But there is more to deciding onsite or offsite than what benefits a Walt Disney World Resort may offer. Cost plays an important factor in deciding where to stay.
Most Walt Disney World Resorts sleep only four to five people. There are exceptions, but most of those are in a much higher cost bracket. If you desire to stay in a more affordable resort for families of five or more, you may prefer to stay offsite. Even if there are only two people in your travel party, you can often find accommodations outside of Walt Disney World to be more spacious, more luxurious, and less expensive than the Walt Disney World Resorts.
Of course, make sure when you are comparing costs, you are comparing apples to apples. While it does not apply to all offsite hotels, many charge for parking. There are no parking fees at any Walt Disney World Resort or theme parks for onsite guests. Other hotels will charge a daily resort fee. Some hotels charge both. And while you are paying a lower per night fee, don’t forget to add in the cost to park at the Walt Disney World theme parks every day you’ll be there.
But there are hidden cost savings to offsite hotels v. Walt Disney World Resorts. Food being a major one. Many offsite hotels include free breakfast during your hotel stay. Some hotels will even include vouchers to help offset other meals eaten at the hotel. Many offsite hotels offer kitchenettes. This helps for snacks and inexpensive meals that can be tossed into the microwave (or for saving leftovers). Walt Disney World Resorts do have refrigerators in most of their resort rooms (for a charge at value resorts), but they do not offer microwaves except in a few rooms. Additionally, staying offsite almost encourages you to eat offsite. Restaurants not on Walt Disney World property are considerably cheaper than restaurants on Walt Disney World property.
It’s important to make sure you when comparing prices you are looking only at the complete bottom line.
Beyond cost, you might want to consider service. Walt Disney World is known for their outstanding service, although many argue in recent years it has begun to slip. That does not mean that offsite hotels are lacking in service. It is my opinion, since they are both pulling from the same worker pool, that offsite hotels can also offer as impeccable service as any Walt Disney World Resort. There are little extra touches that Walt Disney World will offer that offsite hotels do not. That could be a birthday card signed by the characters, help with making advanced dining reservations, or a little special something extra if they hear you are ill on your vacation.
Walt Disney World Resorts also offer incredible theming to their resorts—some more than others. You will often feel transported when you walk through the doors of a Walt Disney World Resort. You do not feel as though you are in Disney, but somewhere in Africa, or the Northwest Pacific, or a tropical island. The resorts go out of their way that you can have a wonderful, enjoyable time without even stepping foot into a theme park (blasphemous!).
Walt Disney World is also known for their pools. I, personally, do not feel as though their pools offer anything particularly exciting. In most cases, they are not plain cement rectangles, but there isn’t anything spectacular either. There is no exciting water park, but most have a slide and a pool bar. The pools will keep the kiddos (and you) entertained plenty. Offsite hotel pools can rival those. A few of the offsite hotels even have indoor pools so that the weather doesn’t matter. Pretty important during those frequent summer rain showers Florida has.
Whether you choose to stay onsite at a Walt Disney World Resort, or offsite at a hotel near Disney, you will have enjoyable vacation.
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