why bother with offsite?

[d1gitman]

okay, first let me start off by saying i am prepared to get barbequed on this one since it will probably strike a nerve with those who feel differently...

Why bother staying offsite? with all that WDW resorts offer and what are reasonable prices (talking about value to moderate resorts) why would anyone stay offsite? i just don't get it.

let the games begin!

 

[blu3d3vil]

Because I just stayed at a Westgate condo for only $200 for a week. I'm more than happy to skip EMH for that price.

 

[MyGoofy26]

I don't stay offsite, but I understand why others do. Offsite isn't always a crummy roach motel. People can get large rooms, villas or houses for about the same cost as Disney resorts. . . even values. The space is a huge factor that outweighs many of Disney's advantages.

Transportation is Disney's other big draw to most and a lot of people find it lacking, or at least not as big of an advantage as some think it is. They prefer to get in their own car and get to the parks without waiting. Many people onsite feel that way as well and still take cars to and from.

And, if you can believe it, some people just like to get away from the hidden Mickeys and pixie dust for a little while, even if it's just to sleep.

 

[Snowy-girls]

We stay offsite because-----

1,We don't drive+could'nt face being stuck on Disney 24-7,as much as we love Disney-thats a no for us.
2,We love being on I-Drive as there are so many cheaper/more variety dining choices especially being as though there are 4 of us.
3,Different places to visit ie..Mini Golf-Shopping malls-i better say Chuck-e -Cheese(or my girls won't be happy).
4,Ease of getting to Universal,IOA+Seaworld.
5,Works out cheaper for us to stay off site than to stay in a value resort which are small for the 4 of us,we like to stay in larger rooms or suites.
Probably more reasons,but can't think of them for now.x.

 

[PrincessV]

I used to stay offsite, but only because the hotel costs were SO much lower. These days, the resorts I'd choose are so close in price to WDW, there's no need.

 

[stacym]

We stay offsite because my mom has a timeshare and we get to stay with her for free. We get a huge place with full kitchen, washer/dryer etc. We eat breakfast in the room so we save a ton of money that way.

 

[Kay7979]

You'll get no flames from me as I thoroughly enjoy both on-site and off-site and I respect both choices. Since you ask why, however, I will say that you can get a whole condo or house for far less than the cost of a Disney moderate, and sometimes for less than a value resort. If you have a car, driving time is not much different than waiting for Disney busses, and you don't have to be crammed in like sardines with 50 other people, with standing room only.

Off-site resorts have better facilities than a value. Our timeshare resort has a paddleboat lake, mini-golf, bike rentals, planned activities all day, a killer welcome party, volley ball, tennis, 12 pools, etc. etc. Some resorts have their own water park. Also, we frequently take in other attractions in addition to WDW, so it's convenient to be off-site to get to Sea World, Universal, and the host of dinner shows, and other attractions.

 

[Camilo]

I think the folks above summarized everything.
There are + and - with staying offsite.
To me, the biggest + is cost.
I barely stay at hotels when I go to Disney.
I don't want to spend U$ 100 or more just to sleep.

The money (not) spent in Disney hotels can be used so many ways to make the vacation even better.

I do want to stay onsite in the future, so I can be a better judge.

 

[cgbsilver@hotmail.co]

 

[asmit4]

Financially, an offsite would not be better for us. We fly, and we love the DDP. By the time we add in renting a car, missing out on EMHs, paying for food elsewhere or even onsite, and gas costs and such, we'd be way over our budget.

We don't have little ones to bring yet though, once we do, those large houses with private pools are gonna look very tempting!

We also plan to make the month of sept, (ideally the free DDP) a tradition...and the costs just can't be beat. We are paying 900 bucks for 4 nights at a value and that includes the room, the DDP and the park tickets. There is no way we could rent a place offsite, rent a car, buy tickets and eat for 900 bucks.

I think as our family grows and changes (grandparents come along to babysit kids etc) our view of the 'value' of 'value' resorts at DW will change.

There is something to be said for having a 4 bedroom house, with kitchen, living room, 3 bathrooms and a pool ALL to yourself for the cost of a value resort!

 

[mjkaferle5]

...........And, if you can believe it, some people just like to get away from the hidden Mickeys and pixie dust for a little while, even if it's just to sleep.................

Say it ain't so!!

I think if we stayed offsite I would be happy, but at the same time I do love being totally immersed by Disney for my entire stay!

 

[carmiedog]

more economical options for a family of 5 that won't fit in one room at values and most mods.

 

[Cindeegyrl]

We are staying offsite when we go in March 2009 b/c we are only going to 2 disney parks and going to Islands of Adventure and Sea World and I didn't want to stay onsite if we weren't going to be at Disney all the time. It was also cheaper for the 5 of us to stay in a condo together instead of a villa at Disney.

 

[d1gitman]

all great answers...keep them coming...who knows, maybe someday we will consider offsite again.

my reasons for NOT staying offsite are as follows:
1. while on vaca, we don't want to lift a finger if we don't have to, the more WDW does for us, the better.
2. we don't want to cook, we get to do that the other 50-51 wks in a year, thus a kitchen is useless.
3. for the limited time in the room, watching TV from our bed in a hotel room is just fine. thus do not need a villa with a living room
4. we don't want to make beds or do linens
5. we don't want to drive ourselve to & fro park
6. we don't want to spend money on car rental, parking, GAS
7. we prefer the Magical Express convenience vs. car rental pick up & return
8. most of all, we love to immersed in the Disney experience. can't get enough of it. going back to the resort and getting the Disney touch is a nice pick me up at the end of the day

Anyway, thanks for all the great responses and keep them coming.

