Saving over $2000 by staying offsite

[blowinbubbles]

Originally posted by anne1125
Stayed onsite on our first trip (2 hotel rooms at Caribbean Beach) and went for offsite, 2 bedroom condos every time since. You can't beat having 2 bedrooms and w/d and space! This year we're doing OLCC.

Dumb question, but what is OLCC? I've seen it before in the forums, but for the life of me can't figure it out! LOL!

 

[Grog]

OLCC

 

[Sinclare]

Yes, especially for a family group (we have 6 adults and 3 children going) staying on site would be nice but too expensive. Last year we scored a 4 bedroom 3.5 bath house with a nice pool just 10 min from disney for around $650 for a week.

This year I scored big, I got us a 5 bedroom 4.5 bath house with a 36*14 ft pool with pool heat just 5 min from disney for $690....You can't beat that with a stick. Course it's only for 6 nights this time but that's still great and in the 3rd week of June at that!.

There are lots of deals you just have to know where to look.

 

[crazyforgoofy]

I think staying onsite has its points when you're traveling with small children but otherwise a close offsite is fine with me too. This trip we're onsite but the next big trip (probably 2 years from now) I hope to find a great house with pool like some of you have written about. I think the bigger kids will LOVE it and I know I will enjoy the space.

 

[brandip22]

I stayed offsite in the past, but it was at motel-types places so I've never even considered staying offsite since I've been paying for ht etrips myself. You guys are making me consider looking offsite. We will have to be in either a cramped FW cabin with 6 of us next year or pay a heft price for two studios at a DVC Villa. Offsite might work better- of course, only if I can convince DH to go offsite!

 

[bunnybomb]

I am spoiled about staying offsite. Plus, lots of the offsite accommodations make promises they can't keep, nothign close to comparable transportation, etc. I just bought DVC points from a member and we are staying at Old Key West in a one bedroom unit with a full kitchen. Bringing your own food is THE #1 SAVINGS OPTION. I am getting 4 nights, bringing all of our food, and we payed $700.00 for our points. Just for fun, I went to the Disney website to see how much it could be to book this....over $1,500.00 plus tax! Our family of five would spend $150.00 plus EASILY if we bought all of our food out, even if we ate at the cheap places! So sometimes you can stay Disney and keep in cheap....just get someplace with a kitchen!

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by bunnybomb
I am getting 4 nights, bringing all of our food, and we payed $700.00 for our points. So sometimes you can stay Disney and keep in cheap....just get someplace with a kitchen!

bunnybomb - I guess it all depends on your definition of "cheap." To me, $175/nite is definitely not cheap. I know that for less than half of that I can get a beautiful 2-bedroom condo somewhere like Windsor Palms.

I agree with you regarding transportation. Anyone staying offsite and depending on hotel shuttles will be disappointed. But we prefer to do our own driving (even when staying onsite) so that isn't an issue to us.

 

[DisKim]

I've always stayed onsite, but I'm traveling with my mother in October and I would need two rooms. I checked into renting a condo or home instead. I'm renting a 3 bedroom, 2 bath condo in Windsor Palms for $513 for the week. That includes tax! I'm very excited to try this. It's only 3 miles from the parks. I don't think it will be any more of a hassle to drive into the parks than it is to take Disney transportation. I'm predicting that travel time will be about the same. We have AP's so we don't have to pay parking at the parks which is nice. I'm just thrilled. I'll have to let everyone know how things go.

 

[pjlla]

Just my .02.... we have stayed onsite in the (distant) past, but the last two trips we stayed at the Homewood Suites on Parkway Blvd in Kissimmee (not to be confused with the one in Orlando, which I have heard bad things about). Both stays (01/2002 and 01/2004) we paid $59/night plus tax. This included free bkfst every day and free mgrs reception (beer, wine, snacks, light supper M-Th). This was a 1 bedroom suite that sleeps 6 (including the full size sleep sofa). We have been MORE THAN happy staying there. Never more than a 15 minute ride from parking lot at the hotel to the parking lot at the theme parks.

Anyhow, if anyone is interested in hearing more about this option, I wrote a detailed report over at the "Orlando Hotels" board here at the Dis! Or you can PM me!.....................P

 

[HuntersMommy]

We are leaving in 2 weeks!! Woo Hoo! It is me, DH, sons (3 1/2, 10 and 15). We managed to get a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house with a private screened in pool for the week for $400! this is a newer house about 10 minutes from the maingate, I can't wait! You guys may want to check out www.orlandovillas.com. They are private houses that people rent when they are not using them.

 

[Sandy Feet]

[QUOTEwww.orlandovillas.com. [/B][/QUOTE]

Just for fun I went to check out your link, but you need a password to enter the site. How did you get onto the site?

 

[Shelle&Dave]

I did a search for it. You can go to this site and scroll down a little. There is a link for OrlandoVillas that takes you right to the page.

 

[Lanshark]

We always stayed on site until DH went to WDW on a business trip. He had to rent a car and drive from Corando Springs to DD or the parks during the evening when he was through with the show he was doing. He called and told me how easy it was to get around by car. We began staying off site and driving and we've never turned back. I have two teens so the extra room was wonderful and we saved a bunch of money.