honestly say now with 100% certainty that we are offsite people!!

We were at pop century for 2 nights, and was honestly not happy. The pop was so far away from everything. We had a car, and the first night missed the exit. It took forever to get turned around. We arrived late, and the food court was closed. Going to get something off property at that point at 1 am waa not an option. Normally if we were off site, we could have run over to wawa or something similar in less than 5 mins.

The rooms were very small, and the outside kind of made me cringe. The pop is an honest to goodness motel 6 with large plastic decor. I did not like sleeping so close to the door on a creaky bed!!

I never thought the holiday inn lake buena vista or caribe royale were luxury hotels, but compared to this those places are like the ritz!!

I did not feel onsite magic, and do not see what there is to love about pop. Did I miss something??

I don't feel any magic in value resorts either. I think what people love is the price. FWIW, we stayed at AKL and felt that was very nice but also way out in left field. We tried CBR before trying deluxe and I thought it was fine but to dh was just "meh".
Then we tried WL and he said, "Now THIS is more like it."

But really, your comment is the same thing some people say when they try a cheap EconoLodge as a first time offsite and then say they'll never stay offsite again.

I'd say find your comfort zone and don't drop below it (onsite or offsite) no matter how tempting the price may be. Why spend an entire vacation annoyed and full of regret?

 

[LadyJayne813]

I am also basing my opinion on room price. For what I paid for pop, we would get a lot more space and amenities. An off site regular hotel room for $100-$125 a night has a lot more wow. Queen beds, space to turn around in the bathroom, and probably a nicer pool. I would still be the same distance from the parks. I guess disney magic only applies to those willing to pay for deluxe resorts.

 

[pigletto]

I'd say find your comfort zone and don't drop below it (onsite or offsite) no matter how tempting the price may be.

This is fabulous advice and I think it could solve many of the onsite/offsite arguments and save many vacations. I'd even add.. don't go above it because no matter how nice it is, you'll regret it or be disappointed.

 

[Savikins]

To each his own....off site to me would be the Swan and Dolphin....

I feel the same way as you! I don't drive, and even though my boyfriend does, I know we really enjoy not having to drive while staying at the Disney resorts. Also, I never ever have to worry about cleanliness at on-site resorts, and also we always use EMH. I love to just chill and hang out in the common areas of WDW resorts, not something I ever do in regular hotels.

I've stayed at on-site resorts for up to 4 days without ever stepping foot inside the parks. That's how much I enjoy WDW resorts. They are top notch to me - And I've stayed at quite a few different Ritz-Carltons! The theming, the magic, and also the general crowd of people who tend to stay at Disney resorts (i.e. avid Disney fans), they all make it more special. As you can see from my signature, I've stayed at all classes of on-site resorts (Value, Moderate, Deluxe, Villa, Concierge).

Also, having quick access to off-site locations such as food and gas stations isn't a big deal to me. I prefer not to leave WDW property while I'm vacationing there - I like to feel like I'm in a different world. Also, Disney food is one of my favorite parts about WDW, so there's no way I can be convinced to eat off-site, let alone use an in-suite kitchen to prepare a meal while I'm on vacation.



However... I've learned that I'm much more of a DCL person than I am a WDW person! It's so much more relaxing to me.