Starting to regret decision to stay offsite

[njsw]

I've done both. Most recently last year, Caribbean Beach for my mom's 60th. On that trip, all of the adults agreed we wanted total immersion...none of us wanted to be behind the wheel, have to deal with traffic, red lights, you name it. But one of the things I like about off site (which I will be doing end of Feb) that hasn't been mentioned is that there is a Walgreen's right next to the condos we stay at. We literally stopped at that Walgreen's every day on the way to the parks. Someone always needed something. Nail clippers...nu skin for blisters...cheap replacement sunglasses...Immodium AD you name it.

 

[maryfree]

I have been comibg down with my family since1976, we have always stayed onsite..(love the Poly/CR/GF0)..but Disney has finally priced me out,I just cant justify it for the sometimes so so service that you recieve.This Feb we are staying 5 minutes away at a beautiful 4 bedroom townhouse with its own pool,flat screen tvs in each bedroom,hot tub,kitchen,washer and dryer..and we get to stay for ten days instead of four onsite...It also afford us the oppurtunity to experince some of the other wonderful attractions that Orlando has to offer a family such as ours...dont worry you made the right decision in this economy...have FUN!!

 

[spiceycat]

I have been comibg down with my family since1976, we have always stayed onsite..(love the Poly/CR/GF0)..but Disney has finally priced me out,I just cant justify it for the sometimes so so service that you recieve.This Feb we are staying 5 minutes away at a beautiful 4 bedroom townhouse with its own pool,flat screen tvs in each bedroom,hot tub,kitchen,washer and dryer..and we get to stay for ten days instead of four onsite...It also afford us the oppurtunity to experince some of the other wonderful attractions that Orlando has to offer a family such as ours...dont worry you made the right decision in this economy...have FUN!!

under that is 5 minutes to WDW property not the parks.

so don't be disappointed if it takes you around 35 to 45 minutes (depending upon traffic) to get to the TTC parking lot - then around another 20 minutes to get to the MK (monrail or ferry)

or you can do - with someone else suggestion.

drive to epcot and just ride the monrial to MK.

 

[spiceycat]

on tables of wonderland (DDE) - there is 18% tip.

the problem is the FS place the receipt with the tip at the bottom and place the recipt you sign at the top - so be carefully you could easily be giving out a 38% tip if not careful.

always put the receipt with the tip included on top and circle the tip.

when any place demands a tip from me - they only get what they demand - not a cent extra.

otherwise they would be getting a 20% tip from me.

 

[maryfree]

Oh yes,I know that that 5 minutes to the park just means Disney Property...but I think it will be worth it, with the trade off of what we are getting for the money. I was always a big proponent of staying onsite,but its just not reasonable anymore.

 

[Brian Noble]

don't be disappointed if it takes you around 35 to 45 minutes (depending upon traffic) to get to the TTC parking lot

It's 35 minutes from the airport to WDW. I could be wrong but I don't think any of the "common" subdivisions will take that long unless there's some really unusual traffic accident. Even Glenbrook, up in Clermont, was only about 25-30 minutes to the TTC, and that's getting to be way out there.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

We find onsite easier, but you do get more room offsite. We do prefer offsite when visiting some of the other attractions in Orlando, and you can save money by eating offsite if you are careful.

The one catch we found is that once you buy groceries, they are only a savings if you actually eat them.

Grocery items (Esp Walmart) tend to come in full size boxes, and we frequently end up buying more groceries than we need or really want to eat.
The trick to buying groceries is to make a list and stick to it!

Choose self contained items like cereal bars over something like English muffins which get served with jelly and butter - since you won't eat a full pound of butter or a full jar of jelly. Choose items everyone can agree upon.

 

[7165red]

After staying at a villa with a pool off site we could not go back to a hotel room. We have several meals at the disney resorts so we feel the magic.

 

[Lisa P.]

We've found that when people go from onsite to offsite and stay in offsite motels and sometimes even the nicer hotels, they usually say they really missed the onsite experience a lot. This is especially true when they are used to the Disney deluxe hotels and services, like daily housekeeping, pool slides, hot tubs and room service, and then book a cheap offsite stay at a mediocre hotel. Naturally, they say, never again.

