Saving over $2000 by staying offsite

[fairytinkerbell]

YEP! Wanted to stay @ Wilderness Lodge, but 2000 dollars more in pocket!
and free bkfst!

 

[dizagain]

Yep...I hear you!!! We stayed off-site last year and had a blast (and a fridge/micro, free breakfast, suite, etc...). I am really looking at a moderate for next May, but I don't know if the dollar signs will get to me or not - we'll see! You'll have so much fun anyway!!

 

[disneysteve]

No argument here. I've done onsite and offsite many times. Offsite wins hands down. Much more space, greater amenities, much lower cost, more convenient and, sometimes, breakfast included. Much more "magical" to us to be able to visit every year and have lots of space while we're there so we don't get on each others nerves too much

 

[Jamieb]

With the advent of skyauction it's hard to justify staying onsite sometimes. We just won a 2 bedroom condo for a week this summer for $326. That's maybe three nights at a value resort in mid July but we have the all the amenities of home including a kitchen, washer/dryer and jacuzzi tub.

Although it's nice to stay on site, we can do a lot more extras by staying offsite.

 

[maggiew]

Originally posted by fairytinkerbell
YEP! Wanted to stay @ Wilderness Lodge, but 2000 dollars more in pocket!
and free bkfst!

Where did you decide to stay???

Maggie

 

[pjlla]

I have to agree. We were trying to justify staying onsite this last visit, but we ran the numbers over and over and off-site just kept winning!! But we would like to stay at AKL Concierge level for at least one night on our next visit so we can do the Sunrise Safari!! ......................P

 

[js]

I hear you too! We have been to Disney many times and this year, after a difficult year for my mom, she decided to take my family to Disney (she has been many times too ) Anyway, when we first started talking about it, she said she would take us to the Contemporary since the kids loved their last stay there. My husband happened to mention to his friend at work who also loves Disney that we were heading down the day after Thanksgiving. He told my husband that he had quite a few weeks he wasn't going to be using at his timeshare (Orange Lake Country Club) and would "give" us the week. My mom paid the $500 fee to change the week and that is ALL it is costing her for the week for a 3 bedroom condo at Orange Lake. We will get the daily maid service so it will be a little extra but my mom was originally going to pay for 3 rooms at the Contemporary so it too saved her thousands. Don't get me wrong, I love to stay on site, but we are lucky that going to Disney is not a once in a lifetime event for us so staying offsite sometimes is great too! We have also been to HIFS and LOVED it there too. Whether we are at Disney, another vacation or on a cruise, we always get two connecting rooms-one for us and one for the kids so for the price, a close offsite with kitchen, extra space and separate bedrooms is very appealing
Have a good trip.

 

[hercamore]

Good for you. Have a good trip!

herc.

 

[C.Ann]

Another offsite fan here! I can NOT stand being in "cramped" quarters when vacationing.. Worse than that, I can not stand spending WAY more money than I have to just to be in a building that's on Disney property..

Someday I may "try" one of the resorts - but it would have to be a VERY short trip and a bargain basement rate because I would go bonkers being all cooped up like that and knowing how much I spent to be miserable..

Have a great time - and feel free to spend some of the $2000 savings on a souvenir or two for ME - LOL!

 

[sweet maxine]

I think it's wonderful, and hope you have a great trip. We have stayed numerous times, both onsite and off. We have had great times at either place. We have just gotten great deals lately which proved to be the enticement to stay onsite.

I think anyway you go, the fun times are there to be had. We are staying onsite this year for a great price, but I have also looked around to see what the other hotels are offering. I wish there was enough time to try them all, as each place has something special to offer.

For $2000 in savings, you have really done a great job! That's almost like a vacation for half the price!!

 

[frannn]

DH and I have never stayed offsite, due to the convenience of the WDW buses and being able to run back to the room midday, etc. That being said, we have always stayed in the value resorts. How much of an added pain is it to go back & forth from hotel/condo/timeshare to the parks? Are you still able to use WDW transportation? Just curious, since we have not been able to get an AP discount for our past few trips, and the small AS Movies room cost us 99+tax/night.

