What is it like staying offsite?

[PoppyJ]

Our next trip planned is in September, but I really want the Toy Story Passholder magnet

The only weekend we can make another trip work is 4th of July weekend. Obviously, no DVC studios available, and we are out of points anyway, and I don't like any of the cash rate rooms available.

I'm thinking about staying offsite at a Hyatt. In our 10+ trips to Disney, we have never stayed offsite.

So I'm curious, from people who normally stay DVC, what is it like staying offsite? Is it that inconvenient that I will wish I had just stayed home? With it being 4th of July weekend, will LL's at 3 days out be slim pickings?

 

[CarolynFH]

We’ve stayed offsite many times when we were out of points, and other than the logistics of getting to the parks and not having the early or late hours for resort guests, it’s fine. I can’t answer definitely about LLs, but I would expect them to be limited. We’d just do what we could and console ourselves with knowledge that we’d be back!

 

[DL1WDW2]

I would stay on property for the July 4 crowds.
I booked 3 rooms specifically to have parking and less stress for July3 & 4 th for my family…
It is the 250 Celebration with 3 days of fireworks and crowds …Yes it will be crowded !

 

[RuntheMouse]

So I'm curious, from people who normally stay DVC, what is it like staying offsite?

Awful. I won’t do it. A lot of the magic goes away when you leave the bubble. I especially wouldn’t want to do it over a holiday weekend.

 

[Brian Noble]

I've done a fair few offsite trips. For me, they are more alike than they are different. It's worth trying to see what you think of it. It can work even at busy times---we were at Bonnet Creek one year for the week leading up to (and including) Christmas, and it was fine. This was pre Genie/LL, but still.

We’d just do what we could and console ourselves with knowledge that we’d be back!

Always good advice!

 

[Huskerpal]

We have stayed offsite a number of times. We use rideshare to get back and forth. We will be spending eight months in Orlando next winter after I retire. Some in DVC, but mostly in Marriott Vacation Club resorts I exchanged into through Interval. In the end you still get to spend your days in WDW, so how bad could it be

 

[GoingSince1990]

I last stayed offsite at Bonnet Creek and it was so close it almost felt like being onsite.

 

[PolyRob]

Our next trip planned is in September, but I really want the Toy Story Passholder magnet

The only weekend we can make another trip work is 4th of July weekend. Obviously, no DVC studios available, and we are out of points anyway, and I don't like any of the cash rate rooms available.

I'm thinking about staying offsite at a Hyatt. In our 10+ trips to Disney, we have never stayed offsite.

So I'm curious, from people who normally stay DVC, what is it like staying offsite? Is it that inconvenient that I will wish I had just stayed home? With it being 4th of July weekend, will LL's at 3 days out be slim pickings?

Have you checked the cash website for AP discounted rooms? You can get a value over the 4th of July weekend for $150 a night or a moderate for $220. Pop with the Skyliner isn't as cheap as an All Star, but still under $200 per night.

Not bad at all for a holiday weekend at WDW.

 

[PoppyJ]

Have you checked the cash website for AP discounted rooms? You can get a value over the 4th of July weekend for $150 a night or a moderate for $220. Pop with the Skyliner isn't as cheap as an All Star, but still under $200 per night.

Not bad at all for a holiday weekend at WDW.

I was looking at this and my frustration led me to look offsite. The problem is that I only need 2 nights. If I look for 3 nights, most of the moderates are available. For instance, French Quarter, where I really want to stay is available for 3 nights. But when I look for 2 nights, only All Star and Pop is available. I had a bad experience at All Star, so I do not want to stay there again. And it makes me wary of staying at Pop, another value resort... From reading other threads, it appears Disney does not allow you to modify a reservation to remove a night, otherwise I would try that. Although I guess beggars can't be choosers, so it's coming down to Pop or offsite.

 

[PolyRob]

I was looking at this and my frustration led me to look offsite. The problem is that I only need 2 nights. If I look for 3 nights, most of the moderates are available. For instance, French Quarter, where I really want to stay is available for 3 nights. But when I look for 2 nights, only All Star and Pop is available. I had a bad experience at All Star, so I do not want to stay there again. And it makes me wary of staying at Pop, another value resort... From reading other threads, it appears Disney does not allow you to modify a reservation to remove a night, otherwise I would try that. Although I guess beggars can't be choosers, so it's coming down to Pop or offsite.

I completely understand if it's blocking you like that.

If it were me, I would book the three nights and call. Act naive and see what the CM will do for you. Sometimes they can contact guest relations and get that third night dropped for you while keeping the rate. It's not a guarantee, but it's possible.

 

[VGCgroupie]

The only offsite I’d consider is Swolphin.