Why stay on property when...

[OhioDisneyDad]

You can rent some VERY nice homes with all the amenities for some great rates?! I've never understood why so many people think it's a must to stay on Disney property. Now granted we tend to go in the slow season (usually January) so it is off season but what's the draw? I got a beautiful 4 bedroom home with pool for 10 days for $999 and that inlcudes all taxes, cleaning and pool heat. I personally get sick of eating out every day so a nice quick spaghetti dinner at home vegging out in front of the TV is a great break. We don't have to deal with the "loud" couple in the next room and getting to and from the parks is a breeze. I always chuckle when I see the resort people standing in line for the bus when I'm out of the park, in my car and on my way home in 10 minutes. We swim when we want without a bunch of unsupervised kids running around and the pool never closes. Do they spike the water with something in the resorts to make it worth the hassle?

What gives?

 

[alldiz]

Honestly.....I like being in the Disney "bubble"

I like getting on a bus at the airport....and not have to worry about
driving at all.
On vacation the cocktails flow liberally....so not driving is awesome.
I do take cabs to resorts for dinner.....but I really do not
want to see Pondorosa......I want to see MICKEYROSA
Kerri

 

[luvthemouse71]

Yeah, what she said!! I've stayed offsite before, and while I still had a good time, it was lacking some of the Disney magic. I suppose if you are someone who is not much of a Disney addict and really want to see "The Other Parks" then it's worth it to stay offsite. The Disney transportation is not all that bad, if you stay at the right resort, and I'd rather take the money I'd use on a rental car, and put it towards something else.

 

[pamouselover]

From someone who never stayed on site till 2005, I would say it is because it is more magical. I love staying on site. I do miss having family living near WDW, but I truly love the WDW hotels.

 

[AJKMOM]

Every body has their own reasons for staying or not staying onsite. There is a type of magic that exists at the resorts that only Disney can do. The theming and atmosphere are great, and each one is unique. We stayed at an offsite resort-not a home- but it was free and near DTD. I kept thinking "I miss my Boardwalk".

 

[The6Mousketeers]

I personally don't get what anyone would want to say offsite? LOL.

 

[lustergirl]

I say:
Whatever floats your boat. Some people enjoy staying off site- your accomodations are much cheaper that staying onsite. But when I book my disney vacation I include everything at once- hotel, park tickets, and the dining plan. I like the added convenience of staying onsite because of the transportation. I am on vacation and want to leave the driving, including magical express to and from the airport, and transportation from and to the parks every day. I guess I like living in the "disney bubble" as well for my whole vacation.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Different strokes for different folks?

Vacation priorities are different for everyone..

Knox

 

[willis37862]

Well lets see...

*EMH are a plus for resort guests.

*Dining reservations can be made 180+10 days which helps for those hard to get places. I don't believe you get the plus 10 days if you stay off site but I might be wrong about that, it's been known to happen

*Free parking at the parks if you are a resort guest.

*The resorts offer many other activities. Carriage rides, swimming and of course shopping and dining.


Also we enjoy the Disney atmosphere and being surrounded by it. I can stay at a regular hotel/rental home anywhere. At Disney I want it to be all Disney all the time. But I understand everyone has different likes and dislikes and it's great we can both get what we want.

 

[Dawn68PA]

I agree with most of what's been said. I love being on the Disney property. I don't have to drive. I can have the DDP and not worry about cooking (for a mom and wife this is a BIG deal to me!) or paying to eat. It's done. Plus the Disney theming just adds to the magic. I love staying on site!

 

[boomhauer]

1.If you've never stayed on property, I can see why you ask. However, until you stay on property, you won't dully understand.

2.If you have stayed on property and you still ask (I know no one that would), then there's nothing anyone can say that would make sense to you.

 

[boomhauer]

1.If you've never stayed on property, I can see why you ask. However, until you stay on property, you won't fully understand.

2.If you have stayed on property and you still ask (I know no one that would), then there's nothing anyone can say that would make sense to you.

 

[misscrossbee]

I suppose if you are someone who is not much of a Disney addict and really want to see "The Other Parks" then it's worth it to stay offsite.

What? There are other parks?!?

I've only ever stayed onsite and can't imagine doing otherwise. It's maybe cheaper to stay offsite, but personally I feel it would make the holiday somehow less relaxing and special. I like the idea that you can get to the park of your choice in the morning, head back to the hotel for a nap in the afternoon, then head back out at your leisure. And I like being immersed in the Disney experience 24/7.

If I stayed offsite, no matter how close, I don't think I'd be wanting to drive back and forth and so would have to plan how, where and for how long to spend each day. And I'm not big on planning to the last detail...and I'd miss my naps!

