Where to stay? Onsite vs. Offsite

One of the biggest decisions you will make on your Disney vacation is where to stay.  Overall, we prefer to stay on Disney property but we have done both and found pros and cons to both.  A later post will address hotels specifically.  Here is our overview. 

On Disney Property
Pros:

• You are right in the "action".  You are still on Disney property and feel like it 24/7.  Each resort is located a "hop, skip and a jump" from one of the parks or Downtown Disney.
• Disney transportation is fantastic.  Forget about your rental car...take a bus, boat or monorail where ever you want to go at Disney World. 
• Hotels are available in various price levels. 
• Hotels are themed so while you left the parks, you're still surrounded by Mickey and friends.
• Kids programs are amazing.  I'm talking about pool activities, craft events, trivia nights, etc. not a drop off program.
• There is some sort of food option available at all hotels.  In the Value resorts there are food courts.  Every other resort (except for a couple Moderates) has a restaurant and usually another quick serve option.
• Disney's Magical Express (transportation to and from the airport) is included and eliminates the need for any type of transportation.  Plus you check your bags at the airport (for most airlines), and they arrive at your hotel that evening...check them and forget them!  Great convenience!

Cons:

• Disney transportation can take a while.  At some hotels and during some times (especially after park closing or fireworks), you may need to wait multiple buses before getting on one.
• Disney's Magical Express can take a while as well.  We've waited almost an hour to get on a bus to our resort.  Had to wait to fill up the bus and then drop off everyone at different hotels.  Depends on how old your children are and their personalities, but this can be a pain.
• Sometimes you need a break from Mickey and the theming can get too much for those that aren't so crazy about the mouse.
• The rooms can be small.  Smaller than some of the rooms you can get off-site for the same price.

Off-site Hotels
Pros:

• A lot more room for your money.  You can get some fantastic deals on a number of hotels on International Drive that will be suites larger than my first apartment for the cost of a Value resort. 
• A break from the Disney madness!
• Some hotels offer transportation to the parks.

Cons:

• You will need to drive or take a shuttle everywhere.  "Right outside Disney gate" will still equal a good 45 minutes of driving to the gate, around Disney property, finding parking which is usually much farther than where Disney transportation can go.  We estimated an hour of transportation for our hotel less than 5 miles from the gate when we stayed off-site to our dining reservation anywhere.  On site, we would only estimate a half hour prior to our reservation we would need to leave our room.  Time = money
• Those shuttles to the parks usually come only 4 or 5 times a day. If your child has a meltdown between then, you either wait or get a cab.  Disney transportation is every 20 minutes.  Never waited more than 45 minutes and that was during a peak time.

For us, honestly it comes down to what you want to pay and can live with in terms of size of the room.  When the kids were little, the bigger room size or getting an additional bedroom off-site outweighed our decision to stay on-site.  If we had a larger budget or found a great deal, we stayed on Disney property.  But if we could deal with a regular hotel room, our preference was always a Disney hotel as there are several hotels at all price points to consider.