Why stay on property when...

[Bugsmom73]

I have stayed offsite and on site. I prefer on-site. I don't want to clean, or cook, or do the laundry. Having a private pool would be a horror for me. DS is autistic and loves the water, at least in the hotel room, we can sleep well, knowing that he won't escape out of the room and into the pool, regardless of the lock the thing has. I stay on-site because I don't want to drive all over when I am down there. If I chose to, that is one thing.

 

[bamamouse]

To the OP I've got a few more money saving tips:

1. Walk instead of driving - you could sell your car (spend the money on your extended vacation). The time it would take for you and your family to walk would make for an even longer vacation.
2. Don't eat - the money you would save on groceries would definitly be a few extra nights.
3. Don't wear clothes, shoes, etc. - the money you would save from shopping would there again get you extra nights.

I have to say that if I chose to walk, not eat, go without clothes etc. and you chose to, for the convenience and comfort, I would not belittle you and say you were part of a "cult" or drank "kool aid" because you chose to spend your money on these things.

Just a thought.

 

[boomhauer]

To the OP I've got a few more money saving tips:

1. Walk instead of driving - you could sell your car (spend the money on your extended vacation). The time it would take for you and your family to walk would make for an even longer vacation.
2. Don't eat - the money you would save on groceries would definitly be a few extra nights.
3. Don't wear clothes, shoes, etc. - the money you would save from shopping would there again get you extra nights.

I have to say that if I chose to walk, not eat, go without clothes etc. and you chose to, for the convenience and comfort, I would not belittle you and say you were part of a "cult" or drank "kool aid" because you chose to spend your money on these things.

Just a thought.

 

[Sxofus]

I guess I'll keep being the oddball

Good for you. Obviously a position you feel most comfortable in.

 

[kimmar067]

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.

...first of all, I haven't read through this entire thread, so I don't know what other comments have been made. However, I do feel like I need to comment on this particular post. I could be worng but I sense that you really have something against staying on-site and that the rest of us who feel strongly about the "Disney Magic" are nothing short of 'Disney-snobs'. So, I'll try to keep this brief and comment to your 8 poionts that you have spelled out:

1. EMH - yes, one hour DOES make quite a difference! Without all the extra 'non-WDW' visitors in any park on any given day could mean the difference of getting on as many as four, five, or six rides which would otherwise have long lines. Remember, you can't get a Fastpass for more than one ride at a time....

2. ADR's - it has been my experience that, no matter how mauch planning I do, inevitably there is one or two ADR's that I can never get (usually Boma). When one is staying on-site, it seems that 'Disney magic' happens to THAT person more often than not - I know, it's happened to ME. When I was told EVERY DAY that there were no more ADR's, I finally went to the check-in podium IN PERSON, explaining that we were guests at AKL, and 'suddenly' there WAS an avilability. Now, I don't know whehter it happened to be coincidence, but because we were staying there, it was [obviously] more convenient for me to do this....I daresay that I probably would have not even obthered had we stayed off-site.

3. Transportation -I fail to see how you were 'expert' enough at driving that you were able to leave any of the WDW parks, WALK ALL THE WAY TO YOUR CAR, leave the premises, and arrive at your rental home in 15 minutes, not to mention waiting on line in your car to get IN the parking lot. Of course, you DO mention that you visit WDW during non-peak seasons, so that could somewhat validate your claim. Well, same goes for WDW transportation. The ONLY time our family has ever experienced a long wait/drive/arrival is to and from DTD (regardless of which resort we happen to be staying), which leads me to believe that the more 'public-access' areas tend to have more traffic, especially those areas 'beyond the WDW borders'...

4. Resorts - does your rental home also come with:
a. jet skis, canoes, water craft, row boats, water sprites, paddle boats, parasailing...
b. your own arcade
c. a convenience store that sells sundries AND souvies
d. structured, supervised children's activities
e. babysitting service
f. a counter-service AND sit-down restaurant

5. DDP - this so-called 'package-deal' actually comes out LESS than paying OOP (trust me, I KNOW what I'm talking about - I have 3 teenage boys!)

6. Afternoon breaks - it has been my observation during all of our WDW stays that MANY folks like to escape the midday heat and return to their WDW resort to just kick back and enjoy the pool and resort WITHOUT HAVING TO GET INTO A HOT CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF A CROWDED PARKING LOT. Personally, I'd rather have a nice comforable air-conditioned bus pull up to the depot and bring me to my resort and take me back again at MY LEISURE, not when I THINK when will be the least crowded time (like rush hour) to return to a Disney park...

