cheapskate

[anita22]

I need some experience here. We are trying to get our annual disneyworld trip in but the money is tighter than normal this year, the problem is I would really like to stay in fort wilderness lodge or cornondo springs for a first this year but....I have 3 children 9,14,17. too many people for these rooms. We are not sure untill the last min. if our 17 year old can get off his new job to go with us or not and hate to book the more expensive room for 5. How strict or watchful is disney if he came with us to the above resorts at the last min.??????


anita22
contem. 02
poly 99
ft wild cab 98
port orleans 97
offsite 96
offsite 95

 

[Namdnas]

I have an idea you might want to try. It doesn't help with Coronado Springs, but it might work for Wilderness Lodge.

You could stay at a 1-bedroom vacation home at the Villas at Wilderness Lodge. They are part of the Disney Vacation Club, or DVC, which is Disney's on-site time share program. The system is based on points which can be 'spent' on a vacation. Variables that influence point 'cost' per night are which resort (DVC property, normal Disney resort, or affiliate timeshare location off-property). People buy a set number of points which they can use each year on the vacation of their choice. After the initial purchase, you pay maintenance fees on points per year. One important point about points (no pun intended), weekends at DVC resorts are MUCH more expensive (point cost) than the weekdays. That said, many DVC owners and renters go from Sunday through Thursday, doing 5 day trips.

The thing is, some people don't use all their points each year for various reasons. So that they don't lose out on the investment, they often 'rent' these points out on the DVC Rent/Trade Boards on these Disboards. You can sometime find a deal when someone is eager to get rid of points, or they're about to expire on them. If not, the going rate is currently $10/point.

A one bedroom villa is much larger (and I think nicer) than a std. room at a moderate priced Disney resort, with a full kitchen and living room. All utensils are there, and you can easily cook in one of these units. In a nutshell, they're like night and day to a normal room. They also include a pull out couch in the living room, so having 3 children is not a 'squeeze' like it might be in a normal room. You can also do laundry right in your room, as there is a washer and dryer. The one downside, if you call it that, is that you only get housekeeping once every four days.

If you go in the low season which is all of January, all of September, and the first two weeks of December, a 1 bedroom villa at Wilderness Lodge will cost 22 points per night from Sunday through Thursday, and 45 night (see what I mean) on Friday and Saturday.

What this means is that a Sunday through Thursday stay at this one bedroom in the low season would cost 22x5=110 points. At $10/point, you could 'rent' and pay some DVC member to make the reservation for you (involves some trust) for $1100.

The rack rates (cash rates) for Wilderness Lodge can be found here . When you add 11.5% tax, a standard small room comes out to $1109.43, and a Lodge Deluxe sized room, which might be closer to the 1 bedroom villla, comes out to $2062.75 for the five days. When you rent points, you dont pay any tax.

We rented this May, without knowing what DVC was, since the deal was so good ($1650 renting vs. $3350 rack) and were amazed at how superior the DVC units were (we were in a 2 bedroom villa). They are Disney, just more 'home' oriented, than 'hotel' oriented. We were so impressed, we bought in. That's not what I'm trying to suggest, just that you might be able to save some money, and be more comforable, right in Disney, without having to be cramped if your son can make it.

If you want to go some other time, check the point charts for Wilderness lodge here.

Good luck, I hope you have a great trip!

 

[vhoffman]

To Anita22,

Try the Raddisson. They're having a special for $69 per night for one room, then 50% off for the connecting room. You can find this special at Mousesavers.com. I believe they advertise it on this board too, by Dreams Unlimited. Don't know how long the offer is good for. Also, i believe you can cancel within 48 hours.

 

[vhoffman]

Just checked Mousesavers. The special at Raddisson Resort is good until Dec. 20, 2003. Use Mousesavers code B150. Sounds like this will work for you--good luck!

 

[ducklite]

A one bedroom usnit at a DVC resort won't help the poster. The max occupancy is still only 4 people.

Anne

 

[disneysteve]

I've never seen the rooms at Coronado, but I have seen the Wilderness Lodge and I don't see how you could possibly put 5 people in there.

Personally, I think any regular hotel onsite is out if there are 5 of you (I wouldn't do it with 4 either, myself). DVC is an option, I suppose, though a pricey one.

If money is tight, as you say it is, you get far more space for your money offsite. You don't mention when you are going, but depending on season, you can get a 2-bedroom condo for as little as $55/nite and a 3-bedroom for under $70/nite. You could also rent a 3 or more bedroom pool home starting at about $100/nite. Check http://www.vrbo.com and http://www.windsor-palms-resort.com/

Steve

 

[ducklite]

You might want to consider a deluxe room at the AKL. You can request bunkbeds. That would give you a queen, bunks, and a day bed.

Also there's Alligator Bayou at the POR. Your youngest would be able to sleep comfortably in the trundle. That would likely be the least expensive option for you.

And there's always a Fort Wilderness home. Located right next to WL, they sleep six, so you'd have more than enough room, not to metion a full kitchen. You could eat some meals in to offset the added cost of the room. If your 17YO doesn't go, you could give the kids the LR and you and your spouse can take the BR for some privacy

Anne

 

[Namdnas]

Yes, I am aware that listed occupancy for the 1 bedroom villa is only 4 people, but if you did need to fit someone in, it's much more convenient in one of these vs. in a standard room. Pull out couch, floor space, etc...
Much more space.

As for pricey, coimpared to off-site, all Disney options are relatively expensive.

 

[tink2dw]

This is a Wonderful budget place for families,the Tropical Palms Fun Resort!! With a great reputation here at the DIS!!
http://www.tropicalpalms.com/room_details.asp

 

[tonilea]

Just a thought, but you could get two rooms at an off-site hotel through Priceline. If you have never used Priceline go to www.biddingfortravel.com . It is a great resource to teach you how to get the best deal on Priceline.

Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[N.Bailey]

I agree with Anne that the FW cabins might be the way to go. You could save some money cooking some of your meals in the cabin. If you only ate breakfast in the room, it would probably be worth it for that alone.

Another option might be to rent adjoining rooms at the All Stars. This would give you 4 beds and another bathroom. I only suggest this option because you could probably get two rooms for the price of one at the resorts that you listed. The good thing about All-Stars would be that if the older son couldn't join your family, you could cancel that room (with enough notice and I'm not sure what that is. 48 hours perhaps? Someone else could answer that question if you needed to know).

If your heart is not set on staying onsite however; as others have already suggested, there are many good choices offsite.

Good luck with your decision and I hope you have a great vacation.