What's the Disney experience like offsite?

[madge]

For those who have stayed offsite, do you feel like it's maybe "less" of a Disney trip, or do you ever feel like there's something missing?

I don't feel like I'm missing anything. If I had to choose one thing that's missing at (some) offsite resorts, it would be a themed pool. And not as much as a themed pool as a "fun" pool with a slide. We've stayed at resorts with lovely pools, though... and my kids were just happy to be able to swim

DH & I hate the WDW buses, so we drive to the parks (when it's convenient) regardless of where we're staying. It gets us back to the resort quicker and more time for a nap, swim, snack, etc.

By staying offsite, we have more space ... which makes everyone in my family much happier. Having more than one TV, bathroom, place to sleep, etc. is wonderful for us. Staying offsite means we aren't reliant on eating out of a cooler or a restaurant all the time. I like having a kitchen, and I don't do a lot of cooking.

As far as transportation goes I know many hotels have shuttles that run to the World and back. Do you find the shuttles to run often or is it inconvenient to get back and forth? (we haven't decided yet about renting a car)

It's my understanding that offsite shuttles are a pain. We always have a rental car. We also choose resorts in close proximity to WDW. It often takes us less time to get back to our resort offsite than it does taking a WDW bus onsite.

 

[madge]

I honestly did not lose any of the "magic". I feel you make your own magic, and we did.

that's how we feel, too!

We've had wonderful stays onsite. We love, love, love the Swan/Dolphin. I love how the resort lobby smells when you walk in, I love the pool, being close to the Boardwalk and Epcot ... but outside of the Heavenly bed, it's a hotel room. And not a very big one at that. LOL. We also love Port Orleans-Riverside... the grounds, the pool, the lounge with Bob Jackson, the boat to DtD. But the rooms? Nothing special. Once we're in the room, it doesn't matter where we are because there are 5 of us fighting over the TV, the bathroom, a place to sit ... we're all right there together. LOL.

I know it diminishes some people's vacation to leave the WDW property. They dont like to see the real world. I can understand that. When we stayed at Vistana Villages, it was a very easy drive, and we didn't really see much of the real world .. we passed the outlet mall, a gas station, and mostly other timeshare resorts. It didn't take long to get back onto the WDW property. We liked that a lot.

 

[spiceycat]

For us, if 2 mods was horrible I can't imagine how bad it would be in 2 value. When we do stay onsite in the future, it will be back in a deluxe but the deluxe is very poor value compared to what the same $ will get you offsite - for us anyways.

from his questions looks like the trip is for the kids.

kids don't care - they want a pool, arcade, food court - value and moderate has this.

now if he says value - then would suggest high as possible with white noise and close the bathroom door (the toilets are loud)

but with kids would definitely go for a value - so they will have someone to play with.

 

[calgarygary]

from his questions looks like the trip is for the kids.

kids don't care - they want a pool, arcade, food court - value and moderate has this.

now if he says value - then would suggest high as possible with white noise and close the bathroom door (the toilets are loud)

but with kids would definitely go for a value - so they will have someone to play with.

Hi spiceycat - I've travelled with kids (mine) too and still would not go the value route as we found the moderates uncomfortable at best. However that is strictly from our point of view. For a family of six, I really believe that there are so many great options available within Orlando that you can save $ while improving the quality of your stay unless you are absolutely tied to onsite. For those that are, nothing outside WDW will satisfy, for those that aren't then offsite is definitely the way to go.

OP - if you know anyone that owns a timeshare, then getting a getaway through Interval International or RCI's Last Call will give you great accomodation at a very affordable price. For example I have my daughter and her bf booked into a 2 bedroom at Vistana Villages at the end of August for just over $500. As you are apparently going in January, I would expect similar prices would be easily had.

 

[FayeW]

By the time you add up the rental car, paying the parking fees each day, gas getting to and from your offsite hotel to Disney property, it costs about the same as staying in either a value or moderate resort onsite.

Totally disagree. It depends entirely on where you stay and how you book your offsite accomodations.

