Hoppers versus 2 rooms versus blizzard beach/disney quest

[bard]

Hi guys,

Here's our brood
Me - Disney fanatic 45. And totally in charge of all Disney plans and decisions
DW - 47 - is happy to let me handle all this (she always has too much on her plate0
DS1 - Senior at Penn State - Loves Disney almost as much as me
DS2 - Junior in HS. Loves most of the rides (except for coasters) but despises all shows. He is a complex kid
DD - Sophomore in high school. The sweetest girl in the world.

We're leaving for Disney about 4 PM on 11/18 from our Pennsylvania home. We'll pick up DS1 from PSU around 6:30 PM and drive straight through. Probably get there around 1 or 2 PM the next day. We're staying until 11/25 (day before Thanksgiving) We have 1 room at Port Orleans with the trundle bed.

Currently we have park hoppers (around $265). Which we have always had and have always considered a must. But now I'm thinking getting 1 room was a mistake and called our travel agent to see how much getting 2 rooms at POP would be. It is $290 more. So if we dropped the hoppers, it would almost be a wash. To further convolute things my DD really wants to go to the water parks (I know that TL is closed). This would also come to about $265 if we added that. So my question is this, if you were us and could only choose 1 of the 3, which would you choose.

We're on a pretty tight budget and we can only do 1 of these or at the most 2.

Thanks for any insight you might have.

[MariDisney]

Originally Posted by bard

Hi guys,

Here's our brood
Me - Disney fanatic 45. And totally in charge of all Disney plans and decisions
DW - 47 - is happy to let me handle all this (she always has too much on her plate0
DS1 - Senior at Penn State - Loves Disney almost as much as me
DS2 - Junior in HS. Loves most of the rides (except for coasters) but despises all shows. He is a complex kid
DD - Sophomore in high school. The sweetest girl in the world.

We're leaving for Disney about 4 PM on 11/18 from our Pennsylvania home. We'll pick up DS1 from PSU around 6:30 PM and drive straight through. Probably get there around 1 or 2 PM the next day. We're staying until 11/25 (day before Thanksgiving) We have 1 room at Port Orleans with the trundle bed.

Currently we have park hoppers (around $265). Which we have always had and have always considered a must. But now I'm thinking getting 1 room was a mistake and called our travel agent to see how much getting 2 rooms at POP would be. It is $290 more. So if we dropped the hoppers, it would almost be a wash. To further convolute things my DD really wants to go to the water parks (I know that TL is closed). This would also come to about $265 if we added that. So my question is this, if you were us and could only choose 1 of the 3, which would you choose.

We're on a pretty tight budget and we can only do 1 of these or at the most 2.

Thanks for any insight you might have.

Personally with 5 adult-sized people there is no way in heck I would do 2 double beds and a trundle bed. The trundle bed is pretty small, and I don't think my 10 year old would even consider it. So, that would be my answer absolutely. Now, if you can squeak in park hoppers, they are a must-do for us. But, you could certainly have a great time without them.

[brentalex]

with kids the ages of yours, I would go with the 2 rooms. Gets you another bathroom and just more overall room. Plus even your DD may find the trundle be a bit small.
I love using the park hopper, but know that I could do a visit without it and could survive, just may take a bit more planning. As for the water park, maybe not all of you have to go and could spend some money just letting 2 or 3 go.

[erincon23]

I think I would go to the second room, drop the hoppers if you really have to (although I've always had them and consider them a must, but I hate having people squashed in a room), and see if EVERYONE absolutely must go to the water parks. If it's only DD, maybe one parent could go with her and just buy two day passes, rather than add the whole thing on to all five passes.

Erin

[Lizziejane]

another vote for the 2 rooms. You'll appreciate that extra bathroom in the mornings

[familyS]

If you are used to being in confined spaces together- like camping in a shared tent , then sharing a room would be ok.

I would suggest bringing a cot or blow up bed instead of using the trundle unless one of your kids is very short.

I would skip the hoppers or water parks and more options, because you can add either or both to your tickets after you get there if you need them.

