Looking for some unbiased opinions, as I am an admitted on-site snob & really can't give my sister a good opinion about this.
Her family is traveling April 8-15, so it is peak season. They include her, DH, DS age 6 & DS age 2.
She currently has the Lake Buena Vista Suites booked for 7 nights - an off-site hotel. It is a 1BR suite, sleeps 6 with a kitchen area. It includes free breakfast. Cost is $132 per night, which includes tax. They are renting a car, so transportation is not an issue.
We called WDW yesterday & there is really nothing in a Disney resort within her price range.
Called the Swan/Dolphin & she can get a teacher rate of $189 per night, including tax at the Dolphin - Swan is booked. Accommodations are regular room - not a suite or anything special. She will be able to empty the mini-fridge & use it at no cost as her son needs meds refrigerated. She put a room on hold.
I have stayed at the Swan before & it is a beautiful resort, beautiful pool, rooms are nice size, beds are cozy comfy & it is an absolute great location. I told her the selling point for me would be the location, especially considering they have a 2 year old & if he needs a nap or has a meltdown in the middle of the day one parent could easily return to the room & not worry about transportation back to the hotel.
Also, they have a character dinner booked one evening at EPCOT, so it would certainly be nice to just return to the resort via the Boardwalk.
I have never stayed at Lake Buena Suites (although I've stayed more than enough times off-site). I think it's great to have a suite, especially with young kids, I also think it's great to have breakfast included, however, they would have to pay for parking if they are off-site. I also think sometimes the convenience of on-site outweighs the money saving off-site. The difference in cost for the room would be about $400 total.
Any opinions at all would be appreciated, as I will forward them to her. TIA!
Her family is traveling April 8-15, so it is peak season. They include her, DH, DS age 6 & DS age 2.
She currently has the Lake Buena Vista Suites booked for 7 nights - an off-site hotel. It is a 1BR suite, sleeps 6 with a kitchen area. It includes free breakfast. Cost is $132 per night, which includes tax. They are renting a car, so transportation is not an issue.
We called WDW yesterday & there is really nothing in a Disney resort within her price range.
Called the Swan/Dolphin & she can get a teacher rate of $189 per night, including tax at the Dolphin - Swan is booked. Accommodations are regular room - not a suite or anything special. She will be able to empty the mini-fridge & use it at no cost as her son needs meds refrigerated. She put a room on hold.
I have stayed at the Swan before & it is a beautiful resort, beautiful pool, rooms are nice size, beds are cozy comfy & it is an absolute great location. I told her the selling point for me would be the location, especially considering they have a 2 year old & if he needs a nap or has a meltdown in the middle of the day one parent could easily return to the room & not worry about transportation back to the hotel.
Also, they have a character dinner booked one evening at EPCOT, so it would certainly be nice to just return to the resort via the Boardwalk.
I have never stayed at Lake Buena Suites (although I've stayed more than enough times off-site). I think it's great to have a suite, especially with young kids, I also think it's great to have breakfast included, however, they would have to pay for parking if they are off-site. I also think sometimes the convenience of on-site outweighs the money saving off-site. The difference in cost for the room would be about $400 total.
Any opinions at all would be appreciated, as I will forward them to her. TIA!
