Why do you stay offsite?

[lissiesmum]

I have been planning on staying onsite at WDW in a moderate resort, but found out the DDP will be changing so we may now consider staying offsite. I was hoping you could give me some pros of staying offsite and maybe recommend some hotels that might be of interest to a couple with a four year old. We were looking to spend around $150 a night or less. We really wanted to immerse ourselves in the "magic" as it is our first time, but now we think we might weigh both options. What do you like about staying offsite? Is visiting the parks as magical as staying onsite? Thanks in advance for your help

 

[KLAIT]

WE have done both and really prefer to stay offsite. We usually get a condo from Skyauction. The reasons we choose to stay offsite is to get away from the commotion a bit. Yes, we love the Disney magic, but it really feels good to have a quiet and relaxing place to go after a long day at the park. We find the most often the pools at offsite hotels and condos are a lot less busy than the Disney hotels and it is just much easier to relax.

 

[Gabriel&Nana]

Hi !

We like to stay off site for some reasons :
- We usually spend around 20 days in Orlando, so we rent a car and take some days between the parks to relax and visit other places, like Winter Park, Lake Eola, do shopping...
- We go to 4 non-Disney parks : Universal, Islands of Adventure, Busch Gradens (Tampa) and Sea World.
- Usually offsite you get bigger rooms plus complimentary breakfast or a suite with kitchen for the price of a value resort.

Hope this helps!

 

[dougsmom98]

We stay off site for a number of reasons. We usually stay in a town home or villa.
-We enjoy space. Everyone has their own room, TVs and usually bathrooms.
-We get to have a quick, nutritious and big breakfast every morning (Usually pancakes from a mix that you just add water to). This allows us to get to the parks early and take advantage of the attractions when they are not as busy. It also allows us to hold off on eating lunch until it is a bit later so the CS restaurants are not as busy.
-We enjoy a full sized refrigerator to keep drinks cold and store leftovers. We can also store healthy snacks like yogurt, cheese, fruits and veggies too. This is a huge money saver.
-We enjoy putting the kids to sleep in their own rooms and then being able to stay up later and having adult conversation without having to whisper or having to sit in the dark for fear of waking up the kids.
-If we have our own private pool, hot tub, or both it allows us to enjoy those facilities without having to pack up a bunch of stuff and lugging it to the pool facilities. DH and I can also enjoy the pool area after the kids go to sleep. This is so much more relaxing for us.
-We like the huge variety of food options that are available to us without reservations. If we all feel like going out we can, but we don't have to because we can snack at the villa if we are too tired. This is really helpful with kids. Sometimes they are just too tired to go out so we just feed them something quick and get them to bed and if we want something more there are plenty of restaurants to choose from to get a nice take out meal.
-The villas usually have washers and dryers and being able to do laundry makes packing easier and allows us to go home with clean clothes. We take our dirty clothes off at night and they go right in the washer. In the morning I throw them in the dryer and when I get home, I fold those outfits and start over.

 

[inaminute]

First, let me qualify this by saying that we have been to Disney at least twice a year since 1989. We have stayed at most of the Disney properties from Value to Deluxe. We've watched Disney change in those years to a mere shadow of what they used to be. We still love Disney. But many of the changes they've made have not been for the better.

With that said, we're staying off site from now on because every reason for us to stay on site has disappeared. Our last trip was for 10 days in June. WE took our grandson so it was two adults and one child. We stayed at All Star Movies, had a rental car, had park hopper tickets, and used the Dining Plan.

Disney Hotel--Our room was small, and was never cleaned properly. Now, this was a value resort, but come on. The least the maid can do is make a bed correctly. Usually, she just pulled the bedspread up and made it look pretty. The bathroom floor was never swept. I finally complained and someone did clean the room. But, it's Disney. I shouldn't have had to complain in the first place.

So, why should I pay Disney prices for a small, dirty room? I can get a much larger clean two room suite off-site for less (or the same) as I paid for the "Value" Disney hotel.

