How do you choose between Villa/on-site?

[DonkeyCentreArf]

We have stayed at Bonnet Creek resort before. It is next to CBR so within Disney property but a 2 bedroom deluxe apartment is around the same cost as a normal value room.

Might be worth a look as it gives you the space of a villa but still really close to the parks, DS and easy access onto I4 to get out the US and the malls if needed.

[duchy]

There is no way I’d squeeze five plus an infant in a studio when I could have a five bedroom villa with pool instead especially if I had plans other than the Disney parks too .
The most important point is the location of the villa , it would need to be in one of the very close communities .
We love staying on site but love villas too, last stay was Boardwalk then a villa and we all agree lovely as BWI was and it’s one of the best locations in WDW we still preferred the villa week.

[ChoppyGirl]

We find there are pros and cons of doing both so we do different things for different holidays. We only have one DD who is at uni though so have never been a big family squashed into a hotel room.

As there is just the 2 of us going next time we will stay on-site. DH is an HGV driver so nice for him to not have to drive. DH’s family are considering coming at the same time as us and being 8 of them in total will probably stay in a villa as there are 3 children involved and would need 4 hotel rooms.

[toots82]

We like a split stay, at least 7 nights onsite (usually for the perks but... ) then move to a villa. Its the perfect balance for us.

[Rescuer]

We’ve never stayed in a villa but we have done an onsite trip at Christmas 24/12 to 4/1. We chose our Disney hotels based on transport options and location and went for contemporary then beach club.

Any traffic we saw was mental. At that time of year I think location would make a massive difference to your overall experience.

[POR34]

I like to be able to walk into MK so normally choose a MK resort for part of the trip then like to be able to stroll into Epcot so do the same and choose a resort around the Boardwalk. When staying at Universal we also stay on site primarily to get express passes so again a nice stroll or boat ride to the parks. If we need to go off site we get an uber. There's only two of us so no need for a villa.

[Funkymoover]

we have never stayed onsite (I like Disney, but hubby likes the non Disney more) stayed in Hotels and Villas over a few trips, If it was just Hubby and I then Hotel would win (I may even persuade him to a Disney Hotel one day) purely based on cost but with two teenagers at home its going to be a while till it is just the two of us so planning a Villa for the next trip, when the kids were small I didn't mind a night or two sharing a room with them but if the holiday was any longer and as they have gotten bigger I like it even less!