On WDW park or off the park?

[ybconfused]

This will be our first time visiting WDW. Is it better to stay at a Hotel on the park or off the park?

Please help

 

[spiceycat]

will you have a car - either your own or a rental?

if you do then off-site can be fun.

If not - then on-site and let WDW do the driving.

If you go with off-site - remember to add the cost of the car and the $8 parking fee (per day not per park) to the cost.

meals and food are definitely cheaper in some off-site places. (kissimmee is a good one - International Blvd In Orlando can be just as expensive as WDW in some places)

WDW is not cheap - but the value resorts - PC, As - are good value for being a WDW resort.

if you family is more than 4 - go off-site but definitely get a car/van.

you can stay in a hotel, motel, condo, villa or house off-site for either what a WDW resort will cost you or in most cases a little less. In some cases alot less - a whole lot less.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

We always stay onsite now. We have done offsite before, and it just doesn't feel the same to us as being surrounded by the Disney magic all the time. We like being dropped off right at the gate by Disney transportation and not having to walk accross the parking lot to the parks. This is especially nice after a long day with little ones who are tired and want to be carried. We also take advantage of EE in the parks during the off peak times, which is also a nice perk.

 

[isla bonita]

I have stayed inside the park and out side in both hotels and the rental homes. I prefer the rental homes. I also would never go to disney with out a rental car. The rental homes give you space I feel you need on a vacation and the private pools and spas are nice after a long day. The transportation in disney leaves a lot to be desired. With the homes you have the option of having some meals there. I personally do not cook but we do have breakfast every morning at home with cold cereal, eggs, muffins, bagels and coffee. While each of us is getting ready the others are eating. It saves time and some cash but not a ton. We do order pizza and that like for lunch or supper when we are having a down day. We sit by our own pool and spa and just enjoy the calm. Inside the park even if you rent a higher end room it is still a room. At the end of the day the kids need to settle down and that means no tv or such for the adults . The homes are def. the way to go.

 

[Sandyincanada]

You'll find very different opinions on this topic. When are you going? That makes a big difference. We go in the off season so most of the parks are only open until 6 or 7. So we stay in the park all day and then head out to eat once they close. By that time, we are ready to escape the "magic" for awhile, lol and hit the hot tub or relax. We prefer condos offsite because we like the space ( 2 or 3 bedrms, kitchen, LV, balcony, etc) and go to parks and attractions other than DW. I don't think the food is all that great in the parks either and expensive. We enjoy renting a car and seeing the sites as well. So its really a personal preference.

 

[Mainebound]

As everyone has pointed out there are pros and cons to both. I think for your first trip, though, you should, if you can afford it, stay on site at a WDW hotel (I do not consider DD hotel or S/D truly onsite and have stayed in both). While there are lots of great offsite options (and we are staying offsite next trip), I think there is an unmistakeable sense of fun and excitement staying onsite. And we have never rented a car and have liked the WDW transportation.

have fun!

ps. If you ask this on the Resorts board you will immediately get about 9,000 replies telling you that your trip will be totally compromised if you stay offsite. It will be a great thread to make you feel good about a decision to spend the extra $$ and stay on site, but a terrible thread if you really want to keep an open mind.

 

[spiceycat]

mainebound I heard you - yes the Disney Resort board is for disney resorts,

hopefully this board has a little better understanding that not everyone can afford a Disney resort.

or you like more space and what Disney charges for more space is really, really high!!!!

 

[Lucky4me]

That's why we're mixing it up this year. A couple of days onsite and a week in an offsite resort with 3 bedroom, 3 baths for less than we'd pay at a value resort. Then you have the best of both worlds.

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by spiceycat
hopefully this board has a little better understanding that not everyone can afford a Disney resort.

or you like more space and what Disney charges for more space is really, really high!!!!

I agree. We can afford to stay onsite but much prefer to stay offsite for your second reason - space. We have stayed in or at least been in the rooms at Contemporary, Port Orleans, WL, AKL, CBR and ***/ASM. Even the rooms at the deluxe hotels are tiny to us. If it was just DW and I, no problem. But add in DD and we'd be miserable. DW and I hate having to sit in the bathroom after DD goes to sleep. We hate having nowhere to sit but on the beds. We hate not having a decent size refrigerator. Lots of reasons we prefer to be offsite.

As to the OP, I wouldn't argue with the fact that for a first time visitor, staying onsite is very nice. Until you know your way around and are comfortable getting around on your own, I would stay onsite. Personally, our trip next week will be my 23rd. I know the Disney area as well as I know my own neighborhood so I'm perfectly comfortable venturing and staying offsite, but I wouldn't recommend it for a newbie.

 

[spiceycat]

disneysteve - I own at DVC resorts - but for some trips I still stay off-site - change can be a good thing!

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

Originally posted by Mainebound
If you ask this on the Resorts board you will immediately get about 9,000 replies telling you that your trip will be totally compromised if you stay offsite. It will be a great thread to make you feel good about a decision to spend the extra $$ and stay on site, but a terrible thread if you really want to keep an open mind.

LOL! Yeah, that definately happens.

I have been on-site and off-site. Loved both for different reasons. Now, I think I prefer off-site, even if only for the space you get. I wouldn't stay off-site if my only choice was a moderate hotel though. For less money I can get a 2 bedroom/2 bath condo with 3 TV's/VCR and kitchen on Skyauction. But even if I didn't use Skyauction, I would pay up to $150 a night for some of the off-site condos. Compared to what you get at a WDW moderate for the same price, it's no contest.

I also enjoy having my own car. The last time we stayed on-site we used our van, and we liked it a lot better than using the buses.

But.....................I also think that for a first timer, I would choose on-site. When you don't know much about the lay of the land, or about all of the hotel choices, it can get too overwhelming. It's hard enough choosing which WDW resort to stay at!

Try and get a good deal for on-site so you can get the "feel" for WDW. The more trips you make, the more adventurous you can get off-site.