$785 for 7 nights -- would it be cheaper offsite?

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I'm thinking of taking DS9 to WDW and US this October. My goal is to make this a super budget trip, and I had assumed that meant staying offsite (which was fine by me). However, looking at prices, the lowest thing I've found so far is the Disney values at $785 room only for a week. The places people suggest such as Cypress Point and Windsor Hills are all over $100 a day before tax and "resort fees".

I know I'd get more space if we went to a condo, but I'm not sure that matters to me, whereas I love coming back to a clean room, which I wouldn't get in a condo unless I paid extra for housekeeping.

Any suggestions on how to either bring that price down or increase what I'm getting for my money by staying offsite?

 

[jpeppers]

On the Universal days stay offsite close to Universal. I've stayed at the Best Western Movieland and the Rodeway Inn in International dr and both were very close to US and were decent hotels for around $60 a night and right across the street from Wet-n-wild with decent free transportation. On a budget I think Cypress pointe is great when you are at Disney because you can save by cooking in the rooms or eating at there deli which is very reasonable but there is no Disney transportation so you have to consider everything.

 

[dougsmom98]

You might want to consider Comfort Suites Main Gate East. I am not sure what your dates are, but hotelmartusa.com often offers rooms here. The rooms sleep six and have microwaves and fridges for less than $90/night. This hotel also offers free deluxe continental breakfast and has things like bagels, danish, eggs, yogurt, make your own waffles... I also noticed that this site:
http://www.orlandoinfo.com/magicard/offers.cfm
offers this hotel for $88/night too.

As for not getting made service at some of the condos/townhomes... my experience has been that there is so much room that it doesn't feel cluttered or get really messy. My kids are such slobs at home, but they are not on vacation. We all pull the blankets up on our beds and we are good to go.

Hotelmartusa.com also offers a place called Fiesta Keys for $79/night including taxes. I have not stayed at Fiesta Keys but from what I understand, it is pretty new. For the price I can't imagine that you could go wrong. I've used hotelmartusa.com three times and have always had good luck.

 

[happymommy]

If it's just you and your son, remember that safety is a priority. I've taken my kids alone several times, but stay at least as close as DTD hotels.

I don't feel comfortable staying too far from Disney, and I'd rather not deal with a rental car once there.

Have you looked into the Swan/Dolphin or DTD hotels?

I think it's cheaper to only do WDW or US, not both. The tickets for WDW get less per day the more days you do, and you can get those 7 day US tickets online. Plus there's so much to see at either (okay, I've never been to US so that's just a guess). And swimming and stuff too.

 

[Charleyann]

Book this place with Maritime Travel and you'll get rates as low as $49 nightly. Kids eat free with paying adults. Freee shuttle transportation to all Orlando major theme parks. Fridge, coffee maker, safes, free high speed internet, 25 inch color TV. Three swimming pools heated and beautiful landscaping! They have a Walgreen right in parking lot and many places to eat including, golden corral, black angus, golden china, ponderosa, wendy's, taco bell, burger king, McDonalds, western sizzler, Denny....etc. There is an arcade and free mini -golf!

This place is very clean and kids friendly!

Charleyann

 

[dawnball]

I'm thinking of taking DS9 to WDW and US this October. My goal is to make this a super budget trip, and I had assumed that meant staying offsite (which was fine by me). However, looking at prices, the lowest thing I've found so far is the Disney values at $785 room only for a week. The places people suggest such as Cypress Point and Windsor Hills are all over $100 a day before tax and "resort fees".

Windsor hills for $75/night plus tax (but no resort fee) http://mymagichome.com/ - note we've never stayed there, because it's too small for our group. I've seen plenty of 2 bedroom condos in that price range, and we've gotten 3 bedrooms for $88/night (taxes included). You can probably find a good deal on skyauction or one of the other travel bidding sites, but I don't know them well enough to give you examples.

 

[4Seasons]

Plenty of options for October in a very good price range.
I priced the week of October 11 just as a reference point and came up with:

Cypress Pointe Grandevillas 1 bedroom $438.74

2 bedroom at either CPGV or CP phase 1 $589.75

Cane Island 2 bedroom (new private condo community, across the street from Wyndham Cypress Palms) $471.28

Windsor Hills 2 bedroom condo $501.01

Liki Tiki 1 bedroom $439.46

Fiesta Key 3 br. townhouse $479.62

Summer Bay, 3 bedroom HOUSE with private screened pool
October 18-25 $610.19

Bryan's Spanish Cove 2 bedroom $528.74

All of these are including tax and NO resort fees.
The only one that would have an additional fee would be the Summer Bay house, I'm certain pool heat would be extra.