Disney bus service--The bus service to the resorts was horrible. We rented a car last time and got everywhere we wanted to be in a matter of minutes. We usually prefer to take a bus to the Magic Kingdom. So, we waited in line. We waited for 30 minutes at All Star Music. No bus. We decided to take the car instead. Walked out to the parking lot, got the car, drove by the line--still no bus. Within 15 minutes we were at the Magic Kingdom! Besides, with a car, we always have a seat--no standing after a long day at the parks!

So, if we have to rent a car to go where we want any way? Why stay at a Disney resort?

Extra Magic Hours--Too crowded. At least that's been our experience. So, if we're not using the perk, why stay at a Disney resort?

Disney Dining Plan--Let's just say, we're not planning to dine at any of the theme park table service restaurants ever again. We used to get wonderful value from table service restaurants. That's gone away. During our last trip, service was so-so to plain awful and the food was no better than I get at our local Olive Garden. I expect more of Disney. So, we're eating counter service and snacks at Disney, and taking our more expensive dinners off site.

Magical Express--I have to rent a car anyway, so this is useless to me.

For us, the "perks" of staying onsite no longer apply. So, it just makes sense to stay off site.

I do have another seven day trip planned for October. This is for three adults, staying off site in a two room suite (breakfast included every day). We'll have a rental car and will purchase park hopper tickets at Shades of Green. No dining plan. So far, the cost is a fraction of what the June trip was. Our grandson had a wonderful time, so the money was well spent. I've just come to the conclusion that we were paying for a lot of things we simply weren't using. Besides, staying off site might allow us to get to Florida more often. Who knows? We might even expand our horizons and check out the Universal parks!

 

[isla bonita]

I stayed in the Beach club when I stayed on site. Lovely room but it is in my opinion just that.

My mother rented a home and we stayed in a 7 bed home. I thought it would be my worst nightmare. Lo and behold it turned out to be the best vacation we ever did. The adults behaved and the kids were great.

We ended up purchasing one and have vacationed like it since. We have our own pool, beds and space for every one, many bathrooms, minutes from the park, to us we not only enjoy Disney but love the surrounding area.

 

[Brian Noble]

I cannot imagine sleeping in the same hotel room as my two young children for more than a night or two. I have to pretend to sleep for a half hour while they doze off, and after that have to tiptoe around to make sure I don't wake them. And, when they get older, the problem just changes; I have a son and daughter, and already it's getting to the point where they really ought not to be sharing a bed. I don't know about you, but I'd rather sleep with my spouse than with my kid.

The absolute cheapest way to solve that problem on Disney property is two Value rooms. We go during Peak season, so that runs over $225 per night in 2007, after AAA discount, all told. It's less than half that to stay offsite in a 2BR condo with a fully equipped kitchen and in-unit washer and dryer, no further than 15 minutes from MKs parking lot. And, that's not even trying to look hard for a bargain. It can be closer to 1/4 than 1/2 of the cost of two Value rooms.

We do enjoy staying on Disney property for short trips, or when it is just my wife and I, but even then, the difference in cost, in our opinion, is often not offset by a corresponding increase in value.

 

[Brian Noble]

I will also add, though, that as a first-timer, there is something nice about staying inside the "Disney cocoon". Just skip purchasing the dining plan, but still consider staying on-site. It is qualitatively different, and it does work better for some people.

 

[spiceycat]

still do both.

for values would only stay in Pop if given a choice. (now one of its maid doesn't do a good job either) but most of them do excellent. the manager cares so the staff does.

but my love is the DVC resort - and even they have bad staff at times. WDW is just too big. they have to take what they can get. for a while they were flying in maids. but when something is wrong and you can't explain to the maid what the problem is because she doesn't understand english. well there are worst things than a untidy room (my opinion)

like offsite - one it is cheaper and generally can get at least a 1-bedroom for under $300 - sometimes under $230 - at times even cheaper - RCI finally call.
This is for the week all 7 days not a daily rate.

definitely like the extra room - when I stay onsite it is usually a studio so I can go more often. that say if I was willing to stay in a 1-bedroom OKW is bigger than most 1-bedroom I have stayed at offsite. but not cheaper - no way....

