Best offsite for family of 5?

[2mickeys1minnie]

Although I'd prefer to stay onsite..it just isn't in our budget this year. I looked into AOA but that will still cost way more than we can afford. I'd like to spend less than $1000 for a week for accomodations. We are a family of 5 with two teenage boys (will be 15 & 13) and an 8yr old. We'd like suite type accomodations (separate br for parents) and a mini kitchenette. Just as long as it is very clean I'll be happy. Can anyone recommend a nice offsite? TIA

 

[PGHDisneyfan]

We usually stay at the Double Tree DTD. Not only because I travel a ton and cash in my Hilton honor points but also because we like the all suite rooms. Sometimes you can get a room for as low as $79.00 and they do take AAA discounts. Check mouse savers for deals!

 

[FayeW]

Depending on your dates, you could come in well under budget with a nice 3 bdrm suite at Windsor Hills. We paid $800 for 9 nights last time, but we were there the first week of Dec so it is "Low" season. We used www.floridasunvacationhomes.com

If you are going Sat-Sat you can get phenomenal rates from vacationcentralflorida.com, and I have seen really great rates from palmtreevacationhomes.com as well. We are big fans of Windsor Hills, and chose it for our last vacation because of the great reviews on this board.

We have also used skyauction.com several times for 2 bdrm condos, and paid less than $400 for the week each time. We stayed at Cypress Point Grand Villas (fantastic!), Bryan's Spanish Cove and Orbit One (both were good). You just go to www.skyauction.com and use the Search function. Type in keyword "Ready" and you will come to the Ready, Set, Go! auctions. You win an auction and that is the price you pay (plus service and admin fees...those are detailed in the auction itself so scroll down to see those!). Before you bid on the auction there is a spot to "Click here to see where your next vacation will be". Just plug in your dates and it will show you the resorts/accomodations that are available. The price you pay is for Hotel, 1,2, or 3 bdrm condo. You pay the same regardless of what type of accomodation you choose. I always make sure that the resort I want is available for my dates before I bid. Good luck!

 

[MEK]

You can also try VRBO for rental homes.

Also - consider looking at Bonnet Creek for a one bedroom.

 

[bom_noite]

Although I'd prefer to stay onsite..it just isn't in our budget this year. I looked into AOA but that will still cost way more than we can afford. I'd like to spend less than $1000 for a week for accomodations. We are a family of 5 with two teenage boys (will be 15 & 13) and an 8yr old. We'd like suite type accomodations (separate br for parents) and a mini kitchenette. Just as long as it is very clean I'll be happy. Can anyone recommend a nice offsite? TIA

My immediate thought was a Rental Home (as the last poster suggested). Another thought is DVC Rental Points.

What are your dates? Length of stay? May help others come up with some suggestions.

 

[2mickeys1minnie]

My immediate thought was a Rental Home (as the last poster suggested). Another thought is DVC Rental Points.

What are your dates? Length of stay? May help others come up with some suggestions.

We would like to stay 7 nights...planning on going 6/28-7/5/13. I have never gone this time of year. We always go in late August. I'm nervous about how crowded and hot it will be but friends of ours are going that week and asked us to join them. I'm thinking maybe I should stick with August lol.

 

[2mickeys1minnie]

Thank you so much! That is some great information! I am going to check it out right now!

 

[DCTooTall]

You can also try VRBO for rental homes.

Also - consider looking at Bonnet Creek for a one bedroom.

A one-bedroom at Bonnet Creek wouldn't be large enough. Max Occupancy for the room is 4, 2 in the master suite and 2 on the pull out couch. A 2bdrm unit however might work. the 2nd bedroom has 2 beds like a typical hotel room, and there is stil the pull out couch option.

 

[2mickeys1minnie]

A one-bedroom at Bonnet Creek wouldn't be large enough. Max Occupancy for the room is 4, 2 in the master suite and 2 on the pull out couch. A 2bdrm unit however might work. the 2nd bedroom has 2 beds like a typical hotel room, and there is stil the pull out couch option.

That would be perfect How is Bonnet Creek? Is it nice? Which one is better Wyndham or Hilton? I'm so confused

 

[DCTooTall]

That would be perfect How is Bonnet Creek? Is it nice? Which one is better Wyndham or Hilton? I'm so confused

You'd want to look at the Wyndham Timeshare resort for the 2bdrm. The Wyndham Grand and the Hilton are both hotels that won't have the 2bdrm units.

Check out the I Looooooove Bonnet Creek threads for more information on the resort.

 

[2mickeys1minnie]

You'd want to look at the Wyndham Timeshare resort for the 2bdrm. The Wyndham Grand and the Hilton are both hotels that won't have the 2bdrm units.

Check out the I Looooooove Bonnet Creek threads for more information on the resort.

Okay now I"m really confused. Bonnet Creek doesnt have any 2 brs? Aren't the Wyndham and the Hilton both Bonnet Creeks?

 

[ottawafamilyof4]

If Wyndham Bonnet Creek is too expensive, try a 2 bed suite at Orange Lake or Melia Orlando. Although I haven't stayed at the Melia, I've done a lot of research and had a reservation there as a backup in case WBC didn't work out. It is a small suite hotel with excellent access to Disney. The address is Celebration and seems a bit in the middle of nowhere but it is at I-4 and 192 and you can get in and out of Disney without fighting the typical traffic.

