Anyone ever stayed off site on their trip?

[fjm777]

Deb Wills, on the wdwig site, recommends the Radisson Resort Parkway next to the parks. I was looking for an opinion from someone who has stayed there.

Any other off site hotel recommendations?

We actually enjoyed our stays at the all stars on past trips but still no discounts available so far. Anyone know if Disney is ever going to have a hotel only discount?


Thanks for the info.

 

[Billy6]

off site accomidations

my family belongs to Marriott vacation club..and the booked me at the Marriott Village's Springfield Suites in oct 2002..There is a Courtyard and a Fairfield all in the same area..in fact their front doors face eachother..It is minutes from DW off of I-4 and 535, near the Downtown Disney and hotel row entrance...

I enjoyed staying there..it was big enough for 3 of us, but sleeps 6..Two Doubles and a pull out in the next room...Small Kitchen and fridge.nice pool area....Plus free breakfast...pretty inexpensive

you can go to the other two hotels for a food court and shopping as well...its right down the road from outlet malls...


Marriott's Springfield Suites Marriott Village at Little Lake Brian

 

[maelstrom]

Well I can say this: don't stay at the Best Western East Gate on 192.. the grounds are beautiful but the rooms are in need of some serious help.

I'm not sure where the Radisson Resort Parkway is, but I think that might be in where that multicoloured Hyatt is on 192. If so, that's a nice area to stay in, as far as I know.

It's been so long since I've really stayed off property (2 nights at that Best Western in May, but I don't count that, it wasn't planned). I'm afraid I wasn't of much help.

 

[DISMUM]

I always stay off site -in a rental home.I prefer the space and freedom it gives me -the parks are only a short drive away-I don't miss ee because from what I gather from friends who use it -its not that brilliant and I can put up with the parking charge.I still get to use all the facilites such as ps and and restaurants so figure I don't miss out on anything -just get a bigger home for a better price.

 

[RogueHabit]

We've only ever stayed onsite once, every other trip has been offsite.

We really only use the hotel as somewhere to dump our stuff, take showers and sleep.

 

[djmatthews]

One our first trip of May 1997 we stayed in the Comfort Suites 192 (now Marriott 4 Points). This is a lovely hotel - very high standards. I loved eating our (included) breakfast each morning on the terrace. On our second trip we had a villa, but there was 6 of us this time - beautiful again. It was nice having our own pool to swim in at 6am.

 

[Katherine]

I've stayed at the Caribe Royale twice. It's very nice and it's really really close to the parks and it's right next to the huge Mariotte resort/Convention Center. It's very nice but I like staying on property better.

 

[Fido]

We always used to stay at the cheaper off-site Kissimmee hotels on the strip (because we only sleep, shower and eat dinner there). The last time we went, we stayed on site, and now we will always be staying in a Disney hotel. Among other things, we like the security provided by them.

Coronado Springs in February!

 

[wdwfan65]

Save your $$ and stay on sight,if not dont stay at a Raddison everyone I've ever stayed in was a dump.good luck

 

[JACKNAG]

Three years ago we stayed at the Royal Plaza (tower room) don't get me wrong there is nothing like staying onsite but we would stay there again if finances dictated. Also they have two beds plus a pullout in a seating area, which made it good for the kids.

Jack

 

[Hochmania]

I stay off site all the time....in fact, I've never stayed onsite. I'm sorry, but I can't rationalize spending uber amounts of cash on a Disney room when the exact room 1-2 miles down the street costs 1/3 of it.

 

[Fido]

Originally posted by Hochmania
I stay off site all the time....in fact, I've never stayed onsite. I'm sorry, but I can't rationalize spending uber amounts of cash on a Disney room when the exact room 1-2 miles down the street costs 1/3 of it.

I agree with you on the money thing (that's why we only stayed offsite until our last trip). However, if you can, you might want to try staying on site sometime (even the All Stars are cool). If you like the parks, you'll probably like the 'Disney' touch that the resorts provide. I will say that they are a little too high priced, but you can always get discounts and deals if you look hard enough. And as I said in my previous post, the guard at the gate checking your resort pass made me feel a lot safer than the other hotels we previously stayed in.

