Why do you stay on-site?

[asmit4]

I am wondering what makes people choose to stay onsite- vs. offsite.

I've been reading that you can get a 2 bedroom condo or even a whole house for under 150 a night off-site. I know that we are the type of people that like our privacy and having 2 bedrooms would be fantastic. Plus the kitchen seems like a nice addition. Sure we would need to rent a car and there is the loss of the DDP to consider.

I spose I just am wondering what makes you guys want to spend $100 for 1 hotel room at a value or even $200 for 1 hotel room to share onsite when you can spread out and have your own space by staying off site?

I'm certainly not knocking either choice- they both have positives and negatives, just trying to see why each person makes the decision they make.

 

[PoohsFan1]

We have a condo right outside of Disney, so for the last couple of years we would stay onsite for a couple of nights (have to have that Disney magic that the resort gives) and then go to our condo for a week. Well, this past June we did our usual, onsite for 3 nights at POR and then off to our condo. We decided that staying onsite is so much better than staying off site. Our condo is fine and all, but it is nothing like the resorts in Disney, plus the customer service you get at the Disney resorts is top notch. We were not impressed with our condo this time around that we decided that for now on we would go during value season and just stay on the grounds with extra perks that they give and leave our condo to just trading out to different places.

 

[BillSears]

The Disney magic does it for me. As soon as I'm on Disney property everything seems special, I'm not in the real world anymore. When I've stayed off-site I lose something every time I drive by a chain restaurant, a Wal-Mart, a cheap T-**** outlet, etc... I prefer to not deal with the real world while I'm on vacation.

 

[melomouse]

I wholeheartedly echoe Bill Sears "real world" theory - there is a suspension of reality while staying n property - that is, at a price!

I feel safer on property as a single mom and get to let DS assert his independence going solo to another ride in a park while I'm with DD, or letting him go to the arcade or food court on property.

Rented offsite a few Octobers ago at a 4 BR house 10 minutes away with an awesome rate of $78/night - it was gorgeous. DD balked about losing her "magic". Boy, has Disney got her roped in! And also her mom, for that matter! If you have longer time to spend - 10 days at least - then offsite might make more sense in terms of time and cost.

For us, it's hard enough to get out of the rooms on property in the AM and make it to the buses - being offsite makes it even more difficult - then you drive, and park, etc....In 7 trips, we hav never made it to an EMH in the AM, tho - on OR offsite!

DS just realized the cost differential and is demanding to know why we pay $$$ to stay at WL when we could possibly do a longer and cheaper stay offsite. Just like a guy! While Mom is able and willing to pay the bills - I stay onsite! Things might change if I meet my perfect Disney guy...

 

[Mayl]

Magic never ends when you stay on property

We love having the bus drive us on site. We love being able to hop from park to park and resorts.

nothing beats a short bus ride back in the afternoon for a swim and nap then bus back to another park that night.

No driving, no strip malls, no outside world

Makes it special for us

 

[postesf]

I also agree w/ the whole "real world" thing... Once you're on site, it just so much more magical... You don't have to drive anywhere you don't want... The CMs are always extremely nice. Everything is clean. No parking fees...just more convienent!

As and FYI... They have Family Suites at All Star Music. 1 Bedroom (w/ it's own bathroom), In the LR, fold out couch and fold our chairs, small kitchenette... Booked this for my inlaws so they would have a little more privacy...

 

[cara loves the poly]

Being able to decide to go to a park and be from our room to the enterance in 10 minutes (and vice versa). Watching the castle change colors at night and the fireworks start right from out balcony............the beach right outside our door..........package delivery to our room (no carrying purchases around the resort)...........

 

[Donald&Tinkerbell]

Part of my vacation is parking the car and not driving for 7 days! No traffic, etc. I certainly don't want a kitchen! I am not here to cook or load a dishwasher. I'm on vacation at WDW. I can forget everything else and relax.

 

[kaybird]

Agree with all of the above, My DH favorite part of the trip is not driving once we get there, as soon as the kiddos were old enough it was great for separating and meeting up as the transportation is terrific, love the EMH, get more done in the am than the rest of the day.

Another huge benefit for me is the ability to send all the junk I buy directly to the room. Just think that is terrific. Love the magic, love being on property, and the packages usually include a large discount on tickets, so never got that the cheaper in town was that much cheaper for the time spent in the parks!

 

[tndisneyfan]

I like staying onsite for the evening Extra Magic Hours. Our family likes to stay up late and sleep late, so the evening EMH is perfect for us. We also like not having to drive back from the park after a long day.

 

[PoohsFan1]

I wholeheartedly echoe Bill Sears "real world" theory - there is a suspension of reality while staying n property - that is, at a price!

