Advice on where to stay April 2014

[markkelly]

Hi All

I booked flights a while ago 6-20 April (Easter Sunday is 20 April) but am getting nowhere with where to stay.....I have 2 kids who will be 8 & 6 so this is largely a "Disney" trip and sea world (though please shout any others that I shouldnt miss) and we will need some chill out by the pool days.

So was thinking that it may be worth the extra cash to stay in a Dinsey hotel for at least the first week and was thinking of moving somewhere else the second week - now thinking maybe just bite the bullet and stay in one place.

Is on site worth it....extra hour in the morning so can beat the rus,h free parking, disney bands whatever that entails , fast pass.....is that about it.

I liked the look of Art of Animation because it is new and simply for the kids it looks lovely with the characters (but appreciate it is likely a dressed up travelodge with a nice pool).
However, learning about the DDP it seems pointless staying in a value resort.....so where is the question?

Old Key west and Saratoga springs have the good offers on - but reading a few comments unsurpising that these are less convenient or prefered to other hotels. Biggest benefit seems to be the Deluxe dining plan included.

So questions:
Any recommendations?
Convenience and nice pool is likely important.

Would a moderate - something like the Carabbean or Coronadado and paying for the deluxe DP be a better bet than OKW or Saratoga Spa.

Is Deluxe plan worth the extra if apying for it. - Edit - think I mean Standard - 1 TS meal - the Deluxe with 3 TS meals seems expensive and intrusive during the day.


Completeorlando....seems to have some significantly cheaper deals eg Animal Kingdom is £500 cheaper for the first week (the tickets for 2014 are a bit dearer but still a better deal).
Are they ok to book through?
Any advantage in booking with Disney over Complete orlando -other than the $100 spedning money.

At the risk of rambling I will leave it there for now.
Thanks

 

[markkelly]

Some good suggestions in here which I am reading too
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3174710&page=3

 

[peachiepie]

I've only stayed on-site, so have no off-site recommendations. For us the EMH (both am and pm) and the dining plan makes on-site worth it for us.

Last year we stayed at Port Orleans Riverside, which was a beautiful resort. Previously I've also stayed at Caribbean Beach resort and loved it there too. Theming is less overly "Disney-ish" than the value resorts though.

We have done the standard dining plan and loved it. There always seems to be a big debate about whether it is worth it, this seems to vary family to family. For us it is...we love sit down meals, always want desserts, never want starters and just generally love the convenience of having the food all paid for in advance. Also may depend on how picky or adventurous your children are when it comes to food?

We are looking at going again in 2015... if the 30% off OKW is happens to still be running (fingers crossed for either that or free dining!) that will be our prefered option, if not Caribbean Beach will probably be our next choice.

 

[markkelly]

Thanks peachypie....didnt even realise there was EMH pm....an hour seem worth it on the surface but I am feeling that getting there early an hour before it opens to the public and being close in one of the Diseny resprts will make it worth it for us.

I need to read up a bit more on the DDP - sounds a decent option - QSDP I could imagine getting fed up with fast food over 2 weeks and it is nice to sit down properly once a day.

Thx

 

[queendisney]

I need to read up a bit more on the DDP - sounds a decent option - QSDP I could imagine getting fed up with fast food over 2 weeks and it is nice to sit down properly once a day.

Thx

just to chip in on this point...

Honestly the qsdp is NOT just fast food. You can eat so many different things. Don't be put off just because you go up to a counter and get it. Yes you can get the normal burgers/chicken/fries etc but you can get a whole lot more. It really isn't like Mcdonalds

Take a look at the menu's and you'll see the variety.

 

[peachiepie]

Thanks peachypie....didnt even realise there was EMH pm....an hour seem worth it on the surface but I am feeling that getting there early an hour before it opens to the public and being close in one of the Diseny resprts will make it worth it for us.

We didn't make much use of the am EMH in the end (I am seriously not a morning person!), but we did find the pm EMH really useful on the days they were running The evening EMH are 2 hours.

Another plus for staying on site is the transportation system. I'm a nervous driver so having the buses was so handy for us.

 

[flortlebap]

EMH isn't generally worth it as the parks get more and more crowded on those days, and EMH are scheduled less and less

Definitely stay in a value over a mod, with free dining it's much better value.

I never got the point of the Deluxe DDP, we were DYING trying to eat enough food on the QSDP so I think the Deluxe would finish us off lol!

