Pros and Cons of staying off-site

[jennifer.myers]

Can anyone tell me what are the pros of staying in an off-site Disney hotel? I have mixed feeling about staying off. Other than the price can you tell me what are the pros of staying off.

Jen

 

[TotoToo]

If you are really talking about an off site hotel/motel then price is the only one I can think of. A hotel is a hotel Disney or not. The real offsite values are one of the many timeshares or houses that offer so much more room and, for the timeshares, a resort atmosphere at the same or less cost of a hotel room on site.

 

[Lewisc]

Pros--Price, bigger room--suite hotel, free breakfast and easier access to more budget friendly restaurants and stores.

Cons--You really need a rental car. DME and Disney transportation eliminates that need for on-site guests. You'll have to pay for theme park parking (unless you have an AP). You can do a search for the other advantages of being onsite.

 

[cwnhokie]

I agree with Tototoo but if you are considering a timeshare or house he's my list. (We did a 2 br timeshare last year and this year a split stay between a house and VWL, for the purpose of comparing)

House/Timeshare - Pros:
1. More space, don't have to be quiet or go to bed when the kids do
Room to hang out with others if you are traveling with others, after the kids go to bed, game room for the kids to hang out and stay out of your hair.
2. Kitchen for fixing some meals, expecially breakfast to save some money, fridge to store food, water, sodas,
3. For house, private pool and hot tub, this was my favorite, we swam every evening in February, it was wonderful.
4. We stayed at Windsor Hills and Liki Tiki, both had lots of things to do in the community also.
5. Can go to the grocery store, cheaper offsite restaurants, shops, etc.
6. It's much cheaper.

Cons:
1. Need to have a car
2. Have to pay for parking
3. Have to take care of your own luggage and clean up after yourself.
4. Not immersed 24/7 in Disney Magic, hidden Mickeys, music, tv, stuff
5. Can order room service or stop at the hotel restaurant.

Onsite
Pros:
1. Disney transportation
2. Don't have to take care of you luggage or clean up after yourself
3. Disney all around you
4. EMH, big one

Cons:
1. Disney Transportation
2. You have to pay someone to take care of your luggage and clean up after you.
3. No private pool.

That's all I can think of right now. Hope that helps a little

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

These are all good. Just a few things.

EMH.........only a pro for some. There are some very knowledgeable travel authors and such that recommend NOT using these even if you are staying on-site. I am steering clear of them on our next trip.

Paying for parking.........we are AP holders so we don't have to pay for parking. But, I'm sure most people that park there are not AP holders, so ofcourse they would have to pay.

Has anyone mentioned washer/dryer if you are in a condo/house? That's a big one. I love not having to pack as much and coming home with no laundry. This is a must for us because we go for two weeks at a time. Can you imagine how much I would have to pack if I didn't do laundry?

Yea, I agree with cwnhokie............Disney transportation is a pro and a con. Sometimes it's great, sometimes not so great. We've gotten to the point where even when we are on site, we drive to the parks, except maybe for MK.

Also agree with LewisC.........you definately need a car if you are off site.......maybe not for the DTD hotels, but for everywhere else.

This is just my opinion.......so take it for what it's worth......but, I think if it is your first trip to WDW, you should stay on site, even if it's at the values. Now, if a family just can't afford to do that, fine. But if you can swing it, I think immersing your family in "all that's Disney" is a fantastic option for your first time there. Our first trip (as adults) we stayed at Dixie Landings (POR) and I think it's what gave us the Disney bug. After a few on site trips, we were ready to save some money.............especially after that third child came along.

 

[TravelinGal]

A side note on cars - parking to be specific -
Like the stroller rentals, if you keep your receipt, you can present it at another park (or same one if you leave and come back) the same day and not have to pay parking again. Right now, parking is $9 per day.

I agree that if you're staying off site, you should look into a home or villa, not just another hotel. You can find some great deals even a few miles from WDW. If you're willing to drive 15-20 minutes there are some nice homes in Clermont. Further away from the parks USUALLY means less money.
Don't rule out Emerald Island etc - contact the owners of those homes too. Even if their posted price is too much. Tell them what you can afford for your length of stay and sometimes they will lower their price. We had a max budget for a home. We contacted about 30 different home owners. We had 2 at the end vying for our business. They lowered their prices to get us in their door. (by about $600!) vrbo.com is a great place to start your search. Here is the link to Kissimmee homes on vrbo.com. Browse the different neighborhoods. Start with Emerald Island, Windsor Hills, Rolling Hills, Indian Ridge, and possibly Formosa Gardens. (FG is the most expensive one from what I've found.) Also check out Clermont if you don't mind a little drive. Most of the homes in that area are less than 10 miles from the parks.

