Any super budget motels better or cheaper in this price range???

[kileybeth]

You would lose the option of bed choice and knowing that you'll get a room with at least 2 doubles and a sofabed if you choose a blind bidding site like Hotwire or Priceline. I really don't see how you can find a room for less than $26/nt.

And to all those jumping down the OP's throat, geez, give him a break. He notes that the place isn't that great, but still wants to take his family to Disney. Doesn't mean he cares any less for his family than any of the rest of us.

Thank you for coming to OP's defense. Some people will never understand what it means to have a lot of children and a regular paying job.

many a year we have had to stay sub-par and only recently are we able to do a bit better but I promise you those really were some of the best years of our and our kids lives.

Mom of 6

 

[rvchat]

Thank you for coming to OP's defense. Some people will never understand what it means to have a lot of children and a regular paying job.

many a year we have had to stay sub-par and only recently are we able to do a bit better but I promise you those really were some of the best years of our and our kids lives.

Mom of 6

I agree. How was that helpful?

 

[Sarah_Rose]

OP, there are some other hotels in that price range but none that I know of that offer the pull-out sofa in addition to the bedding. For a "maybe" super-budget weekend trip I was looking at a HoJo on 192 near Sherbeth Road, which is much closer to the parks so it should be a shorter shuttle ride, but their rooms are standard two doubles. I don't recall seeing much in the <$50 price range that had the additional sleeping space.

We stayed there about 6 years ago.... we were 3 grad students on a last minute road trip, so super budget definitely fit our criteria. We got a $20 a night coupon at the Florida Welcome Center on the drive down, and IIRC, it was regularly $30-$40 a night (again, this was 6 years ago) during an off week in February.

It could have changed a lot since then, but we would have classified it as clean and adequate, but seemed just a little bit sketchy. There isn't much on that stretch of 192 between the Hojo and the parks.... mostly sketchy looking shops selling knock off Disney souvenirs. We had a car and were driving to the parks, so it was fine for us, but I wouldn't have wanted to rely on a shuttle bus.

All that said, we've done several Disney trips since then (WL, AKV Kidani, CSR, Disneyland Resort Paris, and two Disneyland trips) but my DH would definitely classify our "budget" road trip as the most fun of all of them. Just because you're not spending a lot of money doesn't mean you're not having fun!

 

[Judique]

Since you went last year, are you also planning to go next year?

I am addressing the parking fee at the parks.

Get one annual pass and it includes parking.

Stagger your visits so the pass pays for 2 trips of entry and 2 trips of parking.

And, thanks to your post, I am off to check out Sky Auction.

I don't know anything about your hotel choice, but good luck with finding what you need.

 

[jason586]

Of the people who added something worthwhile to the thread, thank you.
I definitely know what I'm getting into which was mentioned, and we never miss shuttles. I wanted to try and find something better in the same price range if possible which is why I asked. One good thing (if you can call it that) about one fixed shuttle time is there is no arguing about when we are going to get to and leave the park, it is already determined. We are disciplined and always prepared enough to make it work for us. We had no issues with 10 days on the shuttles in 2010, but as I mentioned it was longer than we would like to be on a shuttle.

There were several things mentioned that I did not know about and am definitely going to look into further:

1) I did not know about skyauction.com and the condo for a week deals that can be had. This looks very promising.
2) I did not realize Hotwire had an option to add "suite" and then to watch for the "breakfast" icon.
3) Hotwire search for Disney Main Gate - Celebration area hotel will bring up a $31 (3 star) motel for your dates which is the Baymont.
4) I did not think about getting an annual pass, and staggering the trips as we do plan on going every year. I will have to compare the pricing as that may definitely work for us for 2013 and 2014, but it will not work this year as I already bought our tickets which was great deal. I got 4 x 8 day tickets for $546.20 ($746.20 - $200.00) as our oldest is going to a YES program, and I picked up a new credit card that gives $200 statement credit with $500 purchase in the first 90 days. 2 youngest children are under 3, and we do not keep balances on credit cards - thus no interest.