For 3 trips, we used skyauction and had a 2bdrm condo for less than $260 for the week. Each time we also booked 2 additional nights at Sheraton Safari and paid about $80 total per night. Total cost for 9 nights was less $450., so that works out to $50 per night. Parking was $10 per day at the time so another $80, and we spent less than $50 on gas. The rental car each time was less than $200. Total for us was $780, or about $87. per day. We might have been able to get one room at a value for that price, but when you add in the savings for being able to have cold drinks (fridge at a value would cost $10 per day), all breakfasts, a few snacks, and the occasional lunch in the room, as well as being able to use our rental car to go to the less expensive and better quality offsite restaurants, we saved BIG.

OP, I have not ever stayed onsite, despite everyone on these boards telling me over the years (particularily for our first trip) that we HAD to stay onsite to experience the magic, I can tell you I would never, ever cram my family of four into one hotel room for more than 3 days, whether onsite or off. The magic for us comes from being able to have a little separate space from each other when we need it, having more than one bathroom, being able to throw in a load of laundry so I don't have to bring home dirty clothes, and being able to all sleep in our own spaces. I like being able to get up in the morning and have my coffee in my pyjamas and not have to get showered and dressed to go to a food court. I like being able to stay up and watch TV or get up early to have that coffee and not have to tiptoe around in the dark worrying about waking up sleeping children. I like being able to get a cold beer and sit out on the screened in balcony, or make some popcorn or a plate of nachos for a snack. I like being able to give the kids some cereal to start their day without having to go to a restaurant, wait to get our meal, and pay a small fortune.

I have never felt our trips were less magically than they would be onsite. As a matter of fact I am certain that our trip (because if we had stayed onsite, there would have only be one trip!) would have been horrendous if we all tried to squeeze into one room. Magic is found wherever you look for it...but we also look for our magic at SeaWorld, Universal and Islands of Adventure.

 

[spiceycat]

yea use skyauction too.

stay both onsite and offsite. like them both.

why do some people think if you like offsite you must hate onsite and vs - if you stay onsite you must hate offsite.

there are several of us who like them both.

everyone is different.

offsite is definitely cheaper if you plan your trip - you can generally get an entire house for the price of a moderate. if you don't plan your trip well, you will end up in a offsite hotel and will change to disney before your trip is over. this happens.

the condo thru skyauction are cheaper and generally timeshares - so they have activities.

don't think that everyone taste are the same - because if they were Disney would not have build so many different hotels.

as far as costs yes Disney is expensive - which is why I brought DVC in 93. So can afford to do both - onsite and offsite.

at the current prices if hadn't brought DVC then would be staying mostly offsite. with only a night or two onsite.

 

[rie'smom]

I don't feel like I'm missing anything. If I had to choose one thing that's missing at (some) offsite resorts, it would be a themed pool. And not as much as a themed pool as a "fun" pool with a slide. We've stayed at resorts with lovely pools, though... and my kids were just happy to be able to swim

DH & I hate the WDW buses, so we drive to the parks (when it's convenient) regardless of where we're staying. It gets us back to the resort quicker and more time for a nap, swim, snack, etc.

By staying offsite, we have more space ... which makes everyone in my family much happier. Having more than one TV, bathroom, place to sleep, etc. is wonderful for us. Staying offsite means we aren't reliant on eating out of a cooler or a restaurant all the time. I like having a kitchen, and I don't do a lot of cooking.



It's my understanding that offsite shuttles are a pain. We always have a rental car. We also choose resorts in close proximity to WDW. It often takes us less time to get back to our resort offsite than it does taking a WDW bus onsite.

WE don't lose the "magic" either. This November, I'm considering offsite because at WDW, I'll need 2 rooms. AT CSR,it's close to 3000. The house that I'm looking at is 995. The savings will cover our airffare AND 1 of the 3 nights that we're staying onsite at Universal.
The house is at Emerlad Island and we'll have a rental car-no monorail,except at MK. It doesn't take but a 10 minutes longer to get to the parks.
You don't get ME-I wouldn't use it anyway.
You don't get DDP-not a good value anymore.
You don't get EMH-usually too crowded.

 

[davinakb]

Your magic is what you make it.

