1st Time Offsite.....need suggestions

[caa1277]

Never stayed offsite or in Orlando anywhere before. We are going next June to Disney for 8 days and will stay probably at Pop Century. Before we check in there, we would like to stay offsite somewhere for 3-4 days for shopping and other activities such as Sea World.

My question is, should I try to find a timeshare tour/sales pitch for a discounted stay or should I just book a resort/hotel at a discounted rate. I don't know anything about the area surrounding Disney, so I would want to stay somwhere close to stuff.

Never done a timeshare tour so I don't know if it's worth the hassle for the discounted rate and it's hard to tell which companies are legit these days.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[mncherokee]

The timeshare thing eats up several hours... may not want to go that route.

You could go the hotel route or rent a home/condo. Lots of them will allow you to rent for less than a week and you could enjoy your own space and pool.

If you go the hotel route, pick one with an address near Sea World... most of the Outlet malls are over on that side of I4.

Either way I would book before I leave home.

 

[bjensen25]

Time shares do eat some time up but if you schedule it in to go early the first morning you can get it over and done with by noon and often these time shares things give you added bonuses free dinner coupons to dinner theaters etc.

We did a Summerbay presentation and and we got a free diner at the arabian nights dinner show and 40 dollars at a restuarant (the name i just forgot) and free drinks at pleasure island.

If i only needed a few days to stay somewhere i would maybe try it out it saves money but on the other hand can cut into your time. I found a website that you can find places offering time shares

http://www.vacationtimesharerentals.com/timeshare-promotions.asp

 

[sympatico]

Floridays, Vista Cay, Vistanna Villages are near Sea World (well within a couple of miles). Also near the Premium Outlets and not too far from Lake Buena Vista Outlets.

 

[Wild4Walt]

IMO my vacation time is too valuable to spend doing the timeshare thing if I am really not interested.

I am a fan of the LBV area ( SR 535 hotel area ) This area is close to I4 so you would have ease and convience of getting over to Seaworld and Outlet shopping. US 192 is too touristy and I think some of the Disney appeal is lost.

On SR 535 I would recommend the Country Inn and Suites which is very reasonable. They also offer free Contiental Breakfast daily. There are loads of resturants in the area also and DTD is just about 5 minutes by car.

There is also an Embassy Suites just off I4 in LBV that is great if you need more room. They also have a continental breakfast and a manager's cocktail party nightly.

 

[danny25]

search for prices of condos in Windor Hills is cheaper than an hotel and is a fantastic place very close to the parks, especially animal kingdom.

 

[FayeW]

With children the ages of yours, I would be very tempted to try Horizons by Marriott. They have an awesome water play area with a pirate ship, water cannons etc. It gets very, very good reviews from families.

Your kids are also perfect ages for Universal and Islands of Adventures. Horizons is perfectly located for easy access to those parks, too.

Personally, we always stay offsite. Twice we used skyauction for 2 bdrm condos in Lake Buena Vista (very easy access to Universal, Seaworld, and Disney parks), and once we used skyauction for a 2bdrm condo in Kissimee. This time, we are renting a 3 bdrm condo in Windsor Hills for 9 nights ($762. total). We like the other parks much more than the WDW parks, so for us, we get better, bigger accomodations offsite for a lot less money.

We have done one timeshare tour, and it was okay. Took about 2 hours, wasn't too high pressure, and we got a good discount on our Disney tickets. I am not adverse to doing another one, but we haven't felt the need the last two trips and it isn't an option at Windsor Hills, anyway. We did do the DVC tour with friends, and got some fast passes. It was interesting, but not for us (as I said, we like Universal/Islands of Adventure better so buying at WDW didn't make sense...not when we can stay offsite for about the cost of the yearly maintenance fees!)

 

[Gingernut]

With or without a car IDrive would be your best bet. LOads of places to stay in all budgets. If you haven't a car there is an ITrolley runs up and down, very cheap. MOst places have pools and restaurants or there are loads and loads of places to eat on ID. Or you could get a villa in the surrounding area and travel by car via I4.

 

[4Seasons]

You could get a 2 bedroom at Cypress Pointe for about $87/night including tax for next June timeframe.
Great property and great location. Lots of people here on DIS really enjoy it.

 

[Sillyminny40]

You could get a 2 bedroom at Cypress Pointe for about $87/night including tax for next June timeframe.
Great property and great location. Lots of people here on DIS really enjoy it.

That sounds good. How do you find info on that? Thanks. Sounds good for a future trip!

 

[moopdog]

With children the ages of yours, I would be very tempted to try Horizons by Marriott. They have an awesome water play area with a pirate ship, water cannons etc. It gets very, very good reviews from families.

Your kids are also perfect ages for Universal and Islands of Adventures. Horizons is perfectly located for easy access to those parks, too.

Personally, we always stay offsite. Twice we used skyauction for 2 bdrm condos in Lake Buena Vista (very easy access to Universal, Seaworld, and Disney parks), and once we used skyauction for a 2bdrm condo in Kissimee. This time, we are renting a 3 bdrm condo in Windsor Hills for 9 nights ($762. total). We like the other parks much more than the WDW parks, so for us, we get better, bigger accomodations offsite for a lot less money.