But when people go from onsite hotels to offsite villas, condos/timeshares or pool homes, particularly those with a minimum of 2BRs, it's fairly split, with a slight majority ending up preferring their comfy offsite stays. That certainly happened with us. So if we want to have some onsite benefits, we just add a day or two onsite to a week in spacious, deluxe offsite accommodations. In recent years, we've stayed onsite less frequently, unless we're spending a week at a DVC resort, after exchanging our other timeshares into one. For us, that's a good option, especially with the space of a 2BR DVC villa. We like Wyndham Bonnet Creek too... a more restful escape from the nonstop Disney marketing, yet right next door, to enjoy it as much as we want whenever we want.

 

[DisneyTigers]

That said, if you really want the best of both worlds, you can often book an offsite villa and a limited hook-up campsite at Ft. Wilderness for less than two Value rooms. That gives you tons of space, excellent amenities, and all the EMH you can stand for a very reasonable price.[/QUOTE]


Can you really do this??? hmmmm.... you could do the dining plan this way too, huh? AND stay off site AND have EMH and other other on-site benefits! hmmmm......

 

[spiceycat]

It's 35 minutes from the airport to WDW. I could be wrong but I don't think any of the "common" subdivisions will take that long unless there's some really unusual traffic accident. Even Glenbrook, up in Clermont, was only about 25-30 minutes to the TTC, and that's getting to be way out there.

sorry if you get upset - but have complaints here about going to WDW took longer than they were told.

they might be able to do it in 15 minutes - although what speed are you going.

the speed is only 50 - then when it gets closer to the Mk it is 35 mph - then 15 mph.

at the MK parking entry there can definitely be lines - 5 cars in front of you - that is around 3 to 5 minutes (if not more) per car. yes there can be less if you have annual pass or are a cm - but mostly you will definitely wait in the lines.

even going from Cwr and using the short cut - it was generally around 24 minutes from cwr parking lot to TTC parking lot.

you need to count from the time you get into your car until you get out at the TTC parking lot.

then if you are unluck enough to be far from that tram that can add 10 minutes (okay walk slow) - if you are next to it - then only a minute.

the tram has to take you to where the monrail or ferry is located. this can be a minute or two - but if you are parked far from the entrance - a good 10 minutes.

if the monrail is gone - you will need to wait for the next one - again more time.

same with the ferry.

the MK was designed to be hard to get too.

 

[MiaSRN62]

But when people go from onsite hotels to offsite villas, condos/timeshares or pool homes, particularly those with a minimum of 2BRs, it's fairly split, with a slight majority ending up preferring their comfy offsite stays. That certainly happened with us. So if we want to have some onsite benefits, we just add a day or two onsite to a week in spacious, deluxe offsite accommodations.

Well certainly this is true of some people.....but not true for others. I definitely think comparing a disney hotel with all it's themeing etc, to an offsite Holiday Inn is going to result in disatisfaction. But you're right.....if people stayed in deluxe homes or villas, they probably would think differently about it.

We've owned a 2 bed/2 bath offsite timeshare villa since 1994 and still prefer onsite for the perks and themeing etc. But this might have alot to do with the type of vacationing one does as well. If you are a person who prefers to hang around the resort alot then a disney hotel room will probably never do for you. But if you are like us----we're constantly out at the parks, and don't spend as much time at the resort, an onsite disney hotel room (for the perks/magic/ambience etc), is great. Some of our favorite stays have been at the Wilderness Lodge as an example. It is just such a gorgeous hotel and makes us feel like we're totally immersed in the themeing.

I will always prefer onsite I think, but we also enjoy our stays offsite. And offsite villas are definitely a great option for larger families who don't have many options on WDW property except to book multiple rooms.

Maria

 

[MiaSRN62]

I agree Pat...particularily for the MK....getting from your car at your resort to inside the park can take as long as 45 min easily. The MK is def MUCH better when staying onsite.

 

[spiceycat]

Oh yes,I know that that 5 minutes to the park just means Disney Property...but I think it will be worth it, with the trade off of what we are getting for the money. I was always a big proponent of staying onsite,but its just not reasonable anymore.

that I agree with completely.

just brought BLT (sold my okw to do it) - so could stay onsite at disney. and not have to paid disney for their hotel rooms.

but love offsite as well

cypress pointe
sheraton vistana
grand beach
vacation villa at parkway
Celebration world resort
Silver Lakes
Orange Lake
Hilton Grand vacation club
Marriott 's Cyress Harbour, imperial palms, sabal palms, royal palms, grande vista

are all close to wdw and great places to stay. they are all timeshares so they do have activities.

staying offsite is great

especially with the rack rates of WDW resorts - Polyn $355 per night to $900per night for a hotel room - the suites $815 to $2,910 per night

these are per night rates folk not for a week.

anyone else remember when the Polyn was new and only $39 per night....

