Onsite at a value or offsite with a car for Christmas/New Years

[Eilynn]

I am planning a trip for 2 adults from December 27-January 10. We will be getting 10 day passes and 2-3 day tickets for Universal. If we stay onsite, we would be staying in a value resort and renting a car only for the 2 or 3 days we go to Universal (after New Years). We would rent a car for our entire stay if we go offsite.

As far as staying offsite, what would be the best options for us? Is missing out on the EMH at MK the first week of our trip a huge deal? Ideally, I'd like to be no more than 20 or so minutes from the parks. Would one of the 2bdrm condos at Windsor Hills be a good value for us?

Thanks!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Since you are getting 10 tickets and going to Disney for 10 days don't forget you will have to pay $15 a day to park ($150 total) if you are not a resort guest.

You will also be there during a very very busy time and the crowds will be insane so be at the park as soon as it opens. During the Christmas holiday the parks fill up before 10 a.m. and they close the admission to folks who are not staying onsite. Dec 25, 2013 MK closed at 9:00 a.m they were so full.

 

[Bete]

There is no way for your trip dates that I would be offsite. You have two great advantages being onsite during your dates.

As an onsite guest you can't be refused entry into the Disney parks. Once capacity is reached at a Disney park off site guests are turned down. This does happen especially with NYE.

Most important fastpass has changed and offsite guests are being treated very poorly with fastpass plus compared to onsite guests. You want to be able to make 60 day advance reservations which you are allowed to do as an onsite guest. Offsite guests right now have to wait until they enter the park to do fastpass plus. You only get what's left after all onsite guests have a crack at picking their attractions/rides. The waits are bad enough during the holiday time, but to not have this fastpass advantage becomes very frustrating. We went in early December last year and stayed offsite because we take our dog on our trips. She is too high strung to stay in an overnight kennel. Anyway, that trip has me not going back until it gets better for fastpass plus for offsite guests.

Add the extra magic hours and I wouldn't stay offsite.

 

[4forMe]

There is no way for your trip dates that I would be offsite. You have two great advantages being onsite during your dates.

As an onsite guest you can't be refused entry into the Disney parks. Once capacity is reached at a Disney park off site guests are turned down. This does happen especially with NYE.

Most important fastpass has changed and offsite guests are being treated very poorly with fastpass plus compared to onsite guests. You want to be able to make 60 day advance reservations which you are allowed to do as an onsite guest. Offsite guests right now have to wait until they enter the park to do fastpass plus. You only get what's left after all onsite guests have a crack at picking their attractions/rides. The waits are bad enough during the holiday time, but to not have this fastpass advantage becomes very frustrating. We went in early December last year and stayed offsite because we take our dog on our trips. She is too high strung to stay in an overnight kennel. Anyway, that trip has me not going back until it gets better for fastpass plus for offsite guests.

Add the extra magic hours and I wouldn't stay offsite.

I completely agree with the above poster.

Due to all the changes with FP+, there is no way I would be staying offsite during the busiest time of the year at Disney.

 

[Dean1953]

I'm staying off site from December 21-January 10. I did reserve one night at Disney's campgrounds, so if the rules don't change, my family of 6 can get fast passes 60 days out. As of now, we have 10 day passes but might change a couple of them to annual passes while there. I did recently add the 3rd week, so we wouldn't be stressed out over the holidays in trying to do everything while fighting the crowds.

 

[buckeev]

We go almost every year at that time...spent 17 days there this past season. Do yourself a favor..stay onsite!..the first 7-8 days that you'll be there are insanely busy. Elbow-to-elbow...correction...armpit-2-armpit crowded busy.

EMH helps. The bus lines at the values tend to be a bit slower/longer, but in my opinion, there are still advantages.
Also. if you can swing it...stay on site at Universal. The Express Pass that's included if staying at Royal Pacific, Hard Rock Hotel or Portofino Bay are worth their weight in gold. (Cabana Bay isn't included in that perk as of now). You might be able to do without the rental car completely...(Parking at the Universal Hotels is expensive too.) Take a cab from Disney to Universal.

Feel free to post up any questions...here and on the Universal threads.

 

[Eilynn]

It looks like onsite is probably the way to go. My biggest concerns were the closures and FP+.

You might be able to do without the rental car completely...(Parking at the Universal Hotels is expensive too.) Take a cab from Disney to Universal.

Feel free to post up any questions...here and on the Universal threads.

I was leaning more towards renting a car in case we'd like to leave for a break and come back, but I see that that parks closed at 7PM this past second week of January, so we likely wouldn't do that. For the price of taking a taxi back and forth for 2 or 3 days or renting a car, it may be worth it to stay for a night at the Royal Pacific for the Express Passes.

Is it correct that we would only need to stay for one night to get two days of Express Pass? Can we arrive early in the morning on our check-in day, head to the parks with the Express Pass and then use it again on the check-out day (leaving our luggage at the hotel)?