Worth the extra $$$$$

[Disneyof3]

Okay I have been tossing back and forth between staying onsite at RPR or offsite. Both the hotels I have decided on are nice and newly renovated. The BIG question is: Is it worth staying on site for the extra $700.00 for 4 nights during a time (as per the disboard) isn't really a busy time (March 10-14) so having front of the line isn't really going to be used alot. OR Save the extra 700.00 and stay off site and get a complimentry hot breakfast and shuttle service to US/IOA. Nights we will likely have to take a cab back, but even if it is 10.00 per night it doesn't add up to the 700.00. Thanks everyone, from someone who is really tossed with the idea

 

[ky07]

If its not busy and your on a tight budget then I would stay offsite but after staying at the RPR for the first time this year I can't get DW to stay offsite agian cause its really worth it for how close you are to the parks and a big plus is be able to go back to the hotel resting and taking a shower and then heading back to the parks later .
So to me its worth the extra $700.00

 

[macraven]

if your kids are little and you need nap time, strollers, diaper bags........
i would say yes, staying on site would be a good thing.


if you have teens and no one needs breaks, you could get by staying off site.

take a change of clothes in case you do the water rides at the park.


if you stay on site, you are provided free transportation to wet and wild from your hotel. not knowing the set up of your family, just thought i would throw that in for you.

i have stayed off site when i first started going to universal.

i stayed on site once and was hooked.
i find the convenience of it all was a selling point for me.

if you have the CAA, you can get a discount for the on site room.

 

[blackjackmark]

When you say MArch 10-14 shouldn't be that busy...what lead you to that conclusion? I'm going the following week, and my perception is that we're both going to hit Spring Break. Granted, you're a week earlier, but someone else had posted a poll of when Spring Break is falling this year and there were a fair # of peple reporting that your week is Spring Break for over 6% of the respondents (compared to 24 and 26% for the two biggest weeks in April)

Also, re-check your rate. They just started a "stay for 5 nights, pay for 3" promo that may be available while you're there. It worked for me!

 

[Disneyof3]

Thanks everyone for the help. My kids are use to walking alot and spending all day at the parks. We have done disney the last 4 years in a row and our day usually started at 7am until at least 9-10pm at night. We never went back to the resort and took naps. My kids are 9,12 and 7. No problem for the 7 year old either. He can out do us all. Blackjackmark I asked the crowd level for the week I was heading down in September and the experts here said it wouldn't be that busy. Now we have been to WDW when we haven't used the fast passes and have waited in line for 45min to 1 1/2 hours to get on a ride. The kids are really good and we occupy our time quite well. The week you are heading down is the CANADIAN MARCH BREAK and we all invade Florida like hawks after their prey . I always head down the week before to get less crowds, when the crowds hit, we're usually heading out and over to the inlaws in Clearwater. I tried the special that Blackjackmark suggested it is only saving me 100.00, so now is it worth $600.00 more??? Very tossed and I guess staying onsite at WDW for the past years has spoiled me. I will figure this out but thankyou everyone for the help.

 

[Bluer101]

If its not busy and your on a tight budget then I would stay offsite but after staying at the RPR for the first time this year I can't get DW to stay offsite agian cause its really worth it for how close you are to the parks and a big plus is be able to go back to the hotel resting and taking a shower and then heading back to the parks later .
So to me its worth the extra $700.00

We are the same way now. We used to stay offsite since the early 90's, until this past summer we stayed at RPR for a week. Now we have been 2 other times since and will be there next weekend at RPR.

We used to stay offsite, get up, go to breakfast, arrive at the parks before openning, stay all day, then have dinner in city place, walk back to the car, drive to the hotel, then do it all over again. It was fun and always walked past the resorts after they were built and said thats too much to stay onsite when you can get offsite alot cheaper. That all changed this past summer, we are hooked. Just more relaxing.

