FeedBack on WDW trip please!

[lifesgr8]

I am planning a wdw trip for our family in January. Already got a smokin' deal on airfare so our dates are set. We have a timeshare right in the disney area, already booked and paid for BUT we do not have to stay there. I am wondering about the benefits of staying onsite. I would like to get the meal option free if it is available for January '12 ??? I am a disney visa holder so I am saving up points. There is 7 of us. 2 adults and 5 kids. I just received a quote from a travel agent of around $5200 for 11 days of hotel at the pop century resort, 5 days of magic your way passes and adding on the quick service meal option. Wondering if that is the best we can do? Are there no offers coming out for January of 2012? Or should I use my timeshare, then use what points I have for tickets & food at the park? We have never been to wdw so Im wanting to maximize all the info I can get!! we are avid disney fans and normally have annual passes to disneyland, speaking of which is it very cost effective to get the annual passes for both disneyland and wdw if you know you will be at both places within the year? TIA for any info!

 

[Nadjalu]

First, welcome to the boards.

I can't answer all your questions, but I can say you can't get the dining plan without staying onsight.

We love staying onsight. Wouldn't do it any other way. The benefits often out weight any small $$ savings for us.
The benefits of not driving, parking, paying for parking...that alone is worth the savings we would have staying offsight. (we consider how much is our time worth in $$)

As for deals, it is hard to say IF/when there will be any released for Jan 2012. People are still waiting on deals for the end of this year.
So all you can do is plan for no deal and if one comes out...yay go for it.

I am sure others will be around soon to help with your other questions. Good luck and have a great trip!!

 

[readytogotodisney]

I am wondering about the benefits of staying onsite. I would like to get the meal option free if it is available for January '12 ??? I am a disney visa holder so I am saving up points. There is 7 of us. 2 adults and 5 kids. I just received a quote from a travel agent of around $5200 for 11 days of hotel at the pop century resort, 5 days of magic your way passes and adding on the quick service meal option. Wondering if that is the best we can do? Are there no offers coming out for January of 2012? Or should I use my timeshare, then use what points I have for tickets & food at the park?

Staying onsite absolutely has it's benefits, EMH, transportation, delivery of items bought within the parks to your resort, charging capabilities to your room, are the biggies for us.

No one is sure about what offers will come out (if any) for January, it's just too far out to tell. Here you can see that they did offer it last year, and it was announced in August. So you just never know.

 

[jjsmom]

Welcome, welcome, welcome to the world of Disney fanatics. While we do not always agree; questions always get answered, magic is shared, and friendships are formed around a common bond!.

I would rather stay onsite, even with a large family. Not sure about free dining offer this Jan. You MUST stay onsite to take advantage of the dining plan. Did your TA offer a quote on an All Stars family suite? I have to say, $5200 sounds high to me for Pop. Have you checked pricing yourself, on the WDW website? I would also check into a deluxe villa.
ONSITE PROS:
1) Magnificent network of Disney transportation/let someone else drive around the world
2) early magic hours
3) always surrounded by disney magic 24/7
4) no parking fees ($14/day yikes)
5)resort package delivery
6) magical express available from airport
7) easier to get inside Magic Kindgom, as Disney busses bypass the humungous parking lot and drop you off at the security tables.
OFFSITE PROS***
1) generally less expensive options available such as time shares, vacay homes (watch for hidden daily "resort" fees). Also beware of offsite's claiming free transportation. Maybe ok, but often crowded, disorganized, sporadiccaly timed.
2) kitchen facilities help save $$$$-most WDW (except villas) do not offer a frig or micro. You can request a frig for a daily fee.
3) closer to other dining options and outside shopping
4) larger rooms/suites more available

***tee, hee; I'm a big "onsite" cheerleader, but we and DH's extended family of 22 is going back this Jan 2012; we are renting 2 vacay homes, 1 of which belongs to a close family friend who's giving us a heck of deal...

