new here and saying hi and

[twoweirdos]

curious as to where everyone stays for WDW
DH and I are at the very start of pre planning another trip to WDW
Last wtime we went was maybe 5 years ago and i know much has changed
we couldnt afford then to stay on property
Now..we still cant...lol..but may anyway heheheheh
what makes you want to stay ON CAMPUS and what makes you want to NOT?TiA

 

[twoweirdos]

ooopps Im sorry

I just realised i poste in the wrong thread
can anyone move it or should I just delete?
Trying to do too many things at once

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

1) Welcome aboard :wave:
2) Don't worry - it'll get moved.
3) Many arguments on here re pros and cons of staying on site. If you can afford it - do it, its great. If you can't you can still have as much fun AND save $$ while doing so. The secret is to enjoy your trip without worrying where the next $ is coming from - so stick to your budget

 

[JohnLocke]

curious as to where everyone stays for WDW
DH and I are at the very start of pre planning another trip to WDW
Last wtime we went was maybe 5 years ago and i know much has changed
we couldnt afford then to stay on property
Now..we still cant...lol..but may anyway heheheheh
what makes you want to stay ON CAMPUS and what makes you want to NOT?TiA

I would say stay on property, if you can. I could be wrong, but with the money you will probably save on the gas commuting from your hotel off site and the amount you will save on not having to pay to park, you will probably be fairly close to the difference between a value resort and an offsite hotel per night.

Parking is 14 dollars a day now, at least that's according to allears, so you can save a lot of time, money, and convenience by staying on site.

 

[smk]

If you can time your trip to take advantage of the deals that are offered then staying on property is the only thing that makes sense. We just booked a September trip (well, we booked last month) and we took advantage of the offer to save 40%. It is a great deal, such a good deal that we booked two rooms so we can all spread out. Deals seems to be more prevelant in the summer months, heading into fall. Like free dining and % off room deals. I don't know that there are any deals left now except free dining offers but it is worth looking into.

 

[Tomi-Rocket]

stay on property.....

Hi there and welcome to WDWmagic! It's fun to come here and see people that love WDW as much as I do. I don't feel as much like a weirdo! LOL

Anyway, if you can swing it I would stay on property. There isn't anything that could make me stay off property! I love everything about staying on property, no matter where you stay you get the Disney "experience". Every hotel is themed and they go all out - from the rooms, to the pools, to the CM's. We've stayed at all three types value, moderate and deluxe. We haven't had a bad experience at any of them.

Have you checked into the value hotels? They can be cheaper than some off property. Just thought I'd suggest it.

 

[zurgandfriend]

Welcome!

We are an "on property family" Disney Magical Express, Disney transportation and extra magic hours are some on the advantages.

I always recommend ordering the Disney planning vacation DVD, se the Disney website

Reading the threads on WDW magic and the resort & restaurant reviews on allearsnet.com.

Obtain a copy of the Unofficial Guide to WDW and the library or bookstore.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[harveyt0206]

Hello and welcome to the boards. :wave:

Add another mark to the "on site" column. We actually love staying on property so much that we have decided that we won't go if we can't afford to stay on site. We simply love being totally immersed in the Disney magic. I also love the all inclusiveness of staying on site. Transportation....extra magic hours....well themed resorts....all of it play a part in our decision.

That's just our preference. Hope you have a great trip, regardless of whether you stay on site or off.

 

[Mukta]

I stay on property because . . .
I love DME. I have to fly to Orlando and I really appreciate the free transportation back and forth from the airport.
Disney transportation. I don't want to drive on my vacation and I love not having to.
Proximity. Since I usually stay at the BC, I love walking to Epcot and taking the boat to DHS.
The room sizes are also fine for me. I don't have kids and the rooms are great for 2 adults.
Disney immersion. I love the way Disney themes their hotels. Each one is special and never ordinary.

 

[LudwigVonDrake]

Welcome :wave:

You have to stay on property to be in the "middle of the magic". If I can't afford to stay on property I ain't stayin' :lol:

 

[cowanfamily]

On property all the time. Get submerged in the magic!

