Staying Off site guilt

[halfpintpeggy]

For some of us, Disney doesn't provide enough for our fulfillment.

And they’re providing less & less while costing more & more.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

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 .

So....... people responding to this thread are "exaggerating" the merits of offsite but YOUR experience of getting a good "feel" onsite is valid?

Hmmmmm.

I don't know about anyone else, but I am here now.....offsite......and I'm getting all the feels. I'm currently waking up in a 1260 foot beautiful villa that cost me less than 2 nights in a moderate (and not the $700 club level room lol). Later tonight I'll have 6 pools, 7 hot tubs, 13 tennis courts, 3 basketball courts, 3 poolside bars, 2 shuffleboard courts, 2 sand volleyball courts, mini golf, surrey bikes, 3 fitness centers, 6? playgrounds, and an assortment of scheduled activities to entertain us if we so choose......and if not, I have a gorgeous jet tub in our master bath where I can retreat in a pile of bubbles with music playing on our Bose sound system. That's a "feel" I will never get in a Disney resort room unless I spend megabucks for one of the largest DVC villas they have.

Different strokes for different folks. I may be weird, but I didn't "feel" any more magical checking into Port Orleans Riverside than I did checking in to a Holiday Inn.

Edited to add: I have no problem with anyone who opts to stay onsite. I know that emotional "feel" can be a strong pull.....those Disney commercials do their job lol. But it's important for those considering their options to understand that there are a plethora of properties in Orlando and there are some excellent alternatives for families who are looking for more than just a "feeling" in their vacation accommodations.

 

[badiggio]

Said " some" Gina,but you just chose to leave that out and make it opposite of what it was about.Hmm,wonder why?As written,I mentioned" time and convenience",not bigger and better for your money.Of course there's benefits to staying off site,but if "we're" going to Florida,it's for disney,not for a hotel ,which by the sounds of it,'IF"you're going to use everything you wrote down,you won't see Disney at all,lol.

 

[Brian Noble]

I've said this a bunch of times---I may have even said it in this thread---but it bears repeating.

There are three things you might want in lodging for a WDW-centric vacation:

1. To be onsite
2. To have a reasonable amount of space
3. To spend a reasonable amount of money.

For most people, and for most definitions of "reasonable," you can have at most two of those three. So, it comes down to deciding which of those three you are most willing to live without. Everyone will weigh these factors differently, and some people have definitions of "reasonable space" and or "reasonable money" that make all three possible.

But, for the most part, you have to choose.

For my family, #2 was non-negotiable. We don't consider a hotel room for the four of us to be a vacation. We'd do it for a night on either end of a longer trip if we were pressed, but even then we tended to get two rooms if a standard hotel was our only option.

So, that left #1 or #3. Earlier on, we chose to do without #1--and it really wasn't much of a choice, because our preferred option of a villa was out of our budget then.

Over time, circumstances changed, and we've now stayed onsite more often than off. For me, the vacations are much more similar than they are different. There are definite advantages to never having to leave the "Disney bubble". But, there are also definite advantages provided by some of the better offsite options. For example, Wyndham Bonnet Creek has larger, better equipped units than most DVC Villas of the same nominal configuration, and a better pool complex than any of those at WDW.

 

[Beer Me]

So....... people responding to this thread are "exaggerating" the merits of offsite but YOUR experience of getting a good "feel" onsite is valid?

Hmmmmm.

I don't know about anyone else, but I am here now.....offsite......and I'm getting all the feels. I'm currently waking up in a 1260 foot beautiful villa that cost me less than 2 nights in a moderate (and not the $700 club level room lol). Later tonight I'll have 6 pools, 7 hot tubs, 13 tennis courts, 3 basketball courts, 3 poolside bars, 2 shuffleboard courts, 2 sand volleyball courts, mini golf, surrey bikes, 3 fitness centers, 6? playgrounds, and an assortment of scheduled activities to entertain us if we so choose......and if not, I have a gorgeous jet tub in our master bath where I can retreat in a pile of bubbles with music playing on our Bose sound system. That's a "feel" I will never get in a Disney resort room unless I spend megabucks for one of the largest DVC villas they have.

