Decisions decisions decisions. Help!

[Snowball18]

We last went in 2015, 5 nights at OKW with DDP then 9 nights in a villa. Next visit will be in 2019 but there will only be two of us.

Is it worth same again ( this time looking to stay at AKL) or do we bite the bullet and stay off site and save on accommodation but pay for our meals/ drinks/ snacks in the parks or do we rent DVC points?

I genuinely don't know what is the best option and am looking for advice please.

[waiting4disney]

Price all the options up.
Its depends what you like. We prefer eating out of the parks so we go with a villa. Others love staying on site.

[Lucyjane45xxx]

I would do as PP says and price up all of the options and see which works best for you. It is such a difficult question to answer as everyone has different preferences. Some love the space of a villa and having an escape from the disney bubble, others love being in the Disney bubble.
I am going again for the 4th time as an adult this year and I am staying onsite with DDP for the whole stay for the 3rd time. I love being in the disney bubble, as I feel totally immersed in it, and I love not having to worry about having to hire a car.
We are only a 2 and fully aware that maybe free nights or DVC would be more cost effective (although probably only if we stayed in a deluxe) but I love having free DDP as it means that are going knowing that all of our food is paid for up front and we don't need to worry about budgeting for it and all the spending money we do take we can spend on shopping etc

[duchy]

Costwise with just two of you AKL with free dining is unlikely to offer the best value but will be mega convenient and you'll know everything is prepaid . A villa opens up better value dining choices but means staying out of the bubble . It's really down to how much the bubble matters.
We started with just three of us going and decided to do a split stay , AKL (with free DDP) followed by a villa in one of the very close communities. I saw us hitting Disney hard onsite and then changing to a more leisurely pace dipping in and out the second week from the villa (however now DIL and the kids are joining us for the villa week for their first WDW visit that's all out the window lol).

[Cantcook]

Just to buck the trend, I wouldn't price it up. I'd try and make your mind up before being dictated what to do by saved pennies.

Personally, I prefer my own space, my own pool and own hot tub. I love getting back from a late night out and enjoying a drink in the hot tub until 2am. We tend to Uber to the theme parks - from Champions Gate area, it takes about 20 minutes. You can wait as long for the relevant Disney Transportation Transfer to collect you.

If it's a choice between a Disney Hotel or another hotel, I'd side with Disney.

[stupet11]

We are not quite a 2 yet - down to 3 from 5! We are doing onsite for the benefits more than the accommodation, so happy to do cheaper value resort - we just find the benefits make doing Disney more enjoyable / hassle free. Then can dip in and out of parks when off site, having done major rides etc we wanted to while onsite.

[scoobydooby]

I think it depends what matters to you most on a holiday. For me Orlando trips are all about the Disney bubble and associated resort experience so we always stay onsite. Last but one trip we stayed in a one bed villa at OKW as had two teens (then 13 and 16). Whilst the space was excellent I massively missed the resort experience as I think OKW could be anywhere. So our next full family trip this year (kids now 19 and 16) we will be squeezing into one room at the Beach Club as that resort experience is so critical to me. And I’m paying! I’m sure if 19 year old DS was choosing he’d opt for a villa with space. However he’s getting a free trip so he will have to manage. Think about how important these things are to you; price, space, resort experience or private pool and hot tub, eating onsite, eating offsite, park time, down time and how you like to spend down time. Good luck.

Edited to say. For just two I’d definitely stay onsite as space is less of an issue.

[filharmonic]

Don't forget to factor in $22 a day parking if your staying off site

[Snowball18]

And this is why I love this site, differing opinions from people and lots of ideas to think about

[WendyWilson]

Just to add my two penneth, we're going this October - 7 Nights AKL with Free DDP, 2 nights OKW (DVC Rental) and 6 nights in a private villa. We would have spent 8 nights in the private villa but it wasn't available so we managed to rent 2 nights DVC points. It's worked out pretty well for us. We get the full on Disney experience for the first 9 nights then we can relax a little more in a villa with a private pool. There's obviously more space in a villa but as there's only two of you, a hotel room isn't going to be too small. With DDP you have all your meals paid for upfront so it's easier to budget - Offsite eating is obviously much cheaper. Decisions, decisions.