On site or off site...does it really matter?

[Joy Peace]

What is your opinion on staying on or off WDW proterty? Does it really matter and if so where are your favorite places to stay? I want to know the good the bad and the ugly

Joy Peace

 

[wdwmomof3]

Well, I love staying onsite for all of the same reasons that have been talked about but I have stayed offsite once and it was fine. We stayed on Disney property but not at a Disney hotel, so it wasn't so bad. Actually, it was pretty nice but I had rather be at a Disney Resort.

 

[Cane27]

As a family we stay at either the Residence Inn LBV or the one at Sea World, whichever is cheaper at that given time. The rooms are great, very spacious, and with a family it helps tremendously to have the full breakfast buffet in the morning included-saves you 30-40 bucks right there. And with my credit card I always have enough Marriott vouchers to cover the bill or the vast majority of it.
I know that I have to pay the 11 bucks to park, but getting around the World by car is much easier and quicker than taking the buses. The only advantage to the buses is with MK and skipping the TTC.
My wife and I were there a month ago by ourselves and stayed at PORFQ. I remember waiting 45 minutes outside of DHS waiting on a bus.
And sometimes it's nice to get a break from Disney food.

 

[surfsupdon]

I love staying onsite, I really do.
But I'm a sucker for doing it.

 

[jim1051]

Only on site. We park hop alot, also we like to return to resort for nap or swim after lunch, then back at it for dinner and evening. Staying off site during busy times is impossible. Even staying on site we occasionally use a car if pressed for time for a dinner ressy or event.

We like to stay at Epcot resorts, you can walk to Studio or epcot, only using buses for MK or Ak.

 

[StingraySam]

On Site always!
Our stays are usually only for 2-3 nights so when we are there we like to take it all in and forget about the outside world. The flexability that if some of us want to go to one park or back to the room early and the others want to go to another or stay at a park longer we can just hop on the bus and go our separate ways for awhile. Also I do not like to carry alot of cash with me so being able to charge everything to my room is quite a plus also.

 

[JustPlainBill]

Yes, it matters a great deal!

Staying in the parks gives you immediate access to Disney transportation.

You get EMH (Extra Magic Hours) meaning that on certain days parks open an hour early or for 3 hours in the evening, only for resort guests.

The drive in can take up to an hour (each way) off of your day plus parking fee's. Plus the longer walks from the parking lot, plus getting lost on Disney roads.

Disney hotels are themed (some more than others) adding to the overall immersion into the parks.

Cost is not that different (depending on level of service).

You have many options available to you; Budget, Moderate and Deluxe, and depending on time of year/discounts, budget can be $70-150, Mederate $100-200, and Deluxe $200-400. Mix into that concierge service, plus rooms and suites (includes washer/dryer, kitchen, jacuzzi) to meet any level of service. The Disney site has good information on differences, as does this site, allearsnet.com and many others. Determine your budget and what you want from the experience.

One more thing to remember is if you're like me and you want to make ADRs 180 days in advance for the hard to get into venues on-property, you can only do so if you have a confirmation number for a Disney resort.
I only stay on property.

 

[tigsmom]

Stayed off site when I was a teen and there was just the MK, didn't like having to drive to the parks and wait for the ferry.

We always stay on site now for the convenience as well as the atmosphere.
There are perks for those staying on site as others have mentioned. We always take a break in the middle of the day and its easier to do so (wastes less time) when you are staying on site.

We usually stay at the WL, but have tried a few others as well. All the hotels have their strong points and weaknesses.

 

[DisneyJoe]

One more thing to remember is if you're like me and you want to make ADRs 180 days in advance for the hard to get into venues on-property, you can only do so if you have a confirmation number for a Disney resort.

Clarification - those who are onsite can make ADR's 180 days in advance for up to 10 days of their trip - in other words, for a 7-day trip, with one phone call 180 days from the first day, you can make the ADR's for your entire trip.

Off-site guests need to call back 180 days ahead of each day that they want an ADR for.

