$3000 hotel budget-6nts where?

[cortegro]

OK, I am trying to plan a business trip/family vacation to WDW. We are a family of 5 (myself,wife,and 3 boys 12,10,8). I will need to travel offsite to the convention center in Orlando for 3 mornings coming back around 2-3pm to meet family somewhere. We will have a rental car. I originally was set on booking a poly concierge room for the convenient travel options to parks and the food/lounge area for the boys. I am having some other thoughts about this....

Maybe 2 rooms...at regular level/view or...
DVC villa somewhere 2br or.....
wilderness cabin or.....

I don't know? Seems that I would like some space from the kids
Are any resorts more/less convenient for driving in and out from offsite?
I have only stayed at CR tower back in 1997 and remember how easy to get the kids(2 then in strollers) around via monorail vs. buses was. We had a car and only used it to go to BBeach.

Thanks in advance..

 

[stacy6552]

personally with that budget, Id stay at the Beach Club villas. They are the newest. they are very convienent to epcot and mgm.

id say definately go for somethng with a full kitchen, so you can eat in when youd like. plus you and your wife can close the door on sleeping kids and still have a decent conversation.

 

[pstepka]

The pool there would be great for your kids, also. Check into renting points from a DVC member in order to save $$ on accommodations (vs. booking direct through Disney). Depending on when you're going, six nights in a two bedroom at the BCV will run just under 3,000 (renting points at 10.00/point).

 

[GoofysPrincess]

Well... if it were me, I'd definitely want the kids in a separate room. Since you have the budget for it, I'd pursue that. We've stayed in the FW cabins and really like them. (When our boys were your kids' age, they loved FW -- there's lots for them to do right in FW. They 'checked out' bikes and had a blast.) That would probably work well for sleeping arrangements as you could put the kids in the back bedroom -- plus you can park your car right in front of your cabin. We didn't think getting in and out was difficult at all. You can come in the 'back way' and don't have to go through the main gates where the lines often are. As you know, travel to other parks (except MK where you can take the boat) isn't as convenient, but it's manageable as the internal FW busses go direct to the TTC.

A two bedroom villa somewhere could also be good. If you opt for Beach Club, you'd also have Stormalong Bay for the kids to play in. Then Epcot and MGM are very accessible...

Have fun choosing!

 

[Momto8]

I would go with one of the Epcot resorts because of the age of your boys and plus the location between Epcot and MGM is so convenient. The BC 2 bedroom villa would be good for your size family. Stormalong Bay is the best pool in WDW, almost like a mini-water park. There is also the Boardwalk across the lake, just a 5-minute walk with all kinds of night life and activity going on in the evening. The Epcot resort location is my favorite place to stay at WDW.

You don't mention when you are going. I just tried making reservations for a friend during Thanksgiving week and everything is booked for 2 BR villas at all the DVC locations. Granted this is a popular week, but I would book as soon as possible if you want a 2 BR villa. They seem to book up faster. I was quoted during value season, $545/night plus tax, so that would bring you over your $3000 limit for 6 nights. If you are going during regular season, it would be even more, so that might be out. Two rooms might be another option.

Not sure if the Epcot resorts would be more convenient than other resorts in getting to Orlando, but I believe if I remember right, they are not too far off the main drive into WDW that connects to I-4 and 192.

Good luck with your planning!

 

[soccer mom]

Two rooms is very nice because you get some privacy and two bathroom. We do it when our oldest comes with us making us a family of six. But, if you want to "WOW" your family, book the Polynesian Concierge Lagoon View. We did it in November and when we walked into the VERY LARGE room, the curtains were open and you could see the castle. My family (hubby and three hard to impress teens) just stood there and went "wow!" We had just transfered from a VERY SMALL water view (no water-just trees blocking the water) Beach Club concierge room and it was wonderful!

Concierge is nice for breakfast, snack, drinks throughout the day.

Maybe you could even make it a surprise! We told the kids and showed them pictures of the standard garden view room saying we just couldn't swing a lagoon view or concierge. Then surprise! They loved it. The hardest part was keeping my mouth shut for six months!

 

[vbfamily]

Anything you chose will be great.

What about Animal Kingdom Concierge? What about Villas at Wilderness Lodge?

Check out the theming and prices on the disney website.

What kind of theming does your family like? What park do you want to be closest to?

Take all these questions into consideration when you are making your decision.

If you want to be close to MK, I would do Poly, WL or VWL.

If you want to be close to Epcot/MGM then probably BC-I've heard a lot of complaints about room views there recently. You could do BCV or BC Concierge.

Let us know what you decide or if you narrow it down to 2 0r 3 specific resorts. I'm sure you'll get a lot of feedback from people who have stayed at the 2 or 3 you try to decide between.

 

[eclipseSD]

If you want to be in the middle of it all, and like Epcot, might I suggest the Boardwalk Villas.

Here is what you get:

Two bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, fully
equipped kitchen, dining area, stacked washer and dryer,
private balcony. The master bedroom suite includes a king-
size bed and whirlpool tub. The living room has a queen-
size sleeper sofa. The second bedroom area has a queen-size
bed and a double sleeper sofa, and also offers a studio
kitchen with microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker, and wet
bar.

Also, you are right in the middle of the Boardwalk. There are 15 restaurants and entertainment venues. Epcot is just a 5 minute walk down the pier. MGM is boatride or a 20-minute walk.

If you like seclusion better, go for the Beach Club Villas.

