"Bonus" day: ASM or off-site?

[TikiWiki33]

We just booked airfare for our multi-family trip next year. Turns out its MUCH cheaper for us all to fly out Monday instead of Sunday. Now we have this "bonus" day at the end of our trip, but adding a night to our current resort (Poly DVC rental) is $$$. Do we:
1) grab a hotwire deal near the airport and store our luggage at Poly bell services while we hit MK one last time?
2) Move to a value (ASM) while we go to MK?

More info: 4 families, ages ranging from 67 to 2. Two families fly out Monday morning, two fly out Monday afternoon. Mostly worried about my parents getting a comfortable, quiet room at the end of a busy vacation.

 

[jimmymc]

Depending on the price, I really like the All Stars as transportation day hotels. Disney moves the bags, the food courts have what you need for dinner and breakfast, and the rooms are clean and simple.

 

[Miffy]

But the rooms at the All Stars may not be quiet. Just warning you.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

We just booked airfare for our multi-family trip next year. Turns out its MUCH cheaper for us all to fly out Monday instead of Sunday. Now we have this "bonus" day at the end of our trip, but adding a night to our current resort (Poly DVC rental) is $$$. Do we:
1) grab a hotwire deal near the airport and store our luggage at Poly bell services while we hit MK one last time?
2) Move to a value (ASM) while we go to MK?

More info: 4 families, ages ranging from 67 to 2. Two families fly out Monday morning, two fly out Monday afternoon. Mostly worried about my parents getting a comfortable, quiet room at the end of a busy vacation.

Oof, leaving poly for a value to end your trip, that would be a hard no for me. Can you tack on ASM or another resort for the 1st night's stay and then push your Poly check in day back to keep your cost down? I'm guessing not given it's a rental?? It also doesn't make a ton of sense to leave a MK resort you're already at for your MK day. It's only one night so it's not the end of the world but an FYI, the exterior corridors and rooms at ASM can be loud, but like anything, it always just depends on your neighbors. Sometimes, not all the time, priceline will also have value disney resort rooms on there so check that out. If you are going to tack on an extra night's stay at the end of the trip, I'd definitely stick with a disney resort over an airport hotel.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

My answer would depend on whether or not the four families will have rental cars or relying on Disney transportation.

If no rental cars, I would stay on property or at a Disney Springs hotel. With a rental car, I would probably stay closer to the airport.

 

[TikiWiki33]

Oof, leaving poly for a value to end your trip, that would be a hard no for me. Can you tack on ASM or another resort for the 1st night's stay and then push your Poly check in day back to keep your cost down? I'm guessing not given it's a rental?? It also doesn't make a ton of sense to leave a MK resort you're already at for your MK day. It's only one night so it's not the end of the world but an FYI, the exterior corridors and rooms at ASM can be loud, but like anything, it always just depends on your neighbors. Sometimes, not all the time, priceline will also have value disney resort rooms on there so check that out. If you are going to tack on an extra night's stay at the end of the trip, I'd definitely stick with a disney resort over an airport hotel.

Yeah, the transition is going to be rough! Unfortunately moving the dates isn't an option. Maybe when the discounts for our time-frame come out a moderate will be in-budget.

 

[TikiWiki33]

My answer would depend on whether or not the four families will have rental cars or relying on Disney transportation.

If no rental cars, I would stay on property or at a Disney Springs hotel. With a rental car, I would probably stay closer to the airport.

No rentals. I was secretly hoping to stay in property one more night so thanks for that advice, lol!

 

[TikiWiki33]

But the rooms at the All Stars may not be quiet. Just warning you.

That's what I'm worried about. We specifically chose ASM to avoid dance groups staying at Sports and Music that weekend, but it's always a gamble...

 

[robinb]

For me, it depends on exactly how early the Monday flights are for 2 of the families. If you're taking Mears, you'll have to be ready to get on the Sad Bus 3 1/2 hours before flight time. That could be at the butt crack of dawn. In that case, I would much rather be already near the airport and get some more shut eye and hop on the hotel shuttle.

I do have to ask, if you're at the Poly and eligible for Extra Evening Hours (EEH) then why aren't you doing Epcot at night? The lines are super short at EEH. Sorry, was reminded EEH is on Monday night and not Sunday.

 

[Miffy]

That's what I'm worried about. We specifically chose ASM to avoid dance groups staying at Sports and Music that weekend, but it's always a gamble...

The only time I ever stayed at an All Stars, the noise was not from noisy groups. It was from the people next door. I could hear every single word they were saying and everything they were doing, and they were not yelling. Also quite loud was the sound of rolling luggage outside the door.

I think it must've been a room with a connecting door inside, but I don't recall seeing it. Five nights of no sleep convinced me never to stay at an All Stars again. It was only afterward that I came up with the brilliant idea of asking to move to a different resort!

