clean, safe, and cheap? Can it be done?

[DisneyDreamer04]

Guys,

This will be my very first attempt to stay offsite.. Everytime I do the math, to stay offsite, by the time I pay to park, resort fees, etc.... It is almost a wash compared to a moderate.

I would love to know of y'alls BEST CLEAN, cheap, and close (in that order):

We go for at least 8 days when we go, and we ALWAYS have to go during free dining promo, just because that is the biggest savings for our family.

Normally a WDW trip onsite with promo in the MOST humid time of year is about $3200..

So I am looking at trying to go in May, and pay for food, and tickets, and hotel for around that price.... Just because our family would like to go a different time in the year to see something new.

Thank you guys very much!

If this helps my budget is around $800 for hotel and fees

 

[DisneyDiana]

I book through Cheap Tickets when I have to go budget. Right now you could get a week in May at the Best Western in DTD for about $725.00. It's very nice and clean. You get the buses to the parks on a pretty good schedule and have DTD right there. My other budget go to is Clarion Lake Buena Vista.

 

[Bete]

In order to make a choice for you, you need to say the makeup of your family. This will dictate beds and so forth.

If two beds work, then I recommend Residence Inn at LBV. If you watch for a deal you will get it for the price you want, but you have to be diligent and look quite often to find a deal there. Regular price might be too high for you. You can get a AAA discount, but a deal from the resort will be better. From the past it seems they offer deals around the 60 day mark if the capacity is down at the resort.

Anyway, the resort is pretty close to Downtown Disney and it's not a bad commute to Disney. There are plenty of outside restaurants near by. The pool is okay there. The rooms are dated, but I consider the place very clean. There are very nice towels at the resort. They have laundry facilities there. If you want to save on Disney parking fees they offer a shuttle to the parks for free. We found the schedule did not suit us; so, we paid for parking. It's also inconvenient; because, they drop you off at Epcot and then you have to find your way to all other parks from there using Disney transportation. The resorts are like mini apartments. You have a full size kitchen, living room and bedroom. They offer a second bedroom accommodation but that will be more expensive. If you need the two bedroom resort room that includes two, bathrooms. The living room and bedroom(s) have their own TVs and phones.

Even if you pay a little more for this resort, you get a breakfast included that is to die for. It's the best offsite place for breakfast I have had near Disney. With a hearty breakfast we never needed more than a second meal each day. The breakfast is a hot, buffet style and the variety is great. We even brought back food to the room for later. They also serve an evening reception from 5pm to 6:30pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. This was enough for us to have dinner from the reception. It's comparable to quick service at the Disney parks. They include beer and wine at the reception, too.

With that hearty breakfast you gain time at the park; because, you don't need to do lunch. We took a break from the park and ate at the resort around 5 pm during the reception times and we still went back for the evening to Disney.

Keep in mind that with the new fastpass plus system, you may end up a second class citizen staying offsite. There is some hope before May that it may get better for advance fastpass selections, but I wouldn't count on it. This has become a downer for offsite guests lately.

 

[pinoke]

 

[crazelion]

Residence Inn on near US and IOA has clean and price good too. My kids love the free hot breakfast. Then again my kids love bacon they was in heaven that offer bacon and eggs for breakfast everyday. LOL Plus they offer fruit that can carry parks for light snack.

 

[DisneyDreamer04]

Thank you guys very much! I am not familiar with magic bands? They weren't there last visit... And I will have to check out the residence inn. Two beds work for us, as we have a 2 1/2 year old that sleeps with us. We totally agree with a bigger breakfast.

Here is my breakdown onsite $3400 with a free dining promo at a moderate(if history proves itself) 8 nights
Or $3300 offsite .. $960 for hotel no fees included $1500 tickets $$800 for food and that is under budget for our crew.... Also doesn't include parking fee if we choose to drive to parks..

Ugh

I totally agree about off site having there perks and would like to try, but it looks like it actually costs me more.

Thank you guys

 

[aubriee]

Our last three trips we've stayed in a one bedroom at Wyndham Bonnet Creek. With the queen size pullout sofa, it would sleep four people. Plus you'd have two TVs, a living room, a seperate master bedroom with a king size bed, a jacuzzi tub, a washer/dryer, and a fully equipped kitchen. I don't care to cook on vacation, but loved having the fridge full of snacks and being able to make a quick breakfast or late night snack. They also have nice grills if you like to grill, which would save on meals. We also love their pools, hot tubs, two lazy rivers, and if you have small kids they have a water playground over by the main building. Going through a third party we paid like $89.00/night in May, $74.00/night in Sept, and just $60.00/night in early Dec. We have annual passes, so parking was free, and got good deals in rental cars. Having the rental cars meant we were able to go offsite for alot of meals, which were not only better than the ones onsite, but alot cheaper. Bonnet Creek is actually inside the Disney gates, so really close to the parks (in fact closer than alot of the 'onsite resorts'). Going through a third party you can get a fully equipped one bedroom condo cheaper than a value resort, much less a moderate. For that matter in Dec the guy we rented from offered us a one bedroom for just $60.00/night or a two bedroom for just $70.00/night. With a two bedroom, you'd not only have two bedrooms (one with a king bed and one with two queens), but you'd also have two bathrooms.

