WDWLOYAL1971
Active Member
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The reason you stay on property is?
- Thread starter mergatroid
- Start date
murphysmom
Member
All of the above.
I've stayed off-site before, so it is not like it is anathema to us. But that only saves us money when we drive down, and I really hate being in the car for over 20 hours each way. If we were to fly and rent a car, it would actually be a van(large family), and you can't get great deals on rental vans as you can cars. Any money we would save staying off-site would be sucked up by having to have a van. Trust me, I'm always trying to find a way to pop in another trip to WDW, but off-site is not that affordable for a larger family when you need to rent a van to get around.
I've stayed off-site before, so it is not like it is anathema to us. But that only saves us money when we drive down, and I really hate being in the car for over 20 hours each way. If we were to fly and rent a car, it would actually be a van(large family), and you can't get great deals on rental vans as you can cars. Any money we would save staying off-site would be sucked up by having to have a van. Trust me, I'm always trying to find a way to pop in another trip to WDW, but off-site is not that affordable for a larger family when you need to rent a van to get around.
Quite interesting results really and pretty much what I thought would happen. It seems to the majority (myself included) the feeling of being on site is the biggest attraction, that magical Disney feel or 'bubble' as someone described it is what wins people over the most. Even though the value for money and quality came last, it goes to show what a pull staying on site Disney has. Outside of the world I would imagine that value and quality comes first, but inside whilst it's a consideration it doesn't seem to be the main concern. Apologies to anyone who felt the options weren't varied enough but I thought the four covered most reasons and you could vote for multiple options if need be.
2bornot2be
Well-Known Member
The big question is WHY WOULD STAY OFF PROPERTY?
Unless you get excellent hotel rates with a personnel assistant and driver, I just can’t imagine why you would put yourself thru the hassle.
Staying off property means Renting a car, driving to the park, paying to park, making sure you don’t lose your tickets
, carrying cash or credit cards with you, carrying your souvenirs/rent a locker, leave when magical hours start, and finally making the 30-45 min drive back to your hotel after you have been in the Florida sun all day.
All this to save about 30 bucks a day. :shrug:
Unless you get excellent hotel rates with a personnel assistant and driver, I just can’t imagine why you would put yourself thru the hassle.
Staying off property means Renting a car, driving to the park, paying to park, making sure you don’t lose your tickets
, carrying cash or credit cards with you, carrying your souvenirs/rent a locker, leave when magical hours start, and finally making the 30-45 min drive back to your hotel after you have been in the Florida sun all day. All this to save about 30 bucks a day. :shrug:
Walt Disney1955
Well-Known Member
I don't know, never done it. We have always stayed at Westgate Villas just a mile or two down the road from the entrance to Disney property. We have either driven down or rented a car. Personally I love the Orlando area for a lot of things so I would kind of miss that chance to roam around I-92 or go to Universal and such. Someday I would like to try to stay onsite, at least once.
But man, the price difference between staying onsite at Disneyland and at WDW isn't even close. WDW at least has some discounts but staying onsite at DL will cost you a limb - even just two people.
But man, the price difference between staying onsite at Disneyland and at WDW isn't even close. WDW at least has some discounts but staying onsite at DL will cost you a limb - even just two people.
ddbowdoin
Well-Known Member
1.) never having to personally drive myself... I spend roughly 3.5 hrs a day commuting to and from work so the opportunity to stay away from behind the wheel is amazing.
2.) we've only stayed at the BC, so the ability to walk (or stumble) home from Epcot (drinking around the world) is awesome.
3.) deluxes seem to have a more exclusive bus system, luckily I have never really been on a slow or loaded bus. Sure the bus is full, but its not shoulder to sweaty shoulder.
4.) again on the driving, saving 14 bucks a day parking
5.) DME
6.) extra magic hours
Cons:
Price... really the only thing, expensive considering a hotel a mile down the road is 89 bucks a night.
2.) we've only stayed at the BC, so the ability to walk (or stumble) home from Epcot (drinking around the world) is awesome.
3.) deluxes seem to have a more exclusive bus system, luckily I have never really been on a slow or loaded bus. Sure the bus is full, but its not shoulder to sweaty shoulder.
4.) again on the driving, saving 14 bucks a day parking
5.) DME
6.) extra magic hours
Cons:
Price... really the only thing, expensive considering a hotel a mile down the road is 89 bucks a night.
crosswagon
Member
Walking into POP Century and smelling the homebaked cookie smell!!
Being around all things Disney 24/7!!
Parking your car and not getting back in it until it is time to go home.
Disney standards for customer service and cleanliness are above all other off site areas. Would never stay anywhere but a Disney resort while visiting Disney World.
Being around all things Disney 24/7!!