 

[noahdove]

I have stayed off property 5 times and all I can say, when I stayed on Disney property, well, from the time we arrived at the airport at home until we returned, I was in the Disney magical dream land....I don't have adequate words to describe the feeling once we arrived at the Magical Express spot...We had no set time to do anything, except for our one reservation at breakfast time....I will never stay off property again....

 

[OhioDisneyDad]

OK, here's what I see so far:

1. EMH - I stay long enough so I don't need an extra hour to make a difference.

2. ADRs - I've never had a problem getting the ADRs I want - you just need to plan.

3. Transportation - It takes me no more than 15 minutes to get from park to house and I don't have to make multiple stops. Plus, with a car I can make a trip to the beach or to the corner store if I need something.

4. Resorts - I can and have gone to many resorts and done most of the same activities that the on-property people can do except maybe use the pool (but then again I have my own private heated pool).

5. DDP - I can eat at all the same restaurants and more often since I'm not paying the extra price for the on property "magic". You're still paying for your meals - they're just covered in your package price.

6. Afternoon breaks - We don't do marathon days so breaks aren't really a necessity - we just stay more days. Beside, most feedback I've seen on here leads me to believe that many don't do breaks because of the hassle.

7. Boomhauer - you must not know that many people. LOTS of people don't stay on property.

8. "Free parking" - NEWSFLASH...it's not free - you're still paying for it!

So from what I've seen so far, the only thing I'm missing is the 24x7 in-your-face magic. I guess I've never drank the same Disney Kool-Aid that you guys have. I'll stick with pocketing the cost difference and just make that many more trips to the world.

 

[flafan]

I'll bite. I think it is addicting. Something is put in the Disney water.

Once you stay on property you want to go back for more. I stay offsite now and really want to go back but when your Dad gives you free timeshare it is hard to pass up.

We also stay at the Universal properties for front of line access.

It is hard to explain something happens to you when you stay onsite. It's the water

 

[cara loves the poly]

Watching the castle change colors every night from your bed, and then watching Wishes before falling to sleep........magic.

 

[camdensmom]

IMHO, cost is the ONLY reason to stay offsite. You can get spacious villas with private laundry and a kitchen onsite AND get all of the Disney benefits if that is what you are looking for.

We have done it both ways and have been quite happy in the past staying offsite, however, over time I can honestly say I would NEVER stay offsite again...but that is just my opinion. It certainly isn't the only one nor do I judge others, but for me and my family that is the only option.

Disney is an experience like no other and the resorts are not simply a place to sleep, but an extension of the experience. To me, Disney is one of the few (if not the only place) where you can truly escape from the reality of daily life. Driving by tacky tourist shops, 7-11s, strip malls and Walmarts dimishes the vacation experience for me. I like to be absorbed in a world where everything is colorful and happy and not at all in touch with the reality of life.

Also, if I am being honest...the "rental home" concept creeps me out. Having lived in Florida I know what goes into maintaining a Florida property in terms of mold, cockroaches, snakes, etc. as well as what needs to be done to properly maintain a pool. There are lots of great rental properties out there, but I'm not comfortable gambling with my vacation. I like to know that if I am unhappy for any reason there is a front desk that will make it right.

Like someone else said, there is no right or wrong way to vacation...just ways that are right for each family. Have a great vacation.

May I ask...Have you ever stayed onsite? Just curious.

 

[Colleen27]

We like the convenience. The EMH and dining plan are great perks, but the biggest thing is not having to rent a car or even think about driving for the entire trip. Disney is one of very few places where DH & I can both have a drink or two with dinner, because in the real world, one of us usually has to abstain to drive home. So a week of nice dinners and no driving is heaven to us!

We tend to stay in the middle of the action where ever we go - when we go to the beach, we stay oceanfront and might not move the car all week, when we're in Chicago or DC we stay right downtown and use public transit, when we go to those other Orlando parks we stay in one of their resorts, etc. So staying on property at Disney is just a better fit for our vacation preferences than staying elsewhere to save money.

 

[melomouse]

ODD -
You have raised all of the factors in staying off site that come to be seen as a tremendous advantage by some. For me, price is the main one - no contest. Two nites in WDW's biggest room will likely cover the cost of your weekly rental home, then some.

I've done both. DS and DD know that because we choose to stay onsite at this time in our lives, we can't go to Orlando as often as they might like. After 2 days at our lovely deal-of-the-century pool home, I found DD crying that she "lost the magic". She was quite right, as others have indicated here. So now we stay onsite again. As a widowed mom, I also feel a bit safer on property.

Yes, we've all been majorly, perhaps foolishly, blinded by the pixiedust. But no need to get defensive about either choice - as long as YOUR family vacation is magical!