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LulaBell
:)
Member since 1/06 3508 total posts
Name:
J
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More annoying Disney hotel questions...
Bear with me and advise please!
We are thinking of going to Disney in September. We have a timeshare and there are plenty of weeks to trade so we have some choices:
1) Stay on a Disney property in a 1BR villa. In order to do this we would have to trade 2.5 weeks of timeshare
2) Stay in an off-property timeshare (within miles) and have a 3 BR condo type situation. We would only have to trade one week of timeshare for this.
Is there really that much of an advantage to staying on a Disney property? I don't mind a little drive and will probably rent a car anyway. There will be at least three of us travelling (me, DH and DD) but we might invite other family members. For those of you who do Disney often, should I leverage more just to stay on the property in a smaller room?
TIA :)
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Posted 5/16/12 3:05 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
Mill188
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 3073 total posts
Name:
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Re: More annoying Disney hotel questions...
The advantages to staying at an onsite property are:
Extra Magic Hours (either early park openings or late park closings)
The ability to use Disney's meal plan. Also, I believe that trade-in's work like the DVC owner's meal plan (meaning you don't pay "peak/off-peak" rates).
Use of Disney transportation/Magical Express.
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| Posted 5/16/12 6:29 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: More annoying Disney hotel questions...
The big reasons to stay on property - are if you go during a very busy peak time (christmas for example) the parks reach capacity. They close the parks 1st to OFF site guests. So you would have a better chance of getting in if you stay on site.
You can get the dining plan - which might be a good deal depending on your wants and preferences.
You get magical express - so no rental car and you can save money and hassle that way. You get free transportation around the parks and to and from your hotel for the week.
You get extra magic hours - which is helpful if you go during a busy time OR you plan to leave and go back to your room during the day to extend your hours.
Also it is usually closer to the parks than off site depending on where you want to stay.
Now having said that - if you are not going during a peak time and you don't care about the dining plan or extra magic hours I would take the off site - because you can plan another vacation rather than lose the extra weeks.
I personally love staying onsite - but there are times that I might stay off site depending on the deal. September isn't a crazy time - but it is free dining and you might find that restaurants fill quickly. So staying off site might be good if you prefer to eat off site as well.
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| Posted 5/16/12 7:38 PM |
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Dulcinea
Weekend Warrior
Member since 3/08 2530 total posts
Name:
Dulcinea
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Re: More annoying Disney hotel questions...
I'm going in september too and am staring at a rented DVC timeshare with just DC and DH.
I don't know this may help answer your dilemma but would you need to accommodate both you, your family and your guests at either disney or offsite property?
If you do, would you need to shell out more $$ to stay at disney?
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| Posted 5/16/12 8:46 PM |
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LulaBell
:)
Member since 1/06 3508 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: More annoying Disney hotel questions...
Thanks so much for the info and responses so far. Just to give more info, neither DH or I are Disney people, we're really going for our DD and will probably visit Sea World also. We aren't tied to eating on site for all meals and probably would just want to do quick lunch and a special character meal.
Posted by Dulcinea
I'm going in september too and am staring at a rented DVC timeshare with just DC and DH.
I don't know this may help answer your dilemma but would you need to accommodate both you, your family and your guests at either disney or offsite property?
If you do, would you need to shell out more $$ to stay at disney?
If we go w family we will stay off site bc I can't get a trade for an onsite room that is big enough for all of us. I'm leaning towards going just the three of us, though.
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| Posted 5/16/12 8:52 PM |
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Bridex100
Two Under Two Mommy
Member since 3/08 10420 total posts
Name:
Momx100
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Re: More annoying Disney hotel questions...
We were just at Disney at the end of April.
We stayed off at Sheraton Vistana Villages and had a great time. We are also not Disney people. It was a quick 20 minute drive to Disney. I think it was about 10 miles and we never hit any traffic. Our kids are up at 6 and the parks opened at 9. We left our hotel everyday right before 8, picked up breakfast and were in line by 8:30 (30 minutes prior to park opening). We were there for rope drop everyday.
