A split stay on and offside, too complicated?

[sidewalks]

We are four, our car fits 5, my parents will fly in, making 6. In the past, we drove in, they flew in, and stayed at their timeshare and rented a car. We've gone twice, and this will be our last time for a long while. Our youngest will finally be old enough to ride the big roller coasters.

I wanted to go onsite this year for one week (their timeshare is 20 min away in awful condition and it's not their year to use it), but it will be way over budget when you count in not having a full kitchen.

My draft plan. Go the second week in Sept. I have a friend that I can buy a gift certificate from a special veterans time share resort for 300 for the week. It's minutes away. One king, two twin beds, a pull out couch. Still offsite.

So we would drive in on Saturday and check in at this timeshare, then my parents fly in and from tues to fri morning, they check into Art of Animation (mid-week, off season and with a coupon code). We all use that as a base for while they are with us, then go back to the timeshare when they leave and even use the time share as a place to cook and eat dinners during that time as well (we'd have to shuttle a bit with our car, or use the timeshare's shuttle if they have one). I'm also keeping my fingers crossed that we can also use the YES program (I know the discount isn't that great anymore, but I'll take anything). I would tell WDW that there would be 6 at AoA, absolutely.

Too complicated?

 

[CerysG]

We did a split stay last time we went, doing Universal/Sea World/Discovery Cove the first part of our trip and then moved on to Disney for the second part. Actually we are going again in August and staying at Hard Rock Universal for the first week and then Disney for the Second. Didn't find it to bad switching and I like being on Resort.

 

[lanejudy]

We are four, our car fits 5, my parents will fly in, making 6. In the past, we drove in, they flew in, and stayed at their timeshare and rented a car. We've gone twice, and this will be our last time for a long while. Our youngest will finally be old enough to ride the big roller coasters.

I wanted to go onsite this year for one week (their timeshare is 20 min away in awful condition and it's not their year to use it), but it will be way over budget when you count in not having a full kitchen.

My draft plan. Go the second week in Sept. I have a friend that I can buy a gift certificate from a special veterans time share resort for 300 for the week. It's minutes away. One king, two twin beds, a pull out couch. Still offsite.

So we would drive in on Saturday and check in at this timeshare, then my parents fly in and from tues to fri morning, they check into Art of Animation (mid-week, off season and with a coupon code). We all use that as a base for while they are with us, then go back to the timeshare when they leave and even use the time share as a place to cook and eat dinners during that time as well (we'd have to shuttle a bit with our car, or use the timeshare's shuttle if they have one). I'm also keeping my fingers crossed that we can also use the YES program (I know the discount isn't that great anymore, but I'll take anything). I would tell WDW that there would be 6 at AoA, absolutely.

Too complicated?

Not sure I follow... 1) you'll have a place (off-site) for the full week, but 2) your parents will be at AoA for part of the time. You will stay at AoA with your parents? Are they getting a suite or a regular room? They would need to have a suite and include your family on the registration for you to "legally" sleep, park overnight, or use the pool there - and there will be the additional adult fee each night.

So I guess if the financials work out that way for all involved, then go for it. Sounds like essentially your parents will be footing a much larger bill for the overnight accommodations, but if they have usually provided the timeshare maybe that's not an issue. Certainly sounds better than shuttling in from 20 miles off-site, but then we always stay on-site so I'm probably somewhat biased that way.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[sidewalks]

I really want to go onsite, but the coupon code only gave me 3% off. In other words, instead of $759 for 3 nights, it's $725. I'm going to try to find a way to get at least 10% off.

 

[sidewalks]

I'm footing the bill for everything. In essence, I'm booking two separate places for my family, but only my parents will sleep at AoA. We'll all be at AoA. That's right, I forgot that the 725 did include the extra adults, so maybe I do have a 10% discount.

 

[sidewalks]

I just want to know that I'm not crazy.

 

[lanejudy]

Nope, not crazy if it works best for you. But I'd stay check on that again - I've never heard of a 3% coupon code for Disney. I'm assuming it's not a standard Disney offer because those tend to be 10%-15%-20%, etc. Plus I don't think they've release promotional rates for the fall yet, but yes the additional fee per adult will up the base rate (I think it's $10 per night at values but not certain).

As an alternative, did you look at 2 regular rooms at a value resort? That'll probably be less expensive than a suite at AoA; or the suites at ASMu are somewhat lower. As a new resort it's quite popular and not always included in promo offers. Also, the cabins at FW sleep 6 and include a kitchen, but are priced more like the suites. And keep in mind that there is often Free Dining offered in the fall if that might help.

I'm sure you'll enjoy your vacation whether onsite, offsite or both!

 

[sidewalks]

I did look into pop century and the cabins. If I have the timeshare, it will save lots on dining, and I think free dining has requirements about length of stay. Thanks.