Why staying on site is worth it?

[Ukdisneynerd]

I am planning a trip in sep 13, with my GF and we are planning to go with one of my friends and his GF.

To cut along story short I am after some testimonials for why staying on site (with free ddp) is better than a villa, which is what they would prefer to do, I have stayed on site and would never stay off site again as I love the whole on site experience.

I am aware that there are threads with a similar theam but want to consolidate as much info in to one thread.

Also anyone who prefers off sight id like to here your views on why on site is less preferable.

Thanks

 

[SMS55]

With 4 adults going, I assume the options being compared are a two-bedroom condo offsite vs. two rooms onsite. I also assume you'll get Free Dining if you stay onsite in mid-September.

Onsite advantages:

1) Cost - If you stay offsite, you'll need to rent a car, pay for parking each day you visit, pay for gas, and pay for food. These are taken care of if you stay onsite in September. If you take these into account, staying onsite with Free Dining may cost less than staying offsite.

Whether you pay for it in advance as part of the dining plan or as you go offsite you are still paying for it. You get convinience of paying for it ahead of time with the dining plan, but you are also locked into something. I drive and for me the dining plan isn't worth it. The restaurants along 192 are always cheaper. For someone who flies in then the cost of renting a car might offset the savings on food. With free dining then it also is a different story.

 

[robhedin]

We're agnostic about on/off site. If we the price is right, we stay on-site but more and more often that has not been the case.

For example--

This weekend I can book a room Friday through Sunday at the Hilton, Lake Buena Vista for $99/night. They offer free transportation to/from the parks AND offer the same Extra Magic Hours as the Disney Resorts (as far as I know, they're the only non-Disney hotel to do so). I can walk to Downtown Disney and I've got a full service hotel comparable to a Disney Deluxe (without the theming) including 24 hour room service a number of restaurants and a bar for less than the price of a Disney Value resort.

I don't have to worry about paying to park because I have an annual pass, and Magical Express isn't a concern because I usually drive down (6 hour drive, plus cheaper than flying, plus it's on my schedule not the airlines).

On the other hand, I generally always pay "extra" to stay on-site if I'm staying over a holiday (4th of July, New Years Eve, etc) -- just for the convenience.

rob.

 

[Skibum1970]

Having done both, it really comes down to a little more convenience and the immersion of staying at WDW. I've stayed offsite and used the hotel shuttles with some success although, if you miss the shuttle, you might be waiting a while for it to come back. The off-site hotels are around the same cost as staying at the Value resorts with Disney (ex. Best Westerns and that level). However, as was already posted, nothing compares to riding the Magical Express and watching its corny but entertaining welcome video, arriving at the hotel and seeing Disney all around, and just the general happiness that follows. Well, for us, we're just happier staying on-site and waking up feeling that we are on-site.

It's a hard emotion to explain and not everyone will feel that way.

 

[JillC LI]

Convenience. Extra Magic Hours. Atmosphere. And particularly with the free DDP, cost. Free dining would make your decision a no-brainer for me.

 

[sgtmgd]

I will gladly take a room discount any day over DDP... only because DDP is all about perceived saving. If someone offers me 30 percent off my room I know that will save me X dollars period, regardless of what occurs. When you offer free dining you enter the element of chance and the unknown and ultimately Disney makes money this way. If you go for a week and on your DDP eat 3 full meals and snacks each day for a week then yes you will save. But what if one day you don't feel well and you want something small and light, sure... you didn't have to pay for that small meal but what you consumed was only worth Y, and Y could be anything... overhead costs vary for food types, etc etc etc

I eat a small breakfast... who wants to be walking around in the AM full of bacon and grease? That certainly slows me down and makes me feel lethargic.

Id point out that for some folks having the convienence of the DDP having it paid for up front before the trip equals any "y" equation. I certainly dont eat 3 sit downs a day..however I always get the deluxe DP...I will combine two of those sit downs into a signature dining event like the Yauchtsman Steakhouse....or others...hitting the Cape May breakfast buffett offers a tons of healthy options..so does Cat Coras...I find it simpler to have it also with teenagers ...you can simply send them off with no worries (gratuity notwithstanding) so while pricey..spread out over several months if thats how you pay for the trip... the convienence of having it may make up for any cost...food and snacks at any of the parks and resturants can add up quick...and if its a first trip ...that can lead to huge costs not accounted for