Onsite or offsite? Family of 5...$2500 TOTAL to spend...

[scraptoons]

We rented DVC for less than a week at a value. Check out the DVC rent/trade board.

 

[kellia]

Just a quick question? If you fly down instead of drive, I notice that everyone says the room is cheaper but from what I have found it ends up being about the same price after I figure in the $300-$400 to rent a van for 8 days to fit all five of us, 2 strollers and all our luggage.

Are those of you that say staying offsite is cheaper not having to rent a car down there? I can see where it would be then! But if I have to rent a car and pay for parking/gas, that would eat up all my savings so I might as well stay onsite, right?

Well, we get a car for free since dh works for a car company, so we just have to pay for parking at $10/day. So, MUCH cheaper than on-site. But, when I was looking into car rentals before we knew we could get one, it still would have been cheaper for the 5 of us. I would keep looking for a mini-van rental, I know I saw some cheaper than that! But, we are also going in Feb, so they might be cheaper then for that reason. And, we will have 2 strollers, also, but won't have too much luggage since we will have a washer in our condo, we won't need to bring too much.

Car rental is definately something to figure in!

 

[jksgrammy]

Kanga: Be sure and check out mousesavers.com for discount codes for most of the major car rental places. Also, check hotwire and priceline for discounted prices. I was able to find a mini-van for one week in Feb. thru Budget (pick up/drop off at Orlando Airport) using a special code for $250.74 (no longer available at that price unfortunately for anyone looking now). You have to be patient, and keep looking constantly, but cheap rentals can be found.

I am also in agreement with staying "off-site" because of the advantage of having more bedrooms, full kitchen. We have a 3 bedroom unit reserved this coming Feb. at Grand Beach Resort which is only a couple of miles from DTD.

After staying off-site for our last visit (Nov. 2006), and finding out how easy it was to drive back and forth, I'm not sure I need to stay on-site again. But keep in mind that I am retired, and I have the ability to constantly check for deals on the internet and we can travel when those deals do come up.

 

[StephMK]

We are also a family of 5, have done both & I'd definitely recommend staying off-site! We stayed at Westgate Villas which doesn't get good reviews but it was a timeshare gift from family & we loved it. Tons of space, great to have laundry & kitchen and separate bedrooms. We felt completely squeezed & couldn't relax when we all stayed at POR. I'd also prefer the drive to the bus waits. The parking lot trams were quick & fun for the kids.

We love the Disney magic but it was also nice to take a break & not be immersed in it after hours, kwim? Gave the kids a chance to unwind off-site more & we liked eating at places other than on-site restaurants. I think it just depends on your family and you know them best. There are many that like to be surrounded by Disney 24/7 but it's too much for us.

We flew & thanks to the transportation board info, got a deluxe due to upgrad coupon on the rental & ended up driving around in a Lincoln Town Car -all for $150 for the week.

Have a great time planning your trip! It was very overwhelming at first but then it starts making sense and the planning gets to be so much fun.

 

[DisneyKidds]

I'm in the on-site camp. We've stayed offsite several times, at some of the DTD hotels (ok, I guess technically these are on site, but they aren't Disney hotels) and a few different Marriott properties. None of these ever give us the same feel as when we stay on property. Just something about driving under that 'Welcome to WDW' sign over the road and never leaving. Closer to everything, Disney transportation, Extra Magic Hours, free parking.......always being immersed in the Magic. Being on property has it's benefits, but it doesn't always come cheap.

How old are your kids, when will you be travelling, and how many nights will you need? Answer those questions and I may be able to suggest a couple of options.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Add another vote for off-site. We only have 2 kids but the 1 time (out of 10 trips) that we stayed onsite, I couldn't stand being cramped in 1 room for a whole week. That means 1 toilet, 1 shower, 1 tv and no separate space!!
Our reason isn't so much about saving money; it's about saving our sanity. I'd pay extra to have the luxury of multiple bathrooms, bedrooms, full kitchen, washer/dryer, big screen tv, Jacuzzi, etc. Privacy for dh and I is priceless!You don't have to cook or do laundry but it's there if you want to. (we've gone a whole week and packed so light we didn't have to check in bags in at the airport.)
We don't need to rent a minivan. We fit fine in a full size (so does my neighbor who has 3 kids) and have gotten a convertible a few times just for fun too.
Also some people have a huge fear of driving in FL and getting lost and yes, we've taken wrong turns but it was nothing so huge to make me want to stay onsite and get bussed around.
Also, you don't mention your kids ages but Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure is a blast and so is Sea World, Gatorland, and Kennedy Space Center. It's really easy when you have a car. When you stay onsite, yes, you're "totally immersed in the Disney experience" but you're kind of trapped there too. (This is so Mickey gets every vacation dollar you spend.) Taxi or shuttle to go anywhere else will run almost the same as a rental for the week.
We stayed at Cypress Pointe about 6 yrs. ago and I agree that Hotelkingdom.com offers very reasonable rates for there.
I really think it's all a matter of preference and knowing what you like and what you want to do. There's no right or wrong way to go! good luck!

