For some, like my DH, the break from all-Disney-all-the-time is what appeals about offsite. Disney's marketing machine is "on" full-blast at the resorts. I love the themes. But I don't like how onsite Guest Services limits itself to Disney admissions, Disney dinner show tickets and Disney restaurants where offsite resort Guest Services include these and much, much more. Onsite gift shops are limited to selling Disney merchandise only and it's pretty much the same at most of them - all at Disney prices, of course. Onsite cable TV offers limited options compared with offsite resorts too. Immersion is entertaining (I do like it) but it's also a shameless sales pitch and hyperstimulating so
leaving it can provide the more restful break our family needs on off days, spent enjoying our resort.
It takes 40-45+ min to get inside the MK from an offsite resort vs a 5-7 min walk from the Contemporary.
Maria, this extreme example simply doesn't hold for most comparable situations. Comparing timeshare condos as you are here, most DVC resorts take
far longer to reach the MK, even with a direct bus or boat, considering the walk to the bus/boat stop, wait for the next vehicle, and we never took 40-45+ minutes to reach the MK gate from Vistana, Silver Lake, Bonnet Creek or Cypress Point (IOW, nearby offsite resorts): 5-10 min from door to TTC parking, 5-10 min walk & tram ride or walk to TTC in early AM, 5-10 min express monorail to the MK gate. Taking a Disney bus from the other DVCs includes a walk to the bus stop and a wait for a bus, easily up to 20+ min so the TTC/monorail time has been a complete wash for us, on average, with our many on-and-offsite experiences since 1985.
Bay Lake Towers at the Contemporary Resort is unique among timeshares and even among Disney resorts, in that you can walk to MK without waiting on Disney transport. However, it carries the second major reason we usually stay offsite nowadays in spades. Our offsite stays, including resale timeshare purchases, exchange expenses, maint fees, still only cost us ~$600 or less on average for a spacious 2BR for a full week when kids are out of school. $600 won't even cover the maint fees for a studio week at BLT, not to mention the high DVC purchase price and forget about a 2BR, which costs 3 times as much!!! We get our entire, complete vacation (2BR, travel costs, park passes, food, etc.) for less than most DVCers would spend on their BLT 2BR accommodations alone. We've traded into DVC but that's not an option for the average vacationer on this forum.
We're a family of 5 and we often travel with 7-12 people. Like us, I don't believe most families can afford the price of onsite DVC larger condo stays or multiple rooms. So in order to stay onsite in a nice deluxe or condo, most will either overspend their budget, eliminate romance by sharing a smaller room with others, or skip the significant comforts and amenities of a more spacious condo in order to stay onsite. We don't.
The trade-off is worth it to us. OP, I hope my response addresses your question.
Maria, I'm glad you're finally moving toward what you really prefer by selling your Vistana and buying more DVC. Your posts over recent years have trended in that direction. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. For a diehard Disney fan, nothing else will suffice.