I feel safer on property as a single mom and get to let DS assert his independence going solo to another ride in a park while I'm with DD, or letting him go to the arcade or food court on property.

Rented offsite a few Octobers ago at a 4 BR house 10 minutes away with an awesome rate of $78/night - it was gorgeous. DD balked about losing her "magic". Boy, has Disney got her roped in! And also her mom, for that matter! If you have longer time to spend - 10 days at least - then offsite might make more sense in terms of time and cost.

For us, it's hard enough to get out of the rooms on property in the AM and make it to the buses - being offsite makes it even more difficult - then you drive, and park, etc....In 7 trips, we hav never made it to an EMH in the AM, tho - on OR offsite!

DS just realized the cost differential and is demanding to know why we pay $$$ to stay at WL when we could possibly do a longer and cheaper stay offsite. Just like a guy! While Mom is able and willing to pay the bills - I stay onsite! Things might change if I meet my perfect Disney guy...

I agree with the both of you too, Disney has this magical spell that they put on you and it is very addicting. Seeing all the chains, one right after another, really lets you know that you are not in Disney but in a tourist destination. It's like once you get off the ramp from Disney's property on to I-4, the world completely changes. As for the safety, that is why we decided to stay at Disney for now on. Our condo was giving away free vacations to whoever walked through the door and for someone who pays a lot of money a year for upkeep, it really needed a lot of it.

 

[Rescue Ranger]

I've stayed off-site before and I don't enjoy it as much, its just not the same. Its like a fishbowl effect. So much so that I wont stay off-property again. There is nothing like being a part of it, all around the clock.

I have to stay at a Disney resort now when I go, because I dont wanna just look at the cover, I wanna to be IN the story!

 

[oliviansmom17]

Being able to decide to go to a park and be from our room to the enterance in 10 minutes (and vice versa). Watching the castle change colors at night and the fireworks start right from out balcony............the beach right outside our door..........package delivery to our room (no carrying purchases around the resort)...........

Exactly....Magic, convienience, full-immersion in the theme... I know there are terrific deals to be had off-site but I just think that the on-site experience is part of the holiday.

 

[maxiesmom]

First, I don't like having to worry about driving. So by staying on-site, I can use ME to get to and from my resort, and use the Disney busses, boats, and monorail to get to the parks. And if you want to take a break during the day, it is much easier and quicker to do so.

Second, I like to be able to charge purchases to my room key. Very handy!

Third, I like to be surrounded by the Disney magic 24/7 when I am in Orlando. Even though Stitch is kind of annoying, I still like to hear Mickey on my morning wake up call. I like all of the Disney touches at the resorts, from the soaps to the towel animals.

Fourth, I like being thisclose to the parks. I have stayed off site at some very nice hotels located close to DTD. But it still seems to take forever to get to any of the theme parks. I like to be able to hop on a bus and know I will be in Epcot in 15 minutes. Or if I stay on the boardwalk, I am just a 6 minute walk from the World Showcase.

Fifth, I always try to hit at least one Extra Magic Hour. Sure they can get a little crazy, but there is something extra special about being in the Magic Kingdom till the wee hours of the night.

If I had to choose between going to Disney and staying at an off-site resort, or not going to Disney, I would stay off-site. But if I can choose between off-site and on, I will always choose on!

 

[DisneyBride'03]

What is off site??

 

[Mom loves Disney]

For me it's the magic you feel being on site. For my husband it is not having to drive anywhere. We get on a plane, they take us in a bus, and we are there. You also don't get the Extra Magic Hours off site. You can ship your purchases to your hotel if staying on site. It's the total package not having to leave the resort.

 

[mking624]

What is off site??

DH and I prefer staying on site. It allows us to have the Disney magical experience with every aspect of our trip. We love that!

 

[Disneyof3]

I like the rest like the idea of parking after a long ride there (24 hrs straight) and not having to drive again until we leave WDW. Also it is nice because this is the only time my DH and I can drink together and not have to worry about who is driving home. ASM and POR are clean and we so far have had no problems with the CM or the resorts. The buses maybe long at POR but it doesn't dampen the magic we feel while at WDW.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We stay onsite because I do not like to drive on vacation unless I have to. It's just a hassle I don't want.

 

[LilGMom]

What is off site??

I have to agree with what has been said. For us it is the total and complete immersion in the Disney "Magic" that we get when we stay on-site as opposed to off of the WDW property. My DS6 also loves to be able to walk around the resort, with us of course, in the evening or on days when we check in/out.

We used to always think "why spend the extra money, it is just a place to lay your head down at night". And then DH had a conference there and his company paid for CSR and we were instantly spoiled with the resort, CMs, amenities, and overall feel and have never considered off property since. For us it just isn't the same vacation experience off property as it is at one of the super WDW resorts!