We have done one timeshare tour, and it was okay. Took about 2 hours, wasn't too high pressure, and we got a good discount on our Disney tickets. I am not adverse to doing another one, but we haven't felt the need the last two trips and it isn't an option at Windsor Hills, anyway. We did do the DVC tour with friends, and got some fast passes. It was interesting, but not for us (as I said, we like Universal/Islands of Adventure better so buying at WDW didn't make sense...not when we can stay offsite for about the cost of the yearly maintenance fees!)

Can you tell I'm excited?!

Well...technically we leave in the AM - but we're staying at the airport hotel tonight. And...technically we are staying the All star Sports until Saturday - but THEN we are totally leaving for Horizons by Marriott!!!

I've never been yet, but am sooooo looking forward to it. Reading this little post, just made my day.

 

[FayeW]

I have never stayed there myself, but I have been sorely tempted many times. The problem is that I am thrifty, and for the previous 3 trips I was able to use skyauction for 2bdrm condos for about $260. for the week. I just couldn't bring myself to spend the extra $750. to stay at Horizons. This year, we are going for 9 nights and didn't want to switch hotels during our stay so we just booked the whole stay at Windsor Hills. I am a little excited about staying there!

Hope you have a great trip, Danielle! Make sure you come back and tell us all about it so I can live vicariously through you!

 

[anabella]

Floridays, Vista Cay, Vistanna Villages are near Sea World (well within a couple of miles). Also near the Premium Outlets and not too far from Lake Buena Vista Outlets.

Love Vista Cay! very nice condos and a great location!
the clubhouse has even a cinema, gym, sundryshop, etc.
I rented directly from owners using www.vistacayrent.com

 

[Topo Bella]

We did a similar thing the first time we took the kids to WDW and I booked through www.hotels.com and stayed at Vistana Village. We liked Vistana enough to stay there a second time. They had other good deals, as well.

 

[jeff968]

Moopdog, we are visiting Horizons for the first time next February. Let us know how it goes.

Back to the OP, I would definately consider a timeshare tour as long as it is done by a high quality chain like Marriott, Hilton, Sheraton/Starwood. My wife and I have done over a dozen of these tours and they are low pressure, more information then anything, and over in 90 minutes. We do our tours at 7:30AM so we are back in our room before the kids are even out of bed. BTW, we have yet to buy but they keep asking us back and giving us points/cash/tickets/discounted stay rate. You'll want to stay at a name brand timeshare. The Marriotts are our favorites and Cypress Harbor is our #1. We've stayed there 4 times.

 

[moopdog]

I don't have time to do a trip report, but will give a quick review of Horizons if anyone is still following this thread...feel free to ask specific questions to - I will check back later today!

Horizons was really great! My kids LOOOVVED the themed pool areas and especially the water splash area (the hotel calls it a "water park" but it isn't really). My kids are 5 and 7 (almost 6 and 8) and it was perfect. The kids club was okay but really my daughter only went in once to make a picture frame and my son doesn't even know the kiddie room exists because it has video games in it and we purposely steered him away from that (he has a small addiction problem with gaming!). Mostly though we were way to busy with the parks to bother with the kids club activities. In fact the mini-golf they have there looks fun and it is only $25 for the whole week & includes everyone in the room - but we didn't even make time for that!

The location is awesome. It only took us between 10 and 20 minutes to get to any given park and get parked (Epcot & DTD closest, and MK & AK a little farther). Lots of fast food on the way if you want it. And Seaworld is only 1 mile away. If you pass Seaworld and don't turn into the parking lot, there is a Wendy's, MCdonalds & KFC on the right hand side - so only about 2 miles from hotel. We did that once or twice on non-park days. The food was good at Horizons, but pricey. But.... Thursday night is Martini night all you can drink for $5. all types of flavors too... I didn't partake, because we had ressies elsewhere, but it was tempting!

The room was very nice. We were in 1231 and we were pretty happy with the proximity to things, could have been a little closer (bldg 13) but really it was not bad. The staff was extremely nice and professional...any questions??

 

[caa1277]

I don't have time to do a trip report, but will give a quick review of Horizons if anyone is still following this thread...feel free to ask specific questions to - I will check back later today!

Horizons was really great! My kids LOOOVVED the themed pool areas and especially the water splash area (the hotel calls it a "water park" but it isn't really). My kids are 5 and 7 (almost 6 and 8) and it was perfect. The kids club was okay but really my daughter only went in once to make a picture frame and my son doesn't even know the kiddie room exists because it has video games in it and we purposely steered him away from that (he has a small addiction problem with gaming!). Mostly though we were way to busy with the parks to bother with the kids club activities. In fact the mini-golf they have there looks fun and it is only $25 for the whole week & includes everyone in the room - but we didn't even make time for that!

The location is awesome. It only took us between 10 and 20 minutes to get to any given park and get parked (Epcot & DTD closest, and MK & AK a little farther). Lots of fast food on the way if you want it. And Seaworld is only 1 mile away. If you pass Seaworld and don't turn into the parking lot, there is a Wendy's, MCdonalds & KFC on the right hand side - so only about 2 miles from hotel. We did that once or twice on non-park days. The food was good at Horizons, but pricey. But.... Thursday night is Martini night all you can drink for $5. all types of flavors too... I didn't partake, because we had ressies elsewhere, but it was tempting!

The room was very nice. We were in 1231 and we were pretty happy with the proximity to things, could have been a little closer (bldg 13) but really it was not bad. The staff was extremely nice and professional...any questions??

So what was the room like? Was it clean?