 

[madge]

We've stayed offsite twice, and have a third offsite stay planned for October. Much of our decision has to do with $$$. We have 3 children, and the limits our options to where we can stay at a reasonable price. For this trip, we're booked in a 2-BR condo at Vistana Villages through www.govarm.com for around $400/week. For the same amount of money, we could stay at PO-R for 3 nights. LOL. And while we'd be onsite, we'd have a small room, no kitchen, and only one bathroom!

We also enjoy being able to spread out, having more than one TV, and having a kitchen is nice. We don't necessarily cook a lot of meals in the condo, but we do have breakfast each morning, and snacks throughout the stay.

Vistana Villages is a little farther from the WDW property than the last offsite resort we stayed in, but I don't forsee that being a problem.

 

[madge]

I will also add, though, that as a first-timer, there is something nice about staying inside the "Disney cocoon". Just skip purchasing the dining plan, but still consider staying on-site. It is qualitatively different, and it does work better for some people.

I agree - and when people come to me asking about taking trips to WDW, I always advise them to stay onsite. The combination of absorbing the sheer magnitude of the Disney resort, plus getting to the parks from offsite just seems overwheming to me for a first-time visitor.

 

[Minnie]

For your 1st time PLEASE do yourself a favor and stay on-site

WDW is huge.... until you've been it is hard to describe just how big WDW really is. Yes, there are signs but it can be very confusing to someone that has never been.

I would really find it hard to recommend off-site to anyone that hasn't been to WDW a few times.

Skip the DDP and stay on-site!

 

[sonny]

It depends on how long you are staying. 3-4 days stay on-site, enjoy that warm gooey mickey feeling, catch the bus, do early hours, come back for a mid-afternoon nap, enjoy the landscaping, funny pools and the mickey oriented stores and the food court fun. But if you are staying a week or so, get a condo and spread out, where you don't have to share the remote control and you can wash out your underwear mid-week, get a balcony so you can have early coffee in the fresh air, and heat up your left-overs and don't have to pretend you don't mind sharing your space every constant moment. We stayed at Hilton Grand Vacation Resort in May and it was great - huge, convenient and 2-bedrooms for a week were as cheap as 3-nights at disney moderates.

 

[rosiep]

The DTD hotels are always an option. Having stayed both onsite and at DTD I prefer DTD because I get a better value. Technically you are still on-site-it's on Disney property but the hotel is not Disney owned or run.
The Value Disney resorts just feel like motel rooms... they're soooooooo small and seem really crowded. The Moderates aren't much better and unless you count pizza delivery there's no room service! For me it just isn't a vacation unless I've had breakfast in bed at least once! (dinner in my pj's is nice too ) The Deluxe resorts are beautiful..but I'll never spend $300 plus a night for a mere room. And, yes I say mere room because you can visit these resorts, dine in their restaurants, shop in their shops no matter where you stay.
DTD hotels have bus service that runs at least as well as the Value resort ones.
In the end I prefer to use the extra savings on a great meal, or towncar service or a tour or....you get the picture.
I know it's personal preference but as others have said the Disney perks of staying onsite have become less and less valuable.
Sure it's all a matter of personal taste. I know some people wouldn't dream of going to Disney and not stay with Disney but to each his own.
Have you decided yet what you'll do?

 

[Darcy03231]

If you're going for the first time I, too, recommend you stay on-site. WDW can be very overwhelming the first time there. We've been several times and have done both. Most trips we travel with extended family and stay 14-16 days so we rent a pool home (this year there are 9 of us going). I like having all the extra room, a full kitchen so we don't have to eat all of our meals out, and our own private pool. We also like to do other things while we're in the Orlando area so we always rent a car anyway.

Next year DD's dance team is competing at WDW. As of right now its just me, DD and DS going. Most likely I'll stay on-site as I think it will just be easier with the 3 of us. I won't bother with renting a car as we'll have just been there the year before and we will limit ourselves to WDW.

 

[madge]

still do both..

I should probably elaborate - we also do both. In fact, this year, our flight arrives on a Satuday and we can't check in at Vistana Villages until Sunday. So we're staying at the Dolphin on points We're also going to stay one night at the Dolphin during our stay to go to the MNSSHP, use the pool, etc. We don't want to have to mess with driving anywhere after the party. LOL.