 

[CtinaDitty]

I think staying on property is SO much better than staying off property. Yes, the prices are generally more expensive but you do receive perks that I think make the trip much more enjoyable. I have stayed both on and off property and prefer to pay a little bit more when I can. On property, as people have mentioned, you get free transportation to and from the parks, extra magic hours (which are amazing, especially when the parks stay open late), the magical express transportation to/from the airport, the dining plan if you prefer, as well as that over-all Disney feel!

Plus, many off-site resorts and hotels do not have the food amenities that the on-site resorts have. The on-site resorts usually have the food court area plus a nice restaurant option at the moderate and deluxe resorts. Plus, the customer service that Disney provides for special occasions as well as just every day trips can't be beat!

Hope this helps!

 

[lifesgr8]

Does the all stars have room for 7?
$5200 included a room for 11 nights,(2 rooms), 5 days of tickets & the quick service plan

Welcome, welcome, welcome to the world of Disney fanatics. While we do not always agree; questions always get answered, magic is shared, and friendships are formed around a common bond!.

I would rather stay onsite, even with a large family. Not sure about free dining offer this Jan. You MUST stay onsite to take advantage of the dining plan. Did your TA offer a quote on an All Stars family suite? I have to say, $5200 sounds high to me for Pop. Have you checked pricing yourself, on the WDW website? I would also check into a deluxe villa.
ONSITE PROS:
1) Magnificent network of Disney transportation/let someone else drive around the world
2) early magic hours
3) always surrounded by disney magic 24/7
4) no parking fees ($14/day yikes)
5)resort package delivery
6) magical express available from airport
7) easier to get inside Magic Kindgom, as Disney busses bypass the humungous parking lot and drop you off at the security tables.
OFFSITE PROS***
1) generally less expensive options available such as time shares, vacay homes (watch for hidden daily "resort" fees). Also beware of offsite's claiming free transportation. Maybe ok, but often crowded, disorganized, sporadiccaly timed.
2) kitchen facilities help save $$$$-most WDW (except villas) do not offer a frig or micro. You can request a frig for a daily fee.
3) closer to other dining options and outside shopping
4) larger rooms/suites more available

***tee, hee; I'm a big "onsite" cheerleader, but we and DH's extended family of 22 is going back this Jan 2012; we are renting 2 vacay homes, 1 of which belongs to a close family friend who's giving us a heck of deal...

 

[sharonabe]

All-Stars suites only have room for 6 unless one of your kiddos is still in a crib, and then you MIGHT be able to do it, but it would be a tight fit. Your two rooms in a value are going to be the cheapest you can do. You will only have 4 double beds for all 7 of you. If you can afford a moderate, Coronado Springs has queen-size beds which would give you all a little more sleeping room. The 2BR villas would be ideal, but they are $700-$1300 per night.

As for the AP for both CA and FL, they are $749 pp whether you are a child or adult, so I guess you need to do the math for the number of days you want at WDW and the number of days at DL. The AP would give you park hoppers, so I'd figure that in the price of your tickets.

Since you are staying off-site, I assume you will need to rent a car, so you need to figure that cost in to the cost comparision of staying off-site/on-site since you wouldn't need that car on-site.

 

[LoriH91]

We also have to have room for 7 & just booked a treehouse villa at Saratoga Springs. Last year we went when the baby was just 3 & didn't count, at least as far as Disney was concerned!! We stayed in a cabin at Ft Wilderness very comfortably. It's not much more than 2 rooms at a value & has room to sleep 6 full size people! Plus a kitchen! I know our treehouse is more expensive than 2 rooms at Pop, but I really like having the extra space & a kitchen for breakfast in the mornings!

 

[gonesaleing]

I have stayed offsite twice and on-site twice.
If you can swing it financially, you will have a much better overall experience by staying on-site. And truthfully, once it's over and you are home, the memories are what you remember... not how much the experience cost.