Will staying offsite ruin my WDW vacation?

[Disney Ella]

I really like being onsite, and the perfect onsite accommodation for me would be to rent a one-bedroom DVC unit. The thing is that, even with renting points, that can be expensive. Off-site is fine for me as long as the place I'm staying at has a resort feel. I don't want to go on vacation and feeling like I'm staying in a housing development. Having the extra space, a kitchen and separate bedrooms is very nice.

 

[TotoToo]

I really like being onsite, and the perfect onsite accommodation for me would be to rent a one-bedroom DVC unit. The thing is that, even with renting points, that can be expensive. Off-site is fine for me as long as the place I'm staying at has a resort feel. I don't want to go on vacation and feeling like I'm staying in a housing development. Having the extra space, a kitchen and separate bedrooms is very nice.

That difference is a key to us. While having a full house and private pool is great if you are moving in for a few weeks or months on a week or two of vacation we prefer a well located, heavily featured resort with 2 & 3 bedroom units and full kitchens, living areas, etc. Having that activity around us makes it seem more like a vacation and less like we have a second home to maintain. Thankfully there are great resorts - mostly timeshares - in Orlando that can be very reasonable in cost especially compared to on site rates.

 

[PGHDisneyfan]

My last two trips we have stayed at the Double Tree and had a great time! nice pool big rooms and only 15 minutes walk from DTD. We were able to his International Drive and check out some of the other cool things to do, which was really nice. We rented a car this past year so getting a round was no problem and no waiting for buses. Plus our hotel offed a free breakfast that wasnt half bad to be honest. A lot of times you can get more bang for your hotel buck off site but not always. You could always rent DVC points( we might do that this fall) and save a bundle!!

 

[DawnM]

We have done both.....a small hotel room onsite with only one room, one TV, no kitchen, one bathroom and then we did off-site. I wish I could say that staying in those $150/night small rooms on property made it "magical", but I can't. We now won't even think of staying on-property. We LOVE off-site!

We get a 1 or 2 bedroom condo for about $30/night and have plenty of room to spread out and not step on each other all the time. We also save time and money by eating several meals at the condo.

It also allows us more trips to Disney, which for us, is the primary goal. One trip on-site would be almost $2000 just for accomodations and food for 7 nights. At a condo we can do a budget of 7 nights for under $350 for lodging and food. Typically we budget an additional $100-$150 for eating out, but still.....WAY less than onsite.

Leaving in 12 days

Dawn

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

As others have said, it's extremely subjective. The whole onsite vs offsite debate is an old one and the bottom line is there is no wrong answer...everybody has their own preferences. Had you posted this question in the Disney Resorts section you'd be branded a heretic and chased with torches and pitchforks for even considering staying offsite.

We've done both onsite and offsite several times and find they both have their pros and cons. We always rent a car since we like to do more than just Disney so the transportation is not an issue for us. Staying offsite definitely gives you a lot more room for the money and some hotels offer a free continental breakfast to save you even more money. On the other hand staying onsite gives you perks like EMH, the option of Disney transportation (we'll occasionally take the bus to DTD if we want to have a few drinks), and the refillable mugs which we take full advantage of.

I can't say we've found there is really any difference in the 'magic' that some people insist you can only get onsite. To be honest, I've never figured exactly what they're talking about...I always thought 'Disney magic' was making my money disappear.

To us being on vacation is a great experience regardless of the name on our hotel's soap wrappers.

 

[OhioDisneyDad]

OFFSITE! Hands down. Like a previous poster said, having the extra room, wireless internet, your own private pool, not having to deal with WDW transportation and a full-size washer & drying so you can pack light wins every time for me. Just make sure you get one close so you're not driving alot. We rent executive class homes with large heated pools/jacuzzi and all the amenities. For example, we're going 1/11 - 1/21 and rented a 4 bedroom executive home with heated pool for $999.00 which includes EVERYTHING (pool heat, tax & cleaning) and is 5 minutes from the parks. Of course you might get a deal on a box and bathroom at the "value" resorts but what's magical about that? We always have a great time and would never go back to staying on site. Also, DDP is not worth it for us either.

