Staying Off site guilt

[OhDannyBoy]

Happy Sunday everyone,

So my kids and I are taking a family trip in 2023 to Disney and I am trying to find in any way possiable to stay on Disney property. We are a family of 6 adults and two kids under 7 when we go. My family has found air bnb for about 2200 for 12 days. I know this probably the cheapest way to go but I am have always stayed on site and I am feeling guilty and sad that we probaby cant stay on site anybody else feel this way when they stay off site.

I stayed on site once in the 30 years I've been going to Disney and honestly have no idea what all the fuss is about personally.

The only caution I would have is to be careful booking any kind of privately owned vacation rental this far in advance. I have read some horror stories about people having their reservations cancelled close to arrival and no where else to go. As hot as the Florida real estate market has been recently, it could be sold to someone who either won’t honor your booking, or doesn’t want to rent to tourists at all. Make sure you have everything in writing in case you need to file a dispute with your credit card.

In 2018 I was going to a wedding in Manhattan and we booked an air BNB months in advance.

4 days before our trip they cancelled. We got lucky and found a decent hotel at a Manhattan decent price, but oh my what a scare that was.

 

[castways]

I remember when value resort rooms were under $75. Now those rooms are often $200 or more and I've seen moderates this year as high as $700/night. We feel a little guilt staying offsite but it's got to the point we can't justify hundreds/night for a room. I'd rather stay offsite and splurge on food, etc. and maybe save some $$ for other trips during the year.

 

[hsmamato2]

haha I remember on my last trip to a value resort we paid $60/night at Allstars.... including ME and all...... what a bargain!(it was few years back tho)

 

[dclDream2018]

Happy Sunday everyone,

So my kids and I are taking a family trip in 2023 to Disney and I am trying to find in any way possiable to stay on Disney property. We are a family of 6 adults and two kids under 7 when we go. My family has found air bnb for about 2200 for 12 days. I know this probably the cheapest way to go but I am have always stayed on site and I am feeling guilty and sad that we probaby cant stay on site anybody else feel this way when they stay off site.

Totally great idea for that many people and length of stay. You can get amazing rentals with private pools and access to resort quality water parks for a fraction of what you'd pay for a Value.

 

[Cheburashka]

The only caution I would have is to be careful booking any kind of privately owned vacation rental this far in advance. I have read some horror stories about people having their reservations cancelled close to arrival and no where else to go. As hot as the Florida real estate market has been recently, it could be sold to someone who either won’t honor your booking, or doesn’t want to rent to tourists at all. Make sure you have everything in writing in case you need to file a dispute with your credit card.

This. I personally wouldn't go the private rental route, especially when sharing expenses with several other adults. The pandemic has taught me never to make nonrefundable arrangements. It might seem cheaper to go that route, until something comes up that makes the trip no longer workable, and you've lost your money. Travel insurance can be tricky about paying out, so be careful if you're relying on that as a backup for nonrefundable plans- carefully make sure that you'd all be covered (especially as it's several adults who are probably not immediate family members) if you can't travel. I can see this easily falling apart with one or two adults affected by an illness, injury, job loss, or change of heart, and backing out, leaving others footing too much of the bill and/or no longer really wanting to go after the change in group composition. Just too risky to me.

 

[J-Dog]

I can understand being sad, but what makes you feel guilty?

I was wondering this as well. You are feeling guilty because you are forking-over 75% of your vacation fund to Disney instead of 100%? I think Disney can take the financial hit...

 

[J-Dog]

This. I personally wouldn't go the private rental route, especially when sharing expenses with several other adults. The pandemic has taught me never to make nonrefundable arrangements. It might seem cheaper to go that route, until something comes up that makes the trip no longer workable, and you've lost your money. Travel insurance can be tricky about paying out, so be careful if you're relying on that as a backup for nonrefundable plans- carefully make sure that you'd all be covered (especially as it's several adults who are probably not immediate family members) if you can't travel. I can see this easily fall apart with one or two adults affected by an illness, injury, job loss, or change of heart, and backing out, leaving others footing too much of the bill and/or no longer really wanting to go after the change in group composition. Just too risky to me.

1) If the owner of the AirBNB cancels on you, then they are required to refund your money. Non-refundable only applies if you cancel at the last minute.

