Why do you stay offsite?

ruthfamilyvacationer · May 28, 2009

*disgal* said:
no worries, I don't think you offended them. I "think" I got what they were trying to say.

btw, I love your sig. pic.

Thanks DH and I were @ a wedding. . . thats the nicest I have dressed/looked in months. I actually had time to do my hair b/c we didnt have the kids with us! LOL :rotfl2:

MiaSRN62 · May 28, 2009

removed

CarolA · May 28, 2009

MiaSRN62 said:
This certainly isn't me. I don't think I see too much of that at all here on this board ? Not sure who u are referring to Carol ? I, personally, am on the Orlando boards because I stay both on and offsite. So I feel I have a "valid" reason to be here if that is required.

Maria

Well this post makes me wonder. Why is every post on this thread directed at you?

Did I quote you? Did I mention you? (And have I paid any attention to your posts until now?)

Hmmm.......

*disgal* · May 28, 2009

Maria, I'm so sorry that has happened to you. I agree it should not happen anywhere on these boards. I just say it has happened to me a lot more on the resort board than here since I post on both, giving my honest opinion to people who ask.

I really don't get it. I like both, have done both, can see cons/pros for both. There is a fine line, I believe, between opinion and giving that opinion in such a way that a person of the opposite opinion is made to feel dumb, kwim? I think that is what you are talking about. I don't understand why people have to be like that. Well, maybe I do. They want to feel like the smarter person I guess.

Oh, and I hope you didn't think I was saying that you've been disrespectful to anyone here. I don't believe that.

MiaSRN62 · May 28, 2009

removed

isla bonita · May 28, 2009

This just goes to show there is something for every one. So many options give each one of us the holiday of our dreams.

We like it down there so much we bought a home nearby. After staying in one a while back was the best holiday I could have imagined. Still loving it but I know it is not for every one.

Have a great time where ever you choose to lay your head.

shelemm · May 28, 2009

I prefer offsite.

Mostly because we don't use the room that much, we are out all day. I can find a room VERY close by for $30-35 on Priceline. Hard to beat that. I am going to rent a car anyway because that's how I prefer to get around plus it gives us the option of going elsewhere. The best way to get around WDW too.

The rooms can be just as nice as Coronado Springs. At some of the WDW resorts, you can be so far away from ther pool, restaurant, etc. I just feel like I'm trapped in WDW and everything is more expensive.

Brian Noble · May 28, 2009

Maria, while I enjoy our conversations, I do think you sometimes take all of this a little too personally---and I've seen you get into these "why are you attacking me" conversations with other folks in threads I haven't even been involved in. It's a discussion board. People will say things you won't like, and they are generally not attacking you personally. Sometimes, folks will joke at your expense, in a light-hearted no-harm-meant sort of way. Lord knows they often do at mine. You've spent almost a decade on the DIS, so I don't know why you continue to be shocked that this happens on a regular basis.

Every once in a while, people will be truly mean-spirited. I don't think that's happened in this thread, but perhaps my skin is too thick.

Very interesting but not AT ALL surprising. The cost of WDW goes up and the service goes down.

I was thinking about this this evening, and I'm not convinced that objective quality tanked that much in 2008. Rather, I think that folks have become a lot more conscious about the money they are spending, and big-ticket items are met with a lot more scrutiny. In effect, people generally are valuing "value" more than they used to. As the UG folks put it, everyone silently adds "...for the money I paid" to the end of each survey question. My guess: when the economy recovers, so will the survey ratings of the Disney resorts.

littlestar · May 28, 2009

MiaSRN62 said:
As far as keeping RCI---can I ? After I eventually get Vistana sold ? Didn't know that.

Maria

I've heard many people say that as long as they kept their membership up and didn't call RCI and formally announce they sold, they've been able to keep it. Of course, you'd probably have to book a few cash deals a year to make the membership fee worth it.

Since we can travel off season, II and RCI's cash deals are great for us. Our kids are over 25 now and rent cars, so the Getaways are very nice for them, too.

*disgal* · May 28, 2009

Brian Noble said:
I was thinking about this this evening, and I'm not convinced that objective quality tanked that much in 2008. Rather, I think that folks have become a lot more conscious about the money they are spending, and big-ticket items are met with a lot more scrutiny. In effect, people generally are valuing "value" more than they used to. As the UG folks put it, everyone silently adds "...for the money I paid" to the end of each survey question. My guess: when the economy recovers, so will the survey ratings of the Disney resorts.

