Stay onsite or off? I need help!

[girlsx4]

I have already booked my plane tickets and housing. We are staying in a 3 bedroom house w/private pool. We are a family of 6, DH and I and our 4 DD's. But now, I'm thinking of staying onsite. I've got a quote w/the dining package(and 2 rooms @ the all-star sports since we are a large family) and the total will be almost the same as staying offsite. Since we will have to rent a car, bring a carseat, etc. it might be easier to stay onsite.
I will have to cancel our housing reservations and take a $125 penalty, so I'm wondering if it's worth it? (it will still be about the same amount as staying onsite even w/the $ penalty)
We have 3 character meals planned and that alone will be $300+, so the dining plan will be ideal, won't it?
Please help!
This is our first time to WDW and our DD's are 10,7, 5 and 2.
Thanks!
Susan

 

[Safari Queen]

Staying onsite is very special. We were happy offsite whe it was all we could afford, but there's definitely a substantial increase in "magic" when you're onsite. If you can get a comparable deal, I'd go for it.

 

[girlsx4]

I would also like to add that the quote we received is $2028 for 4 nights, 5 days of tickets and the dining plan.(AND 2 rooms)
Is this good????

 

[tlbwriter]

You'd be trading the comfort of a larger offsite house to the convenience (and theming) of a smaller onsite room. Which do you think would be more important to your family?

 

[dsnymomof4]

We are a family of 6 also and have done it both ways. Staying onsite just adds to the Disney Magic. We have stayed in connecting rooms at Pop Century twice and the kids loved it. The transportation was great and we took breaks every day at the hotel then went back at night. That price sounds very reasonable to me. Have a great trip!

 

[Gabriel&Nana]

I Think that you have to consider 2 things :

Are you going to non-Disney Parks too (like USF, IOA, SW) ?

As tlbwriter post : the comfort of a larger house. It's important ?

Have fun !

 

[vicceja]

Hi!

I think staying onsite really brings the Disney Magic home. And with having a big family, like myself, it's easy to run back to the resort and take a break before heading back out to the parks. You also can take advantage of the EMH hours and the Disney Buses. I totaly vote for Onsite. Have a wonderful time!

 

[jonestavern]

What time of year will you be going? I ask because, depending on yr tolerance for packed pools & noise--which I imagine with 4 DDs would be pretty high! --that may be a factor in helping decide.
Now, as for WDW transportation, it might make it a whole lot easier for one of you to take a tired child back to the room while the other parent romps in the parks with the remaining DDs--no car hassles But as the OP noted, do you plan to explore off site? we still rent a car even though we stay on property.
If you buy souveniers in the parks, the CMs will have them delivered to the rooms--no lugging-
There aren't refridges at the values. I'm sure other DISers will know if 'fridges are available to rent.We plan on buying a collapsible cooler, filling it with the free ice & keeping drinks & snacks in it.
Mousekeeping sure is nice!
Are you planning to do laundry? If so & yr rental has an in room w/d that might make a difference to you
How is the drive from yr rental? Will it be along the crowded I-Drive?

Hope this helps! Either way, you'll enjoy a great magical vacation!

Jean

 

[MELSMICE]

I prefer on-site, personally.

A few questions you may want to ask yourself:

--Will you be cooking in the house you rented? With the dining plan it sounds like you wouldn't be.

--Will you need to do laundry while you're there? You'll get laundry facilities in a house, correct?, but with being there 5 days will you really need to do laundry?

--Will you split up if the younger kids want to/need to go back to the room & nap? With a house this would be difficult because you'd have 1 car. With Disney transportation you can do this without a problem.

--Do you like lots & lots of room? 2 rooms at Pop are roomier than one, but not as roomy as a house.

Honestly, regardless of amount of space, or anything else I would still stay on-site. Everyone has their preference & mine is on-site. I just feel like I could be "Anywhere, USA" unless I'm on-site. Being on-site gives you a feeling of being in a whole different world & on a true Disney vacation.

Good luck decicing!

 

[ryanmilla]

I agree with some of the other posters in that my opinion would be on-site. One question I have though, is have you explored the Disney Vacation Club resorts? If you look at the Disney Vacation Club forum on these boards you might be able to rent points and then get a one or two bedroom condo style room for the same amount as the value resorts (possibly). Right now the average price to rent a point is $10/point. Depending on the time you plan on going the points for a 2 bedroom at OKW might be few and worth the price. That way, you get a "home" style feel with a kitchen and fridge AND still get to stay on-site with Disney Transportation and Disney magic.

Not sure if it really would work out cost wise, but I think it would warrant a look.

