Would you rather stay at a mid to upper level Marriott off-site, or a Value?

[Mrs. Ciz]

c) skip the trip entirely. go back when we can stay WDW deluxe or DVC

we have had similar discussions:
- what if you won a vacation at an offsite hotel?
most of our family & friends said the same as i did: use it only if not going to WDW, else give it away.
- what if you won a vacation, staying at a WDW value?
more said they would take this option. quite a few (including ourselves), would only go if we could pay for an upgrade to deluxe or DVC. else, we would again, give it away.

there are certain criteria that makes a WDW trip a vacation for us:
- entertainment (parks, mini-golf, community hall, beautiful strolls, etc) & dining options within walking distance
- views from our balcony (we dislike views of parking lots, streets, and/or sterile buildings)
- quiet pools, quiet nooks around the resort
- beautiful architecture, interesting decor (especially when there is a story behind the pieces)
- friendliness of staff

privacy and roominess matter also

Keep me in mind if you or your friends ever do win one of those trips!!! I'd take any of them in a heartbeat!

Really though I have done both - gorgeous timeshare offsite and a value. I would usually choose a timeshare if my whole family is going and we are driving. I would choose a value if only two of us are going and we are flying.

 

[jkahne9]

Port Orleans is our deluxe, otherwise, Value is perfect for us. We will stay on site every time, but , there are great reasons to stay offsite as well. To each his own.

 

[Magalex]

I'm staying at the Renaissance across from sea world again this weekend, we were there last weekend. They have great rates right now, a food credit, and I get free parking with my hybrid. Wonderful pool areas for little kids (like the Nick Hotel) and adults. It is my choice over any value resort now. We like to play in the arcades but not stay in the paper thin walled rooms with tiny beds. It's also cheaper than a value resort now. And it has a Starbucks in the lobby, if you like that sort of thing.

We stayed in Marriott village last month and I wasn't impressed so we won't go back there.

However, if I were staying for a longer period of time, if I were a newbie to disney World, or if this was my only trip for 5 years or so i would stay onsite, no matter what hotel level just for the immersiveness. I go several times a month so I get a dose of pixie dust and go home. Where I sleep doesn't matter, I drive so I know the best ways to go, and it's easy for me.

We usually stay on-site and values don't bother us (but we never had any major complaints similar to the ones that is posted on the boards) so we have always been very happy with all Disney resorts visits. Now next year we are putting a different spin to our Orlando vacation. We are planning a full Sea World/Aquatica vacation next late June for the start of summer nights at Sea World. We are planning on staying at one of the official Sea World hotels. Leaning towards the Renaissance but also considering the new Springhill Suites right across the street. So it will be very very diffferent for us not staying at a Disney resort. But to us the Renaissance will be similar to a deluxe hotel and that will be exciting

 

[kim929]

I would always prefer to stay on site. I live with the cramped room.

 

[JimS4210]

I'd stay offsite before a Value. I'm on vacation and don't want to spend it in a cramped hotel room with screaming kids running outside my hotel room at all hours of the night.

Fortunately, I'm DVC so I don't have to worry about where I'm staying

Jim

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

Depends on the size of your traveling party. I would much prefer staying onsite. I made the mistake of staying offsite last year, never again.

 

[Darthbane2007]

Like others have said, Things such as the length of stay, The size of your traveling party as well as how much you are willing to pay are the deciding factors.

Myself I would stay at a value resort first...

 

[NightStar]

I would much rather stay in the value. I loved being immersed in the Disney experience 24/7. The other resorts don't have that "magic". I have stayed off-site before and it is not the same. If I had a huge family it might be different but, for now, it is just my Fiancé and I.

 

[DisneyAllyC]

Value. The resorts are awesome and you're on property so its way more convenient

 

[sweetnjmom]

I strongly disliked my stay at All Stars Music, though I was with a friend and the double bed wasn't awful. It was the super thin walls and the noise level. I barely slept and I need sleep to function. That's just me.

My husband and I stayed at a relative's timeshare (well swap) and had a great time despite being off property. It was literally a 10 minute drive to most parks (resort on Lake Bryan) and we had breakfast in the timeshare. We had meals in the parks (Sci Fi, Chefs de France) and Downtown Disney (oddly, Planet Hollywood and House of Blues) and a TGI Fridays.

This time we had the option to stay in a timeshare (15 minutes away) but I opted to be on property for my son's 1st time at Disney.

A lot of depends on the time of year, crowds, if there are a lot of EMH that you'll partake of (especially during warmer months, when the parks are open later), you may prefer a value. But for slower times, I think you may like a nicer hotel/resort.

 

[catra121]

I would stay value...being onsite is extremely important to me.

