onsite or offsite?

[rosiep]

We are staying off site for the first time in October! I found a whole bunch of condos on the Florida Sun Vacation Homes site. We chose the "Treasure Cay" 3 BR/2 B condo in Windsor Hills. It's only 1.5 miles from WDW. Not only was it only $109 a night, but we got a 15% discount for staying more than 7 nights!! They had some for $99 a night and there were some 2 BR's for $89 a night. We picked ours b/c it is right next to the pool. I did this when I noticed that Disney was charging about $111 a night for an itsy-bitsy room at All Star Movies!! After our last stay at the Pop last year, I really don't want to stay at a Value Resort again, so I'm really excited about this year. I say try off site

Do any of the vacation homes offer shuttles to Disney? Just curious. Thanks

 

[swilphil]

If you want to be close to Disney but not pay the onsite rates, consider some of the close in resorts: Swan/Dolphin often has good rates during off-season if they don't have a convention for about $149 a night.

Bonnet Creek is next to Carribean Beach resort and not far from DTD and Epcot. We stayed in a 2 br condo there and they offer shuttle service. Driving to the parks is not bad either, since you are inside the Disney Maingate.

Other option would be to rent points at DVC, Sun.-Thurs. when they are cheapest, especially if you are going in Jan. (minus MLK weekend).

 

[portia9]

I am heading off next year for our first trip and we will be staying offsite. I looked at all kinds of options and even considering gas and parking it still seems much cheaper to stay offsite. I will be interested in what you decide-let us know

Yvette

 

[deejay-55]

It's a matter of 'horses for courses'. If you want the full on-site experience, then you will only get it on-site. For our part, when we used to stay on-site we found ourselves Disneyed-out after a few days. So we prefer off-site, and nearby, to experience not only Disney but also the other things on offer. Plus, we get our own private pool and spa!

 

[rosiep]

"Horses for Courses"????

I've never heard of that! What does it mean? I'm not being cheeky..I'm just curious.

Thanks

 

[Princess_Michelle]

The Condos we are staying at do not have a shuttle service, I don't know about others. I added everything up and after the condo, a rental car, parking, no DDP, tickets and groceries being delivered, we'll be paying the exact same amount, maybe even less, depending on how much food we eat So, for the same price, we get 3 whole bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, and a less crowded pool (instead of a little room and a crowded value resort). Now, when we are able to spend money on a deluxe, we'll do that, just not every time. I mean, for what you spend on a deluxe you could get a WHOLE house with its own pool!!

 

[amery]

If budget and non-WDW attractions are important than offsite will be best for you. You will have to pay $10 daily for parking and will also have to take into account that afternoon breaks may be difficult depending on when you are going and where you are staying.

 

[mikymouse]

I was not sure about off site until I saw a map of how close some of the off-site locations were so close to the AKL where we stayed at before. I believe the values are not too far away from AKL either as we shared a ME bus with the Pop. We did not mind what some consider a long bus ride to the parks from AKL and it might actually be shorter with our rental car with no walking down from our room to the AKL buses plus a little bit of wait time. It is still a hefty hike from the bus drop off to the parks especially for little legs. We really enjoyed escaping in the afternoon to the AKL, so I think we will be fine with nice off site location, but I am definately going to miss the smell, sounds and view of AKL We are going to DTD this time and having some extra money that we didn't spent on a deluxe will be a nice treat. I agree with other posts that the magic is created by our attitude not your locaion. When we stayed on site it was the first vacation that me & DH really felt we had completely escaped from real life.. I think part of that was that we never had to drive between the ME and buses. This time my DH insisted on having a rental car because he wanted to eat non-disney food during our vacation at least some of the time... so me if you have to drive then you might as well be off site. I will miss EMH. I am really a deluxe kinda girl but there is no way I could ask my folks to pay for a deluxe room and I really can't pay for their room so we are going off site for many reasons. It was either save up for another deluxe trip in a couple of years or go sooner with cheaper accomodations so everyone can go. I think we will have a blast. Good luck with your decision...

 

[Evil Princess]

We've stayed offsite more than onsite. I have always felt the Disney magic though no matter where we stayed. Of course my wallet feels that magic more so when we stay offsite.

Our favorite offsite place to date has been the Sheraton Safari. We got this through priceline a few years back at an incredible rate. It had all the amenities (aside from EMH) that our onsite hotel had. Only we paid 60% less. Also, the travel time was under 5 minutes to the parking lots of the parks and about 2 minutes to a DTD parking lot.

Like others have said you could always try a DTD hotel also.

I'm sorry, yes the Sheraton Safari is VERY close to DTD (2 min WITHOUT traffic), however, 5 minutes to all the parking lots of the parks? Uhm....maybe going 80 mph with no traffic.

Epcot is the closest park, and you hit MANY lights, 5 minutes is nearly impossible.

I'm all for off site if it works for you, but please give accurate information!

 

[wahoostampingirl]

We have gone on two trips this year and stayed both off site and on site. I enjoyed both, but when we go back next Jan. we'll be off site again. It comes down to a few deciding factors for us:

1. Stay offsite means we can have a longer trip. In Jan. we will be staying 9 nights in a 3 bedroom condo at Windsor Hills. My parents will be joining us for 5 nights, so the whole family will be able to stay together for one price. My parents wouldn't even have to pay, but since they want to, they get a very reasonable daily rate from me. If we stayed onsite, I'd want to be in a mod or a deluxe, so it would cost considerably more, even if we got a good discount.

2. A condo gives everyone more space. Especially when we're there for longer trips, I like to be able to put the kids to bed in one room and still be able to enjoy some reading or TV in the living room. When we stayed on site, it was a constant balancing act of getting the kids to sleep at a decent hour without Mommy laying awake in the dark for hours.

3. I like having a car. My dh is not in agreement on this point. However, I hated taking the buses everywhere. I don't like waiting for them to show up either. I want to jump in my car and go. When we stayed at Windsor Palms, it usually took about 20 mins to get from the front door to the turnstiles at the parks. Most of our bus rides were just as long (and some were significantly longer when we stopped for more pick-ups). It took us an hour to get from POFQ to the Poly for brunch one day since we had to transfer to the monorail at MK. I was expecting the travel time, but it didn't make me like it any better. For our next trip, I have promised that I will do all the driving since my dh did like Disney transportation.

4. I love having a full kitchen. When I'm relaxing after a long day at the parks, I don't want to have to run to the ice machine or the food court to get what I need. We kept some snacks and drinks in our room when we stayed on site, but it just wasn't as convenient. I also like being able to come "home" and pop a frozen pizza in the oven if we don't want to eat out.

I know I'll stay onsite sometimes because, it is fun to be at Disney 24/7. If my dh and I ever go on an adults only trip, I'd love to stay at the Wilderness Lodge or the Polynesian. But for those longer trips, its off site for me.

 

[deejay-55]

"Horses for Courses"???? I've never heard of that! What does it mean? I'm not being cheeky..I'm just curious.Thanks

Horses for courses means that what is suitable for one person or situation might be unsuitable for another.

 

[rosiep]

I like it! Thanks

 

[Lisa BC]

I have to agree with many of the other posters, your time spent together as a family is what will make a stay magical.

Here's what we are so excited about for our upcoming trip:

1. huge home with plenty of space to spread out
2. screened private pool and 10 person hot tub right out our back door with plenty of seating around the pool - so no need to fight for chairs
3. parking in our own driveway
4. large living room where we can gather together as a family
5. everyone gets their own bedroom and bathroom, lovely linens, and pillow top mattresses
6. feeling "freed up" to try some good dining options offsite

We have just decided we don't want to spend our vacation in a hotel room(s) anymore. Our concept of convenience is parking at our door, a close to pool swim in, a full size fridge to store our snacks, in unit washer/dryer, and room for everyone to spread out.

We all have different needs. The vast majority of us have budget constraints. So you just have to weigh out what is important to you. It is Disney - you'll have a great time!

Good luck deciding!

Lisa