Will I reget staying offsite?

[matthewsmom1]

This will be our 3rd trip this year (October). My DS (6) and I both have APs. I was considering an offsite stay to save money. I am considering using skyauction.com for a condo/villa rental and am pretty confident I can get one for 7 days for around $250ish. A good deal. We are going October 14th thru the 23rd or so (dates are a little flexible on either side). In January we did Pop. It was ok. We had a really bad experience there (mousekeeping theft). It was resolved after we got home and we were reimbursed. I won't stay there again (my son would be very upset). In April we stayed @ POR and loved it. Very nice.

WWYD!! I'm having major anxiety about this!!

 

[swilphil]

I think in October you would be okay with staying off-site, especially if you feel comfortable driving around Orlando. For me it's the busy times of year that on-site is mandatory.

 

[dawgsgirl]

I have stayed both on-site and off-site. There are advantages to each. I don't think you will regret the off-site stay. WDW is a magical experience no matter where you stay! And of course, off-site is SO much cheaper! I am not a big fan of motel\hotel rooms and much prefer the space of a condo.

 

[TLinden16]

I will say that every time I've stayed offsite, I have had a bad experience. It just isn't as magical as staying onsite. I just love the experience of being immersed in the Disney Magic 24/7 during my trip.

Karen

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

It just isn't as magical as staying onsite. I just love the experience of being immersed in the Disney Magic 24/7 during my trip.

Karen

I agree.

 

[imatoad]

I can't really say, as I've always stayed onsite.

 

[PamNC]

Yes.

You will regret not staying on-site. We did it once....NEVER again.

PamNC

 

[gjw007]

This will be our 3rd trip this year (October). My DS (6) and I both have APs. I was considering an offsite stay to save money. I am considering using skyauction.com for a condo/villa rental and am pretty confident I can get one for 7 days for around $250ish. A good deal. We are going October 14th thru the 23rd or so (dates are a little flexible on either side). In January we did Pop. It was ok. We had a really bad experience there (mousekeeping theft). It was resolved after we got home and we were reimbursed. I won't stay there again (my son would be very upset). In April we stayed @ POR and loved it. Very nice.

WWYD!! I'm having major anxiety about this!!

I have never regretted staying offsite. My worst trip was when I did stay onsite, so go figure. There are pluses and minuses and it depends on what each individual wants and feels that they need. There is a wide variety in the range of accommadations, sometimes within the same resort. One of the problems of staying onsite is that you can't get away from Disney, yet that is what some people want.

 

[MELSMICE]

I know I would regret staying off-site. Don't forget that you wouldn't get the EMH's if you stay off-site. JMO, but I think on-site is much better. Could you use an AP code to get a better rate?

 

[js]

I love staying both on site and off site. But, I LOVE the extra room I get from staying off-site that makes it so much worth it for me.
I loved all the extra room so much, I ended up buying at Orange Lake Country Club during the last visit to Disney in December 04.
We always rent a car-on/off site so that doesn’t matter to us. OLCC boarders Disneys AK. There is actually a fence that separates the two properties so that is how close it is and you can see fireworks from the balcony at night. Anyway, I do only have 2 children but do not like the cramped feeling of 4 in a room so whether we stay on-site or take a cruise or need a hotel somewhere, we always get connecting rooms for the extra space, beds and bathrooms. At OLCC (or if you rent off site) you will all have your own bedrooms, tvs (yes, I know who watches tv on vacation but it is nice in the evening when the kids veg and they can lay in their beds and just watch tv for some downtime), own bathrooms, full kitchen, laundry, etc. There are great pools, completing a lazy river, a little beach and restaurants and fast meals. For some, Disney is staying on site. For us, the extra room and space, far outweights staying onsite in a hotel room.
If it were summer, Easter or Christmas or major holiday and there was a chance of the park closing at a certain time, then yes, I would stay onsite. Other than that, there is no reason. I usually only do MK EMH and sometimes do the “day after EMH”, on/off site, you need to be there for park opening. The bottom line is, you just have to know what is important to you and then work from there. Have a great trip!

 

[pixelpixie]

WWYD!! I'm having major anxiety about this!!

I agree with posters who say it depends on your expectations. I love both for different reasons. For me, if I am staying more than 3 or 4 days, I actually prefer staying in a condo offsite. I like having a little space and downtime. I also like the kitchen and laundry facilities in my room. I like being able to have mommy-daddy time too!

But for short trips staying on-site is very magical!

 

[spiceycat]

do my method.

stay off site for your entire week - on Tuesday (both morning and evening EMH) go to a WDW hotel - doesn't matter which one - since you don't want Pop Century then try one of the other value resorts.

you aren't checking out of your condo - just bring an over night bag to your WDW resort.

then you get EMH not only on Tuesday but Wednesday too.

 

[Debbie Jean]

As you can see from the variety of responses, there really is no one answer to this question. Different people have different experiences and like different things. We stay on-site and off-site and enjoy both.