 

[MiaSRN62]

especially with the rack rates of WDW resorts - Polyn $355 per night to $900per night for a hotel room - the suites $815 to $2,910 per night

these are per night rates folk not for a week.

anyone else remember when the Polyn was new and only $39 per night....

That is a crazy amount......I remember the Poly being about $175-$200/night.
But I was just quoted $184/night (before taxes) for a moderate at WDW ! Honestly, I feel DVC is one of the best things we've done. Now that said, we are staying at POP Century Feb 5-11 for $64/night with an AP discount for a preferred room. Would have been closer to $54/night if I wanted a standard room. But days of adding on cash rooms are getting harder and harder as certain times during the year, even values are like $130/night. Anyone hear the new Pirate themed rooms at CBR are going for like $240/night ??? I just think it's nuts. I can definitely see people going offsite more..........

Maria

 

[HeatherC]

Also don't forget that even if you are staying onsite, it will still take time to get to the parks. Especially if you are staying at a resort that shares buses with another resort. To me there is nothing worse than wanting to leave and get back to your room and having to wait for a bus....particularly if you have tired children with you. There are countless threads on these boards of people complaining about Disney transportation.

If you stay at the Contemporary or Poly or Grand Floridian, then that is much easier to get to MK. But...you still have to get to AK which takes time.

I just wouldn't want someone to think that because you are onsite you will magically hop on a bus and be where you want to be in the blink of an eye. Disney is so huge (the size of Manhattan I believe) that no matter where you stay it will take time to get places. I know many people that have gone with that thinking and then been disappointed. Then they can't imagine why we love to go so often.

There are benefits to both on and offsite and I think each family has to weigh what works for them.

 

[Jubilee]

Oh, I love check in!

But having your own house to yourselves will be awesome

 

[Brian Noble]

sorry if you get upset - but have complaints here about going to WDW took longer than they were told.

I'm not upset, at all. And, folks do need to look at google maps or something like it, rather than just reading "minutes to Disney" and thinking five.

But, to be 35-45 minutes away from the TTC you have to be way way out there. For the vast majority of offsite locations, it's well under that, and you know it, because you've stayed in some of them.

Well certainly this is true of some people.....but not true for others.

Unless I'm mistaken, that's exactly what Lisa said---it's a split.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Also don't forget that even if you are staying onsite, it will still take time to get to the parks. Especially if you are staying at a resort that shares buses with another resort. To me there is nothing worse than wanting to leave and get back to your room and having to wait for a bus....

HeatherC....we stay onsite alot and use our car alot. But for the MK---NO WAY---disney busses are much better. So just because you want to stay in a disney hotel doesn't mean you can't use your car ? I read this alot on the Orlando boards. It's a choice. Some love the disney busses but they're not mandatory to being an onsiter. I, personally, LOVE the WL for the boat to the MK. In my opinion, nothing beats it. Followed by disney resort busses to the MK and last driving your car to the MK. BWV/BC/YC/BCV....walking to Epcot/MGM is a very good perk. Sure, if you are paying cash it's not cheap. But you can't deny it sure is one of the best ways to get to Epcot or MGM because of proximity (I've stayed at both the BC and the BWV so I'm speaking from experience). But yes, generally one can drive to the parks (except MK) pretty quickly and easily.

And to you, there is nothing worse than waiting for busses. I don't doubt this----I'm sure that goes for others as well. But then again, for others there is nothing worse than having to drive and navigate busy roads and traffic while on vacation. Some just want to leave the car parked and let disney do the driving.

Just the flip side of the coin as far as the topic of disney busses vs cars are being brought up.

 

[cjb71870]

MiaSRN62 Listen, I've been 100's of times to the parks. I've stayed at all the resorts, when I'm bringing someone or being the "host" of the trip, on our other times we have a regular hotel since 1998 we've been staying offsite. Before that from '89-'98 have stayed at about 75% of the "strip" hotels. Always with our own car. You can come and go as you please, without the schedule of the bus! Do not regret it at all!!!!!!!! When you want to leave, you can leave. You don't have to look at the bus schedule!