 

[ky07]

We are the same way now. We used to stay offsite since the early 90's, until this past summer we stayed at RPR for a week. Now we have been 2 other times since and will be there next weekend at RPR.

We used to stay offsite, get up, go to breakfast, arrive at the parks before openning, stay all day, then have dinner in city place, walk back to the car, drive to the hotel, then do it all over again. It was fun and always walked past the resorts after they were built and said thats too much to stay onsite when you can get offsite alot cheaper. That all changed this past summer, we are hooked. Just more relaxing.

We were the same way and always stayed at Doubletree on major blvd and walked to Universal and take a taxi back and didn't get to spend alot of time at the parks and this past July we stayed at RPR and we went to the parks and went back get a little rest and have early dinner and then back to parks for awhile and was just great and to be able to see the parks at night was great .
Now DW said if we go its RPR or we don't go at all

 

[Disneyof3]

WELL I did it.... I booked on site with the buy 3 nights and get 2 free. It is costing us 600.00 more but the kids were given the option and they choose RPR. They know they will get less spending money but they didn't budge one bit. Thank you everyone for all the advice and help. Knowing nothing about US/IOA and finding the disboard after my first trip to WDW has helped me a lot. I wish there was a board like this for every vacation place I want to go to.

 

[NashvilleTrio]

WELL I did it.... I booked on site with the buy 3 nights and get 2 free. It is costing us 600.00 more but the kids were given the option and they choose RPR.

You are going to have a great vacation. We stayed at the RPR back in 2006 and had a hard time justifying the $129/night rate. Well that all changed after that first on-site trip.

You'll have time to spend at the pool, you'll get to sleep in, ride the attractions and just RELAX. Enjoy your trip.

 

[maggieb9975]

You will have a great time!! I have stayed at both HR and PBH and RPR is next...

something no one mentioned on this thread about staying onsite is the front of the line!!!! No more need for fastpasses like at Disney.......FOTL eliminates practically all lines and the crowds won't matter

 

[maggieb9975]

You will have a great time!! I have stayed at both HR and PBH and RPR is next...

something no one mentioned on this thread about staying onsite is the front of the line!!!! No more need for fastpasses like at Disney.......FOTL eliminates practically all lines and the crowds won't matter

 

[pixeegrl]

Remember to check your rate often. A lot of the times it will go down. Ours went from $259 Super Saver to $126 Super Saver for Christmas week within in a 9 month period. You can just call to have it changed to the lower rate!

 

[Disneyof3]

Thanks again everyone for the help. I will keep checking the price just incase it does go down.

 

[lisaross]

Wow what a huge difference in price...........

Remember to check your rate often. A lot of the times it will go down. Ours went from $259 Super Saver to $126 Super Saver for Christmas week within in a 9 month period. You can just call to have it changed to the lower rate!

 

[jkloni]

You made the right decision. Long time ago, we always stayed offsite. Stayed at HRH for a high school competition about 5 years ago - had to because it was a group. Since then, offsite is not even a considered option. We are going again in March, but just for 2 nights/3 days. My DH will not go if it's not either HRH or RPR. And we're talking $639 for 2 nights, vs $200 offsite for a very nice hotel.... Front of the line is that important. We haven't been to Disney in 6 years because of the convenience of FOTL. And no children are involved...

I think mid-March will be a bit more crowded because it's spring break for many high schools in the USA. Our trip is after a spring break cruise with extended family...

Kathy

 

[Disneyhappy]

Great choice! You will have a wonderful time and it will be much more relaxing with front of the line access. Make sure to take breaks in the afternoon to enjoy the lovely resort and it's pool.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Your kids will love having access to three great pools, too -- One more benefit of staying onsite, poolhopping is not only allowed, it's encouraged!

 

[LovePug]

I know you already made your decision, but I just wanted to say that we went to Universal for the very first time in early November and stayed onsite. It was fantastic and flashing your room key to walk to the FOTL is priceless! I don't think you'll regret your choice.