for all you disney veterans

[wannabeme]

This is our first trip to disney with kids (or without) We plan on going to do all of the parks and will be there for six days. For those of you who have done it, would you stay in a vacation home or can we get by with a hotel room? There will be two adults, an older teenager and two young children. My husband thinks we will be so tired from the day that we will all just fall into bed when we get back. I don't think so. I don't want to have to spend the extra money if we don't have the time to use the amenities you get with a home. Advice would be appreciated from those of you who have been there done that. Thanks.

 

[LeahA]

We have a family of 5 and we are staying at the Port Orleans Riverside on Disney property. This room has 2 double beds and a trundle bed. That would be the least expensive option onsite for you.

We have stayed at several off site accomodations and we are very tempted to stay again off site just so we can get a larger room without breaking the bank to pay for it.

Yes, you will be tired by the end of the day, but most normal hotel rooms just have 2 double beds. My dh and I aren't huge but we are not tiny either and we cannot comfortably sleep in a double bed all week. My almost 11 year old is getting so big, I'm sure like your oldest child could possibly take up the whole bed. Then you have your 2 youngest. It will definitely be a tight squeeze. Is it doable, well, yes it is. But it might be worth a little extra money and get a room at least with a pull out sofa bed and 2 double beds or to rent your own condo or vacation home. Then everyone will get a good night sleep, and be happier all week long.


Good Luck with your decision.

 

[FayeW]

Not only will it not cost you more to rent offsite, it will actually cost you far, far less and you will have so many more amenities.

We only have 2 kids, and we rent 2bdrm condos, minimum. I like having the space for everyone to get a proper night's sleep. I like having more than one bathroom, and I love having a full kitchen to have coffee in the morning and make a light breakfast and snacks. I love having a fridge to be able to stock up on water and juice to take with us to the parks, and to keep the beer cold so we can have a nice drink on the screened patio or balcony. I love having a washer and dryer in unit so I can bring home clean clothes and not have to start doing laundry the minute I get home.

All of this will cost you approximately 1/2 of the price of staying at Port Orleans. We are getting quotes now for our Dec stay, and I have prices ranging from $399 for a 3bdrm condo for a week. I am looking exclusively at Windsor Hills as it gets the best reviews from the folks here, and it is less than 5 mins to Animal Kingdom. I received a quote today from a lady with a 3 bdrm townhouse, with it's own splash pool and the price is less than $800 for 8 nights, and that includes all taxes and fees.

With 3 kids, I am certain that just having the kitchen to make breakfast will save you another ton of money. I can't imagine if I had to get my family out the door every morning to a restaurant or food court. We would be lucky to get to a park by 10:00 am! Getting 5 people out the door with one bathroom to get ready in would really suck.

 

[Q-man]

It is a blessing when at the end of the day and everyone is tired and cranky that you have room to not be on top of each other. I love off property for that reason. It is cheaper even with car rental. Having breakfast in the condo is easier too. If that doesn't convince your DH just remind him teen and only one bathroom!

The downside is the Disney magic ends when you drive off property whereas it never does when staying on property.

 

[QT Pooh]

It's usually me and my two teenagers (1 boy, 1 girl) and we can't manage in the hotel room. For us, it's the additional beds, bathrooms, televisions and SPACE that a condo/townhouse provides. I wake up early and don't have to sneak around trying to be quiet making coffee or listening to/reading the news in the morning.

That being said though...if this is your FIRST trip, you might want to stay on Disney property and be totally immersed in it. The room will be cramped and the food will be expensive, but you can say that you've done it. It's something that the kids will remember all their lives. It's also nice to take the Disney transportation and not have to worry about driving.

I know it's a tough decision...but at least it's a FUN one to make!! Good luck!

 

[mareed]

I read the question as deciding between an offsite hotel or an offsite vacation home. I'd definitely recommend the vacation home, and I think you can find one cheaper than an offsite hotel, depending on the time of year. If you read the boards, there are plenty of condos & townhomes in the Formosa Gardens area (Windsor Palms, Emerald Island, Windsor Hills) that should be under $100 a night including tax. With your family size, it's so much nicer to have separate bedrooms/bathrooms, and a kitchen for a quick breakfast before heading out in the morning. We only do a hotel room if there's no other choice (like when we go to DL!).

 

[4forMe]

I would also recommend staying in a vacation home rather than a hotel. Your sleeping arrangements will be much more comfortable in the vacation home. Many of the homes have queen or king size beds in the master bedroom. Getting a good night's sleep makes for a happier vacation

Also, I imagine your younger children have a different bedtime than your older teen. Putting the younger ones to bed earlier is not a problem in a vacation home. We brought my 16 year old niece with us on our last trip and rented a home. Our kids usually go to sleep by 9 or 10 p.m. whereas she goes to sleep @ 11:30 p.m. (as do I - night owl here). I couldn't imagine us being in a hotel due to the different sleep schedules alone. Plus, it was nice that everyone had their own space to unwind at the end of the day.

Good luck with your decision, and enjoy your trip!

 

[sympatico]

My vote is for the off site condo, townhouse or pool home. Here's a listing site for the Kissimmee area. You can rent directly from the owners as many of us do:
http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/florida/central-disney-orlando/kissimmee
Subdivisions in the Formosa Gardens / Windsor Hills area are the closest to Disney.
Here's a map to show you where they are. Go to the bottom right corner and scroll through the names and you'll get a close-up of where it is on the map.
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/villa-map.php

Sorry, I guess I gave you this info on another thread, just noticed.