 

[crisi]

I'm a complete and total onsite snob (we are DVC owners to get around that one room problem), but if you total budget is $2500 for a family of five - I'd stay offsite in a second. For our family of four, we spend $1000 on park tickets, $1200 on airfare for a week at Disney - that would leave us $300 for accomodations, food and souvieniers. Now, granted, you probably don't have that huge airfare expense or it wouldn't even be possible.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

I have done Disney both onsite and offsite. Onsite is alot of fun. If you stay onsite you won't need to rent a car. Someone mentioned the moderate priced resort with the trundle bed and kitchen. That is a good idea. And you won't have to worry about parking a car everyday at the park, its about 10 dollars a day now i think.

Offsite is still cheaper. They have some really good priced hotels on route 192 near Old Town. It is only about 10 minutes to the parks and Universal studios and Sea World are close by. You can eat cheaper offsite.

We went in August and stayed onsite, Disney was offering FREE DINING! That was a great deal. I have 2 teenage sons. We drove down and once at Disney, my car didn't move for 6 days. It got a long rest for the long drive home. When we wen't enjoying free dining, we kept our cooler filled so that saved alot of money.

 

[nextidiot]

A trip to Disney is a trip to Disney if you ask me. Off-site, on-site, water parks, no water parks, 3 days, 15 days....

I'll take it any way I can get it.

Still, given your budget, you will be able to better utilize your resources staying off-site.

Make the most of it regardless.

 

[PaulaSue]

SBing

 

[FreddyBeach]

We are staying at the Windsor Hills resort in May 2007. It is apparently only 2 miles from the entrance to WDW and seems to be a very nice place.

www.windsorhillsrent.com

Mike in the Maritimes

 

[Zoemakes5]

I guess I would need to know what's included in the $2500 to budget before I can really answer this. And a few other considerations, too.
Honestly, for our family of five, if we're not driving in, it's typically fairly equal cost staying onsite when you consider cost of parking and car rental if you stay off site. And, personally, I'd take advantage of the dining program, if possible. Unless your children are just over into the adult range, I think it's a great deal.
My boys are bigger and we also have a little girl, but I'd stay onsite in a minute if I could, even in smaller rooms. I loved having that flexibility when we were there last. And, I was "totally" on vacation then. Not doing laundry or cleaning or cooking, just enjoying.
That being said, you'll see in my siggy that I've ended up staying offsite more often. Mainly because we've had the offsite options as part of a package or because my parents own Marriott timeshare and we stayed for no cost. And, as others have said, a trip to Disney is a trip to Disney!!! My kids certainly don't know any different. I really like Horizons by Marriott.

 

[kangareaux]

Sorry for not replying sooner. Christmas an all...

Anyway, there will be 5 of us. Two 9-year olds, One 6-year old (will turn 7 at Disney! ), and DH and I.

We'll be Driving...

$2500 will have to cover EVERYTHING.

We MUST do the Waterparks. Oldest son only wants to go if he can swim with sharks. (Crossing fingers it will be open in November!)

I've just about made up my mind that Park Hopper will be a must also.

So, the only place I'm seeing that we can cut the budget is Lodging. (Well. that and Food....but I want to eat in the park some...Not every meal, but definately once a day at least)

So......Have I lost my mind to think I can do it on that Budget?

 

[HeatherC]

For the time that you are going, I would DEFINITELY use SkyAuction. You can get a very nice 2 or 3 bedroom condo for under $300 a week including all taxes!! That will allow you a lot more flexibility in your budget. It will also give you a full kitchen so you can hang out in your jammies to have coffee or cereal or whatever in the morning. This really helps save on the food budget but would allow you to have a couple of nice meals out.

Some of the resorts that have come up in the past that are very close to Disney are Orbit One Vacation Villas and Silver Lake Resort. Silver Lake is practically right next to Animal Kingdom. The commute from there is no further than some of the Disney onsite resorts. You can check out reviews of these places on these boards as well as www.tripadvisor.com.

If you are looking for a nice place to stay at a really really cheap price, this is a great way to go. Since you will have your car, a rental car is not an issue. And like I said, these resorts are VERY close to the parks.

You should also check out www.mousesavers.com as someone else probably mentioned. I think you can get a suite room at Buena Vista Suites for about $85 a night. Although that would still be more money than SkyAuction.

Good luck to you.

