Oops! I'm going to disagree...a little.
I have stayed both on-site and off-site and I think it depends on the circumstances. To me, hotels like the CBR are really just hotels and not worth the extra $$. Sorry, I know that is not a popular point of view. On the other hand, hotels like AKL have such great themeing that you can't find anywhere else that it is worth the $355/nt. (Oh and for a first trip to wdw-always on-site.)
Last Easter we went down with two families that just didn't think that they could afford D prices so I found a 4BR, 4 Bath house that was 3yo at homes4uu.com that worked out to be $35/nt for each family. It had a screened in pool and hot-tub so we were able to swim and make noise no matter what time it was. We always rent a car, even on site, because we don't like to waste time on busses, so that wasn't a problem. It took us only about 5 mins longer than driving from the resorts. (We have never had trouble with traffic.) I wouldn't change that vacation for anything. Having our own house allowed us the privacy that we wanted and the cost allowed friends that otherwise wouldn't have been able to go to be there with us.
On another note...We did Discovery Cove last Nov. and loved it. It definately looks expensive on the surface but it includes a 5 day pass to Sea World (OK-we only used one but we could have gone 5 if we wanted to.
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You don't pay for all of the extras once you're in. (ie-wet suits, snorkles, sun-screen, lunch, 1 8x10 picture etc.) We are going to go back in the future and we tell everyone that we talk to that it is a "Must Do" and I don't usually go anywhere except D when we're in Orlando. You will LOVE this park. Just remember to take underwater disposable cameras and you will get the best pictures!!
Post back and let us know what you did.
I have stayed both on-site and off-site and I think it depends on the circumstances. To me, hotels like the CBR are really just hotels and not worth the extra $$. Sorry, I know that is not a popular point of view. On the other hand, hotels like AKL have such great themeing that you can't find anywhere else that it is worth the $355/nt. (Oh and for a first trip to wdw-always on-site.)
Last Easter we went down with two families that just didn't think that they could afford D prices so I found a 4BR, 4 Bath house that was 3yo at homes4uu.com that worked out to be $35/nt for each family. It had a screened in pool and hot-tub so we were able to swim and make noise no matter what time it was. We always rent a car, even on site, because we don't like to waste time on busses, so that wasn't a problem. It took us only about 5 mins longer than driving from the resorts. (We have never had trouble with traffic.) I wouldn't change that vacation for anything. Having our own house allowed us the privacy that we wanted and the cost allowed friends that otherwise wouldn't have been able to go to be there with us.
On another note...We did Discovery Cove last Nov. and loved it. It definately looks expensive on the surface but it includes a 5 day pass to Sea World (OK-we only used one but we could have gone 5 if we wanted to.
)You don't pay for all of the extras once you're in. (ie-wet suits, snorkles, sun-screen, lunch, 1 8x10 picture etc.) We are going to go back in the future and we tell everyone that we talk to that it is a "Must Do" and I don't usually go anywhere except D when we're in Orlando. You will LOVE this park. Just remember to take underwater disposable cameras and you will get the best pictures!!
Post back and let us know what you did.
