On Site or Off Site

To stay in a Disney hotel or not to stay - that is the question!

It can be a dilemma for some as to whether a stay in a Disney resort is worth the money and whether it would be 'too much Disney'.  Now for me there is no such phrase as 'too much Disney' - how could that be possible? ;)  But I can appreciate that for others it may not be such a clear decision.

I have stayed both on and off site so will attempt to give you an insight to both options. But I think the main question you have to ask is why are you visiting?  Are you wanting to see all that Orlando has to offer or is the main focus of your visit WDW?

Now the first three times that we visited Orlando we stayed off property.  We were new to visiting the area and knew that there was so much to see and do and wanted to put ourselves in the best position for seeing everything!

Our first visit was, to coin a phrase, 'cheap and cheerful'.  We were based on International Drive opposite Wet 'n' Wild but, as a young couple, it enabled us to explore and see all that we wanted.

Continental Plaza - International Drive - 1991

But with one trip under our belt we were better informed when making our next two trips, both trips involved us bringing along extra members of the family and so we opted for a 'suites' hotel based again on International Drive, but at the opposite end to where we had stayed previously.  Again this gave us the opportunity to explore as much, or as little, of Orlando as we wanted.

Summerfield Suites - International Drive - 1992

Our fourth visit was back to just the two of us and by this time we knew that our main reason for visiting was WDW.  We looked long and hard at all the options available to us and decided that we would treat ourselves to a stay in a Disney hotel......we have never stayed anywhere but in a Disney hotel ever since!

We have now had the good fortune to stay at Port Orleans French Quarter three times and All Star Movies Resort once.

            

                  Port Orleans walkway to pool area - 1996

  

Port Orleans hotel grounds- 1996 

                        

                                All Star Movies - 2004

All Star Movies - 2004

 

Port Orleans French Quarter - 2011

Our next visit sees us trying a different hotel - Coronado Springs.

But I think the benefits, perks and querks of staying in a Disney hotel will be left for another post!!

It would be great to think that we could get the chance to stay in all of the amazing Disney hotels at some point or other and who knows as the years go by just what we'll achieve.

Mousekeeping! - 2011