Agree with your whole post. It really is about what you want out your WDW trip.

WE don't lose the "magic" either.

You don't get DDP-not a good value anymore.
You don't get EMH-usually too crowded.

So true. And I just posted this elsewhere. FWIW.

• I always come down on the side of a CAR in the WDW transportation debate. Except the monorail, driving is faster and more convenient to the parks, to DTD, to other resorts for dining. And off site for shopping. Worth the $, wouldn't stay off site without a car.
• We use the DDE card (AP), eat breakfast at "home" and a nice meal everyday at WDW; best value for us.
• Our last place was also EI: 4BR/3BA for $600/week. Free internet, nicely done. For 5-6 people, the extra space was ideal.
• Money saved is more WDW magic. Longer trip, more shopping, lots of Disney dining.

 

[Lisa P.]

To the OP... if you love staying onsite and you would be going into it with a negative view of offsites, don't bother. When people go offsite just to save a buck and they expect it to be a bad experience, they sometimes look for the negatives and find them. To any who've compared onsite with old, rundown, offsite dives ($29???), it's no surprise that onsite is so appealing to you. But if someone wants to consider a quality offsite resort with terrific resort amenities that are appropriate to what you enjoy on vacation (pampering spa, upscale luxury, kid-friendly pool features, organized activities, beautiful grounds, private heated pool, lots of space and inroom amenities), they'll often find that the price offsite is much cheaper than comparable onsite accommodations... if they can even be found onsite at all (no private pools!). The savings can be substantial enough to make it possible to stay longer or more often, enjoy better restaurants or just relax more, knowing you're able to easily stay within your budget. The offsite experience varies tremendously from place to place. For some of our trips, we prefer it to onsite, even if they were the same price.

We've done both many times and will continue to do both. Onsite, we like some of the themes, the restaurants, the convenient bus or boat to MK's turnstiles. Offsite, we like the better and more spacious rooms, the lower cost, the more relaxing environment, the absence of the slick Disney marketing machine and constant Disney stimulation, and of course, the offsite convenience to non-Disney attractions and more reasonably priced restaurants.

With both (on and off), we prefer to drive our own car, avoid EMH and avoid the canned Disney voices on the buses - a little too chipper and sugary for our taste. For whatever reason, we can tune it out on the boats and the monorail's monologue doesn't bother us. YMMV.

 

[dioxide45]

Just as I thought. The post was originally posted to the WDW Resorts board. You can probably tell at exactly which post it was moved as there is a definite shift in opinions.

 

[Chime]

I appreciate everyone's suggestions and opinions.

I still think for our upcoming trip I'm going to stick to onsite. My fiance and I are taking kids that aren't ours and just for ease and because I know it onsite seems a little easier, even if it is costlier.

My mind has been opened much more to staying offsite however, and it's something I think I will definately do the next time we plan an Orlando trip that includes more than just Disney. I've been looking up all kinds of beautiful places to rent.

Thanks everyone.

 

[twooley2]

We are going to try offsite for the first time. We have done onsite twice now we just want to change things up. Each vacation has its own memories. We also got a condo and the owner gave us one day free to make up for the parking for 8 days. Cant beat it but we will probably spend the same as onsite. Although each seems to have advantages. We dont want to go to Disney and do the same stuff over and over got to chnage it up each time to make each trip memorable in its unique way.

 

[Natalie_89]

ive stayed on site and offsite and to be honest offsite is just as good its easier with gettin to the parks on site not so much travellin and u dont get back to ur hotel so late everynite but theres chirps to bein offsite like theres so much choice of food if u stay on i drive. bein onsite is good *** u can do the extra magic hours and anythin tht goes on later xx

 

[DisneyConvert]

