I've stayed at Bonnet Creek (on points), and also in a Villa, and way way back (like '92) in a Holiday Inn on Intl Drive. Villa was nice, obviously the Parking charges were a bit of a PITA. We used to take advantage of the somewhat shady practice of booking breakfast and parking our car in the hotel, and omitting to move it when we went to the parks. Apart from that, we used to hit the parks, have a meal at one of the hotels and then go back to the villa, so didnt feel out of the bubble. We really enjoyed it TBH.
Bonnet Creek was lovely, TBH if I didn't have DVC, I would look at it again...
especially as most of those Good neighbour hotels have almost exactly the same perks as the Disney Hotels.
The Holiday Inn was awful, but I was 19 and loved up, so was more interested in other things in the room rather than the room, if you catch my drift
, so I'm not sure the tips I picked up on that trip would be that appropriate.
This is one reason why I'm thinking of staying off-site. If I can get the same perks with less money being spent, why not take advantage. As for parking? I'm not getting a car, so that doesn't apply to me.
I'm wicked smaht!
Yeah, if the magic is gone from staying on site... and you're going to be taking a rideshare (or your own/rental car)... then... what's the point?
Look, I get it with the whole rideshare-having-a-car-hotel-shuttle-bus-stinks kind of a thing, but from all I've heard, and read, the buses on-site aren't all that great right now anyways. And the Skyliner? Those resorts hooked up to it will jump in price, so out of my reach. I could be wrong on that, and I've heard the same for off-site buses as well, but I'm just doing my research right now. The price of an off-site hotel might, and do I mean, MIGHT, save me enough to do a rideshare if I have to use one. If I know I have to be somewhere early, then I get a rideshare. If not? I take my time getting to the parks. I'm just no longer sold on staying on-site.
Very important the mini-bar. Keep the liquor, though, and give me some beer.
We've stayed on-site 10 times and I can count on one hand the times we've had long waits for busses, even at closing it has moved fairly quickly. And we've never had a dirty room. The only off-site stays I've had include DDCC and single day visits while we were down there for other things so I have no real insight on an off-site stay. I do know that on those single day visits the magic was certainly gone as soon as you hit the parking lot.
I've heard good and bad things about the transportation for the Disney Springs area hotels, just like Disney resorts. I don't know, that's why I'm asking for opinions.
That's just brutal to hear. I'm so sorry.
Thanks. It took everyone in our group by surprise.
To echo the others, I've only ever stayed on-site (but we can usually swing a discount 3-6 months ahead of our travel dates--keep looking for announcements). You can definitely get more space and nice accommodations for less money outside the WDW bubble. Since we only go every 5 years or so, I prefer to go all-in on the magic and stay there.
I'm hoping to stay on-site the first time, and will use a
travel agent who continually looks for discounts. Some of the perks are great. Kid friendly activities and all. Sounds great, but the price has to be right.
Afternoon all. So, after a chat with our builder, he said the delay was "finding subs". So, as I thought, no global supply chain issues. We signed the contract in May, and 3 weeks before completion, now they can't find subs? I guess they had subs to build the other houses in the neighborhood? As I had to reject an offer on our house, it's time to go to the lawyer for anticipated breach of contract. Ugh. Just one more hurdle in post-retirement year.
We've done stays both on and off, and we like on property so much better, which is why we did DVC. If your staying off, there are the hotels that have the bus transport to the parks. I don't like to drive in orlando on vacation. Or, there are hotels in walking distance of Disney Springs (I think), that you could walk there and bus to a resort and then theme park.
I like on-site as well, the POFQ being my favorite, but the high price is getting to me. Right now, I priced out a trip, when I did price it at least, for late April/early May, and came up with around 2K, which I didn't think was bad, but that's at a value resort. So with that kind of a price tag, I'd still consider staying on-site. I'm just basically looking at options.