Pros & Cons of Staying on or off resort?

[mshanson3121]

With multiple families going, the main perk for you, IMO, is staying onsite with Disney transportation, unless each family has their own car in your offsite place.
Staying off site and sharing transportation, everyone has to decide what time they want to get there, and leave.

If you're onsite, people are free to decide when they want to come and go. If someone wants a sleep in morning or leave early having Disney transportation makes that easy.
For me, I like to take a mid day break then go back to the parks later. Offsite would make that difficult.

Off-site is is really not that inconvenient, compared to on-site when taking afternoon breaks when you have your own car. In fact, in a way - it's easier. We were able to just walk to our car and go home. Compared to others who had to stand around waiting for a bus to take them back to their hotel, make stops on the way etc... Likewise, when it's time to go back - again, you hop in your car and go. No waiting for a bus or monorail to come around. No chance that during busy season that bus is full and you have to wait for the next one.

Also, it would appear they will all have their own cars since it is 3 separate families, and the OP has stated that their own individual family is driving from Georgia with their own car.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

the feeling we have when we're in our Disney bubble is why we don't do off-site. We drove instead of flying on our last trip, and just the side trip to Walmart on our way in was enough to let me know that off-site isn't for us.

I totally get why many prefer staying onsite as there are reasons why I like staying onsite as well; but as someone who has stayed both onsite and offsite, I don't think the offsite experience can be measured against a side grocery run to Walmart . For our last Disney trip we stayed in a beautiful and spacious 3 bedroom/2 bathroom condo in Windsor Hills, a wonderful and gated vacation home community near the Animal Kingdom resort area with a beautiful main pool complex, playgrounds, clubhouse, and other amenities; and it took us about ten minutes to drive to the Disney parks. We did five days in the Disney parks (as well as a day at Legoland) on that trip and when people ask us if we missed being in the "bubble" I say our experience was bubblelicious! I'm so glad we tried it for ourselves.

 

[Sue M]

Off-site is is really not that inconvenient, compared to on-site when taking afternoon breaks when you have your own car. In fact, in a way - it's easier. We were able to just walk to our car and go home. Compared to others who had to stand around waiting for a bus to take them back to their hotel, make stops on the way etc... Likewise, when it's time to go back - again, you hop in your car and go. No waiting for a bus or monorail to come around. No chance that during busy season that bus is full and you have to wait for the next one.

Also, it would appear they will all have their own cars since it is 3 separate families, and the OP has stated that their own individual family is driving from Georgia with their own car.

I stayed off site once. It's not for everyone I guess. I missed staying onsite. Everyone vacations differently. If I were ever to stay offsite again, I'd look at the DTD hotels. Cheaper, and you still feel like you're in Wdw.

 

[ReluctantDisaholic]

I don't think the offsite experience can be measured against a side grocery run to Walmart

Being off-site, even if it was for a one-hour shopping stop, wasn't enjoyable - when we're there we like being completely immersed in Disney. If an hour was too much non-bubble, no way would spending even more time offsite, staying in a hotel or house, driving, etc. be what we want.

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

We are big fans of staying on-site. We like to be in the Disney bubble. They offer transportation to your resort from the airport, and vice versa. You can rely solely on Disney transportation the entire time. If you stay off-site, you have to factor in parking costs (there is a fee for off-site guests) gas, and factor in extra time that transportation will take you. It does add up. You also are at a disadvantage when it comes to booking dining and FastPass reservations, and you can't take advantage of Extra Magic Hours. They aren't for everyone, but my family utilizes them.

Ultimately, though, it's up to you. Lots of people stay off-site and love it, others stay on-site and love it. There's no right way to do Disney, just the way that works best for your family.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

We've always stayed on site, but I was in the CP and lived nearby for 6 months. That experience reinforced my decision to stay on site ... Forever.

I dislike Orlando in general and prefer to be fully immersed in Disney. At least someone in our party drives and stops at a grocery store on the way in or we order Garden Grocer.

We are DVC now, so we won't ever be staying off site, but even if we weren't DVC, we would also stay on site for flexibility with our party of 9 ranging in ages from 12 months to 65. Having bus access, we can all come and go from the parks as we please.

It's certainly pricier but IMO, you do get what you pay for.

