Some questions on offsite vs. onsite...

[quagmire0]

I'm crunching the numbers and weighing the pros and cons. One question I had was that if we wanted to leave to get DS a nap, would we be charged double for parking if we wanted to come back? Or is it like a pass for the day?

I've seen some good deals on condos and cars through Hotwire, and it sounds like there are a lot of food choices outside the resort. Not to mention the ability to save at least $30 a day on breakfast. Taking into account car rental, parking, condo cost, cost of eating twice on-site and breakfast at the room, I'm projected we'd save at least $200 vs. staying onsite. Maybe more if we eat some lunches or dinners at the condo.

My second question would be then: What's the greater challenge, escaping to the parking lot with a screaming/cranky 1.5 year old, or catching the bus to Pop Century with stroller and 4 year old in tow?

 

[bicker]

You're only charged once per day for parking. When you return, just show your morning receipt.

Personally, I find using the busses to and from Disney resorts to be a breeze, even with the stroller, as compared to negotiating the parking lot trams and such.

 

[serene56]

I spent considerable time going through "thinking" of both.

What it came down to was--
If I wanted to stay off site-- I needed to rent a car. (with a car seat)
I needed to pay for parking.

a Value resort was only 82.00 per night and I get to use the bus service.

I am getting a grocery order in for breakfast-- and eating that in the room while we are getting ready.
we have a cs and a ts meal each day of our stay (ADRS are in place)


We are staying onsite now.

 

[bicker]

Magical Express was a really big game-changer for the on-side/off-site decision.

 

[softballmom3]

We have stayed both onsite and offsite and have found benefits of both. Personally, one reason I was leaning towards onsite at first was the transportation system. We last stayed at Pop Century and found their bus system VERY easy and accommodating. The one thing I really liked about this was that they did NOT share a bus w/ the other value resorts. Yes, there was a couple of times we waited for a bus but it wasn't bad at all. And we didn't have the experience of not having seats, etc and this was during spring break.

However, when I really got down the the "nitty-gritty" my girls didn't want to stay in a cramped up room onsite so we are going to stay at Windsor Hills. I've been told it's close to the parks and I'm looking forward to tossing a load of laundry in a day to have less packing for me. Weird isn't it? Looking forward to laundry . Actually, looking forward to the convenience and ROOM.

 

[bankr63]

When you add it all up, don't forget the size. There are better prices out there for 2BR condos (timeshares) than that Value Resort price.

Consider the difference between everyone in a single room, eating pizza on the bed with the lights out and the TV down real low so you don't wake the kids. Compare that to a full 2BR apartment offsite with a real kitchen, washer/dryer, dining area and separate room for the kids.

We rented a T/S (Vistana) a couple of years back, and liked it so much we bought one on eBay(about $400), knowing we'd never go back to a hotel room again for a family vacation! Not suggesting you buy! But the rental market is so flat right now that you can get great value for money renting a TS vs a hotel room.

The one other advantage of off-site? I LOVE the Mouse, but a full seven days completely under his spell leaves me dizzy. I need a bit of time away doing other things.

M Ross

 

[Brian Noble]

What's the greater challenge, escaping to the parking lot with a screaming/cranky 1.5 year old, or catching the bus to Pop Century with stroller and 4 year old in tow?

It's about a push. As they say, "there's no pixie dust in transportation." We normally drive most places even when staying onsite, because it is more certain, and usually faster. Others prefer the bus.

However, we also eat about the same way, onsite or off. We always have a kitchen, offsite or with a DVC unit, but we don't use it for much of anything other than breakfast or snacks. So, don't put too much stock in saving money on food---some folks do, but I suspect most don't (much).

 

[TallyTutter]

I know that the Hilton in the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort has the EMH but does it have free parking @ the parks? Those rooms seem to be a bit larger.

 

[dyna]

We prefer offsite for the space an kitchen along with washer an dryer in our rental unit.

Those with an AP does not pay to park sometimes only 1 person in a family has an AP for the discounts an others has regular tickets.

We do save money on food I always have a full breakfast for us before going to the parks we eat lunch or dinner in our unit sometimes both. We have been able to go to like Olive Garden which comes with salad a bread sticks eat the salad an bread sticks get a doggy bag for our entree take it back put it in fridge an get 2 meals each off our entree. Sometimes we get chicken from deli an the sides that's good for at least 2 meals for us if not 3. Sometimes I cook us a quick meal too or have stuff for quick sandwiches an salads etc.