Different strokes for different folks. I may be weird, but I didn't "feel" any more magical checking into Port Orleans Riverside than I did checking in to a Holiday Inn.

Edited to add: I have no problem with anyone who opts to stay onsite. I know that emotional "feel" can be a strong pull.....those Disney commercials do their job lol. But it's important for those considering their options to understand that there are a plethora of properties in Orlando and there are some excellent alternatives for families who are looking for more than just a "feeling" in their vacation accommodations.

For me staying onsite is purely about location and convenience. I’m well aware I’m paying more for less square footage and privacy than I could get off site. For me the sweet spot has been the epcot resorts and ability to walk to both epcot and studios. Over the course of a week it saves valuable hours in transportation time, I never have to worry about having a drink or three plus its just a lot more relaxing and peaceful. It provides a lot more flexibility with my older kids who can basically come and go to parks as they please while dw and I hang at the pool or do something different. The room is a bit cramped for four but the whole resort and surrounding area felt like our temporary home. It was a near perfect vacation set up.

All of that was pre covid of course. Now at $900 standard rooms, park reservation requirements and entertainment cut backs there is no way in hell I’ll be back.

 

[Gatrcruzer]

I have been to Disney many times over the last 45+ years and have stayed both on and off-site. Staying off-site can be really beneficial - not only the cost and the space, but particularly with such a long stay you have a greater variety of options related to eating off-site. For a large group like that, there is something to be said for having your own place to go back to at the end of the day that is quiet and private. I think you will have a fabulous time and this is a good way to go! You can shop at the grocery store and have breakfast at your place, and even make dinner at your rental if you want. It sounds as though this trip is not just about Disney, but about FAMILY, and I think this method will be perfect for you. You will have a wonderful time, so no need to feel sad or guilty - just excited!

 

[shalom]

Offsite gives us more room, and more comfort. It gives us more private sleeping quarters, which means we are more rested. Our offsite resort has more amenities than Disney properties. I'd happily pay more money for our offsite villa, but oddly enough, the only thing we don't get "more" of by staying offsite is poorer. We get more and spend less....which means more money in the budget for extra fun on our vacation.

I suspect that many folks, especially on these boards, who hype up the "magic" of staying onsite have not experienced an offsite stay. You've received lots of good feedback on this thread, from many posters who have personally had both experiences. Offsite has many, MANY benefits....not the least of which is a potentially massive savings. The best trips are the ones on which you make incredible memories with the people you love. When you all stretch out in your big comfy beds in the private bedrooms offered by your airbnb after a long day at the parks, I suspect you will not regret your decision.

Been a while since I've spent much time on the Disboards, but I see some things never change. Definitely not the first time I've seconded all of one of Gina's posts.

Now we're old fogies, the "more rested" thing is huge! Hubby and I gotta have a king bed or it's not a vacation, while certain of my {now adult) children have to have their own bed or sleep is not happening.

Also second the fact that many people who go on and on about the magic of staying onsite have not experienced an offsite stay, because back when I was more active here, I right regularly saw "On-site or Never!" people give off site a shot and end up much preferring it. And by giving offsite a shot, I mean putting some effort into it, not just grabbing the nearest hotel comparable to Disney's offerings. The real advantage of offsite is the fact that you can get condos and houses for (in some cases) less than a Value resort, and that's particularly true if you're in a bigger group. For one thing, the larger the group, the more likely there'll be someone who wants to spend time at the resort instead of going in the parks most of the day, meaning how nice the unit is can make a big difference in that person's experience.

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.

Very true. However, some people who think they are that type, discover otherwise when they discover a place offsite that works well for them. No one can know for sure until they try -- and I suspect some of those most adament about it are sometimes aware they're in denial, especially considering some of the "converts" I've seen over the years.

I've said this a bunch of times---I may have even said it in this thread---but it bears repeating.

There are three things you might want in lodging for a WDW-centric vacation:

1. To be onsite
2. To have a reasonable amount of space
3. To spend a reasonable amount of money.

For most people, and for most definitions of "reasonable," you can have at most two of those three. So, it comes down to deciding which of those three you are most willing to live without. Everyone will weigh these factors differently, and some people have definitions of "reasonable space" and or "reasonable money" that make all three possible.

But, for the most part, you have to choose.

