Onsite for 7 days, or Offsite for 10 days.

[Danny K]

I will be going to disney in the summer. I don't know if its better to stay onsite and go for 7 full days, or offsite and go for 10 full days. Which is a better choice?

 

[MistressMerryweather]

I would do onsite, if you've never been. I would squeak in 10 days onsite, if it were possible. If you've been before, I might stay offsite.
If you stay onsite, where did you plan to stay. Kids? Etc.

 

[DOOM1001]

As great as the Disney resorts are,if staying offsite means an extra 3 days I'm staying offsite.As long as it's a good hotel that would be my choice.If this is a rare trip and you want to get the full Disney experience then I would suggest considering staying onsite.

 

[aubriee]

I go to WDW several times a year and used to always stay onsite. In fact, I always said if I couldn't stay onsite I wouldn't go. Then last Oct just a few weeks before our trip, a coworker offered me a week in her timeshare over in Westlake Town Center in a one bedroom villa for just $400.00 for the week. It was just a mile outside the WDW gates. It was too good of a deal to pass up, so we canceled the WDW ressie we had and decided to give offsite one try. We fell in love with all the extra space and I had to eat my words about preferring onsite to offsite. Unless we get a super deal for an onsite resort, I can't see us ever staying onsite again. After the Oct/Nov trip I came straight home and started looking at other offsite options. I then canceled my May onsite ressie and rebooked Wyndham Bonnet Creek through a third party. I think I've finally found my resort home. We got a one bedroom fully equipped villa with full size fridge, stove, microwave, blender, dishes/pots/pans, etc, washer/dryer, jacuzzi tub, walk in shower, living room, dining table, two TVs, King size bed, fold out couch, at a Deluxe resort with six pools, multiple hot tubs, kids water play area, two lazy rivers, free mini golf course, etc for just $89.00 per night. That's cheaper than a WDW Value resort. Just a few days ago I started requesting quotes for a Sept and a Dec trip for another one bedroom at Bonnet Creek. Thus far the prices are ranging $60.00-$100.00 per night. Wyndham Bonnet Creek is inside the Disney gates, just not owned by Disney. We rent a car anyway, so are not interested in utilizing the Disney buses, and have annual passes, so don't have to pay to park at the parks. Bonnet Creek is right next door to CBR, so closer to the parks than alot of the Disney owned resorts. We love all the extra space and the fact that it is a Deluxe resort with cheaper pricing than the WDW value resorts makes it a no brainer for us.

 

[Danny K]

If I stay onsite, I will stay at Polynesian if I can get the price $220 or less per night, otherwise I will stay at Pop Century.

 

[GoofyWithGlasses]

Staying in Disney definitely has it's perks, but we used to stay offsite, and found it much easier (especially if you stay on I-Drive) to do other things, go shopping, and if you drive anyway, it shouldn't make that much difference Besides, EMH aren't what they used to be, and the buses can be very unreliable! lol.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

If I stay onsite, I will stay at Polynesian if I can get the price $220 or less per night, otherwise I will stay at Pop Century.

Considering a garden view room at the Poly was $485 rack rate this May, I highly doubt you will get it for $220/night. That would be a 55% discount. I'm sure the rack rates will be even higher next year.

If you stay offsite you also have to factor in a car rental and parking. So that might make up the difference and you can still do 10 nights at POP. But, if your family needs space and 10 nights at POP will have you at each other's throats, I'd go for offsite.

 

[davedmaine]

I will be going to disney in the summer. I don't know if its better to stay onsite and go for 7 full days, or offsite and go for 10 full days. Which is a better choice?

Keep in mind that you're paying a room premium for convenience, not for room luxury. Honestly, deluxe rooms are not that much different than your typical Motel 6 rooms. I know some people think that by paying $450 a night will get them Ritz Carlton-type amenities, but that's far from the case. The flip side is, for example, if you stay at an Epcot resort you can walk to both HS and Epcot. And for all the complaints about the busses, they're really not that bad. And Magical Express is a huge plus for us.

 

[Wcpedorc]

I will be going to disney in the summer. I don't know if its better to stay onsite and go for 7 full days, or offsite and go for 10 full days. Which is a better choice?

10 days offsite, hands down its worth it, onsite is nice but for the cost we almost always stay offsite, unless we get a smokin deal.

 

[Nancyg56]

Danny- i think before you commit to a resort, you need to think about your travel plans. I remember that you wanted to return to the resort every day at lunchtime. If you still want to do this, will you have a vehicle? I have heard that offsite transportation is not as fast as Disney onsite service. And I worried about your lunch plans even then.

There is a happy medium between the the Poly and offsite, so crunch numbers and then see if you can have the 10 days if you consider a less expensive onsite resort. You mentioned POP, and while I have not priced it out, I do know the difference in cost between the two is measurable.

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

Onsite for seven, for me would win hands down. Especially during the summer if you want to come and go during the day/evening I absolutely can not imagine choosing to drive back and forth off site with the heat and crowds.

 

[mickeynut1]

I will be going to disney in the summer. I don't know if its better to stay onsite and go for 7 full days, or offsite and go for 10 full days. Which is a better choice?

We have done both. Our first trip to Disney was offsite, followed by 2 big family trips a few years later to Orlando (not Disney-centered) when we rented a vacation home for everyone to stay together. As much as I loved the Orlando trips and enjoyed the vacation homes, for Disney-centered trips, it would be onsite for us without hesitation (even if it meant staying less nights). If breaks are needed throughout the day and/or you just feel like heading back to the resort for an hour or two, staying onsite would be a lot more convenient. Good luck with your decision and have a great trip.

