Why do you stay offsite?

[mikymouse]

I would think it would be difficult to go from a house with your own pool to a cramped hotel room!

Reverse the Order..Onsite then Offsite

We stayed on-site for the 1st trip and spent a fortune but it was great! This time we are trying off site for many reasons but one of the main reasons is that my DH absolutely wants to rent a car and have some non-disney food. He did not think the food was very good and it was expensive (we were on the dining plan but still the cost of lots of expensive food was build into the package). In my opinion, if you are going to have to drive then you might as well stay off site (see I liked the bus service but AKL did not share with others). I am going to miss the morning EMH we got sooo much done but I am NOT going to miss standing in the LONG bus line with two sleeping kids after fireworks ( I thought this was the low point of our last vacation). I think the perfect plan for my family is to stay at a MK resort for a few days (timed to take advantage of Morning EMH) and emerse yourself in Disney and then escape to a nice relaxing villa/townhome with more parks and fun after everyone recovers from the first few days. We also have the grandparents going with us this time and would need at least two rooms which is very pricey on-site. I am still considering adding a few nights on site to our off site vacation next year... the best of both worlds.

You can do lots of little things to make off site more Disney like... Walgreens and others always have lots of disney knick knacks to sneak away in a suitcase.. I agree that you make the magic (some folks even don't like Disney, so it is definately in your attitude not your location).

 

[Mickiethepooh]

If it is your first trip stay onsite or you may never go back.

You don't have to take the dining plan. The only reason in my opinion to ever stay off site is that you are doing multiple non disney parks or because it is cheap.

But it is NOT the same experience and don't let anyone kid you that it is.

 

[calgarygary]

On our last trip, we stayed both onsite & offsite. The onsite was for four nights at the CBR because our daughter was part of a Disney Youth Group and we wanted her to be with the rest of the group. We then switched to Worldquest Resort for the final week. The decision was easy - 3bedrooms/3bathrooms full kitchen, laundry, free continental breakfast all for less than a standard room at CBR!

 

[kydisneyfans]

IT really depends on if you want a "Disney" vacation or a "Florida" vacation.

We used to stay on site and actually enjoyed the stays. The only downside was the poor on site transportation ( after a wait of 45 minutes one day, we hopped on an All Star Music bus and walked to the movie resort as no bus ever picked us up.)

We had discount codes and specials for 59 a night or less, not bad for an on site hotel.

Then we discovered Skyauction and stayed in a condo at the Fountains resort for $353. for a week. 2 beds, screened porch, full kitchen, washer and dryer, structured children's activities. We were hooked. Drive time to the parks was actually quicker than on site bus service. We have stayed at condos ever since and would have a hard time cramped in a hotel room that cost twice as much as the condo.

 

[rosiep]

If it is your first trip stay onsite or you may never go back.

You don't have to take the dining plan. The only reason in my opinion to ever stay off site is that you are doing multiple non disney parks or because it is cheap.

But it is NOT the same experience and don't let anyone kid you that it is.

(bold italics mine)

I wasn't kidding!

 

[tinaluis]

If it is your first trip stay onsite or you may never go back.

You don't have to take the dining plan. The only reason in my opinion to ever stay off site is that you are doing multiple non disney parks or because it is cheap.

But it is NOT the same experience and don't let anyone kid you that it is.

It isn't the same experience but IMHO it's a better experience when you don't all have to cram into one room and share one bathroom and TV!

We tried onsite because of free dining last year. We had a nice time, ate A LOT of food and, generally, had fun. We would not even have considered staying onsite if it were not for free dining. We actually had a trip booked this year for free dining and decided that even free food was not worth it to us to pay almost $2,800 for 13 nights when we could pay $462 for 14 nights plus food.

To each their own, though! That what's so great about the Orlando area -- so many places to stay, so many places to experience and so many places to eat!

 

[swilphil]

I agree that you should stay onsite your first trip. We stayed off-site (way off-site) on our first trip and I had no desire to go back. Went back with family and stayed at the Swan/Dolphin for the next two trips and LOVED it. That's when I fell in love with WDW. Then stayed at the Contemporary, which is a great location. Our last trip we stayed at Bonnet Creek for free with relatives. It's off site, but next to Disney property and closer to the parks then some of the Disney resorts. We did need a rental car though. If you stay off-site, I highly recommend Bonnet Creek. They have some decent deals on e-bay and other timeshare rental sites.

Technically, Swan/Dolphin is not a Disney Resort, but they have most of the perks and they offer some great discounts if you can be flexible when you go. It's a great location. You can walk/boat to Epcot and MGM.

 

[jmpellet]

We went during free dining last year and are going again this year. IMHO, I think it's a great deal. For our family of 5 (2 adults, 2 children, and 1 infant) it costs just over 2k (moderate) for 8 nights including room, tix, and food. Last year we spent virtually no additional $$ on food. For about $250 a night I think it's a good value. But! without free dining I think we will stay offsite next time. Like everyone has said the space is a big issue and once my 2 year old turns 3 my options are extremely limited!!