 

[peachiepie]

Definitely stay in a value over a mod, with free dining it's much better value.

I thought free dining was only offered on stays at mods (QSDP) and Deluxe (regular DP)? The brochures I've picked up all had values excluded from the UK free dining offer?

 

[luvtinkerbell]

We have only ever stayed on site, at a budget hotel, mainly Pop century which we love,great for kids,we are staying there again march 2014, cant go wrong

 

[2Tiggies]

just to chip in on this point...

Honestly the qsdp is NOT just fast food. You can eat so many different things. Don't be put off just because you go up to a counter and get it. Yes you can get the normal burgers/chicken/fries etc but you can get a whole lot more. It really isn't like Mcdonalds

Take a look at the menu's and you'll see the variety.

I totally agree! We have (by choice) opted for QSDP four years in a row and I do not eat fast food - at all. No issues with choice. Pop onto the menus section at the top of the page and have a look at what they offer.

I thought free dining was only offered on stays at mods (QSDP) and Deluxe (regular DP)? The brochures I've picked up all had values excluded from the UK free dining offer?

Yes it is but I think that the OP's dates may exclude them from Free dining. I haven't checked, but the FD offer has to be valid for the entire duration of your stay. Unless they can shift dates a week earlier for a nominal charge (it will cost £50 to do this if booked with Disney directly).

Given that the OP has to children under 10, if character meals are on the cards, then I think it is worth paying for it. The kids DDP's are very cheap compared to the adult ones and I say go for it while you can. There is an upcharge on the regular DDP during peak seasons, including Easter but I think it may still be less than actually paying OOP and paying it in the actual restaurant so a little research here may pay off.

regarding the Deluxe, there is no way I would fork out that extra money for it. You willl be running yourself around ADR's on average twice a day and when you pay for dining, you DO feel compelled to use all your credits far more than when you get it 'free' so yes, I think you have made a wise choice regarding Deluxe, OP

 

[scoobydooby]

Just so the OP is clear. There are three dining plans. Quick service (counter service meals only), regular (one QS and one table service) and deluxe (table service only). Before anyone corrects me yes you can eat QS on the deluxe plan. But that would be like burning £50 notes.....

OP. I think with young children like you have and planning a mainly WDW holiday, that staying on site has definite advantages. The ability to easily take midday naps is the main one. Morning EMH (if you can get up for them) are a big plus. Yes, those parks get mobbed as the day goes on, but if you're leaving them early afternoon anyway for a rest then what you get out of that first hour is worth is. Especially if you use a good touring plan. I recommend those at www.touringplans.com (linked to Unofficial Guide to WDW book).

Previous poster is correct you can get a decent variety on QSDP. It is also a fact that if you don't do your research in advance it's not that easy.

In your situation I would book a moderate hotel. My favourite moderate is Port Orleans Riverside. But when our kids were younger like yours our favourite was Port Orleans French Quarter, because it is the smallest moderate by far so less walking. That matters a lot with little ones on a Disney holiday. It also only has one bus stop and you can pretty much always sit down on the bus. If the bus shares with POR, you get to board it first. Also important with small children.

When our children were younger we also found that booking our one TS a day foe lunch in the park we started the day in worked best. It does limit your choices but involves less toing and froing which is again important with little ones in tow. It means you can play your evening according to how the children are as opposed to how you want them to be based on a plan you made 6 months ago! Nowadays we love our TS meal in the evening and will travel 'the world' to our restaurant of choice. But that works because the children are teenagers now.

Happy planning.

Oh. All the moderates have pools with slides. If you stay at either Port Orleans resort you can also use the main pool at the other resort. That's a nice thing for some variety if your family enjoys swimming.

 

[irenep]

Your dates will have you at WDW during a very busy period so I would definitely recommend an on-site stay if possible.

The last time we did the Easter holiday period (2012) the parks were mobbed and queues extremely long. Good use of morning EMH and rope drops meant we still managed to do everything we wanted in the parks and have lovely relaxing afternoons by the pool.

I aways thought that as long as you checked in when the free dining plan was on that you got it for the duration of your stay but best to check and I prefer OKW to SSR in the deluxe resorts. The only mod I have stayed at was CBR which was great - lovely theming- but I would only do that one with a car - it's very big and too many bus stops for my liking. POFQ sounds lovely though

 

[markkelly]

Thanks everyone who has taken the time to reply.....

just to chip in on this point...