Lots of people on here will tell you that the only TRUE WDW vacation is if you stay onsite but only you can decide what's best for you and your family. Save your money - that's magical too!

 

[dioxide45]

I did discover, though, that there was a downside to my staying offsite...I'm now visualizing living here year-round...

We have that same problem.

 

[lovindonald]

Staying off site is not for every one. Try it once and decide for yourself. I have done both and will never again will we stay in one room again but that is how we enjoy our vacations. I could not justify spending our hard earned $$ on deluxe suites.

Ditto. You only lose the magic if you think you do. It is a mindset. If you think it will be horrible it will be and you will be miserable. We have stayed offsite the last 3 years and LOVED it along with the money we have saved. We never stay more than 2 miles from the parks and it makes it easy to get there and enjoy it when we want to. It also lets us see all the other wonderful things around the area. The magic comes from within not from the spending of extra cash. I have done both and don't think I will ever stay onsite again. We had a horrible experience at the Beach Club after spending $5000 for a vacation and the attitudes of the staff were like, oh well can't help you. Last time we went we had a one bedroom suite and paid under $650 for the week with taxes and all. I also like the slower pace of things off site. We can eat anywhere, go anywhere and come home to more than just a one room place to sleep. Try it once, you can always go back. Just do your research and make sure you are in a great place because there are a lot that are but also a lot that aren't.

 

[APB513]

We stayed onsite at Pop Century for our trip in November and offsite for our trip last week. We did a split stay between the Hawthorn Suites Universal and the Regal Sun Resort in DTD.

Having stayed onsite and offsite, I would prefer to stay onsite if the budget allows. But if the only way I can go to WDW is to stay offsite, I would do it and make the best of it.

I like the convenience of ME and using the buses to get around. I hated driving to the parks, paying to park and then taking a tram or monorail to get back and forth. It felt like it used up a lot of valuable park time.

Also, staying offsite means you can't take advantage of EMH.

 

[peanut1967]

We are planning to visit in 2009, like some have already said we have done both, when the kids were 3 and 7 we stayed on site in one room at what was known as Dixie Landings, loved it, didnt like the staying in one room though, especailly as we stayed for 3 weeks Second time kids were 16 and 12 so we stayed off site with 2 rooms, I wasnt keen , I went for cheap and cheerful...not good.
Roll along to 2009, we have just become foster carers so good chance there will be 2 extra littles uns with us, plus my two big ones plus possibly a girlfrind of my sons, this is going to be a villa, somewhere to chill, to swim at leisure I am sooooooo looking forward to staying in a villa, and have loads of room and a load more choices, do I think you will lose the magic...well I have been twice in the whole of my 40 years and I live the magic every day. Its what you make it......Then when the kids grow and you find yourself with more time and a little more cash stay at the Disney resort you want to and
A

 

[Andrea from PA]

We recently returned from a great on site stay!

But I don't know how to con tin ue to afford on site.

With the 2005-2007 DDP, on-site was cheaper for us & the kids would rather be at the parks openning til closing, so DDP & no car rental worked out great for us.

In 2008 we plan to stay off-site & do Universal. I'm not ready to take the off site WDW plunge yet

I can't wait to compare the "more space" & car rental vs. an on-site at WDW

 

[dioxide45]

Had you posted this question in the Disney Resorts section you'd be branded a heretic and chased with torches and pitchforks for even considering staying offsite.

This point shows that onsite vs offsite is very subjective. You would also receive very differing opinions depending on where you asked the question. You really won't know how you feel until you try both.
We have stayed onsite and offsite. While there is a different atmosphere to each we prefer offsite. We do enjoy other things in Orlando other than Disney and like many of the restaraunts offsite has to offer. While you can still go to these while staying on site, many will find they spend most of their time at the restaraunts and food courts that are offered at their on site property.
I would suggets to anyone going for the first time to stay onsite as is does offer certain conveniences that you can't get anywhere else.

