On site vs off site price comparison, what am i missing?

[ajwilhorn]

So I'm trying to figure out what else on top of the resort reservation I need to take into cost consideration. I am not looking for things you can't put a price on, but rather straight up dollar costs. Will be flying in and so the only other things I've come up with are car rental and park parking costs. What else am I missing? I suppose gas for car rental.

 

[gatormom2tots]

Cost to park you car at resort...

 

[sethschroeder]

Onsite $$$ vs Offsite $

You are going to pay more to be onsite because of things that can not be quantified in straight cash comparisons.

• Disney has busses/boats/skyliner/walking from the Parks this is not comparable to renting a car but instead to grabbing an Uber/Lyft which is still not the same because they don't drop off as close to the parks
• Getting to and from the parks can be much quicker depending on where you stay
• You have access to options like Disney Dining Plan (although typically it costs more than out of pocket)
• Being onsite is a mindset for many of us who always want to stay onsite

In practice you could stay off site, pay for a shuttle to your hotel, and then use the hotel transportation to the parks (if its offered which many do). The only expense outside of the room would be that shuttle from the airport to the hotel. You could even stay in Disney Springs and get the 60 day FP+ window.

In the end you need to be willing to typically spend 2x-3x more for being on Disney property vs similar room type that would be offsite.

Heck there are even some offsite options that are whole houses you rent for not too much money as well. We always stay onsite though as its just a mindset and experience I value.

 

[mamamelody2]

Lots of off-site hotels like to sneak in a daily "resort fee". Make sure you look out for that as it won't be listed initially in the quote of cost-per-night.

 

[here757]

Staying onsite allows you to book fast passes 60 days in advance for most hotels

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

The fastpass booking window as the PP said is huge for some of these hard to get rides.
Another factor really does depend on your party but for us it gives each of us the ability to take a break at the resort without everyone having to leave. That is not a cost factor but definitely keeps everyone happy. We have 4 kids and usually travel with at least 2 to 5 more people. Especially that our kids are older now - not all of us have to go back to the resort if they don't want to.

 

[lorenae]

Off site you pay to park at the resort (usually), and then pay at the parks if you chose to drive. Parking at the parks is $25/day.

As was mentioned, most of the offsite hotels have additional “resort fees” which may run $30 or so per night.

Some offsite hotels may have a continental breakfast, while WDW hotels do not.

Overall, staying offsite may get you a nicer hotel for about the same price than on WDW property.

 

[Beer Me]

I prefer onsite for
-60 fast pass window (a few Disney offsite hotels also offer this)

- proximity to parks and disney transportation. If you have to use a bus it can be slow but its reliable and it’s nice to have a drink and not worry about driving. But if you can walk, boat, monorail or skyline it’s fantastic. Way better and mostly quicker than driving yourself.

That being said with rates going up I’m becoming more and more open to off site hotels. The cost/benefit ratio depends on how much you value the perks.

edit: and I realize after re-reading OPs post they wanted only quantifiable differences. While FPs and proximity may be hard to put a price on they save time which is tangible and very important to me. Staying at an epcot or monorail resort can give you a couple of hours per day.

 

[sponica]

If you wouldn't be renting a car staying on site, also factor in the hotel parking costs. Also any resort fees that might occur.

Costs you get to deduct, if the offsite hotel includes free breakfast.

 

[Ross Kratter]

Another big advantage to staying on property is Disney’s Magical Express transportation to and from the airport, as well as the included luggage service where your luggage will be delivered directly to your room without you having to pick it up at baggage claim. This can save you a lot of time and money.

 

[_19disnA]

Staying off-site with a car means you will likely spend less on meals since they are many restaurants in the area or you might pickup food from a local grocery store for breakfast. Cost of food at Disney is pricey and if you stay on-site with no car have fewer options. Even if you stay on-site, there is a car parking fee at resorts when staying overnight. Hard to quantify the 'value' of the those 3 daily FastPasses you can reserve ahead of time.

 

[Sue M]

Off site, $ for car rental/gas, $ for hotel parking and WDW parking, $ for possible resort fees, no 60 day FP booking window.
The other disadvantage to me would be the ability to return to my resort for a mid day break or just want to leave park earlier than others may. Everyone would have to leave at the same time. And arrive at the same time too.

