Originally Posted By Darkbeer <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-tr-budget18feb18" target="_blank">http://www.latimes.com/busines s/la-tr-budget18feb18</a>,1,2020086.column?coll=la-mininav-business >>WITH vacation season looming, finding ways to cut the cost of a trip to Orlando, Fla., is a concern for many families. Adult tickets to Disney World cost $67 a day, and children's tickets aren't much less. And Disney's value-class resorts (the All-Star Sports Resort, the All-Star Movie Resort, etc.) are often booked; they also now cost a minimum of $79 per room per day. You can save money at properties away from the theme parks. These acceptable digs cost about $50 a night most of the year. They aren't sumptuous, but their amenities are nearly identical to those at Disney's cheapest hotels. In no order, here are seven inexpensive lodgings in Orlando:<<
Originally Posted By Labuda ^^ Yeah, pay dirt-cheap prices and you miss out on Extra Magic hours. No thanks! I'd rather pay and stay onsite instead of in some offiste place that's not magical.
Originally Posted By avromark I'm guessing this article is aimed at the vacation traveller who saved all year(s) and can barely afford the trip. It's up to the individual to see if the magic is worth the extra (Along with realizing an AP will allow you to take 2 trips+ for the cost of one 2 week trip). But with the Internet researching is easier. However the first time (and less informed person) is lucky just to be there. If that difference in price (over the cost of the vacation) will allow the person to go, then more power to those people. If I could afford a month at the Deluxe's or DVC's I'd be happy. I'll take what I can get (Ft Wilderness and the Values)
Originally Posted By Darkbeer And there are other savings if you stay off-property, including access to Grocery Stores, fast food and other low cost restaurants. You also have an easier time visiting other locations such as Universal SeaWorld, etc. There are choices in life because people have different tastes....
Originally Posted By avromark As well if everyone started staying at the Values, then it would make reservations impossible (even if they finished the Classic Years at Pop Century). <- Basically Selfish
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Besides Extra Magic Hours, staying offsite is almost demands that a rental car be factored in to the difference in cost. While it's nice to have a rental car on-property, Disney's transporation is fairly convenient, whereas relying on off-property shuttles is likely not convenient at all. Also, if staying off-site and assuming a car is rented, parking costs $10.00/day. Taking all that into consideration, $79.00 is still a good deal.
Originally Posted By Coachbagfanatic1 We would rather stay on property as well. Can't be bothered with the rental car and having to get on a major highway as we do every day. We go to WDW to get away from the real world. I am sure there are great deals off property that people can take advantage of but for us staying on property is the only way.
Originally Posted By avromark I'm assuming a lot of people who stay at the inexpensive motels drive, as flying is probably more expensive for the family. If they already have a car, you wouldn't have to add the rental costs.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer I can't really talk much about WDW, but why wouldn't off-property shuttles not convenient?? At Anaheim, I hear the praises of the Candy Cane Inn shuttles all the time, and I have seen more than one complaint about the on-property WDW transportation system. Most of the off-property hotels in the article offer free shuttles and a free breakfast, which is another savings.
Originally Posted By Coachbagfanatic1 >>Most of the off-property hotels in the article offer free shuttles and a free breakfast, which is another savings.<< Absolutely, even though we rented a car when we stayed off property we always took advantage of the shuttle. That was a great convenience.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<I can't really talk much about WDW, but why wouldn't off-property shuttles not convenient?>> The biggest difference is time and distance. DLR is across the street, or a few blocks away from off-property hotels. Offsite at WDW is measured in miles; a hotel could be 20-30 minutes away. If you're at Disney's Value Resorts, you might still be far away from a park, but at least the buses show up every 5-20 minutes, virtually around the clock. You could go back to your room for a midday break, if you wanted to. That may not be an option with an off-property hotel.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer ^Does it matter the difference in mileage, if the hotels are a few miles off property (One hotel listed was 6 miles from WDW in the article), if they run shuttles every 20 minutes, does it matter? Most hotels run shuttles on a regular basis, I presume they would be similar to the schedule here in Anaheim, every 20 to 30 minutes. They might need 2 shuttles instead of one, but I presume the hotel owners want to keep their guests happy....