 

[KCMouse]

On site only for me. I have stayed off site and hated it. I like being able to toss my car keys aside for a week. I don't care about waiting for the bus and being packed in like sardines. Not having to drive is part of the magic for me.

I also agree that you lose something when you leave every night and have to come back in the morning. It feels like you are going back to reality every night.

Off site properties don't have the great Top Must See's video running on constant loop. There is just something about that video that makes you watch it over and over again.

I also like not having to worry about luggage. The DME is awesome. Never had a problem with it. Then when leaving, being able to check bags in the lobby is the best.

 

[Mikester71]

On site....so you get the WHOLE WDW experience for sure. Plus, the transportation is a huge plus and just being around everything Disney makes it that much more magical. We have only stayed at Pop Century, but we love it there and look forward to bunking up there next year again! :wave:

 

[MousDad]

Looks like I will be one of the few dissenting voices. I will preface this by saying I have never stayed onsite. I'll give the reasons I haven't below. I'm sure staying on site is a blast.

That being said . . .

We are going in June (family of 4), staying 6 nights in a condo that is about a 10-15 minute drive to any of the parks, door to parking space. We will have 2 separate bedrooms, kitchen, laundry and the usual resort amenities. The cost is about 1/2 to 2/3 of a value room on property. Probably about 1/4 the cost of a deluxe, or 2 BR DVC. Not only do I like saving several hundred dollars, but

1) I avoid EMH parks like the plague so this perk means nothing to me.
2) I prefer driving to the parks and having my freedom. 10-15 minutes in a car to each park works fine for me. I don't mind paying $11 a day to park.
3) I would not personally want to be tied to Disney transportation all week. Standing in line for a bus everywhere I want to go does not sound fun to me.
4) If we have to sleep more than 1 night crowded into a hotel room as a family, we all get really tired and cranky. We prefer the space.
5) I am not interested in purchasing DVC.
6) Renting DVC points is a major pain.
7) We don't mind making our own beds.
8) We like having a kitchen on vacation.
9) We get plenty of Disney atmosphere touring the parks, DTD, touring the resorts, etc.

Like I said, these are my reasons for normally staying off property. Not trying to start an argument, just sharing. I fully realize that others will disagree. I'm sure I would have a great time staying on property and probably will someday.

 

[Justin Jones]

For us, it's a matter of comparing an on-site HOTEL ROOM versus an off-site VACATION HOME. There is a big difference for our family. We have 2 kids and all of us get better sleep when we don't have to share a tiny room. We usually rent a home or condo (both have been 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, full kitchen, pool, and laundry facility) fully decorated in Disney gear, I might add, for as little as $79 per night (off season, in October). We can afford to go every year (for the last 3 years and probably this year too) because we stay in a off-site home (NOT a typical hotel rooom. If this were the case, then I'd spend the extra cash to stay on-site.)

It depends on your priorities for your vacation. From the front door of our most recent vacation condo to the gates of Magic Kingdom took us less than 20 minutes (that included parking, taking the tram, the monorail and getting through the gates). Is that typical with all other Disney transportation? I don't know, I've never stayed on site, but that seems pretty quick to me. I personally would rather sit in the comfort of my own car after a long, warm day at the parks than on a loud, warm bus, but that's just me. (Perhaps I don't see much benefit to Disney transportation because we go during the off season and spend VERY little time getting to our van and leaving the parks. It's always been very quick, very convenient and we've never encountered any traffic while coming to or from the parks.)

Our priorities are to have personal space for sleeping (kids in one room, my husband and I in another), breakfast in our home (we get better food, quicker and cheaper) and an opportunity to return next year because we haven't spent too much on a room that we won't spend oodles of time in. The house it quieter - I don't have to listen to someone yelling at their kids in the room next door, kids running down the hallway as I'm falling asleep, etc. We just prefer the convenience, quiet and lower cost of a vacation home rental to the Disney hotel resorts.

