Why do you stay off-site?

[kerry34]

While I LOVED staying onsite and plan on doing it again someday, offsite is best for my big family. The cost is cheaper since we need two rooms and everyone having their own space is so much better. The kids tend to get on each others nerves less when they are not on top of each other constantly. We rented a home in Windsor Hills last April and are doing it again this April. It was also nice having our own pool. Every night after the parks the kids would come in and throw on their suits and swim until close to bedtime. After that they would shower up put on pajamas and lay in bed and watch tv until they fell asleep. DH and I didnt hear a peep from them after that. Very relaxing....something we can't get in a hotel room. The other thing is having our own washer and dryer to do laundry. It cut down on how much clothes we brought. Overall it is much more convenient for us to stay offsite and much cheaper. Doing this ensures us a trip every year if we want, staying onsite would not allow us that option.

 

[inaminute]

On-site allows for the DDP, charging to your room, that "disney magic" that everyone talks about, no parking/car issues and magical express among other benefits like the extra hours

Disney hotels are just too expensive for us any more. We used to stay exclusively on Disney property. Not any more. I just can't justify spending that kind of money on a hotel room. I'm not willing to pay $99.00 a night for a tiny room at a value resort, when I can get a suite with washer, dryer, kitchen--the works--for the same rate (Actually, we're paying $95.00 a night for our trip later this month!).

I'm not willing to call every day to see if special rates are available at Disney. I've been going to Disney since 1989--almost every time at a Disney hotel. I've yet to receive a special postcard, offer, or an upgrade. We get upgraded almost every time at Hilton and Best Western hotels. They're awesome!

We rent a car so that we can all have a seat at the end of a day. AND, the walk to the trams is much less than to the bus stops--with the exception of the Magic Kingdom. I've never had an issue with parking. Not sure what this means? Even paying the $10.00 a day brings my costs to well below those of a moderate--and just a bit above a value.

We used the dining plan in June. Never again. It was very stressful worrying that we wouldn't make our reservations on time, making sure that every day was planned to ensure best use of the plan. Plus, Disney food has lost it's lustre. It used to be really nice, now it's like Applebees or Olive Garden. Nothing wrong with either one--I like them both. I could vent for hours on this topic, so just suffice it to say that we actually prefer counter service at Disney with sit-down meals off site.

We have no interest in EMH--we can see everything during regular hours.

The only benefit I ever used was having things delivered to your resort. It was a convenience, and something I can live without. If I want something that I don't want to carry around, I wait and purchase it right before we leave or run it out to the car.

I don't need to stay onsite to feel the Disney "magic." That happens as soon as we drive onto the property. That NEVER gets old.

 

[spiceycat]

Disney does NOT allow pets in any of their rooms. So for a while was staying in offsite hotels. then a few years ago discovered CWR - a timeshare that allows pets.

so stayed there until Spicey died. Now sometimes even when he was alive I stayed on site at WDW and he stayed in a kennel. but his last few years only stayed offsite with him (stayed at DVC one or two days in that week)

Miss him still.

now I am back to trying out the offsite timeshares. like everyone here love the space. but I like different places to stay. Try to go to a different place each year. This year it was AKV. (loved it - used my DVC points)

being going to WDW since 1972 - so WDW is not that different to me. Orlando can be.

also have an annual pass - so not paying for parking. but sometimes it is a long walk to the car. at times disney can be cruel. instead of just going back in the parking lots - they are going across. after walking all day - then having to walk to your car - because the trams don't go there.... well some days I preferred getting on the bus and going back to my DVC unit onsite.

have allergies so like to fix my own meals.

allergy to the sun. So can't go out from 11:00am to 4:00pm florida time. definitely appreciate the TV. Disney's TV only a few channels. Outside has over 150 channels.

so my main reasons
1) pet allowed in some places
2) different places
3) more space
4) being able to cook
5) tv's offsite has more channels

 

[snappy]

Sorry about Spicey.

 

[Lisa BC]

Our last only stay (Dec 2004) was split between OKW & CBR. We loved OKW, I think for many of the reasons people love to stay offsite.

• lots of space with a full kichen
• washer & dryer
• get to park nearly at your door
• calm & peaceful

We didn't enjoy our stay at CBR. The rooms were wonderfully clean and well themed, we just didn't like the sardine herding atmosphere.

