Does a spreadsheet comparing on-site vs. off-site pricing exist here?

[cynic710]

Im looking for a spreadsheet or calculator that I can use to compare pricing for staying both on and off site for my next trip. An added bonus would be to compare getting a dining plan or not if i stay on-site.
thanks in advance!

 

[luv]

There are about 1000 hotels in Orlando. It would be very difficult to compare everything.

Offsite will get you a bigger, nicer room than onsite. Onsite, you're in the Disney bubble.

Offsite is cheaper.

Dining plan is more expensive than eating offsite, but eating in the parks is often more convenient. It may or may not save money, but some people prefer to pay more because they'd rather pre-pay it. There are rules about what you can and can't have on the dining plan, but many things are included.

 

[Master Yoda]

There seems to be a spread sheet for everything, but I do not know of one for offsite vs onsite. The physical cost differences would be transportation to and from the airport, parking, rental car, etc. You also then have the intangibles such as time to get to the parks, no EMH, etc.

 

[Figgy1]

I think it will all depend on where you want to stay and if you drive or fly. I figured these things out the old fashioned way with a paper and pen. Last trip we found a condo for $99 a night mid-June $40 a night cheaper than a value. The dining plan makes no sense for us as we prefer our goodies during the nighttime shows. Parking adds $14 per day. Driving saved us $including an night at a hotel for the ride down about $250. Are you a family that is going to make the most of the EMH? There are so many things to take into account, that you just have to know yourself and your family's wants, likes and needs for the trip. Happy planning.

 

[cynic710]

so to make it less broad i should probably add these details...
-we were all but set to get a vacation home through VRBO and found a nice place about 3 miles from the gate. when considering the price plus rental car plus park tix and plane, with $150 a day budgeted for food/spending, it only came in about $80 cheaper than staying at art of animation and getting the basic dining plan. i guess what I was looking for was something that would allow me to plug in all the variables and it would calculate it for me, i just ended up doing it myself in a rare non-lazy moment. so the choice we went with was on-site, now just to figure out the best way to visit universal for 2 days eithout a rental car.

 

[cynic710]

I think it will all depend on where you want to stay and if you drive or fly. I figured these things out the old fashioned way with a paper and pen. Last trip we found a condo for $99 a night mid-June $40 a night cheaper than a value. The dining plan makes no sense for us as we prefer our goodies during the nighttime shows. Parking adds $14 per day. Driving saved us $including an night at a hotel for the ride down about $250. Are you a family that is going to make the most of the EMH? There are so many things to take into account, that you just have to know yourself and your family's wants, likes and needs for the trip. Happy planning.

good points figment! the trip consists of two families, both are a married couple, one grandma and two children, both sets will be 4&2 when we go. we figured the emh would come into play for the 4 of us 29 year olds after the grandmas take the kids back to the hotel, and by staying on-site with shuttles, thats a real easy transition. ive never used ddp but i think it would benefit us as we really enjoy character breakfasts, etc. the parking is another good point that i forgot to consider as well.

as stated above, the only real issue i have is figuring out how to go to uni on 2 different days without a car rental, im looking into mears now...

 

[Hakunamatata]

so to make it less broad i should probably add these details...
-we were all but set to get a vacation home through VRBO and found a nice place about 3 miles from the gate. when considering the price plus rental car plus park tix and plane, with $150 a day budgeted for food/spending, it only came in about $80 cheaper than staying at art of animation and getting the basic dining plan. i guess what I was looking for was something that would allow me to plug in all the variables and it would calculate it for me, i just ended up doing it myself in a rare non-lazy moment. so the choice we went with was on-site, now just to figure out the best way to visit universal for 2 days eithout a rental car.

Taxi or town car service.

 

[dreamfinder]

good points figment! the trip consists of two families, both are a married couple, one grandma and two children, both sets will be 4&2 when we go. we figured the emh would come into play for the 4 of us 29 year olds after the grandmas take the kids back to the hotel, and by staying on-site with shuttles, thats a real easy transition. ive never used ddp but i think it would benefit us as we really enjoy character breakfasts, etc. the parking is another good point that i forgot to consider as well.

as stated above, the only real issue i have is figuring out how to go to uni on 2 different days without a car rental, im looking into mears now...

Or do an on property car rental. You can get cars from the car care center (usually will do pickup/drop off from your Disney hotel), car rental at the Swolphin, as well as most of the DTD area hotels, some right within walking distance of DTD.