Ugh! This drives me nuts!

[Dallas_Lady]

The idea that getting to and from your resort onsite is infinitely faster than if you are staying offsite. That, plus the fact that most of the people who perpetuate this idea have never actually stayed offsite themselves.

Well, I have done both. I was actually worried about staying offsite after hearing this over and over again here on the DIS. We stayed at a condo in Windsor Hills. We had our own car. Door to door to the MK- 20 minutes. Epcot and DHS- 15 minutes. Animal Kingdom in 10.

When staying onsite we always did morderates which meant we were relying on the buses. Waiting for a bus took at least 15 minutes. Then the bus had to make the loop around the resort, which was another 10-15 minutes. Then the actual drive. So We always knew to allocate at least 30-45 minutes to get anywhere by bus. 30-45 minutes in my own car and I could be all the way to Universal Studios!

Unless you are staying at a monorail resort and only going to MK & Epcot or at an Epcot resort and only going to Epcot & DHS, offsite transit can be as fast as, or faster than onsite.

 

[tednvon]

Yup, as long as your are in the Formosa Garden's area (Windsor Hills, Windsor Palms, Indian Creek, Formosa Gardens, Encantata, Sunset Lakes, Oak Island, Acadia,Indian Ridge, Indian Ridge Oaks, Rolling Hills, and a few I know I have missed) your numbers are right on...Add 15 or so minutes if out on Highway 27 or down around Ronald Reagan Parkway...great family pictures, by the way!!

Peace...Ted

 

[tlaw66]

boy i feel the pain, and i agree. I have only been to disney one time and stayed on site and complained everyday about the buses. we stayed at pop and let me tell ya it was bad. i even seen were the had a bus full and had a person in wheel chair come up, the bus driver made people sitting in the wheel chair area leave the bus so the lady in the wheel chair could get on and bolted down. The people that were forced off didn't get back on bus full. That even made me pull my hair out. I will never stay at disney resort again.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

Not to mention all the pushing while waiting for the bus and having to stand on the bus. We always have a car, whether we drive to FL or fly and rent a car, but I thought it'd be great to take the bus from POP to MK because of the hassle of parking at the TTC and taking the monorail over. Just one bus trip cured me of that idea.

 

[dtum]

We always stayed at FW and figured an hour to go to any place other than MK and that's if we make the first buses. Kids stayed at ASMo last trip and had to wait or stand almost every time because their bus stopped at All Star Sports first. With three families going now, staying onsite has turned into one big pain. Can't wait for WH and our 4-bed/4-bath house...everyone gets their own room and we have a private pool/hot tub! Woo Hoo

 

[isla bonita]

Not to mention all the pushing while waiting for the bus and having to stand on the bus. We always have a car, whether we drive to FL or fly and rent a car, but I thought it'd be great to take the bus from POP to MK because of the hassle of parking at the TTC and taking the monorail over. Just one bus trip cured me of that idea.

I can not agree more!!!!!!!

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

The idea that getting to and from your resort onsite is infinitely faster than if you are staying offsite. That, plus the fact that most of the people who perpetuate this idea have never actually stayed offsite themselves.

Well, I have done both. I was actually worried about staying offsite after hearing this over and over again here on the DIS. We stayed at a condo in Windsor Hills. We had our own car. Door to door to the MK- 20 minutes. Epcot and DHS- 15 minutes. Animal Kingdom in 10.

When staying onsite we always did morderates which meant we were relying on the buses. Waiting for a bus took at least 15 minutes. Then the bus had to make the loop around the resort, which was another 10-15 minutes. Then the actual drive. So We always knew to allocate at least 30-45 minutes to get anywhere by bus. 30-45 minutes in my own car and I could be all the way to Universal Studios!

Unless you are staying at a monorail resort and only going to MK & Epcot or at an Epcot resort and only going to Epcot & DHS, offsite transit can be as fast as, or faster than onsite.

I agree with you 100%. It does get frustrating, doesn't it?

But, here's how I look at it: the people who are "onsite snobs" keep the great offsite places reasonable and available for the rest of us. If they want to continue to have a vacation that consists of being squished in like sardines and waiting forever for mediocre bus service, let them. Meanwhile, my gang will be enjoying our private pool, free wi-fi, and private bedrooms in our house rental.