Only get the water parks and more option if you will use at least two options per person, otherwise it is cheaper to pay the daily rate.

[chartle]

You don't have to add the WPF&M option to your tickets to go to a water park. In fact if you aren't going to go more than once its a waste of money just buy a single ticket. Now whether you would split up and only a few of go to BB thats up to you.

A second the notion that 5 "adults" is going to be tight. I think anybody above toddler size is not going to fit the trundle bed. I also think you are going to have to realize that your family doesn't fit one room anymore.

Since you are driving have you even considered off-site? For around $90 bucks a night you can get a two room suite with 2 beds in one room and a pull out couch in the other all queen size. Oh and you also get free breakfast and two tvs.

Our last trip we did this to save money you just have to weight the pros and the cons.

[bard]

If we do keep the 1 room, we'll be bring 2 single sized air mattresses and we won't be using the trundle bed. None of us (except me) are particularly large people so I think we'd be ok as far sleeping at night. My main concern was only 1 shower to get ready in the morning since we want to hit parks at opening. Also if we come back for a rest in the afternoon it may not be so restful if we're crammed in like sardines.

I hadn't thought of only getting the water and more for only a few of us. My DW wouldn't even get in the water. Isn't the water and more like $55 and a single day $47

[bard]

Chartle the problem with staying off site is we'd have to pay for parking at all the parks, losing the savings we made on the off site hotel.

I think I know the best choice is 2 rooms (or a larger room) I just hate to lose the hopper option and we've never been to the Disney water parks

[KellyNY]

I would do 2 rooms, as for water parks, it may be colder then you think so first you should see how is the weather and if you OK with pool water and colder air. BTW, if your DD is the only one who wants to do water parks, how about a ticket for her and 1 parent.

[chartle]

Originally Posted by bard

Chartle the problem with staying off site is we'd have to pay for parking at all the parks, losing the savings we made on the off site hotel.

I think I know the best choice is 2 rooms (or a larger room) I just hate to lose the hopper option and we've never been to the Disney water parks

I don't know but I have to think even adding in the parking that one offsite suite is cheaper than two rooms of any type on property. Some people get entire houses for the price of two Disney rooms at POP.

Larger rooms on property are mucho expensive. I think the cheapest would be a cabin at Fort Wilderness. Which has its own charms but is going to be at least $200 per night.

[ZoZo]

Another vote for two rooms. That's a lot of people in a small space; the rooms aren't terribly big, and as someone else mentioned, the trundle beds are meant for smaller kids.

You can get by without hoppers; just plan your days carefully. I had a hopper ticket last month, and only hopped one or two days out of nine! If you plan well, you can easily do without them.

[bard]

Chartle the problem with staying off site is we'd have to pay for parking at all the parks, losing the savings we made on the off site hotel.

I think I know the best choice is 2 rooms (or a larger room) I just hate to lose the hopper option and we've never been to the Disney water parks

[KellyNY]

Originally Posted by bard

Chartle the problem with staying off site is we'd have to pay for parking at all the parks, losing the savings we made on the off site hotel.

I think I know the best choice is 2 rooms (or a larger room) I just hate to lose the hopper option and we've never been to the Disney water parks

Actually many off site hotels and even condo hotels have free transportation to parks, it is not as flexible as Disney transportation but since your family does not really need midday breaks, you may be fine. Do some research at expedia.com They say in descr. if they have free transportation. But then do not forget you will have to pay for from/to airport. Still may come out cheaper, some 2 bdrs condos as cheap as $89.
Sorry, did not pay attention, you are driving there, so you do not even care about transportation, then only check how much they will charge to park in hotel.

[indimom]

I've got to back up chartle on this. I just double checked using the dates Nov 19-25 (wasn't sure if you were arriving the 18th or 19th).

Off site at Lake Buena Vista Village Resort and Spa (two bed, two bath condo)
$988 + 70 parking ($14 for five days) = $1055

Disney Value Suite = $1,684

Disney Value Resort, two rooms = $1,514