I think the EPCOT area might be better for kids of their age group. Tower of Terror, Rockin' Roller Coaster, Test Track, and Mission: Space all are easily accesible from the Boardwalk area. You could even get a fastpass, go back to your hotel room, and then go back to the parks.

 

[zurgswife]

Another vote for a DVC villa...I would also suggest renting points vs... paying Disney ...You'll save a bit of money for tehe same accomodations...My favorite if BWV....

 

[WDW2000]

I would suggest the Beach Club Villas as well. Also you can get a JR. Suite at the Dolphin for less than $300/nt (with AAA, annual pass, or Entertainment Rate) which is a two room suite. The Dolphin Suite has "Sensational Views", great pool, and Concierge services. (most importantly 2 bathrooms!) Either way, both these resorts are walking distance to Epcot and MGM Studios.

If the extra space isn't necessarily an issue however, I personally would stay with the Polynesian Lagoon View w/concierge services

 

[cortegro]

Wow!
Thanks for the great replies!
I am still on the fence about where exactly to stay. My wife is leaning towards the concierge at poly. I tend to lean towards the villas at Beach club or Boardwalk. My wife seems to think that my boys will enjoy the proximity to MK and water sprites,food offerings (for three boys who are always snacking at different times). At sit down dinners there is inevitably one of the boys who either doesn't eat anything at all, or eats everything and then some, and one who doesn't like anything on the menu

I think if I can convine her that we won't have her cooking/cleaning all day on her vacation then maybe we can hit the villas!
Thanks again for all the great advice!

 

[gonga]

Because of the ages of your children, you will have to get 2 rooms or a suite. You did not state when you were going but the "value" season rates at Poly Conc Garden is $390.00 per room per night (390 X 2 x 6 = $4680.00). These prices do not include taxes or park passes - money goes fast at WDW!. I would call WDW Travel and explain your situation and budget or visit the Disney Website. On the website go to reservations and punch in your dates, the ages of your children etc... and it will tell you everything you need to know. Hope this helps. You can always check for codes and discounts after you have narrowed your choices.

 

[TRAPPED-PARENT]

With boys that age, I'd check out the cabins at Fort Wilderness.

 

[vbfamily]

Someone said you would need to get 2 rooms. Don't the rooms at the poly hold 5? I thought they had 2 beds and a day bed?

I thought some of the rooms at the other resorts held 5 as well.

Just FYI.

 

[cortegro]

I also thought that the rooms at poly held 5.
Might not be a comfy 5 though!
That's why the concierge lounge would be sooo helpful. I could use it to keep the boys apart when the daily jousting begins.
I'll have to go check again....boy all this research ...

 

[lizzie64]

I thought a lot of the deluxes had room configurations that held 5. I know because we are usually 6 (5 with a child under 3) so those options were available to us. The Poly and AKL definitely have rooms that will hold 5. I'm not sure how comfortable, but you can definitely get a room for 5 there.

This trip my MIL is with us so we did have to opt for the 2nd room.

 

[vbfamily]

According to the Disney website, the Poly rooms sleep 5.

You may feel a little cramped in one of the cabins at FW, JMHO.

I believe the rooms at the Poly are bigger than the ones at WL-the rooms at WL are small for 5.

It sounds like the Poly woud work out well for you with the nice size room, watercraft rentals, concierge lounge, nice pool, etc.

When are you going? Are you planning on using any type of discount-Disney Club, AP, code,etc?

 

[WDW2000]

Our family (3 adults + 2 Teens) have always shared 1 room. We have stayed at the Beach Club (Jr. Suite) which is really just a larger standard room with 2 beds and a day bad. We also stayed in one room at the AKL 2 beds and bunk bed.

Just to let you know it can be done! The only time it gets cramped is in the morning when everyone is trying to get ready, but we have a blast sharing 1 room! We just always make sure to get the concierge service (which helps a lot!) THat way, those who get ready first can hang out there and wait for the rest of us comfortably. Since we are hardly in the room (except to sleep) I wouldn't worry at all about sharing 1 room! AND yes, all the deluxes can hold 5 adults, but you will have to pay the extra adult fee.

Don't second guess yourself! If you are a close family, don't give sharing a room a second thought. You will LOVE the POLY CONCIERGE, and personally I'd rather save a couple thousand dollars and share rather than have 2 seperate rooms.

 

[justhat]

I stayed at the Poly in a regular room with 5 people total when I was a teenager and I didn't feel cramped at all. We didn't all get up and leave at the same time though, which I'm sure helped a lot. It's a great resort and also, if your boys do like Epcot, they can walk right tot he TTC and take the Epcot monorail from there. Also, the monorail resorts have the best area for boating, which might be fun for you kids. The boats in the Boardwalk area go much slower.

 

[Dancind]

Another vote for a DVC villa. There's just more room, and the two bathrooms and washer/dryer are so nice to have. When we go, my DH always cooks breakfast, and any dinners in the room are "throw togethers". We enjoy getting takeout, and anything from Chinese to Wolfgang Puck's pizzas, and a nice bottle of wine to enjoy in our room. Sorry, we like better wine than they generally have in the Concierge lounges. We like better coffee too (coffeemaker!). A stop at one of the local groceries should set you up for the week with snacks etc. My DD always thinks it's a treat to eat in the room, rather than waiting for food at yet another restaurant. And yes, your kids would LOVE the pool at BCV. Diana