Signed, a former onsite snob.

 

[Planogirl]

We once stayed at a hotel in Kissimmee just around the corner from one of the gates into WDW. Driving to the parks was so easy! Animal Kingdom was literally just a few minutes away.

The only times we've had problems is when we've stayed in the International Drive area but I'm learning how to get around the traffic snarls there too. Staying offsite just isn't a big deal if you drive anyway.

 

[TotoToo]

Unless you have the patience of a Saint, don't care about wasted time standing in hot (or cold, wet, whatever) weather waiting and seeing your high priced ticket time chewed up getting to, on and off buses/trains/mono-rails/boats whatever saying that onsite transportation is in any way as good or as fast (but IS cheaper) than having your own is ridiculous. It is available to ALL (if you have any Disney pass - even an old expired one), cheap but far from efficient way to get around in any type of timely or convenient way. Far easier and much faster to have your own car/van and come & go as you desire and on your schedule with guaranteed space available when you need /want it.

 

[LisaTC]

Not to mention all the pushing while waiting for the bus and having to stand on the bus. We always have a car, whether we drive to FL or fly and rent a car, but I thought it'd be great to take the bus from POP to MK because of the hassle of parking at the TTC and taking the monorail over. Just one bus trip cured me of that idea.

So, it isn't faster to take the bus like many profess. We are renting a car and I was wondering about this a lot. I see great deals off site and I see where they are located and are geographically closer, so I was interested in reading this thread. This is our first trip. I am very open to staying offsite should we be able to return. With airfare so horrifying...who knows. I don't want to drive 17 hours. I couldn't see us taking buses. I know there are many fans, but I just can't see me being one of them. I always got sick riding the bus!

 

[dtum]

So, it isn't faster to take the bus like many profess. We are renting a car and I was wondering about this a lot. I see great deals off site and I see where they are located and are geographically closer, so I was interested in reading this thread. This is our first trip. I am very open to staying offsite should we be able to return. With airfare so horrifying...who knows. I don't want to drive 17 hours. I couldn't see us taking buses. I know there are many fans, but I just can't see me being one of them. I always got sick riding the bus!

Driving is really not that bad. We leave Ohio and drive to about Walterboro, SC to spend the night, the onto WH the next day (with a little stop at the beach).

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

The only thing that onsite transportation MIGHT be quicker for, is Magic Kingdom. That's because you park your car at the TTC and have to take a ferry or the monorail to MK. Obviously, a monorail hotel is quickest, but a bus straight from, say, Beach Club would drive straight to MK and put you right outside the gate.

For Epcot, you can, of course, walk from Beach Club, Boardwalk, etc., but it puts you at the back of the park for rope drop. You're technically in the park quick, but you're in World Showcase, which isn't open, and are at a disadvantage for Soarin' fastpasses, etc.

And yeah, if you stay at AKL, you're darn close to AK, but still have to wait for a bus. If you stay at Windsor Hills with a car, you would still beat all but the luckiest AKL guest (i.e., one who stepped out of the hotel, and the bus was pulling up).

But, also note--no one hotel has all these quick times, and the ones that do, are all deluxe. Which is great if you can afford them, but for the rest of us, or those who want more space, have bigger families, or occasionally step outside Disney's hallowed gates, offsite is the way to go.

 

[3suns]

We stayed at the Beach Club last year, and I have to say that it was then that I really began to hate the WDW bus transportation. It seemed like we were always waiting on the bus. Those leaving MK at the end of the evening (and, in a few cases, even early evening) were miserably crowded. They stopped at Swan/Dolphin and YC before dropping us off which took a decent amount of time.

Previously, we'd either stayed at WL and Poly. I liked the MR at Poly, and the WL boats. But for both Hotels, however, you were still stuck taking the bus to HS and AK.

We're staying offsite for the first time this year--at WH. I'm excited about it, but DH is dreading having to drive. Hopefully, he'll become a convert!

 

[dtum]

Now that the secret is out and with so many converts, WH is going to get terribly crowded.