There are ALOT of options for under $100/night in October.

 

[SoonipiLady]

I'm thinking of taking DS9 to WDW and US this October. My goal is to make this a super budget trip, and I had assumed that meant staying offsite (which was fine by me). However, looking at prices, the lowest thing I've found so far is the Disney values at $785 room only for a week. The places people suggest such as Cypress Point and Windsor Hills are all over $100 a day before tax and "resort fees".

I know I'd get more space if we went to a condo, but I'm not sure that matters to me, whereas I love coming back to a clean room, which I wouldn't get in a condo unless I paid extra for housekeeping.

Any suggestions on how to either bring that price down or increase what I'm getting for my money by staying offsite?

Since we rented from florida sun vacations, you gey 15% off on 7 nite rentals. I can't imagine staying in a value resort's tiny room, clean or not, for 7 days, when I can stay in a 3 bedroom condo for less, cook my own breakfast, have my own TV/room/bath, etc.

The added costs of condo areactual or emotional)

Car rental-(I got one for $159/week from Dollar with Orlando Magic Card Code)
parking-$11/day ($77/week)
No MEH(magic extra hours)-Ten years ago I would have cared, but now that there are 75,000 people or more at Disney properties, it's not much of a perk to me anymore!)

The Pluses:

Breakfast for a week: $4.19 for a gallon of milk, $3.95 for a box of cereal, $5.00 for a large box of poptats..... Less than one breakfast at the value's food courts.

Multiply by 3x for lunches, and dinners.

sign up for mousesaver's newsletter, get link, save about $20.00/ticket (pays for parking some)

more room, more room, more room. trying to get kids settled down in one hotel room night after night is stressful. The values are notoriously loud! By the end of the week, I'd be exhausted!

Just my take on it!

Lots of people love the values. I can't stand the busses to the parks, so we take the car. The resorts always seem crowded-even the moderate where I stayed seemed crowded and we were there for "low season".

Here's just one I found at Widsor Hills, which is avail during your time frame:

Property Information:


1 Mile to Disney property - 2 Bed, 2 Bath - 1 King, 1 Queen

Luxury condo has patio facing west over courtyard area with sunset views. Resort is gated/guarded and all condo buildings have elevators. Unit has 42 in. plasma TV, TV/DVD in each bedroom, ...brand new patriotic theme decor!

All linens and towels are provided. Condo has a fully equipped kitchen with all appliances and utensils. There is a full size washer and dryer, central air & heat, iron and ironing board, telephone service, patio table and chairs.

Windsor Hills - The Closest Residential Community To Disney Property. Newest gated resort is the very best of its kind. There are many shopping plazas within a mile from the home with restaurants such as Red Lobster, Outback Steak House, Carrabba's, Denny's, Giordano's Italian restaurants, Subway and Dairy Queen, a medical care facility and a drug store. Please click on community information and map location above to see where Windsor Hills is located.

Amenities:
1 King
1 Queen
Plasma TV
TV/DVDs in each bedroom
Playstation 2
Free high speed internet access
Pack-n-Play Crib
Highchair

Rate: $89/nite 15% discount for 7 nites, + 70.00 cleaning fee and tax total: $677.50

OR

 

[gqchicago]

Especially in October that should be easily doable. If you didn't know, rates do vary by season. October is a "mid" season, not high, not super low, still quite in the reasonable range. Meaning, you should be able to get a great deal and find something that fits your budget at this time, plus, you're plenty early still, which is totally in your favor, you can find something and still have plenty to choose from!

It's the people that are looking now for Easter week and still want a rock bottom deal that are in trouble...

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Soonipi Lady,

Thank you so much for that link! I looked and the Windsor Hills condos seem perfect. Can the rest of you give me links for the prices you found? Cypress Pointe GV seems like it would be a great choice for us, but I don't know where to get quotes for it.

The car issue is a non-issue since we'll be driving. Although I like the Disney buses, I'm just as happy to drive to the parks.

One thing that I like about staying off site is that my plan is to do very little Disney, and spend more time at UO/IOA (much cheaper tickets, and more "big kid stuff), and do Aquatica and a day trip to the beach. I was thinking of maybe just doing MNSSHP one night, and then a character breakfast in a resort one morning, and maybe some time in DTD. But I know if I'm there we'll be tempted to "just buy one more day ticket and it will add up pretty fast. So if everything else is even as far as price and quality, I'd probably pick offsite.

Keep the ideas coming!