7. ...and lots of people DO....

8. Free parking - nope, free parking IS free parking....I have visited WDW WITH my car and without - there was NO DIFFERENCE IN ROOM RATE.....

 

[DisneyMomx7]

To each his own. The OP however really seems to have an attitude if people don't agree with his off-site preference.

We not only stay on-site, we stay at deluxes - oh the horror!

When I'm on vacation I want to feel like I'm on vacation and so does DH.

DH absolutely, positively doesn't want to drive so the deluxe resort transportation is definitely important to him.

I cook and clean enough during the year - on vacation I don't want to see a stove, microwave or a vaccum.

We love the "Disney Feel" of the Disney resorts. It might not be something you are able to put into words, but you all know that "special smell or feeling" of your favorite resorts.

We'll keeping staying on-site and the OP can keep on staying off-site and we'll both think we're getting the best vacation!

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

$999 plus having to pay for a car rental doesn't work out to be cheaper if you are going in January. You could get a value for a week for a lot less with no car rental.

 

[MickeyNicki]

For us it is all about location and WDW theming. We stayed off site for many years but in 2001 we had our first on site stay and enjoyed it so much that we said on site from now on! The transportation is a huge plus...I DETEST waiting for the trams!

 

[darlak]

Interesting thread. I’ve read through this whole thread and read with particular interest all of the OP’s posts. I believe that the OP most certainly was aware that he would get responses that detailed all of the reasons most of us prefer to stay onsite. He surely was not looking to have his own opinion changed.

My guess is that this is someone who is unable to afford to stay onsite and is able to feel better about his inability to do so only by belittling those of us who do stay onsite. Reading his posts initially just irritated me. However, looking at all of his posts , I can only feel pity for him.

How sad that you would need to belittle the choices of others in order to feel better about the choices you were forced to make.

 

[hammie59]

Don't feed the troll.

Haha!

 

[Markstudy]

Some people are trolls, some just like to pick fights, and some just haven't learned yet how to make and keep friends on the web by changing their writing style to a less harsh tone.

I stay on-site, because I enjoy staying at the resorts. The cast memebers and attention to detail are part of what Disney does best. Details, Details, Details....from the words they chose, the clothes they wear, the choice of furniture, and Disney displays, its the small touches, the music, the lighting..... Disney Magic

I also enjoy eating in all the great resturants. Food is great but themeing is even better. Think of the on-site experiance as being part of a play or movie..... you are in the set and the cast members do an act. Mr Disney was always thinking of the small details. Some people just don't want to break out of character and go back to the real world each night. (even the road signs in Disney property are special design)

But some people don't care about these aspects, you can put a dollar amount on a plate of onion rings, but its not so easy to put a dollar amount on the greeter at the Beach Club, and the way he makes people feel. I take the time to notice the flowers and plants that Disney uses to finish off the magical experiance.

The parks and rides are 3rd on our list. After going on all the rides a number of times.... the rides begin to serve as a back-drop for us.

My next trip I'm looking forward to staying at the Polly and eating at Grand Floridian and California Grill. Monorail transportation for the entire week, and eating at a few nice places as we stroll around Epcot.

DISNEY DAD from Ohio is probably not a bad guy....just a little harsh in his writing style.

But he's probably a guy that likes to watch some football and eat some pasta while he knows his kids are safe in their own pool... sounds like a nice way to go compaired to sitting at Yatch Club Steak House in a suit and tie that's too tight and wondering why you're paying $450 dollar for a diner that would cast half that in your home town? and hoping his kids sit still and be quite.

Disney Dad might have posted this question- because he is very happy with his plan....but his wife and kids are giving him heck about NOT staying on-site... so he came here to get some ideas. He sounds angry, maybe his wife is holding out on him PS the wink means its a joke

 

[Rylee]

Interesting thread. I’ve read through this whole thread and read with particular interest all of the OP’s posts. I believe that the OP most certainly was aware that he would get responses that detailed all of the reasons most of us prefer to stay onsite. He surely was not looking to have his own opinion changed.

My guess is that this is someone who is unable to afford to stay onsite and is able too feel better about his inability to do so only by belittling those of us who do stay onsite. Reading his posts initially just irritated me. However, looking at all of his posts , I can only feel pity for him.

How sad that you would need to belittle the choices of others in order to feel better about the choices you were forced to make.

