What comes with a stay on property now?

[heather13]

Every time I've ever visited Disney I've stayed at a resort and loved it. The last trip was five years ago so we're planning a fall trip before my kids get too old to enjoy it. But for budget reasons I'm thinking of staying off property since we'd need two rooms and a rental car regardless of where we end up.

Five years ago the main benefit of staying on property was proximity, Magical Express and extra magic hours - definitely worthwhile with young kids and best experience ever, but with our new requirements I'm not sure it's a good fit this time. So is that still the main benefit, or will we be missing out on something?

Thanks!

 

[Shellyb84]

You get to book FP+ at 60 days if you're onsite instead of 30 days for offsite. You would also have to pay for parking at the theme parks if you're offsite and don't have an AP.

 

[Marionnette]

Every time I've ever visited Disney I've stayed at a resort and loved it. The last trip was five years ago so we're planning a fall trip before my kids get too old to enjoy it. But for budget reasons I'm thinking of staying off property since we'd need two rooms and a rental car regardless of where we end up.

Five years ago the main benefit of staying on property was proximity, Magical Express and extra magic hours - definitely worthwhile with young kids and best experience ever, but with our new requirements I'm not sure it's a good fit this time. So is that still the main benefit, or will we be missing out on something?

Thanks!

• You will pay for parking every day if you are coming from offsite and do not have an AP.
  
• Onsite guests can use their MBs to charge their purchases to their resort account.
• Onsite guests can have their purchases sent to their resort gift shop for pick up rather than carrying them around.
• Onsite guests get free MBs with their stay (not a necessity for offsite guests but still a convenience).
• Onsite guests can book their ADRs 180+10 days in advance. Offsite guests can book them 180 days in advance and need to book each additional day on a rolling basis.
• Onsite guests can book FP+ 60 days + up to 14 days length of stay in advance. Offsite guests must wait until 30 days beforehand and can only book each additional day on a rolling basis.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

Those are still the main draws, but you are certainly at a disadvantage with respect to the new fastpass program if you stay offsite. If you stay onsite you can book your fastpass reservations 60 days in advance, and if you stay offsite only 30 days. I'd imagine that if you try to book 30 days in advance the fastpasses for some of the more popular rides will be unavailable. That could be a major issue.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Staying on site means not having to deal with the outside world during vacation. Our number one reason.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Staying on site means not having to deal with the outside world during vacation. Our number one reason.

This. I appreciate my complete Disney bubble while I'm there.

 

[Arthur92]

Tell me how do you get to old for Disney??? My son thought he was too old round the 19yr mark but once he got a taste of the Disney adult night life he Disney fire was back LOL.

Okay if I'm only going to visit Disney staying on Property is a must. I love driving but I hate parking football fields away & I4 can be the worst pending on the times you leave the park. Heck now with Urber or Lyft I might still stay at Value level use them to get over to other parts of Orlando for the day. Nothing like dropping my bags off at my home airport and they are in my room later.

 

[heather13]

MB = magic bracelets?
They didn't exist our last visit. FPs were by machine.

As for when is someone too old, my 12yo daughter is getting too cool for just about everything, but we've convinced her that Disney is still ok with the incentive of major roller coasters and by adding HP World (thus the rental car requirement). Thanks for the feedback folks!

 

[Rich M]

Every time I've ever visited Disney I've stayed at a resort and loved it. The last trip was five years ago so we're planning a fall trip before my kids get too old to enjoy it. But for budget reasons I'm thinking of staying off property since we'd need two rooms and a rental car regardless of where we end up.

Five years ago the main benefit of staying on property was proximity, Magical Express and extra magic hours - definitely worthwhile with young kids and best experience ever, but with our new requirements I'm not sure it's a good fit this time. So is that still the main benefit, or will we be missing out on something?

Thanks!

Consider maybe DVC rental points for a bigger room with Laundry and kitchen. Save money on eating in your room. I still get a rental no matter what because being on a bus is not my idea of a vacation.

 

[heather13]

Thanks Rich, we used DVC last time we stayed but it ended up being uncomfortable for my mom (five of us, needing three bedrooms and two baths). The rest of us loved it though!

 

[Rich M]

Thanks Rich, we used DVC last time we stayed but it ended up being uncomfortable for my mom (five of us, needing three bedrooms and two baths). The rest of us loved it though!

I see. We have 6 of us going in December and we booked two rooms with free dining. We choose to go for two rooms also for privacy and comfort.