Tips for Offsite...

[luvdiz]

This will be my first stay off-site in a while, and my first time to stay off-site with kids.

Please, please let me know any tips and suggestions you have!!

We are renting a car.

Help!

 

[maps]

Where are you staying and when? I've been staying off site for the last 3 years and it has been great even with little kids. Having a rental car is the key.

 

[winniedapooh]

When are you going. We have gone at Christmas and October and both of our trips were different due to park hours. During busy times we go early leave in the middle of the day for pool and enforced naps and then go back for dinner or after dinner. When the hours are less we stay a full day and then go back and either have dinner there or stop on the way. We also take much fewer clothes because I end up doing 2 loads a day, 5 kids, lol! I figure out what our PS are and then buy food accordingly so that we don't have to run out or have too much. I love on site but I love off site too...

 

[isla bonita]

We always stay off site. I do not care for hotel rooms with the five of us. When I stayed in the park I alwasy rented a car. I love being able to go where I please. I bet you will not be disappointed. There are some great restaurants and you can come and go as you please and not have to wait for a bus yeah!!! The best tip I can give you is to grocery shop for drinks snacks and breakfast items. Have everyone while getting ready have the others eating. I don't care how many bathrooms you have there are never enough for all. So breakfast is done with little cost and you are off to the parks. This is how lazy I am. I also purchase paper products. I never even do dishes. This is also my vaca and I will be darned if I don't treat myself.

 

[luvdiz]

We're staying at Orange Lake (I know nothing about it).

I have a 10 month old, 3 1/2 year old & 5 year old. And, we're going in August (hot, hot, hot!!!)

I guess I'm looking forward to having more room, but I'm concerned about actually getting back to the park if we leave!! When we stay at WL (my fav.) it's so easy to go catch the boat to MK. I'm just worried about the hassle - if there is any.

 

[Donnask8pro]

We're staying at Orange Lake also. (Nov-Dec) They have a website.

http://www.orangelake.com/tour_our_resort/home.html

I have heard great things. After Aug let me know your tips. Thanks

 

[disney 4me2]

We stayed off site last month.I was a little concerned about leaving the parks and going back later in the day, but really it was not a problem at all! We ate breakfast in our resort (Vistana Villages, just beautiful, and huge!) then went to the parks, getting there when they opened. We stayed until around 2-3 PM, one day we left at noon, (one day we stayed until 6 pm and did not go back at night) and returned to our resort and had pool time. We returned to the parks around 5-6 pm and often were able to park real close at this hour of the day. it was an ideal situation and worked well for us. We also ate off site several times and enjoyed the variety that we had by going to different places.

 

[Local_Girl]

Hi luvdiz,

I understand your concern about getting back to the parks...especially with 3 little ones! Those villas can be very comfortable... We stayed at Orange Lake a couple of years ago and it was very nice!

We have always stayed offsite, and though my kids are older now (9 and 11yrs.) it was a little tough sometimes to rally the troops to get out the door again after going back to the villa for a break/dinner. Here are a couple of suggestions...prioritize what you want to see in the parks and be sure to do your "must-do's" early. Use certain night-time activities, such at the fireworks or the Spectro parade, to get everyone motivated to go back to the parks. On a night when you REALLY want to be in a park (ie. to see Spectro, especially if it is only shown 2-3 times a week), consider going later in the morning/day and not returning to the villa mid day if you think you'll have trouble getting the children back out the door in the evening. Hope this helps--enjoy your trip!!

 

[momandseandodisney]

I have been with my son 5 times offsite and 3 times onsite (fort wilderness, poly. and the floridian) I like offsite MUCH better, and I never rent a car, always get shuttles and sometimes the odd taxi if the shuttle time is not suitable.

 

[Sharon]

I understand how u feel. I stayed a an offsite villa also. Thru villadirect.com
They are clean beautiful & like 5 min. from park. Each has its own pool, & all the ammenities u need. I do reccemend renting a car. If u can go shopping with ur
kids normally, you wont have any problems. I think its much easier than trying to lug a stroller or any bags & keeping the kids seated on a bus.Plus no stopping at other places which looses precious time.

