Why should I stay off property?

[DfromATX]

For all of our 4 trips so far we have stayed on Disney property (Saratoga, Boardwalk, Pop, and PO-Riverside). My husband said for our next trip he'd like to try staying off property - main reason obviously to save money - but I'm not too keen on that idea. Don't get me wrong, I would love to spend less, but I fear I wouldn't like being offsite. #1 I really enjoy being in the Disney bubble and not having to worry about anything, #2 I also like doing the dining plan and I truly believe I know how to make the most of it to get my money's worth, #3 I think the free transportation is great, we don't even rent a car. (I guess #3 goes back to being in the bubble.) And there's the Magical Express to and from the airport. And all the other perks you all know about...

I'd like to hear from those of you who have done both and why you prefer staying off property. What are the benefits of doing so? Main reason I'm sure, money, but what else?

 

[DinoInstitute]

I have done both, and honestly there aren't too many other perks besides cost...
You basic listed all of Disney's perks, and at the off-sites perhaps less crowds. Thats pretty much about it for me

 

[DfromATX]

Thank you. I'm assuming off-site offers free shuttles to the parks? Which do you prefer?

 

[Nemo14]

good discussion here:
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/why-do-you-stay-off-site.61290/page-14#post-6178280

 

[DfromATX]

Thanks, I will check it out.

 

[DznyGrlSD]

Why? You shouldn't. that's why.

 

[disney4life2008]

Why? You shouldn't. that's why.

I am 50/50. I only stay onsite if I get a major discount and my room at the values come out to less than $70 which is comparable to other hotels in the orlando area rated 3 stars with my discount. Otherwise, I have no problem staying off site - the magic bubble is fine but it is also nice to be away from it. My biggest issue with offsite is car rental - the added fees are ridiculous so by the time you pay for car rental you could just stay onsite.

 

[DfromATX]

I am 50/50. I only stay onsite if I get a major discount and my room at the values come out to less than $70 which is comparable to other hotels in the orlando area rated 3 stars with my discount. Otherwise, I have no problem staying off site - the magic bubble is fine but it is also nice to be away from it. My biggest issue with offsite is car rental - the added fees are ridiculous so by the time you pay for car rental you could just stay onsite.

That's what I was thinking with the car rental + parking. I'd consider staying offsite if the savings were spectacular AND the hotel was nice, but for me it goes back to that Disney bubble thing... I like it! LOL

 

[disney4life2008]

That's what I was thinking with the car rental + parking. I'd consider staying offsite if the savings were spectacular AND the hotel was nice, but for me it goes back to that Disney bubble thing... I like it! LOL

I forgot about the parking fees. by the time you add the car rental, gas, and fees - sometimes staying offsite is not worth it. Add up the budget for both (onsite and off) and see which one comes out cheaper. There is nothing like staying at a disney resort though and as much as I say I am done with disney - I always end up right back staying on property, lol. I have a timeshare in Orlando that has been neglected thanks to the magic of disney

 

[MDactor1980]

I don't know that our off-site "perk" would work for you. I can sometimes get a little tired of waiting for on-site transport, and then overcrowding on the busses at certain times. Staying off-site I have LOVED using car service to get to the parks. However this has worked for a small party. From your avatar it looks like there are 6 of you? May not be as easy to get car service, but maybe larger van or SUV service? It can be generally affordable when you factor in the cheaper lodging prices off-site. It's a nicer, quieter wind down for me after the busier times in the parks.

 

[BufordTJustice]

Given that you will have to rent a car and pay for food and parking, you will only save $$ by staying offsite if you compare to onsite Deluxe rates. Then the benefit in your case would be that you would save $$, have more room, not be subject to slow Disney transportation, be able to cook meals and do laundry (if you consider the last two a benefit, that is). I would just stay onsite and either go mod or value.

 

[Wishes 1971]

We have done both during our visits.....We stayed Off Site during our visit in June....main factor was room space. We have 5 in our party...with our "kids" all being > 15 YO. We stayed in a 2 BR unit with full kitchen at the Sheraton Vistana...and have stayed at the Marriott World Resort in the past as well....both are next to each other, and just across I4 from DT Disney...so, the distance was nothing....Door to Door in 10 minutes or so....