 

[tinaluis]

We're a family of 6 and would require 2 rooms at a MOD or Value. Instead, we're staying two weeks in a 3 bedroom condo for $462 total for both weeks. That's about $33 a night!!! We'll all have space to spread out, have a full kitchen to whip up a few meals when the kids are too tired to go out to eat, a washer and dryer, a balcony and three bathrooms. We could never afford comparable accomodations at a WDW Resort.

As another poster mentioned, we do not utilize the on-site perks -- we always rent a car (no Magical Express or bus service), we don't take advantage of EMH (far too crowded when we tried it) and we certainly wouldn't pay for the DDP (although we enjoyed it when it was free last August).

But, as others have said also, if this is your first trip to WDW, then it is advisable to stay onsite. WDW really is a HUGE place!! We've been visiting at least 1x a year since 1993 and it took us a few trips to "get our bearings" and not get lost each time we ventured out. Now, Orlando is like a second home to us, but it took several years to feel comfortable (and we sometimes still take wrong turns here and there).

 

[crazelion]

Disney Dining Plan--Let's just say, we're not planning to dine at any of the theme park table service restaurants ever again. We used to get wonderful value from table service restaurants. That's gone away. During our last trip, service was so-so to plain awful and the food was no better than I get at our local Olive Garden. I expect more of Disney. So, we're eating counter service and snacks at Disney, and taking our more expensive dinners off site.

Man you is so right. I can't see myself making ADR 6 months so I can eat table service restaurants. I can't tell what I am eat for dinner right let alone make ADR 6 months in advance. I love having so many choice eat at without having making ADR

I have stay onsite the 2 times and love it. But it was not my first time at WDW. If this your fist trip now stay onsite becasue it's easier. I have stay at the value resorts. I can't afford the moderates or delexue and it's not pay the those prices for just a hotel room.

I stay offsite las year and love it. I had one bedroom suite and had 2 TV so me and mom did not have share. The free breakfast was excellent and the room was clean. It was easy to get around. Okay it was idiot proof to get around. I stay at the Hawthorne Suites on Canada Avenue near I-Drive.

 

[G8RFAN]

The times that we have booked offsite was due to absolutely no availability in all of the resorts (its happened at least 6 times in the past 4 years) and we have never been disappointed. The only thing is that sometimes we wind up making less trips to the room during the day or wind up staying close to the hotel at night for dinner and turning in early. Obviously many of these hotels do well and compete for your business very aggressively. Whether it is conveniences or accomodations, I think you do get a lot for your $$'s staying offsite. The biggest factor for you is really transportation. If you have a car, offsite option makes sense. If you have to rely on a shuttle or taxi, you may be better off staying on site.

 

[PrincessBelle39]

This is my first trip to WDW and I have chosen to stay offsite for several reasons.

1. The main reason was that so the kids could have their own rooms. Its so difficult in a hotel room with small children. We spent evenings on our last trip to DL in the bathroom so that we wouldn't disturbe the kids.
2. We chose a villa so that we could watch tv or relax by the pool when the kids are in bed. In a hotel room that is just not an option.
3. I love the idea of the washer/dryer in the villa. The last thing I want to do is spend part of my holiday queing to wash our clothes.
4. Disney transportation. Whilst I think its great that its available, I have listened to and read many posts about experiences of anything from 60-90mins to get to the parks from the value resorts. Thats just too big a chunk of the day getting there and back. And the price to stay at the deluxe properties was just too prohibitive for the length of time we were staying.
5. Having a full kitchen. I didn't want to have to eat out for every meal with two small children. And being able to keep snacks in the fridge will save us a lot of money.
6. The pool and hot tub. I imagine it is going to be nice of an evening relaxing in the hot tub after a busy day in the parks.
7. Just having the room to move around, not be on top of each other all of the time.

Don't get me wrong. I would like to try a couple of nights onsite. But each day when I read the boards I am just so pleased with the decision we have made to stay offsite.