45 minute drive to save money on hotel??

[Bebella]

What sort of trip are you planning? Is the focus Disney or visiting grandparents? If you were doing the parks every other day a 45 minute drive doesn't seem crazy. Rope drop to fireworks 5 days in a row with a 45 min drive seems a bit much for me.

That's a hard one ...before we knew my in-laws were moving, we've always planned at Fall 2017 trip. So the focus is Disney ...and I'm an onsite kinda girl. Now, we're shooting to go the week after Thanksgiving, probably staying 10 days, possibly getting to FL to do Thanksgiving with my in-laws and then Disney the week after. I like the idea of every other day ...I definitely wanted to take the kids for 2 days to MK, and 1 to AK and definitely rope drop on those days...not sure they are old enough to appreciate Epcot, and still deciding on HS. We'll probably have 5 day park tickets.

 

[Bebella]

My FIL used to live right by SeaWorld and we would usually split up our trip - a few nights with him for family time and a few nights at a Disney Hotel for Disney time. While it was great staying with him and saving some money on a hotel - he did not always get that on some days we wanted to get to the park early and always wanted to make us a big breakfast, or we always felt like we should come back and have dinner with him, even if we wanted to eat at a special Disney restaurant. That way we could spend time with him and if we wanted to do special Disney things we could do that also.

Yeah that makes sense ...I think my MIL is going to want to do at least MK with us, my FIL will be working during the week. I think they might be a little offended if we don't stay with them, and honestly, they are the best and I know they would be so helpful with the kids. I just feel like making rope drop is going to be killer, especially driving the I-4 in the morning during weekdays. I like the idea of splitting it up though too. So much to decide!

 

[Bebella]

Also do your kids nap? Are you going a time of year when park hours are long and you might want to take a mid-day break?

My 2 year old still naps ...but she does nap really well in our stroller too. Maybe doing lunch at a monorail resort will give us a little downtime away from the park. Right now, we're going the last week on November, week after Thanksgiving.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Yeah ...I think leaving the parks at night and driving up the I-4 would be about 30-45 minutes because it's late ...it's making rope drop in the morning that would worry me, on weekdays, the drive could be up to an hour I would guess.

Don't worry about rope drop...you have 2 little kids. If you make it b/c they woke up naturally - great. If you don't b/c they were up late playing with grandma and granddad or they wanted grandma's famous smiley face pancakes for breakfast, you'll have another day later...

I'd plan FPs for early afternoon and show up when you show up...

 

[Bebella]

To me the answer lies with who are you visiting. Are you going to Orlando to visit your in-laws or are you going to Orlando to go to Disney? If I'm hanging out with my in-laws I'll stay with them and cut out park days to be with them more. If I'm going to Disney then it depends. Probably would get a hotel on property just because and maybe spend a night with the in-laws but not make seeing them a priority. It really just depends on why I'm taking the trip.

Yeah ...I had always planned on taking a trip this fall, like for the past 2 years, right after our daughter was born I said "We're going to Disney right before she turns 3!" And that is this fall ...and then we found out my in-laws were moving to Orlando (they just moved this week). So originally it was an all Disney focus ...but we haven't planned the trip yet since we just sold our house and are waiting to close, and were waiting to find out where my inlaws were going to live in Orlando. Bah, so much going on! But now the focus is also on seeing them, and I think my MIL will want to do a couple park days with us too. Maybe we can do every other day so the morning drive to rope drop doesn't seem so crazy.

 

[Bebella]

Don't worry about rope drop...you have 2 little kids. If you make it b/c they woke up naturally - great. If you don't b/c they were up late playing with grandma and granddad or they wanted grandma's famous smiley face pancakes for breakfast, you'll have another day later...

I'd plan FPs for early afternoon and show up when you show up...

You give really good advice, thank you!!