 

[Stellajack]

curious as to where everyone stays for WDW
DH and I are at the very start of pre planning another trip to WDW
Last wtime we went was maybe 5 years ago and i know much has changed
we couldnt afford then to stay on property
Now..we still cant...lol..but may anyway heheheheh
what makes you want to stay ON CAMPUS and what makes you want to NOT?TiA

Hello twoweirdos! Welcome! Just remember to keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times, cause things can get pretty rough!

We stay on property usually for a week. We have never gone off site to other venues, so it is more convenient for us to stay on site.

We usually try to go during moderate or value season when prices are not through the roof and temps are not so hot. This year we rec'd the 40% room discount PIN and decided to take advantage of it. Hope your planning goes well for your trip.

 

[meganw1985]

Welcome! :wave:
The reasons we stay on property are:
1) As soon as we land at the airport, the magic starts! With Magical Express, you can go straight from your plane, to the Disney bus, to the hotel. It's wonderful, extremely convenient, and saves major $$$ on a rental car for the week that you don't really need.
2) The theming of the resorts are fantastic and unlike anything you would find elsewhere! (Well, the values at least. You could find resorts like the mods and deluxes elsewhere, but have to travel all over the world to do it, and here you just have to go a couple miles!) The theming starts at the resort gate, and goes all the way down to the bedspreads! It is magical!
3) Disney has made staying on property very affordable. For example, in my upcoming trip, Pop Century (our favorite value) was going to be $82/night. We are instead staying our first night at Universal so we can go there for a day, and that room ended up being $96/nt. Not too much diff for one night, but for a whole week it might! (We are then staying the next 6 nights at Animal Kingdom Lodge).
4) The convenience is unbelievable. You get up, walk out side, and a bus/boat/monorail picks you up and takes you WHEREVER you want to go, right to the front door! You don't have to drive several miles from outside the World, wait in line to pay for parking, park, walk a mile, THEN take a monorail and STILL have to walk, yada yada yada. Also saves major $$$ on parking.
5) You also get EMH! We try to take advantage of this as much as possible, as if you go early in the AM, there is usually NOONE there. You can tour a whole park in one morning if you do it right! That in turn gives you more time to do other things!
6) You get access to Disney TV! Which is WAY more magical than regular TV!:lol:

I could come up with tons more, but won't make this any longer. I LOOOOOOVE Disney property! It's taking all I can do to stay off property for one night to go to Universal for one day! And I firmly believe that with all the convenience and little bits of money you save here and there, it will be over worth it, even if you find a room cheaper somewhere else. Some people are afraid to stay on Disney property for a whole week, "I'll get bored, it will be too much magic, too many kids" etc. There's so much to do, you won't get bored, most of the resorts aren't even "Disney" themed, and it's so big, if you aren't in a park in line for a "kiddie ride" you don't hardly notice kids!

 

[WDW_Emily]

Welcome
stay on property!!! my family is one that also has trouble affording to stay on property so we stay at the values. out of the values I love pop century! the busses are great, the theming is good, its just a nice resort over all.

We are currently looking into going in between thanksgiving and christmas and certain weeks during that time are considered the "value" or "regular" season this meals hotels are cheeper. so for a week at pop in april when we normally go it around $1,000 . If we decide to go in the "value" time, it knocks the price down to around $650.

 

[goofykt]

I know there are going to be some people that think we're idiots & throwing away our money after I say this, but...whatever.

My grandparents bought a condo in Winter Park, FL (part of the greater Orlando area) for the entire family to use for vacations, but my husband and I love staying on property so much that we forgo the free condo every year and stay at Disney. I used to stay at the condo when I went with my family growing up, but a few years back the DH and I decided to stay on property for a change because we'd heard so many good things about it. We fell in love. It's so nice being shuttled to and from the airport, and to and from the parks...and it was an entirely different experience for us, because the "magic" wasn't broken by driving back and forth from the "real world". You're immersed in the Disney magic for an entire week and really don't have to worry about anything because Disney takes care of it all! We'll never stay off-property again if we can help it.

 

[NYwdwfan]

Another vote for staying on site! Disney definitely has a way of making all aspects of the vacation magical. I would recommend registering your email and regular mail addresses at the WDW wesbite so when they get around to their random mailing of pin codes you will hopefully receive one - 40% off hotel definitely makes the trip more affordable!!