I have many holiday inn points and we are planning to stay at Nick for 6 nights next year, Horizons for 4 nights (timeshare deal $199/4 nights 2 bedroom), and then move to a Universal resort for front of the line access. I don't think we will even go to WDW next year.

 

[mom0104]

This our second trip. We stayed at what is now Nick the first time and this time we are renting a pool home. I go back and forth as to whether we should try staying on property but I can not get over the difference in what I get at Disney for $200 a night versus what I can get elsewhere. When we are together for a full week it works so much better if we can separate and he can watch his tv and I can watch mine. This time I am choosing a Villa because when we get back from the parks, I don't want to walk any distance to get to a pool or worry about a parking spot.

Someday I may try staying onsite but for now offsite is just fine for me. By the way, I had no problem finding my way around the property my first time driving from offsite to the parks.

 

[mickeymousemom]

We do both. First let me say this: I highly recommend EVERYONE stay onsite at least once. We are huge Disney fans and love to be immersed in the magic. Staying onsite is, IMO, the only way to do it.

Now, the ONLY reason we EVER stay offsite is because it's the only way we can afford to go to Orlando more than once a year. Years ago, before I could get my Dh to go to Florida for a family vacation, we bought a timeshare thru BlueGreen. The first time we used it was to go to Orlando and we spent time at both Universal and WDW. We did this for a few years until I, along with some of his coworkers, talked DH into staying onsite. He finally agreed to it, and now he's as crazy as I am. We like Riverside more than the condos we can stay in down there, and the condos are gorgeous. WDW is the only reason we go to Orlando, for the most part, and we want to be surrounded by nothing but the Disney magic. We can't afford to pay for more than one onsite stay, so we use our points and "bonus time"(we can stay in any Bluegreen condo for $59 a night, without using our points) for a second visit. Last year, we went three times.
I do have to say that when we stay in the timeshare, it's much more relaxed and we only spend about 2 days in the parks(again, hard to afford more 7 day tickets for a family of 5). We still like being close to WDW. We go to Epcot, MK, and spend lots of time in DtD! The rest of the time we just hang out and relax. We love it.

So....I went clear around Johnson's barn and back to get there, but that is why we stay offsite....basically because we have to.

 

[lissiesmum]

Thanks for keeping your posts coming! I am still on the fence as to what to do. So many of you say to stay onsite your first time, and yet we are drawn to the idea of more space and not being confined to Disney. Then there's a part of me that just wants to immerse myself at Disney and experience all it has to offer. I should say I went to Orlando every year for twenty years since I was two, but my parents never stayed at Disney World, and we only did each park once, maybe MK twice. I have never been to any of the Disney Parks since 1987 (wow, has it really been 20 years!!!) I know when I was little, I had friends who stayed at the Poly, and I remember riding through the Contemporary Resort and wishing I could stay there too. I guess that's in the back of my head...my childhood wish come true. But the adult in me wants more space, our own bedroom, and great quality food with the same service. I'll keep thinking on it and when I finally decide, I'll let you guys know

 

[*disgal*]

I don't know how many of you there are, maybe I missed that. Anyway, I also like the idea of staying on-site for your first trip. Ofcourse, if you can afford to be comfortable there.

We've stayed at POR - just DH and me........ DH, me, 2DD's........DH, me 2DD's, 1DS

We've stayed at WL - just DH and me.........DH, me, 2DD's

We've stayed at ASMo - Dh, me, 2DD's, 1DS (under 2years old)

We've also stayed off-site in 2 bedroom condos - Vistana Resort, Cypress Pointe GV, back to Vistana, and this month we'll be two weeks at Orbit One.

If I could afford it, I'd stay in two rooms at WL on the DP. But that would be an enormous amount of money and I don't think my concious could handle it even if my bank account could. This next trip we will be there for 15 nights and for gas, lodging, food, parking, snacks at parks, tickets including Water parks .......it will be $3100 for 5 of us (4A, 1Ch).

I LOVE on-site for theming and extra magic. I LOVE off-site for the kitchen, washer/dryer (a must for a long trip like this in August), 2-3 TV's, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room, etc.

Last August we had an absolutely great trip at POR with free dining. But by the end of the trip and having spent over $30 on laundry, that never did get dry, we were tired of being in one room. That one bathroom and one TV deal wasn't so hot either.

It might be a while until we are on-site again. But I can say that because I have experienced ON-site. Everyone should at least once if they can swing it.