• walk to the bus stops was pretty long
• walk to the food court was even longer
• no space for "the family" to all come together

We used the bus service because we rented ECV's from an outside vendor, otherwise we would have driven. As the wait time for the buses along with the crowded conditions didn't make the bus transportation pleasant at the end of the long day. The one package I had delivered to OKW didn't make it there before we transferred to CBR, then it went into package black hole space until right before we checked out, so it wasn't all that great for us.

So like others here, I think:

magic is having a king pillowtop mattress with high end bedding and plasma TV magic is having a pool at my back door that I may use anytime I want
magic is being able to park at my door at the end of the day
magic is relaxing with my family around the dining table for a game of cards
magic is saving so much on great accommodations that I can either stay longer, or come back more often

Lisa

 

[patman]

Disney is just one of four places I go when I go to Orlando. I am usually in Florida for 10 to 12 days. 5 days disney, 2 universal, and one day at Busch Gardens, Sea World and a water park.

To stay on site and travel off site is a waste of money to me. Not to mention that he on-site hotels are way overpriced. To me the all stars is motel 6 without the free fridge.

Riding a bus with a bunch of sweaty people is not my idea of ideal transportation.

Paying Disney prices for food for 5 days and for 6 people will bankrupt small nations.

Rainy days in a hotel room.

Being in a house/condo is like being at home, 4 tvs, late night snacks, morning coffee, without getting dressed.

 

[PandaBear & Boo]

I find that with my family of 5 we are limited to where we can stay onsite with out having to get 2 rooms. Disney should look outside the box and realize that not all families are made up of 4 people. If they would make accomodations to fit more then 4 and have their prices come down abit then I think more people migh like onsite. I have done both and yes I did like staying onsite and the DDP and the charging to your room BUT I also had to save like hell for the 5 of us to go. This time we are staying offsite in a 2 bdrm villa and the accomodations alone are costing me less than half of what Disney would have charged me. I have other things I can do with my hard earned money than save for being able to stay onsite. To me it just isn't worth it. My family still gets a nice vacation and I didn't break the bank to get it.

 

[dgaston]

In my visits to WDW we have stayed on-site, at DTD hotels, rented condos and pool homes, and bought into DVC. I have never felt a lack of Disney Magic in any visit as I firmly believe the Magic is in the memories created on each trip. When we travel at peak times (DH is a HS teacher and limited to specific vacations) we stay off-site as DVC point values are too dear. This coming Christmas, we are staying at a Windsor Hills pool home. My brother and family are joining us for Christmas, and then 1/1 when the points drop, I'm moving to AKV in a 2br with my family for 3 nights. I know I will enjoy each of the locations.

I also belive that the extra space helps create a much more pleasant vacation for all the family. I know my adult boys are really looking forward to challenging each other at pool in the game room of the home we've rented.

 

[Buzz & Woody]

Our upcoming trip will be the first time that we have been off site. We've always stayed at the values. We are going to Disney after a week on a cruise. We are not intending to do Disney everyday, as we have in the past. DH wats to golf and I would like to just relax and shop etc on our off days. Having a home with a pool, bedrooms for the kids and extra space is the reason why we are going off site this time. When dh is golfing I don't want to be tied down to sitting in the hotel room in the dark while the boys nap. I want to be able to "do" things. I often wish that we did this in the past whent he boys were smaller-it would have been nice to have a place to go when the kids were asleep instead of having to lie in the dark in a hotel room. Granted, I will miss being in the "magic" of things. I will miss the familiarness of being right in Disney, but i think that it was a good choice for us this time.

 

[SnowWtch]

There are a couple of reasons we stay off-site. Cost, going to Universal too or going to a convention. We usually go to at least 1 anime convention a year so we'll stay close to or at the convention hotel and just drive to Disney or Universal. Or if we're doing a split stay of Universal and Disney we'll pick a hotel in between and do it that way. Sometimes we'll decide at the last minute that we need a weekend away so we'll just book somewhere not too expensive and stay off property for a Fri-Sun.

 

[gtalum]

For me it's purely a cost and space issue. Disney hotels are no nicer than those offsite. When it comes down to it, the parking issue (as an annual pass holder it's free anyway) is not worth the premium that Disney charges for what I consider sub-par lodging. I can get a full suite with breakfast and evening cocktails included for less than $100 per night offsite, vs a basic motel room with no food included for about the same price onsite. Basically staying offsite allows us to stay in comfort and travel to Disney as many times a year as we want with no budget concerns.