 

[SoonipiLady]

Soonipi Lady,

Thank you so much for that link! I looked and the Windsor Hills condos seem perfect. Can the rest of you give me links for the prices you found? Cypress Pointe GV seems like it would be a great choice for us, but I don't know where to get quotes for it.

The car issue is a non-issue since we'll be driving. Although I like the Disney buses, I'm just as happy to drive to the parks.

One thing that I like about staying off site is that my plan is to do very little Disney, and spend more time at UO/IOA (much cheaper tickets, and more "big kid stuff), and do Aquatica and a day trip to the beach. I was thinking of maybe just doing MNSSHP one night, and then a character breakfast in a resort one morning, and maybe some time in DTD. But I know if I'm there we'll be tempted to "just buy one more day ticket and it will add up pretty fast. So if everything else is even as far as price and quality, I'd probably pick offsite.

Keep the ideas coming!

We'll be there in April (at a different Unit) and will be sure and report on what we think. We LOVE Disney, and staying on site, but now that our kids are older, they want to do more than just Disney, and since we have 1 girl and 1 boy, they hate sharing a room, let alone a bed! It just makes more sense for us to stay off site, unless we can swing a suite on site, which just isn't in the budget right now (music lessons, sports, braces, etc.)!

 

[Brian Noble]

If money is the sole object, it's actually pretty hard to beat a Disney Value room---especially if you are flying in. Offsite, you need a rental car. Onsite, you can get by without one if you really insist on doing so.

If you have your own car, then you only need to beat $100/night---the other $85 is parking, plus or minus.

 

[SoonipiLady]

If money is the sole object, it's actually pretty hard to beat a Disney Value room---especially if you are flying in. Offsite, you need a rental car. Onsite, you can get by without one if you really insist on doing so.

If you have your own car, then you only need to beat $100/night---the other $85 is parking, plus or minus.

Values don't even have a refrigerator, unless you pay the extra $10.00/night. For a week, that wipes out the "savings" on parking and you haven't even put any food in it yet! You can't get a microwave at all, so you can't make yourself a bag of popcorn. I just can't see the savings really being savings unless you're there during free dining. That's just my take on it. If you really need the "Disney experience" from start to finish, you're right though, you can't beat the Values for that!

 

[ldo]

The Mickey party (fyi-you can enter MK at 4 PM with your party ticket) and then a character breakfast at a WDW hotel is a great way to "go to WDW" without having to spend $$ on tickets--I did the same thing last year!
Since you have a car and aren't going to WDW a lot, I would recommend an off-site condo closer to Universal--you should easily be able to get one in October for under $100 a night--the deals just aren't up yet.
Personally, I like the Seaworld area--there are several condos, timeshares in the area and it is 1/2 way between WDW and Universal.
Another option you might consider is renting points from a DVC owner---in October, you could probably rent DVC points to get a studio for under $100 a night--no tax. Just realize you can't cancel and get your $$ back.

DVC is VERY fun for 9 year olds--they have great pools with slides and Community Halls with games, crafts, PS2 players--we stayed last year and my kids were as happy there as in WDW parks. good luck. Elaine

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Personally, I like the Seaworld area--there are several condos, timeshares in the area and it is 1/2 way between WDW and Universal.

Any specific suggestions for one that's clean, safe and has a nice pool?

I agree that the Mickey party is a great idea, however DS's "wish list" is to ride Mission Space, Rock 'n Roller Coaster and see the muppets. My plan right now is to do MNSSHP, US/IOA and aquatica the first 3 days and then ask him if he still wants to do Epcot/MGM or if he wants to go back to one of those first 3.

 

[ldo]

too long to post about hotels, etc.

 

[JamieW]

Plenty of options for October in a very good price range.
I priced the week of October 11 just as a reference point and came up with:

Cypress Pointe Grandevillas 1 bedroom $438.74

2 bedroom at either CPGV or CP phase 1 $589.75

Cane Island 2 bedroom (new private condo community, across the street from Wyndham Cypress Palms) $471.28

Windsor Hills 2 bedroom condo $501.01

Liki Tiki 1 bedroom $439.46

Fiesta Key 3 br. townhouse $479.62

Summer Bay, 3 bedroom HOUSE with private screened pool
October 18-25 $610.19

Bryan's Spanish Cove 2 bedroom $528.74

All of these are including tax and NO resort fees.
The only one that would have an additional fee would be the Summer Bay house, I'm certain pool heat would be extra.

There are ALOT of options for under $100/night in October.

What websites did you use to get these quotes? That info would really be helpful.

 

[spartn1]

Cypress Pointe is there too.