When we do eat in the parks we almost always share a meal cutting that costs too...

 

[spiceycat]

love both

stay offsite when know going to be tired and need more rest and less parks.
stay onsite when want to enjoy WDW to the limit.

Offsite is nice - you can generally get more room for less money. Now you need to drive back and forth to the parks. this can be time consuming and dangerous - there are alot of wrecks in orlando/wdw area. my problem with driving vs disney buses is driving vs planning what I am doing next.

when traveling with pets - offsite is the best.

 

[GingerJay]

If you get at the parks early, the parking is really not too bad (except at MK but that's a given). And then in the afternoon if you leave and come back around 4 or so, the parking is also not too bad so you won't have to park so far back.

That being said, we have stayed offsite and on and I think the transportation woes go either way. It can be a pain dealing with the buses and it can be a pain trucking through the parking lot on trams. Sometimes you get lucky, but sometimes not.

 

[disneysteve]

Now you need to drive back and forth to the parks. this can be time consuming and dangerous - there are alot of wrecks in orlando/wdw area.

With all due respect spiceycat, I think this is overstated. We drive all around the Disney area every year. The roads are excellent. The signage is quite good in most places. And I don't think I've seen accidents with any greater frequency than I see them at home or anywhere else. Don't forget, Disney buses aren't immune either. They get in accidents on a fairly regular basis, too.

Depending on the offsite accommodations you choose, you may actually be closer to some of the Disney destinations than you would be if you stayed onsite. People often assume that offsite equals far away. One place in Kissimmee where we've stayed multiple times is a 4-5 minute drive door to door from the condo to Animal Kingdom. You'll spend more time than that just waiting for a Disney bus. At DHS, Epcot and AK, we generally walk to our car so don't even have to worry about a tram. When our daughter was younger, she could stay in the stroller right until we reached the car. We are past the stroller stage now, but we found it far easier to escape the park to our own car than to cram onto a crowded Disney bus with a tired kid (and tired parents).

 

[candsmain]

@quagmire!

We were doing the same numbers crunch as you and have found that off site is a better value considering that we got a three bedroom condo for $450 for the whole week!

If you are worried about parking and you have or know someone with triple A buy your tickets through them. Not only will you get a significant discount you can also ask for a diamond parking pass which means you get to park right up front in the lot by the handicapped spaces. That way if you need to take a nap you can load up in the car and not have to worry about finding a good space when you come back!

Good luck! If you still havent booked yet you also might want to try homeaway.com or vrbo.com. You rent directly from owners and get a great rate in the process!


Good luck in your travel plans!!!!!

 

[Melnalala]

The buses come quickly. Onsite is better choice for that.

 

[Melnalala]

Orlando has tons of hotels so even the ones that are cheap in other parts of the country are very nice near Disney. With that being said, if you can budget on-site, it is worth it. Don't forget to factor in the rental car cost. Disney transportation is good.

 

[Melnalala]

Orlando has tons of hotels so even the ones that are cheap in other parts of the country are very nice near Disney. With that being said, if you can budget on-site, it is worth it. Don't forget to factor in the rental car cost. Disney transportation is good.

And don't forget parking fees if you are driving yourself - including bee line tolls and gas.

 

[torinsmom]

A 1 year old and a 4 year old, along with two adults in a value room? Just shoot me now Add in the wait for the buses, the walk to your room after that wait, and sharing one bathroom and I can't imagine. Everytime we have stayed onsite, we have waited close to an hour for the bus to Pop at closing and then had to stand

Get a condo at Windsor Hills or Emerald Island. We rented a 3 bedroom at EI for $500/week taxes and all. DS had his own room, we had a full kitchen and a washer dryer plus four tvs, three bathrooms, free internet, and we got to park right at our door. Took us between 5-12 minutes to be at the Disney parks(well TTC for MK). There is a shortcut from this area with very little traffic. It was close enough that we took a break every day from 1pm-7pm and did other stuff, including using the clubhouse pool and game room. We never had to wait more than 3-4 minutes for the tram once we parked and they dropped us off closer to the parks than the bus(again except MK, because of the TTC) Even at closing, we waited 7-8 minutes at most--they have those trams just revolving continuously. I was worried about the traffic getting out of the parks at closing, but the parking lots are so large that there really were not delays. I used my GPS and never had a problem finding my way around either. Offsite food choices are great and diverse, everything from Chik Fil a to elegant steak houses.

