staying on-site or off-site

[amyrajo]

First of all, I must say that I have learned so much in the past days from viewing
everyone's comments, suggestions, advice, etc. !!!!! Thank you!
I am currently planning my family's first trip to WDW, which will be in March of 2004.
(Am I planning too early??!!) After a lot of research, I still cannot decide what is best...
staying on-site or off-site. Maybe you can help! Here's a little background info on our trip:
*** We will be flying from WI, and really weren't planning on renting a car.... (except one day to go to the beach!)
*** We will be staying for 6 days, 7 nights - plans mostly include the theme parks and Sea World.
*** We are looking for moderately priced hotel rooms. (We were quoted a rate of $137 for the All Stars-- that seemed like a lot for a small room with no fridge, minimal eating places...etc)
***We have 2 kids, ages 9 and 5

What are your opinions??!!! Any thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[Scoootch]

If you won't be renting a car for the majority of your stay it is generally IMHO much easier to stay on-site than off as you will be right in Disney and have access to all of Disney's free transportation. Not to mention certain Disney resorts you can also walk to the parks as well - such as Yacht & Beach clubs or Boardwalk - you can walk or take a boat to both MGM or Epcot or the Contemporary you can walk to Magic Kingdom as well as take the monorail or boat. If you plan on doing alot of other parks though like Sea World or Universal, not having a car would make it more difficult as you'll need to rent one. Disney does not shuttle you to non-Disney parks.

As far as your rate goes that you were quoted -- Keep checking www.mousesavers.com as discount codes may come out a few months before your trip and may help reduce the rate.

HTH's some Good luck with your planning!

 

[Ratpack]

I had stayed off site on all my trips up until my honeymoon and since then, if there is anyway possible, I stay on site only. There is just something about being within the magic 24/7 that can't be beat. And no, you are not starting too early to plan. I started last July planning for this July (only three days after returning home from WDW).

 

[disneyatl]

You can definitely save money on your hotel by staying somewhere off site and probably get a lot more room for your buck. BUT, we've always preferred to stay at the resorts and have the Disney atmosphere 24/7. There's no place like Disney and yes, it's more expensive but IMHO well worth it.

And, no you're not planning too early. We are going July 2004 and I've already started! Can't wait!!!

 

[Mrs.A]

Don't waste your time off site, you will have to worry about the shuttles from the hotel off site. They may only run every so often not every 10 to 15 minutes as the disney buses do. What if the shuttle is full? and you want to do early entry? Or go back to the resort to rest or swim? You would waste alot of time doing this staying off site.

Check into the Swan and Dolphin you maybe able to get one of those for the same price as All Stars.
The Swan and Dolphin are not Disney owned resorts, but I,m sure there just as nice maybe better than some. We are staying at the Swan in 3 weeks, and it looks like a lovely resort. It is close to the Boardwalk and you can walk to MGM and Epcot, or take the boat.

Check out Dreams Unlimited for the Swan, that is who I booked mine thru.

Are you a member of AAA, if so you can receive discounts with a room only reservation at the Disney Resorts. You can book this thru Disney be sure to ask for CRO to book it.

The Swan and Dolphin also offer an AAA discount also, you can call them directly to check out the price.

Good luck planning and I hope you find a great deal. ( I did. ) I would really consider staying on site.

 

[jordanyosh]

I agree with everyone else in saying the the pros far outweigh the con($$$$) when you consider staying on vs. off-site.

Some other things to consider. If you are only in Florida for 6 days and you have in your schedule to go to the beach and Sea World, 4 days at WDW will most definitely not be enough especially since this is your first time. If you have to do those other days, then I would think about adding a day or two to your vacation. If you cannot add additional days then I would think about not going to the beach or Sea World. Even if you went to a theme park a day and spent all day there, you probably won't see everything in each park. You would be very, very rushed. Also, that leaves little time for everything else there is to do at WDW. Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach would be great for the entire family. DisneyQuest would also be fantastic......The Marketplace....The Boardwalk......

Just some more to think about....

 

[caverill]

Being a DVC member, I am very bias towards staying on-site. We have done both and we will never stay off-site if we can avoid it.

The Swan and Dolphin are available in addition to the Disney hotels. You could also look at the hotels near Downtown Disney, since they are within walking distance of Downtown Disney and provide many of the same advantages (like EE and shuttles) that the Disney hotels offer.

None of the DD hotels (or even the Swan and Dolphin) match the Disney "magic" IMHO.

It is never to early to plan for your trip, so continue to get information and ask lots of questions!

I agree with the previous poster that 6 days won't be enough time to do Disney, Seaworld, and go to the beach.

Seaworld is a park that needs two days, if you want to see all of the shows and stuff.

Since Orlando is in the middle of Florida, you will end up wasting a whole day if you go to the beach. I would recommend thinking about just doing one of the waterparks at Disney instead of going to the beach. TL and BB are wonderful and you won't lose the time spend driving across Florida (or renting a car).

Since it sounds like there are four of you, you might conside doing a towncar for the round trip between the airport and your hotel. I believe it is still about $80, but the car would be big enough for your whole family. It also sets a nice tone to arrive in Orlando, get of the plane, and have a driver and car waiting for you.

Good luck with your planning!

 

[ww52]

Welcome, amyrajo!

Let me put in my vote for checking out the Swan/Dolphin. Haven't been there yet myself, but will be in a few weeks. We've been at GF and BC several times, and you can get a deal less than half that price at the Swan.