Honestly the qsdp is NOT just fast food. You can eat so many different things. It really isn't like Mcdonalds

Take a look at the menu's and you'll see the variety.

Great - Great I'm a fan of the US way of doing food - so much better at it than us so I was hoping the QS would still be good - great to hear directly from those in the know.

Another plus for staying on site is the transportation system. I'm a nervous driver so having the buses was so handy for us.

Thats another decision I need to make - I am sure I wont mind driving - I dont want to be handing around waitning for buses and not being able to get on etc *** it is so busy but sounds like a few of the onsite parks could be doable without a car ( or perhaps I just need one and not use it much)

Given that the OP has to children under 10, if character meals are on the cards, then I think it is worth paying for it. The kids DDP's are very cheap compared to the adult ones and I say go for it while you can. There is an upcharge on the regular DDP during peak seasons, including Easter but I think it may still be less than actually paying OOP and paying it in the actual restaurant so a little research here may pay off.

regarding the Deluxe, there is no way I would fork out that extra money for it. You willl be running yourself around ADR's on average twice a day and when you pay for dining, you DO feel compelled to use all your credits far more than when you get it 'free' so yes, I think you have made a wise choice regarding Deluxe, OP

I think it might be nice to do some character meals while they are at that age so yes I am leaning that way. A couple of the acronyms have got me here...OOP? and ADRs?

OP. I think with young children like you have and planning a mainly WDW holiday, that staying on site has definite advantages. The ability to easily take midday naps is the main one. Morning EMH (if you can get up for them) are a big plus. Yes, those parks get mobbed as the day goes on, but if you're leaving them early afternoon anyway for a rest then what you get out of that first hour is worth is. Especially if you use a good touring plan. I recommend those at www.touringplans.com (linked to Unofficial Guide to WDW book).

In your situation I would book a moderate hotel. My favourite moderate is Port Orleans Riverside. But when our kids were younger like yours our favourite was Port Orleans French Quarter, because it is the smallest moderate by far so less walking. That matters a lot with little ones on a Disney holiday. It also only has one bus stop and you can pretty much always sit down on the bus. If the bus shares with POR, you get to board it first. Also important with small children.

When our children were younger we also found that booking our one TS a day foe lunch in the park we started the day in worked best. It does limit your choices but involves less toing and froing which is again important with little ones in tow. It means you can play your evening according to how the children are as opposed to how you want them to be based on a plan you made 6 months ago! Nowadays we love our TS meal in the evening and will travel 'the world' to our restaurant of choice. But that works because the children are teenagers now.

Great tips on choice of hotel...actually been close enough to have a rest in the day would be excellent.

Your dates will have you at WDW during a very busy period so I would definitely recommend an on-site stay if possible.

The last time we did the Easter holiday period (2012) the parks were mobbed and queues extremely long. Good use of morning EMH and rope drops meant we still managed to do everything we wanted in the parks and have lovely relaxing afternoons by the pool.

Unfortunately my wife is a teacher so we are totally constrained by the holidays....I am a little wary about it being so busy that it spoils it...but I figured we got to give it a go and doing all the things that can help like onsite and EMH etc hopefully will ensure we still have a great time.


Thanks again all

 

[queendisney]

I think it might be nice to do some character meals while they are at that age so yes I am leaning that way. A couple of the acronyms have got me here...OOP? and ADRs?

OOP is out of pocket

ADRs is Advance Dining Reservation's

 

[VailaTigger]

Easter is busy, but perfectly do-able if you can manage to get up early, hit the parks (and the big crowd-pulling rides) first, and then when it gets busy, head back to your resort for some pool time, or do something else in the parks which doesn't pull in the crowds.

We did Easter as a family in 2010, my first time at that time of year.

The boys were 8 and 12 at the time, all the 8 year old wanted to do was play in the pool (and the biggest fastest rides), and the 12 year old loved the restaurants and different foods.

Plan in some water park days, the kids will adore that, but again go for opening and expect some busyness.

To be honest, the crowds weren't nearly as bad as I thought they were going to be...

Staying on site does mean that you are closer to your resort if you need some 'down time' sleeping or in the pool in the afternoons.

Yes, we did end up waiting for buses, but they are frequent, and we like them! Part of the holiday for us. We also like using the monorail and boats when we can.

Hope that helps...