What would you do?

[Joanus]

I need Help!!! Me and my family (husband plus 2 boys, 10 & 7) are booked at POFQ for one week, 8/20-27 for our first time ever trip to DW. My husband's co-worker has offered us his unused one week trip exchange at any of several off-site resorts (Marriot's Cypress Harbour, Grande Vista, Horizons, Parkway International Resort, and many more) for only $200 for the whole week. These are full resorts that have one or two bedroom suites, and full kitchens. Putting aside all the money that we would be saving, would we be making a mistake by staying off-site? My neighbor, who goes to Disney with her family twice a year for two weeks each time for many years, says that she stayed off-site only once and would NEVER do it again! She just loves the convenience and the immursion (spelling?) in Disney. I figure that we won't be staying in our room very much, except to sleep, but staying in one room with 2 double beds really doesn't seem as appealing to me as a 2 bedroom suite. And, getting back to the money issue, yes, we would save a ton! We could also save on eating breakfast out if we do cereal in our kitchen in the morning. But my kids just want to stay in Disney. So what do you think? Is staying in Disney worth sacrificing space and money? Have any of you had any GOOD experiences staying off-site, or actually prefer to stay off-site? Anyone have an issue staying in one-room for a week...or are you so pooped after a busy day running around that you would be able to sleep anywhere at the end of they day? Your fast responses would be much appreciated...I have to make a decision fast! Thank you!!

 

[momof2minnies]

Hi,
Staying onsite is the full Disney experience but since you have this chance to save that much money and increase your space take it. We have stayed at The Grand Vista and now own there and it is absolutly beautiful! The only drawback is driving and paying for parking at the parks.
Linda

 

[Naisy68]

OH BOY! That's a tough decision. Did you say that this would be your first trip to WDW? Well, I guess that would mean that you wouldn't know any different at this point right? Besides everything you have heard. I have done both, stayed on property and staying off. I truly enjoyed our on-site visit more but that was AFTER we stayed off property so my first trip I didn't know what it was like on-property. You seem to have stepped into quite a deal with the off-property choices you have and that is CHEAP for what you get. Is there anyway that you can spend the first part of your trip at one of the off-site resorts and then spend a couple days on property to make the kids happy?
I will tell you that being on-property is AWESOME but those are really nice resorts that you mentioned and it sounds like you would save quite a bit of money in doing that. Money you could perhaps spend on a nice splurge for your family?
OK, I haven't been much help but I did share my thoughts with you. Good Luck! --Renee

 

[bigbabyblues]

The savings would certainly be a great thing! My first thought though, is how your trip is booked? If you are booked on a Dreammaker package, you have to cancel by 45 days out to avoid penalty. You might want to check your cancellation policy to make sure you don't get penalized first.

It's a hard choice, but no matter where you stay, you're going to Disney World!!!

Good luck with your decision!

 

[ugadog99]

You do have a tough decision! For us, we would never stay offsite. Part of the reason we go to Disney is for the Disney magic and you just miss a good bit of that staying offsite. I like the convenience of Disney transportation and being able to return to our resort for midday breaks. As for food issues, we bring our own breakfast foods and eat in the room. Also, we bring bread, sandwich meat, cheese, peanut butter,etc. to eat light lunches/dinners in the room. It works fine and does save a lot.

 

[Snoopymom]

I would definitely stay off site in a suite for that amount of savings. You could splurge on so many other things for your kids!I'd post this on the Orlando board to get more opinions and also to get recommendations on which of the resorts your kids might like...which have themed pools, gamerooms, etc. I know it's hard, my 3 yr old already knows to ask to see pictures of the pools, LOL! Good Luck!

 

[cmcvean]

I would stay off-site for the week, then add a couple days onto the end of the trip and stay on-site. This would be the best of both worlds and would allow you to have more time at Disney overall. You can do the parks hard while you are staying off-site then relax and hit the things you really enjoyed again while staying on-site.

I totally see it as an opportunity to stay LONGER!!

Christine

 

[jkovick]

I would stay onsite. Yes, you would save $$ off site but you lose alot of convinience and "magic" IMO. Onsite you never have to get in the car drive to the park, park the car, truck across the lot, etc. Offsite you lose the ability to charge with your KTTW card. Offsite you lose the Extra Magic hour. Offsite you lose package delivery to your resort. And, most importantly you lose the 24/7 experience that makes Disney Disney.

Either way I hope you have a wonderful trip.

 

[Jungle Skipper]

i'd have to stay onsite...Im so spoiled anymore....staying off site and driving back and forth just takes away from the vacation experience for me. The less stress the better...and there is just somehting about being surrounded by Disney 24/7...::sigh:: i cant wait until july 20....