We actually had a 4 day parkhopper pass but ended up not using the 4th day so the ticket went to waste. I know to some people that would have been such a waste but we had already gone to all 4 parks and Seaworld. I wanted to go back to Magic Kingdom but DH preferred to lounge at the pools on our last day. We are not marathon disney people. We didn't need to see everything. We rode a handful of rides in the morning when there was no line, saw a show and/or a parade, took some pictures and headed home in the early afternoon.
The pp makes a good point about peak times. We will probably stay on site when the kids are in school and it is busy break time. That makes a lot of sense. Right now our kids are 1 and 3 and a few hours a day at disney was plenty for us.
Message edited 5/17/2012 8:28:15 AM.
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| Posted 5/17/12 8:23 AM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: More annoying Disney hotel questions...
Posted by JenniferEver
Posted by Lillykat
The big reasons to stay on property - are if you go during a very busy peak time (christmas for example) the parks reach capacity. They close the parks 1st to OFF site guests. So you would have a better chance of getting in if you stay on site.
You can get the dining plan - which might be a good deal depending on your wants and preferences.
You get magical express - so no rental car and you can save money and hassle that way. You get free transportation around the parks and to and from your hotel for the week.
You get extra magic hours - which is helpful if you go during a busy time OR you plan to leave and go back to your room during the day to extend your hours.
Also it is usually closer to the parks than off site depending on where you want to stay.
Now having said that - if you are not going during a peak time and you don't care about the dining plan or extra magic hours I would take the off site - because you can plan another vacation rather than lose the extra weeks.
I personally love staying onsite - but there are times that I might stay off site depending on the deal. September isn't a crazy time - but it is free dining and you might find that restaurants fill quickly. So staying off site might be good if you prefer to eat off site as well.
I agree with all of this except I would NEVER stay offsite. That's just my preference. I like to be in the magic.
Well I would never stay off site either BUT she was saying that it would mean she would have to give up 2.5 weeks of time share time versus one week. That is one additional to 2 additional trips that she could make - if I had a time share and the decision was one trip versus 2-3 I would probably choose off site in that case. But seeing as we don't have a time share - guess it is a moot point...
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| Posted 5/17/12 7:00 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: More annoying Disney hotel questions...
Posted by JenniferEver
Outside of Disney, I don't know. Disney also has great security at their resorts, where I've heard of people being robbed at gunpoint in the parking lot of outside hotels! I'm sure this is a rarity and has everything to do with the place they chose and the area, and being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but with Disney hotels, I feel much more secure and it's one less thing to worry about
I hate to say this as I LOVE WDW but they do have robberies etc there too. I think sometimes since WDW gives you such a sense of security people forget this.
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| Posted 5/17/12 7:05 PM |
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Dulcinea
Weekend Warrior
Member since 3/08 2530 total posts
Name:
Dulcinea
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Re: More annoying Disney hotel questions...
Posted by LulaBell
For those of you who do Disney often, should I leverage more just to stay on the property in a smaller room?
TIA :)
Honetly, if the disney perks and being immersed in the disney experience isn't that important to you and saving money is, then go with offsite. Offsite hotels are actually pretty good and you get such good deals compared to staying onsite.
Many ppl who decide on visiting nondisney attractions stay offsite and are perfectly happy doing that.
I did offsite last year and that vacation cost me 1/2 of what my upcoming Sept. vacation will cost.
Maybe when your DD is older and really want the full disney experience you can try onsite.
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| Posted 5/17/12 10:52 PM |
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17795 total posts
Name:
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Re: More annoying Disney hotel questions...
We stay at the Vistana Villages and love it. It's closer than 10 miles to the park and its very close to Seaworld. The grounds are beautiful, the units are beautiful and there is security.
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| Posted 5/18/12 1:58 PM |
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LulaBell
:)
Member since 1/06 3508 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: More annoying Disney hotel questions...
Thank all for the different points of view. I think that based on out needs the off-Disney option is best. Thanks for helping me figure it out!
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| Posted 5/18/12 8:54 PM |
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