There's my two cents worth anyway.

 

[minnie29uk]

I love the private pool and spa in the villa.Its so nice not to have to worry about what others think of me in my swimsuit--they can't see me!!!

I like to make my own pack-ups and frozen drinks the night before.So the villa kitchen is grat for this-and saves me money in the long run!!

Have great time,
Lynn

 

[mcnuss]

This trip we got the best of both worlds. We stayed Sat-Sat at our Vistana timeshare, and then moved over to the Dolphin (I know, not technically a Disney hotel, but close enough for us!) for Sat-Mon. We absolutely love timesharing, I am all over the separate bedrooms, the kitchen & the w/d. But we loved our weekend on site. We did the Boardwalk every night, walked to Epcot and took the boat to MGM. The Dolphin's amenities are as nice, if not nicer, than the true Disney hotels. If I had to do it again, I'd reverse it, and we'd have started at the Dolphin, but that wasn't an option on this trip.

 

[jennifer.myers]

Thanks for all the info. It has helped me to make my decision. What is EMH? I'm sorry I don't know the abrevations. We plan to stay at the Westgate Vacation Villas that is suppose to be 1 mile from Epcot. This is my 7 trip down since 1982.

We did the disney thingwhere we stayed at the Port Orleans (loved it). I was torn whether to stay off site this time around. I love the whole disney thing and was worried that the effect would not be there if I stayed off site. plus the transportation issue was a biggy for me. We are driving down 13 hours drive (loads of fun with kids just kiddin).

Thanks for all your help.

 

[spiceycat]

emh - extra magic hours - an hour in the morning at a WDW park - or 3 hours in the evening.

here
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/earlyentry.htm#exmagic

 

[jeff968]

and we prefer off site. there is so much more to do and see in orlando. We're at the point now where we spend most of our days by the pool enjoying the weather and reading. We've done the parks many times. We'll usually do only one, maybe two days at the park. So, we wouldn't take advantage of all of the on site disney benefits. that said, you want to make sure you pick a nice off site location. I know you said you are going to the westgate. I've heard that resort is "okay" but it won't live up to the disney quality you may be expecting. If you want that you need to pick an offsite location like the Marriotts or Hiltons. They are just as nice as Disney IMHO.

 

[ElleBelle]

We just returned last week from a beautiful 7bedroom/ 6bath home in Acadia Estates (near Formosa Gardens). Everything was gorgeous... and yes, it was great to be able to get right in your car in the morning and drive into the parks... however after staying many times onsite I feel like it kind-of separated us from the magic.

Worst for us was having to hike to the car or ride the parking lot trams back to our car at the end of the day... it seemed to take forever. On the nights we were at the MK... we were exhausted by the time we caught the ferry or monorail to the TTC... walked to the parking lot tram... waited to get on... got dropped off... walked to our car... and THEN drove home. There's just something about being able to hop right onto the resort monorail or a bus at the end of a long day and hop off at the GF or your resort minutes later.

Take this as an example... this past august (2005) we went to wdw with my brother and his girlfriend. My brother's girlfriend had never been to disney before and she thought she would be unimpressed. We stayed at the GF... and by the morning of the second day she was hooked. She's now a Disney World fanatic. Fast forward to last week. DH, my brother, his girlfriend and I went to the MK our very first evening (we drove from our house and parked in the MK lot). When it was time to leave we waited in the "herd" of people waiting for the ferry to the TTC. Got on the ferry. Finally got to the TTC, and stood waiting for the parking lot tram to pull up. While we were standing there at the TTC with hundreds of other people, my brothers girlfriend had her hands folded and was looking up at the sky. When I asked her what she was doing... she said... "praying to the Disney gods".... "for we have sinned"... Well, needless to say, we all erupted into laughter- because, really, she was right. For the rest of the trip we coined the term "DDD".... "doin' disney dirty"... i.e. by staying offsite.

Really, all... hope I don't get flamed becuase of this as we truly did enjoy ourselves at the BEAUTIFUL home. It was just an ongoing joke... Just wanted to put mine, as well as a newbie's 2cents in.

 

[jennifer.myers]

I wanted to stay onsite someone gave us this timeshare for the week. What is the weather like around June the 18th. Thats when we are going down there. I have a 9 month old and I dont know if the weather would be o.k. for her. I live in Maryland, our weather would be in the 80's. Since we will be driving into the parks, is there somewhere in the park to sit with a baby. I have a feeling that I will be leaving early so i don't think I will be missing the extra magic hours. I love disney and would love to go every year.

 

[crazelion]

I wanted to stay onsite someone gave us this timeshare for the week. What is the weather like around June the 18th. Thats when we are going down there. I have a 9 month old and I dont know if the weather would be o.k. for her. I live in Maryland, our weather would be in the 80's. Since we will be driving into the parks, is there somewhere in the park to sit with a baby. I have a feeling that I will be leaving early so i don't think I will be missing the extra magic hours. I love disney and would love to go every year.

Sure there some where to sit. They have bunch in the park to sit on. MK just go into the Hall of Presidents and take a nap.

 

[jennobrn01]

I have never stayed onsite, so my opinion is not well balanced. But, just using logic I say offsite all the way!

We just booked a 3bed/2bath condo for $73 a night. That includes taxes! It's in the Windsor Hills resort which is just a few miles from wdw. Doing tons of research I can't be convinced that staying onsite is better. Even commute times are usually the same (and often less) than using Disney transportation.

Click here for the link for Windsor Hills.

 

[dgaston]

for jennifer.myers Learn the locations of the Baby Care Centers. They are great places to change, nurse, relax with a baby in AC. And there are definitely attractions in addition to the Hall of Presidents that a baby and mom can enjoy.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

Take this as an example... this past august (2005) we went to wdw with my brother and his girlfriend. My brother's girlfriend had never been to disney before and she thought she would be unimpressed. We stayed at the GF... and by the morning of the second day she was hooked. She's now a Disney World fanatic. Fast forward to last week. DH, my brother, his girlfriend and I went to the MK our very first evening (we drove from our house and parked in the MK lot). When it was time to leave we waited in the "herd" of people waiting for the ferry to the TTC. Got on the ferry. Finally got to the TTC, and stood waiting for the parking lot tram to pull up. While we were standing there at the TTC with hundreds of other people, my brothers girlfriend had her hands folded and was looking up at the sky. When I asked her what she was doing... she said... "praying to the Disney gods".... "for we have sinned"... Well, needless to say, we all erupted into laughter- because, really, she was right. For the rest of the trip we coined the term "DDD".... "doin' disney dirty"... i.e. by staying offsite.

Really, all... hope I don't get flamed becuase of this as we truly did enjoy ourselves at the BEAUTIFUL home. It was just an ongoing joke... Just wanted to put mine, as well as a newbie's 2cents in.

Well, for one.........I don't see much "flaming" on this board. That's one reason out of many that I like to hang around here. It's such a nice place full of nice people. We welcome your opinion.

And I totally get what you are saying. There are drawbacks to staying offsite just like their are drawbacksto onsite. If I had the money, our family would be in two rooms at a monorail resort and/or an Epcot resort! If we were to do that now, we would only be able to stay once every five years. With staying offsite and annual passes, this year we will be at WDW for a total of 31 nights. We are having a blast!

But, to be honest, I think I feel a little less magic when I am offsite when I compare it to our onsite trips. But I also believe, you make your own magic. There is nothing magical about our family of 5 sharing beds, bathrooms and a little room. But it's definately magical to have a Disney bus drop you right off at the park entrance (but then NOT magical to wait in that line at park closing if you are not staying at a monorail resort! ) Been there, done that, don't want to do it again.

To help a little in this situation, we usually stay waaaaayyyyy after they close the rides (you probably know that the shops stay open for an hour afterwards). We let all the crowds pile out of the park. And maybe it's just me, but we always have better luck with the monorail at park closing. We take the ferry over at opening and do the monorail at closing. We've never had to wait long.

But that is just one park out of four. We didn't have any problems with parking at the other three parks.

Oh, and that is cute about the sil praying to the Disney gods...........she has a great sense of humor.

 

[DISUNC]

emh - extra magic hours - an hour in the morning at a WDW park - or 3 hours in the evening.

here
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/earlyentry.htm#exmagic

This is a HUGE plus!!!!!!! It is amazing how much you can accomplish with those extra magic hours.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

Oh MY! I just learned about the free dining and it's actually offered when we were planning on being there..........now what? I've never done this before.

DH wanted me to get a quote from WDW and it was only about $200 more than we were planning on spending........ofcourse it's only for 10 nights (the first night we would stay somewhere offsite) and if we were offsite it would be 14 nights.

Oh man! This means if we do it we would have to stay in one room at POR (that is the most economical choice for our family of 5). I love POR but two doubles and a trundle? I hate double beds..............arghh! But the free dining would be a huge plus!

Well, there might not be any available by the time I call on Tuesday........so then I guess I wouldn't have to worry about it...........choices, choices......

 

[HappyLawyer]

i love offsite, i like to do more then just the disney parks, on our next trip in 08 i do want to stay at the poly but other then that offsite for me.