Love this episode. We like staying off property because I think free breakfast, larger rooms, + lower prices is a bigger overall benefit than the Disney transportation and the few other perks. Dare I say overrated but it is. I have no issue with a car and driving from A to B directly. Plus if you have a large stroller, getting on the buses is a pain. The parking fee still isn't enough to exceed the deals off property. In fact even at the All-Star resorts at a better rate, they make up for it in the wallet with the high prices at the food court. Honestly the bottom line staying on property is a premium. If you're a family trying to navigate WDW on a budget, staying off property is an attractive option.
We have a family of six. We stayed on property when our family was smaller. However Disney hotel rooms can only accommodate 5. Getting 2 rooms was too expensive. looked into buying DVC or renting DVC. Buying DVC seemed a bit too much and if we rented a 2 bedroom villa, it still would be upwards of $5K for a week. We recently booked a 3 BR townhouse 3 miles off property for $1K for the week. I like staying on property but staying off property allows us to go much more frequently. sure you lose some perks, but the savings in lodging and food costs are huge.
I have stayed both onsite and offsite. We have rented a house 2 times and stayed value 3 times. When we drive down we rent a house. When we fly we stay onsite and get the free dining (Sept.). I am flying down in April to watch my son and his high school marching band march at the Magic Kingdom. The band is staying offsite, but I am staying onsite. I like both, but my family prefers offsite in a house.
I stayed at the Buena Vista Palace hotel last time I went to WDW in March, 2014 and they had the Disney buses come every 15 mins to take us to and from the parks just as they would at the on-property hotels.
Loved hearing everyone's thoughts and info on staying offsite. We've stayed on site the past two trips but this year we'll be staying off. I'm wondering if it will be a problem getting fast passes for rides, etc.
i can second how stunning wyndham bonnet creek is. very affordable but has many great resort style amenities- restaurants, pools, water slides, lazy rivers, kids games and the rooms are quite nice.
I don't know if anyone from the team will read this, but I was wondering if most of the information on the off-site hotels is still current or if maybe an updated minisode would be in order. PS: Love Kathy and her Figment ♥️
I have stayed at the Dolphin hotel once. OMG Those Beds is right. I sooo didn't want to get out of bed the next day. We used the Disney Transportation buses, but I had a convention too so we chose to stay there while at the convention and us girls split the cost. For that reason we stayed.. it made our costs very reasonable. Staying as a Family of 4 though.. with Teenage and older boys.. can cost us quite a bit so .. we stay off site because of that. We do like the Lake Buena Vista area.
Here's the thing. Why spend a ton of money on a hotel room if you only plan to sleep there? If you are going to the parks all day and all you need is a clean room to sleep and shower in daily why do you need to spend over $100 a night on a hotel room?
Thanks for sharing your valuable opinions. I am a fairly newbie to Disneyworld. Our upcoming trip this August will be our fourth trip to WDW. We always stay onsite and I don't think we will stay offsite anytime soon. I love being in the Disney bubble. When I cross those arches, i want to be submerged in Disney. I like the transportation to the parks and the other perks that staying onsite brings, however, if I HAD to, I would stay offsite. I just love going to Disney.~Rhonda
When I have vacationed with family (husband & 2 kids-when they were young), I would stay ON-site only. Caribbean Beach, French Quarter, Riverside* (*favorite)...and wouldn't consider elsewhere. By myself, with one other, and for business - I have discovered the extended stay-type facilities on Westwood. Walk to the convention center and a few minute drive to nighttime shopping, restaurants, and street entertainment at Downtown Disney. That's been very adequate for me - and for my budget. If I go with a number of adult friends, I'll look into those villas. Then - once the grandkids come...I'll be back on property.
i am coming in May and we are paying $70 a day for a compact car.. we are just renting for one day.. any advice on where to get a weekly rental for $100?
I would have to agree with you Pete, I think doing a segment on pet friendly hotels is a great idea. Since some of us have dogs or cats or both kind of four footed children. Please let me know when the segment one that be on the DIS Unplugged?
I find the Dining plan when you look closely doesn't save unless you just eat the most expensive thing on the menu thats like $40 or something. Because its usually always hotel discount OR dining plan. And i know some love the dining plan but i just don't eat enough. I mean we typically eat very little for breakfast and then lunch is not much and then bigger dinner. Plus we always get pizza delivery, or eat off site a few times which is much cheaper anyway.
Love this episode. We like staying off property because I think free breakfast, larger rooms, + lower prices is a bigger overall benefit than the Disney transportation and the few other perks. Dare I say overrated but it is. I have no issue with a car and driving from A to B directly. Plus if you have a large stroller, getting on the buses is a pain. The parking fee still isn't enough to exceed the deals off property. In fact even at the All-Star resorts at a better rate, they make up for it in the wallet with the high prices at the food court. Honestly the bottom line staying on property is a premium. If you're a family trying to navigate WDW on a budget, staying off property is an attractive option.
