Fellow DVC'ers......have you stayed offsite....help me plan for a friend on a budget.

[alldiz]

Hi,
I'm in love with the bubble so I don't know anything about "offsite". Since I a a "disney nerd"...lol....she wants my help planning.

Before you bought DVC....did you stay offsite and where.

She mentioned....Liki Tike Village....With some research on Mousesavers and Allears I found a few more.
Any opinions on 2br villas at


Sheraton Vistana Village
Caribe Royale
Marriot Cypress Harbour.

She is looking for a nice pool and clean. I'm leaning towards Vistana Village seems the "cheapest".
Any info would be great.

I already posted this on Orlando board....I'm curiousl how my fellow DVC'ers feel about these places being we are so used to Awesome service at Disney
Thanks
Kerri

 

[mamian16]

The Holiday Inn has a resort called orange lake that has very nice two bedroom villas for only $79 a night. The resort is beautiful

 

[Figment2]

On my second trip to WDW, I stayed off site and decided never again. We were dependant on the Hotel bus and they didn't run a lot.

Have you looked into renting points or a stay at a Value?

Cyn

 

[dgaston]

We have a limited number of points and have often stayed off site on weekends, and when points were too dear as in Christmas week. I would suggest checking the prices at www.vacationcentralflorida.com www.windsorhillsrent.com and also using Priceline at the resort level. For any of these options a rental car is essential. We have also stayed at some of Mary's preferred hotels. You can find these at www.mousesavers.com.

There are many lovely off-site options, but they do require a rental car for most flexibility and then the $14 per day parking to avoid relying on shuttle buses. I personally think the one exception to this are the DTD hotels on hotel blvd. They run generally run on a half-hour schedule.

We also had a nice stay at Buena Vista Suites. The pool is not amazing, but they offer a full American buffet breakfast, and the suites include a frig and microwave. Mary often has special deals there

 

[hakepb]

If you are wanting more space, have you checked out WL cabins?

I've heard mentions to occasionally finding cheap offsite timeshare rentals on redweek.com but I've never searched..

 

[alldiz]

The Holiday Inn has a resort called orange lake that has very nice two bedroom villas for only $79 a night. The resort is beautiful

I'll check this out.

On my second trip to WDW, I stayed off site and decided never again. We were dependant on the Hotel bus and they didn't run a lot.

Have you looked into renting points or a stay at a Value?

Cyn

I'm sure they are renting a car. They definately want 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. They have been to WDW one time and stayed at WL....while they loved it.....she wants...."a lot of space".

We have a limited number of points and have often stayed off site on weekends, and when points were too dear as in Christmas week. I would suggest checking the prices at www.vacationcentralflorida.com www.windsorhillsrent.com and also using Priceline at the resort level. For any of these options a rental car is essential. We have also stayed at some of Mary's preferred hotels. You can find these at www.mousesavers.com.

There are many lovely off-site options, but they do require a rental car for most flexibility and then the $14 per day parking to avoid relying on shuttle buses. I personally think the one exception to this are the DTD hotels on hotel blvd. They run generally run on a half-hour schedule.

We also had a nice stay at Buena Vista Suites. The pool is not amazing, but they offer a full American buffet breakfast, and the suites include a frig and microwave. Mary often has special deals there

I'll check these out.
Thanks

If you are wanting more space, have you checked out WL cabins?

I've heard mentions to occasionally finding cheap offsite timeshare rentals on redweek.com but I've never searched..

Geez.....I love vacations....actually having fun researching for her. Almost makes me want to stay at some of these....Ahem.
Thanks
Kerri

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

With your DVC membership, you automatically receive a membership with RCI. Through that membership, you can search for your friend at the RCI website. We have found some really CHEAP deals for our son-in-law's family via the specials posted there. A couple of the complexes that are regularly featured are located right outside the gates. I'd recommend you explore the "Extra Getaway" and "Last Call" vacation options through RCI.

 

[Y-ASK]

Of the list you provided Marriott's Cypress Harbour is the best. We've stayed at the Sheraton resort and didn't think much of it. We've been to Marriott's Cypress Harbour twice and love that place. It's kind of like OKW and pools are nice as well. Never stayed at the Caribe Royale. We have also stayed at the Diamond Resorts Grand Beach and Grand Beach II which is also very nice. It's not Marriott or Disney but it's better than Sheraton and it's close to the Downtown Disney entrance. We are AP holders so when we stay off site we always drive to the parks. We get parking with our AP's...