And that just goes to show you that value is sometimes too subjective. Is that how I want to say it?

Nothing changed in that scenario except maybe the persons money in their pocketbook. What I mean is, someone who's got millions might say, "oh, I only stay onsite at deluxe because the location is worth every penny." Then, his stock goes down next to nothing and all of a sudden, he's saying, "man, I would love to stay at a WDW deluxe again but these prices are killing me!" Nothing changed about the hotel, only the guest's perspective.

littlestar · May 28, 2009

Brian Noble said:
I was thinking about this this evening, and I'm not convinced that objective quality tanked that much in 2008. Rather, I think that folks have become a lot more conscious about the money they are spending, and big-ticket items are met with a lot more scrutiny. In effect, people generally are valuing "value" more than they used to. As the UG folks put it, everyone silently adds "...for the money I paid" to the end of each survey question. My guess: when the economy recovers, so will the survey ratings of the Disney resorts.

You know, I think you're right. The economy has made people really value their dollar more. It makes you wonder if when the economy recovers if people will go back to their old habits or if there will be some lasting effects from it. I know some of my relatives that lived through the Great Depression have never forgot their thrift.

Last week when I stayed at the Wilderness Lodge I remember looking at the price on a t-shirt in the mercantile store and I couldn't believe it was priced at $31.00. That's just insane to me.

I look at Disney onsite as a treat for the theming, but I don't need that every trip anymore. I've changed since we first became DVC members over 7 years ago. I enjoy the quality and value that I get out of staying at Marriott and some of the other vacation clubs. It's actually quite fun to experience the different resorts in Orlando, Disney and non Disney.

Brian Noble · May 28, 2009

Nothing changed in that scenario except maybe the persons money in their pocketbook.

Exactly.

In fact, it's even more subtle---the vast majority of folks haven't seen the money "in their pocketbook" (the day to day income and expenses) change at all. What's changed is how they feel about it. And, just eyeballing the Michigan Consumer Sentiment index, it sure looks like 2008 was a lot worse than 2007 in terms of how people felt about the economy.

makes you wonder if when the economy recovers if people will go back to their old habits or if there will be some lasting effects from it.

That is the big question. I don't think we're anywhere near the Great Depression's level of pain---there were a couple of other factors then that were compounded with the economic collapse, including the Dust Bowl-induced flight to cities, which made the jobs situation even worse.

But, one can only hope. As a country, we had a negative savings rate just a few short years ago. We're back to "normal" now, and I hope we can stay that way. It does mean we won't recover as fast as "we want to", because spending will still be dampened. But, in the long run, I think that's healthy.

DawnM · May 29, 2009

We only stayed on site once (OKW). I can't imagine staying at the values.....way too small of a room and it reminds me of a glorified Motel 6.

We are now a family of 5 and we MUCH prefer a 2 bedroom condo with:

Full Kitchen (we save on food)
2 full bathrooms
2 full bedrooms
3 TVs (we old folks like to relax with grown up TV shows and the kids would climb the walls while we watched or we we would have to turn on cartoons and then we would be bored.)

It just works better all the way around. Plus, we use SkyAuction and get condos for $28/night including tax. I can't get that rate anywhere.

Dawn

*disgal* · May 29, 2009

littlestar said:
I look at Disney onsite as a treat for the theming, but I don't need that every trip anymore. I've changed since we first became DVC members over 7 years ago. I enjoy the quality and value that I get out of staying at Marriott and some of the other vacation clubs. It's actually quite fun to experience the different resorts in Orlando, Disney and non Disney.

So you are DVC members but you still stay offsite sometimes and like that?
And I feel the same way about the Orlando resorts......too many to choose from so little time! :laughing:

I want to stay at them all. But now I'm wondering if we prefer 3 bedrooms and they are harder to find at a good price at the timeshares.

Brian Noble said:
But, one can only hope. As a country, we had a negative savings rate just a few short years ago. We're back to "normal" now, and I hope we can stay that way. It does mean we won't recover as fast as "we want to", because spending will still be dampened. But, in the long run, I think that's healthy.

I hope so too. It has always worried me that we are not a nation of savers, but spenders. Great in the short term but not in the long run, as you said.

Princess Disney Mom · May 29, 2009

I've stayed on and off-site.

To answer the question why offsite:
1. Off-site is to me a FL vacation not a Disney vacation. Ie we visit FL with some Disney.