Negatives:
Parking is a killer....$17/day at the parks....
I did miss the "bubble"...there's something for staying "in" the magic
No Extra Magic hours

Positives:
Better travel times in my car than using Disney transportation...although I missed the bus drops at the gate!
MORE space!!!! Resort was much better than a Value Resort at Disney, and easily comparable to the Moderates......and got it for $120/nt! Have stayed in the Marriott in the past for ~ $140/nt.

Honestly....it came down to sleeping comfort....since we basically use our room for sleeping only....

 

[SeanWM48]

one of the main factors for me when making this decision - i am on VACATION. i do not want to be driving around in a rental, parking it, walking through the lots, etc. i want to be lazy and ride a free bus lol. it's true! and it all adds to the experience even if the bus takes longer.

and as others stated, staying on property is a true escape from "real life" for me whereas off property just would not be the same. throw in the fact that you're spending more on rental + missing out on dining and the money savings probably aren't as strong as you think.

 

[Wishes 1971]

one of the main factors for me when making this decision - i am on VACATION. i do not want to be driving around in a rental, parking it, walking through the lots, etc. i want to be lazy and ride a free bus lol. it's true! and it all adds to the experience even if the bus takes longer.

and as others stated, staying on property is a true escape from "real life" for me whereas off property just would not be the same. throw in the fact that you're spending more on rental + missing out on dining and the money savings probably aren't as strong as you think.

Agreed Sean....

We typically have our own car while at Disney. I don't think I would rent a car JUST to stay off-property.

Were originally had booked into POR for our trip in June, but we weren't convinced the room would sleep our five comfortably.....it killed me to cancel....as I was looking forward to staying on-site...and we have stayed at POR when our kids were younger, and loved it.

 

[cbettua]

Check out my list below, we have stayed off site a lot of times. But have vowed to save the money and stay onsite, even if it is at a value. It's just way better onsite, the boys really enjoy the buses etc. So yeah, off site is less money, but thats it.

 

[DfromATX]

Yes, there are 6 of us! We usually get two rooms no matter where we go. Last time we did a split vacation with Universal/Disney so we had to rent a large SUV for the Universal part of the trip - and because there is no Magical Express to Universal lol. (We turned in the car before Disney.)

Speaking of driving, it seems as if the highway is never ending before you can exit off and then when you do exit, you go off to the right or left, but not along the highway. (We call it a "feeder" or service road.) Someone at work explained to me that in Texas, where I am, we have "feeder"/service roads, but not all states do. For example, no matter what freeway/highway you get on, every 1/4 mile or so there's exit/entrance ramps, but it wasn't like that in Orlando. I hope that made sense.

 

[DfromATX]

Check out my list below, we have stayed off site a lot of times. But have vowed to save the money and stay onsite, even if it is at a value. It's just way better onsite, the boys really enjoy the buses etc. So yeah, off site is less money, but thats it.

The more I think about it, I think staying onsite is better for us. I see a lot of complaints about the buses, but I have never had a bad experience with the service. I think the bus service is a great perk!

 

[DfromATX]

one of the main factors for me when making this decision - i am on VACATION. i do not want to be driving around in a rental, parking it, walking through the lots, etc. i want to be lazy and ride a free bus lol. it's true! and it all adds to the experience even if the bus takes longer.

and as others stated, staying on property is a true escape from "real life" for me whereas off property just would not be the same. throw in the fact that you're spending more on rental + missing out on dining and the money savings probably aren't as strong as you think.

Totally agree!

 

[DfromATX]

Were originally had booked into POR for our trip in June, but we weren't convinced the room would sleep our five comfortably.....it killed me to cancel....as I was looking forward to staying on-site...and we have stayed at POR when our kids were younger, and loved it.

There was one trip when our youngest didn't go so we were only 5. We were able to SQUEEZE into the Boardwalk and let me tell you, it was pretty cramped. We stayed at POR on our last trip!

 

[DfromATX]

Then the benefit in your case would be ... able to cook meals and do laundry (if you consider the last two a benefit, that is).

No sir I do not!