 

[js]

frann, when we stay on-site we usually stay at the Deluxe resorts. We have also stayed off site at HIFS and will be staying at OLCC.
We always rent a car whether staying on or off site so travel is not an issue. I can tell you that is was much easier to drive from some of the parks to HIFS than it was to get back to AKL or BC (if we were not at Epcot). Either way, I guess the father away you are from the parks off site, the more of an inconvenience, but otherwise, I think it is just about the same or easier. We also have a 6 and 10 year old and still don't feel any difference. I'm with C. Ann, I need my space and could not last all week or longer being cramped in a hotel room that is why we have to always get 2 connecting rooms to have some privacy and space. Off-site, if close enough and clean, works out very well for us although for our next trip I would like to try the Poly since we haven't been yet

 

[undertheradar]

Our family of five has done both and our kids(6,8,13) prefer: offsite. We stay at one of the Marriott timeshares and get much more out of our vacation. We are paying $142/+tax/nt for a 2 bedroom unit with w/d,full kitchen,garden tub,2 bathrooms, screened balcony with dining table, dining room with seating for 8 and lots of onsite activities. The WDW onsite price for like accommodations is $679/+tax/nt. With the 4 nights for the price of one savings, we purchased 5 day tickets for US/IOA and added several character meals. Even with driving to the WDW parks from the resort, we cannot justify $500+ more per night.

 

[sweet maxine]

familyoffive, how did you manage such a great price on your room? That's awesome!! I didn't know there were places such as that with a screened in room. How did you find out about this place?

 

[undertheradar]

sweet maxine


If you page through the Orlando Area Hotels and Resorts Forum, you will find lots of info on many of the villa, condo, timeshare type properties. You will find them in all different budget ranges and locations. We prefer to stay closer to Sea World, as we like to avoid 192 as much as possible.

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by frannn
DH and I have never stayed offsite, due to the convenience of the WDW buses and being able to run back to the room midday, etc. How much of an added pain is it to go back & forth from hotel/condo/timeshare to the parks? Are you still able to use WDW transportation?

There are plenty of nice places within 15 minutes of Disney property. It takes no longer to drive from the parks to those locations as it does to take a bus from the parks to the Disney hotels. In fact, at busy times when you have to wait a while for a bus, it can be quicker to drive to an offsite location.

I'm with js. We always have a car regardless of where we stay. It is so much more convenient to be able to come and go as we please. Disney does a great job moving people around, but their system has its limitations. I'd much rather drive myself. Saves a lot of time and hassles.

 

[HenDuck]

We stayed in a 3 bedroom 2 bath home with an enclosed pool and jacuzzi near where Splendid China was. This was about 5 years ago, but it only cost $700/week. We split the cost with my parents. You cannot beat $50/day for your own home, with washer and dryer, full kitchen, living room, pool and jacuzzi and enclosed garage! There were tvs in the living room and each of the bedrooms. There was also a formal dining area as well as a kitchen nook table. AND it had a security device too.

With kids, I cannot imagine anything being more convenient for ALL your needs. I think we could have had maid service but it really wasn't necessary. We just threw our towels in the washer and dryer at night and had clean towels the next morning. The best deal is if you get a 3 or 4 bedroom house and split it with your family. Then, the price just can not be beat!

It only took us about 10 minutes to drive to Disney and really was not a problem at all.

I do not remember the name of the realtor, although my mom has that info. You can do a Google search on Kissimee vacation home rentals and find thousands of homes to choose from.

I don't think we'll ever stay on Disney property because the off-site deals are just too good.

 

[Grog]

I've stayed off-site and on, and while some of the on-site perks are nice, it can be hard to justify if you are on a budget. We're planning a December trip and it will be on a budget. I'd rather stay off-site than not go at all. Plus, staying off-site can be fun. I actually like going up to I-Drive or Church Street after leaving WDW for the day. A Disney vacation is what you make of it, no matter where you stay.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

stayed off site the last 5 trips. It is wonderful. For the same price as a couple of cramped queen beds and a bathroom with a few Mickey Soaps, we had a huge two bedroom villa, patio, kitchen, washer, drier, dining room, jacuzzi. Why would anyone want to stay anywhere else. If you miss the Mickey soaps in your room Or if you miss the "Mickey Art" on your walls go to Wal-mart buy some Mickey Soap and a couple of mickey pictures to put on the wall for 20 bucks and put about an extra thousand in your pocket in savings not only on rooms but on meals in your room, and even laundromat expense. PLUS after a while especially at the value hotels in Disney you feel kind of trapped. They shove Mickey down your throat so much you start to dis like him. You know what they say, "absence makes the heart grow fonder" and this is also the case with Disney.

 

[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.