Jungle Josh

 

[Claire4dpins]

As background - We have stayed onsite & off site - off much more often as family menbers have timeshare. Also, we are often on a tight budget for the hotel after getting our flights from London!!

We love it on site - it is so much fun - the atmoshere & 24 hour disney feeling, the early entry is great, as is the transportation. That having been said - I would go for the off site option - you have this chance now for only $200 which may not come around again. Hopefully you will love WDW so much that you will soon be planning your next trip & hopefully go for on site next time!! You don't have the two to compare at the moment so you will not really feel you have missed out. You will have tons more space and all the savings from taking the timeshare - not needing to buy all meals out and so on - could be used for special meals and treats, a few extra presents for your kids.

Go with off site & use this chance for a cheaper trip this time - come back & start planning another onsite trip!!! Of the places you mentioned we have only stayed at Grande Vista - which we enjoyed very much.

What ever you decide have a wonderful trip,
Claire

 

[GailT]

I have been going to Disney since 1975 and always stayed out of the park, the first time I stayed in the park 1992) it was the best experience. Does that mean all the times before that wern't good, no they were just as good. We out side the park you need a car to get back and forth easy. For the money savings I would stay outside the park. I don't think your Disney experience will be any less. Your first time the excitment will take over, you don't know any different from staying inside or outside the park. Have a FUNtastic trip and let us know what you ended up doing

 

[dimimi]

I have only stayed on the disney property and we loved it. However, if I had your deal...and nothing to compare it to, I'd stay off site. The next time you go, you can stay on-site. Just make sure you are at the gates to the parks at least 15 minutes before the park opens. Have fun.

 

[mikesmom]

We have stayed offsite and onsite. We now own DVC and wouldn't trade for anything. However.... when DS was small we always stayed offsite (and not in as nice a place as you are going to have). We had wonderful vacations and have many good memories. As a previous poster said, if you haven't been onsite, you won't know the difference. I would do it.

That being said, make very SURE that the other reservation is made and confirmed before you cancel your current reservation. Sometimes people say things just to be nice ('specially if they think you won't take them up on it), and it would be horrible if you had nowhere at all to stay.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

We stayed offsite on our first trip and had a wonderful time. We started planning the next trip as soon as we got home, but decided to stay onsite. What a difference! I'll never stay offsite again.

I say stay offsite for the savings on this trip. You haven't been to WDW so chances are you'll be spending the vast majority of your time at the parks. On subsequent trips, when less time is spent in the parks and more time is spent relaxing, stay onsite.

 

[kathy carleton]

cast my vote for on-site! I think it is simply a different trip.. when we get hot, we just zip back to the resort to rest and swim, then hop a bus back to the parks. don't forget also, the perk of the early entry and E-night as a resort guest. We have stayed off one time, and never again. The ease and enjoyment of on-property, combined with the fact that your party can come and go seperately if they please is well worth it to me. We arrive, park the car and don't move it for days! that is so much more relaxing for us. Whatever you choose enjoy!! I would suggest though that for your 1st trip- you will spend alot of time in parks, just chhose a value or mod. resort...

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

I have always stayed on-site except for one part of one trip. We only slept in the hotel....we were park commandos that trip.

Next trip we are looking at a condo off-site. It has three bedrooms, great pool, and a full kitchen, washer, dryer, etc...... I hope to add two nights at the end of the trip for Poly/Cont..

I say, stay off-site and spend some of the extra money you will be saving on a character meal. We love to do Chef Mickey's the first night we are there. That totally immerses you in Disney!!

Have fun planning.

 

[mickey'sbud]

I would suggest that you consider staying your last 2 or 3 nights at a mod or deluxe on site. You would spend no more than you had originally planned on and at a mod you would still be ahead ($$$savings). This way you'd get the best of both worlds.

 

[Planogirl]

$200 for a whole week with lots of space? Personally, I would jump at it. If the driving worries you, I've found it pretty easy to drive from most parts of Kissimmee and Buena Vista. The traffic on International Drive is horrendous. And why not add on a few onsite days to your vacation if you'd like to experience it both ways? Expedia is having some pretty good sales on moderates and budget hotels right now.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Keep in mind that the PGA Funai Golf tournament is Oct. 21-25. It will add to the traffic on International Drive.

Lori

 

[castleri]

Over the years we have stayed on and off - until DVC and now it's mostly on site but for that kind of money I would opt for off site at the resort closest to Disney for the beginning of the trip and then if possible two nights on site. With what you save on breakfast alone you can afford the two nights on -site. Then save the difference of what you would have spent for the rooms
on site and put it away for that next trip you will start planning on the way home. If you currently have a package plan you will need to figure in the cost of passes and should plan to buy them through a ticket agent or a Disney store before you go as they are more costly at the gate. Good luck with your decision and have a wonderful trip.