I'm pretty sure parking for off site guests is $20 per car per day. For 3 cars ... YIKES. That's steep IMO. Even 1 car, that's steep. If you stay on site, but drive, you don't have to pay that and obviously buses are free.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

Being off-site, even if it was for a one-hour shopping stop, wasn't enjoyable - when we're there we like being completely immersed in Disney. If an hour was too much non-bubble, no way would spending even more time offsite, staying in a hotel or house, driving, etc. be what we want.

But you really weren't 'staying' offsite, you did a grocery run to Walmart, which I could see wouldn't be very enjoyable . I'm honestly not trying to pick on you, but I just don't see how you can be so certain you wouldn't like something unless you had the 'actual' experience for yourself. Before we decided to give offsite a try, I read a lot of encouraging posts from regular offsiters who were former onsite die hards. To me, the "Disney bubble" is a state of mind that isn't dependent upon where we sleep at the end of the day; but to each their own.

 

[MrInfinity]

Many people have listed some very good pros and cons... but to us, a Disney resort is more than just the sum of its pros... Sure you get the EMH, the Magical Express, the early FastPasses, etc... but really we stay in them because the experience is very different. It is a matter of either going to Disney World for the days, but then leaving to go to a nearby city hotel or condo... driving home, and leaving the Disney bubble in one of many nice, but definitely not Disney hotels... vs being in the Disney World bubble all the time. Since we only go every 2 years or so, we want to be immersed in the whole experience. For comparison, we stayed in the Dolphin, a nearby hotel which gets many of the Disney perks... and it's just not the same. If this is $1700 between all of you, I would go for it, stay onsite.

On the other hand if your trip is more about visiting Florida and you're only doing Disney for a day or two, then you're approaching it more like a day park, and a nearby condo will get you out in the real world closer to outside restaurants and typical city amenities. If you'd spend several days driving to either coast, or Orlando, or Universal, then this would be more appealing, but if you're doing this trip --to do Disney World-- then stay in Disney World. You park your car (or plane?) you leave it behind, and you live Disney for a week.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

but if you're doing this trip --to do Disney World-- then stay in Disney World. You park your car (or plane?) you leave it behind, and you live Disney for a week.

And I get where you are coming from but the implication that not staying at a Disney owned resort means you're not doing a "Disney vacation" or are doing a "Florida" vacation with "day trips to Disney" is what stands out as a bit unfair to me when it has been agreed upon by many that Disney owned resorts don't always meet the needs or preferences of all Disney guests; and I've seen this implication made quite a bit more on the Disboards than other Disney fan message board I've participated in. You can stay offsite and do ten days in the Disney parks, do multiple table service meals, character meals, dessert parties, BBB, Pirates League,etc. and stay onsite and only do one park day and no dining reservations or special events. I don't think I would describe that offsite trip as not being a "Disney" vacation.

 

[gdrj]

If you are looking strictly at financial off-site wins. For us we like to stay on site, but it depends how you vacation too! We enjoy on site because we rarely leave to go offsite when we have a car. We enjoy the ability to be on property and not drive if we don't want to. We also like the flexibility to return to the resort mid-day if we want, which we find easier if staying on property. We also think the friendliness of CM's has value as well. With that said and having a larger group, if staying in a condo works for your group, I might give it a shot. If staying with 3 families in 1 condo might be too much time together, separate rooms on property might be good.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

The is just nothing better then staying on property.....the Disney magic.just surrounds you. The theming and pixie dust of stay g in a Disney resort provide perks you just cannot.find off.site.


Since your coming Easter weeks you will have big issues driving into WDW if you stay off site .......it will be very crowded and take time. Lots of time. Add.in parking fees as.well.

AKK

 

[mshanson3121]

And I get where you are coming from but the implication that not staying at a Disney owned resort means you're not doing a "Disney vacation" or are doing a "Florida" vacation with "day trips to Disney" is what stands out as a bit unfair to me when it has been agreed upon by many that Disney owned resorts don't always meet the needs or preferences of all Disney guests; and I've seen this implication made quite a bit more on the Disboards than other Disney fan message board I've participated in. You can stay offsite and do ten days in the Disney parks, do multiple table service meals, character meals, dessert parties, BBB, Pirates League,etc. and stay onsite and only do one park day and no dining reservations or special events. I don't think I would describe that offsite trip as not being a "Disney" vacation.

