Why do you stay off site?

[candaceg]

One of the main factors in our decision to stay offsite on our last visit was Disney coffee. In '01, we were at All Star Music, and we gave up on using our refillable mugs for coffee by the third morning. We drove to the closest 7-11 for drinkable coffee. As two adults, the theming at Disney hotels is nice, but not necessary. For us, being offsite at Renaissance World Gate ($35/nite w/Priceline) was a much better deal - we had free drinkable coffee in our room and a refrigerator too.

 

[FLeisure]

Robinrs,
I live on Cumbrian Lakes off Poinciana Blvd and I can be at Universal in 20 minutes. If you stay in a vacation home to the East of Disney you should be able to get there in the same timeframe.

Subdivisions to the East : Indian Point, Eagle Point, Cumbrian Lakes, Lake Berkley, Montego Bay - all 20 mins from Universal and 10 mins from Disney.

 

[BarryHom]

I stay offsite because it's a lot cheaper than onsite. If I can hit Priceline for $20 for an offsite hotel, I'll take it. I have a car, so transportation is not an issue.

 

[Robinrs]

Originally posted by FLeisure
Robinrs,
I live on Cumbrian Lakes off Poinciana Blvd and I can be at Universal in 20 minutes. If you stay in a vacation home to the East of Disney you should be able to get there in the same timeframe.

I know but 20 mins is still a bit far if you've ever stayed onsite at USF! I usually have to leave friends who are walking five mins to HRH and I have to hike to the parking garage and depending on traffic it takes me a little longer than I'd like.

Regardless, I do like the perks of vacation homes, because once you're there, it's sooooo peaceful and spacious!

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by Robinrs
I know but 20 mins is still a bit far if you've ever stayed onsite at USF! I usually have to leave friends who are walking five mins to HRH b]

I agree, when on a daily basis you are driving your kids all over town, it's the last thing you want to do when on vacation!!
With Us/Ioa onsite hotels you never have to use your car!! A big plus in my book.
As far as Disney, even if you stay onsite you have to use your car, or wait for WDW trannsportation. You can stay off site and still be within 5-10 minutes of a park. The vacatioon homes are quiote a hike. I visited with a friend who stayed in a vacation home in August, 20 minutes was far!! Plus I want that maid to make my bed! <VBG>

 

[FLeisure]

I suppose it all comes down to price v benefit at the end of the day. Most guests only visit Universal on one or two occassions during their stay and a 20 minute journey is totally acceptable to them.

If you only plan to visit Universal and literally camp out there then a hotel may suit your needs. If you're planning on visiting Disney as well.....you'll still have the 20 minute trip the other way !

 

[Emme]

We have stayed onsite at every level (Allstars/CBR/Poly) and offsite at Amerisuites. I agree the Poly was beautiful and we paid $189 with an AP, so that was great BUT...

Amerisuites for $39 a night including a yummy deluxe breakfast every morning, microwave, fridge, separate sleeping area for DS, great pools and a 10 minute drive to the parks CAN'T be beat!

We booked Comfort Suites Maingate East for this April (week before Easter) it got incredible reviews here on the Dis and elsewhere. Again, we get the deluxe breakfast and all the amenities of a suite for $59 a night. I can't rationalize in my mind paying more, at least $40 more a night, for the Allstars and getting less. Less room, less ameneties, no breakfast...

I love Disney and we go several times a year and there really are some very wonderful places to stay offsite that are inexpensive and are loaded with extras. Just my opinion but I would so rather have that extra money to go back again in a few months!

Emmy

 

[perd]

We've only stayed on site once and that was last month. Stayed at Beach Club. I have to say, it wasn't worth the money. The resort was nice and the location was PERFECT, but I've stayed in much, much better rooms even at a discount hotel. The bathtub was moldy, the walls and carpet were stained and the bedspreads were worn. And they put us in a smoking room when we requested nonsmoking. We had been planning this trip since last April and it was a huge disappointment. I didn't experience the magic everyone talks about!

In 1994 we stayed at Holiday Inn Sunspree resorts and the kids LOVED that. And it was great because food was FREE for the kids. Other times we've rented a house with a pool for much less per night than we paid for that crowded, dirty, SMOKING Beach Club room!