 

[rosiep]

Thanks for keeping your posts coming! I am still on the fence as to what to do. So many of you say to stay onsite your first time, and yet we are drawn to the idea of more space and not being confined to Disney. Then there's a part of me that just wants to immerse myself at Disney and experience all it has to offer. I should say I went to Orlando every year for twenty years since I was two, but my parents never stayed at Disney World, and we only did each park once, maybe MK twice. I have never been to any of the Disney Parks since 1987 (wow, has it really been 20 years!!!) I know when I was little, I had friends who stayed at the Poly, and I remember riding through the Contemporary Resort and wishing I could stay there too. I guess that's in the back of my head...my childhood wish come true. But the adult in me wants more space, our own bedroom, and great quality food with the same service. I'll keep thinking on it and when I finally decide, I'll let you guys know

For what it's worth: This probably will not be your last visit to Disney. One of the things I love most is that the experience always has a new element to it every time I go. So while this time I'm staying off-site-next vacation I may find a great deal and decide to splurge again on a Disney hotel. There is so much to explore it makes planning each adventure exciting. Good Luck and keep us posted!

 

[spiceycat]

Thanks for keeping your posts coming! I am still on the fence as to what to do. So many of you say to stay onsite your first time, and yet we are drawn to the idea of more space and not being confined to Disney. Then there's a part of me that just wants to immerse myself at Disney and experience all it has to offer. I should say I went to Orlando every year for twenty years since I was two, but my parents never stayed at Disney World, and we only did each park once, maybe MK twice. I have never been to any of the Disney Parks since 1987 (wow, has it really been 20 years!!!) I know when I was little, I had friends who stayed at the Poly, and I remember riding through the Contemporary Resort and wishing I could stay there too. I guess that's in the back of my head...my childhood wish come true. But the adult in me wants more space, our own bedroom, and great quality food with the same service. I'll keep thinking on it and when I finally decide, I'll let you guys know

go rent a 1-bedroom or 2-bedroom reservation from a DVC member. now it definitely won't be as cheap as offsite - no way!!!

but it will allow you to stay onsite and still have your space. won't stay on fri or sat either - cost too much. but Sun-thurs (leaving on friday morning) is a bargin for WDW prices.

 

[jeff968]

For us, like other posters, staying offsite allows us to go back every year. Our vacation dollar goes much further. We rent timeshares and with the full kitchen we stock up on food from the publix and eat breakfast, lunch, and snacks at the resort. This saves tons of money. We go out to dinner every night and try different places in the orlando area. And your dinning dollar goes farther outside of disney as well. We often visit downtown disney and citywalk for a taste of disney/universal without the cost. You get real spoiled by the timeshares as well. So much room, washer/dryer, great pools, lots to do. It is difficult to stay in a hotel room again. And the marriotts/hiltons are very nice places to stay. But the main attraction for Orlando for us is the beautiful florida sun which is a pleasant change from the third month of the New England winter. That sun looks as good from any timeshare as it does from Disney and we spend most of our week poolside.

 

[lissiesmum]

I don't know how many of you there are, maybe I missed that

There will be DH and I are our DD4. Only three of us, but each of us love our space. We are planning on spending ten days. I mentioned last week about staying offsite a week and onsite for 3/4 days. I'm still considering that option. I should stay onsite first, then move to a bigger space, right? Or would you do it the other way around. My only worry about this is, if we stay onsite first and love it, we may not want to leave. But, I guess the opposite could be true offsite, getting used to all the space and extras then being cramped in a little room. What do y'all think?

 

[*disgal*]

There will be DH and I are our DD4. Only three of us, but each of us love our space. We are planning on spending ten days. I mentioned last week about staying offsite a week and onsite for 3/4 days. I'm still considering that option. I should stay onsite first, then move to a bigger space, right? Or would you do it the other way around. My only worry about this is, if we stay onsite first and love it, we may not want to leave. But, I guess the opposite could be true offsite, getting used to all the space and extras then being cramped in a little room. What do y'all think?

Yea, I don't know which I would do first. I guess I would do the offsite (if it's a condo) for the Sat. to Sat. and then onsite for the first three or last three depending on your dates. What month are you going?

 

[lissiesmum]

What month are you going

?

We're going in December or November into December. You just made me think about playing with the dates a little so that we could stay offsite during the weekend days, and onsite midweek. We're planning to go next year so I'll have to check out a calendar

 

[*disgal*]

?

We're going in December or November into December. You just made me think about playing with the dates a little so that we could stay offsite during the weekend days, and onsite midweek. We're planning to go next year so I'll have to check out a calendar

Oh, ok, so Dec. 2008?? So you've got some time. We've gone twice that time of year and love it.

 

[RJD]

I think there are pros and cons to both. First, let me say I personally would rather stay onsite. I really do like that "Disney cocoon" as someone called it. But I have done both and the time we stayed offsite was mainly a financial decision, as well as the fact we really wanted to make it to SeaWorld. And, contrary to my expectations, I really enjoyed staying offsite. I thought it "wouldn't be the same" but we enjoyed the parks just as much and saw and did as much as we wanted to at Disney. Then we had a car and ate at some nice (and cheaper) restaurants offsite and we did go to SeaWorld and saw little bit more of the area. So that was fun too. All that being said, I still think you can't beat having that Disney magic 24/7---IMO.