I miss this type of show format
We have a family of six. We stayed on property when our family was smaller. However Disney hotel rooms can only accommodate 5. Getting 2 rooms was too expensive. looked into buying DVC or renting DVC. Buying DVC seemed a bit too much and if we rented a 2 bedroom villa, it still would be upwards of $5K for a week. We recently booked a 3 BR townhouse 3 miles off property for $1K for the week. I like staying on property but staying off property allows us to go much more frequently. sure you lose some perks, but the savings in lodging and food costs are huge.
For someone like me, who is trying to plan their first family trip, this episode was very informative.
Is the four seasons reviewed on the Dis anywhere?
Thank you Pete!! As always, a SUPERB PODCAST! 🎪🍿🎭🏰🎢🍦🚂🚝🎠⛱☀️🌎👸🏽❤️🎡🤹🏻♂️🤹🏽♀️🏰😎. OUTSTANDING!!
That's probably the best thumbnail on any DIS podcast!!
The Wyndham Bonnet Creek Timeshares are very spacious. The only off-site hotel I consider.
I have stayed both onsite and offsite. We have rented a house 2 times and stayed value 3 times. When we drive down we rent a house. When we fly we stay onsite and get the free dining (Sept.). I am flying down in April to watch my son and his high school marching band march at the Magic Kingdom. The band is staying offsite, but I am staying onsite. I like both, but my family prefers offsite in a house.
I stayed at the Buena Vista Palace hotel last time I went to WDW in March, 2014 and they had the Disney buses come every 15 mins to take us to and from the parks just as they would at the on-property hotels.
Loved hearing everyone's thoughts and info on staying offsite. We've stayed on site the past two trips but this year we'll be staying off. I'm wondering if it will be a problem getting fast passes for rides, etc.
i can second how stunning wyndham bonnet creek is. very affordable but has many great resort style amenities- restaurants, pools, water slides, lazy rivers, kids games and the rooms are quite nice.
I don't know if anyone from the team will read this, but I was wondering if most of the information on the off-site hotels is still current or if maybe an updated minisode would be in order.
PS: Love Kathy and her Figment ♥️
I have stayed at the Dolphin hotel once. OMG Those Beds is right. I sooo didn't want to get out of bed the next day. We used the Disney Transportation buses, but I had a convention too so we chose to stay there while at the convention and us girls split the cost. For that reason we stayed.. it made our costs very reasonable. Staying as a Family of 4 though.. with Teenage and older boys.. can cost us quite a bit so .. we stay off site because of that. We do like the Lake Buena Vista area.
Here's the thing. Why spend a ton of money on a hotel room if you only plan to sleep there? If you are going to the parks all day and all you need is a clean room to sleep and shower in daily why do you need to spend over $100 a night on a hotel room?
I have been in the Wyndham Timeshares in Bonnet Creek. They are unbelievable.
Thanks for sharing your valuable opinions. I am a fairly newbie to Disneyworld. Our upcoming trip this August will be our fourth trip to WDW. We always stay onsite and I don't think we will stay offsite anytime soon. I love being in the Disney bubble. When I cross those arches, i want to be submerged in Disney. I like the transportation to the parks and the other perks that staying onsite brings, however, if I HAD to, I would stay offsite. I just love going to Disney.~Rhonda
When I have vacationed with family (husband & 2 kids-when they were young), I would stay ON-site only. Caribbean Beach, French Quarter, Riverside* (*favorite)...and wouldn't consider elsewhere.
By myself, with one other, and for business - I have discovered the extended stay-type facilities on Westwood. Walk to the convention center and a few minute drive to nighttime shopping, restaurants, and street entertainment at Downtown Disney. That's been very adequate for me - and for my budget.
If I go with a number of adult friends, I'll look into those villas.
Then - once the grandkids come...I'll be back on property.
Isn't there a Waldorf Astoria in Park City? I am pretty sure there is.
i am coming in May and we are paying $70 a day for a compact car.. we are just renting for one day.. any advice on where to get a weekly rental for $100?
Sara Schoening the airport or disney car center
or just use uber
I would have to agree with you Pete, I think doing a segment on pet friendly hotels is a great idea. Since some of us have dogs or cats or both kind of four footed children. Please let me know when the segment one that be on the DIS Unplugged?
Also, I recently got 1800 worth of savings using Disney discounts they currently have. So yeah. On site!
3 words. Disney Dining Plan.
I find the Dining plan when you look closely doesn't save unless you just eat the most expensive thing on the menu thats like $40 or something.
Because its usually always hotel discount OR dining plan. And i know some love the dining plan but i just don't eat enough. I mean we typically eat very little for breakfast and then lunch is not much and then bigger dinner.
Plus we always get pizza delivery, or eat off site a few times which is much cheaper anyway.
I haven't read after the first sentence. The simple convenience of not budgeting any money for food is worth paying 5% more in my opinion
Bottom line, Disney is expensive! If you can't afford on-site, then don't go to WDW! Go to Knott's Berry Farm! lol