No one can tell you how YOU will feel, but I would say since you've done on-site, why not try off-site this time. This will give you a basis for comparison. We like Cypress Pointe when we stay off-site, but there a lots of places others can suggest that are also nice and reasonable.

Sounds like you are people who'll be making more Disney trips in the future so whatever decision you make don't stress over it

 

[C.Ann]

I've done both and will probably do both again in the future..

In 2001 we stayed at the Tropical Palms Fun Resort and it was awesome! Roomycottage with full-size appliances, lovely grounds, great pools, very inexpensive breakfast/lunch cafe poolside, very large (and very clean) laundramat, big deck on the front of our cottage with lawn chairs and picnic tables, on-site general store, excellent staff, and it took us less than ten minutes to get to the parks..

In April of this year I did a spur of the moment solo trip to WDW and because I would be all alone for the larger portion of my stay, I elected to go on-site so I could use the bus system and such.. I stayed at the Pop Century and loved that as well! It really suited my needs and I loved the whimsical nature of the buildings..

However - I do have to say that the "magic" of being on-site (that others go on and on about) must have totally slipped by me.. I didn't feel any "magic" at all - I just felt like Pop was a really neat hotel.. LOL

To me the "magic" is in the parks - particularly walking down Main Street in the MK, seeing Cinderella's Castle up ahead.. If you're looking for "magic", you need look no farther than the parks.. If it's a nice hotel you're looking for, you can find them both on Disney property or off.. Just depends on what you want..

Have a great trip!!

 

[Lewisc]

only if you don't have rental car. DON'T RELY ON OFFSITE SHUTTLE BUSES.

 

[dizneekim]

Matthewsmom1, you will be fine offsite! We have done everything from the old DixieLandings to Poly concierge. (Poly would be my choice if funds were unlimited!) Onsite certainly has it's advantages. Last Feb. we did a week at Vistana Resort thru Skyauction and it was great! The only complaint my family had was that I didn't plan enough resort days just to enjoy Vistana. Having all that elbow room at the end of the day (and 2 baths in the morning) was wonderful, esp. with a teen. I agree with the posters who have suggested onsite for short stays and off for longer. We can only take so much togetherness! Have a great trip and don't sweat it!

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

This will be our 3rd trip this year (October). My DS (6) and I both have APs. I was considering an offsite stay to save money. I am considering using skyauction.com for a condo/villa rental and am pretty confident I can get one for 7 days for around $250ish. A good deal. We are going October 14th thru the 23rd or so (dates are a little flexible on either side). In January we did Pop. It was ok. We had a really bad experience there (mousekeeping theft). It was resolved after we got home and we were reimbursed. I won't stay there again (my son would be very upset). In April we stayed @ POR and loved it. Very nice.

WWYD!! I'm having major anxiety about this!!

I would not hesitate to stay off-site, but I would be somewhat picky about "where" off-site I was staying.

But it also depends on what you like. Unfortunately, you can't know if you will like off-site until you, well, stay off-site!

It's funny how some of us have totally different experiences even at the same place. (On-site is VERY much like this also) Get this..........we stayed at Vistana REsort. There was someone on this board that stayed there and said they wouldn't stay there again and it was on-site only for them from now on.

I find that kind of funny because it was Vistana that totally won us over on staying off-site (well, that and the price......$301 for the whole week thru Skyauction)

I, actually, surprised myself by loving off-site. I don't know if it was the good attitude I had going into it, or the great price I had, or what. But I used to be a die hard on-site fan.

But I wouldn't lump ALL off-site places together. Just like many don't lump all ON-site hotels together. Your experience is going to be different at the All stars compared with the WL. But some of the off-site places I would never stay at.

I also agree I would never stay off-site without a car. Ofcourse, my DH and I agree that we don't want to stay on-site withOUT (sorry, edited to make it correct) a car either!

Good luck in your decision.

 

[disneyfreak74]

We stayed off-site before and decided that the TRAFFIC ALONE is enough to make us want to be on-site!!! Luckily we have never had a problem when staying on-site.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

We stayed off-site before and decided that the TRAFFIC ALONE is enough to make us want to be on-site!!! Luckily we have never had a problem when staying on-site.

It must have been the fact that it was end of Aug/Sept that we went, because we never had any traffic problems.......not even the slightest. But we were also 1-2 miles from DTD..........we made it to EPCOT in less time than it took the bus from WL when we stayed there! It was great!!

 

[DebMcDonald]

How do you want to spend the money you save by staying off site. More character dining opportunities, more gifts for the kids, bigger rental car, those are also things to think about. If the price of staying off site vs. on site is minimal than there's no question, but if it's $500 or up, that's alot of money.

People are always talking about ways to save for their trips, from e.bay to coupons, etc.

Money saved is money saved. Honestly I don't think your kids will know the difference and it will still be a GREAT vacation.

if you do do a condo or villa, there's the added saving of breakfast in your hotel.