trying to decide if onsite is worth the $$

[hugabearjo]

I am a single Mom of 3 kids who is trying to pinch pennies yet, not wish I hadn't.

I currently have reservations off site and at the POR, the difference being about $225 for the 5 days we are there. I could come up with the difference but, there is a thousand other places it could and maybe should go.

That being said does anyone have any advice on the advantages of one vs. the other, so I can weigh the money spent? We have been to Disneyland and stayed off site and had a great time. We are a family that is up early to hit the parks and don't come back until they close. We aren't nappers might take a dip in the pool but, plain is probably a treat as we don't get to go to one very often at home.

Thanks for the pros and cons. I think I will post this on the Disney resort board as well to try to get the other opinion.

Thanks-

Keep smiling


__________________

 

[peagreenid]

PROS-
The DISNEY MAGIC ALL DAY LONG
CONVENIENCE- and predictable transportation
DISNEY SECURITY
E-RIDE nights if they are available

CONS-
THE $225- We don't go extravagantly. But when I have a cost of $225 I decide by dividing it by the number of days and then the number of people. 225/5 + $45 a day/ 4 would be basically $11.25 a day per person. Which I think is reasonable, but, if it isn't within your budget than there is always another time.

That said, I have always stayed on site. I am married with 2 kids and my husband Likes the SAFETY and SECURITY of Disney. We venture offsite periodically to do Kennedy Space Center or Universal, but, he would never agree to let us go without staying on-site.

$225 can be well spent in a lot of places. That is several meals for a family of 4. Have you thought about a Value resort? It would get you on-site at probably a lower cost.

smiles Patty

 

[HaleyB]

You really do get value onsite. I would much sooner stay at Pop Century or the All Stars than stay off site. If you are early risers then the early entry for resort guests is a huge value.
Some people actually perfer to stay off site... I just can't understand that. I have been off site twice and it was nothing like being on site. But then, I have a Mickey toaster that I use every morning, and everytime I see Mickey on my toast I smile (and I am not sick of the music ...yet, it plays the Mickey Mouse Club song when the toast pops up).

 

[hugabearjo]

Thanks guys for the information. My Mom will travel with us so the cheapest place we could stay is at the POR. value would require 2 rooms and more $$....

I will take your suggestions to heart. The security is huge.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Don't forget you'll be able to take advantage of EE if you stay onsite.

 

[dts718]

How about staying at a downtown disney resort? My dad booked a tower room at royal plaza for i think 77 a night through mousesavers.

 

[schwaa]

Here's a pro for staying onsite that I don't see too much:

You are RELAXED 24 hours a day. The minute you check in to the minute you check out you are completely relaxed. Knowing you just get on a bus and go to a park, get back on a bus and get back to the hotel quickly. WDW is fantasy land, and staying onsite keeps you in that fantasy vacation mode all day long. For me, that is the #1 reason for staying on-site.

Here are some other pros:

- You are dropped off in front of the Magic Kingdom, not on the other side of the lake.
- POR has a boat that goes to downtown disney, so you don't have to even see the parking lots there.
- There's a great food court at your hotel that has real meals.
- You don't have to carry money around, you can charge to your room key in the parks and at downtown disney.
- You don't have to carry your bags of souvenirs around, they will deliver them bacak to the hotel.



I have been to Disneyland also and staying offsite there is not the same as staying offsite at WDW. It's a completely different experience. I stayed at Paradise Pier hotel and there were offsite hotels that were closer to the entrances of the parks. Disneyland is right in the middle of Anaheim, with the city all around it. Disneyworld is HUGE, it's all by itself on the other side of I-4 from the rest of Orlando and Kissimee. You cannot see the outside world from Disneyworld. You really feel like you are at a world that is completely disney.

 

[arizonacolbys]

My family stayed offsite many years ago & vowed never again. My hubby & I have stayed at the All Star Movies & really loved the resort. One of the best perks - like another poster said - is the ability to relax & just enjoy being at Disney World when staying onsite. Once dropped off at your resort you don't have to worry about driving anywhere. You can just hop on a bus to whatever park you want to go to. We also love taking advantage of the early entry in the parks every day. We get up early, head out & can then come back to the resort in the afternoon to swim. This would be much more difficult off site. Maybe keep both ressies for now & watch for a discount code to help out in the savings. Good luck!!

You'll have fun at Disney wherever you decide to stay - we just really love on-site more - feels more like a vacation. HTH!

 

[goofy4tink]

What time of year are you going? It could make a difference. If you can book two rooms at an AllStars, you might end up spending less than POR for one room. But, never-the-less...we always stay onsite. We just love it too much to not stay there. And we love POR. It's a terrific resort. Pool is terrific.

 

[jamif]

I am a single mom of 3 who travels with either a family member or my babysitter when we go on vacations.

I choose to stay onsite (this time we are trying some different resorts, but have in the past stayed at the All-Star Movies). Being onsite has many advantages. I usually rent a car and drive that over using the bus system. If you drive your own car and stay onsite parking in the parks is free (of course it is if you have an AP but this is the first year we are purchasing those!). So that saves 8.00 a day. Staying onsite makes it feel like a "real" vacation for us, and I feel like I have less to worry about. For some reason being onsite feels safer to me. The kids LOVE being onsite too, it makes them feel "special"

If you watch and apply codes, you can get rooms pretty cheap onsite. I would spend the extra money and stay onsite as it equals out in gas money, time spent traveling, atmosphere, and vacation!

