CBR vs FREE Offsite Accommodations

[mjaclyn]

DH and I have already made our reservations for a 7 day, 6 night trip to WDW at CBR. We've signed up for the DDP and have already paid for everything in full (I guess you have to do that when you book an AP Holder package with dining). Today, my Aunt & Uncle who will also be at WDW during that same week said they are using their timeshare points at the Hilton Club to get a 3 bedroom suite at Hilton Grand Vacations Resort near Sea World. They will be staying 3 nights, but have offered to book the additional 3 nights if we want to cancel our current reservation and stay with them. They're offering to do this for free, so it's a HUGE temptation. Here are my reservations:

1. Staying in a Disney hotel on site is VERY convenient. We have two small children (ages 1 and 3), so we will be returning to the hotel at least once per day for naps, swimming, etc. and plan to head back to the park after a couple of 'down time' hours. Staying 15 minutes away from WDW it will be more of a hassle to do that.

2. No Extra Magic Hours.

3. No Airline Check-In at the hotel. This is SO useful for us not to have to drag all of our luggage through Orlando Airport on top of a double stroller, car seats, kids, bags, etc.

4. No Dining Plan. We've used it before, and it does save us 30% to 40% every time. We like to dine at WDW and frequent all of the TS restaurants while we're there. If we're not on the DDP, we'll have to do more QS and when we DO eat at a TS, probably share meals and skip dessert.

5. No CBR...I haven't stayed there since 1988 and was really looking forward to going back. Especially after the recent review from the DIS Unplugged and the newly themed pirate pool.

6. Since we booked an AP 'package' it will be a $100 cancellation fee if we decide to go ahead and cancel. If we wait until Friday it will be a $200 fee since it's within the 14 day period...so we have to decide fast.

The Pluses:
1. It's FREE!! We'd be saving about $700 which is a big chunk of money. Of course, we WILL also be spending more on food without the DDP so our savings will probably end up being a little less than that.

2. We're already renting a car and will be driving to all of the parks regardless of where we stay. So, missing WDW transportation isn't a big deal.

What do you think? Has anyone ever stayed at the Hilton Grand Vacation Resort near Sea World? Do you think it's better to save money and take the free resort stay?

 

[dfarner]

That's a tempting offer, but I would keep your Disney reservation.

You said you'd save about $700, but minus the $100 (or $200) cancellation fee your down to $500-$600 savings. Then you should figure in parking. I believe it's $10-$12/day, so your savings goes down by another $60-$80(ish), depending on how many days you go to the parks.

The onsite magic of Disney is unexplainable, and I think you'll (and your little ones) love that new pool at CBR. It looks fabulous! Then of course you mentioned going back and forth to your resort for a nap/break. IMHO, the convenience of being onsite with two little ones, the EMH, and the onsite magic outweighs the savings. Of course nobody knows your pocketbook better than you, but my opinion would be CBR!!!!!!!!!

 

[Little Lulu]

I've taken a tour of that place and really wasn't impressed.
I agree with the PP. Keep your Disney reservation and have a wonderful trip.
Thank the in-laws for their thoughtful offer, but you already have a package deal.

Believe me, you'll be muuuch happier at the CBR!

 

[greenmyvalley]

I would stay off-site and put the money toward enjoying stress-free meals and a future trip. You really can't beat free. You can always come back to CBR!

 

[Little Lulu]

I would stay off-site and put the money toward enjoying stress-free meals and a future trip. You really can't beat free. You can always come back to CBR!

They've already paid for the DDP.
Why would they have stress?

Actually, they'd have more stress lugging all that stuff in the airport vs. the quick checkin at the resorts and the drive time from the Grand Vacations to WDW can be a crapshoot.

 

[Disney grandma]

I think I would stay off site, you probably won't use the EMH with the ages of your children. It is a very easy drive to the parks and you will have access to a kitchen and laundry which would be nice. Also with the ages of your children, the dining plan might not be a good idea. Getting little ones to all of the ADR could be a hassel. If you are renting a car anyway you will have it to go to and from the airport. I'm sure you would have more room at the Hilton but then again maybe you wouldn't want to be with extended family all the time, in that case, keep your CBR reservation and meet up with them a couple times for meals.

 

[Disney grandma]

Just reread and noticed that your aunt and uncle will only be there 3 nights, so you would have the additional 3 nights on your own in a 3 bedroom condo, that might be very nice!

 

[Sue M]

Hard choice! I think if you stay off site, you prob won't bother going back to parks after nap time.

