onsite vs. offsite dilemma (help)

[Rippington'sFan]

Onsite vs. Offsite. I'm just not sure what to do. Maybe you all can help. When it comes right down to it are the benefits of staying inside Disney really just being able to utilize early entry and make priority seating and park for free if you have a car?
Currently we are booked at the Doubletree Guest suites. We got a pretty good rate for late August. Even though the doubletree is technically inside Disney (near downtown disney) it is not considered a Disney Hotel so no early entry or priority seating. Also they have their own bus transportation etc... We will have a car so no big deal with the transportation.

My real question is... We are leaning towards keeping our reservation at the Doubletree Guest Suites. Our only other choice is one of the Value Resorts. Do you think we would be better off at the Doubletree guest suites or the Value resort? For 5 nights it will only cost approx. $100.00 more for the Doubletree suite which will give us much more room. The drawback is we cannot utilize the early entry or priority seating etc... which I guess is really not such a big deal to us unless one of you has another opinion on that. We have a car so we can eat dinner outside the parks etc...
Any thoughts or suggestions on if we should reconsider staying at a Value Resort or stick with the Doubletree? We are really not fussy people when it comes down to where we stay. I have heard the Value Resort rooms are kind of small but we could deal with that if we were convinced staying at a Disney resort is the better way to go. Our kids are 8,5. It will be our 1st trip to Disney.
I would appreciate any thoughts on this.
thanks,

 

[mad4themouse]

All things considered, I would book the Value Resort and then hope that a code would come out that would make it even more affordable. My reasoning is as follows:

• This is your first trip to WDW. What a great way to immerse yourselves in the magic from day one.
• EMH is nice in the summer because you can tour the parks before it gets too hot and then go back to your resort for an afternoon break. Late August can be very HOT!
• Park hours are shorter in late August due to reduced attendance. The EMH gives you more time to tour the parks.
• Parking will be free. At $7 per day, staying onsite will save you $35 total. It's not a lot but it's something worth considering when the total difference between hotels is $100.
• It will be easier to stay onsite now, while your children are small, than it will be when they are teenagers who hog the covers, hog the bathroom, and generally hog just about anything else (voice of experience talking here).

With regards to the Priority Seating....anyone can make those. You do not need to be staying onsite to make PSs.

Another thought...you can keep your DoubleTree ressie, make a Value Resort ressie and spend the next couple of months watching rates. You can always cancel one or the other as your vacation date approaches.

 

[CheapMom]

I would go for whatever is cheaper-
Being so close to dtn Disney IMO you will still have that warm, fuzzy feeling. At least one of the DD hotels (Grosvenor) has a character breakfast (2x a week I think) It is reasonable and it is a very nice hotel. If great rates come out at the DD go that route.
Your kids might like PopCentury's fun theming based on their ages. Keep an eye on the discount codes for value resorts.

I don't think the extra space in the room would be a factor for me. You are in the room so rarely.

I have done both and really prefer a Disney resort but I'm sure whatever you choose will be great

 

[xlstacey]

Everyone will have a different opinion on this topic .. so here goes mine. If it's really crowded in August, then the EMH might be very helpful ... but it is just an hour and will you use it at every park? Just a thought.

If I had to choose, then I would stay offsite at the Holiday Inn Family Suites. We visited there one day & my girls 12, 10 & 7 loved it there. We had breakfast and lunch while we were there. It is great for the kids, close to WDW and kids eat free. The rooms we viewed were nice too. Separate room for the kids and a small kitchen. We'll be there on our next trip.

I think it's hard with sooo many choices. It was easier once we got there to really see what the different places had to offer. The Doubletree does sound nice though, but you may want to compare it with the Holiday Inn Family Suites.

Enjoy

 

[mudnuri]

I went back and forth with this very same question not too long ago for our upcoming April trip. It does as another poster said boil down to what your family finds "attractive"

First I was offsite- wanted/needed a 2 bedroom to help get the kids to bed, great- booked at tropical palms for 79.00 per night plus tax...then I switched to Days Suites- 59.00 per night....at this time all-stars were booking at 109.00 per night...that was just way to high for me!

Then I decided we needed to join AAA, for the roadside assistance on our travel down etc.. for laughs I called WDW to see what the AAA rate was at an All Stars...well- 94.00 INCLUDING tax!....I said, okay since we do not know if we'll ever go back to WDW this being our first trip and having a DH who isn't "into" the whole crowd issue etc... I booked it...for our first 6 nights, then went with a Hampton Inn LBV for our following 6 nights that do not include WDW.