Yes, the rooms will be smaller than you get at hotels off-site or what you may experience in other cities. But being on Disney property more than makes up for it.

Be sure to check out other sites, such as Deb Will's site www.wdwig.com.

As has been said, look at mousesavers; S/D has a lot of discounts. For example, there are great rates if you are a governement employee or teacher. That used to hold for nurses too - not sure if it still does.

You've definitely come to the right place for WDW info. Be sure to post any/all questions you have. The people here are fantastic!

 

[crazelion]

I would post the same question on the Orlando and Attactions to different opionions onsite and offsite debate. They can give some reasons to stay offsite.

Here's the questions I would ask your self:

Do I have the money to stay onsite then which resort?

What are my familys like and dislikes?

Mybe stay at a Downtown Disney Hotel.

What is my transpoation to and from the airport.

People have different reasons for staying onsite and offiste that they like that makes there vacation pefect.

Next year I planning on staying offsite for the first night arrival night. Then checking into a onsite resort. Why because I won't to go outlet mall shopping experince some the cheap tourist attactions on International Drive.

 

[swilphil]

We stayed off site during our first trip and on site on our second. I will only do onsite in the future. We got a govt. discount at the Dolphin for $129 a night. The location near Epcot and MGM is wonderful. We took buses to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. I found the staff at the Dolphin to be excellent, plus it's a deluxe hotel with value rates.

 

[Nlihte]

Stay On-site!!! You will never experience the magic of Disney resorts anywhere else! I just got back from Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, and am still in awe. All of the Disney resorts that I've stayed at have the Disney feeling my whole stay and beyond.

 

[girlsx2]

I'll just jump right in here and say "STAY ON SITE". There is nothing like it at all anywhere, especially with kids. We have three kids (11, 7 and 2), we were at Disney in February and nothing beats the transportation system. As previously stated, check mousesavers often and watch for those discount codes. We are going back in Feb, and discounts came out around the first of December last year. We were able to stay at the Wilderness Lodge for $119/night. The moderates were $85/night. Now I will say that these rates were for value season, so your rate may be slightly higher depending on which "season" you are going. Staying on site also gives you the flexability to go back to your room midday and swim or nap and go back to the parks later in the day. You can literally arrive at your resort (by taxi or by car) and never look at your car (or taxi) again for the remainder of your trip. Now, with you going over to the beach and to Sea World, you will have to find transportation there if you do not rent a car.

Sherri

 

[zcomic]

We've done both and onsite is really the way to go. It's part of the magic. And if you don't plan on having a car the transportation is worth the additional cost alone.

As far as too soon to start planning for March, I planned most of our 2000 trip a year and a half ahead of time. Of course I was in bed for 2 weeks following knee surgery but with a laptop (and a long phone) cord the excitement of planning a WDW was better then the painkillers the doctor gave me.

 

[>>^..^<<]

Stay onsite for the Disney transportation and other benefits like early morning entries, E Nights tickets. Also you can buy meals and souveniers on your key to the world card and have things delivered back to the hotel.

It is definately more magica onsite ~

>>^..^<<

 

[susy]

March is peak sesona andwe can't rely on codes, although there were some this past March. It's going to be expensive and yes, I agree that $137 is way too high for the All Stars!

Other than that, I think you will really enjoy your onsite stay! Once you arrive at WDW you won't need a car. The level of service, theming, convenience and other perks far outweigh any "suite" or free breakfast IMO.

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

ONSITE ONSITE ONSITE!

Especially if you aren't planning to rent a car! If you stay off-site and don't rent a car, you will spend an enormous amount of wasted time waiting for shuttles and traveling to and from theme parks.

When planning my trip, I was waffling between either staying on site and not renting a car or staying off site and renting a car. I figured the money I saved on staying off site really wouldn't be saved at all because I'd have to rent a car. Besides on site is just so much more fun! I figure if I'm going to Disney World, might as well go ALL THE WAY!!

 

[amyrajo]

How can I ever thank everyone?????!!!!! Your suggestions and comments were exactly
what I needed! I will definitely post again when questions arise. Thank you, thank you!

 

[msteddom]

I'm going to present a slightly different view. I've been to WDW three times and always stayed offsite. I never felt like I was missing out on anything. If money is a major concern, then I say stay offsite. You will enjoy your vacation much more if your budget isn't streched super thin!

Having said that, as you can see from my counter below I am staying on site for the first time and I can hardly contain my excitement!!! I'm sure now that I will have found out exactly what I have been missing I will never go off site again!!

 

[Planogirl]

Something that some people seem to enjoy that I've thought about doing is renting a vacation home. They seem to enjoy all of the room, the full kitchen and washing facilities and sometimes they even have their own pool! And they say that they don't spend much. But of course you'd have to get a rental car.

I enjoy onsite. Offsite is fine when I'm watching my budget but onsite is more fun.

 

[dgaston]

As crazelion suggested, I would post this same questions on the Orlando and other attractions boards. You will see some very different answers. Many will probably suggest the Holiday Inn Family Suites as providing more space and privacy for parents, with meals free for kids under 12. However, any off-site really requires a car rental.

When we had less money to spend at WDW, we camped at Ft Wilderness to be on-site. Even now when we can do deluxes, my family misses the Fort. We're surprising our youngest with a camping trip next April!

I think the magic is what you make of it, too. Just being in Orlando is wonderful!