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Off-Site or On-Site?
- Thread starter Wikkler
- Start date
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
I can't tell you what is more important to you...saving money or being immersed in mouse stuff. I started going to WDW when I didn't have much money at all. Saved up for two years to go. We drove down there in 1983 from Vermont and stayed at an EconoLodge for $20.00 per night. Food was very affordable because there were so many buffets and cafeteria style places. Even places that had a "buy and adult meal, get a child's meal free. We drove on site and went to the parks. We managed to accumulate enough magic to keep me going back for 30 years and 41 separate trips. To this day, I have only stayed on site once and that was to see what everyone was raving about and frankly compared to the rooms, meals and access to things that weren't Disney. Once was the only time I have ever or will ever stay on site unless they offer me a week in the Contemporary absolutely free.
I don't put down those that find that staying on-site is the only way, but I wanted to point out that there are others. The money saved in lodging alone pays for a car rental, parking and meals with some left over. And it offers you the freedom to explore and see other things, like Sea World, Universal, Kennedy Space center, etc.
Someone mentioned that they got into problems due to the hotel shuttle offered off-site. My advice is do not rely on those. If you cannot have your own transportation either by bringing it with you or renting, stay on site.
Do what your budget allows, try and be realistic about expenses and choose whatever works for you. You will have a lot more fun and enjoy the "magic" if you are not worried about how you are going to pay for all this stuff.
I don't put down those that find that staying on-site is the only way, but I wanted to point out that there are others. The money saved in lodging alone pays for a car rental, parking and meals with some left over. And it offers you the freedom to explore and see other things, like Sea World, Universal, Kennedy Space center, etc.
Someone mentioned that they got into problems due to the hotel shuttle offered off-site. My advice is do not rely on those. If you cannot have your own transportation either by bringing it with you or renting, stay on site.
Do what your budget allows, try and be realistic about expenses and choose whatever works for you. You will have a lot more fun and enjoy the "magic" if you are not worried about how you are going to pay for all this stuff.
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juniorthomas
Well-Known Member
On-property is a completely different experience. It's a fantastic feeling knowing that your park experience can come back home with you, so to speak. If you're off-property, you have to wait to get back into the parks to have more fun. If you are on-property, there's that much more opportunity for magic to sneak up and surprise you.
My vote is and will always be: on-property.
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Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
I'm sure you will love it. It is a great place to go onsite or offsite. A little more is required of you offsite, but many more opportunities exist as well. As for taking home the feel, well, I always left with a warm feeling and carried it back to the hotel with me, but, honestly, 95% of my after park time was spent sound asleep so, to me, surroundings all look the same in the dark.
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I'd highly recommend on site.Because of the Florida heat and how much you walk ,most people going on disney holidays need an afternoon break ,if you're on site you don't waste too much time doing this.Also ,extra magic hours in the morning are very useful for rides like soarin and toy story mania
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luv
Well-Known Member
It depends on what you want and what sort of compromises you're prepared to make.
If you want world-class service, you will have to go offsite. But then you don't get the EMHs. If you want a lot of space without spending thousands a night - again, offsite.
If you want the EMHs and to stay "in the Disney bubble" (whatever that is, exactly, lol), you need to stay on site. You'll get less space for your money, though, no matter the price range.
This is something everyone has to decide for themselves and there is no bad decision.
If you want world-class service, you will have to go offsite. But then you don't get the EMHs. If you want a lot of space without spending thousands a night - again, offsite.
If you want the EMHs and to stay "in the Disney bubble" (whatever that is, exactly, lol), you need to stay on site. You'll get less space for your money, though, no matter the price range.
This is something everyone has to decide for themselves and there is no bad decision.
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luv
Well-Known Member
There are plenty of places to stay that will add only 5 or 10 minutes to a commute.
Heck, there are offsite places that are actually CLOSER than some Disney hotels, depending on where you happen to be on the WDW property. You could spend more time driving to your Disney hotel than you would to your offsite place.
Though it can be, commuting is not always an issue. And it opens a lot of doors that are closed if you never leave the Disney property.
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eddiemcgarrigle
Well-Known Member
The $900 difference would quickly be no difference if you include the free DDP and free parking.
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Figgy1
Well-Known Member
Not every post!
I'm trying to stay upbeat with the snow falling around me! Besides I'm staying off sight for my June visit! 4 br 3 bath $100 a night 4 mile drive in the am got tickets through AAA so instead of a 5 day visit I'm getting 10 park days and a day just for DTD!
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luvtink
Active Member
On site is the only way to go. If money is tight, stay at a value. I would recommend POP. The benefits are worth it and would take the actual per night price down to be very close to off-site. We stayed at a Condo offsite that bordered WDW property for really no money because we just traded points and we ended up onsite. You miss the Disney theming, free parking, extra magic hours, transportation, traffic lights and headaches and ease of food after a long day at the park. The extra magic hours will allow you to also get to your favorite (and everyone else's favorite) attractions before the park opens or after it closes which would be very difficult to do being limited to normal park hours even with fast passes. Once you stay onsite you will never stay offsite again.
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Stu bailey
Well-Known Member
It is not a "silly" question, but there is only one answer. On-site.
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Susan Savia
Well-Known Member
Offsite guests Can and Do have just as magical a vacation as any other guests. Why do folks think we can't have any fun? It doesn't matter to us when we close our eyes at night if there are Disney room decorations or Mickey soaps. Yes, it's true we often explore places like Busch Gardens or Sea World as well. We have free parking with our APs and avoid the crowded busses and long waits for them that so many complain about.. We can go for two weeks at a time for what it costs to stay onsite for a few days. When we're only really in our room to sleep, why do we need a pricey motel room? There are many nice places to dine offsite as well. Our choice is and will always be to stay offsite.
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real mad hatter
Well-Known Member
Iam not too sure I like that or not.Och well,I'll give you a like,wither you like it or not.Whats not to like about liking,unless you don't like it.Not every post!
All these likes I'am getting dizzy.
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