Accommodations Dilemma

[suzybeezy]

Ok - we had reservations all set for the Meridian Hotel then I made a disboard thread and someone recommended rental villas. When I looked into it I found a villa for the same rate as our hotel. So I made a few inquires and here's our possibilities for accomodations - can't pick!

Keep in mind, we're going in 2 weeks. I've got confirmed reservations that I believe can be cancelled if done real soon. And I've already checked availability for the villas.


Option 1: Keep the hotel reservations - it has 2 queen beds (just enough bedding) and offers delux continental breakfast (which will save on money).

Option 2: 3 bedroom villa at the same price as the hotel - offers community pool and is nicely decorated. and provides alot more room then the hotel - which can be nice with kids.

Option 3: 3 bedroom villa which also has the extra space and (close to Disney) offers private pool (with safety feature for kids) but comes in $200 more then hotel (plus they charge another $100 for heating the pool).


So my dilemma - option 1 is economical and includes breakfast and honestly, we won't be in the hotel but to sleep. Option 2 would be a step up from the hotel but we'd have to make our own breakfast which would be as simple as cereal, but i'm feeling hesitant. And Option 3 really sounds like the most luxurious of the three options and i love the idea of a private pool so regardless of what time we get back, we could still swim.

Can't deside what to do?!?!? If I'm going to change I need to do it soon. HELP!

 

[5mins2disney]

Well, I've been to WDW going both ways. I can tell you this...we went last summer on a traditional hotel style vacation with our kids...and swore NEVER again! There's NO amount of $$ that could convince me to stay in a one room hotel room with 2 little kids ever again unless I absolutely HAD to! Free breakfast or not...it was an absolutely horrible, miserable trip for us, the kids wouldn't go to bed...we tried to stay up and watch TV....one bathroom for all 4 of us.... /shudder.

In contrast, we rented a pool home (3 bed / 3 bath) in Florida 2 summers ago on our first family trip to WDW, and had the absolutely best vacation we've had ever together as a family! The pool, the kitchen, the extra space, you name it, it was all just AWESOME! For instance, you're all tired, the kids want to play video games and watch cartoons....they can...while you relax and watch something else in a different room...priceless! Thing is...this all cost less than staying in a hotel room for us!

One night we would order a pizza, stay home, let the kids swim...ALL of us had just a great time!

We loved it SO much, we bought a vacation home in Florida!

I can't suggest to you enough how much of a better time you might have vacationing this way!

If you're looking for daily maid service, room service, or free breakfasts, sure you're going to give these things up, but the added benefits, amenities, etc, all MORE than made up for it in our case!

 

[isla bonita]

If spending 2 weeks in the same room as your children is a vacation than it is the most economical.

Personally that is no vacation for me and my DH. We enjoyed oru vacation in a rental home much more. Room for every one and if you think it is more in the long run you can have a day off from the parks and enjoy the home. Save on food with eating in some meals. Not eating on a bed but having a real table. Also late night swims for us are a must (kids are part fish must be from husbands side of the family). Having a freezer to put all our drinks in we take to the park.

Hands down the pool home can not be beat for our vacations.

 

[A&CsMom]

I agree with the previous posters -- for us it is more worth it to have the extra room rather than the free breakfasts. Not to mention, DH, the kids and I had to stay in a hotel room a couple weeks ago while visiting relatives out of town (for one night), and we were reminded about another things we dislike about hotels -- the noise! There were hockey teams staying there for the weekend and we needed to get to sleep early - around 9:30 pm for an early start the next day. There were kids running up and down the halls, yelling. As well, through the night we could hear showers running and toilets flushing, and even after the kids quieted down, anyone walking through the halls talking was a disturbance. For us, just one more good reason not to stay in hotels unless absolutely necessary!

 

[jessiangel]

Two years ago I got the idea that we would stay onsite, and let me tell you, my husband and daughter complained the entire time. I was fine with it until a storm hit one evening and it rained throughout the night. We ended up staying in our hotel room, fighting over who got to watch what (1 tv), ordered the worst pizza imaginable, and I truly don't know how we didn't totally claw each other's eyes out in that cramped space. Ever since then, its back offsite in a condo for us. I say go for the 3 bedroom villa. Much more space to spread out if you decide to stay in one night, or one of the downpours happen.

 

[meta]

I have just one child that's now 14. Staying in the same room with 1 bathroom and 1 tv is not a vacation. It's no big deal to have coffee and cereal in the morning. With 2 kids, having 1 or 2 extra bedrooms is so much nicer. Plus you get a washer and dryer, which can really come in handy.

By the way, I brought an extra suitcase with the small boxes of cereal, duncan donuts coffee and some other snacks. It's easy enough to pick up milk, juice, etc.

 

[FLParadisevilla]

I have to agree I love the extra room of a pool home its much more like a great vacation!
I say go for the home you wont be disappointed!

 

[suzybeezy]

I think we've decided we're going to try the 3 bedroom villa - now just need to figure out how it all works. What's the normal process? What questions should I ask?

 

[spiceycat]

what it is stocked with - so you know what to bring.

remember the other 2 choices you get a full kitchen.

besides I think someone mentioned the reviews for Meridian Hotel aren't that great.

I am not saying cook - but with a refrigerator you can get milk and ceral for breakfast - plus Pop tarts, waffles, etc.

food in the grocery store is reasonable priced and no taxes!!!!

 

[horseshowmom]

I think we've decided we're going to try the 3 bedroom villa - now just need to figure out how it all works. What's the normal process? What questions should I ask?

You mentioned meals earlier. We always like to do easy things like Toaster Strudel or frozen waffles for breakfast (most of houses have toasters). It makes a nice addition to cereal if you don't want that every morning.

We also get frozen lasagna (sp?) and potatoes to bake at the grocery - very easy, quick, and not expensive. There are lots of other options too (Hot Pockets, etc.) for times you don't want to eat out (or just want to save some money). We usually make a big pot of spaghetti while the kids swim, and that feeds us for two nights.

As someone else said, they deliver pizza in FL too , and you can buy canned drinks or make tea a lot cheaper than drinks normally cost.

I agree with Spicey, I'm on vacation and don't intend to do a lot of cooking, but some things really are easy and help with food costs too! I find that the Wal-Mart Supercenter grocery prices are about the same as they are here at home.

 

[lillygator]

I would go with the villa for the extra room!