I've been going to Disney since it opened, and in last decade started at about 60% onside 40% offsite .... trickled to the reverse .... then trickled to 75% onsite 25% offsite because the values had some great rates ............ but I foresee my future being almost all offsite now. The onsite perks just don't exist for us anymore and with Disney renovating all their rooms to be generic theme-less, adding dogs with minimal rules and now these security checks in our room ........ I can get so much more for the same offsite.
An example, I am staying spring break at the Embassy Suites LBV South. It's newer, beautifully decorated, one of the best breakfast buffets I've ever had (included), evening reception with alcohol drinks and snacks, wifi, great inside restaurant, suites = two rooms, queen beds and sofabed, kitchenette, pretty and tasteful pool area ............ 10 minutes to parks. I am paying $123 ($113 + $10 parking) vs an ALLStars which would have cost me $183 + $15 extra person, so $198 per night for old double beds in a small room. There is nothing they offer that makes that worth it.
We have stayed in Orlando at a ton of the Hiltons, Marriotts, Rosens, Buena Vista Suites, Caribe Royale, Sheraton Vistana, Wyndham Bonnet Creek and assortment of lower priced hotels. Driving to Disney, Universal, SeaWorld etc are easy. Having outside dining for better/comparable food for less is huge. I've had those weeks at Disney where I never saw my car .... but offsite has great perks as well. The money I save can pay for Discovery Cove and special events. Having a kitchen and laundry are awesome, I don't cook but I have have sandwich and breakfast stuff. Or a hotel with breakfast included, great way to keep our eat costs down.
Hello! Do you have a trip report? I would love to hear about your planning especially FP availability, did you take breaks during the day?
Thank you!
We just don't have FP+ problems, even when booked way in advance we rarely do the 60 days. We were there last week, parks were crowded. Headed to Epcot on Thursday to substantial crowds with no FP+. We could get them for
everything (3 of us). We rode Test Track, Soarin', Nemo and Frozen all with FP+. Frozen we got for a few hours out, just kept refreshing and got one that we could go in the time it took us to walk there. There are lots of hints on here how to use FP+ system, we have no issues.
I keep doing onsite for perceived convenience. I fly, so I don't need a rental car and we use Disney transportation. This year, my POP PPV room rate is about $185 per night (11 nights May 29 - June 9). That is what has me thinking about offsite, but the total savings and cost of adding a rental car would have to make it worth that hassle and having to drive ourselves to the park each day. It's just me and DD.
Is it difficult to get around the highways in Florida? I don't want to be stressed out by fighting traffic and getting directions wrong on my vacation. I hate getting lost. I'm not terrible with directions, but It's certainly not my superpower.
Also, from room to park, does it take longer to use the Disney bus system or to use your rental car? I really have no idea what kind of hassle it is to get into the parking lot and make your way up to the park entrance. We really want to rope drop in the mornings, but we already lose an hour just coming from the midwest. I don't want to get up at 5 am when it feels like 4 am to our bodies, just to leave extra time for driving.
Am I making offsite seem worse than it is? Should I just stay onsite and not stress myself out?
YIKES! See this is where I am having issues with Disney, their rates are getting out of control for what you get. We just stayed at POP for $95 a night.
When you can stay at a value, it makes on site more attractive because of the benefits and the price. As a family of 5, off site is the way to go, IMO..
Depending on where you stay, the roads are more than manageable. Usually takes us 10 mins door to door. I think it’s faster than wdw transportation 9xs out of 10.
It really boils down to what benefits you want. We have APs so we don't care about the parking but even if we paid for it, we can more than make up for it with our room rate. 60 day FP+ is a non-issue for us, we don't care about the
DDP (we'd rather eat what we want and save money), we don't care about package delivery as we can send packages to front of park and pick up on the way out, we have plenty of MagicBands, last week we had full intention to use EMH but didn't and we drive so Magical Express does nothing for us. You have to look at what of those are mandatory to the success of your trip. If you will have no car, onsite is a good option but the rest ............