I've looked into Marriott's resorts and those seem wonderful to me. For $250 or so a night you can get a two bedroom villa. The extra space, the washer and dryer and the kitchen seem like a luxury after two adults and three teenagers being cramped in one room at the Beach Club for five nights!

I think Disney needs to put more effort into their guests' onsite experiences, or a lot of people are going to start preferring to stay offsite. If you pay that much to stay onsite, it had better be better than what I experienced!

 

[Vinnie The Pooh]

We just booked HIFS for October( $86.00 Entertainment Rate). We stayed off site our first two times to WDW but then stayed on site the last two visits (POR and CBR). We stayed off site our first night last trip at Holiday Inn Main Gate East and did not like it (dirty, load etc..). I swore I would never stay off site after that. Another inevitability on every trip though is the great desire that I end up having that I need a place to go back to that is not a little hotel room. After reading all the positive posts about HIFS we decided to try it in October. I could not touch any suites at WDW without going broke so we will see. The closeness to WDW is what really lured me to HIFS. When I saw the overhead pictures on Mapquest and saw how close this hotel was to DTD and CBR and Epcot I though why should I pay all that extra $$ for less room when I can stay so close. I will post an objective opinion afer our return in October.

 

[threeboysmom]

We have stayed both on-site and off. It's not the cost that decides it for us, but the extra space that causes us to stay off-site. My DH and I do not go to bed as early as our children and we don't sleep as late as they do. So separate bedrooms is a MUST. When we all sleep in one hotel room on-site, our kids become very cranky by the end of the week because they can't sleep with the lights on & TV going until 11:00 or so, and they're not ready to get up at 6:00 either..... We're all in much better moods staying in a large 2-bedroom suite. Although I do love the magic & convience of Disney hotels............... though the magic quickly dissipates when you have tired children on your hands

 

[chrisn]

Because my dad owns a very nice condo at Westgate Lakes and we stay for free. Can't really justify staying onsite when we have this at our disposal. We do usually add 3 or 4 days in addition to the condo usuall at HIFS (kids love this) or some other NICE but less inexpensive hotel. Someday though, I would love to try out the Poly or AKL for those few extra days.

 

[dgaston]

We did several trip to FW camping when our family was younger to help cut costs. And FW may remain my children's favorite place--they did enjoy it when we spent Christmas 2001 in a cabin. But as DH and I age we really want to have separate spaces from the kids. For Christmas 2003 we have rented a vacation home and my California brother and his family will be joining us for their boys' FIRST WDW trip. I didn't even think about trying 2 or 3 rooms at Allstars, or two cabins--we will be much happier in the space of a home. My DH never has a preference. He always says, "All you do is sleep in the room." I don't find the drive to the parks difficult, and usually have an AP so the parking fee is not a factor.

 

[Jackie824]

For us, we are just cheap But in all seriousness, we cant afford to stay on site. We are a one income family, and my dh doesnt make all that much money. I save as much as I can from the dogsitting business I work for(just a few extra dollars here and there). And sometimes, the only thing we can afford is a 35$ room, and for us its fine. We dont spend much time in the room anyways. We are out of the room before 8am, maybe come back late afternoon for a quick nap for my daughter and then out to do something else. We have never had any trouble staying offsite, we always have our own car,simply so we can come and go as we please. One day if our money situation gets better I will like to stay onsite, but for now, offsite is what we can afford.

 

[bunnyfoo]

We stay offsite because I like the extra space in the room ... I could probably stay at one of the All Stars Resorts but I've heard the rooms there aren't very big. The Canadian dollar is pretty low so to stay at one of the deluxe or moderates would be a little more expensive more us.

 

[Goofyzgurl]

Our first stay was at POR too and we loved the theme and being on property. This time we're staying at the Wyndham Palms in a two bedroom villa for less than what we paid for at the POR. For a first trip I think it's a must to stay on property, but as we got more familiar with the area and expanded what we wanted to do, we moved off property.

The room is a big plus. I don't want to go to bed at the same time everyone does, so we get our own space. And if you're staying there for more than a week than you know that it's nice to have your own space or every one begins to start snapping at each other.