Yes. I have always admired this breakdown because it has been my experience, not just at Disney World, but vacationing in general. For instance, my family stays in beach front properties once in a while, mostly to try out a new resort in our points system, but we tend to prefer the places that are larger and further inland, and just hit the beach on day trips. In terms of space and the ameneties in the unit, even the regular DVC units, nice as they are, don't compare to any of the Orlando condos we've stayed in offsite.

t sounds as though this trip is not just about Disney, but about FAMILY, and I think this method will be perfect for you. You will have a wonderful time, so no need to feel sad or guilty - just excited!

That may be the key -- for our family, the trip is about family, and much as we love Disney, what we most like about being there is getting together and comparing experiences and hanging out. That's not true of all of us individually -- my eldest son is perfectly fine with going to a Disney park by himself -- but while Disney trips are unique and special, for everyone else they're still mostly a vacation with family at a fun place. And a lot of the "former onsite" people I've talked to, one reason they're happier offsite is often that the family is happier or more relaxed because of the extra room. People value the Disney bubble for different reasons, and for some people it's more important than more comfortable rooms, but for others it's not. I also think some people just outgrow the Disney bubble and haven't realized it yet. Right now, the two biggest advantages of the Bubble is mobility and independence -- people who use the same car to get to Disney World can break up and come and go as they please; people who normally use a carseat and things can ride a bus or monorail or boat and avoid a lot of that hassle. If the group usually moves as a unit, or if your kids are old enough to deal with their own seatbelts but not old enough to be wandering the parks on their own, that advantage is not nearly so big a deal as it is to young adults and old folks with no kids, or to young families where it's a huge advantage that one parent can run home with baby or melt-down child while other parent stays in the parks.

I think sometimes the ones who've outgrown it can be the ones most shrilly "in denial" before they end up converting to offsite -- they've moved on to another phase of life, and are kind of fighting it!

Best of luck on your trip, wherever you end up staying.

 

[kathy884]

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/

For our popular spring break week I saw a rate of $324 a night. We are staying offsite at the Sheraton Vistana with a timeshare week trade that I inherited from my mom and dad that they bought resale.

 

[TamaraQT]

Said " some" Gina,but you just chose to leave that out and make it opposite of what it was about.Hmm,wonder why?As written,I mentioned" time and convenience",not bigger and better for your money.Of course there's benefits to staying off site,but if "we're" going to Florida,it's for disney,not for a hotel ,which by the sounds of it,'IF"you're going to use everything you wrote down,you won't see Disney at all,lol.

I am one who stays in Orlando for 2 weeks or more and never visit any of the Disney parks while there and I have a FABULOUS Orlando vacation without Disney. All these years and there are things on my bucket list to do that I still haven't done yet. Never played mini golf, havent done the Orlando Eye/Icon park. I havent been to Old Town for a night. I still havent been on an I-ride trolley, etc. The list goes on. I did ride a bus to the Hard Rock Casino and had a ball there. Evidently there is a Casino boat cruise too. I still haven't seen the Capone Dinner show. I missed my chance to go to Arabian Nights and now that is gone. The list goes on and on. That doesn't include anything in Tampa/Clearwater beach area. Ive been there 4 times and only went to the beach and dinner. Its so much to do besides Disney. But I do rent a car while there so I get to travel around alot. Especially being there for 2 weeks. I usually escape to the shopping outlets for a day too. You need a day or two just to get thru both on I-drive. That doesnt include the Mall of Millenia where there have been many celebrity sitings. I missed LeBron James by a day. But it was still worth it when I enjoyed a FANTASTIC dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. Followed by a Jacuzzi bath and a cocktail on the balcony before bed. I would need over $1k a night for that type of vacation day at Disney. But I think all those character sitings, long lines, mediocre food choices and a cramped hotel room just isn't my idea of enjoyment at all.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I've said this a bunch of times---I may have even said it in this thread---but it bears repeating.

There are three things you might want in lodging for a WDW-centric vacation:

1. To be onsite
2. To have a reasonable amount of space
3. To spend a reasonable amount of money.

For most people, and for most definitions of "reasonable," you can have at most two of those three. So, it comes down to deciding which of those three you are most willing to live without. Everyone will weigh these factors differently, and some people have definitions of "reasonable space" and or "reasonable money" that make all three possible.