Here are my reasons for booking inside WDW, and again, this is only my personal preferrences...having never been to WDW I may be wrong!

1. WDW transportation...instead of paying $7.00 a day to park, I can still drive my truck to the parks if I WANT to, but do not have to, nor do I have to pay $7.00 which totals savings of $35.00

2. Early Entry mornings...when we're there, 2 days MK closes at 6pm...being able to take advantage of the EE's at the other parks and then go to MK on those same nights helps with feeling less stressed about what we might miss.

3. The "feel" of the All Star resorts, my DD's are 6 and 7, and are going to LOVE the decorating at these resorts...the HUGE 101 dalmations, woody buzz etc... that alone pushed me over the edge.

In the end, the only thing that will make your decision is your family. I suggest you look over your budget, and see if that is the only thing holding you back where you can "save"..

I now have enough disney dollars to pay for everything on-site....I will put those on my room charge, and that will eliminate the "well, I'll just use the credit card" syndrome I have...once the DD's are gone, we're done shopping!

Also- with a room only reservation- you can book it now, and pay the 1 nights deposit within 14 days, then you can send them monthly payments to pay off your room in advance...you can also send TOO much money which some people do to add to the room charge...

Good luck with your decision

Brandy

 

[threeboysmom]

You mentioned "priority seatings" as one of the factors in your decision. Whether you stay onsite or offsite makes no difference in ability to make priority seating reservations. People offsite can make these as well. So don't let that influence you one way or the other. You have a car - that is usually the deciding factor for onsite vs. offsite. Personally, if the cost for both were roughly around the same - I would go with more space. Having a separate bedroom from the kiddos is nice However, if you're going to the parks every day, the parking will add up and make the price difference between the two even more so take that into consideration. Let us know what you decide! Right now, make a reservation at both places until you can decide.............

 

[studog]

I'd contact a DVC member on the DVC board and rent points from them. You could stay at Old Key West for around that per night and you get the luxury to. Forget value when you can have deluxe.

 

[Rippington'sFan]

I don't know why I didn't know that about priority seating. Oh well. Now I know.
Anyway's, I took the good advice I got here about booking a Value Resort. Now I have more time to make a final decision. I just booked the All Star Music Resort since my son love's music. I'm a sports nut but that's another story. No biggy.
I don't mind sharing with you what I got for a rate for late August. Right now it's $110 (including taxes) for the Value Resort. But if a code comes out maybe I can get that reduced. Who knows? It's still cheaper than the doubletree guest suites but we sacrifice the extra room to be officially onsite. The Doubletree guest suite rate I am booked at is $119. (tax not included) This rate comes with continental breakfast.
One part of me says stay at the doubletree but then I keep asking myself which place is better for the kids. That's why we are going to Disney for them so why not stay at a place they will like. I'm not sure if they would like the Doubletree Guest Suites or the Value Resort. I would guess the value resort since they are 8 and 5. Plus this being the 1st time at Disney it may sway me into staying onsite. I showed pictures of the pools at the value resort to the kids and they liked what they saw. I don't much about the pool at the doubletree.
But anyway's at least I have 2 places reserved and I have the time to think it over. I'm not worried too much about the room size since we survived a 7 night Disney Magic Cruise with no issues. LOL I can't see the Value rooms being any smaller than the cruise ship rooms. I just hope I get a room close to one of the pool bars. (kidding)

 

[faeriekisses2]

You know I have to tell you all that planning a trip to WDW is not an easy matter. and my husband just says' do whatever I want' when i ask him his opinion, He just so wants to go to disney he doesnt care where we stay. I on the other hand want to get as much as I can for my money and I dont want to pay alot for a hotel that way I have more to spend on fun things like The Hop De Do Review and toys at Disney. also we havent been there in six years and we are so anxious. so long way around, it really helps to read everyone else gets a littel crazy making all the plans so thanks for helping me keep my sanity

 

[CheapMom]

Originally posted by mudnuri

3. The "feel" of the All Star resorts, my DD's are 6 and 7, and are going to LOVE the decorating at these resorts...the HUGE 101 dalmations, woody buzz etc... that alone pushed me over the edge.
Brandy

I AGREE, MY KIDS WENT NUTS FOR THE PLACE[- I MEAN- IF YOU ARE 6- HOW MUCH COOLER COULD YOUR HOTEL BE THAN THIS???

 

[CheapMom]

Hey Rippington- also it might be worth it to sign up for the Dis Visa now, in case they put out rates for summer like they did for spring. If so you should be able to apply those rates to existing ressies taking your AllStar res from 109 per night down to 69. (Fingers crossed) I am hoping they do this.