 

[emmalgin]

I agree 100% with staying offsite, but you know the 'Disney Purists' don't bother with this board....

Has this been placed elsewhere. I love the Debate when those who espouse 'Disney Magic' speak.

I can't drag my spouse and kids around for 12 hours at the parks. They loved Orange Lake, 3 TV's, beds, 2baths, whirlpool and the activities there. I loved the golf, pools activities, the kitchen, fridge and the price.

I could go on.....

 

[harvey]

OFF-site due to our last trip 2 weeks ago when we stayed at the Vistana. No comparison. No amount of "magic" is worth being cooped up with my six kids in two over-priced hotel rooms where I have to buy every meal for at least 50% more than I would just outside the gate.....

I took my kids on the boatride from DTD to see Dixie Landings (called something else now)....because that is my favorite onsite resort. They weren't very impressed. The main pool was closed (I've never seen it open), and they thought the walk for most rooms was ridiculous to get to the buses/food court. (I agreed.)

They were into their own bedrooms, 3 tv's, our own kitchen, the pull-out couch, the jacuzzi, lots of pools, activities, and never complained once about the 10 minute drive to any of the parks. In fact, it was MARVELOUS for me not to rush around to catch a bus that ended up too crowded, very late, or just leaving as we rounded the building....not to mention folding and unfolding our stroller constantly.

For our family, staying onsite would cost a small fortune, (er, a LARGE fortune) and the amount of 'magic' just isn't worth that for us. We stayed at Vistana for 7 nights ( bought six got one FREE!) for less $$ per night than one room at a Moderate Disney resort.

I'd only recommend staying onsite for folks who are taking thier first trip to Disney and have money to burn. And I'd only stay at a moderate or deluxe resort.

 

[dahess]

Of these 3 what is your favorite & why?

Raddison, HIFS, Caribe Royal?

We have booked a room through DU at BC, but I am thinking I really don't want to be out $3000.00 to stay on property. The Boardwalk is sooo nice, but not for an extra $2000.00. I can put hardwood flooring down in my living room for that

Thanks for your input!

 

[LIFERBABE]

I've never stayed at a hotel in Florida. Always a home. I just thought of another reason why a hotel is not appealing to us when we travel with our 2 boys. We like the fact that in the evenings after a long day at the parks when the kids are worn out and sleep, we can sit out by the pool of our vacation home or sip apple cider (ha) in the jacuzzi and still be in supervisory range of the kids. A home gives us a little more activities that we can do without leaving the kids with a sitter. (which I am not comfortable with while on vacation)

We drive to WDW and the only thing that makes that 16 hours bearable is to know that I have a luxury home waiting on me with a soaking tub and jacuzzi. If it was the Allstars or some budget hotel I doubt I would even get out the driveway.

I've always said that if we did onsite it would be at a deluxe or hi-moderate resort and that would be very expensive and still would not equate to a home.

My kids don't appreciate the "magic" yet and I will let them form their own definition when the time comes. Magic for me is my whole family taking a road trip to somewhere I only heard other kids talk about when I was little and being able to spend 7 whole nights there and take pictures of my little one hugging Mickey. Any more magic than that and I would be Houdini!

Now when it's just Dh and I it's luxury hotel all the way! The sacrifices we make for our babies!

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by minnieandmickey
So why do you stay off site?

Like everyone has said, we stay off-site because it is outrageously cheaper for far more space. The cheapest onsite is the All Stars. We've stayed there. The rooms are tiny and have no amenities. After DD goes to sleep, my wife and I are stuck sitting in the bathroom with the door closed so as not to disturb my daughter. On the other hand, for $40 or thereabouts, we can get a huge 1-bedroom suite with a full kitchen at Days Suites Old Town. DD sleeps on the Murphy bed in the living room. We are on the other side of the suite in the spacious bedroom with the door closed. She can't hear us and we can't hear her. We all get much better sleep and save a fortune in the process. We prefer to do our own driving, so Disney transportation doesn't appeal to us in the least. We go off-season, so even early entry isn't a big deal because the parks aren't that crowded anyway. Really no advantage we can see to staying onsite. We'd rather save the money and be able to visit more frequently.

Steve