Such a great topic -
(after, "What time of year?", this is probably the #2 WDW trip-planning question, yes?)
.
We've done both . . . several times.
.
We tend to rent a car because of the time saved vs. waiting for Disney transportation (which is ok because it's free, but then again, "time is money").
We have AP's this year, which eliminate the $11/day parking charge and make staying off-site that much more attractive.
.
Hotel rates off-site are incredibly competitive, while I perceive the WDW "value" and "moderate" resorts overpriced and unrealistic in their offer.
They tend NOT to discount much and, except for the monorail resorts, aren't particularly more convenient to the parks.
While I love the theming of the better resorts, the prices are way too high, given what one gets.
.
The customer service is NOT better than a Marriott (Courtyard, Fairfield, etc.) or Hilton (Doubletree, etc.). No free breakfast. No free internet. And generally bad and/or overpriced food options vs. what's on 535 or Osceola Parkway for example.
.
I would stay at a WDW resort again, but maybe when they value my business. Our last stay at the Poly wasn't that fantastic and I would take a Courtyard by Marriott over an All Star room for the same price anyday.

 

[Cindy B]

We've done both. Some of the onsite "charm" is lost on me. The hordes of people waiting for the bus, the cramped one room and one bathroom is a pain.

Offsite works best for us. This year we are compromising slightly. We are staying on site for three days so we can utilize EMH and then going offsite for 7 days.

 

[*disgal*]

Now, we won't even consider staying offsite. By the time you add up the rental car, paying the parking fees each day, gas getting to and from your offsite hotel to Disney property, it costs about the same as staying in either a value or moderate resort onsite.

Wow. I really disagree with this. Like I posted on another thread....next spring, our trip in a beautiful, Disney themed 3 bedroom condo, with a pool on par with the deluxes, will save us $1354 over 2 rooms at a value resort. More than that if we were in one room again at POR. Parking is only going to cost us $88. We already have our car, but I doubt renting a car and gas is going to cost $1100 some.


OP...........we all have our opinions. One thing I have found out for myself is that EACH FAMILY needs to find out for themselves.

I used to be one that would ONLY stay onsite. That is, until I had the dreaded family of 5, meaning, hotels are catered to families of 4. You either have to cram yourself into one mod room at POR (which we have done and survived), pay for the more expensive deluxe room, or pay for two rooms at value (or family suites which are about the same).

Sooooooooooooo.........we tried staying offsite in 2 bedrooms condos. Does it have that magical feeling you get when you stay on property in one of the monorail resorts? Or Epcot resorts? Probably not. But for us, it is more magical than a value room (don't ever want to do that again if I can help it) or a room at the mods.

For my family, and this is MY family..........I will tell you what is more magical. Having MY OWN master bedroom with king sized bed and bathroom with jacuzzi , having more than one tv so I don't have to watch kids tv whenever we are just chillin' in the room, having a big fridge so we have all the ice we want, cold drinks, breakfast stuff, having a washer/dryer so I can just throw our laundry in before we go to the parks and I don't come home with tons of laundry (that was always a real bummer), AND last but not least........after a long day at the parks, being able to park right outside my condo so I don't have to walk a mile to get to my door!! Ughhhh! I loved the POR landscaping, but hated those long walks to either the bus or our van. It was the same when we were at AsMo. And the only perk I miss is the bus to MK also. Everything I don't use or don't need.

You never know until you try it. If it was just DH and me, I would be onsite. I would miss the kitchen, but I could do it. I would have never thought I would be one to like offsite.

Also wanted to add..........if I'm going to stay offsite for whatever reason, I wouldn't just get a plain jane hotel room. that has no magic in it for me. What we have stayed in were more luxurious than that. Every family has to do what they gotta do........some can only afford those hotel rooms. And that's ok.

There's no right or wrong answer. You have to find out for yourself.

 

[ntsammy5]

We have stayed 32 consecutive times onsite and once offsite. The next trip we will make will be offsite. After that trip I will have something definitive to say BUT as for cost, we have stayed at all level of Disney resort and have gone with and without DDP - we almost always rent a car so we use Disney transportation only when it suits our plans. I will tell you this, that when it is all costed out we will be saving almost $1,600 for a week compared to what we spent for a room only last year at AKL. That doesn't include savings on food which will be substantial. I figure we will save almost $2,000 offsite versus onsite - serious money. That's a 2BR 1200 ft offsite condo compared to maybe a 350 sf room at AKL. Hmmmmmmmm