I know some Dis'ers say they wouldn't go to WDW if they had to stay offsite, and that's fine. I don't HAVE to stay off site, but for us it is much more enjoyable.

Marsha

 

[kathy884]

With young children, I'd go for an offsite condo, for all the reasons previously mentioned. I think it's more a preference decision rather than a cost decision.

Offsite:
Condo owner rental at a place like Sheraton Vistana or Cypress Pointe offers great Lake Buena Vista location close to Downtown Disney // driving your car doesn't take any longer than a bus from a moderate. Cost per night is similar usually to a moderate, but you have two bedrooms/two baths, kitchen, LR/DR, covered balcony, and washer and dryer. Retail rentals are available too and pretty reasonable.

Car rental is needed (adds cost)

Will do some meals in (saves money and means you don't have to eat out all the time which I prefer). Can also easily make snacks to bring into the park (saves money and is good if kids are picky eaters)

Pick parks that don't have Morning extra magic hours, so you get the advantage of being the first one there.

You will pay for parking on park days, but only once as others have mentioned.


Onsite:
No rental car is needed / you don't pay for parking -- (Unless your resort is a deluxe (big bucks), though, I think I can get there just as fast as from my offsite condo)

Sometimes there are deals like free dining plan. Disney has great resturants, -- eating meals out with with my kids all the time, though, is not too appealing to me. Your kids may be happier and better in resturants that mine were / are.

Many feel more immersed in Disney to be there the whole time. This can be wonderful for kids. I know we stayed in the All Star movie Herbie building when my son was seven and such a huge Herbie the Love Bug fan. He had seen this in behind the scenes features and wanted so mucy to stay there. And his thrill with everything Herbie from wallpaper to pictures, to larger than life icons made this absolutely worth it (priceless like they say in the Visa commercials).

Disney theming at their resorts and ammenties (pool / playgrounds) are very nice. // More themed than an offsite condos which typically have pretty nice facilities too.

You can take advantage of Extra Magic hours onsite.



If it's a week or longer though, give me the space, kitchen, and washer and dryer (That's my personal preference.)

 

[disneysteve]

You can take advantage of Extra Magic hours onsite.

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.

 

[Pineapple Whip]

And don't forget parking fees if you are driving yourself - including bee line tolls and gas.

Rental cars are all new fuel sipping cars, if you use half a tank in 7 days just driving to WDW, it would be a miracle. Of course, you'll want to drive elsewhere to see other things, so you might need to fill the tank once.

Calmly driving to and from the airport is a nice thing. Or better yet, for real fun, make it a road trip to and from home.

You can drive faster to the parks from some offsite hotels, than from some onsite hotels. Yes, parking is $14 per day. What did you just spend on admission tickets?

There are no tolls required to go to Disney.

To each their own, but for me it boiled down to this:

I was used to the typical NYC road trip to WDW as a kid.

When I vacationed here, I worked in NYC and took a bus or a train day in and day out for my daily work commute. The last thing I wanted to do on vacation, was take a bus, and a crummy one at that.

I like to see and do other things besides Disney. A lot of those things were on the way down to Disney, and sometimes we kept going south, then drove back up to do Disney.

I'm not a fan of Disney food. It's not bad, but it's not up to my standards for the pricing. It used to be way better, but how much quality can you serve when you have to give it away for free to your guests? I've had worse theme park food; Disney is a cut above the rest, however, I prefer to cook. If I'm going out to dinner and spending $50 or more, I want good food. Heck if I'm spending $10 for food, I want good food. My usual fare at WDW is the $7 salad and a bottle of water at CS because they have yet to screw that up.

So all that's left for me staying onsite is the ambiance. There's something to be said for that, but I'm still renting or bringing my car, and I'm self-parking. I hate waiting for a valet every time I want to jump in the car and go somewhere.

My choice is just a matter of who's got the better offer for a room... and preferrably the room has separate bedrooms, a kitchen, and a king bed.