Worried about staying off property! Help!

[karriern]

My Family of 3 are going to WDW 12/08 and I'm scared I won't have the Disney magic staying off property. We've been twice and always stayed at All Star Movies. Since last visit, we've bought a time share and we can trade points for Disney area through RCI.

I'll admit there is no comparison--once you've stayed in a condo--it is hard to stay in a regular hotel room. My DH refuses to stay in reg hotel and I'm worried that I'll be disappointed

Any advice would be helpful! I'm really STRESSED!!!

 

[bethbuchall]

I remember the first time we stayed off-site. I was so worried about not having the "magic" and how hard it would be to get around. My parents were funding the trip, and they have a time share in the area that we were using. I loved having the space in the condo and especially the washer/dryer.

We had no problems commuting from the area that we were in, and it was actually easier and more relaxing at the end of the day than using the buses.

We felt all the magic of Disney while we were there!

I would gladly go back and stay off-site.

You will have a great trip, too!

 

[karriern]

Thanks Beth! I guess I sound ungrateful. I'm going to WDW! The happiest place on the planet!! I guess it doesn't matter where I sleep.
We'll have a car and I do hate waiting for the bus! Time wasted that I could be doing something else!!

 

[bethbuchall]

I don't think you sound ungrateful. It was something that really stressed me out the first time. Even after I had done it once, I was still a little worried the second time. By the third off-site visit, I was actually happy to have that condo, especially with two teens and a 7-year old. All three visits were magical!

 

[5mins2disney]

Haha...I had the SAME reaction our first trip to WDW with our kids 2 years ago! REALLY wanted to stay onsite, I didn't care what it cost, I just wanted to have the best possible vacation!

My DW DRAGGED me kicking and screaming to rent a townhome in Windsor Hills offsite. Boy was I ever WRONG! LOL We had the absolutely BEST vacation we've ever had ANYwhere...honestly, it was that nice!! We had an incredible pool home with plasma TVs, high speed internet, awesome beds/linens...in an incredible resort with a waterslide pool...we loved it so much we went back a year later...came home..raved to everyone we knew about what a GREAT trip we had just had! (Yes, it was just THAT great!)

Finally, we ended up buying a place there a month later, we figured if everyone knew what we know now, there's no reason anyone would ever stay onsite in a traditional small and overpriced hotel room ever again!

Do yourself a favor! hehe...be the family hero like my DW is now...go and checkout:
www.windsorhillsrent.com !!

You can even find Disney themed bedrooms there if that's important to you, and still have some of the "magic" you think you will miss...but once you're home from the parks relaxing in total blissful luxury, you're going to think "what magic was I missing other than the magic in my wallet they've magically removed!?" LOL!

 

[FLParadisevilla]

you have nothing to worry about you will have a great time and lots of space to spread out and really enjoy your vacation!

I agree with George you can find some great homes with lots of Disney touches and themed bedrooms and you will still have quite a bit of the Disney Magic but all of the comforts of home and space!
Not to mention Washer/Dryers, being able to cook meals and louge by the pool if you rent a vacation home after the kids have gone to bed.

I love nothing more than a nice pina colada while floating in the pool or relaxing in the hot tub!

Enjoy your trip. if you want to look at some pool homes you can try
www.indiancreekflorida.com

 

[KayR]

For us, the magic is always there when we are in the Disney area. Our first night is normally a trip to DTD - to get the magic flowing full tilt. Seeing the "Walt Disney World" signs everytime you go on property is wonderful, starts your day off wonderfully. My little one shouts "Mickey Mouse" everytime she sees one of the Disney road signs that are mouse shaped. It all adds up.

Having the extra space, peace and quiet of a home or condo is priceless.... (not to mention the price savings!)

There are some people that are die hard must be on site people - and that is great. We love the magic, but also love the amenities that a vacation home gives us. Don't worry, you will have fun. Yes it will be different, but it will be good. enjoy.

 

[isla bonita]

I think that there is magic made when ever on vacation. More magic when we are all comfortable.

We leave the craziness of the parks and come home to space for all of us to decompose.

You will really appreciate it when you get home there is that relaxation that even though you have gone from sun up to sun down for 7 days there is also a restfulness you get from having that alone time.

 

[meta]

Feb vacation we stayed at Cypress Pointe and it was so nice to come home to a condo where everyone had their space. My son could watch what he wanted and if I wanted to throw some clothes in the washing machine, it was so easy. Driving to the parks was a breeze and we never stay in a hotel for more than 2 nights now.

 

[spiceycat]

My Family of 3 are going to WDW 12/08 and I'm scared I won't have the Disney magic staying off property. We've been twice and always stayed at All Star Movies. Since last visit, we've bought a time share and we can trade points for Disney area through RCI.

I'll admit there is no comparison--once you've stayed in a condo--it is hard to stay in a regular hotel room. My DH refuses to stay in reg hotel and I'm worried that I'll be disappointed

Any advice would be helpful! I'm really STRESSED!!!

take a depth breath and repeat 'it will be the best vacation ever'

magical is what you and your family do. It will be magical.

on your last night - try and talk your husband into one night at the All Star movie - see for yourself which you prefer.

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

Last October I convinced DH to stay onsite at the Poly. We all loved it. But we have a timeshare so ths trip we are staying at Horizons for a week. I will miss being onsite but the convenience of having a full freezer in August(water bottles) and a washer dyer will be great. Also the kids will have a great time with the Horizons pool area. But I did add on 3 nights at POFQ so I will have a taste of being onsite too!

