On site vs off site in February

[Lilminx]

I know there are lots on on v off site posts but I'd like to know specifically about the month of February. We have the possibility of renting a 4 bedroom Villa with swimming pool for £800 for the two weeks. We are going to rent a car anyway because we want to do US and want to travel to some NHL games.

The thing that's worrying me is the fact we can't book meals 180 days in advice and I'm worried BoG and the popular restaurants will be booked out. What is the likelihood of that over the first two weeks of February (it will be 2017 and there are no holidays those weeks) ? Also we wont be able to book fastpasses, have a arm band thing, we will have to buy memory maker etc. Another other cons of staying off site?

If we stay on site it will be at Saratoga Springs in a two bed villa. My DS will be 15 and won't want to share a bed with his 9yo sister so it will be expensive. Is it worth it?

Any input very much welcome as my hubby is leaving everything to me!

 

[Alesia]

1. The thing that's worrying me is the fact we can't book meals 180 days in advice
2. and I'm worried BoG and the popular restaurants will be booked out. What is the likelihood of that over the first two weeks of February (it will be 2017 and there are no holidays those weeks) ?
3. Also we wont be able to book fastpasses,
4. have a arm band thing,
5. we will have to buy memory maker etc.
6. Another other cons of staying off site?

1. Yes, you can.
2. It's always a possibility, even when staying onsite, but I wouldn't stress about it. Will your trip really be ruined if you don't get to eat at BOG or CRT?
3. Yes, you can. You'll just have to book the at 30 days out instead of 60 days out.
4. You can buy them if you want them.
5. Would you get it free if you stayed onsite? Even if that's the case, you can afford it with all the money you'll save by staying offsite.
6. No, but there are tons of advantages.

 

[robinb]

I know there are lots on on v off site posts but I'd like to know specifically about the month of February. We have the possibility of renting a 4 bedroom Villa with swimming pool for £800 for the two weeks. We are going to rent a car anyway because we want to do US and want to travel to some NHL games.

The thing that's worrying me is the fact we can't book meals 180 days in advice and I'm worried BoG and the popular restaurants will be booked out. What is the likelihood of that over the first two weeks of February (it will be 2017 and there are no holidays those weeks) ? Also we wont be able to book fastpasses, have a arm band thing, we will have to buy memory maker etc. Another other cons of staying off site?

If we stay on site it will be at Saratoga Springs in a two bed villa. My DS will be 15 and won't want to share a bed with his 9yo sister so it will be expensive. Is it worth it?

Any input very much welcome as my hubby is leaving everything to me!

I think you'll be fine with ADRs. You don't need to stay onsite to book at 180 days. You can also get Magic Bands. You can purchase them while in WDW or you can book a "throwaway room" (http://www.disboards.com/threads/throwaway-room-read-post-2041-before-posting.3218652/) for MBs if it is still allowed in 2017. You can also book FPs 30-days out (instead of 60).

If you want to stay onsite, you don't need a 2 BR. DVC studios have a queen bed and a fold out couch and 1BRs have a king bed and a fold out couch. Some DVC studios and 1BRs ALSO have day beds. murphy beds or sleeper chairs which are big enough for most 9-year old girls. That being said, a 4-bedroom house for £800 is a pretty amazing price (£800 for both weeks, right?).

 

[Lilminx]

Yes £800 for both weeks and it's only 10-15mins from the park.

Thank you all so so much for the info. I seem to have my wires crossed somewhere regarding booking FPs. I think I was thinking in my own head that for the m&g and the popular rides they will all be gone by the time I'm allowed to book but I'm hoping that since it's February that won't be the case.

so I can still book ADR 180 days out even if I'm not staying on site?
The reason I wanted two bedrooms is for the actual beds. I don't fancy my daughter sleeping on a sofa bed for 14 nights her back will be broke. Unless they are a good deal better than the ones in Europe?

 

[starjazz]

We're staying at Windsor Hills this year for the first time. We're a big group of 7, and its sooooo much less money that we couldn't pass up the chance to try it. I'm looking forward to having a 3 bedroom condo with a pool and water slides right out my front door. And we're still only 15 minutes from MK. And its about 25% of the cost of what we'd need if we stayed on site.

I love the bubble. Last time we got a couple of cabins when it was 9 of us, and Fort Wilderness is just awesome. So I'll miss all of that, but I also like money, so....

 

[robinb]

The sofa beds at WDW are fairly comfortable. My teen daughter sleeps on them with no problems. Some of the really popular FPs may be "sold out" by the time you get to your 30-day window but I have found that people make changes all the time and something usually opens up.

 

[Alesia]

There are tons of houses in Orlando for $100 per night or less. For me, it's impossible to justify staying onsite when you can have 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a laundry room, and a kitchen (I don't cook on vacation, but a toaster and a full size fridge are great) for less than the cost of a single room at Pop Century.

FWIW, I used to swear that I would never stay offsite. Then I tried it and found that it's so much better.