 

[jason586]

...

 

[Arabelle]

Sky auction deals vary. don't worry about only getting wyndom. We've stayed all over the place and the only stayed in one we wouldn't stay in again.

The baymont was very nice. Not 4 star nice, but nice, and probably has a better breakfast.

 

[jason586]

I just went to skyauction.com for the first time and only saw 16 choices, unless I was not looking in the right place. I'm looking to book something right now if I can find some of the deals mentioned (I read about several $1+$199+$20 fee = 7 nights) . I must be missing or overlooking something.

1) Is there a deal now that I'm not seeing for somewhere between Feb 06 and Feb 15?
2) Are the 7 Night Resort Certificates that I read about elsewhere still for sale as I can not find them either?
3) I do not see a mention of a free shuttle from the condos to Disney Parks on any of the skyauction details - do all of the skyauction condos have the free shuttle to Disney and it's just a given?

 

[DawnM]

If you PM me your email address I can forward you my write up on how to navigate SkyAuction.com

I am looking too and it does appear that your dates have very little available. I had heard there were fewer options than before. I wonder why?

I do not think any of the condos have free shuttles from the airport, but I have never had to use that, so I really can't say.

Dawn

 

[HeatherC]

If you have a car, try Regal Palms Resort....3 or 4 bed townhouses for a very affordable price. You can rent from owners on homeaway.com and pay about $400-450.

Another option is govarm.com or getravelop.com...like SkyAuction but for anyone who works for govt...teachers, town, local, state or federal. About $300 a week.

I would also suggest vrbo.com and emailing owners to see what they will give you for deal. Many would rather rent for something than have their homes sit empty.

Hope this helps!

 

[Arabelle]

Regal palms was way far away. And had the hardest beds ever. Not supportive hard, but cheaP mattress hard. Nice pool.

 

[marie1203]

I would also encourage you to check out skyauction.com. But I would add one caveat, only do Wyndham Bonnet Creek. Last feb we got a 2bd condo for $468 for the whole week. In Dec, we got a 1bd for $350 for the whole week. Their busses are the best off-site busses, they run every 20-30 minutes, and it is only about a 10 minute ride to most parks. I have read about more violence and theft in the motels in the area you have mentioned lately. Bonnet Creek also has some incredible pools and activities. That is the only place I will stay off-site. Enjoy your trip and be safe!

Bonnet creek is on Disney property. I think what you were trying to say it is not own by Disney .

OP I would check hot-wire and try bidding in priceline before you book. I worked in hospitality industry way to many years to consider such budget hotel. Also check ebay they offer condos in Orlando too. Good luck.

 

[jason586]

I did some reading on the "We Love Bonnet Creek" thread, so this sounds pretty good. 2 children are under 3 and each would sleep in a pack-n-play, so we could make a 1 bedroom work if needed (3 of our girls share a room at home now anyway).

1) Are these rates possible now and where would I find/bid on them???
2) I like what you are saying about the buses. Is this a free bus service?
3) Any other places that have great off-site buses similar to this if WBC is not an option for our dates?

I would also encourage you to check out skyauction.com. But I would add one caveat, only do Wyndham Bonnet Creek. Last feb we got a 2bd condo for $468 for the whole week. In Dec, we got a 1bd for $350 for the whole week. Their busses are the best off-site busses, they run every 20-30 minutes, and it is only about a 10 minute ride to most parks. I have read about more violence and theft in the motels in the area you have mentioned lately. Bonnet Creek also has some incredible pools and activities. That is the only place I will stay off-site. Enjoy your trip and be safe!

 

[seashoreCM]

The Bonnet Creek resorts are actually not on Disney property. This was a piece of land whose owner wanted too much money for when Walt came scouting around bac in the 1960's to build WDW.

Meanwhile the Swan and Dolphin are on land leased from Disney.

I have often stayed at a Motel 6 on 192 about a half mile west of Main Gate (World Drive). The rate was something like $25. a night for a consecutive week stay.

