loves to dive
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2011
We are an on-site family. It is all about the bubble for us. We drive so renting a car and having our own transportation doesn't matter, we never use the car, we use WDW transportation the entire time we are there. We rarely do EMH, we used to but now our trips aren't all about the parks, yes we go to a park every day but we aren't there from open to close. I could care less about the whole 180 day, 60 day, whatever it is to book FPs and ADRs. I don't book most of what I do until the night before, the earliest maybe a week before. I have APs so parking is free for me anyway. So why stay on site? I like the convenience. Simple. I do shop for discount rates and I do split stays between moderates and deluxe. It's just me and my grown son, sometimes just me so having a whole lot of room that a two bedroom condo has isn't necessary. I don't cook or do laundry on vacation, the best I do is if we are diving and staying in a condo I'll throw wet suits and dive boat clothes in the dryer. I don't like having to navigate the traffic, I don't like having to look for a parking spot, I basically don't like to think when I'm on vacation. That bubble keeps me from having to do that. The one time, years ago, we stayed off site, we were turned away at the gate because MK was full. In all fairness, I always try to stay in a self contained area no matter where I vacation. If I go to Jekyll Island here in Georgia, I stay at the Jekyll Island Club. Most likely the most expensive resort on the island and is not on a beach, it is on the river. They do own their own little beach and offer a free shuttle to get you there. Could I stay at the Holiday Inn for less, which is right on the beach and a fairly nice hotel? Yes, but I like the fact that the club is like it's own little town, you can walk around at 5 in the morning with no one but the deer to keep you company and be perfectly safe. You can park your car and not have to move it, they will do everything else for you. When I go to Amelia Island in Florida, I stay at the Amelia Island Plantation. Same thing, it's a self contained little town and as a solo woman I'm safe there. Yes, I visit other places in the towns I go to, normally if I do that I'll stay in a Holiday Inn or Sheraton for a night or two to do that. Am I rich? No. I save for my trips, I actually re-use zip lock bags much to my honey's dismay. I will squeeze every last drop out of a shampoo bottle and use a bar of soap until it's a tiny sliver. My vacations are my splurge, I buy my clothes only on sale, I've never paid more than $30 for a pair of shoes, I buy store brand just about everything and if there is a coupon out there I'll use it. Are the deluxe resorts up to par with a Four Seasons or the Ritz, which will cost about the same? No. But it's all about the bubble.