 

[Hootch]

It has been a few years since we did CRT. After four trips the daughter transitioned out of the princess phase. We always ate lunch at CRT. She had a BBB reservation in the morning and we had an hour or so between her appointment and our lunch. I never had a problem with booking lunch. Breakfast is popular because it is the cheapest meal. Dinner, most of those visits, did not have princesses and was considered a little more adult. People went there for romantic dinners. Lunched were easier to get. I think our first reservation was mad about 40 days out.

We have never stayed offsite. I can understand that it works better for some families. The pool may or may not be a benefit. I have been in Orlando when it was in the 80s in February and when it was in the 40s. (All temperatures are Fahrenheit.)

 

[ellie05]

You will have to pay for parking if you stay offsite $20 a day. There are other options for your family than a 2 bedroom at Saratoga springs. You could do the cabins at fort wilderness and everyone will actually get a bed. We stayed offsite in February this year because we were a group of 16 and it was kind of last minute and Disney didn't have anything that could accommodate us. If given the choice I would not stay offsite. Once you hit traffic usually takes more than expected to get back to the rentals and it makes it extremely difficult to take midday breaks.

 

[starjazz]

We tried mid-day breaks when we stayed at Fort Wilderness. Talk about difficult. Its easily 45 minutes, and up to an hour to get from MK to a cabin. By the time you wait for the boat, ride it, wait for the bus at FW, ride that to your cabin drop, walk to the cabin....its a long time. I'll be curious to see how long the trip is from MK to Windsor Hills this Feb.

 

[ellie05]

Just wanted to add maybe you will like to consider bonnet creek. It is onsite (not own by Disney so you won't get any onsite perks ). It is cheaper than staying at Disney resorts and not have the commute you will with the house.

 

[ellie05]

We tried mid-day breaks when we stayed at Fort Wilderness. Talk about difficult. Its easily 45 minutes, and up to an hour to get from MK to a cabin. By the time you wait for the boat, ride it, wait for the bus at FW, ride that to your cabin drop, walk to the cabin....its a long time. I'll be curious to see how long the trip is from MK to Windsor Hills this Feb.

Op said they will have a car no matter what.

 

[starjazz]

Op said they will have a car no matter what.

Good point. Even with a car, I'm not sure the resorts are THAT much closer than many off-site locations.

 

[ellie05]

Good point. Even with a car, I'm not sure the resorts are THAT much closer than many off-site locations.

We always had our car and it never really taken us 45 min anywhere on site. On the other hand once in February there was an accident in the road it took us almost 1 hour to get to the rental, honestly it never took us the "15 min" away the house was advertise as.

 

[crazyventures]

I got really worried for my off-site trip last Thanksgiving because of the FP+ and ADR issue. We never had an problem! We ate at BOG twice (once for Thanksgiving), rode 7DMT twice using FPs, and got tickets to the Wishes Dessert Party. It might have been easier since there was only two of us. The EMH would have been nice for a busy week, though.

We're planning on staying on-site for the WDW portion of our next trip but I wouldn't hesitate to stay off-site again. With the timeshare, we spent about $250 for one week in a 1/bd villa at a Marriott property.

 

[Muskrat191]

We are going for the first two weeks in February 2016. There are a total of 14 people, although different groups will be there at different times (only one night with all 14 people). We've rented a 7 bedroom house in Rolling Hills for around $300/night including all taxes and pool heat.

I did my ADRs at 180 days, and we have a 8:10am CRT and lunch at BOG.

 

[Lilminx]

Thank you all so much for your input! It's gave me lots to think about. I really want to stay on site for the Disney feel but this option is like £3000 cheaper

 

[robinb]

Thank you all so much for your input! It's gave me lots to think about. I really want to stay on site for the Disney feel but this option is like £3000 cheaper

I've stayed offsite twice in the last few years and it was just as "magical" as staying onsite. The best part was when we stayed in a house with a private pool. We LOVED having our own pool! £3000 is a lot of money. I assume that you'll get one of the special passes for UK residents. Does it include parking? Parking has gone up to $20 per day.

 

[Planogirl]

I personally would jump at the offsite location you described. To me it sounds nice to get away from the noise and enjoy so much space and your own pool! We're not into the so-called Disney bubble though so if that's a priority it might make everything else less important.

 

[NH-to-FL]

Hello Lilminx,

A few thoughts on your off site choice. First, full disclosure, after many years of on site stays we now stay off site. We enjoy the quiet time, the ability to cook our own meals, the private pool, and the space. Our location is only 15 minutes to the parks so travel time is not really a consideration. Parking, now at $20/day, is.

Have you considered having at least one in your party get an AP? You'll get free parking and a free Magic Band for the AP holder. But more importantly, with the recent change in AP perks, you will also get free PhotoPass downloads. You didn't say how many Disney days were in your two week stay so you will have to do the math.

And don't forget the heat for your pool. The temperatures in February will still be a bit cool.