But, for the most part, you have to choose.

For my family, #2 was non-negotiable. We don't consider a hotel room for the four of us to be a vacation. We'd do it for a night on either end of a longer trip if we were pressed, but even then we tended to get two rooms if a standard hotel was our only option.

So, that left #1 or #3. Earlier on, we chose to do without #1--and it really wasn't much of a choice, because our preferred option of a villa was out of our budget then.

Over time, circumstances changed, and we've now stayed onsite more often than off. For me, the vacations are much more similar than they are different. There are definite advantages to never having to leave the "Disney bubble". But, there are also definite advantages provided by some of the better offsite options. For example, Wyndham Bonnet Creek has larger, better equipped units than most DVC Villas of the same nominal configuration, and a better pool complex than any of those at WDW.

I don't find a ton of value being on site just for on site's sake. With Magical Express removed and parking no longer free, I can't recommend anyone EVER stay at the All Stars, for example. I'd put Pop Century in that category as well, though I love Art of Animation.

I don't like to stay onsite because it's onsite, I like to stay onsite because I like immersively themed hotels. That's why it blows my mind that people pay *double* to stay at the Contemporary what they'd pay to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge, which in my opinion is the finest Disney resort anywhere not named "Aulani."

On site but not themed might as well be off site as far as I'm concerned.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I enjoyed a FANTASTIC dinner at The Cheesecake Factory.

Ma'am.

 

[kathy884]

I don't find a ton of value being on site just for on site's sake. With Magical Express removed and parking no longer free, I can't recommend anyone EVER stay at the All Stars, for example. I'd put Pop Century in that category as well, though I love Art of Animation.

I don't like to stay onsite because it's onsite, I like to stay onsite because I like immersively themed hotels. That's why it blows my mind that people pay *double* to stay at the Contemporary what they'd pay to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge, which in my opinion is the finest Disney resort anywhere not named "Aulani."

On site but not themed might as well be off site as far as I'm concerned.

The theming of the AKL is outstanding and my parents who have been to South Africa say it's so authentic too. We go to Boma for a meal and come early and stay late to enjoy the resort and grounds. I haven't actually stayed there, and if money were no object I think staying in one of the Savannah view rooms would be so cool. I really like the whole vibe of the place and agree that the theming is really great and so immersive.

I never thought I liked the Contemporary till I ended up staying there in a high tower view room (very sweet freebie deal for us because DH has a seminar there and company was paying for all except one extra night that we stayed (and we got a great convention rate too). I liked it so much (watch the electric light pagent from the balcony, the proximity to the MK and other resorts on the monerail, etc.) that I looked at pricing there for our next Disney trip, but then I said ouch and booked a lovely very reasonable offsite timeshare condo.

 

[Brian Noble]

not themed

It seems to me that this is so very subjective, and depends on which subtle cues might or might not resonate with someone.

For example, I happen to think both OKW and SSR are very well-done, though most people talk about both as "unthemed". Each evokes a sense of time and place for me. OKW whispers "island time" everywhere I turn, and is just the most relaxing space I've ever been onsite or off while visiting WDW. I really love it there.

When SSR was first built, my reaction was "McMansions on a Moonscape," and I hated it from afar. I stayed there for the first time a few years ago and the landscaping has grown in wonderfully. It manages to convey a sense of understated elegance for that somehow just works for me, and I've been back once or twice since then. But, I think I'm very much in the minority; many people just don't seem to click with it for whatever reason.

On the other hand, I've stayed at both BCV and BWV, and both strike me as "generic seaside place." By extension, I think of BC and YC the same way. However, most people would say just the opposite--I think because having Epcot right there gives the entire area a different vibe.

I haven't stayed at AKL yet, but agree that it is stunning. I have stayed at BRV at its sibling WL several times, and that setting is fantastic, especially how it makes use of Bay Lake as an extension of the theme. There are moments when the execution there feels a little over the top and almost a caricature of itself, but those moments are few and far between---and AKL doesn't seem to suffer from this as far as I can tell.

