on site or disney springs

[newfiegirl]

I have stayed on site four times and loved it. I have never done anything else when visiting Florida and have no interest in staying too far away. It is a didney vacation. My children are now 10 and 13 so I feel it is too expensive to buy the dining plan. What are the pros and cons of staying on one of the disney springs value hotels vs pop century/all star. I want a nice family vacay without breaking the bank (July 2018).

 

[a1tinkfans]

So many personal choices based on ur expectations. If you truly want the total Disney immersion, imho staying on site, not off site, not disney springs etc ..is the way to go.
If ur flying/driving in? Perhaps Grab bkfst foods or pack in suitcase: oatmeal’s/cereals/granolas/pbj n bread etc to cut down on food costs.

Start buying Disney gift cards with each food shopping trip now, so the impact isn’t the same later. I used to give my ds a Gc for snacks etc
They learn to budget and can get what they like when they like.
Consider parking fees, transport to ur hotel if plane arrival and then park transport time/scheduling as well.
Wherever u choose have
A great trip!

 

[halfpintpeggy]

Personally, I would stay at DS! Lots of good eating options (& many more affordable than onsite) at the Crossroads or DS. Earl of Sandwich is inexpensive and has terrific, simple food. You can get really great rates by checking for hotel discounts on the Disney Springs hotels website, Mousesavers, or Priceline/Hotwire. I saw on the Priceline thread that someone got the B Hotel for $80 some a night. With the ages of your children, I think you would appreciate the more spacious rooms at the Disney Springs hotels. The Doubletree gets great reviews, & often has discounted rates. @writerguyfl & @HopperFan could probably give you some good advice!

 

[writerguyfl]

Although prices vary, you will typically get a better hotel for a cheaper price when compared to a Disney Resort. With the exception of the Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista, all the hotels have interior entry. To me, that feature alone is a huge step up from either a Disney Value or Moderate Resort. I also like the fact that the Disney Springs Hotels are more compact, midrise or highrise buildings. The distance from the bus stop or lobby to your guest room can be measure in feet, not tenths of a mile.

I also agree with what halfpintpeggy wrote about dining. Being able to walk to Disney Springs or just offsite to the restaurants at the Crossroads Shopping area is a big perk. And I think a1tinkfans is right on the money when mentioning expectations. You shouldn't stay at Disney Springs Hotel and expect the same type of vacation as a Disney Resort.

To manage expectations, make sure you consider theme park transportation. For more information, check out this thread: https://www.disboards.com/threads/disney-springs-hotels-bus-information.3653605/

It's also important to realize that while the Disney Springs Hotels are on Disney property, they are right at the edge. Here is a aerial photo from Google:

Source: https://goo.gl/maps/kB5E6aapHsj

Here you can see four of the seven Disney Springs Hotels and their proximity to Interstate 4 and State Road 535. Being that close to the "real world" might be a deal-breaker for some people.

As for deals, make sure to check out the marketing association website for the Disney Springs Hotels: http://disneyspringshotels.com/

 

[Bete]

Actually, I like onsite. I feel safer on Disney property.

Maybe, you can split some meals. I would stick with quick service.

Bring protein bars, nuts, and whatever you like for good snacks.