2. We are more than 4 persons.

3. To save money.

4. To have a kitchen/free breakfast/more room/free internet/free dinner.

5. To see other things in FL.

I can't say one is better than the other. There are different choices for different circumstances.

polineedyan · May 29, 2009

Tirapapas said:
My case.

Family Size/Budget: We are a family of five (children 10, 8 and 4) wanting to stay on a Value Resort, and they all have occupancy of four, except suites (in All Star Music), but this were way overpriced. Moderates were even cheaper than those suites, but still way out of our budget. We wanted someting in the $100 range (+/- $30) and off-site you can find much more space and bedding in that price range. The alternative in the Value Resort might have been two connecting rooms, but we were not offered that by Disney, probably because we are going in June or probably because we were late in our reservations (some three months before trip; no one-year in advanced planning).

Universal: We decided we'll be going to both Universal's theme parks, and the transportation issue basically made us rent a car. Not going to Universal was not an option on this particular trip.

Dining: I feel that dining outside of DWD gives you more "bang for your buck". The difference might be considerable.

Kitchen: Having a kitchen, even a kitchenette give you flexibility, and might end up saving some meals.

Extra Bathroom: The truth is that we ended up reserving on a hotel with one bathroom, but I had made a reservation (later cancelled) in a hotel with two bathrooms. This helps you a lot when dealing with five to ten showers a day. We ended up changing hotels to a more kid-friendly one, but the options of two bathrooms is great in my mind. Connecting rooms in Value Resort might do the trick, too.

The main cons for my upcoming trip involves the car, parking, not having the Disney Transportation, ease of payment. I don't care for EMH.

this will burn yer britched. me and the wife booked two separate, simultanaeous vacations under the 4/3 for june in january. there are 6 of us total, and since we had two reservations, we just asked for connecting rooms. they are guaranteed. each ressie was about 1050. we got a code for van rental totalling 248 for the week.
its been my understanding that when the number of children exceed the number of adults on a multi room ressie, that the resort is obligated to give connecting rooms...

littlestar · May 29, 2009

*disgal* said:
So you are DVC members but you still stay offsite sometimes and like that?
And I feel the same way about the Orlando resorts......too many to choose from so little time! I want to stay at them all. But now I'm wondering if we prefer 3 bedrooms and they are harder to find at a good price at the timeshares.
/QUOTE]

Yes, we are DVC members. At one time we owned 395 DVC points spread between VWL, BCV, and BWV. Actually, if I count the 155 Saratoga points I own now, we would have owned 550 DVC points total if we would have kept all of them.

I found after I stayed at some of the Marriott Vacation Clubs in Orlando that I liked those pretty much equally to DVC. We had gotten spoiled to the bigger units and the DVC points had killer dues (not to mention the cost to buy the points) when I compared it to what I could get with Marriott Vacation Club resale or Starwood. I still wanted the high quality, but I didn't want to pay the steep price for the bigger units. And, we had gotten a little disappointed in the upkeep at BWV - it was really looking tired and our DVC dues were the highest at BWV.

I keep just enough DVC points to make sure I can stay at least once a year in DVC for the theming treat that Disney gives.

Speaking of 3 bedrooms, we were impressed with Marriott's Imperial Palms when we stayed there in March. The units were totally redone on the inside. Very nice. If you can go off season, sometimes Getaways are priced around $600 for that resort. Don't know if you have access to Interval or not?

Momto3Girls&Max · May 29, 2009

polineedyan said:
this will burn yer britched. me and the wife booked two separate, simultanaeous vacations under the 4/3 for june in january. there are 6 of us total, and since we had two reservations, we just asked for connecting rooms. they are guaranteed. each ressie was about 1050. we got a code for van rental totalling 248 for the week.
its been my understanding that when the number of children exceed the number of adults on a multi room ressie, that the resort is obligated to give connecting rooms...

Even though the confirmation states connecting rooms are "guaranteed" they are not in fact guaranteed. A few DISers have posted that they did not get connecting rooms even though the number of children exceeded the number of adults despite the connection guarantee on their reservations. Most requests for connecting rooms are met, but there is a slight chance that the request won't be met.

Tiffa · May 29, 2009

Well I still love our house we stay in, in Formosa Gardens with the shortcut to Animal Kingdom and the back roads, and the ferry or monorail really just makes our trip!! :lmao: