onsite vs off

[abmitch01]

We just returned from 10 days at POR, our first time onsite. It was just DD and myself so it seemed silly to rent a condo. We paid $160 a night for POR to stay in a preferred room close to the dining hall and bus stop. The resort was lovely, the room was lovely and very clean. Everyone was so nice and helpful. But we must've had bad luck with buses, we always waited about 15 minutes for one and then it stopped a bunch of times. We also got tired of the POR food court. We missed having a kitchen. One room was fine for DD and me but if DS comes it would not work.

So I think we're going back to off site. I got our condo last time for $800 for 9 nights and it was beautiful. And I think it was closer then POR, we got to Disney really fast. I think it was a steal because this was over Feb break.

so we tried onsite but I guess it's not for us unless I hit the lottery!

 

[salamander3]

We are doing our first onsite visit. Our last time, we only went to Disney for 1 day. We waited until the last minute, did a rental by owner, and got a 4 bedroom house with a private pool for $450 a week.

The downsides are obviously the early reservations. I was able to get a lot more by staying onsite. We also have 4 full days of things, so we'll just be sleeping at the resort. It's a splurge, but I'm happy we're doing it. Plus the free dining works for us.

Glad you had a good trip anyways!

 

[pigletto]

We are in the opposite situation. This will be our first time offsite in 9 trips! When the kids were younger it wasn't bad to be in one room, and we were often in the parks all day long. As we've gone more and more things have changed. 2 parents, a 17 year old dd and 10 yr old ds don't fit well in one room anymore, and we've been enough that we like down time at the resort as well as going to the parks.
I have to be honest I am nervous. I am really looking forward to the room, but there was always something about walking into the lobby of a Disney resort that felt like the start to a magical vacation. I am worried that I will miss that too much.
However we got a two bedroom, full kitchen, two bathroom room at Sheraton Vistana Resort for $620 for 7 nights through SkyAuction and you just can't beat that price. It will be lovely to have space and stay somewhere new and try some offsite restaurants. I think I am going to miss being at a Disney resort, but I also think the benefits will outweigh those feelings.

 

[abmitch01]

that's a great deal!

 

[Alesia]

We are in the opposite situation. This will be our first time offsite in 9 trips! When the kids were younger it wasn't bad to be in one room, and we were often in the parks all day long. As we've gone more and more things have changed. 2 parents, a 17 year old dd and 10 yr old ds don't fit well in one room anymore, and we've been enough that we like down time at the resort as well as going to the parks.
I have to be honest I am nervous. I am really looking forward to the room, but there was always something about walking into the lobby of a Disney resort that felt like the start to a magical vacation. I am worried that I will miss that too much.
However we got a two bedroom, full kitchen, two bathroom room at Sheraton Vistana Resort for $620 for 7 nights through SkyAuction and you just can't beat that price. It will be lovely to have space and stay somewhere new and try some offsite restaurants. I think I am going to miss being at a Disney resort, but I also think the benefits will outweigh those feelings.

We stayed offsite for the first time in June and I was worried about the same things you are, but I found a really nice 3 bedroom/3 bath condo for $50 a night and I just couldn't justify staying onsite.

It was perfect. I don't think I'll ever stay onsite again.

 

[abmitch01]

this is terrible to say but walking into POR lobby, I didn't feel that different from any other hotel. The grounds were gorgeous, the pools were nice. But the room was average. I just didn't get bowled over by the magic like I thought I would. It was very nice and I'd recommend it to others but off site has me spoiled. Plus, DD hated sharing a room with me because there's this awful rumor that I snore, lol. Actually, she recorded me snoring to play back the next morning on the bus. Mortifying!

 

[pigletto]

We stayed offsite for the first time in June and I was worried about the same things you are, but I found a really nice 3 bedroom/3 bath condo for $50 a night and I just couldn't justify staying onsite.

It was perfect. I don't think I'll ever stay onsite again.

That is very reassuring. I know I will like the resort and honestly if we were paying onsite prices we wouldn't be able to do Universal this trip. It's pretty much a win no matter how I look at it. We've also done the parks so much that I don't feel like I am really missing out if I don't get to do EMH's or can't get a Mine Train fastpass. Oh well, I might have to stand in a line.
It's just new and different so I am a little hesitant, but more excited than not!

 

[Kingdome8]

I enjoyed staying off site. Was a good price and all. But I will always stay on site for now on. Just that feeling is worth it to me

We stayed at animal kingdom last time and loved it.
Sept we are staying at POR, the resort looks great. Seems to be the popular one of the mods...