 

[suebedo]

I totally agree about driving to the parks. We have stayed at Pop our last two trips (AP discounts) but we have used a car both times. During our first trip wit a car, I was AMAZED at how close evrything seemed. I could not believe it. Our other trips using disney transportation, everything seemed SO FAR AWAY. It seemed like it took forever to get from hotel to park or DTD. I hate wasting time waiting for the bus.

We are staying at Bonnet Creek in June and will have a car. I wouldn't do it any other way.

 

[robinb]

We usually stay onsite with a car and we drive everywhere except the MK. One thing convenient thing about staying onsite and being able to use Disney's transportation is that a family can easily split up. One or more family members can stay in the parks while another group goes back to the resort. If you're staying offsite you are joined at the hip with your family. Everyone stays together even if someone is cranky or tired.

We stayed at the Bonnet Creek Hilton last December and it was just as close to the parks as OKW, CBR & Pop Centry.

 

[Phlip]

We usually stay onsite with a car and we drive everywhere except the MK. One thing convenient thing about staying onsite and being able to use Disney's transportation is that a family can easily split up. One or more family members can stay in the parks while another group goes back to the resort. If you're staying offsite you are joined at the hip with your family. Everyone stays together even if someone is cranky or tired.

We stayed at the Bonnet Creek Hilton last December and it was just as close to the parks as OKW, CBR & Pop Centry.

I agree-couple trips ago we stayed at POR and used a car. Next trip we rented a house, again with a car. This trip we will be at Dolphin, with a car and will probably use Disney transportation, or walk. We've stayed on the monorail line and have used the car for HS.

 

[Cin]

I've done it both ways and we had a really nice place in Kissimmee and I don't remember the time it took to drive exactly but it was rather short and I would say it was around 15-20 min. Yeah the buses aren't as fast but I prefer not to drive and I like letting Disney chauffeur me around thereby sparing me the headache of navigation and dealing with traffic. I enjoy talking to others on the bus and meeting new people from all over the world and so it's nice to make friends during the ride. It may cost less to stay outside but I like being immersed in the Disney magic. I like the music on the bus that plays when you turn the corner announcing you are at the park and I loved the "Welcome Home!" announcement as you arrive at your resort. But you do make a valid point and yes it isn't necessarily faster to stay on property. Although when we were at AKL it was around 5 minutes to the Animal Kingdom park. That was super fast! But yes it is faster to drive yourself in most cases. I just don't want the hassle personally. I had some really interesting conversations and heard some great stories while talking with the bus drivers. I'm not a resort snob though just a Disney addict. Maybe after I get a few more trips under my belt then I will start staying off property. But for now it's all still new to me and I enjoy the different Disney hotels and have a goal of staying in them all just once.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

I totally agree about driving to the parks. We have stayed at Pop our last two trips (AP discounts) but we have used a car both times. During our first trip wit a car, I was AMAZED at how close evrything seemed. I could not believe it. Our other trips using disney transportation, everything seemed SO FAR AWAY. It seemed like it took forever to get from hotel to park or DTD. I hate wasting time waiting for the bus.

We are staying at Bonnet Creek in June and will have a car. I wouldn't do it any other way.

I wonder if people think driving in from offsite takes so long, because of how long the busses take. Since a bus might make more stops, it takes a meandering route from, say, Boardwalk to MK. But driving straight there from WH, it's actually quite short.

I agree on the splitting up thing, but we've never had a big issue with it. One time we rented two compact cars (cheaper than 1 minivan, we're a family of 6), and split up that way. We've also had one parent take the younger two bck for a break, while the other parent stayed with the teens, and met up again later. So, it can be done, but it's more complicated than, say, letting some people take a bus back at park closing.

 

[LisaTC]

For those of you who've had their fill with the buses, etc...I found this cute link:

http://www.disneydispatch.com/content/features/2011/disney-dreadful-the-bus-beast/

I do find that it is hard to grasp the size of WDW and since it is SO expansive, it only stands to reason that there could logically be off site hotels as close or closer to some attractions than onsite and subsequently less expensive. If budget is your game, that is the way to go, I think many stay simply for the experience. If I was more experienced, I'd definitely stay off. If I was lucky to go every year or two, like many, I'd investigate all lodging possibilities.