Exactly. Our Disney vacation was far more magical, because we stayed off site. Partly because we had more money to enjoy the (expensive) magical options that Disney has to offer, things like BBB, CRT, HDDR, making matching necklaces for my daughter and I to keep forever in Japan etc... Because we stayed off site we were able to enjoy MORE days in Disney, than we would have been able to if we'd had to pay for their expensive lodging and meals. More days = more magic.

 

[mshanson3121]

The is just nothing better then staying on property.....the Disney magic.just surrounds you. The theming and pixie dust of stay g in a Disney resort provide perks you just cannot.find off.site.


Since your coming Easter weeks you will have big issues driving into WDW if you stay off site .......it will be very crowded and take time. Lots of time. Add.in parking fees as.well.

AKK

And that's your opinion. I can tell you that for ourselves, no amount of pretty Disney decor even came CLOSE to the magic and pixie dust of having our very own private 24 foot pool that we could go swimming in whenever we wanted to. I would take that hands down, any day, over a Disney themed hotel room and a nicely decorated busy, noisy, public pool that has hours that dictate when you can/can't use it. Coming home from Hollywood Studios at midnight, putting the kids to bed (in their own private bedroom with their own private bathroom I might add, a luxury for which we paid a minuscule fraction of what that would cost at Disney), and then being able to go jump in the pool and float around under the stars... priceless. And for us, far more magical than a single crowded hotel room.

 

[cheerky]

One of the benefits of staying offsite during a busy week is NOT having to wait in line! You can go back to your villa and enjoy a quiet dinner or drinks by the pool without waiting in line. You can grab your morning coffee and bagel from your quiet kitchen, in your pjs, without waiting in line. If you prefer to dine out while vacationing, then you can choose to dine on or off property. They are some lovely restaurants in Celebration, just a five minute drive from Disney.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

One thing to consider is if the adults want to get together after the kids go to bed - hard to do in separate rooms which may or may not be near each other at the value resort. Unless you have older kids, it's not like you are going to leave them alone in the room to visit with the other adults. You can do that though if you are sharing a condo or pool home.


Depends on what you want and how well everyone gets along. You might want your separate rooms and the extra $$ might be worth it. There's only 1 family out of all our friends that dh and I agree that we could handle sharing a place with on vacation. Different parenting styles, different personalities all need to be factored in. As long as you all have your own vehicles and can come and go as you please and not have to travel in a pack, offsite would be my choice. Lots of fun to be had with $1700!

And another thing - with that many people...nothing more magical than floating in a pool with a drink while the guys are bbqing. Way better than waiting with tired kids for your ressie!

 

[mshanson3121]

And another thing - with that many people...nothing more magical than floating in a pool with a drink while the guys are bbqing. Way better than waiting with tired kids for your ressie!

YES!!! There is nothing magical about having to wait in line for my food, or sit at a table trying to entertain my children while we wait for our food to finally be delivered, 3x a day, for 7+ days, with children. I don't care how cute and sparkly the restaurant is decorated. NO THANKS! There's also a lot to be said for being able to relax in the Florida sun in a lounge chair on the deck by the pool in my pjs while I eat my cereal and fruit and drink my coffee, and gradually wake up, instead of having to get get myself and the kids up, dressed and take an elevator to go to a busy dining room/cafeteria (which in turn brings about the less than magical waiting for your food with children).

 

[MickeyWaffles]

And that's your opinion. I can tell you that for ourselves, no amount of pretty Disney decor even came CLOSE to the magic and pixie dust of having our very own private 24 foot pool that we could go swimming in whenever we wanted to. I would take that hands down, any day, over a Disney themed hotel room and a nicely decorated busy, noisy, public pool that has hours that dictate when you can/can't use it. Coming home from Hollywood Studios at midnight, putting the kids to bed (in their own private bedroom with their own private bathroom I might add, a luxury for which we paid a minuscule fraction of what that would cost at Disney), and then being able to go jump in the pool and float around under the stars... priceless. And for us, far more magical than a single crowded hotel room.