 

[MELSMICE]

I agree with some of the other posters in that my opinion would be on-site. One question I have though, is have you explored the Disney Vacation Club resorts? If you look at the Disney Vacation Club forum on these boards you might be able to rent points and then get a one or two bedroom condo style room for the same amount as the value resorts (possibly). Right now the average price to rent a point is $10/point. Depending on the time you plan on going the points for a 2 bedroom at OKW might be few and worth the price. That way, you get a "home" style feel with a kitchen and fridge AND still get to stay on-site with Disney Transportation and Disney magic.

Not sure if it really would work out cost wise, but I think it would warrant a look.

I totally agree. Check into renting points also.

 

[Kermit]

With the ages that your kids are, I'd pick staying onsite. You'll appreciate the ease of being able to split up at nap times, and younger children don't need as much room to spread out. 2 bathrooms will be plenty with your kids, too. I think that staying offsite would be more beneficial in a few years when all of your children are old enough to stay at the parks all day and when they'll start taking up more space and need more room to spread out.

 

[PrincessCandaceMarie]

Don't forget about the LMH/EMH too...and the extra magic you feel by staying onsite! Good luck in your decision!

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Normally I wouldn't say this because I think there are good reasons for staying offsite as well as on but...

If you are only staying five days AND its your first trip then I'd go with the dining plan and onsite. Five days is a very short trip...you'll use up quite a bit of time just getting from the airport & checking in and you will probably have to leave much earlier than you anticipate to get back to the airport...no matter which location you decide to use.

In addition I would reduce your character meals to just one because you'll only have three full days to enjoy the parks as it is. The rule of thumb I use is that Animal Kingdom and MGM take one day apiece to see most of it including shows, EPCOT and Magic Kingdom take two days apiece. So you have 3 full days and two half days to cover what would take six full days to do thoroughly. The characters appear for free in the parks although you get more one on one time at meals. The dining plan will free up cooking time but you can wind up sacrificing that by the amount of time you might spend in a character meal.

 

[tlbwriter]

In addition I would reduce your character meals to just one because you'll only have three full days to enjoy the parks as it is. The rule of thumb I use is that Animal Kingdom and MGM take one day apiece to see most of it including shows, EPCOT and Magic Kingdom take two days apiece. So you have 3 full days and two half days to cover what would take six full days to do thoroughly. The characters appear for free in the parks although you get more one on one time at meals. The dining plan will free up cooking time but you can wind up sacrificing that by the amount of time you might spend in a character meal.

On the other hand, you can spend a lot of time waiting in line for the characters. At a character meal, they're all right there while you're eating, and it can be a much more efficient way to see them, depending on how busy the park is.

 

[stacy6552]

I would stay with Disney over any other 5 star-super posh-hoity toity hotel anytime. Stay with Disney.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

While it is true it is more efficient for seeing characters on a first time trip expending the time for three separate character meals seems like a very inefficient way to see WDW...especially since a newbie is going to waste a lot of time as a matter of course.

 

[girlsx4]

Well, we have decided to stay onsite. This is really a once in a lifetime kind of thing for us and the girls. I don't see us being able to go back to WDW for a looong time.
Thanks for all the advice.
How long are the character meals? Maybe I underestimated how long they will take? I think we'll cancel one of them. 2 should be enough. I mean, we have to eat anyway, right?

 

[kizmac]

I am just back from our first onsite stay and I have to say that I am hooked! I don't think I will ever stay off site again unless that is the only way possible to go. I am so missing the Disney Magic since returning home. It is just a total different trip. I used to think we didn't need the 24-7 Disney experience while there, but I was wrong! Now I am so sad we didn't try it sooner. Expecially when we were a smaller family and had more options. Anyhow, my vote goes for the two rooms at the onsite. Your kids will LOVE it!

 

[kizmac]

Well, we have decided to stay onsite. This is really a once in a lifetime kind of thing for us and the girls. I don't see us being able to go back to WDW for a looong time.
Thanks for all the advice.
How long are the character meals? Maybe I underestimated how long they will take? I think we'll cancel one of them. 2 should be enough. I mean, we have to eat anyway, right?

Don't cancel any of your character meals! I think three is fine. No matter what, you will not see everything this 1st trip and in the time frame that you have, but you do have to eat and I did not find the character meals to take any longer than eating at any other sit down resturaunt. If anything, you will loose less time from waiting in lines to see them in the park if that is important to your kids. Do the meals! Especially if you go with the dining plan.

We did Chef Mickeys, LTT, and Crystal Palace and they all were wonderful. The kids had a blast.

Do plan an itinerary though! In order to maximize your time, you must have a plan and arrive at the parks around 9 before the crowds get heavy. It will make a world of difference I tell you! I did Tour Guide Mike this time and my family worshiped me.