That "over the top" thing is exactly what turns me off at the Values. People seem to complain about the rooms being made more generic, but I think the new design helps soften the hit-you-over-the-head sense that the exteriors provide.

I think one also has to stay someplace to really decide if they "get it" or not. I used to think that CSR would always be among my least favorite, because in pictures it struck me as "faux southwest." I ended up staying there for a short stay around Marathon weekend when I ran the half in the Casitas, and found to my surprise that it worked much better in person than in pictures.

CR/BLT is a mixed bag for me. We enjoyed our stay at BLT, but that might be because we had an upper floor Lake view in the middle of the C, so the views were really very nice--especially at sunset and sunrise. But, the overall vibe didn't quite work for me in the way I expected it to. On the other hand, the main resort pool deck and the Grand Canyon Concourse in the main resort work together to give a buzz of activity that's a little electric, and the monorail just adds that certain something.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

That "over the top" thing is exactly what turns me off at the Values. People seem to complain about the rooms being made more generic, but I think the new design helps soften the hit-you-over-the-head sense that the exteriors provide.

I couldn't agree with this more. I love the room refurbs at pretty much all of the resorts, where "goofy and kitsch" has been replaced with "clean, bright, and subtle."

For what it's worth, my ranking of all of Disney's domestic resorts (treating DVC and hotels that share a site as one):

Aulani
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Grand Californian
Wilderness Lodge
Yacht Club
Polynesian
Fort Wilderness
Disneyland Hotel
Boardwalk
Old Key West
Contemporary
Saratoga Springs
Port Orleans Riverside
Port Orleans French Quarter
Art of Animation
Grand Floridian
Caribbean Beach
Coronado Springs
Beach Club
Paradise Pier
Pop Century
All Star Movies
All Star Sports
All Star Music

 

[badiggio]

I am one who stays in Orlando for 2 weeks or more and never visit any of the Disney parks while there and I have a FABULOUS Orlando vacation without Disney. All these years and there are things on my bucket list to do that I still haven't done yet. Never played mini golf, havent done the Orlando Eye/Icon park. I havent been to Old Town for a night. I still havent been on an I-ride trolley, etc. The list goes on. I did ride a bus to the Hard Rock Casino and had a ball there. Evidently there is a Casino boat cruise too. I still haven't seen the Capone Dinner show. I missed my chance to go to Arabian Nights and now that is gone. The list goes on and on. That doesn't include anything in Tampa/Clearwater beach area. Ive been there 4 times and only went to the beach and dinner. Its so much to do besides Disney. But I do rent a car while there so I get to travel around alot. Especially being there for 2 weeks. I usually escape to the shopping outlets for a day too. You need a day or two just to get thru both on I-drive. That doesnt include the Mall of Millenia where there have been many celebrity sitings. I missed LeBron James by a day. But it was still worth it when I enjoyed a FANTASTIC dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. Followed by a Jacuzzi bath and a cocktail on the balcony before bed. I would need over $1k a night for that type of vacation day at Disney. But I think all those character sitings, long lines, mediocre food choices and a cramped hotel room just isn't my idea of enjoyment at all.

Good for you,truly.When" I" go to orlando,especially if I'm taking my grandkids,it's for disney.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

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.

Please read my post on Air B and B. It might not be the cheapest way to stay off site and in the end it might be more costly.

 

[TamaraQT]

Good for you,truly.When" I" go to orlando,especially if I'm taking my grandkids,it's for disney.

Maybe one day your "grandkids" will be interested to see what goes on outside the bubble after so many years of inside visits. Unless you can predict the future,you just don't know yet. My DD15 enjoyed outside bubble more than inside. She had both options and preferred amenities outside over inside.

 

[badiggio]

Maybe one day your "grandkids" will be interested to see what goes on outside the bubble after so many years of inside visits. Unless you can predict the future,you just don't know yet. My DD15 enjoyed outside bubble more than inside. She had both options and preferred amenities outside over inside.

No prediction needed.As already written, we've been off site and stayed at nice places,but ,we all prefer staying onsite.

 

[TamaraQT]

No prediction needed.As already written, we've been off site and stayed at nice places,but ,we all prefer staying onsite.

I guess for you it's good to know that they will NEVER have an interest in anything in Orlando other than Disney no matter what.