See, this is exactly why it really is up to personal preference. We don't go to Orlando to lounge by the pool. We go for the parks. We look at it like we could go to any warm destination and rent a house with a pool. For our family, we would never use it if we were off site (going home to take a pool break would take more time, etc.) The slides, themed pools make the Disney pools special (to us) and worth the people being around.

It's really personal preference and what matters to you in terms of accommodations, service, park proximity, etc. I think everyone is right here - you do what works for you, and you don't know til you try.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

YES!!! There is nothing magical about having to wait in line for my food, or sit at a table trying to entertain my children while we wait for our food to finally be delivered, 3x a day, for 7+ days, with children. I don't care how cute and sparkly the restaurant is decorated. NO THANKS! There's also a lot to be said for being able to relax in the Florida sun in a lounge chair on the deck by the pool in my pjs while I eat my cereal and fruit and drink my coffee, and gradually wake up, instead of having to get get myself and the kids up, dressed and take an elevator to go to a busy dining room/cafeteria (which in turn brings about the less than magical waiting for your food with children).

For some people, it can be magical. It may not be magical to you and that is fine. Growing up, we stayed on site and some of my favorite memories as a little kid are eating in the parks and resorts with my family. Even when my sister got food all over and in her diaper at Alfredo's in Italy and we didn't have any clothes for her. Or when I had a meltdown at 50s Prime Time because there was nothing I wanted to eat there. We laugh about these things now.

We are now DVC, so breakfast for us is always in the villa before we head out for the day and we do really enjoy that. Lunch and dinner are in the parks. We eat early lunches and early dinners and never have to wait (lunch when CS opens, TS seating within the first hour, 4-5). It works for us, but that doesn't mean it has to work for everyone. If our family was not DVC, we would still stay on site because it is something we love, even if that meant going to WDW less frequently. I also am a former resort CM so that just adds to my love of the Disney resort experience.

Really, the bottom line is what is magical to some is not magical to others, what's worth the $$ is worth it to some and not to others. Everyone travels differently and does things differently and that's okay. There's nothing wrong with staying off site, there's nothing wrong with staying onsite. Things that matter to some don't matter to others.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

And that's your opinion. I can tell you that for ourselves, no amount of pretty Disney decor even came CLOSE to the magic and pixie dust of having our very own private 24 foot pool that we could go swimming in whenever we wanted to. I would take that hands down, any day, over a Disney themed hotel room and a nicely decorated busy, noisy, public pool that has hours that dictate when you can/can't use it. Coming home from Hollywood Studios at midnight, putting the kids to bed (in their own private bedroom with their own private bathroom I might add, a luxury for which we paid a minuscule fraction of what that would cost at Disney), and then being able to go jump in the pool and float around under the stars... priceless. And for us, far more magical than a single crowded hotel room.

And that is your own opinion.

We. Will take Disney Magic and staying on property and time over a.off site unit.

We enjoy meeting people and all the things that make WDW as specail as it is.

Enjoy your off property unit.

AKK

 

[disneyseniors]

Our family has stayed both ways. Our first family trip with 3 families/kids was years ago and we stayed at the then, Nickolodean Suites. It was a very nice place with plenty of room. We all met in the common room area and had breakfast, then decided where we all wanted to go. It worked for us THEN. Things were at a more leisurely pace then; no adr's and no fp's needed.
Fast forward to today. We always stay on site. Why? We are older and my husband no longer finds it fun to drive in Orlando. A big part of his vacation is No Driving at All! We enjoy putting our bags on the plane at home and having them arrive in our hotel room later that day. No handling of luggage, and it is too far for us to travel from home in a car. We like all the things others have stated about being onsite. For us, it is like coming home going to our resort, POR. As soon as I step onto the MDE bus from the airport, I feel like I am finally on vacation. We like the ability to go and come to the parks as we want, even 3 times a day if we want, without having to fight parking. For us, it was not fun. At MK you have to park in the lot, catch a tram, get the boat or monorail to MK, which takes a lot of time to do, no way around it, for us. We'd rather catch our resort bus and be there without the hassle.
I don't know, but I guess it's where you are at in your lives right now and what You want. For us, it will always be onsite for all the perks, which are important to Us. You'll have fun either way, it's Disney