Deb & Bill
DVC-Trivia Contest, Apr-2006: Honorable Mention
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2000
Stay offsite if you like, except for Christmas/New Years. Traffic getting to the parks is horrible.
I've stayed on site, and I've stayed off site. They're both great, but I see them as different vacations
If you stay on site:
- You're Disney-Disney-Disney all the time, and doesn't that make sense for a Disney vacation? I don't really relate to the term "within the Disney Bubble", but I get what people are saying when they use it.
- On site transportation is so convenient. No getting into a hot car, no trekking across a long parking lot searching for your car, no taking a wrong turn. When you include getting to your car and parking, the Disney bus is faster than your own car every time.
- When you're on site, you have the option to easily go back to your room mid-day /get away from the crowds /rest up for the evening. Or, with Disney transportation, some family members can go back while others stay in the parks and go-go-go.
- You spend more time in the parks when you're on site because it's so easy to pop back over for a couple hours in the evenings.
- On the other hand, when you're on site, you're paying a premium price -- even if you're not at a Deluxe. And you're not getting nearly as much space for that price.
- Even if you're bringing quick-fixes and snacks for the room, you tend to spend more money on food when you're on site. No one has ever said, "Wow, Disney's food is such a bargain!"
On the other hand, if you stay off site:
- You have room for the family to spread out, and as kids grow older and larger, this is awfully nice.
- A private pool, while not fancy like those at Disney resorts, is a whole different experience. Pool time becomes family time ... and you can easily have movie nights or game nights in a home of your own ... more easily than in a small hotel room.
- You can enjoy big family meals, or you can eat out (or bring in), and you have a huge variety of choices. If you're frugal, you can prep crock pot meals at home, or you can bring restaurant coupons. In short, you can feed your family well for much less.
- Driving to the parks sucks. Traffic is heavy, and you probably don't know Orlando roads well. Parking costs way too much. Then you have to search for a parking spot and walk across a hot parking lot ... and then return to a hot car. It doesn't bother me personally, but if you're driving to the parks, someone's not having a drink with dinner.
- Homes that claim they're "only five minutes from Disney" mean that they're five minutes from Disney's front door ... you may still drive 20 minutes on the Disney property.
- It's easy to say, "We'll go back to the condo for lunch", and then decide it's just too much trouble to go back for those evening hours you had planned.
Summary: They're different experiences. Which one do you want to enjoy?
- On site transportation is so convenient. No getting into a hot car, no trekking across a long parking lot searching for your car, no taking a wrong turn. When you include getting to your car and parking, the Disney bus is faster than your own car every time.
I think they are comparing to the price of a villa at Disney since a regular value or moderate room would not have comparable amenities.Sorry to hijack the thread but where do you all get these rates for Wyndham Bonnet Creek? The dates I was just possibly thinking of taking a trip is substantially more than any Value Disney Hotel and a little more expensive than the Moderates as well. We still qualify for a 4 person room since my youngest is just 2.
I think they are comparing to the price of a villa at Disney since a regular value or moderate room would not have comparable amenities.
great post!totally agree.I've stayed on site, and I've stayed off site. They're both great, but I see them as different vacations
If you stay on site:
- You're Disney-Disney-Disney all the time, and doesn't that make sense for a Disney vacation? I don't really relate to the term "within the Disney Bubble", but I get what people are saying when they use it.
- On site transportation is so convenient. No getting into a hot car, no trekking across a long parking lot searching for your car, no taking a wrong turn. When you include getting to your car and parking, the Disney bus is faster than your own car every time.
- When you're on site, you have the option to easily go back to your room mid-day /get away from the crowds /rest up for the evening. Or, with Disney transportation, some family members can go back while others stay in the parks and go-go-go.
- You spend more time in the parks when you're on site because it's so easy to pop back over for a couple hours in the evenings.
- On the other hand, when you're on site, you're paying a premium price -- even if you're not at a Deluxe. And you're not getting nearly as much space for that price.
- Even if you're bringing quick-fixes and snacks for the room, you tend to spend more money on food when you're on site. No one has ever said, "Wow, Disney's food is such a bargain!"
On the other hand, if you stay off site:
- You have room for the family to spread out, and as kids grow older and larger, this is awfully nice.
- A private pool, while not fancy like those at Disney resorts, is a whole different experience. Pool time becomes family time ... and you can easily have movie nights or game nights in a home of your own ... more easily than in a small hotel room.
- You can enjoy big family meals, or you can eat out (or bring in), and you have a huge variety of choices. If you're frugal, you can prep crock pot meals at home, or you can bring restaurant coupons. In short, you can feed your family well for much less.
- Driving to the parks sucks. Traffic is heavy, and you probably don't know Orlando roads well. Parking costs way too much. Then you have to search for a parking spot and walk across a hot parking lot ... and then return to a hot car. It doesn't bother me personally, but if you're driving to the parks, someone's not having a drink with dinner.
- Homes that claim they're "only five minutes from Disney" mean that they're five minutes from Disney's front door ... you may still drive 20 minutes on the Disney property.
- It's easy to say, "We'll go back to the condo for lunch", and then decide it's just too much trouble to go back for those evening hours you had planned.
Summary: They're different experiences. Which one do you want to enjoy?
No getting into a hot car
Eh, my argument isn't just about convenience ... it's that Disney transportation is faster IF you compare it apples-to-apples. By that, I mean, don't just count your drive time; rather, include your time walking to the parking lot, making a wrong turn, then walking across another parking lot.For example, saying that on site transportation is convenient is purely subjective.
Something I didn't say in my other post -- and this is purely subjective: I don't see -- don't see at all -- the point of staying in a deluxe property at Disney.I think they are comparing to the price of a villa at Disney since a regular value or moderate room would not have comparable amenities.
Okay, I can see that argument, but I suspect the majority of us don't have that technology. I don't.That is subjective. I just remote start the car via my mobile app and boom, cool car for the ride home. Lol
I'm looking into the Bonnet Creek and Vistana options too, I didn't realize they were more condo like than hotel like, but remember where Bonnet Creek is and it's pretty convenient! I'll look at All Star and Music resorts too, I hadn't realized the family suites had actual bedrooms, though I still think we'll miss the full kitchen and laundry.
Eh, my argument isn't just about convenience ... it's that Disney transportation is faster IF you compare it apples-to-apples. By that, I mean, don't just count your drive time; rather, include your time walking to the parking lot, making a wrong turn, then walking across another parking lot.
Eh, my argument isn't just about convenience ... it's that Disney transportation is faster IF you compare it apples-to-apples. By that, I mean, don't just count your drive time; rather, include your time walking to the parking lot, making a wrong turn, then walking across another parking lot.
Yes, if you leave after fireworks, you're probably going to wait through a couple buses, but -- again, to compare apples to apples -- if you're driving your own car after those same fireworks, you're going to find yourself in a heap of traffic. One way or another, if you're leaving at a "popular time", you're waiting.
Something I didn't say in my other post -- and this is purely subjective: I don't see -- don't see at all -- the point of staying in a deluxe property at Disney.