Thread for People staying off site

[crusoe2]

I'm so glad to see this thread. Love the "offsite" forum too but I agree with others - it tends to be more about places to stay, restaurants and such rather than about park touring strategies and planning for offsite guests. We've done both on and off site over the years. The first time we did offsite, I found there were lots of little details that I hadn't considered - like that there wasn't a quick and convenient way to check to see which park was having EMH on a given day so that we would know which parks to avoid. That's easier now of course, thanks to smartphones. But back then I didn't think to look it up and write it down beforehand. I was accustomed to the packet of info we would get at check-in having that information in it and just hadn't even thought about it.

One thing I debated on this trip was whether or not to spend the money for magic bands. Since I wasn't planning to buy Memory Maker, it didn't seem worth the cost. Now I'm wishing we had and actually am planning to buy them when we get to Epcot in a little while. I'm already tired of having to dig the plastic cards out at fastpass time. The bands just look so much easier.

 

[robinb]

It's really important to know when EMH is because many onsite people will still go to the EMH park even if they miss the EMH or don't intend to stay for the evening EMH.

 

[Monykalyn]

Yeah my plan last year (offsite) was:
1. Rope drop a must- bonus on getting there early is closer parking spot too- great for leaving- often didn't wait for tram
2. Fast pass early afternoon or late morning
3.Since we didn't want to leave parks for a break- would hop to another park for shows or resort for sit down lunch (usually 1-2 o'clock hour) to get out of heat
4. Definitely shows in afternoon- great way to break up heat
5. Ride with 4th/5th FP as available. We really slowed down in afternoon & evening time- all the parks have details that people running from one ride to next miss.
6. Find air conditioned QS spot for dinner (exception was Epcot- Tokyo dining planned for start of illuminations)
7. Get spot for evening show-in AK we simply left around 5:30- offsite dinner then back to condo/pool time
8. Plan day of rest/water park/early night every 2 days of touring since we were in parks usually open to close

 

[Monykalyn]

Also- loved Magic bands for entry, MM, FP. Worth the expense to us.
Usually avoided parks with EMH -we did do AK on a day that early had EMH- we found with mid morning fast passes, shows in afternoon that by about 3 o'clock that the park emptied out! Rode EE multiple times as standby walk on.

 

[it'sbeenalongtime]

Thanks I've found this thread great too - most advice I see is orientated around people staying onsite. The board on offsite hotels and attractions that was mentioned in a post above is much more general whereas I like that this is how best to do Disney when offsite.

Anyway, there were a couple of points in posts above which I hope someone can clarify as I have done lots of research but these were truly "Really??!" moments for me when I read them!

- if you purchase memory maker but have no magic bands you don't get ride photos. Is that true? I hope not because I have purchased MM for our upcoming trip.

- if you stay onsite at the beginning of your stay, you get to book FP 60 days in advance for the whole length of your park tickets, not just the length of your stay. Again, really?? I wish I'd known that! Does that mean if I have 14 day tickets bought from UK site I could book each of 14 days worth of FP at 60 days in advance of each day if I was staying just my first night onsite? Or did I misunderstand that.

- lastly, my own question - we are staying onsite for our last 2 nights just to try it and get the perks. I understand we have to pick up the magic bands on the day we check in rather than them being sent to us as we are in the UK. Is there any prospect of me being able to pick them up from the hotel earlier in our trip or for me to have them sent to a friend's US address? It's frustrating not being able to have them for MM and FP earlier in our trip but I don't want to buy them when we will get them for free later in the trip.

Thanks

 

[bigcrit]

Following......

 

[DisMommyTX]

We have stayed offsite many times, always for the value and space of a 2- 3 bedroom condo with full kitchen. I think offsite guests often tour differently than onsite. We are late risers and never even considered making a rope drop. We arrive mid-day and usually stay until the parks close. We never once wished we had park hoppers and rarely left the parks for a break.

This summer will be our first time staying on property (actually 1/2 of our 10 night split stay). For the days on property, we are planning both a rope drop and a hop. I don't know why it seems more appealing now?? I actually think our travel time from Windsor Hills to AK, EP and HS was faster than the bus routes from most resorts. Nevertheless, our approach to touring seems different when staying offsite.

 

[Mrs. Max Goof]

My boyfriend has a time share right outside WDW property and we really enjoy staying off-site. We drive from Ohio and use our vehicle for the trip.

Our first stop when we arrive in Orlando is the grocery store, and that alone saves us so much money. We make breakfast and lunch at the condo, but go out for dinner every night. This is also when we pick up snacks for park days.

In a one week vacation, we typically spend 2-3 days in the parks, so we love the flexibility to visit the outlets, Daytona Beach, and City Walk.

This will be our first trip with FP+, and it marks the first time that I feel that things aren't quite fair to those staying offsite. We are almost at our 30 day mark and I find myself worrying that there will be nothing available. I liked that there was an even playing field for all guests using the legacy FP system. We purchased Magic Bands mostly for the novelty of them, but I also like that they can be reused for future trips (especially considering we have no plans to stay on property in the near future) and it sounds like they're a tad more convenient too.

 

[Monykalyn]

Thanks I've found this thread great too - most advice I see is orientated around people staying onsite. The board on offsite hotels and attractions that was mentioned in a post above is much more general whereas I like that this is how best to do Disney when offsite.

Anyway, there were a couple of points in posts above which I hope someone can clarify as I have done lots of research but these were truly "Really??!" moments for me when I read them!

- if you purchase memory maker but have no magic bands you don't get ride photos. Is that true? I hope not because I have purchased MM for our upcoming trip.

- if you stay onsite at the beginning of your stay, you get to book FP 60 days in advance for the whole length of your park tickets, not just the length of your stay. Again, really?? I wish I'd known that! Does that mean if I have 14 day tickets bought from UK site I could book each of 14 days worth of FP at 60 days in advance of each day if I was staying just my first night onsite? Or did I misunderstand that.

- lastly, my own question - we are staying onsite for our last 2 nights just to try it and get the perks. I understand we have to pick up the magic bands on the day we check in rather than them being sent to us as we are in the UK. Is there any prospect of me being able to pick them up from the hotel earlier in our trip or for me to have them sent to a friend's US address? It's frustrating not being able to have them for MM and FP earlier in our trip but I don't want to buy them when we will get them for free later in the trip.

Thanks

MM and ride photos-you get the ride photos but not the videos-however without a magic band the photos are not automatically captured-have to go and get MM card scanned after rides.

Yes-the 60 day is for length of ticket starting at beginning of onsite stay-for the LOS; Example-we are staying onsite for 6 days, 5 day ticket; at beginning of stay I made 4 days of FP all at once-but we are moving offsite for another week and for the following(offsite) week I had to wait for the 60 days to open up one at a time (FP June 2-6 made fp at 60 day window had to wait another ?think it was 10 days? until I could make a fastpass June 12 -tho offsite portion of our stay.)


If at all possible try to schedule the onsite portion at beginning of stay to really maximize benefits-including the MB. If not possible not sure it would be worth the money...you can't make FP starting 60 days out for the start of offsite stay if you aren't going onsite til the end of your trip. Because they are linked to your resort ??if you would be able to pick up early or even use before then?

 

[Josh Hendy]

Getting to and from WDW parks and resorts is really easy and quick if you have a car ... except it is $17/day to park at a theme park for offsite guests. Not enough to break the bank, but about as much as a counter service meal for 2 (or maybe 1 1/2).

For the MK only there is the extra delay and inconvenience of having to take the ferry or monorail from TTC to the park entrance. It's not fun waiting to get on the ferry when you're either impatient to get to rope drop, and it's _really_ not fun after the fireworks waiting for the boat when there's a huge crush of people all around you. The other parks are all a breeze at closing time, because the crowd naturally disperses as soon as they've passed out of the turnstiles ... and if you came anytime before 11am your car will be close to the entrance and a really easy walk so you're not even dependent on the trams.

Then again, waiting for resort buses at MK after the fireworks is probably also a pain ...

We've always stayed offsite. The one time we seriously considered staying one night onsite, it was because we were in love with the look of the grounds and pool at Wilderness Lodge. But then we asked ourselves ... compared to visiting the resort for free, eating a meal and walking around taking pictures, what would we get for our $300 compared to the $100 or $150 we were paying offsite? Answer - we'd get about 1 swim in the pool, the rest of the time we would be sleeping, eating in the same restaurant we could eat at anyways, and visiting theme parks and/or the beach like we always do.

 

[Planogirl]

I agree that having a car to get to the parks is a distinct advantage. I've never heard of any offsite buses that aren't a hassle just like the Disney buses in my opinion. The parking fees are high but so worth it.

As for FP+ it really isn't too bad. The biggest headache is having to schedule each day of FP+ one day at a time.

 

[mom4fun]

Let me restate this, if I by a 10 day myw ticket and stay on disney property the first night, then I can stay somewhere else the rest of the trip and be able to book all 10 days of fast passes at the 60 day mark?

 

[DisMommyTX]

Let me restate this, if I by a 10 day myw ticket and stay on disney property the first night, then I can stay somewhere else the rest of the trip and be able to book all 10 days of fast passes at the 60 day mark?

Yes, However you will have to book each day's fp+ 60 days out from that date. If your onsite night is in the middle or end of your stay, you will have to wait until 60 days before your onsite stay, then all dates prior to that open for booking. However, I highly recommend purchasing your tickets from a vendor such as undercover tourist and linking them to your MDE (vs. buying tickets direct from Disney). If your tickets are purchased from Disney as part of your package, it can be complicated to activate the tickets for use prior to check-in and is sometimes not allowed.

Also keep in mind that a one night stay on property will include access to EMH for your check-in and check-out days (so choose your date wisely!), free parking for those two days, and free magic bands for all guests linked to the reservation.

 

[mmkenn]

Thanks all for your replies. Lots to think about when staying offsite!

 

[DisMommyTX]

MM and ride photos-you get the ride photos but not the videos-however without a magic band the photos are not automatically captured-have to go and get MM card scanned after rides.

Yes-the 60 day is for length of ticket starting at beginning of onsite stay-for the LOS; Example-we are staying onsite for 6 days, 5 day ticket; at beginning of stay I made 4 days of FP all at once-but we are moving offsite for another week and for the following(offsite) week I had to wait for the 60 days to open up one at a time (FP June 2-6 made fp at 60 day window had to wait another ?think it was 10 days? until I could make a fastpass June 12 -tho offsite portion of our stay.)


If at all possible try to schedule the onsite portion at beginning of stay to really maximize benefits-including the MB. If not possible not sure it would be worth the money...you can't make FP starting 60 days out for the start of offsite stay if you aren't going onsite til the end of your trip. Because they are linked to your resort ??if you would be able to pick up early or even use before then?

This is mostly right, but you can have the onsite portion in the middle or end of your stay, as long as you purchase the tickets from an independent vendor then link them to your MDE resort stay. Staying onsite, you can book all of your fp 60 days out from checkin. For split stays with part on-site and part off-site, FP+ for the offsite portion can be booked either 1) for nights after the resort stay you can book FP+ 60 days out from each day; 2) FP for nights prior to the onsite stay can be booked 60 days in advance of check-in for your onsite stay.

 

[itchin2go]

Thanks I've found this thread great too - most advice I see is orientated around people staying onsite. The board on offsite hotels and attractions that was mentioned in a post above is much more general whereas I like that this is how best to do Disney when offsite.

Anyway, there were a couple of points in posts above which I hope someone can clarify as I have done lots of research but these were truly "Really??!" moments for me when I read them!

- if you purchase memory maker but have no magic bands you don't get ride photos. Is that true? I hope not because I have purchased MM for our upcoming trip.

- if you stay onsite at the beginning of your stay, you get to book FP 60 days in advance for the whole length of your park tickets, not just the length of your stay. Again, really?? I wish I'd known that! Does that mean if I have 14 day tickets bought from UK site I could book each of 14 days worth of FP at 60 days in advance of each day if I was staying just my first night onsite? Or did I misunderstand that.

- lastly, my own question - we are staying onsite for our last 2 nights just to try it and get the perks. I understand we have to pick up the magic bands on the day we check in rather than them being sent to us as we are in the UK. Is there any prospect of me being able to pick them up from the hotel earlier in our trip or for me to have them sent to a friend's US address? It's frustrating not being able to have them for MM and FP earlier in our trip but I don't want to buy them when we will get them for free later in the trip.

Thanks

I can answer the second question - yes - it is a rolling 60 days, but yes, each day can be booked at 60 days out.

 

[Monykalyn]

Rolling 60-sure-but as a strategy it makes more sense to stay onsite at beginning of trip for use of magic bands and scheduling fast passes (throwaway room another thread as a strategy)

 

[it'sbeenalongtime]

Wow thanks so much - I had no idea I would be able to book FP for my offsite days (which are prior to my onsite days) at 60 days in advance on my check-in date ! I realise it sounds like I should have done off site/onsite the other way round but I'm still excited that I will be able to book all my FP more than 30 days in advance (if I've understood correctly). Will all my offsite days automatically open up for FP booking on MDE when I hit 60 days prior to check-in, as long as I have my tickets and accommodation all linked on my MDE account?

 

[it'sbeenalongtime]

Also just seen in DismommyTX post above (sorry haven't worked out how to quote yet!) that it works to book FP 60 days in advance for off site stays which are prior to an onsite stay if the park tickets are booked through an "independent vendor" - does that mean that because I booked my 14 day tickets through the Disney UK site that it won't work?

 

[larandtra1990]

Our trips vary, sometimes we go for short 3 day weekends and depending on our intentions, we may stay off site. You can usually find great deals and since we have APs, we dont have to worry about paying to park. It changes the way you do the parks slightly, but, nothing too out of the norm. Again, you arent spending a lot of time on a short trip in the resort anyway. I think there are pros and cons to either, but, the reality is, I think for people on longer trips or without APs or being someone who goes a lot, off site really does take away from the experience and doesnt allow as much flexibility. For people in the other categories, I think sometimes it makes sense.