Because we go in the off season, EMH wouldn't be a necessary benefit for us. We usually make it through the entire park we're in on any given day, so we don't need the extra time to go on the attractions while the "day guests" are not in the park.

It all depends on what makes you happy. Good luck with your decision.

WDW buses are just the opposite of what you describe. At the end of the day, the lights are off, and the buses are very cool. Usually people are so tired (from a long day in the park) that half of everyone is dosing off. It's nice to have someone else (the bus driver) do the driving when everyone in your party is exhausted at the end of the day. It's much safer too.

 

[tigsmom]

WDW buses are just the opposite of what you describe. At the end of the day, the lights are off, and the buses are very cool. Usually people are so tired (from a long day in the park) that half of everyone is dosing off. It's nice to have someone else (the bus driver) do the driving when everyone in your party is exhausted at the end of the day. It's much safer too.

I agree. And its nice not having to fight the traffic getting out of the parking lots is a big bonus.

 

[Cane27]

I agree. And its nice not having to fight the traffic getting out of the parking lots is a big bonus.

I have found that at the end of the day it is often easier to get out of the park in your car than it is to wait in a long line for a packed bus.

 

[Tinkerbella16]

We stay on property every year and I wouldn't have it any other way. It's part of the magic for us. As soon as we arrive in Orlando, catch the DME bus and pull up to our resort, everything in the "real world" is gone from our minds, and I never think about anything from back home till I arrive back at the airport to leave. Yes, like some have said, it can be cheaper to stay off-site. But it is also cheaper staying on-site with all of the packages, and discounts that disney offers for guests staying in the resorts. The resorts have become so close to me...that like most of you here, Resort Hopping is a must-do at least once during our vacation. I love it. My favorite resort on property, I've never even stayed at before...the Poly!!! I love it there. It is absolutly gorgeous and we always eat there, but I havent stayed there yet lol. Disney transportation is such a plus when staying on property too. We never rent a car, so we use it to our full advantage to get everywhere. I think the busses have become part of the disney magic for us over the years also...Like my sister says before every trip, "I can't wait to sit on the cold, hard, purple seats!!!!"

Theres so much that Disney offers when staying on-property, so we think that everything is fully worth it. I cant wait to go back!!!

 

[palmage]

I do both a lot.

Living close we have a car, so Disney transportation has no advantage to us.

We stay at the Deluxes on-site a lot and love them all.

When we're on more of a budget (which seems to be more often) we'll stay off-site so we can have deluxe accamodations at moderate and somtimes value prices.

To us the magic is being in the Disney area, we stay at the "Hotel Row" accomdations a lot.

We aren't die-hards so EMH isn't that important either.

 

[palmage]

I have found that at the end of the day it is often easier to get out of the park in your car than it is to wait in a long line for a packed bus.

I think the busses are kind of a pain compared to shuttling out to your car and going.
I did the busses once, never again.
Now monorails, thats a different story....

 

[JustPlainBill]

Clarification - those who are onsite can make ADR's 180 days in advance for up to 10 days of their trip - in other words, for a 7-day trip, with one phone call 180 days from the first day, you can make the ADR's for your entire trip.

Off-site guests need to call back 180 days ahead of each day that they want an ADR for.

Thank you for the clarification, you are correct.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

I have found that at the end of the day it is often easier to get out of the park in your car than it is to wait in a long line for a packed bus.

I've been pleasantly surprised how smoothly and quickly traffic flows out of the Disney parking lots. I suppose time of day and time of year can make a difference, but I've never run into traffic problems at WDW.

 

[UKHelen]

Coming from the UK and usually spending around 3 weeks at Disney we have done both (twice in an offiste hotel, once in an offsite house and twice on property, POR & WL). Both the onsite stays were big treats - once to celebrate DH (then DBoyf) sucessfully completing radiotheraphy treatment and the second time was our honeymoon.

IMHO there are plus points to both and minus points to both!

I would love to stay onsite every visit as being immersed fully in the magic is amazing but then again I would rather visit more regularly so from a financial point of view that means offsite!