2) Even if the owner of the AirBNB cancels on you, there are literally hundreds of rental homes available in the Orlando area, even at the last minute. I just looked on VRBO for a booking for tomorrow and 300+ listing came up. You wouldn't be left hanging in Orlando.

3) Your scenario in which one or two people get sick at the last minute would apply to on-site as well. That's exactly what trip insurance is for and works the same way no matter where you book.

 

[Cheburashka]

1) If the owner of the AirBNB cancels on you, then they are required to refund your money. Non-refundable only applies if you cancel at the last minute.

Yes, and between now and 2023, a lot of things could potentially happen among 6 adults that could lead them to want to cancel the trip.

Your scenario in which one or two people get sick at the last minute would apply to on-site as well. That's exactly what trip insurance is for and works the same way no matter where you book.

Many of those potential reasons would be difficult for all 6 adults to get trip insurance reimbursement for, such as if one adult in a different household became sick or died or lost a job, etc., so that they wouldn't travel, and then if you didn't want to travel without them, you typically wouldn't be eligible for reimbursement as they were not a member of your household or immediate family. Trip insurance usually only allows cancellation for you, if the other person who cancels for a covered reason is in your household or immediate family.

 

[TamaraQT]

I am feeling guilty and sad that we probably cant stay on site anybody else feel this way when they stay off site.

Nope, no guilt feelings at all. If you have NEVER stayed off-site then how can you feel guilty about something you know nothing about? What may surprise you is the fact that you MAY like offsite better. First off, you are planning for 2023. So your Disney hotel rates alone are probably going to be outrageous to accommodate a crowd that size.

My family has found air bnb for about 2200 for 12 days.

What is the price of Disney hotel for your group for 12 days? Even if you are paying $200/day at Disney, that would barely get you in a Value resort room and there is no way you can fit your family size into a single room. So how much would the total cost of the rooms be? Even if you budget $100/day you will need a minimum of 3 rooms, so that becomes $300/day for 12 days = $3600. But we know your chances of landing a value resort for $100/day is slim. Now if you stay onsite, / that means your meals have to be onsite. So how much would it cost for only 3 quick service meals a day for a party your size? If you budget $75/day($25/meal) per adult = 75x6=$450 x 12 = $5400 Then the 2 kids $45/day($15/meal) = 45x2=$90 x 12=$1080. And my estimations are far less than actual cost I am sure. So just in meals alone you are talking over $6400. So far you are over $10,000 with low estimates and we haven't included park tickets yet......

So you currently have a quote for $2200 for your off-site accommodations. No more costs to add there and its room for everyone. If you have a budget of $10,000, that still leaves you $8800 to eat with. Now with $8800 I am sure you can use that to rent a van large enough to transport the family around, so lets say $1800 for the van for 12 days. That still leaves you with $7000 to use for meals at various off-site restaurants you will be surrounded with. So between restaurants, souvenirs, groceries and gas, I bet you will still have money left over to put towards park tickets and such. Keep in mind, if you stay at a nice off-site resort, you won't need 12 days of park tickets. You can spend 4 or 5 days doing things other than Disney, so look at the $$$ you will save by buying a 7 day park ticket instead of 12 days. Trust me, if you stay off-site, you will NOT NEED DISNEY everyday for entertainment. You can find all kinds of things in Florida to do for a fraction of the cost. And depending on where you stay, you can find things to do to keep you busy and entertained. Maybe stay at a place like Wyndham Bonnet Creek in a 3 bedroom. It accommodates 10-12 people easily. Also provides entertainment. Since it sits inside the Disney gates, the view of the Fireworks over the castle are very easy to see at the main pool.

Give off-site a try and I bet you will NOT FEEL GUILTY once you try it.....

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I've done both (onsite- POR, CBR, CSR, WL) and honestly, I'd feel guilty paying onsite prices when I can get an entire house for what a tiny value resort room costs. Now that my kids are teenagers, having their own rooms, beds and bathrooms is waaaay more important to us than the perceived magic of staying onsite. I can drive from Windsor Hills (where we have stayed 3 times now) and park faster than waiting for Disney transportation.

And while I'm being honest, I don't think the WDW hotels have kept up with the quality like they used to. The rooms in the value resorts are a joke- I wouldn't pay more than $50 a night for a room like that. What they charge is insane for what you get.

 

[Magical2017]

No, but I understand what you mean. The last time we stayed offsite we saved enough money to take another full week's vacation to another destination. Now that we want a one bedroom unit, the price difference between on and offsite does not make up for being in the Disney bubble, at least for our family.