 

[Chelley00]

6 people = 2 rooms at Pop = $170 a night in Value Season with AAA discount (give or take a few dollars)



6 people in a 4 bedroom villa with private pool and hot tub, full kitchen to make breakfasts and a couple of dinner instead of eating out = $100 a night.



Saving $70 a night means we can stay longer. I'd rather stay 10 days offsite than 7 onsite. We drive, so we have our van and don't have to deal with waiting on busses. I hate hotel noise, so a nice quiet house is perfect for us. The older boys have their own rooms and TVs and can stay up as late as they want without having to worry about waking up a sibling or a grouchy dad We can put the kids to bed and hang out in the hot tub just a few feet away. I don't know that we'll ever stay onsite as a family. If DH and I ever go alone, we'll be onsite, but with 4 kids it just doesn't make sense for us financially (and for sanity )

 

[ChrisinNJ]

Because 5 people in 1 room, sharing 1 bathroom is not a vacation to me.

5 people in a 3 bedroom 2 bath condo with a full kitchen, washer & dryer & playstation....For $1100.00 for 10 nights...2.5 miles from Epcot...Now that's a vacation! And that is a vacation at a price that I can afford. Disney does not offer those amenities for that price.

We are driving to Florida, so we will already have our car & no need for disney buses.

You can keep your EMHs, My DH & I will enjoy our private master bedroom suite & time away from our children back at our condo! .

I should also mention that on our 10 day vacation, we are only "doing Disney" 4-5 days. We will also go to Sea world, Aquatica and Gatorland, cause our kids love gators. And we will spend a day a day or 2 at the pool, so we come back from our trip a little relaxed.

 

[agame2323]

There is nothing "special" about staying onsite. There is something "convenient" about staying onsite. My opinion is that when you stay onsite you are paying for location. Your not paying for the room. Your not paying for the amenities. Your not paying for the EMH's. Your paying a hefty price for being located the closest to WDW. So if that means the most to you...onsite is were you need to be.

 

[Kay7979]

my reasons for NOT staying offsite are as follows:

2. we don't want to cook, we get to do that the other 50-51 wks in a year, thus a kitchen is useless.

3. for the limited time in the room, watching TV from our bed in a hotel room is just fine. thus do not need a villa with a living room

Judging by your list of why you prefer on-site, that may be the best choice for your family at this time in your lives.

As to the two points highlighted above, I would say that you don't need to cook to have a kitchen. We reheat food but don't actually "cook" much. Having a kitchen is great for reheating left-overs brought back from the restaurants. We also love making our grocery run when we arrive and picking up microwave popcorn and other "heat and eat" prepared foods like French bread pizza, rotisserie chicken, hot pocket sandwiches, etc. We pick up tossed salad, fresh fruit, macaroni or potato salad and other deli items that are already prepared. So, meal prep consists of grabbing something out of the refrigerator and/or heating something in the oven or microwave. It is waaaay faster and more convenient than waiting to be seated at a restaurant, and depending on what you buy, much healthier. I personally don't want to eat restaurant meals two or three meals a day every day.

Watching TV in the bedroom is OK as long as you all want to watch the same thing, and your selection of what to watch is extremely limited on-site. With a condo, you don't have to watch kids shows the entire time. Your kids can watch what they want, and you can watch a John Wayne movie or a soap opera if you like!

 

[Marshel]

Reasons to stay offsite:
Money: if you're on a tight budget like me, you can always do better offsite, even throwing in the cost of rental car and parking. Example, my upcoming trip 6/21 -6/27 I've got Comfort Inn LBV (nothing fancy, but very adequate) six nights for $291, 6 day car rental for $140, figure $200 wiith gas (won't do Disney w\o a car even when I stay onsite), and 4 days parking at $44.
Dining options: not all of us are in love with Disney dining. You can eat just as well for far less off site; and if you're on a budget you can really save some $$. I've done the free dining onsite, way too much food and you have to plan a large part of your vacation around ADRs.
Access to other Orlando attractions: far easier to get to Universal and Sea World from offsite locations.
Smoking options: I'm a smoker and w/o starting the great should there be smoking rooms at Disney debate, the last thing I want to do after walking around the parks all day is having to to take a hike away from my room just to smoke a cigarette.
Flying in and out of Tampa: You can often get cheaper fares and better flight times and sometimes better car rental rates going through Tampa, with DME you're locked into MCO.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I have always felt the same as you. I always stay on-site and couldn't imagine why anyone would do otherwise.

Then this Feburary my brother and SIL invited me to join them on a trip to ORLANDO. They had a 2 bedroom villa at Marriott Grand Vista that they got for $110 a night and I have to say it was HUGE and gorgeous! We did Disney 2 days and also did Sea World and Kennedy Space Center. It was really weird for me being in Orlando and not staying on property and not doing Disney everyday, but I have to say, I loved seeing and doing some other things. In all the years I've been going to Disney, this was the first time I ever even saw I-Drive! First time I ever even saw Sea World, Universal and all the hotels in the area. After that trip, I really understood why people stay off property. I don't know that it's for me and I doubt I would do it again anytime soon, but I'm glad I got the chance to try it.

I will say though, we went in early Feburary and one big thing to me would be traffic. It wasn't at all bad when we were there, but I can't IMAGINE what it's like during busier times.