 

[SAV]

Since I have now stayed on-site and off-site, I can finally speak to this dilemma. Heck, last trip alone we were on site for 4 nights and off for 3.

If cost isn't an object or you get a great deal(Kids stay, eat & play for free), then stay on-site. If cost is a big factor, then stay off-site. We always rent a car since we do a beach stay after Disney, so I don't consider that an "extra" cost...you may have to. We aren't big eaters, so DDP isn't a "must" for us. It was nice, but not something I have to have each time now.

You will hear "magic" mentioned when people talk about on-site stays(read this thread). Even after doing it, there isn't anything "magical" about on-property. It is well themed and you are totally immersed for sure, but not "magical". You are paying a premium for those shuttles, employees, etc, so they better be good.

Off site you will get: Larger rooms and more bang for your buck. Not to mention the opportunity to get away from the Disney 24/7 experience/chaos. Even after paying the $14 for parking, it would still be cheaper off-site(using discounts/coupons). And what do you miss out on? Waiting in more lines for a crowded, sometimes stinky bus. Nice Theming. Being "trapped" on-site and having to pay Disney prices for things. Off-site does offer shuttle service. While it may not be as often as a on-site, they do have them. Again...what are you willing to pay for that?

When I did the math for the last trip, I came out about the same cost staying part on and part off-site than it would have been for off-site entirely. The only reason is because of the Pin code I got which was Kids stay, eat and play for "free". If I didn't, I would have saved at least $500 - $600, if not more staying off-site for the whole thing. Now to me saving that much $$ is magical.

Basically, don't feel "guilty" about staying off-site. The parks are the same experience staying on or off. If staying off and saving money is the only way to go, then by all means stay off-site. That was the only way we could afford to go to WDW every year. Or it would be go once every 3 years.

 

[Susan Savia]

I think your experience at Disney World is magical whether or not your stay involves staying onsite or off. Our preference has always been to stay offsite. Our lodging is one mile outside of the gates and since we are AP holders there's no parking fees and since we go off season there's no long lines thru the ticket gates or que lines for rides. $100 a night for a value is not much value, if you don't get a fridge, microwave or complimentary breakfast included, parking at your door and having to wait on crowded busses. Our lodging is surrounded by nice economical restaurants. It's a choice by all means and our choice is l0 days at Disney World and not breaking the bank to do it.

 

[toolsnspools]

Welcome to the boards!.

Not to dodge the question, but the real answer is that it depends... If you are planning on spending a few days at non-Disney parks or other off-site activities, then staying off-site might make more sense. I stay both on and off-site when I'm there, depending on what I plan to do. If you are planning on a trip that is spent entirely in the Disney Parks, you can usually offset the extra costs of the hotel, by not paying for a rental car, or paying the parking fees. Disney transportation is pretty good. Look through the options for the Disney Dining Plan (DDP) as well. Staying on property allows you access to the DDP.

BTW - Since it's just the two of you, find an off-season time to go if at all possible. There are a lot of good deals in the off-season, and the crowds will be light.

 

[pixiesteno]

Hi welcome to the boards.
You will find that we are a bit of a diverse crowd around here as far as planning preferences. The biggest thing that I would say when you are going to plan a trip is don't discount staying on-property because you think it might be too expensive. As others have stated there are some astronomical deals to be had. A great deal of how you work things out is what kind of travel do you like to do:
Do you prefer to drive or fly
Are you used to regular meals or just snacking eaters
what time of year can you go
do you have alternate off-site lodging available (time-share, fam condo, etc)
All these things can affect your travel plans and costs and they will change over time.
We flew for several trips, rented a car. Then flew and used ME and internal buses, we have driven for several trips, and the up coming trip we will be bring our 29 ft travel trailer for a stay at FW campground. Each trip is different and it's all good because you are at Disney.
Personally, DH and I like to drive down. If I were to go on a "girls trip" with my DSIL and good friend, we would probably hop on a plane and do the ME and bus thing. Although I have to admit I really don't like to fly.
So, you can get lots of advice and information here and then see what works best for you.