 

[Sue M]

I go to WDW several times a year and used to always stay onsite. In fact, I always said if I couldn't stay onsite I wouldn't go. Then last Oct just a few weeks before our trip, a coworker offered me a week in her timeshare over in Westlake Town Center in a one bedroom villa for just $400.00 for the week. It was just a mile outside the WDW gates. It was too good of a deal to pass up, so we canceled the WDW ressie we had and decided to give offsite one try. We fell in love with all the extra space and I had to eat my words about preferring onsite to offsite. Unless we get a super deal for an onsite resort, I can't see us ever staying onsite again. After the Oct/Nov trip I came straight home and started looking at other offsite options. I then canceled my May onsite ressie and rebooked Wyndham Bonnet Creek through a third party. I think I've finally found my resort home. We got a one bedroom fully equipped villa with full size fridge, stove, microwave, blender, dishes/pots/pans, etc, washer/dryer, jacuzzi tub, walk in shower, living room, dining table, two TVs, King size bed, fold out couch, at a Deluxe resort with six pools, multiple hot tubs, kids water play area, two lazy rivers, free mini golf course, etc for just $89.00 per night. That's cheaper than a WDW Value resort. Just a few days ago I started requesting quotes for a Sept and a Dec trip for another one bedroom at Bonnet Creek. Thus far the prices are ranging $60.00-$100.00 per night. Wyndham Bonnet Creek is inside the Disney gates, just not owned by Disney. We rent a car anyway, so are not interested in utilizing the Disney buses, and have annual passes, so don't have to pay to park at the parks. Bonnet Creek is right next door to CBR, so closer to the parks than alot of the Disney owned resorts. We love all the extra space and the fact that it is a Deluxe resort with cheaper pricing than the WDW value resorts makes it a no brainer for us.

This would be a good " off site" location while still being in wdw. I think I read they have park transportation too.

Keep in mind that you're paying a room premium for convenience, not for room luxury. Honestly, deluxe rooms are not that much different than your typical Motel 6 rooms. I know some people think that by paying $450 a night will get them Ritz Carlton-type amenities, but that's far from the case. The flip side is, for example, if you stay at an Epcot resort you can walk to both HS and Epcot. And for all the complaints about the busses, they're really not that bad. And Magical Express is a huge plus for us.

Sorry to disagree, but that's a bit of an exaggeration, no, they aren't Ritz Carlton, but they aren't motel 6 either!

If I stay onsite, I will stay at Polynesian if I can get the price $220 or less per night, otherwise I will stay at Pop Century.

That's a jump, Poly or Pop? For a 10 day stay, without knowing how many in your family, what about Por or POFQ? WL or AKL? They would all come in under $200 with a summer discount. Just an idea.

 

[herb102211]

I personally would stay onsite. We stayed offsite once and it was ok, but we definitely prefer staying onsite. The fact that Disney pretty much handles everything from luggage to transportation, etc is one of the reasons we always stay on site. Its all preference though. If you dont mind renting a car and driving to the parks and you can get a great deal offsite then go for it. For us, the convenience outweighs the prices. Enjoy your trip!

 

[ptlohmysoul]

I will be going to disney in the summer. I don't know if its better to stay onsite and go for 7 full days, or offsite and go for 10 full days. Which is a better choice?

Not knowing any other info, I would say on-site for 7. If you are flying definitely on-site. What are your options for staying on-site? The values only? How many are in your party? Ages of kids? If you are definitely driving, then maybe off-site. You will still have fun. But staying on-site in comparable rooms is definitely worth giving up 3 days.

 

[Runnergal]

It probably depends on how you vacation. For us, we rarely get to go away for more than 4 or 5 days, so a week sounds awesome and would be long enough. Also, room size isn't super important to me, and I have zero interest in cooking or doing laundry on vacation - I don't even want to boil water for tea-so a kitchen would be lost on me. But I have little kids and convenience is a priority, which is why I would choose onsite nearly every time.

 

[Nancyg56]

Also, room size isn't super important to me, and I have zero interest in cooking or doing laundry on vacation - I don't even want to boil water for tea-so a kitchen would be lost on me. But I have little kids and convenience is a priority, which is why I would choose onsite nearly every time.

LOL! I agree! I have friends who cook, clean and do laundry while on vacation, and they are fine with it. I absolutely refuse. My DSIL will always make time for a laundry run, but I think he is just escaping the rest of us

 

[jenji124]

I would stay onsite. I've stayed offsite once and didn't 'feel' like I was at Disney. Just a personal peference but I like being around everything Disney while I am there.

 

[Fºoºz]

I would stay onsite. I've stayed offsite once and didn't 'feel' like I was at Disney. Just a personal peference but I like being around everything Disney while I am there.

I concur with Jenji124 ... it's the little Disney touches that makes a trip sometimes ... last year we spent a week at WDW, 2 weeks on the Fantasy followed by a week at Universal ... certainly noticed the difference in atmosphere and service ... but enjoyed both.

 

[DisneyDorx]

Dude, stay for 7. Like a PP said, you're going to get swamp a#% walking around the park in the summer. Very convenient to jump onto Disney Transportation to take you back to your resort where you can jump in the pool with your clothes on... This my friend, albeit unsanitary, is PRICELESS...