Y-ASK

 

[Sunshine22]

The Disneyworld.com website has some good deals for on-site if you click the specials tab. Additionally, if you are a passholder, there are some cash deals on the passholder web site.

If none of these dates or prices work out, check priceline, expedia, travelocity, and hotels.com which all have resort deals.

If you sign up for the Mousesavers newsletter, they have special letters with hot deals. I think they also have recommendations or reviews on their website mousesavers.com

There are a few hotels considered on Disney property (not Disney owned) with shuttle service to the parks. I can't remember which ones off the top of my head, but they often have $79-$99 rooms as well. Good luck!

 

[a742246]

I hear that Bonnet Creek is good. If you check on ebay you can probably get a great deal.
I believe there is a "I love Bonnet Creek" forum somewhere on disboards.


Found it........
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2114303

 

[Starr W.]

I hear that Bonnet Creek is good. If you check on ebay you can probably get a great deal.
I believe there is a "I love Bonnet Creek" forum somewhere on disboards.


Found it........
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2114303

We own Wyndham points and stayed there last January. It's a good alternative to DVC. and you're iright in the middle of the World, while technically being off-site.

Big plus-regular size dining table,big coffee mugs and full range cable tv.

I was waiting to use a computer to print out my boarding passes, one of the girls at the activities desk offered to do it for me, since the computers with printers were being used by people checking Facebook.

Only thing beware of the sales staff when you go pick up your parking pass. Just say NO repeatedly.

 

[chalee94]

With your DVC membership, you automatically receive a membership with RCI.

do you have another RCI timeshare? i'm pretty sure this is not true.

DVC has a corporate membership with RCI but individual DVC members do not. in order to deal with RCI, DVC members have to go through DVC and don't have access to "last call" type deals through RCI...

edited to add: if the OP knows anyone with a membership in RCI or II, those getaways/last call deals can be a great way to go...

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

do you have another RCI timeshare? i'm pretty sure this is not true.

DVC has a corporate membership with RCI but individual DVC members do not. in order to deal with RCI, DVC members have to go through DVC and don't have access to "last call" type deals through RCI...

edited to add: if the OP knows anyone with a membership in RCI or II, those getaways/last call deals can be a great way to go...

Ahh, yes, I had an existing RCI account before we purchased DVC. I didn't realize that DVC wouldn't book those last call deals too. We've found some great deals with the "last call" and also through "extra getaway" listings. Last April, we stayed right off the main parkway that leads to Downtown Disney in a 2 bedroom and only paid $110 for the entire week! We had decided at the last minute to come in for the Flower & Garden show. It was a ridiculously low price and the accommodations are nice. However, I was still missing the on-property experience!

 

[littlestar]

Marriott Cypress Harbour is terrific. It's a lot like DVC's Old Key West in the feel of the resort. Sheraton Vistana Villages is nice, too.

If they want to be in the thick of things for a Disney trip, I'd consider renting Wyndham points for a stay at Wyndham Bonnet Creek - it's right next door to Disney's Carribean Beach resort. You can find pretty good deals on Ebay or through this site: http://www.vacationupgrades.com/

Sometimes the Dis Boards offers a pretty good discount on Sheraton Vistana Villages, too.

 

[supersuperwendy]

We stayed off site in 2008 and rented a house through http://www.allstarvacationhomes.com and it was FANTASTIC! They also rent townhouses and condos. We stayed in Windsor Hills which is sooo close to WDW. I would recommend them anytime...they were wonderful!

 

[alldiz]

Thanks every for all the replies.....I love this place

My friend called and one of her friends rented at Windsor Hills so that is where she is going. I am happy that it is one of the ones mentioned.

Was excited for a second though reading I might be eligible for the last minute getaways through RCI

Oh Well....
Thanks everyone
Kerri

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Was excited for a second though reading I might be eligible for the last minute getaways through RCI

Oh Well....
Thanks everyone
Kerri

I'm curious... Has anyone ever asked member services if these are available for booking by DVC/RCI members?