On-site?

[Shooby doo]

Hi all I'm sure that this question has been asked a thousand times..... We are thinking of staying on-site for the first time,we have always stayed in LBV before. We are thinking of one of the Moderate hotels i.e CBR,Coronado,Port Orleans... but we normally stay for 21 nights & can get a 2 bedsuite at Vistana for the same money...So is it worth it?
Many thanks SD

 

[stacy6552]

Yes. We would stay at a Disney value resort before we would stay at one of the multi-starred non-disney hotels at DTD.

 

[hercamore]

For 3 weeks at one place, I would definitely go with the Vistana assuming you are renting a car. If not car, then onsite.

Personally, I would never stay at the same resort for 3 weeks. I would mix it up.

 

[isla bonita]

It dosn't say how many people? I know I would be crazy with me and my husband and 3 kids in basically 1 room. Stay on sight until you can't then pack up and when you can't take it any more. Then you can have the best of both worlds.

 

[spiceycat]

I would go with either a value resort - 2 double beds (same size as a moderate).

Or OKW - 2 queen beds. give me your exact dates and I will give you a price for OKW using DVC points.

Also the size of your party will be helpful.

 

[swilshire]

We choose off-site (frequently Vistana) for the private bedrooms, extra bathrooms, extra TVs, full kitchen, and washer/dryer. My family would be truly sick of eating three meals a day in restaurants for that length of time. We much prefer having easy to prepare food available in our own fridge to "wasting" time sitting in restaurants. We don't do any fancy cooking, mostly just heat and serve type stuff.

Sheila

 

[jpeltier]

We're staying in a 4 bedroom rental home in the Emerald Island Resort in late May- early June. We've always stayed onsite but I'm wanting to try something different. there will be 4 of us:hubby,daughter 12,her friend also 12,and me.i like the idea of plenty of space.
That said ,if you are looking for a great moderate go for Coronado Springs. we stayed there this past may and it was wonderful. the Pepper Market food was outstanding and the staff rates 5 stars. The grounds are some of the most beautiful I've evre seen. Good luck making your decision!! J

 

[talicskai]

I have stayed at both (Vistana several times) and would never spend three weeks on site. You can't put a dollar value on the extra space and bathrooms at Vistana. You are close enough that the drive is not really an issue. We love to eat breakfast in our jammies and save a lot of money on tips and soda in restaurants. I love having a washer/dryer and taking home all my clothes clean so I can just put them away when we get back. It is nice to use their hydro/water to do the laundry instead of mine.

I strongly suggest Vistana.

Teresa

 

[Shooby doo]

Thanks everyone-still in the dark!!!LOL There are 3 of us DW & DS (11)- Spicey our dates would be 9/20 - 10/10 inclusive 2006 - We just really wondered if we had missed something by being on the "doorstep" but not actually on-site!
SD

 

[powellrj]

why don't you spilt your trip, spend a few days on-site and then switch over to off. I can't imagine spending 3 weeks in a hotel room with my family and we live in a small house!! While on-site is nice for a short period of time, the "togetherness" would wear on me and I would be crazy! I would also miss the washer and dryer in the room and the kitchen.

 

[laurabelle]

I agree with powellrj, why not split your stay? I do onsite for short trips (less than a week) and a combo of onsite and offsite for longer trips. You could start your trip offsite and move onsite for the last few days. That way your laundry would be done, you would have had the use of the kitchen and the extra space at the villa offsite. Then enjoy the Disney magic onsite to finish off your holiday!

 

[spiceycat]

have you looked at
www.skyauction.com
for cheaper rates?

lots of people will pay less to stay in a 2-bedroom than on property.

Disney is expensive.

I agree with the others if your stay is 21 days - do both. Stay on site and off site. just make sure you have your rental car for your days off site.

OKW at that time (this is a studio) would cost you $80 a night Sun-Thursday (leaving Fri) if you rent from a DVC member. the weekends a more - alot more. $200 a night for Fri or Sat. So what I would do is stay off stay for your first 8 days (starting on Saturday stay until the following Sunday) - then move to OKW (or whatever you prefer) - stay on site Sun-thurs (leaving on Friday) to go back off-site. A 1-bedroom would be $160 sun-thurs and a 2-bedroom would be $220 sun-thurs. this is assuming a $10 per point cost. (some member will charge more, others will charge fee - but $10 per point is the average cost)

or as had been suggestions put your Disney stay at the end.

 

[Shooby doo]

Thanks Pat,something else to consider! I had more or less made my mind up to go to CSR when I noticed that you have to pay for a fridge! Even the Comfort Inn (cheap & cheerful!!) gives yoy a fridge!! So off-site nosed ahead!
SD aw:

 

[Cinderella2004]

Thanks Pat,something else to consider! I had more or less made my mind up to go to CSR when I noticed that you have to pay for a fridge! Even the Comfort Inn (cheap & cheerful!!) gives yoy a fridge!! So off-site nosed ahead!
SD aw:

The fridge's have been added to the moderates!!!! For no extra charge!! Are they back to neck and neck??? LOL

 

[spiceycat]

both the deluxe and moderate have a refrigerator (small no freezer).

OKW is a studio has an under the counter refrigerator (with a small freezer), mircowave, wet bar - included.

OKW also has a balcony, the moderates don't.

the 1-bedroom and up has a full kitchen, whirlpool tub in the master, king bed in the master, queen sleeper in the livingroom, washer and dryer in the laundry room.

 

[dtauer]

We just really wondered if we had missed something by being on the "doorstep" but not actually on-site!

In my opinion, yes, you are missing something. I never understood the "magic" thing until our first stay on site, and that was at the All Stars. Now I understand.

Disney will be more expensive. Disney will probably have less room. But I would still stay on site, especially if you haven't before.

Our family has stayed at the HIFS (now Nick hotel) which is about 1 minute driving distance from the WDW gates. We've also stayed at Wyndham Palms which was a full 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo with big screen TV. But when I ask my kids and wife where they want to stay, the answer is always a Disney hotel, even if it means my kids end up sharing a bed.

I agree with others, a split stay would be best for this length of stay. However, if you 've never stayed on Disney property before, I would spend at least some of the time onsite.

 

[Shooby doo]

Oh no the fridge has thrown it all up in the air again!!!!! LOL The DVC option could be a winner (we actually looked into buying into DVC a few years back & changed our minds for some inexplicable reason-kicking ourselves now of course!!) How do you find out about buying points?
SD aw: