Thread for People staying off site

[robinb]

I have another hint.

When parking at DHS if you end up close to the front part of the parking near the handicapped parking, cross the road that the tram takes at the crosswalk and walk along the side of the building. There will be one security guard there but it's quicker than going through security with everyone else.

 

[mckennarose]

We've been to WDW 3 times, most recently last Sept/Oct and this May 9 - 16. All three times we've stayed offsite. The first with friends and the second and third through timeshare exchange/getaways.

For us, we wanted Magic Bands for "the fun of it" and decorating them. We bought them in DTD the night of our arrival in September and decorated them in the condo. We used them again this trip in May. (gave them a makeover in between!) The neat thing about having them was the pictures for the rides we went on that we didn't scan our bands for. Expedition Everest was one I remember. I guess they have a way to "read" the bands even when you don't scan them?

As for FP+; for our September/Oct trip last year we had a good choice at 30 days out with the exception of A&E (which we were not interested in), Mine train, and TSMM. This May trip all those were available except A&E. We got Mine Train twice (2 different days) and TSMM was available, but we chose another attraction. Plus it was Star Wars weekend, which we wanted to see.

We varied our days with getting there early (not quite rope drop) and taking an afternoon break, or arriving later and staying for the evening show/parade (depending on the park). This May trip we stayed at the Marriott Sabal Palms which is very close and it only took us 5 minutes to get to Epcot. Since we drive and bring our own car, we don't mind parking. But the two most time consuming areas to get in and out of are MK (just because it takes so long to get in and out of the park itself) and DTD, which is a mess. We planned about an hour to get to our DTD reservations, and about the same for MK.

We went on our recent trip with family members who own DVC and were staying at OKW. They came to our pools because they were less crowded and more quiet. There were times we had the pool to ourselves.

For us, what we get for the cost is a huge factor in why we stay offsite.

 

[sharona]

My tips for off site stays:

Booking FP+ at 30 days out: if you can't get FPs for the time of day that you want (for example 7DMT) try this - split up your party and book each person's FPs separately. You can then choose times with overlapping windows so you can still all ride together. I did this for our recent visit to MK when the only FP offered at 30 days out for 7DMT was after 8pm and we wanted to ride it earlier. I was able to get one FP for 11:05am and another for 11:10am so we rode together at 11:10am.

Also, if you're staying offsite and want to familiarize yourself with booking FP+, you can go in any time before your 30 day window opens as long as you've linked your tickets and "practice" booking FP times and making changes for dates within the 30 day window. The system has no way of knowing when you actually plan to visit. I found it very helpful to already be comfortable with the system so I was ready to go when my window opened. And definitely stay up late or wake up early to book right when the window opens.

One more - if you're driving and take a mid day break at MK, when you return after 5 and they try to direct you to the lot in the land of far far away, ask nicely if you can check for spots up front. Many early birds will have left and there will be lots of close by/no tram needed parking right by the TTC.

 

[Candleshoe]

We offsite Disney goers have an entire forum! This thread seems out of place here

Or were you under the misconception that the Orlando board was "not for Disney"? Because that just isn't true!

 

[JosieMouse]

We're staying off site for our first trip next month. I thought about magic bands, but decided to save the money and just gout everyone lanyards to put their tickets in. I just got done making our FPs. So now I have started stocking the bib to see if A&E opens up.

 

[Happiest mommy]

This is a great will be following it! we have stayed only offsite the times we have gone and we LOVE having all the extra room we have stayed at the Mariott by Seaworld it's set up like an apt, we are looking into renting a home for our next visit next year we will be driving and taking my fur babies but we haven't been in a while so now i'm having to get familiar with the new FP system love reading all the posts

 

[goofyernmost]

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

I guess it could be looked at that way concerning FP, but, the actual fact of the matter is that there is a whole lot less to think about offsite then on. No worries about ADR's. If you can get them 30 days out, fine, but, if you can't the variety of places to eat offsite are huge and no reservations are required. FP does present a bit of a problem if you want to book for each day ahead of time, this is how it works. If you are planning on going to the parks, say 5 days in a row and you want to reserve FP at the maximum time allowed, then you can log in on the first day that hits 30 days ahead and reserve that one day. The second day will not be 30 days until tomorrow so you have to wait until tomorrow to book those and so on through the five days. OR you can wait until you first one is at 25 days and book them all at once. It's only as complicated as you want to make it.

It is really easy, I did mine from my home computer and it only took about 5 minutes. I, of course, had to decide what park I wanted to be in on what day, but, that applies even if you stay onsite. I did mine only 9 days before my arrival and got just about everything I wanted. Granted it was in February, but, it worked great. Since I was going to be in certain parks on certain days, I also booked my ADR's at the same time. I only booked two of them because that was all I wanted. One was at Epcot and the other was at MK.

 

[crazy Cat Lady]

I'm glad this is a separate thread! We're staying off-site and are definitely renting a car to get around. We weren't planning on doing Magic Bands, but I read that if we do Memory Maker, ride pics are only included if you have the bands. Is this true? Also, do we ALL need MBs? We'll be a party of 6 (3 generations) and thinking of splitting the cost of MM. If so, how does this work with maybe only having one MB?

If you have Memory Maker you don't need magic bands. You just get them to scan your Memory Maker card after the ride. The only exception from what I understand is 7DMT - the photo on that links to the MB only.

HTH

 

[Planogirl]

We offsite Disney goers have an entire forum! This thread seems out of place here

Or were you under the misconception that the Orlando board was "not for Disney"? Because that just isn't true!

I think that they were looking for how to approach WDW as an offsite visitor. I saw someone comment that the other forum is more for resorts and restaurants.

 

[Candleshoe]

I think that they were looking for how to approach WDW as an offsite visitor. I saw someone comment that the other forum is more for resorts and restaurants.

But it isn't. It's for all aspects of being an offsite visitor to Disney.

 

[LATJLP]

Don't pay the taxi driver a parking fee.....that's a rip off. I have often driven my daughters to the parks and just dropped them off....not having to pay the parking fee. MK you approach the last car lane (not the bus one) on the right and tell them you just want to drop someone off. They'll point you towards the side road that leads to GF, but you turn left instead of right at that intersection, which leads you to the drop off area where the buses drop off too. I also go and pick them up, again, not paying the fee. MANY taxis are parked there. To help you visualize where this is....as you come off the monorail and walk past the Ticket booths towards the parking lot there is a gift store.....walk to it's edge and there is a path that looks like it goes to the back of the gift store.....as you walk that path the Lost & Found building is on the right the gift shop on the left. Behind the gift shop is where you catch a bus to a resort, or drop off/pick up in personal cars, or grab a taxi.

DHS you tell them at the gate that you're just dropping someone off (or picking up) and they let you through and at the end of the road the parking attendants will tell you go to to the right (towards the parks) and guide you to the lane just behind all the taxi cabs to drop off (so your taxi would just go to the drop off and probably sit there hoping for a new fare out).

AK...same thing, tell them at the gate and they guide you towards the handicap parking, where the attendant there guides you to the drop off right near the gate (again, lots of taxis sitting there).

EPCOT....Same thing as MK, there is a path that leads to where the buses drop you off, and again, taxis waiting around.

 

[dioxide45]

But it isn't. It's for all aspects of being an offsite visitor to Disney.

I read and post over on the offiste forum quite a bit. The name of the forum is "Orlando Hotels and Attractions". The description for the forum is "Discover the "Other Side of Orlando", including the great deals available at hotels all around Orlando." While some people discuss theme part strategy there as an offisite guest. I still think this thread in the "Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies" forum is a great idea. Discussing how to tour the parks as an offiste guest really doesn't fit the description of the "Offiste" forum.

 

[Planogirl]

Maybe this is why the Offsite Forum is posted in less than many of the other forums. It does appear to be strictly about offsite subjects only. Universal and SeaWorld have their own forums so this appears to limit that forum quite a bit.

 

[itchin2go]

I read and post over on the offiste forum quite a bit. The name of the forum is "Orlando Hotels and Attractions". The description for the forum is "Discover the "Other Side of Orlando", including the great deals available at hotels all around Orlando." While some people discuss theme part strategy there as an offisite guest. I still think this thread in the "Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies" forum is a great idea. Discussing how to tour the parks as an offiste guest really doesn't fit the description of the "Offiste" forum.

I was going to say the same thing. If the board that people are referring to is Orlando Hotels and Attractions, that, to me, is about OTHER Orlando hotels and attractions, rather than staying offsite and visiting Disney parks.

I do visit that forum, but mainly to look for offsite accommodation information, and offsite restaurant recommendations. I'm sure it's used for other things too, but I thought that was the gist of it.

I don't know why it matters whether there's this extra thread though.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Anyone staying in our awesome fun Davenport/Clermont villas has a great (albeit packed) Walmart that is a Disney certified ticket dealer and has THE BEST huge selection of souvenirs!!!! I have to contain myself when I go for groceries...

Staying off site is amazing, last year we had FIVE families in an awesome house with 5 bathrooms! It would have been impossible to get such a nice place (granite and private pool) anywhere around property, and it worked out to $45 per family per night all fees said and done.

We liked it so much, we bought our own vacation Villa and moved permanently. We still get a fireworks view and it takes us 20 min to get to Disney. Traffic isn't TOO bad, better than Intl drive, that's for sure!

Best part about staying off site, if you can find one that's pet friendly! (My friends always did!)

We have awesome Fish n Chips pub everywhere, great pizza and dining options, sushi, Indian, and a Publix on every corner.

Definitely get MBs, we use them every day we go. Digging a card out and the front and inside of every FP is just annoying and hopping is a breeze. For me, I get 'ticket anxiety' before I leave a park and enter it. (Too many lost passes in the previous park over the yrs.) MB squashes this anxiety and looks great doing it.

MDE 30 days out, you can just about get what you want. I can't believe how many don't know about MDE reservations at all...

Oh yeah, we loved taking the ferry from DTD to Port Orleans. Stopped and had a fancy coffee and shopped a bit. A few hrs of resort living, and then off we go.

As far as resorts go, I haven't been inside, but boy is BLT uggo from the outside. Nothing special or Disney looking about it...Much happier with my Mediterranean themed townhouse with Disney CMs neighbors walking their dogs and stopping to say hello.

 

[Cyrano]

But it isn't. It's for all aspects of being an offsite visitor to Disney.

This forum is for Theme park planning so restaurant planning as has been stated should be posted on the appropriate board.

Whilst we can understand that folks are looking for one thread to meet their off-site need, it is not that simplistic. Can you imagine what the DIS would look like if there was only one board

This is one of the reasons that threads are moved or shut down since they are trying to tackle to many subject areas.

We will let this thread run a bit longer but for theme park planning the numerous threads on TPAS may be a better way for posters to participate on the boards.

For our up and coming vacation this board as well as the Restaurant and Universal boards have been where I have sought advice and input.

 

[Candleshoe]

I was going to say the same thing. If the board that people are referring to is Orlando Hotels and Attractions, that, to me, is about OTHER Orlando hotels and attractions, rather than staying offsite and visiting Disney parks.

I do visit that forum, but mainly to look for offsite accommodation information, and offsite restaurant recommendations. I'm sure it's used for other things too, but I thought that was the gist of it.

I don't know why it matters whether there's this extra thread though.

It isn't JUST about other orlando hotels and attractions. So, now you know! We discuss all aspects of being 'not on property.'

Why it matters to me? Not much but I like organization and this one is out of place. Just like a thread about "How to get a reservation at Be Our Guest?" would belong in the restaurant board.

 

[sharona]

no one is forcing anyone to read this thread.

 

[Candleshoe]

no one is forcing anyone to read this thread.

;-) I keep "unwatching" and getting quoted.

Trust me, it's no big deal. It's just WRONG. ;-)

 

[itchin2go]

It isn't JUST about other orlando hotels and attractions. So, now you know! We discuss all aspects of being 'not on property.'

Agree to disagree. I don't see much Disney talk over there.