 

[michelle06]

May I ask how you found out about this hotel? I've done various searches and have never come up with anything this cheap. If you have a website that you search for hotels, would you mind sharing it?

I always look for ways to save and budget. I've never seen anything this cheap, so I can't offer a cheaper alternative. In fact, I can't imagine a cheaper alternative for that price and breakfast! And for a shuttle to boot.

We needed a hotel at either end of our last trip and I was able to find what I thought was a great deal for $47 and an awesome breakfast. Don't know about shuttle as we drove ourselves. It turned out to be a fine hotel and will stay there again if needed.

 

[Colleen27]

We stayed there about 6 years ago.... we were 3 grad students on a last minute road trip, so super budget definitely fit our criteria. We got a $20 a night coupon at the Florida Welcome Center on the drive down, and IIRC, it was regularly $30-$40 a night (again, this was 6 years ago) during an off week in February.

It could have changed a lot since then, but we would have classified it as clean and adequate, but seemed just a little bit sketchy. There isn't much on that stretch of 192 between the Hojo and the parks.... mostly sketchy looking shops selling knock off Disney souvenirs. We had a car and were driving to the parks, so it was fine for us, but I wouldn't have wanted to rely on a shuttle bus.

All that said, we've done several Disney trips since then (WL, AKV Kidani, CSR, Disneyland Resort Paris, and two Disneyland trips) but my DH would definitely classify our "budget" road trip as the most fun of all of them. Just because you're not spending a lot of money doesn't mean you're not having fun!

Thanks. "A little sketchy" I can do. Heck, I'm a Detroiter by birth and a lot of places I love would probably be considered more than a little sketchy by most. Some of the discounters have that HoJo for <$30/night for Memorial Day weekend, which is when we're thinking about going.

I think I've decided to stick with on-site, though, simply because it is going to be a very short trip (2-3 nights) so the savings of a super-cheap offsite rate are seriously reduced by the cost of airport transportation. After paying for a cab or shuttle from the airport we'd only be saving ~$100, give or take a few bucks depending on if we took a cab or shared-ride shuttle. For such a short trip that's a small price to pay for the better efficiency of Disney transportation, not to mention the option of EMH to extend our park time on our few park days. And with an evening EMH at the MK on my birthday, well, how do you put a price on that?

 

[jason586]

If you were asking me, here you go:
http://travelb.priceline.com/hotel/...c201201211823375d8021602264&plf=PCLN&static=Y

The last two reviews were very positive, but there are many negatives as well. One bonus during the "winter" months with budget motels/hotels is that we do not have the A/C and bug issues like summer guests have.
Another bonus that we noticed last time we stayed there was that there were no lines for the free breakfast when it opened (7:00am) as with other motels I read about, probably since it was only a basic breakfast and lower occupancy during off-peak season. I called, and they added doughnuts + bagels with cream cheese along with cereal and toast for breakfast, so that is another small bonus.
Also, the price is now lower - down to $23.46/night with only $27.24 taxes/fees (+ $18 "resort/hotel" fee at check-in) which now makes it only $256.38 grand total for 9 nights at kayak.com.

Currently, I am searching for a 7 night deal for W. Bonnet Creek or something at skyauction for around $199+$20.

May I ask how you found out about this hotel? I've done various searches and have never come up with anything this cheap. If you have a website that you search for hotels, would you mind sharing it?

I always look for ways to save and budget. I've never seen anything this cheap, so I can't offer a cheaper alternative. In fact, I can't imagine a cheaper alternative for that price and breakfast! And for a shuttle to boot.

We needed a hotel at either end of our last trip and I was able to find what I thought was a great deal for $47 and an awesome breakfast. Don't know about shuttle as we drove ourselves. It turned out to be a fine hotel and will stay there again if needed.

 

[Arabelle]

My best.bonnet.creek deal was from eBay a couple of years ago.

 

[jason586]

I just got off the phone with vacationstrategy.com and $850ish was about the best they would do for 9 nights at WBC during our dates, so that is not going to work.

Still looking........