 

[wilkeliza]

Yeah ...I had always planned on taking a trip this fall, like for the past 2 years, right after our daughter was born I said "We're going to Disney right before she turns 3!" And that is this fall ...and then we found out my in-laws were moving to Orlando (they just moved this week). So originally it was an all Disney focus ...but we haven't planned the trip yet since we just sold our house and are waiting to close, and were waiting to find out where my inlaws were going to live in Orlando. Bah, so much going on! But now the focus is also on seeing them, and I think my MIL will want to do a couple park days with us too. Maybe we can do every other day so the morning drive to rope drop doesn't seem so crazy.

Half your trip! Maybe 4 days on property and 3 off if you are doing a full week. Also how big is inlaws place? You could always do all 7 on property so you have space but then go visit the in laws 2 or 3 days but not stay over. It also depends on how close to them you are in all honesty. When we visit my grandparents as much as I love them we purposefully stay a moderate drive away (30-45 minutes) so we can justify leaving early. Mostly because they live in the sticks and barely have cell reception so I need to go to the hotel to put a few hours of work in.

 

[scrapquitler]

Add the cost of gas up and see if you are really saving anything staying farther away. I know that I wouldn't want to be driving 45 minutes at the end of the night after having been in the park all day with two small children.

 

[leebee]

My brother stayed in a borrowed friend's home when his 3 kids were young. It was about an hour from WDW. He said never again. The mornings were stressful (up early and hurry-hurry-hurry), and by the time they drove home at night, he was soooo tired but still had to do all that driving. Can you split-stay, doing Disney for 5 days and then go out and just visit with your in-laws after that?

I understand the delicacy of balancing your vacation. My sister lives just outside of New Orleans. When we go to NO, we want to go do fun French Quarter things, but she wants us to stay with her, and as they have lived it, they don't like to go to the Quarter AT ALL. Trying to balance our wanting to have a fun playful vacation with her wanting us to sit around her house all day, drinking coffee and laughing, is difficult at best, trying to avoid hurt feelings and disappointment.

Good luck with your decision-making... but have a wonderful trip!

 

[Southernmiss]

Given the info you've given, ideally I would visit with in laws on the front end and back end of the trip and do Disney in the middle for 4 or 5 days. Either staying onsite-maybe a cabin at Fort Wilderness, plenty of space to include the in laws if they want to come. Or rent a close by house. Plenty of space for all. Chance for midday breaks, laundry, and preparing some of your own food.

 

[Kingdome8]

If it's the only way I could afford it then heck ya I would definitely stay 45 mins away. Also if the plan is to stay and spend time with grandparents as well.

Now I do love staying onsite I think it adds so much to the trip.

 

[BLAZEY]

If I had relatives that lived 45 mins from MK I'd never stay on site. I've only ever stayed on site and door to turnstile was easily more than 45 mins by the time we walked to the bus stop and waited in line. Having a room for the kids and separate room for DH & I would be worth it.

 

[Marionnette]

I'm in the "split stay" camp. Certainly, you want your ILs to have the opportunity to spend time with their grandchild and you don't want that time to feel rushed. Focus on time spent with them while you are staying with them and then focus on Disney for the few days that you will be staying onsite or in a hotel closer to the parks.

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm in the "split stay" camp. Certainly, you want your ILs to have the opportunity to spend time with their grandchild and you don't want that time to feel rushed. Focus on time spent with them while you are staying with them and then focus on Disney for the few days that you will be staying onsite or in a hotel closer to the parks.

Good point. Saying with them and trying to do the parks I think will end up with everyone feeling unsatisfied and a little cheated.

 

[Minnesota!]

I would split my stay. First part at Il's house, then they come with to WDW for a night or two with you guys, then you guys finish as an immediate family vacation.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

If I had relatives that lived 45 mins from MK I'd never stay on site. I've only ever stayed on site and door to turnstile was easily more than 45 mins by the time we walked to the bus stop and waited in line. Having a room for the kids and separate room for DH & I would be worth it.

