Onsite or Offsite--Part Two

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.

Onsite or Offsite--Part One

Before you call Walt Disney World and book your vacation, you need to first decide if you even want to stay onsite, or if you would prefer to stay offsite.  How to decide?

First, set aside the notion that you are doomed to have a bad trip if you stay offsite.  Or that the only way to enjoy the magic is to stay onsite.  This simply is not true.  Repeat: not true.  However, there are benefits of staying onsite while on a Walt Disney World vacation that cannot be denied. 

·    Walt Disney World touts complementary resort transportation as a benefit to guests staying onsite at one of their resorts.  This is a bit misleading though.  You are not carded as a resort guest or not when using transportation at Walt Disney World.  Any guest may use the busses, monorail or boat system free of charge.

·    By staying onsite, you can get packages delivered directly to your hotel.  Note: this is only a minor benefit.  Packages are not guaranteed to be delivered until 3 PM the next day.  If it is something you want sooner, or you are leaving Walt Disney World the next day, this benefit is completely useless.  Additionally, packages are not delivered to your room, but to the gift shop of your resort, which might not even be in the same building as your room.  Plus, anyone can have packages delivered to the front of the park for pick up at the end of the day.  I would not allow this benefit to determine onsite or offsite.

·    Another benefit to staying onsite is Magical Express.  This is where Walt Disney World will pick you up from the airport and deliver your luggage to your resort.  This is a free benefit.  If you are not driving, this may save you some money if you decide to stay onsite.  Note: You luggage isn’t delivered immediately, even though you are.  It might be up to three hours before your luggage arrives at the resort.  You will need to take anything you might want (a change of clothes, bathing suit, etc), along with any valuables, with you in a carry-on.  Once your luggage is delivered to your resort, you will receive notification and you may call to have it delivered to your room as soon as you are in your room.  Be sure to tip whoever handles your bags for you. 

This benefit might not matter to you if you are not flying into the Orlando International Airport.  Or if you plan on renting a car.  You also need to be aware that if you take Magical Express from your Walt Disney World Resort to the airport on your way home, you do have to leave several hours earlier than if you arrange your own transportation.  It is also possible to receive a good deal on transportation from the airport to your hotel, although not free (unless offered by your hotel).  Walt Disney World Resorts can, however, check you into your flight for certain airlines directly at the resort before your departure for the airport.

·    One very real benefit to guests staying onsite at a Walt Disney World Resort is the Disney Dining Plan.  While the Disney Dining Plan may or may not be worth it to you, you only have the option if you book a package as an onsite guest at a Walt Disney World Resort.  When closely evaluating the Walt Disney World Dining Plans, you may decide that is not a benefit you would want to participate in.

·         If you do drive or rent a car for your Walt Disney World vacation, parking is free for onsite resort guests.  Day guests, on the other hand, must pay for parking each day.  Parking fees are daily, not per park.  Of course, if you are an annual pass holder, there are no parking fees for you.

·    The most important benefit of staying onsite at Walt Disney World is the Extra Magic Hours benefit.  This is where on certain days you get to either get into one of the four theme parks, as determined by Walt Disney World, one hour early or stay at one of the four theme parks, as determined by Walt Disney World, three hours late.  Occasionally, a different park will be available both in the morning and the evening giving you lots of extended park time.  You must be a guest of a Walt Disney World Resort to take advantage of this perk, with the exception of The Downtown Disney World Hilton Hotel. 

For this benefit to matter, you do need to use it.  If you are not an early riser or stay up late, this Walt Disney World Resort benefit isn’t much use to you.  Also, extra park time might mean a lot during the busier times of year, but during some of the slower times of year it has minimally impact on your vacation. 

·    Lastly, a benefit for Walt Disney World Resort onsite guests, is during those crowded times of the year, you are able to gain access to the theme parks when offsite guests would be denied.  This is only during times when parks start to reach capacity though, and you have to ask yourself, do you really want to be at a theme park, onsite or offsite resort guest, that is at or even near capacity?  It might be much more to your advantage to choose a different Walt Disney World theme park or take advantage of activities that the resorts or your offsite hotel have to offer on those days.  Of course, if you must be there on days where the theme parks are near capacity, such as Christmas or New Years Eve, just be sure to arrive at the park early, preferably prior to opening, and you’ll be sure to get in anyhow.