 

[TamaraQT]

I remember when value resort rooms were under $75. Now those rooms are often $200 or more and I've seen moderates this year as high as $700/night. We feel a little guilt staying offsite but it's got to the point we can't justify hundreds/night for a room. I'd rather stay offsite and splurge on food, etc. and maybe save some $$ for other trips during the year.

Wait....Wait....$700/night for a Moderate??? Please say you are kidding/exaggerating!!! $700 for a room that all you can do is sleep and shower? No full kitchen for snacks and such? No separate bedrooms for kids? No jacuzzi? No balcony? No large screen TV to watch my favorite shows while kids watch theirs in their own room??? Everyone piled into one room for $700/night???? No way!!!! I rented a 2 bedroom unit at Orange Lake, River Island from a private owner on Redweek for only $850/WEEK!! That's only $125/night, Saturday - Saturday. One year I had a last minute rental from TUG website for a 2 bedroom at Wyndham Bonnet Creek for $700/week. All 2 bedrooms. There is no way there is that much magic in that bubble for $700/night when I have to share a bedroom with kids. So $700/night for 7nights is $4900. I rent a car and go to the parks for a couple of days just off of the budget most people spend just for a Disney hotel. All that money and there is no in room jacuzzi, no glass of wine or an umbrella drink on the balcony for $700/night???? Keep it.....I'm good at my timeshare resorts. Vacation with the kiddos by day....put them to bed in their OWN ROOM at night and let adult vacation begin. And I save enough money to come back every year. $700/night would be a once every 3-5 year deal for me. And now I hear Disney is getting rid of a lot of services and conveniences and charging more. I didn't realize moderates were going for more than $300 a night. But even that is ridiculous. As they say in Frozen...."Let it go".....

 

[Brian Noble]

I'm not sure what Moderate is $700/night. The most expensive room at CBR (which is usually the most expensive Moderate now that the Skyliner is there) is $515 all in for peak Christmas 2022. That's still expensive, but it is not $700/night expensive. Most of the year a standard room is in the low-to-mid $300s. Those all include tax, and are before any potential discounts.

https://www.mousesavers.com/2022-caribbean-beach-room-rates-season-dates/

 

[Nabas]

Coronado Springs Resort has several Club level rooms and suites that regularly are more than $700 per night.

 

[Pooh's World]

Do you think Chapek and Iger feel guilty for fleecing their loyal Disney customers?

 

[badiggio]

Staying onsite is generally more expensive but definitely worth it for our family;time, convenience,and the whole disney feel.I've stayed off site to see how it was{bonnet creek 4 bedroom pres ,which was nice and a 3 br at reunion},but it's just not the same no-matter how much some people exxagerate their points about staying off site.You don't have to justify your decision staying offsite,just don't shortchange the experience of staying on-site;it doesn't compare .

 

[MickMick]

I’ve never stayed onsite.

 

[Lowfalutin]

Getting an AirBNB or staying at a moderate off-site hotel can save huge $$$ that can go towards treating yourself to restaurants, etc. that might normally be prohibitive on your budget.

 

[Brian Noble]

Coronado Springs Resort has several Club level rooms and suites that regularly are more than $700 per night.

As far as I can tell, Club Level is for people who enjoy lighting money on fire.

I mean, I get that people like it, but I could never figure out why. Even back in my drinking days it would have taken some doing to make back the difference. There's no way I could do it sober.

 

[TamaraQT]

The onsite vs offsite saga continues. My conclusion is, people do what works for them. However I feel pretty confident in saying that those who are COMPLETELY ENAMORED with the MAGIC will NEVER be happy offsite. They will REQUIRE an onsite stay to consider their vacation to be a success. Then there are those that can enjoy Disney without being engulfed in the magic for whatever reason so offsite can work for them. Then there are those like me that doesn't need DISNEY at all to enjoy an Orlando vacation. I am thankful that Disney has made Orlando a very tourist(y) town. But personally my family doesn't love the magic enough to justify the expense. I don't "shortchange" the experience. I just can't justify it. Same as life....you can be attracted to someone/something and not in-love with them/it. What you justify goes by what type of experience you are expecting or need to feel happy and fulfilled. Some people NEED Disney to feel fulfilled. For some of us, Disney doesn't provide enough for our fulfillment.