With regards to the Magic Kingdom, you're comparing two different things. A 45 minute time from hotel room to turnstile is different than a 45 minute drive. You're forgetting that once I arrive at the Magic Kingdom, I must park in the lot, catch the tram to the TTC, catch the monorail/ferry, then walk to the turnstile. That adds 20-30 minutes so to compare the two it's 45 minutes from hotel vs. 65-75 minutes driving.

Now I will say at the other 3 parks this isn't as much of an issue as it's just 5-10 minutes from your car.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

On my very first trip to WDW my XH had us stay with his uncle in Winterpark (I believe). Nope, no way no how was he paying to stay onsite. When he went as a kid his parents did timeshare presentations so he wanted to do it as cheap as possible. We had military tickets and could've gotten 40% off on the room with his military discount but NOPE. Anyway we drove about 30 minutes to the parks. We did about 3-4 days of parks over a week. He stayed with DS one night while we did City Walk. It wasn't bad.

Next time we went we stayed with his uncle for two nights beginning and ending the trip but that time stayed offsite anyway. After that we always stayed onsite and would stay with his uncle 1-2 nights before and after our trip.

So if I were you I would split stay. It really is the best of both worlds. You get your vacation and grandparents get their time.

 

[mousefan73]

I would do a split stay. Maybe do 2 nights at a monorail ($$) to get the most out of it. Plus you get the FP benefits!! 60 days plus and magic bands!!! That alone is a good readon to start onsite. Even a value. Then go to inlaws. Split days up. Epcot or HS. Leave the kids and go enjoy yourselves.

 

[Bete]

That's a hard one ...before we knew my in-laws were moving, we've always planned at Fall 2017 trip. So the focus is Disney ...and I'm an onsite kinda girl. Now, we're shooting to go the week after Thanksgiving, probably staying 10 days, possibly getting to FL to do Thanksgiving with my in-laws and then Disney the week after. I like the idea of every other day ...I definitely wanted to take the kids for 2 days to MK, and 1 to AK and definitely rope drop on those days...not sure they are old enough to appreciate Epcot, and still deciding on HS. We'll probably have 5 day park tickets.

Going after Thanksgiving changes the chemistry of the trip. You are there in the holiday time period. You have the MVMCP to consider. There's Epcot's Candlelight Processional show. Epcot has the holiday cast in each country to see. These activities are mostly evening activities. You can't take a nap when your 45 minutes away. Without a nap these evening activities will be missed. You'll probably miss the fireworks, too.

Disney World to me is actually more enjoyable at night. I just think it will be too hard to enjoy any evenings there if you don't stay close by. I think a split stay may be a good compromise.

Also, maybe plan a split stay in the middle of the trip. This would give each of you a break from one another. I'm not saying that a break is needed, but it could help.

Honestly, 45 minutes away is not that bad. It's not like onsite guests can just snap their fingers and be at a park. It takes time to get to the parks whether you are onsite or offsite.

 

[kathy884]

I think the big thing is what this vacation is for. For me Orlando and the parks are simply an enjoyable back drop to spending time with family. My touring plans are never that ambitious and when my son was the age of your little ones he actually enjoyed the resort swimming pool more than the Magic Kingdom lol.

My mom and dad invited us to come down for a few days in November, as they have a big condo for two weeks. It's near I drive closer to Universal, so a good 25 minutes to Disney without traffic and a good 20 minutes to SeaWorld. We did Universal last year when DH had a conference on property there and don't really want to repeat. Dad even sent me money for air and theme park tickets. I can only work wise swing it to go down for four nights/three full days. Anyway too, I decided that although I want to hit some parks, the main thing that I care about is spending some quality time with my mom and dad and having DS do the same. With that in mind my plan is to (1) Do a resort day with them to just hang out visit, (2) do a relaxing day at SeaWorld, as that's the only park my 80 year old dad really likes and will go to, and (3) Do DHS with my mom and son on day 3. This is a perfect choice because we all like this park, but can get everything done we want to do between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. That means on our last evening we can be back to have dinner with my dad and hang out. // No this is not everyone's dream Disney trip, but it sounds absolutely perfect to me. I love the parks, but for short periods of time. Less is more.