I felt as though the OP thinks he has something over on us, however, you can't have anything over someone who is doing exactly as they please.

When talking with people who don't take the choices of others so personally, it can be interesting to share ideas and discuss the pro and cons of staying on-site -vs- off-site.

Call me aloof, but I would never take so much interest in how other people spend their vacation fund, unless, of course...

they owe me money!

 

[AJKMOM]

I felt as though the OP thinks he has something over on us, however, you can't have anything over someone who is doing exactly as they please.

When talking with people who don't take the choices of others so personally, it can be interesting to share ideas and discuss the pro and cons of staying on-site -vs- off-site.

Call me aloof, but I would never take so much interest in how other people spend their vacation fund, unless, of course...

they owe me money!

Good one. Nothing quite like seeing a relative off to Vegas or Disney when they owe us money! Especially "enjoy" it when they get a nicer vacation than we do.

 

[jsmla]

We've done (and will continue to do) both. To put things in context I go to WDW at least three or four times each year with a varying combination of hubby, kids, relatives and friends. Hubby and I also take at least one other "big" non-Disney trip as well as several smaller ones. 2007 will work out to be about average with trips to New York, the Great Smoky Mts. National Park and Perdido Key in addidion to several treks to WDW and at least one week-end away each month. DH also takes a ski trip each winter. We are very much middle-middle class and have to watch our expenses in order to do this.

Cost
Cost is a huge factor for us, I have a budget and we stick to it. We have to if we want to take several trips each year. If I can find an on-site option that fits the budget nine out of ten times we'll go with that. Sometimes it's just not do-able. Case in point: Mardi Gras 2007. This year it coincided with Presidents' Day Week. The least expensive available on-site option was just a hair under $150 per night at the All Star Movies. (This was for a preferred room. Everything else was booked up.) On the other hand I was able to rent a one bedroom condo in Lake Buena Vista for under $350 for the week through SkyAuction. That's a $700 difference, a huge chunk of change at our house.

The Whole Maid Service/Cooking Issue
This is a highly individual thing. To be fair I can't say that I ever miss maid service or mind a bit of cooking on vacation. Housekeeping and I don't mesh. They always seem to arrive to do the room at a time I want to be in it. We've only taken one vacation that was completely catered, a cruise, and, long before the week was out, I was sick of the restaurants. I'm one of those people who quickly tires of eating out. We've tried the Dining Plan (when it was free) and don't feel the need to do it again. Call me an infidel but I think the Disney restaurants are just okay, not bad but not a critical part of the vacation either. Even when we stay on-site I bring plenty of things to have in the room. We just like it that way. Yes, in a condo I may be cooking and making the bed just like I would at home, but here's the thing: I'm not at home. I'm at Disney. If I have to make my own bed and cook dinner I'd much rather do it there than in Baton Rouge.

Transportation
We rarely fly to and always have a car at WDW. I'd say we drive to the parks roughly 60% of the time when we stay on-site. We just prefer riding in our own car with all of its small comforts (a guaranteed seat, satellite radio, ice chest, etc.) to the bus. I guess I'm weird but I actually like driving around Disney. If staying on site we do take the busses to the Magic Kingdom and on evenings when hubby and I plan to do a bit of celebrating. I'd say that a bus ride home after an evening at DTD or sampling the drinks at Epcot is one of our favorite on-site perks and the one I miss the most when we stay elsewhere.

That Intangible Disney Feeling Thing
This is the reason we stay on-site if we can swing it. I really like not having to deal with (or even see) the real world out there in Orlando/Kissimmee/LBV. I love the bubble and the 24/7 theming. I just like the way the Disney resorts feel. If money weren't an issue I'd spend every Disney vacation in a villa at the Beach Club or Wilderness Lodge. Unfortunately money is an issue. A great big one and one I have to work with. I'm not about to sit at home just because we can't swing concierge at the Polynesian. Maybe one day we'll win the lottery but, until then, I'll remain thrilled to be on vacation at Disney at all whether it's in an off-site condo or a $49/night room at the All Star Music.

JMHO

Jennifer

 

[PrincessTiff]

Wow...sounds like a grade school playground remark. I guess humor is lost on most folks on this board. And I don't recall saying anyone was stupid for doing anything. I can't wait for the Yo Mama insults to begin.

I can't help but ask if you own a timeshare and are trying desperately to get others to buy into it?

 

[safetymom]

The original poster has moved on so I am going to close this post.