Originally Posted By Darkbeer On the other hand, here are some complaints about the on-property WDW transportation here at LP... <a href="http://mb.laughingplace.com/MsgBoard-T-84106-P-1.asp" target="_blank">http://mb.laughingplace.com/Ms gBoard-T-84106-P-1.asp</a>
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Look at the schedule for the first hotel on the list, the Seralago. For this month, there are two departure times for the MK: 7:30am and 11;10am. Depending on the date, returns are at 5:05pm, 7:55pm, 10:00pm, or 11:15pm. If you want to go to say, AK, you have a choice of one departure: 7:30am, and one return, at 5:45pm. Also, even though a hotel might be six miles from Disney property, there could still another few miles to get to the park, since the parks are not situated at the entrances of the property.
Originally Posted By Daannzzz The problem in Orlando is as said above. The shuttles from these inexpensive hotels do not run very often at all and if you miss the shuttle in the morning you have to find an alternative way to the parks. In the evening the few shuttles are crowded and if you miss it they don't always come back to pick up those stuck behind.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 While I enjoy staying at WDW resorts, especially after they are rehabbed, I would never suggest someone either stay on property or not visit if money is an option. You can often rent HOMES within a 20 minutes drive to WDW for a week for the cost of a room at WDW moderate resort. And as for off-site lodging, there are plenty of bargains. If I'm a person who wants to bring his/her family to WDW but can't afford $90-plus for a 'value resort' there are so many options. Like using Priceline.com and snagging the Hampton Inn (literally across from Hotel Plaza Blvd.) for $36 a night ... or the Sheraton Safari (next door) for $45 a night or maybe even the DD Hilton (which IS onsite and DOES participate in EMH) for as little as $60 a night. There are many, many, many great options that don't require paying the Mouse.
Originally Posted By Labuda "I can't really talk much about WDW, but why wouldn't off-property shuttles not convenient?? At Anaheim, I hear the praises of the Candy Cane Inn shuttles all the time, and I have seen more than one complaint about the on-property WDW transportation system." Completely different mindset in California than in Florida, Darkbeer. From what I understand, the Candy Cane does have great shuttle service, and I expect I'll stay there at some point in time when I'm in California. But, that said, staying offiste at DLR is soooooooooooooooooooo very different than staying offsite at WDW. At Disneyland, staying offsite is usually within a few blocks of the parks, whereas at WDW, you're looking at a few MILES. Plus, the benefits of onsite at WDW are far greater, to me, than the benefits extended to al other guests. Also, as for the transport system @ WDW - most of it is great. General concensus around here is that it'd be nice if the diesel buses were replaced with something else, and it'd be nice if the monorail were expanded, and sure, occasionally there are traffic delays with the monorail system, but overall - the WDW transport system (buses, boats, and monorails) does a great job of transporting however many thousands of people it transports each day.
Originally Posted By smedley I am planning a trip to Florida for November, I am coming with family, and I will definitely be staying offsite. There are going to be 9 of us in the group, and our accomodation costs for 14 nights at a value resort would be $4424. A very nice 5 bed villa is going to cost us $2000. For us there isn't any competition, as we would have a car anyway in order to be able to do some offsite stuff whilst there.
Originally Posted By Labuda ^^^ Good point, smedley! If I were going to come with a large group like that, I'd likely be staying offsite unless someone else was paying for it. lol
Originally Posted By Coachbagfanatic1 My cousins always stay off property as there are 7 of them and they rent a house. They drive down from NJ as the air would cost them a small fortune. They bring most of their food and that saves them a lot of money. They pack their lunches and leave a cooler in their van so when it's time to eat they go out and tailgate. Us on the other hand like to stay on property and not have to worry about a thing. This is just for us but I can't and don't want to be bothered cooking my own food, having to trek out to my truck to eat my lunch. That to me is just way too much trouble and does not seem like vacation. But my cousins love to do it so that's good for them. No matter where you stay just as long as you have a great vacation that's all that should matter.