 

[Skippyboo]

For me, it depends on exactly how early the Monday flights are for 2 of the families. If you're taking Mears, you'll have to be ready to get on the Sad Bus 3 1/2 hours before flight time. That could be at the butt crack of dawn. In that case, I would much rather be already near the airport and get some more shut eye and hop on the hotel shuttle.

I do have to ask, if you're at the Poly and eligible for Extra Evening Hours (EEH) then why aren't you doing Epcot at night? The lines are super short at EEH.

I think OP checks out on Sunday from Poly so hotel is for Sunday night with them flying on Monday so no Extended Hours.

 

[robinb]

I think OP checks out on Sunday from Poly so hotel is for Sunday night with them flying on Monday so no Extended Hours.

Oh shoot, you're right. I was thinking that EEH was on Sunday not Monday. Never mind!

 

[danceintherain]

What time are the flights?
If they're before noon, then I'd probably go with closer to the airport. If they're after noon, then I'd lean towards sticking with Disney.

 

[TikiWiki33]

What time are the flights?
If they're before noon, then I'd probably go with closer to the airport. If they're after noon, then I'd lean towards sticking with Disney.

2 are early (8am), 2 are later (3pm). I'm kind of wondering if we should split and have the early families stay close to the airport.

 

[TikiWiki33]

For me, it depends on exactly how early the Monday flights are for 2 of the families. If you're taking Mears, you'll have to be ready to get on the Sad Bus 3 1/2 hours before flight time. That could be at the butt crack of dawn. In that case, I would much rather be already near the airport and get some more shut eye and hop on the hotel shuttle.

I do have to ask, if you're at the Poly and eligible for Extra Evening Hours (EEH) then why aren't you doing Epcot at night? The lines are super short at EEH. Sorry, was reminded EEH is on Monday night and not Sunday.

True. We haven't decided on ground transportation yet, but even with a 8am flight and an uber, you'd have to leave Disney at...5am? That's going to feel extra early after a week at Disney.

 

[Skippyboo]

I would have the 8 am people stay at airport area and 3 pm family stay onsite unless they are okay killing time at MCO when they loose their hotel at 11 am check out. More options for time killing at WDW

 

[Miffy]

2 are early (8am), 2 are later (3pm). I'm kind of wondering if we should split and have the early families stay close to the airport.

The early-leaving families should indeed stay close to the airport, if not at the airport. The MCO hotel is not a bad deal and it's right there.

As for the 3 pm families--they are going to have to leave for the airport by 1 pm at the latest, which means they're going to have to leave MK by noon at the absolute latest and probably more like 11 am. So . . . EE, no breakfast at the hotel, getting up extra early to pack and put bags with bell services . . .

I guess what I'm thinking is--Is this worth it? If you were still at the Poly, it'd be easy, since MK would be 2 monorail stops away. But if you're staying anywhere else, it's going to take some time to get to MK.

I rarely go to a park on getaway day myself. Instead, I have a leisurely morning (after a week of getting up at the crack of dawn so I can maximize every day), pack, have breakfast, check out, leave my stuff with bell services, and maybe go to DS. In fact, staying at a DS hotel might not be a bad idea for your 3 pm-leaving people. Just something to consider.

But I do understand if there are people in your travel party who want just a little more time at MK. I totally get that. I wish I were there right now!

 

[TikiWiki33]

Sorry, I should have clarified! The MK day is Sunday, and the flights are Monday. Even then, the early families will probably end up leaving the park before dinner to get to bed early enough!

 

[robinb]

True. We haven't decided on ground transportation yet, but even with a 8am flight and an uber, you'd have to leave Disney at...5am? That's going to feel extra early after a week at Disney.

You will need to be at the airport and have your bags checked at least 45 minutes before flight time. There is usually a line to do this and it can take time. According to this: https://www.tsawaittimes.com/security-wait-times/MCO/Orlando-International TSA wait times are about 23 minutes between 6-7am. Your boarding time is earlier than your flight time and if you are not on board by 15 prior to flight time that can give away your seat.

To figure out when to leave, you'll need to work back from your boarding time. Boarding times are 30-50 minutes before flight times. Let's assume they are boarding at 7:10 (worst case scenario). You'll need at least 15 minutes after TSA to take the tram and get to your gate. So, 6:55 am leaving TSA. TSA takes about 25 minutes then (YMMV). So, entering TSA at 6:30 am. If you have bags to check, the line can take a while too. I would estimate about 25 minutes. So, you're entering the bag check line at 6:05 am. It takes about 30-35 minutes to get to MCO from WDW, so leave at 5:25 am. Leave earlier to add more wiggle room. If you board at 7:30, you can leave a little later.

 

[Miffy]

Sorry, I should have clarified! The MK day is Sunday, and the flights are Monday. Even then, the early families will probably end up leaving the park before dinner to get to bed early enough!

Ah. Now I understand.