advice about where to stay for just two people

[abmitch01]

I have always rented a house or condo in Windsor Hills and loved it. But this next Feb break, it will be just my DD and I. I'm kind if dreading the All Stars type housing because I heard it takes forever to get to and from the parks there. How about Camp Wilderness? Is that a lower cost option? We don't have a trailer, we'd have to rent something. Or should we stick to our regular plan and rent a small condo and have a car so we can do other things. We'd love to stay in one of the resorts but that will be out of are budget since it's a school break week.

 

[girli565]

If you normally stay at Windsor Hills and you like the freedom of having a car and things like that, I would still say rent a small one or two bedroom condo instead of staying at the All-Stars. The amenities you have the condo will also hope you stay budget minded.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

We always stay at Westgate Town Center. Offsite, but has 18 pools and we can get a 1 bedroom deluxe villa with a full kitchen for around 100/night pretty often. I've stayed tons of times and never had a less than stellar experience.

 

[mom2alix]

Did you look at trying to rent a DVC studio?

 

[Marionnette]

I have always rented a house or condo in Windsor Hills and loved it. But this next Feb break, it will be just my DD and I. I'm kind if dreading the All Stars type housing because I heard it takes forever to get to and from the parks there. How about Camp Wilderness? Is that a lower cost option? We don't have a trailer, we'd have to rent something. Or should we stick to our regular plan and rent a small condo and have a car so we can do other things. We'd love to stay in one of the resorts but that will be out of are budget since it's a school break week.

You can check into renting a camper at Fort Wilderness, but I think that you will find that by the time that you pay for the campsite and the camper rental, you will spend at least as much as you would at a moderate resort. But if you're interested, check out the Camping forum and look around for recommendations as to who to rent from. There are a couple of places that will bring the camper in and set it up for you. Jennifer Marx (from the Passporter) recently did a stay at the campground where she rented a fabulous camper. She blogged about it a few months ago.

There's also the option of renting DVC points, as mentioned by a PP. Again, it will be closer to the cost of a moderate resort room. The advantage would be that you are staying onsite in deluxe accommodations and will have a kitchenette in your studio. The disadvantage (other than price) is that the studios have a queen bed and a pullout sofa. The exception being OKW, where they actually have 2 beds.

Going offsite and renting a car can be less expensive, but you will need to take parking ($17/day) plus the cost of the car rental ($25-$35/day) plus the cost of gas. If you pick up the car at the airport, you will also pay tolls. Adding that in may make it just as costly to stay offsite as it would be to stay onsite.

Overall, you have to do the math. Sometimes, it's cheaper to stay onsite if you can wrangle a discount and you don't mind the Value Resorts.

 

[hsmamato2]

if OP is worried about travel times, most disney buses take a while,but by the time you factor in traffic, lines to park, parking,trams,etc,it's mostly even.... I recommend a value resort onsite-they're lots of fun,and the buses are fine for us. I would prefer that over offsite,personally.The campground is pretty out of the way,and it seems to take forever getting around in there....

 

[Shmily1]

I will never stay offsite again. I love the convenience of the Disney transportation. I don't want to have to find my way to the park or after a long day in the park, find my way back to my car, then to the resort. I just want to sit there and not think about traffic at all. I also don't want to spend my $17 a day on parking when I could be comfy in a Disney resort.

On the other hand, I have stayed at almost every Disney resort but only once had a bad experience with the transportation in over 200 stays. It was at an EPCOT area deluxe resort. They share buses and the bus was so packed, they couldn't get the hydraulics to lift it up. They offloaded some people, lifted the bus, then loaded them all back on. I felt like I was in some third world country packed on a bus.

I have never waited long for a bus at the AS resorts. Some will say stay at POP because of the shared buses, but if you are in like for a park and there are so many people that they fill up a bus, you'll be still waiting in line for another bus. That doesn't happen at the AS resorts.

Now since you are taking your DD with you, you may want to think of POR in a RGR. They are awesome!! The decor is great and they are located in an area that is easy to get to the main building and bus area. Overall, a great experience at a very relaxing and quiet resort.

 

[abmitch01]

what's POR in a RGR?

if you could recommend a moderate resort, which would you pick?

 

[Marionnette]

what's POR in a RGR?

if you could recommend a moderate resort, which would you pick?

POR = Port Orleans Riverside
RGR = Royal Guest Room they are at both POFQ and POR)

ETA: Here's a link to info and pictures:
http://www.portorleans.org/royal-rooms.php

ETA: If you're going to expand your budget to include moderate resorts, consider renting DVC points. I compared the same week in July (7/20-7/27/14) at two resorts. I applied the summer room discount at Disney and used the calculator on David's.

RGR at POR = $1464 w/tax
Studio at OKW = $1512 total​

For a difference of $48, I'd choose the deluxe resort in heartbeat.

Disclaimer: You may not see the same pricing during busier season, or at pricier DVC resorts such as VGF. I just want to point out that a DVC rental can be very much in the same price range as a Moderate Resort with a discount.

 

[tinker&belle]

POP is really great. Buses are direct and quick.

 

[abmitch01]

thanks everyone! I have a lot of homework to do. I've always dreamed since I was a kid to stay at the Contemporary. But since we like to do little side trip, a condo and car may be easiest. I'm trying to get my DD on board for staying on site. Her biggest complaint? She won't get to eat at Sweet Tomatoes! We eat there a ton with coupons to save on food.