Some questions on offsite vs. onsite...

[quagmire0]

Yeah, I crunched all the numbers and did a fair amount of searching for offsites and found a good deal on a Windsor Hills condo. Everyone gets their own room and we'll probably save a fair amount on food. Also found a great deal through National on a crossover. All told, we will probably save a few hundred vs. staying at a value resort. I think when the kids are older we may look at staying onsite. Thanks for all the input!

 

[spiceycat]

Or you can realize that the park with EMH is always the most crowded park that day and intentionally go to one of the other 3. That's what we do. We made that mistake once - going to the EMH park. We won't do that again.

you go to other parks until EMH begins - or at least 5pm...

then go to EMH - the first hour it is busy - but if you go in the back areas it is less busy - since you have 3 hours - generally the crowds are gone by the end of the first one.

for morning - few guests want to get up early enough to use the EMH in the morning - so it is hardily ever crowded.

for Dumbo - EMH is a must (my opinion) otherwise you are stuck there for around 2 hours. (it will never be on my favorite - of course I am not 10 or under)

this don't understand the attraction that rides has for little ones.

 

[Pembo]

We stayed offsite for the first time this past June, at Windsor Hills.

We loved it! We had more room and were able to eat meals comfortably at the condo. We usually had breakfast in the condo, lunch in the parks, and dinner in our condo before going back to the park.

I found that driving from WH was much faster and easier than the Disney buses. We got to the parks at opening and always had a close parking spot. We took afternoon breaks and usually parked closer upon returning.

We factored in the parking fee and still saved money. We have picky eaters so being able to buy food at the grocery store that I knew they would eat saved on the waste of food at Disney.

This was the most relaxing Disney vacation we have ever taken. I wish we would have stayed offsite when dd was younger. When she was almost 3 we stayed at POR and she gave up naps. If we had stayed at the condo, she could have had her daily naps and we all would have been happier.

 

[disneysteve]

for morning - few guests want to get up early enough to use the EMH in the morning - so it is hardily ever crowded.

This has definitely not been our experience. When we have unknowingly gone to the early morning park for what we thought would be the regular rope drop time, the place was already packed. On two occasions, we actually left and went to another park instead.

 

[disneysteve]

Arrived today at Marriott Cypress Harbour resort. We are renting from someone I know through work - $500 for the week. The place is absolutely gorgeous, and huge. Master bedroom has a king bed, plush chair with ottoman, TV, large whirlpool tub and stall shower, double sink. The second bedroom has a full bed and a sofa and a large bathroom. There is a full size washer and dryer, a large sectional sofa, chair, end tables and coffee table, a desk (where I'm typing right now, a dining room table that seats 6, a breakfast bar and nice size kitchen, a screened in lanai and more. All of that for about $79/night. How can you beat it?

 

[dheejay]

hi im new here nice knowing to all

 

[mtblujeans]

We have just decided to go to WDW for a Star Wars Weekend in May, 2011. There will be me and DH, DS and his girlfriend (both in their 20's) and they don't want to sleep together. We need space with 3 beds and I'm not finding anything but a pull out sofa on-site. That wouldn't be reasonable as both the kids are about 6' tall and I wouldn't ask anyone to walk on pavement all day and then sleep on a pull out sofa.

I am searching around for something (affordable) off-site but very, very close to WDW as DH doesn't want to drive much. I am finding good info on this thread and I think I'll just keep lurking.

Thanks!

 

[torinsmom]

We have just decided to go to WDW for a Star Wars Weekend in May, 2011. There will be me and DH, DS and his girlfriend (both in their 20's) and they don't want to sleep together. We need space with 3 beds and I'm not finding anything but a pull out sofa on-site. That wouldn't be reasonable as both the kids are about 6' tall and I wouldn't ask anyone to walk on pavement all day and then sleep on a pull out sofa.

I am searching around for something (affordable) off-site but very, very close to WDW as DH doesn't want to drive much. I am finding good info on this thread and I think I'll just keep lurking.

Thanks!

This is where we stayed. It is in Emerald Island, about 4 miles from Disney property. There is a nice little shortcut, so you don't even have to hit I-4. We made it to AK in about 5 minutes, Epcot and DHS in about 9 minutes and the TTC in about 10 minutes. It had one queen bedroom and 2 bedrooms with 2 twins each and two full baths and a half bath, free wireless, washer/dryer, full kitchen and very close to the clubhouse/pool. The owner was very nice as well. We are staying here again next year unless the whole family goes and we need something bigger. Oh, it was $450/week plus taxes, totaled $506

http://www.vacationhomerentals.com/vacation-rentals/Kissimmee-Florida-vacation-rental-townhouse-proID-42665.html

 

[dioxide45]

This thread must have started on one of the onsite boards and was then moved to the offsite board?

 

[Upatnoon]

We have just decided to go to WDW for a Star Wars Weekend in May, 2011. There will be me and DH, DS and his girlfriend (both in their 20's) and they don't want to sleep together. We need space with 3 beds and I'm not finding anything but a pull out sofa on-site. That wouldn't be reasonable as both the kids are about 6' tall and I wouldn't ask anyone to walk on pavement all day and then sleep on a pull out sofa.

I am searching around for something (affordable) off-site but very, very close to WDW as DH doesn't want to drive much. I am finding good info on this thread and I think I'll just keep lurking.

Thanks!

Wyndham Bonnet Creek would fit your needs and it is located next door to Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. Read about it in the "we loooooove bonnet creek" thread

 

[quagmire0]

We have just decided to go to WDW for a Star Wars Weekend in May, 2011. There will be me and DH, DS and his girlfriend (both in their 20's) and they don't want to sleep together. We need space with 3 beds and I'm not finding anything but a pull out sofa on-site. That wouldn't be reasonable as both the kids are about 6' tall and I wouldn't ask anyone to walk on pavement all day and then sleep on a pull out sofa.

I am searching around for something (affordable) off-site but very, very close to WDW as DH doesn't want to drive much. I am finding good info on this thread and I think I'll just keep lurking.

Thanks!

What really helped me was to pick a resort/neighborhood first and then do a search for the lowest rates on VRBO.COM. I had seen tons of great reviews about Windsor Hills, and it looked really close to the park. So I did a search on 'Windsor Hills' at vrbo.com and basically scanned through all the listings until I found what seemed to be a great deal. You'd be surprised how much prices can vary. For the unit/location I was looking at, you could go anywhere from people asking $500 a week to $1000 a week.