 

[SAWYERMAW1]

You didn't say when you were going and what rate you are paying. Were you able to get a discount code on your room? You might try cutting down by eating at the hotel or taking snacks and only eating 2 meals a day. We usually eat a good breakfast, snack for lunch and then a early dinner. I really think it is worth it if you can affort to stay on site.

 

[HANDYMOM]

There are a lot of hidden costs when staying offsite as well. Some of these are daily parking fees, restaurants (the food courts really are reasonable) and other non-park recreation. Staying on site allows you the flexibility to not have to rent a car and still enjoy the mobility that Disney Transportation offers. You can save quite a bit by stocking a small cooler for your snacks and the pools (at POR there are slides too!) and other recreation at the onsite resorts are all included in the price.

$225 is a good chunk of money, only you can decide the cost/benefit of the onsite/offsite experience. Just something to think about.

 

[shellybaxter]

I've been to Disneyland many time and to Disneyworld just once. Like you said at Disneyland you can stay off site and have a great time. Almost no difference than staying on site. I think that's because Disneyland is surrounded by "city" anyway, so you don't really "get away" from it all. I would NEVER stay off site at Disneyworld. Once you enter the disney property you're truly in another world, one you don't want to leaving. I think leaving would feel strange. Stay on site - you'll be glad you did.

Shelly

 

[niks81]

Everyone has made really good points here. The thing that I agree with most, is its less stressful and more enjoyable to be onsite. When I stayed offsite it seemed like such a chore to get to the parks because of traffic and having to park, etc. When you're onsite you just grab a bus.

$225 does seem like a lot of money and I understand your concern. You just need to weigh what is more important to you. Personally, I care the most about the resort choice more than anything so I would fork it over. If you truly don't care that much, and you'd rather spend that money on souvenirs or a bill, then go for it.

 

[tw1nsmom]

I love staying onsite for all of the reasons that everyone else stated. We're on a budget too. Our family loves the all stars and can't wait to try Pop Century. My DH and I stayed at POR for our honeymoon and it was beautiful.

However, having said all that we are now torn between staying onsite and renting a house offsite. A year and a half ago we rented a three bedroom house with it's own screened in pool for $99 a night (it was off season). We were so spoiled by all the space and privacy that it will be hard to bunk in one room again.

I don't think I would want to stay in an off site motel, but the house was fabulous.

 

[lwestwise]

We have done both, but once you stay on-site, I don't think you will ever stay off-site. You are always at Disney. You don't have to get up and get in the Orlando traffic to get to Disney. All of the CM's have the same agenda, making you have a Magical time. You don't have to get in your car while there, unless you want to and again, everything you do is Disney, even traveling to and from, eating, sleeping, bathing, shopping, relaxing and park hopping.

 

[lsteadman]

I am a single mom of modest income who loves to take her daughter to Disney and like many other single parents on this board money is always an issue.

There are many advantgage to staying onsite. I always stay at the All-Star Movies

1) my daughter likes the dalmations theme (we have literally worn out the DVD on that one. I didn't think it was possible)

2) we get the "Disney" Magic, the convience of being on-site, and I don't have to rent a car because I use disney transportation.

3) I wait for the codes to come out. I got my room for $54 or $56 dollars a night for 9 nights. May 14 - 23. I use the codes that where recently release.

4) safety and security like others have mention on the board

We all should feel bless that we can afford to take our kids to Disney on any budget. I am the first and only family member to every go to Disney (this is my third trip). My nieces and nephews would give anything just to fly on an airplane.

Check mousesavers.com for there codes!!!!!

 

[Disney Debbie]

First of all make sure you're getting the best deal. For example right now the rates are cheapest for Disney Visa card holders. If you happen to be a Fl resident AND a Disney VIsa card holder you can really get a good deal.

We used to stay off-site and say "what's the big deal with the Disney Resorts?" but all it took was ONE time staying on-site and we won't go back! Our last "big" Disney vacation was in July, 2001 and we stayed at Dixie Landings (I don't know the PC name!). Our last night we stayed off site since we were just going to get up in the morning and leave. Even though we got a nice room at a good rate I wouldn't do that again. The traffic was AWFUL leaving Disney and at that time there was a whole bunch of construction on that main drag the hotels were on. It was very stressful - and it made me realize how glad I was we spent most of our time on-site!

I also used to be a dawn to midnight go, go, go girl at WDW - but I had to compromise years ago with my DH that he would get to have a break during the day. We now get up way early (that's my part of the deal!!) and stay in the parks and have a nice lunch kind of late at a sit down. We then go back to the resort and he usually naps while DD and I go to the pool. Then we'll eat something in the food court and go back to the parks in the late afternoon. I've got to admit that for a former commando - it's really added a lot to our vacation. That mid afternoon time is usually the most crowded and the hottest anyway.

 

[AdventurerKat]

but I am pretty sure once you get to POR, you will find it was money well spent. It is absolutely beautiful there.

 

[hugabearjo]

Thanks Guys I really appreciate the input. We are going in May. I do have a the visa rate. I am so excited to be there. The traffic is mentioned several times could someone tell me if I am likely to encounter it if the hotel is 1 mile from the gate? It is Lake Buena Vista. Thanks-

Keep Smiling