Do you stay on site or off site? About This Page:

[mommadjones]

My husband and I were talking last night about EMH. He was wondering how many people really stay off site and if EMH are really worth it. So my question is do you stay on site or off site? If you stay off site why? Thanks for indulging my curiosity!

[njsmama]

On site. I don't want to be outside my Disney bubble. It's just so easy to stay onsite. I stayed offsite my 1st trip and prob. won't do it again. Sometimes we use EMH and sometimes we don't.

[elisa1006]

On Site so it feels more real.

[CinderAbby]

I stay onsite because I enjoy the benefits.

EMH
Dining plan
ADR's at 90 +10 instead of having to call multiple times
Packages sent back to the resort instead of the park pickup area
Bus transportation (we drive and don't use this anymore but years ago you had to
show a valid room key before you could get on some of the buses)
If the parks reach capacity, Disney property guests are still admitted until the
parks reaches max capacity (this has happened when we were there and we
were still allowed into the MK because we were guests).

Edited to add: I forgot to mention that staying onsite with a car you don't pay the parking lot fees either - and at something like 10 bucks a day, it adds up quick

[goofy4clareandkeller]

We stay on site for hte convenience more than the EMH. We fly in and never drive a car for the whole vacation.

[WDWfan]

On this site I think you're going to find that the majority of members stay on site. The only time I stayed off property was for 2 nights before a planned trip a couple of years ago whtn my parents had some points with their Hilton Timeshare that they were going to lose - so I went down a couple of days early to use them up. To me there is just a feeling of magic staying on property. I have to admit that I really haven't explored much of Orlando other than WDW. Once I get inside the gates I rarely leave. I've tossed around the thought of a Non-Disney trip to Orlando, but always end up thinking that I couldn't go there and not go to WDW. So - it's never happened.

[DVC Mike]

Only onsite for us!

[judyjo]

The first few times we went to WDW we stayed offsite. It was less expensive and it prevented disney overload for my DH. We have been staying onsite since 2004 and won't go back. I love the theming of the resorts, the ease of travelling between resorts and parks and DME (no need to rent a car!!), EMH etc. I love being able to continue the magic 24/7.

[srsatkowiak]

Originally Posted by mommadjones

My husband and I were talking last night about EMH. He was wondering how many people really stay off site and if EMH are really worth it. So my question is do you stay on site or off site? If you stay off site why? Thanks for indulging my curiosity!

We used to stay off site at some of the hotels in the downtown disney area (hotel plaza blvd) before the dining plan and everything came around. Some of those hotels are really nice and worth looking in to, but I don't know that you can't add the dining plan to your ticket at those hotels. They may have the sme exclusions as the swolfin. Now that we get the dining plan on our longer stays at WDW, we stay on site.

[BarryCF]

The only time we stay offsite is if we arrive a day early or want to stay for the full day on our last day in the parks. In June '08 we stayed at the Masters Inn on I-Drive our last night and left for home early the next morning.

[blondie]

If we fly we usually stay on-site. This summer we are driving and will use a combination of on-site and off-site accommodtions. we like the off-site to do the "other" theme parks in Orlando as well as some of the fun things to do around Kissimmee.

[DrDolphin]

Only onsite for me!! For all the reasons folks have listed.

[puente0629]

We love to stay on site, you get all the benefits...transportation, EMH, priority seating, etc. Plus, when your staying on site you never leave the magic of Disney, your surrounded 24-7.

FYI-if your looking for a good deal, Walt Disney World Resort is giving free dining when you purchase hotel and tickets together.

Hope this helps!!!

[Griffin]

On site. I just don't see the need to be off site with all the hotel choices and prices. Plus the bus service is a bonus!

[WillCAD]

I alternate between on and off. When I can afford on site, I stay at the Value resorts. When I can't get a good enough rate for my budget, I stay off site.

When I stay off site, it's usually in a hotel that's very close to WDW property, so I'm not much farther from the parks than I am at the Values. One exception was when I visited Universal in May 2008 and stayed at a Ramada off I-Drive, but still drove down to Disney for dining and shopping.

I always rent a car, whether on site or off site, so I have no difference in transportation options.

I rarely use evening EMH, and NEVER use morning EMH, so there's little difference for me there.

I never book packages, eat a lot of counter service, and haven't been to WDW in September since 2001, so I have no need of the dining plan, nor could I take advantage of it when it's free.

I like using package delivery to my resort, but when I'm off site I simply have the packages delivered to the front of the park and pick them up on my way out.

Amenities and room size at the off site places are often better than those at the Disney Values, for less money. In fact, many of the off site places have kitchenettes, and a few even have free high speed internet access.

Service at the off site places is usually just as good as the Disney Values.

Cleanliness and maintenance at the off site places is variable; sometimes it's as good as Disney, sometimes not, but I've never had a hotel room that I considered dirty or unkempt, and never had to switch rooms or switch hotels because of anything wrong with my room or the hotel.

Disney atmosphere is great in the Values, but I can live without it to save 40-50% on my hotel bill.

Overall, I prefer to stay on site, but I move off site in a heartbeat if I can get a room 20%-40% larger than the All-Stars, with a kitchenette, for one-third less money. I'm planning a trip in October, and right now the best rates I can find at the Values are $99 a night, but off site rooms are currently listing for about $65-$75 on Hotels.com, so I'll probably be staying off site.