 

[ShariVT]

My only tip is to not by to much food I hate throwing it out at the end of the week. We will never stay onsite again villa's are the only way to go the space and private pool and washer and dryer not to mention when you get back from the park you are only steps from your door not a mile from the bus stop.

 

[MiaSRN62]

but I'm concerned about actually getting back to the park if we leave!! When we stay at WL (my fav.) it's so easy to go catch the boat to MK. I'm just worried about the hassle - if there is any.

Unfortunately, the MK is the toughest park to get in and out of because when you drive you have to park at the TTC and first take the tram from the parking lot and then either the Ferry or monorail into the park. This is the one park where I much prefer being an onsite guest because the bus (or boat)drops you right off at the gate----saving sometimes up to 30 min when you have to park at the TTC. When my kids were little, this was the one park where we felt slowed down. But as for the other parks, we find we can get to and from them just as fast or faster when staying offsite.
We'll be in WDW in August as well. Our plan is to get to the parks when they first open, do all we can by noon or 1 pm then go back to rest/swim at our resort until we return after 5 pm. I think the heat and crowds will be too much midday.

 

[bunny213]

Hi .... from OLCC or Summer Bay there is a short cut to Disney avoiding all the traffic on 192....
it'll save alot of time and traffic waiting at traffic lights....
To Get Anywhere in Disneyworld.....When you leave OLCC, (either from the main entrance or the side entrance) make a LEFT onto 192...stay in your far Left lane and make a left at the traffic light on Black Lake Road. You will stay on Black Lake Road until you have to go right or left...make another LEFT, on to Sherberth. (Be careful..there's a stop sign for you, but not for the traffic on Sherberth)
Stay on Sherberth until you get to the traffic light and at that light make a right. Now, You will be on Disney property at that point. Animal Kingdom will be on your far left. From then on just follow the Disney signs to where you want to go...

To Get Back to OLCC....follow the signs to Animal Kingdom from anwhere in Disney...when you almost get to the Animal Kingdom Entrance bear to your LEFT...(the sign will say Animal Kingdom Lodge, if you went straight through the light, you'd drive up to AKL)... but you want to make a LEFT at the traffic light and then you will be back on Sherberth. Just follow Sherberth until you can see 192...and then make the right on to Black Lake Road ....and then bear right on to 192 - down to OLCC.
Black Lake Road parallels 192....but there's less traffic. Also - there are entrances to Chik-Fil-A and a MacDonalds off Black Lake Road, if you want to pick up something to take back to your unit.
Did you know that OLCC backs up to Animal Kingdom property??
We just got back. I was able to be anywhere I wanted to be in DW pretty quickly.
I hope you have a wonderful trip...if there's anything else I can help with let me know.
Regards from Texas!!!! Barb

 

[luvdiz]

Barb-
Thanks SO MUCH!!! I'm printing out those directions right now - what a help!!!

 

[HappyLawyer]

i suggest you go to skyauction.com they offer great rates on villas, i typically stay offsite the next trip i will be doing both 3 day onsite not in a row and the other three weeks at OLCC, have fun

 

[Donnask8pro]

Barb, you rock. Printing as we speak.. Thanks

 

[Brian Noble]

My uncle owns a couple of weeks at orange lake, and loves it. He also has a pool home that you have to drive *past* orange lake to get to. We stayed there last year. Getting to and fro might have cost an extra 10 minutes each way than from where you are---it's not impossible, and the break is well WELL worth it for kids that age.

I'd rather spend extra time in the car in exchange for not having to pretend I'm asleep while I try to get my kids to nap in the other bed in a hotel room.

 

[luvdiz]

I'd rather spend extra time in the car in exchange for not having to pretend I'm asleep while I try to get my kids to nap in the other bed in a hotel room.

I hadn't even thought about the kids falling asleep in the car - what a bonus!!! Now if we can just make the transfer to the room!!!