On Site vs. Off Site and FP/Dining

[SwanVT2]

How much of a disadvantage is it staying off property vs on with the loss of 180 day out dining reservations and 60 day out FP booking? Has anyone experienced both and could share how it impacted their planning? My family has a lot of points for Hilton hotels and are thinking of using them in late June 2018 for another trip by staying at Hilton Disney Springs or Hilton Bonnet Creek.

 

[Planogirl]

We have experienced both and I think that the biggest headache can be transportation. If you drive anyway then it won't really matter much except maybe parking fees.

As for dining and FP+, a lot depends on when you go and what you want to book. It's hard to get adr's for places like 'Ohana and rides like the dwarfs coaster but not impossible. The new ride in Pandora might be impossible to get FP+ for from what I hear.

I personally like off-site though. It seems quieter if that makes sense and we always have a blast onsite or offsite.

 

[danikoski]

I believe the 180 days out is for everyone...you just won't get the plus days of your stay. So say you are staying a week, if on site you get 180+7 days. So it shouldn't impact that much. My mom and I decided to go to WDW in Nov for Feb, and we were still able to get all the meals we wanted. Touring Plans rez finder helped a lot.

 

[Marionnette]

How much of a disadvantage is it staying off property vs on with the loss of 180 day out dining reservations and 60 day out FP booking? Has anyone experienced both and could share how it impacted their planning? My family has a lot of points for Hilton hotels and are thinking of using them in late June 2018 for another trip by staying at Hilton Disney Springs or Hilton Bonnet Creek.

Agreed with the above posters. The 180+10 ADRs and the FP @60 is not that big of a perk. The ability to walk to a park (like CR/BLT, BWV and YC/BC/BCV) or to leave the hassle of driving behind is the biggest perk for me, followed by EMH. Now if only Disney would offer a few extra FPs for onsite guests, they may have a winner.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I've stayed on and off site.

Anyone can book ADR's 180 days in advance.
What you lose is the advantage of 180+10.
Staying offsite I found that I was able to get every restuarant I wanted for the rather large group I had however the times were not the exact ideal times I wanted.

For FP+ losing the 60 day window plus booking one day at a time vs for length of stay I did find it difficult at first until I discovered that booking them and then modifying really helped me get the times I wanted.

All in all it wasn't not too hard offsite but boy is onsite better lol.

 

[raddisneyfan]

I've stayed on and off sit.

Anyone can book ADR's 180 days in advance.
What you lose is the advantage of 180+10.
Staying offsite I found that I was able to get every restuarant I wanted for the rather large group I had however the times were not the exact ideal times I wanted.

For FP+ losing the 60 day window plus booking one day at a time vs for length of stay I did find it difficult at first until I discovered that booking them and then modifying really helped me get the times I wanted.

All in all it wasn't not too hard offsite but boy is onsite better lol.

I'm glad you mentioned the Modify feature for FP+. I think a lot of folks out there aren't aware of it or know how to use it and it is indeed a great feature and helped me many, many times to fine-tune my selections and actually coordinate with folks who weren't staying at Disney resorts.

ADRs aren't really my number one concern when i go to Disney--with 180s out, you should get at least some of what you want, even if you have to do one day at a time, day after day for the length of your stay. My real issue would be FP+ getting the 60-day advantage over non-Disney is a real plus when you are talking about the newest and most popular attractions. However, even at 30 days you should get a bunch and remember, many folks out there, like me, change FP selections continuously--so if your persistent and keep checking, you might get luckier than you think. Good luck and I'm sure you'll enjoy offsite--I almost stayed at the Hilton Bonnet Creek this year, but decided on a few days at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress instead--one of my favorite off-site venues.

 

[Sue M]

Hilton also now owns Disney Springs Buena Vista Palace and did a massive Reno. I looked at pics, looks great and right across the street from Marketplace.
All the Disney Springs Hotels have park transportation that's pretty good imo. Runs continuously every 30 min. Still feels like you're in WDW and some rooms have park and fireworks view. I'd do it! And I like staying on site, lol. Once we came in a day early and stayed in a 1 bdrm at the DTD Doubletree. Got a mousesavers code with free breakfast. We liked it.

 

[ColoradoMom12]

Depends when you go. We're staying onsite at Thanksgiving and I was not able to get a single BOG reservation during the 5 days we'll be there. I also was unable to get anything in MK on the day of Thanksgiving other than dinner at CP. It's not our favorite for dinner, but we'll be happy there.

That said, we were able to get almost everything (again no BOG) for October. We're staying onsite then but booked our trip after the 180 day dining window opened up. Some of our reservations are for less than ideal times (CRT at park opening and CM at something like 2 PM), but I'm just happy I was able to get them!

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Depends when you go. We're staying onsite at Thanksgiving and I was not able to get a single BOG reservation during the 5 days we'll be there. I also was unable to get anything in MK on the day of Thanksgiving other than dinner at CP. It's not our favorite for dinner, but we'll be happy there.

That said, we were able to get almost everything (again no BOG) for October. We're staying onsite then but booked our trip after the 180 day dining window opened up. Some of our reservations are for less than ideal times (CRT at park opening and CM at something like 2 PM), but I'm just happy I was able to get them!

You mention Thanksgiving but don't assume that its the holiday actually making it hard to get ADR's. You have to take into account that FD is playing a major role that week.
We stayed offsite for our trip in April during the week leading up to Easter Sunday and I was able to get ADR's for BOG for a rather large party at the time I wanted and MK had crowds reaching pretty high levels that day.

 

[ColoradoMom12]

You mention Thanksgiving but don't assume that its the holiday actually making it hard to get ADR's. You have to take into account that FD is playing a major role that week.
We stayed offsite for our trip in April during the week leading up to Easter Sunday and I was able to get ADR's for BOG for a rather large party at the time I wanted and MK had crowds reaching pretty high levels that day.

I forgot about the FD. I'm sure that played some part in it; I've never had so much trouble getting ADRs! So regardless of the holiday, it still depends when you're going. A time with FD is much less likely to have availability, especially at popular restaurants, even at 180 days.

 

[danikoski]

Depends when you go. We're staying onsite at Thanksgiving and I was not able to get a single BOG reservation during the 5 days we'll be there. I also was unable to get anything in MK on the day of Thanksgiving other than dinner at CP. It's not our favorite for dinner, but we'll be happy there.

That said, we were able to get almost everything (again no BOG) for October. We're staying onsite then but booked our trip after the 180 day dining window opened up. Some of our reservations are for less than ideal times (CRT at park opening and CM at something like 2 PM), but I'm just happy I was able to get them!

Use Touring Plans rez finder. I couldn't initially get BOG for any meal for my mom and I in February. Then, about 60 days out, got breakfast and lunch. Then about 30 days out, got the exact time BOG dinner reservation I wanted. Cancelled the lunches, kept a PPO breakfast, and we were set.