off site or on

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-17-2005
off site or on
10
Wed, 10-11-2006 - 5:36pm

last time and only time we went we stayed a great villa with 3 bedrooms its own pool two bathrooms and it was great but we never got to the parks as early as i wanted to and we checked out some of the resorts and it looks like so much fun to stay on site we would still rent a car cause we will prob still go off site even if we stayed there is it worth it to stay on site crowed into one room and we will have a baby with us next time i'm torn between the two there is also 6 of us so we would have to rent two value rooms or stay in a deluxe its me and dh dsd 14 dsd 15 ds 5 and an infant


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Avatar for sphintergirl
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 10-11-2006 - 6:05pm

We have stayed 3 different ways at Disney.

First trip we stayed off site at our time share. Nice to have a full villa and van, but we didn't get to the parks early or stayed very late. Maybe because of the drive back? Who knows.

Second trip we stayed at an off site hotel and relied on hotel shuttle.

Third trip stayed on site. Used only Disney transportation.

By far my favorite trip was staying on site. We stayed at the Contemporary. Well worth the money to be on the monorail. We traveled with our 3 kids - 1 of them 9 months. It was nice to roll sleeping baby on and off the monorail in his stroller. We got to the parks early and were able to stay late. We could take a hotel break when we needed without having to really GO anywhere. That trip we started out at All Star Movies and it was just way too small. Even with the 2 rooms it might feel tight. Expecially with the baby pack n play. I loved staying at our time share too. I would not do the off site with the hotel shuttle. Not very convienent.

Have fun planning and congrats on the baby!

Sarah

Avatar for cl_ktbugsmom
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 10-11-2006 - 7:40pm

I've never had a good offsite experiance, and the issue you mentioned of timing was only one of the problems. But rather than rant and rave about that I'll tell you what your onsite options are.


You know you can reserve 2 rooms at a value. Downside is they do not garuntee connecting rooms. Pop Century has more connecting rooms than the

Avatar for laurieh88
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 10-11-2006 - 7:56pm

We have 6 in our family, too.

We have stayed at:

1999 - Coronado Springs
2000 - Contemporary
2001 - Downtown Disney, Hilton
2002 - Downtown Disney, Doubletree.....switch to Ft. Wilderness Lodge halfway
2004 - Downtown Disney, Doubletree
2005 - Dowtntown Disney, Doubletree....switch to cabins halfway
2006 - We are booked at the Hotel Royal Plaza, downtown Disney for this Dec.

In the beginning, we only had 5 in our family, but it still made for a full room!

Because we spend SO little time in the room (parks open to close, every day of the trip), it really makes no sense for us to spend the money on a Disney resort, IMO. If we were big on the pools or needed to go back for naps, that would sway my decision for my own family.

I LOVE the Downtown Disney area! We've never had problems getting to the parks on time staying here. Because my husband has conferences at DTD the first half of the week anyway, it makes sense that we stay there. The times we moved to a Disney resort at the halfway point turned out really well, but I think it would depend on the time of year. We go in early December, and it's not crowded at all.

I don't think we'd ever stay far enough offsite that we would need a rental car. Downtown Disney is as far as we go.

If you make the Disney trip rarely, go for the resort if it will make you happiest! If you are looking to save a bit, I highly recommend the downtown area, and the Doubletree Suites are nice. Great deals, too.

Have fun planning your trip!

Laurie in OH, mom to

Alex, 11 years old
Julianne and Leah, 10 years old
Audrey, 2 years old

WDW visits in 1973, 1986, 1987, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005!
Currently planning a December 9-16, 2006 trip!




Edited 10/11/2006 8:00 pm ET by laurieh88

LAURIE IN OH, Mom to:


Alex, 1

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 10-11-2006 - 8:08pm

We've done Disney both ways too. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Maingate East back in 93 (our honeymoon) and let me tell you, NEVER again! The place was a pit!

We stayed at the Doubletree Suites in DTD once, and they were very nice and convenient too. We had a rental car and we ate alot off-site. I'd probably stay there again if need be!

We stayed at Old Key West (DVC) thanks to my SIL (they are owners) and that was GREAT!

We stayed in a FW cabin once, and we loved it! But, like Sonya pointed out, one bathroom is a downside.

We stayed at POR once, and we loved it, but there were only 4 of us on that trip.

And last but not least, we stayed at All Star Movies last year, and got two rooms. Wonderful!! We really enjoyed it and thought the resort was alot of fun!

If I had my choice, I'd stay on-site for sure. I'd probably try to buy points from a DVC owner and get a one or two bedroom.

Good luck with your decision!
Marcy

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-10-2006
Thu, 10-12-2006 - 7:38am

We've stayed onsite 3 times. This will be our first trip off site because it has been 4 years since our last trip and we grew from a family of 5 to a family of 7. I just couldn't afford a larger place onsite and reserving two separate rooms is out of the question because all 5 children are under the age of 10.

I'm excited about where we are staying it looks very nice and I've read good reviews about it. It's a three bedroom condo 6 miles from Disney. I'm a morning person so I'm sure I will still be in the parks early and be staying late. I do love Disney Resorts but all we do is sleep there so for the finacial part we've made the best choice for our family.

 

magicalkingdoms.com Ticker
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-16-2004
Thu, 10-12-2006 - 1:38pm

We're staying at a beautiful brandnew condo 3 bedroom 2.5 miles from Disney. The prices are outstanding and the place looks amazing. We have 2 young kids so the living area and extra bedrooms are going to be great for us.

Erin

http://www.windsorhills.com/

Avatar for shelb31
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-12-2006
Fri, 10-13-2006 - 9:03am

For the past 4 years, we have stayed in my parents timeshare, offsite.

Disney 2010
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-13-2006
Fri, 10-13-2006 - 9:52am

Hi, I was just wondering if you could say where you are staying. We are planning our frist family trip to disney world. We are looking to April 24 thur May 1 next year. And we want to stay offsite. So any infor anyone has about offsite places would be helpful.

Yvonne

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-16-2003
Fri, 10-13-2006 - 11:39am

M'Shel
I just had to comment on your stays offsite. Your accounts of staying offsite sound wonderful and resured me tremendously that when we stay offsite next Feb or June 07 that we will still have a wonderfull WDW experience. I'm kind of like you I need to have a large room(s) and with the budget I have for our trip a 2-3 hundred dollar room a night just can't be done to get what I want which is a full kitchen and queen beds, etc. Not that I wouldn't like to stay onsite, but not practical for budget purposes and a very tall DH which a double bed will not work out no matter what! LOL Especially with 2 teens and 2 smaller all of which are boys who need there room too!

Thanks again for your insight :)

Julie

1st time disney trip in '07

Julie  201/

Avatar for shelb31
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-12-2006
Sun, 10-15-2006 - 10:55pm

I'm so glad that I could help!

Disney 2010