Parking your car and not getting back in it until it is time to go home.
Disney standards for customer service and cleanliness are above all other off site areas. Would never stay anywhere but a Disney resort while visiting Disney World.
Nicole
Well-Known Member
So many reasons. The 24/7 thing, for sure. The little Magical touches. Being able to charge things to my room (and to let my kids/teens do the same). Disney transportation. Theming of the hotels. Not having to pay for parking. Top Disney Must-Dos on the in-room TV. Dining choices at the hotels. Awesome pools at the hotels. Courtesy of the CMs.
ddbowdoin
Well-Known Member
the resorts are OK though...
I mean, I think it really depends on your vacationing style. I'm usually a 100MPH go go go type so I don't really spend much time at the resort. I don't consider my career choice stressful so I don't really need a break from the real world.
I just love being able to walk to Epcot and DHS, that alone plus the EMH are well worth the extra added expense
I mean, I think it really depends on your vacationing style. I'm usually a 100MPH go go go type so I don't really spend much time at the resort. I don't consider my career choice stressful so I don't really need a break from the real world.
I just love being able to walk to Epcot and DHS, that alone plus the EMH are well worth the extra added expense
Thomas morrow
Active Member
I like it because once you drive under that archway you no longer have to be an adult the real world melts away and your twelve again. :sohappy:
chris70785
New Member
Just being on Disney property has a different "magical" feeling. Also staying at a Disney resort is like a vacation in itself.
You can click on more than one, or all of them. The poll was designed that way my friend.
mousefreak
Well-Known Member
All of the above. We stayed at the Hilton Downtown Disney in December which was very nice. It did not have feel as if I'm Disney. We'll alway chose to stay on property.
jayhawkmickey
Well-Known Member
The total emersion into Disney is our main reason for staying.
1) Being in the "Disney bubble". Why would you want to leave WDW once you've gotten there?
2) DDP - add up your receipts afterwards and calculate what you would have spent on your meals without it. If you like the Fine/Signature dining locations, it actually ends up being a very good deal.
3) EMH - love walking around MK late a night when the park has mostly cleared out....almost feels like they have the place open just for my wife and I.
4) The resorts - impeccably clean, safe, a short bus ride from the parks and extremely friendly staff. I don't care if they're more expensive than the off-site hotels....I save up my money so that I can have awesome memories at WDW.
2) DDP - add up your receipts afterwards and calculate what you would have spent on your meals without it. If you like the Fine/Signature dining locations, it actually ends up being a very good deal.
3) EMH - love walking around MK late a night when the park has mostly cleared out....almost feels like they have the place open just for my wife and I.
4) The resorts - impeccably clean, safe, a short bus ride from the parks and extremely friendly staff. I don't care if they're more expensive than the off-site hotels....I save up my money so that I can have awesome memories at WDW.
backinaction
Well-Known Member
The big question is WHY WOULD STAY OFF PROPERTY?
Unless you get excellent hotel rates with a personnel assistant and driver, I just can’t imagine why you would put yourself thru the hassle.
Staying off property means Renting a car, driving to the park, paying to park, making sure you don’t lose your tickets
All this to save about 30 bucks a day. :shrug:
I'd like to dispute some of these claims. As a person who has stayed on property and off property many times, I must say that you always get excellent hotel rates staying outside of Disney. Usually staying at an ALL STAR is around three times as much money as a a similar hotel right outside Disney property. Yes, you can usually get a "deal" at Disney like free dining but you have to know that the free food is built into the price of the room already. Also the food at Disney can become boring and mundane, while the selection outside Disney is outstanding. I mean they have every restaurant you have ever dreamed of outside Disney property.
As for driving and parking, we prefer to have our own rental car. We find that transportation from the all-star hotel can be terrible as they usually have to stop at all three all star resorts to and from the parks. When we stayed at Movies, we found that it would take, on average, an hour to get to the parks using the bus system. Also, the buses can be very packed( standing room only) especially around open and close time. Last time we stayed off property, we timed our ride to the magic kingdom and it was ten minutes. TEN MINUTES! We found that staying offsite but close to the parks will actually get you to the parks much faster (because of the fact that you don't have to wait for a Disney bus). As for parking, we have annuals so it doesn't affect us, but I can see how 15 dollars a day can really have an impact on your wallet, so Ill give that one to Disney.
Really, the only upsides about staying on property I see would be the extra magic hours. Clearly, some of the Disney resorts are the best in the world (ie. the deluxe resorts) but if your planning on staying at a value, you should really consider the pro's and con's of staying off site rather than at an value. I've also noticed that the all star resorts can be very loud at night, with all the children staying there. Usually offsite hotels are quite compared to an all star.