Staying on-site if someone wants a sleep in day it’s not a problem. I like the flexibility of everyone being able to come and go when they want.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I think cost-wise in terms of actual dollars it's really mostly a comparison between the accommodation on-site, where you technically need no other transportation, even to/from the airport, and the accommodation off-site, where you may need the car rental/shuttles etc. Everything else is either hard to quantify (earlier and rolling FP window, rolling dining reservation window, the 'magic' etc) or highly dependent on your family's needs. Someone staying on-site may indeed incur higher dining charges if they ate every meal in park or on Disney property, but that same person might decide to use Uber Eats, or take a taxi out for a meal off-site. Similarly someone staying off-site might decide to eat every meal in park. Those costs are basically a wash between on- and off-site because of all the variables.

 

[ajwilhorn]

Thanks for the feedback. For the most part I'm not really seeing anything I'm missing other than resort fees, but my initial thought was it was included in what I was estimating in my off site resort costs. It's the extras like rental car & park parking I wanted to make sure I was catching. All the conveniences and on site perks am aware of. We've been on a fair amount of trips since 2010 with the first 2 being off site and all on site since then. What I'm trying to figure out is the actual total cost of each so I can determine correctly if the non cost perks (Convenience, Magical Express, FP+ @ 60days, etc) make up for difference. If its a small $$ gap, then on site still makes more sense, but if its a large $$$$$$ gap, well maybe try an offsite location.

 

[Heather07438]

Resort fees offsite, parking fees at the parks plus whatever the difference is between online/offsite resort parking fees.
Those 3 things can be an extra $50+ a night.
If you would only rent a car offsite, then also add that cost plus gas.

Good Neighbor hotels often end up costing more than onsite value resorts all things considered.

 

[MichaelWill&Megan'sMom]

So I'm trying to figure out what else on top of the resort reservation I need to take into cost consideration. I am not looking for things you can't put a price on, but rather straight up dollar costs. Will be flying in and so the only other things I've come up with are car rental and park parking costs. What else am I missing? I suppose gas for car rental.

Transportation from the airport to the hotel and back...The Magical Express is free (and fun), other shuttles cost money

 

[corgi_monster]

I’m not sure if this program is still offered, but you used to be able to forego mousekeeping in exchange for a $10 gift card. That means you’ll also be saving on tips as well.

If you were to choose this option, you could potentially be knocking off another $15-$20 from your nightly rate should you choose to stay at Disney.

 

[Deploraboo]

Cost of travel + aggravation time. We have a finite amount of minutes on this Earth. Disney prices this accordingly.

 

[ajwilhorn]

I’m not sure if this program is still offered, but you used to be able to forego mousekeeping in exchange for a $10 gift card. That means you’ll also be saving on tips as well.

If you were to choose this option, you could potentially be knocking off another $15-$20 from your nightly rate should you choose to stay at Disney.

Yep, we declined on our most recent trip in January and really didn't miss it at all and the gift card was nice.

 

[siren0119]

Staying onsite allows you to book fast passes 60 days in advance for most hotels

The fastpass booking window as the PP said is huge for some of these hard to get rides.
Another factor really does depend on your party but for us it gives each of us the ability to take a break at the resort without everyone having to leave. That is not a cost factor but definitely keeps everyone happy. We have 4 kids and usually travel with at least 2 to 5 more people. Especially that our kids are older now - not all of us have to go back to the resort if they don't want to.

The hotels in the immediate Disney Springs area (plus the Hilton and Waldorf Bonnet Creek) offer 60 day fastpass booking and extra magic hours just like onsite hotels. Many offer shuttles to and from the parks too, though at less frequent intervals and many charge additional for it. I find it easier to use Uber/Lyft myself, but that's me. The bonus of using the Disney Springs offsite hotels is that if you belong to loyalty clubs for any of those chains, you can book rooms on points and some offer breaks on the resort fees to loyalty members (for example, the Wyndham LBV has a $25 per night resort fee that is reduced to $15 if you are a Blue member).