 

[kathy884]

If you enjoy being with extended family, I'd do the condo. I'd also consider doing two days at Sea World if you are staying there (second day within seven is free, so you could do your first day there and come back five days later) and Sea World is such a terriffic park for little one (all ages). You are sooo close to the Sea World park -- so easy to get back for naps from there. I love the space, laundry, and kitchen for breakfast and snacks when traveling with little ones especially. For more than three nights with kids, I much prefer a condo and am willing to do a little driving for that.

 

[JJsmama]

I would stay off-site and put the money toward enjoying stress-free meals and a future trip. You really can't beat free. You can always come back to CBR!

I agree. Can't beat FREE and I would just save the 'money saved' for the next trip. Off site, you won't eat 3x day at WDW anyway, so your food at WDW won't be that expensive.

Eating out is over-rated, if you ask me. I've got three kids and due to our current over seas situation, we travel a LOT, at least 4 different week long holidays a year. Even when we are at 5 Star resorts, having to go out to eat 3x day plus snacks is a hassle. Now, I try and book villas with kitchens for breakfast at least and we do room service dinner or pizza in the rooms 1-2 nights too. The kids are worn completely out and it is a pain to always have them sitting still in their high chair, especially near bed time.

Take your aunt up on the offer this year, do a more budget-friendly trip and next year, when the kids are a bit older, go again and stay onsite.

 

[MMrules]

I would stay at CBR b/c of convience with 2 small children. Naps are great to go back to the hotel, the kiddie pool is fantastic for the kids to cool off from the heat. Disney's magical express is wonderful with small kids in tow, and being able to take the disney buses instead of driving to the parks is so much easier.

 

[PinkRhombus]

Your time and effort have a "worth", too.

My kids have the same age difference as yours...we waited until the youngest was 3 to go for the first time because of the complications of dealing with a baby. Please understand I'm not knocking you. Just saying I understand what you're going to be dealing with.

Therefore I can pretty much guarantee you that it's going to be well worth that few hundred dollars to stay onsite.

 

[shalom]

Eating out is over-rated, if you ask me. I've got three kids and due to our current over seas situation, we travel a LOT, at least 4 different week long holidays a year. Even when we are at 5 Star resorts, having to go out to eat 3x day plus snacks is a hassle. Now, I try and book villas with kitchens for breakfast at least and we do room service dinner or pizza in the rooms 1-2 nights too. The kids are worn completely out and it is a pain to always have them sitting still in their high chair, especially near bed time.

My first impulse was to stay with CBR. You've already gone through most of the hassle of setting it up and all, it's going to cost you to change it, and you know you like it there. You have to figure in the cost of parking and not having the dining plan, so the financial difference may end up not being that great. In which case it's mostly about, "Do I want to stay in the same place as my relatives or not?" OTOH, JJsmama makes some good points about the convenience of a condo. For me, a lot of it would be whether the hassle of eating out equals the hassle of having to deal with your own luggage and the like.

 

[FINFAN]

I would keep my onsite ressies and ADD the 3 nights at the condo, lol...seriously, I would!
If adding is not an option I would still stay onsite. Your posts sounds like you would really rather do that anyway

 

[mickeystoontown]

Having stayed both offsite (not at the same place you are referring to though) and at the CBR, I'd say stay with the CBR. The convenience is well worth any cost you might save by staying with relative. I know that free is free but, after figuring in all of your extra costs, it may not be so free after all.

 

[mjaclyn]

UPDATE: So, we've decided to stick with CBR. I was VERY tempted by the free three bedroom at the Hilton but we realized that it would be much more convenient to be on property with two young children. The only available three bedroom was at the Hilton across the street from Seaworld, which I believe is about 20 minutes away from WDW. Nearly every day we head back to the room at some point to nap, swim, change, etc and just the thought of navigating our way outside of Disney property after packing up, riding trams...it makes me tired just to think about it. We also save a lot of money on the DDP because we love to eat at the Disney restaurants. I was also really looking forward to getting some extra time in the parks during EMH...and we couldn't do that if we stayed off site. I think what made me decide for sure was the airline check-in at the hotel. It saves us SO much time and hassle not having to stand in long lines at the airport to check in, besides dragging luggage, carry-ons, diaper bags, double stroller and kids. Also, as was discussed in a few of the replies it wouldn't really be 'free' after spending money on food off of the DDP, plus the cancellation fee we would have had to pay. In any case, we are SO excited about our upcoming trip. I can't wait to get into MK and skip down Main Street with my 3 year old! (ears and all)