Poll:How many are looking to stay off site and why

[disneyvoice]

The only time we have ever stayed off site was when we made a last minute trip right before Christmas and every room we could even remotely afford on WDW property was completely booked. It was either stay off site or not go at all.

For our upcoming trip we booked a 2 bedroom suite because of the logistics of our party. We initially thought our younger son's girlfriend was going to be able to come with us and we couldn't figure out appropriate sleeping arrangements staying on WDW property for a reasonable cost. It ended up that she wasn't able to come so we cancelled the off-site room and just found a room on property.

 

[goofy4tink]

I own DVC, have had an AP for the past 15 yrs. I go to WDW at least three times a year. My dd lives down there now, works at US.
I'm heading down in 3 weeks...but, I'm staying off-site. I've been renting a car more often now. So, figured that since I was only going for three nights, I would give off-site a shot. Staying at the Red Lion Hotel in Kissimmee. About 8 mins from AK! At $60 a night, total, I'm happy. I get a coffee maker, fridge and micro. Then it's four nights 3 hrs south with family and then back to WDW and the Polynesian for a week.
I have to say I'm looking forward to making the comparison. For half the cost of a value resort, I'm willing to give it a shot. I don't need Emh's...tend to avoid them anyway. I'll have a car, so Transportation is a non-issue.

 

[ThistleMae]

I think staying off site with the added benefit of booking FP's at 60 days is definitely going to be a factor for upcoming trips. But, I don't want to rent a car so I would need transportation to the parks from the Hotel, that is regular enough to be convenient.

 

[fla4fun]

I won't stay off property, because if I do that I might as well stay at my house and drive in for day trips (I am closer to WDW than I am to my job). I like the full vacation experience of staying on site. However, if it gets too expensive, or their policies become such that I find I don't feel staying on property works anymore, I would do just that. I probably would drop the full AP as well and go to a more restrictive one, as I would be visiting less than I do now. I will have my first experience with the new "room check" policy later this month, which I hope is handled well as that could be a possible deal breaker if they consistently wake me up early every day when I want to sleep in (I am so NOT a rope drop person on vacation ).

 

[klacey1]

We're going in April and I considered staying offsite. I found WBC for $115 per night on AirBnB, which I thought was an absolute steal for such a beautiful hotel. The Hilton Lake Buena Vista and Hilton Buena Vista Palace (Disney Springs hotels) were about $170 a night, also great for lovely hotels. The Palace has a lazy river and the HLBV is gorgeous with a ton of restaurants. The main thing driving my consideration was the value proposition--yes we could afford a value or moderate for this trip. But a big part of me was having a problem with paying more for POR than for a far superior property offsite. We decided to stay onsite for DME and transportation (yes I know the DS properties have transportation) primarily, as well as being able to book a package and pay for it in small increments. But the value proposition still bothers me.
Now, if it's a deluxe trip--no contest. For a MK trip, nothing beats the GF. For an Epcot trip, BC hands down. My issue here was moderate vs offsite deluxe. When comparing onsite deluxe to offsite deluxe, Disney will ALWAYS win.