 

[isla bonita]

Angela

Great idea if you need your fix and are Jonesen for onsite.

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

We stayed offsite once and I loved it. We had a beautiful condo, washer, dryer, bedroom so we did not have to go to bed when the kids went to bed, it was awesome. Last year, we stayed on-site at CSR. I am not going to lie, I loved it, but sharing a small hotel room is not very enjoyable. Plus those beds were only full's, we have a queen at home, so we noticed the difference. This year we are staying off-site, I am a little nervous that I will miss the magic, but the fact of the matter is the magic is where my family is. We are goping to have a blast and I can't wait. You will too, nothing to worry about!

 

[Mainebound]

Another offsite convert here! As others have posted, Magic is where you make it!

 

[karriern]

Thanks! You guys are making me feel so much better!! At least I now know that I'm not the only person who has ever worried about it!
I love all the room in a condo, too. We're not forced to stare at each other 24/7. Everyone can have their own space!! And after a long day at the park,
some of us, (DH) need his own space

 

[5mins2disney]

Thanks! You guys are making me feel so much better!! At least I now know that I'm not the only person who has ever worried about it!
I love all the room in a condo, too. We're not forced to stare at each other 24/7. Everyone can have their own space!! And after a long day at the park,
some of us, (DH) need his own space

I don't blame him to be honest! LOL....hot..crowded...sweaty people all day long...you're tired cause you're walking for miles on black hot asphalt.. it sure is nice to come back to a haven of a sweet pool home! Jump in the pool...cool off and relax...kick back and watch your plasma TV...ahh..... (I'm thinking of this of course because we're going ourselves in a month...yay!!)

In our case though, the biggest problem was the kids just won't go to bed if they're in the same room with us...so we either have to go to bed super early ourselves so they will (which is NOT a vacation for us adults!)...or they stay up late with us if we have the TV or anything on. We went on one miserable summer vacation like this to the Wisconsin Dells and vowed never again!

Far from being worried about it now... we just LOVE it! Quite the opposite! We'd never go overpay to stay in a hotel room ever again, we actually feel sorry for those who do! LOL

We found a place that's 10x nicer, bigger, just as close, way more amenities, and with all the $$ we saved, we were able to take a whole 2nd TRIP to WDW, now that's "magic" to me! hehe...while everyone else is home we're back in WDW a 2nd time with all the $$ we saved! LOL

We met a couple in Epcot Mexico who spent over $6000 for a week in the Disney Yacht Club (just on housing mind you!) ...so they could get a suite for their kids...2nd room, same problem as us. I nearly choked on my burrito! Then they asked where we were staying and I almost felt embarrassed to tell them we were in this awesome pool home with plasma TVs, video games, our own pool, free high speed internet, our own kitchen, washer / dryer, etc...and then they asked how much... ummm...$800 for the week. Oh..but wait..you get an extra hour a few days a week!

(But remember that extra "magic" hour while we're back for a whole TRIP next year with the $$ we saved! Hehe..maybe even a 3rd whole trip!) For us though it wasn't even as much about the $$.... it was about having the nicest place and best vacation.. I told my DW originally I didn't care what it cost, we just wanted to stay in a nice place.

BOY did she come through!

 

[crazelion]

Staying offsite is great when get a 1 bedroom suite with two beds and 2 TVs and not have share TVs with mom. Plus a free breakfast all for under 100.00 dollars priceless. And have hundreds of restaurants to choose from within walking distance that have cheap food that I will eat. Don't wrong WDW has some nice restaurants put in have know what I want for dinner 180 days out it's not for me. I barely knows what I want to eat that day at all.

As long stay in the tourists areas WDW is a easy drive. Trust me I can barely found my way out of a paper bag.

 

[seashoreCM]

If you have a car you should not have any problems staying off site.

It is the limited shuttle service of off site places that makes a lot of folks anxious especially getting to the parks in time for rope drop and getting a ride at all if you are one of the last folks out at night.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[leanan]

I stayed on sight for the first time in my life on Valentines day. Sometimes it is just good to escape disney for a bit. Be in a normal enviroment. It does not lack in magic. I think it adds to it because you know you can cook yourself a meal in your own little kitchen if you have a condo or rental house. Sure it is a vacation and you should not have to cook but if you wake up in the middle of the night with a craving it is not a problem. Ok that might be the pregnancy talking but like someone else mentioned the full size fridge freezer for drinks is fantastic. Being able to buy a 2 liter at the store for less than a 20 oz soda on property and not having to worry. That is money you save which adds up quick and guess what you make your trip more magical by being able to have more money to spare for stupid err fun stuff in the parks.

 

[karriern]

It's true about the food. Sometimes I want some "REAL" food. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to cook all vacation. But sometimes it is nice to have something simple--esp when you've pigged out on mickey ice cream sands all day. And I can't stand food courts--I feel like I'm eating the same thing over and over--I'm not adventurous. I'm gonna try real hard just to enjoy this vacation--I was a little bit of a drill instructor last time. And it was all because of ADR's--I knew we had to be in this park at this time to eat. And I'm sure ADR's are worse now with so many people doing DDP. I drove my husband crazy

Just going to Disney is MAGIC! You guys are right! Thanks!