Stay on WDW or near WDW?

[McGarnagle87]

My wife, three of my buddies and myself are heading to WDW from January 8, 2007 to January 14, 2007. We have yet to book an accommodation at this time (I know...procrastination!). The debate that we are having is whether to stay onsite or offsite. When I was younger I had stayed offsite with my parents and last year I stayed onsite....I really prefer being onsite as you don't have to worry about anything else. The issue that we're having is that we don't think that we'll be using the room that much, so we're trying to keep things at a low cost. Right now, we're debating between the Sheraton Villages or one of the WDW Value Resorts. Can anyone please provide their thoughts. Also, we don't care if it's all of us in one room or if we have to take two rooms. If there are any other suggestions for places that might meet our needs, please feel free to suggest them. If you happen to have any room codes that might be of use to us, I'd greatly appreciate them.

Thanks.

 

[geffric]

If you stay onsite then you can use Magical Express - free transport to and from the airport.. instead of renting a car...that saves a lot of $$$

 

[5mins2disney]

Go check out Windsor Hills Resort.. for 5 of you being there you can get a 3bedroom condo or a 3br/3ba townhome for a very reasonable rate! It's 5 minutes / 2.1 miles away from WDW resort.

It's cool to have your own bed and bathroom rather than being cramped into a small traditional room, especially since it's not a bunch of couples.

The website will let you send out a "3 bedroom inquiry" which will go out to all owners of homes this size...then you will receive back responses / quotes from various owners who have openings. Your dates being a lower demand season, you should be able to get a very good deal on a really nice place!

 

[Gillian]

2 rooms at a value unless you're going to have more than 1 car. You sound like a group that would at times do separate things, and it's difficult to get around offsite with only 1 car.

Check on the Resorts board to see if there's room in the values for a twin air mattress or thermarest mattress pad.

If you'll have more than 1 car, offsite is nice for the extra space. A 3 BR townhouse is more than large enough for the 5 of you.

Another nice place is Cypress pointe. The 3 bedroom has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a living room/kitchen/dining room, then there is a 3rd bedroom/bathroom/kitchenette that's sort of separate from the other areas. More privacy, if that is important. check hotelkingdom.com for that.

 

[spiceycat]

I have to agree with staying onsite for the tranportation ease.

5 adults going to WDW will want to do different things - only one car or van could be a big hassle.

now if you have an agreement that everyone will go to that one park that day and no one will complaint - then that is different and you might be able to do it with one car.

Cypress Pointe is closer than Sheraton Villages and little closer than Sheraton Resort. I would stay in the resort before the villages just because it is closer.

you might also consider Doubletree suites in DD.
www.downtowndisneyhotels.com

 

[Disneylovingmom]

Onsite is the only way to go! If you're not staying in the room that much, then get a value resort. Their rates are really good in January. The transportation system and the extra magic hours are well worth staying on site.

 

[hobogary]

Don't forget to add the price of parking for any day you're going to the parks from off site. Its 9 dollars now.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I'm thinking if you're only going to have 1 rental car (or your own car if you're driving), then staying onsite would be more convenient because the group could split up and could come and go as you please. Staying onsite, will save the $9/day parking fee as well. You can save even more by staying onsite and using Disney's Magical Express bus to pick you up at the airport. Then you don't need a car at all. As others have stated, you get to take advantage of package delivery and Extra Magic Hour in the parks as well.

Things to consider staying offsite at VV, CP, WH or wherever. You'll have a full kitchen/washer and dryer/2 bedrooms/2 baths at least. That's alot of room to stretch out. You could do some shopping and have some meals in the room. However, you mentioned you wouldn't be staying much in the room anyway so perhaps these amenities won't be used much.

I think there's pros and cons to both on and offsite (I, personally, prefer onsite for ease of transportation and onsite perks). I think alot depends on whether you've budgeted a car into the equation.

Welcome to the DIS by the way