 

[KLAIT]

There are so many different opinions on this subject, but ours is that staying ON-site ruined our vacation. We go to Disney as a vacation. We hit all the parks pretty much the hours that they are open, however, we like to get away from the commotion of the day in the evenings and days we schedule a pool day. There is nothing more relaxing than sitting by the condo pool with not very many people around with peace and quiet. I also love the room that you get in a condo. My days of spending 10 or 12 days in a cramped hotel room with doors slamming and kids hollaring are over and done.

Have fun!

 

[scammermom]

I like my money more than magic. Most of the Disney magic is reaching into my wallet.

We stay offsite. Having a car to be flexible to go to other restaurants, the Walmart, or just have a down day in a king size bed is sooo worth it to us. I can usually get a great deal and pay 1/3 - 1/4 the price of an onsite place for much bigger rooms.

That's magical, baby!

 

[Victoria J]

At one point I would have told you that onsite was the only way to go. DH and I have both been to Disney many times. Our first trip together was our honeymoon in 1999. We stayed at the CBR with no rental car. Even though we loved it, no car was a definite hardship for us (OK, it was mainly due to the fact that Disney has only Coke products, and I don't do well without my Mountain Dew).

Anyway, when DS was 11 months old in December 2004 we stayed at the WL. It was great, but challenging to keep him in a small hotel room. When we went last year in December, we decided (with much research and quite a bit of trepidation on my part) to split the trip. We stayed offsite for 4 nights at the Sheraton Vistana and onsite for 4 nights at the Poly. After that I am not sure I can justify staying onsite again even though the Poly was awesome.

Yes, it is nice to leave the car behind and use Disney transportation, but we found that it was actually easier and quicker to take our own car than to rely on the buses and/or monorails, etc. For the cost of accomodations, I found even with just one child (who was almost 3 at the time) that it was sooooo much easier to have the extra room to run around. In February 2003 we stayed at the BWV in a 2 bedroom with the in-laws and still found it somewhat cramped compared to the Vistana, but that was when we were still young, partying and needing our freedom so that may be a skewed view.

This year we are staying in Windsor Hills which is very close to Disney property. We are staying at a condo that is "Mickey themed" to help keep the feel of Disney with us even though we are offsite. I even convinced all of the in-laws to stay offsite for the first time and they are skeptical but optimistic. I think there are many places like that where you can feel a part of the magic even if you are not onsite if that is your main concern.

I think there are pro's and con's both ways. As previous posters have said, you won't know until you try. Regardless, you will be near Disney, so how bad could it really be, right? And even if you super hate it, you will be able to say, "well, at least we didn't pay Disney prices to stay here". You've stayed in condos before so you know the benefits in that respect. Those are my long-winded thoughts for the evening! Good luck with your decision!

 

[Southernswthrt1]

I love this thread! I felt the same way for our trip this past December. I was crushed when DH told me to change the ressies or cancel the trip. So I researched for the best off-site accomodations to save money while considering luxury and location. I switched our ressies from SSR 1 BR villa to Wyndham Bonnet Creek 2 BR villa. And while I was completely skeptical until we got there, checked in, and opened the door, I could not have been happier with the accomodations and location of this resort.

This place was FAR more luxurious than any Disney property. The villas here aren't as large as some others, but we absolutely loved it. There's much more room here than in a standard hotel room.

We also rented a car, which IMO, is SO SO much better than relying on Disney transportation. The first day we were there, we stood in line at AK to go to AKL for a quick visit....and we waited and waited and waited. We gave up and got in the car! Bonnet Creek is right next door to CBR, so you can get an idea of how close it really is.

All that said, we will never stay on-site again. I just don't see the magic / joy / fun in being crammed in a hotel room when I can have pure luxury and all the comforts of home in a condo or house for a LOT LESS $$$.

We drove around the area and there are tons of condo developments that are VERY nice, as well as neighborhoods with houses for rent that look awesome. Next time, we're going to look into renting a house because I hate having neighbors and listening to their noise, smelling their smoke, etc.

So don't worry about staying offsite. I'm sure if you do your research and find a place that meets your expectations and desires, you will be pleasantly surprised.