HeatherC

 

[alloyd1170]

We are doing something different for our Feb. trip. Over the last few years we've been staying at CR. Well ds has been begging to get an rv and go camping. My dad will be meeting us at WDW after the Daytona 500 and has a camper/van. We ended up renting an rv from Cruise America in Kissimmee. It's a 5 person (its just me, ds 5, and dd 1.5). I think it is costing us just under $500 for 4-5 nights plus the nightly campsite fee which is under $100. We are staying at Ft Wilderness campground, onsite. We used to do this when I was younger and it was fun. We are on the dining plan (free ??-my dad is treating so I dont know exact details) as well which is a great deal. While we will miss the ease of hopping on the monorail, we will now use the ferry and our car to get to the parks.

alison

 

[Oceana]

Here is my budget trick

You are not going till next November so how much can you sock away extra? When we did our trip last September I started paying on the vacation and when I had it paid off (to disney not a credit card company) I just kept paying... then when I overpaid we upgraded our vacation... then the next month when I sent in more extra money I upgraded some more

our food money came out of our usual food (grocery budget) from home so I only planned to pay a little at the time (meal plan!)

Why on earth would you go in November before Thanksgiving if you have a budget? Why not go in September and book after they offer free dining? September the room will be budget rate rather than high attendance cost which will save you oodles. Free dining and you got a great vacation value

just some ideas

julie

 

[kangareaux]

We were looking at November for the low attendance, cool weather, (OK...not COOL, but not Blistering! LOL!) and all the hotels and such are in the budget prices for the week before thanksgiving week. And my youngest DS's birthday is the 11th and would fall right in with all the other perks of that week.

What are the crowds like in September? And which week in September? (I assume not the week of Labor day) I sub at the kids school and they are really still working hard to keep them in a routine in September. The week before Thanksgiving the kids are so looking forward to vacation that they don't accomplish anyhting anyway, so I figured it would be a good time to pull them. (If they were going to miss, it might as well be during a week that they aren't really soaking up too much knowledge anyway... )

Now....DO TELL about this free dining thing.... A girl needs to know these things! LOL!

 

[conniehar90]

We have done both and will never go back onsite. The price of a value resort room is comparable to a 2 or 3 bedroom condo. We have stayed in Windsor Palms and are going to Windsor Hills tomorrow. It's about a 10 minute drive to the parks.

The owners we rent from are at www.disneyneighbor.com - they have places in WP and WH.

Good luck!

 

[sully7]

I suggest Sept as well. And onsite. If free dining is available you MUST stay on site. Get the cheapest room you can but stay on site. (If no free dining than definately stay offsite!)

With Free Dining you will not cook, the kids will not be constantly begging for treats, you will be able to say "YES, you may have the burger and the fries and the ice cream and the soda!" You will be Parent of the Year! (Eating steak or shrimp or whatever you want the whole time!!!)

We went last year (4 kids and 2 adults) and for our free dining we ate over $1000 worth of food at just the sit down places. I didn't even bother to count the snacks and counter service! And most importantly when we were at the parks and every one was hungry I didn't have to say "No!" to just stopping and getting lunch right there! It was amazing how much fun I had when I did not have to be the heavy! That was worth alot right there!!

As for school so they miss a few days. The value you will get with your limited budget will be worth it! And Sept is still hot enough that any day is a good water park day. My sister went in mid october and only one day of their trip was hot enough for a water park! They didn't even go on splash mountain because it was too cool! Late november might be pushing it!

As for the birthday! Go to WDW in Sept but buy a gift (secretly) for the birthday! She will have the memory of the trip and still have her birthday as a seperate and special time.

Room size doesn't matter. You will literally be only sleeping in the room.

That being said... Whether you go onsite or offsite just go!! Onsite takes more planning beforehand to make everything work with a budget, but once you are there everything is taken care of: food, transportation, etc. Offsite takes a bit less planning but once there you have more to do (finding a restaurant, deciding when to eat in the parks and how much to spend on the meals, driving to the parks, paying for parking etc)

Enjoy!!!

 

[scraptoons]

Sorry for not replying sooner. Christmas an all...

Anyway, there will be 5 of us. Two 9-year olds, One 6-year old (will turn 7 at Disney! ), and DH and I.

We'll be Driving...

$2500 will have to cover EVERYTHING.

We MUST do the Waterparks. Oldest son only wants to go if he can swim with sharks. (Crossing fingers it will be open in November!)

I've just about made up my mind that Park Hopper will be a must also.

So, the only place I'm seeing that we can cut the budget is Lodging. (Well. that and Food....but I want to eat in the park some...Not every meal, but definately once a day at least)

So......Have I lost my mind to think I can do it on that Budget?

Looking at the ages of the kids.....for the price of one meal a day in the parks....you have the price per day on the kids dining plan meal.

Think about that.