 

[ottawafamilyof4]

For a cheaper option, you could also check out Liki Tiki Village. (haven't been there, this is based on research only).

 

[Syndrome]

How about a 3 bdrm condo for less than $500. per week?
We have stayed at a 3bdrm condo at "Villa's at Island Club" at least three times now. We also refer it to our family members and they love it as well. Here is the link........
http://http://www.vacationhomerentals.com/vacation-rentals/Kissimmee-Florida-vacation-rental-condo-proID-37813.html
Its in the Lindfields area just off 192, about 10 minutes to WDW.
The owner, Cathy, is great to deal with. The condo is kept very clean. Three Bdrms........King,Queen, 2 Twins, 2 bathrms, Washer And dryer, full Kitchen, Nice deck area that backs "woods". The condo complex has 2 pools / hot tubs, and other activity areas. It a great value for a nice condo, for not a lot of $$$. We always save a lot of money by staying at this condo that we usually splurge and go to Discovery Cove every year!
We would be staying there again next summer, but no availabilty for our time frame . The dates do fill fast, because its a great value.
Let me know if you have any questions.

Good luck in your search.........
Syndrome

 

[DCTooTall]

Okay now I"m really confused. Bonnet Creek doesnt have any 2 brs? Aren't the Wyndham and the Hilton both Bonnet Creeks?

Bonnet Creek in general is a resort area. There are techincally 4 different resorts/Hotels currently located there.

the Hilton Bonnet Creek and Waldorf Astoria are both traditional hotels which share a location, conference center and amenities.

The Wyndham Grand at Bonnet Creek, and the 'Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort' also share amenities and a location. The Wyndham Grand however is a traditional hotel with your usual compliment of different types of hotel rooms, While the 'Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort' is a timeshare condo resort.


In your case, since you are looking for a 2bdrm, your option would be the Wyndham Bonnet Creek timeshare resort. While you can book there directly thru wyndham, You can get a MUCH MUCH better deal going directly thru an owner. The 'I Looooooove Bonnet Creek' thread is primarily about the timeshare resort since it's the oldest property located in that area. You can also find out some good commercial renters who people on the DIS have had good experiences with.


Since you are dealing with a timeshare resort and booking directly thru an owner, You will see some differences in policies and pricing.... but ultimately it's the same room no matter who you end up renting thru.

 

[blessedby3]

We booked a 2BR at Bonnet Creek through vacationstrategdy and got the week(7 nights) for $837 in October. Great deal

 

[softballmom3]

If you are wanting just suite type and possibly get a free daily breakfast, I have heard and almost stayed at Comfort Suites Maingate East in Kissimmee. It gets good reviews and have a hot breakfast daily. This would fall well under your budget.

Also....we are a family of 5 and stayed at Windsor Hills in a 3 bedroom 3 bath townhouse and it was GREAT! I would stay there in a heartbeat again. Price was under $700 and I loved having the extra space and washer/dryer. There are quite a few reasonably priced and a good place to start would be windsor hills rent dot com.

 

[momfeez]

Just want to chime in on the Comfort Suites Maingate East. We stayed there over Labor Day Weekend and will stay there again in November. The breakfast is good...lots of choices....scrambled or hard boiled eggs, sausage or bacon, biscuits and gravy, fresh fruit, mickey waffles, coffee, hot chocolate. There was a lot to choose from. Also, their pool is open 24 hours a day. The room is a good size...2 queen beds (very comfortable), pull out sofabed, refrigerator, microwave and some cupboards and a sink in the kitchen area. Flat screen TV and a small table with 2 chairs. The pics on their website are very accurate.

The only complaints I have are that the elevators are really slow. We were on the 7th floor with a great view of Old Town and took the stairs most of the time as the elevators were so very slow. The other issue was with parking on Saturday night. People going to Old Town parked in the hotel parking and with the hotel being filled to capacity that night, by 10pm there were only a few spots left in the parking lot.

That being said, DH said we'd stay there every trip. The hotel was clean, the room was very clean and for the 5 of us, we had enough space.

If you book through the hotel website and not the main comfort suites website, the rates are better....more discounted rates for specific groups (AAA, Fla. residents, etc.)

If you are looking for more space, then I would agree with other posters and rent a condo/house. We did that over the summer for a week with the extended family (12 of us). It was nice to have all that space and a pool right out the back door, but for me, it didn't feel like vacation since I was cooking and cleaning. I like eating out on vacation (pretty much the only time we do) and having daily maid service on vacation...I'm one of "those" type of people

 

[rxpert86]

We really like Embassy Suites. Especially if you have teenage boys the breakfast is fantastic. There are good deals to be had (approx. $139/night) and the breakfast for 5 is worth at least $75. They also have a free evening beverage reception (wine,beer, colas, snacks) but we don't usually take advantage of that except on check in day since we are in the themeparks most evenings.

 

[Jenny3]

We are staying at the The Point Orlando Resort for our upcoming trip in November. They have Studios, 1 and 2 bedroom suites available (with full living room, kitchen, washer/dryer) and have gotten great reviews! We are paying $89/night - got a Fall special they had on their website. It's across the street from Universal, so if you're planning on visiting the dark side, that may be worth a look