 

[taraprather]

If you are going to have a car, I suggest using VRBO. We also always usually go during the free dining period, but this year, we're going in April. We are a family of 5, so staying onsite at the All Star Music, it was a little over $1200. I found a 3 bedroom home with a private pool for $400 TOTAL, and it's only 10 minutes from Disney. Savings of over $800!
We also bought our tickets on Orbitz with the ebates deal, so saved $200 there!

 

[MTW]

Our last three trips we've stayed in a one bedroom at Wyndham Bonnet Creek. With the queen size pullout sofa, it would sleep four people. Plus you'd have two TVs, a living room, a seperate master bedroom with a king size bed, a jacuzzi tub, a washer/dryer, and a fully equipped kitchen. I don't care to cook on vacation, but loved having the fridge full of snacks and being able to make a quick breakfast or late night snack. They also have nice grills if you like to grill, which would save on meals. We also love their pools, hot tubs, two lazy rivers, and if you have small kids they have a water playground over by the main building. Going through a third party we paid like $89.00/night in May, $74.00/night in Sept, and just $60.00/night in early Dec. We have annual passes, so parking was free, and got good deals in rental cars. Having the rental cars meant we were able to go offsite for alot of meals, which were not only better than the ones onsite, but alot cheaper. Bonnet Creek is actually inside the Disney gates, so really close to the parks (in fact closer than alot of the 'onsite resorts'). Going through a third party you can get a fully equipped one bedroom condo cheaper than a value resort, much less a moderate. For that matter in Dec the guy we rented from offered us a one bedroom for just $60.00/night or a two bedroom for just $70.00/night. With a two bedroom, you'd not only have two bedrooms (one with a king bed and one with two queens), but you'd also have two bathrooms.

Can you tell me who you booked through and how far in advance?
Thanks!

 

[DisneyDreamer04]

Wow!

Well now, I am really thinking that the bonnet Creek thing may just be exactly what we are looking for. It could be the difference in going thus year and waiting until Feb 2015..
Where do I look for these great deals on bonnet creek? Thank you guys again for all the help. Really.
I had no idea all the amenities or the closeness in proximity.

 

[melissac]

I used VRBO.com to book are May trip and staying in a 2BR for $700 for 6 nights. Was about the same as what we where going to pay at POP.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

Wow!

Well now, I am really thinking that the bonnet Creek thing may just be exactly what we are looking for. It could be the difference in going thus year and waiting until Feb 2015..
Where do I look for these great deals on bonnet creek? Thank you guys again for all the help. Really.
I had no idea all the amenities or the closeness in proximity.

Check out the We Looooooove the Bonnet Creek thread on this board...it's really long and updated frequently by people who stay at this resort.

Bonnet Creek is within the Disney Gates and is right next to Caribbean Beach resort. The companies Vacation Upgrades and Vacation Strategies are both popular to book through--you email for quotes and pick the best price. There are also lots listed on eBay--just make sure you seller has good reviews and you will be fine.

I'm compared staying offsite to a Disney Mod (even w/ free dining) and the figures were never close. Probably because we usually pay 70-90/night for a hotel and always either have breakfast included or have a kitchen to cook. We pay significantly less for food staying off-site. Breakfast is either free or we cook bacon and eggs...lunch is a CS at the park...and dinner is at an off property restaurant where prices are much lower than at disney TS restaurants.

 

[denneg]

We have stayed at the Silver Lake Resort - Silver Points and liked it quite a bit. It's right near Animal Kingdom, the unit was nicely decorated and clean, and the resort itself was gated (and manned at all times we went through), quiet, and relaxing. I have seen it listed on SkyAuction and a few of the other sites for good prices, we were able to book through the military and got it very cheap!

 

[travelinggnomes]

We got a home with a private pool, game room, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, and about 15 minutes away from Disney for $630 (including all fees). With this home, we will be able to eat breakfast everyday and also be able to pack a few lunches. Plus, lots of room to spread out so we don't get tired of each other!!!

 

[skw444]

We have always been onsite people that go during free dining until our last trip. I priced out the cost of onsite with free dining versus offsite but still eating onsite and the cost was about equal, but we were getting so much more space offsite. We found a great deal on a 3br condo at Windsor Hills. We're going again in April and we're staying in a 2br at Bonnet Creek for $672 for 7 nights. Now that we've stayed offsite, it will be hard for us to go back onsite. We do not like being cramped in a tiny hotel room when for a lot cheaper you can have 2 or 3 bedrooms.