But for me the room is just a place to sleep...I don't use the pool, hot tubs, etc at the resort.

Onsite for me is more about convenience which is the number one thing that makes Disney my favorite vacation spot.

I don't need to drive...ME picks me up at the airport, Disney transports me anywhere I need to go while I am there, and drops me off at the airport when I am done.

Disney transportation runs continuously...no schedules to remember and gives me the flexibility to come and go as I please.

If I buy something in the parks I can have it delivered to my resort...no need to carry something around the parks all day and no reason to wait to buy something until the end of the day.

Dining plan...love the convenience of this and the freedom I feel not having to look at prices on the menu.

KTTW card/magic band that combines my park ticket, room key, credit card, dining plan, and (now) fastpasses all in one. LOVE that convenience.

And just the atmosphere overall (so happy and Disney) and the safety I feel being in the Disney bubble. I've been to Disney solo and it is one of the only places I feel safe traveling to on my own.

So...value all the way for me...worth every penny.

 

[Mrsjvb]

Can you share your thoughts on a very friendly debate I'm having with a family member? Would you rather stay at an off-property Marriott of higher quality than a Disney Value resort, or at a Value?

Does length of stay make a difference? One night vs. 10 nights? This is all hypothetical, so let's assume cost difference is negligible.

Thanks!

VP

neither to be honest.. i refuse to stay in Values for a variety of reasons but have no interest in staying off site no matter how good the price is.. I'll just save an extra year to be able to afford the on site resort I want.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

Value over offsite for me!

 

[Haygar2]

If your only choices are off site or value, I would have to go with value. To get the whole Disney experience you need to stay on property. Something magical about staying on property.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I'd much rather stay home then have to stay offsite. We have stayed offsite for one evening, if we arrived late or wasn't able to get an onsite room for that late arrival, but not for an entire stay. And we have stayed at every level of resort from Value to Deluxe, to Villa, to Ft Wilderness cabin and even Shades of Green.

 

[CruisinEars]

We always stay at a Marriott offsite. I prefer the Residence Inn because I like a full kitchen for snacks and the onsite breakfast. We also travel with our 2 kids and like the space and get a 2nd room for them. We stayed last Holiday time at the Renaissance by Sea World and it was really nice. We always have a rental car and prefer food offsite and hitting the grocery store.

This trip, leaving Sunday, is just my hubby and me for a work conference. Company is paying so we are at the Contemporary. Haven't stayed onsite in years.

 

[lvillotta1]

Hands down we will always stay at Value. We love Art of Animation. We go in Jan every year and it is quiet with nice temps in the 80's. We use all the pools and sleep in late and really do not have a schedule. When we are on vacation it is laid back. Get to the parks when we want to and stay late. We take one whole day and spend it at the resort and downtown Disney. We are a mom with 2 kids so the values are wonderful to us. I love that I can check in on line from home and when we arrive we are ready to go. I have even checked in early and have always gotten our room. We love the ME. It is nice that AOA has their own bus and is not shared by the other all star resorts. Good food court and yes we use the DDP. The first time we were at Disney we had all the TS meals etc. What a disaster. I hated having to be some place to eat at certain times. We do CS and it works out great. Some of our favorite food is at Downtown Disney so we will be there quite often. I would say we take total advantage of the whole entire package. There are not really any good deals for us in the time of year we go so we just always plan ahead and save all year. We hope to go every year for many years to come.

 

[supradupafast]

No debate. I'd stay onsite. A vacation means not having to worry about transportation. Let Disney do it all, including worry about getting your luggage From airport to your room. I've never tried "Value", but will for the first time in November @ Pop.

 

[CableKC]

Always onsite....just so that I don't to drive back and forth...one less thing I have to do on vacation...especially when I'm dead tired at the end of the day. It's mere convenience....I'm on vacation....I'll let Disney Transportation drive me home

 

[Stinky_Pete]

I currently have a reservation at a Disney value, but I am not wedded to it. But between the Magical Express and Disney's on site bus transport, it truly is a value. Not that I'm looking forward to the on site bus transport...

I love when I read on here so many people who use "I don't want to drive" as the reason they want to stay on property. Really?!? You love riding buses that much? I can ride buses at home. I don't want to ride them on vacation. I would much rather drive at Disney - it's very easy to drive from the airport and around property.

I am still investigating the Courtyard in the Marriott village. If I could stay there, and rent a car, for the same or less cost as staying at a Disney value, I would do it. There was a Mousesavers rate for the Courtyard that included full breakfast, and that might sway me if the extend it for my dates.

But I really prefer Hampton Inn, and like the one on Palm Parkway, so I'm still looking at that.

I used to stay at Disney deluxe resorts. But they have raised the prices so much over the past few years I refuse to pay it for the little that you get.