 

[wdwhoneymooner]

Originally posted by maelstrom
Well I can say this: don't stay at the Best Western East Gate on 192.. the grounds are beautiful but the rooms are in need of some serious help.(

That's too bad about your experience @ Best Western. We stayed there once a few years ago (1997) and I guess it was still relatively new so things were in good shape for the price we paid ($30/night?).

If you need a clean place to shower and sleep, please do not book a room at Rodeway Inn on 192W! Although they advertise a low rate you absolutely get what you pay for. Things were in bad shape and when we complained and were transferred to another room, it was not much of an upgrade.

One of the best experiences offsite was renting a home/condo, like DISMUM recommends. Most home rentals are great bargains especially if you travel with a large party. The elbow room and seperate sleeping quarters with full kitchen are pluses.

 

[epcotisbest]

Radisson Resort Parkway is on 192 E. just past 1-4, at the first light after leaving Disney. Take a left on Parkway Blvd., across from Celebration, and it is on the left. The rooms are ok, but the best thing about it is the pool. Wonderful area with a waterfalls and tropical landscaping. The location is very convienent and about as close as you can get to the World Drive entrance. Driving time from Epcot is about 6-8 minutes or less, depending on traffic. We live in Georgia, and always drive down in our own vehicle, so Disney transportation is not a factor. Now, it is nice to stay at a Monorail resort and not have to drive or worry about buses at all, but this is an expensive option for us.

We have been to DWD many times, and have stayed on-site and off-site. As we own two weeks of timeshare, we now stay off-site regularly. We have made exchanges to Orange Lake C.C., Vistana, Hilton GVC, Vacation Villages at Parkway, (across the street from Radisson Resort Parkway) and Sunterra Resorts Grand Beach. Our favorite is Vistana, but all have proven to be wonderful places to stay at prices that don't break the bank.

I bought my timeshare in 1983 at a very reasonable price and we enjoy low maintance fees. If we use our home resort there is no fee to stay there during our week. We exchange it instead and currently the exchange fee is $129.00 per week. So our accomodations cost us $129.00 per week, or a little over $18.00 per night. Not bad for a wonderful two bedroom condo with full kitchen and everthing you could ask for. I don't mean to sound like a commercial for timeshares, it just works out well for us. I've been to the Wilderness Lodge, Poly, GF, and Contemporary. I liked them all and would stay at the WL or GF every trip if I could, but instead choose to stay off property now. I can take the extra $1500.00 to $2000.00 or so I save by staying off property and spend it on Park Hoppers and good resturants. In addition, staying off property, we like to visit other areas, including the other parks, especially Seaworld. My wife likes to do some outlet shopping and there is plenty of that to do. Last December, we drove to a place called Crystal River (about 90 minutes away on the gulf coast) and swam with manatees in the springs there. One of the best adventures we have ever experienced.

Anyway, to sum up my long boring post, Radisson Resort Parkway is in my opinion a nice place that you would probably enjoy. It is smaller and quiter than the All Star resorts, but I have never stayed at All Stars, only visited friends that were staying there. It was a big resort, with lots of families and lots of happy kids, so it seems like a really good place too. You can't go wrong either way.

Ricky

 

[David]

We always stay on site and for the past three trips have stayed at the All Star Resorts. We use our rooms just for changing, sleeping, and showers, so why pay more for a room you don't use that much?. When the parks are open, we are there until they close. We always take advantage of EE, too because you can actually get a lot done in that one hour. As far as going to other non-Disney parks, that's not a problem to get transportation to those.

And a big plus, as mentioned in other posts, is the Disney feel the entire time you are there. Stay off site if you like, but I would recommend taking a close look at the benefits of staying on site.

 

[fjm777]

We stayed on site at the All Stars the first two times we came but this time there are no discounts. We need two rooms and we can stay at the Radisson for $20 less per room per night.

We will be driving when we come (12 hours) so we don't want a package deal because we will check in late and check out early. What we need is a hotel only discount but it doesn't look like there will be any this year.