What are the pro/cons of staying on/offsite?

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by Maistre Gracey
In my opinion, it is really all about price. After all, if you are willing to spend big dollars, there are one, two, and three bedroom accommodations on-site.

I don't know how many would tow the line for off-site if the prices were equal, but I do know off-site has it's following.

I mostly agree with you. It is all about price (and space). If Disney offered large multi-room suites on-site for prices competitive with off-site properties, I would certainly stay on-site. However, that just isn't the case. As you mentioned, they do offer 1, 2 and 3 bedroom accomodations but at far higher prices than comparable off-site locations. I can stay at a budget suite hotel like Days Suites for $39/nite off-season or a nicer suite with breakfast included like Residence Inn for $99/nite. How much would a 1-bedroom suite cost me on-site? I don't know exactly but I'm willing to bet it is considerably more than that since you can barely get a regular room for $99.

I think one way they could attract more guests to on-site hotels is to make Disney transportation optional. Give guests who pay extra for transportation a special ID card that needs to be shown when they board a bus. Folks who prefer to drive could pay less for their hotel room.

Steve

 

[NomadFamily]

i hear what you are saying about the "optional" transportation, but they would never do that. They have to run the busses anyway, so EVERYONE is going to pay for it. And, I think Disney has enough people willing to pay through the nose for the "magic", so they don't really need the rest of us.......to each his own. I guess everybody wins the way it is.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Maybe one of these days Disney will build an all-suite hotel so they can attract those of us who want more space.

They did. They are called OKW, VWL, BCV and BWV. I love my DVC. Not only do I have plenty of room, full kitchen and washer and dryer, I also have hidden mickeys all over the place, walking distance to many fun restaurants, themed pools and easy transportation to the parks. I love being able to enter the parks early so that I can ride all my favorites before the parks even fill up. I don't spend time in lines. I can easily head back to my home away from home to go for a swim or take a nap (since I get up so early). I can get a wake up call from Mickey or watch a video for free in my living room. I can get those Zip-a-dee-doo-dah tips for today whenever I turn on the TV.

I don't have to pay any extra to park if I decide to take my car. I can easily make PS for dinner. breakfast or lunch by picking up the phone in my room and dialing two numbers.

I get a "Welcome Home" from the cast members who wave me into the complex, who check me into my home or who bring me my meal.

I love it.

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by NomadFamily
i hear what you are saying about the "optional" transportation, but they would never do that. They have to run the busses anyway, so EVERYONE is going to pay for it. And, I think Disney has enough people willing to pay through the nose for the "magic", so they don't really need the rest of us

Steff - I realize they would never do this. I just threw it out as an academic point. One reason why I don't stay onsite is the same reason I don't purchase package deals - they often include things that I don't want or need but would be paying for anyway. One of the selling points of staying onsite is use of the Disney bus system. Since I would never use it, why pay for it? Certainly, the bus system is a great feature and millions of guests swear by it. I just don't care to use it, so staying onsite I'd be paying for a perk I'd never use.

Now I have a 7 year old daughter. I certainly forsee the day when she is old enough to wander WDW on her own (or with a friend). At that point, we will most likely stay onsite because it would give her the freedom to get around the property without us. Until then, we'll stick to offsite.

Steve

 

[courage]

If money really is an issue, you should stay somewhere nice and drive to the parks. The disney resorts are great but only if you can stay at the more expensive ones! The all star resorts are huge properties and I wouldn't want to do all that walking with small children to the buses or the pool. We just came back from there - they wanted $20 a night for a rollaway bed and the room was really small with two double beds. They have also taken out some of the magic there - no little shampoos and 10.99 for a refillable drink! (You need it after all that walking.) We ended up taking our car to Epcot because we had to wait so long for a bus after the fireworks at MK the night before. (in defense of disney - it was memorial day weekend)
A month earlier we stayed at the Wyndham Palms Resort and really enjoyed it. We got a great rate at www.hotelkingdom.com for 88.90 for a two bedroom suite with a kitchen and a living room/big screen tv. The also had a nice pool and a minature golf course. My son had his own room with his own television and we had a beautiful Jacuzzi and a screened patio overlooking the golf course. We also went to and upscale Publix down the street and stocked the fridge with all kind of goodies from the deli!

 

[dsnycrzy]

I agree with Patt Elliot. After staying in the parks all day I am over flowwing with Magic. I usaully stay at HO JO maingate east. I d o the laundry once while there because the laundry mat is next to the pool. So is a bar and hot tub. I get to shop all the stores on I-drive. I go to IHOP (kids eat free) and the waffle house. I walk to the Publix 3 blocks away or Walgreens 2 blocks away. I like to save the money to shop and for my next visit, then for a room I am in to sleep and shower. I have stayed at Dixie Landings once (my uncle big bucks paid for it with the cruise) and I hated it. I had to walk forever and a day to get to and from my room. I would want a snack but dare not want to walk all the way back to the entrance to go to the store. Off site at Ho JO's Ihop is next door and open 24 hours.
I go back again August and Ho Jo sole half there property to Rodeway Inn. I have stayed on the now Rodeway side so I know the rooms and with the internet special of $26.95 a night. I'm the off site queen. I have as much disney magic as an on siter b/c disney is in my heart
stay off site and have fun and extra money.

They have free shuttle that runs 3 times in the morning to the parks and 3 buses back in the evening/night. And the bus making numerous stops and being crowed is no different then the disney buses making stops and being crowed.

 

[undertheradar]

We are a family of five and have stayed at FW,Poly, GF,PO,CBMDTD, Grosvenor and Disney Inn(SOG), as well as offsite at Grande Vista and others. My family will choose the offsite every time. We prefer the added space, full kitchen, w/d, enclosed and open air balconies and all the tvs that come with these properties. While it is true that Disney has these type rooms onsite, Disney forgot what affordable is. We can stay offsite in a 2 bedroom villa for 25% of the cost of a Disney villa. While I don't always enjoy having to drive back at the end of the day, I cannot justify hundreds more per night to stay on property.
Disney charges those of us with more than 4 to a room a premium to stay onsite or cruise with them. My 3 kids enjoy the money that we save in that it allows them to visit other parks and see more of Orlando. As it is, Disney may be what most people associate with Orlando, but there is much more to do.