Not to mention that I find that Disney food is as a rule horribly overpriced and mediocre quality. I'd rather eat better for less offsite.

 

[isla bonita]

I stayed on property in the beach club and it was a nice hotel room, great pool but I do not enjoy trying to watch my kids in a pool with so many strangers.

My mom rented a home and took the whole family down and I thought it was going to be the biggest disaster. Not!

It was the best vacation we had been on. The cousins had a ball playing together. The built in baby sitters was great me and my husband got to go out for dinner what a treat.

We even came home with the best souvie that year our daughter was born 9 mos. later.

We loved it so much we have bought our little peice of heaven on earth.

Also my husband you will be glad to know has since had a V. Maybe a little more info then you all needed. LOL

 

[Navysailor_disneyfan]

Im staying off site this trip. As much as I like to stay on-site it just wasnt cost effective for 8 people(inlaws from both side coming) dont worry they all get along fine(im so lucky ). Now if you got the money to spend then stay onsite because it ez'er that way.

 

[DiscoverWDW]

What she says : )
We just stayed in a 4 bed pool home and the privacy of our own pool was fantastic ...

I 110% agree. We usually stay at a Disney resort for short trips. If we go for over a week, we always stay off site at a house. For the price of a Disney moderate resort you will get a home with a pool, kitchen, and laundry. We do miss being in the center of it all, but I haven't found the tree that grows money yet. Yes, you have to take into account car rental and parking fees, but it still comes out cheaper for us.

It's like the Mastercard commercial. 4 bedroom home with pool $149.00/night ... Groceries $80 per week ... Both your kids get their own room PRICELESS!

 

[PhotobearSam]

Simple...We go for 3 weeks at a time, On-site would get expensive and I don't want restaurants 3 times a day.

We love to shop at the outlets, we have annual passes so parking is free, and we do day trips to other areas...

We love a Condo...2 bedrooms and a large living area, our own Washer/dryer and breakfast as we wish. Can't be beat.

Also, I don't have kids so THE DISNEY MAGIC can be turned off and I get a good night sleep. I could not stand being in a motel rooms for 1 week...

We did it twice at the Sheraton and it got old FAST.

Unless I am only at WDW for 4 days or less, or get a super deal...I will always stay off-site.

 

[HappyLawyer]

I just really like the freedom of it all, we do more then just the disney parks, we love all of Florida and we love offsite. You get full kitchens and two bathrooms off skyauction so offsite it is.

 

[davinakb]

More of the same: size, space and value. Have stayed on property before, and feel we get more value staying-off property. Plus the money saved goes for nice dinners, longer trips. Win-win.

We have been renting 2-3 bedroom timeshares for a week, at less than the cost of one room for a week at a Value Resort. Kitchen, 2 bathrooms, laundry facilities, nice pools, etc. Just cannot beat the price, and for a group of 5-6 adults, the space is a must. Usually we get equal or nicer rooms: granite counters, spa tubs, etc.

Also agree that the buses can take a while, esp. say getting from one resort, to DD then somewhere else. Driving ourselves is just much faster, plus we just have to have a car to go anywhere else, outlet shopping, whatever.

This December we'll be in a private house for 8 nights, looking to see how well that goes. FWIW.

 

[inaminute]

Oh! One more reason--at most of the major chain hotels, we can collect points, which allows us to get free nights! I love being able to stay for free. We also always get free upgrades at Hilton and Best Western because of our point "status."

We've stayed onsite at Disney at least twice each year since 1989. We've never received a special postcard, rate (except the occasional AP rate), or free upgrade in all that time.

Our last Disney stay was in June of this year. From now on, we'll stay and spend our hotel money where we feel appreciated.

 

[spiceycat]

e've stayed onsite at Disney at least twice each year since 1989. We've never received a special postcard, rate (except the occasional AP rate), or free upgrade in all that time.

Our last Disney stay was in June of this year. From now on, we'll stay and spend our hotel money where we feel appreciated.

yea - but now you will get the cards.

disney has a very strange system. they don't give their best rates to their return customers. but give them to past guests who haven't been in a while.

believe after you don't stay on WDW property for a year might be two - you will definitely get a postcard or email.

 

[chessie]

Im staying off site this trip. As much as I like to stay on-site it just wasnt cost effective for 8 people(inlaws from both side coming) dont worry they all get along fine(im so lucky ). Now if you got the money to spend then stay onsite because it ez'er that way.

Navysailor, Just wanted to say THANK YOU