Help - how do I figure out which accomodations are right for us?

[DisneyCosmo]

O.k., I've decided on the dates: arriving in WDW on 12/14 departing on 12/20

Here's my info:

1. I have 2 kiddodles DD turns 5 while there, DS will be 3.5

2. This is our first trip.

3. DD will be celebrating her BDay there, this is also a mini-anniversary trip (15 Years)

4. We need some type of accomodations that have the bedroom separate from living (kids will drop very early in the evening and DH & I both are night owls - I know I'll be tired too, but I doubt I'll be ready for bed at 8)

5. We really need 3 beds, my kids do gymnastics in their sleep so they aren't fun to bunk with.

6. We will need to return to our room for naps every day, so a close proximity is a must.

7. We will have a car with us

8. We will have 2 strollers to contend with

9. Since this is a mini-anniversary celebration, I would like to stay in a deluxe type accomodation

10. We have not won the lottery so we would like to keep lodging under $1500

11. I would really like to have the full Disney experience

Is there anywhere we can stay that will meet all these requirements? Am I limiting myself to off resort?

Thanks!

 

[Colinsmom]

Anything Disney with two separate rooms is usually ridiculously priced - except the Fort Wilderness cabins and renting DVC points. www.allearsnet.com has great info on these resorts, including photos of actual rooms. You can look into renting DVC points on the DVC point rental board here on disboards.com.

 

[Lesli54]

Do you want to stay on or off property? That is your first question. To me, it sounds like you would like to stay on in order to be close to the activity, but still maintain some of your daily routine. Also, as something special for the events you are celebrating.

If you are looking to stay on property in deluxe accomodations, you might want to consider renting points from a DVC member (check the DVC Rent/Trade Board) in order to stay in a one or two bedroom villa on property. You can check out the "DVC points chart" at the top of this site to help you calculate the number of points you would need to rent for the length of stay you are looking at. Points vary depending on time you are going and resort you are staying at. It just might be what you are looking for.

 

[newtowdw1]

Sounds a lot like us. We chose the Fort Wilderness cabins. Great info on www.allears.net. Also check out the camping board. The reasons I think you'll be happy:
1. Bedroom with full size bed and bunk beds
2. Living room (separate from bedroom!) with pull-down murphy bed (full).
3. Full kitchen -- we intend to eat in most times to save money
4. Transportation-- well, the jury is still out, however, the ferry takes you directly to the MK, you don't have to mess with TTC. DH spent two vacations at FW and LOVED the boat ride (he was 10 and 18).
5. Resort activities-- movie, pony rides, petting zoo, campfire, Chip and Dale, sing-a-long, pool activities, Tri-Circle D ranch and watching the blacksmith
6. Mousekeeping!!!!
Reasons you may be unhappy:
1. It is rustic. It is a campground.
2. Internal transporation may take awhile. I don't know, I can't say for sure.
3. Pools are evidently dull and boring.
4. They are quite expensive unless you get a discount. We're getting APs and hoping for a rate reduction. Even w/o however, we expect to save quite a bit by not eating in the parks. Rack is $234 value season, pre-holiday (when you're going) is N/A and Regular is $274.

Check the following link for info http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/faq_fw.htm

Good luck!


OH! And my kids need to run around or they are crazy. There is space between the cabins(!!!) and noone can hear them and be bothered by them. AND I probably won't be bothered by other loud kids. I need my space

 

[sanibelover]

FW cabins!!

 

[HappyLawyer]

if you are staying off property and for 7 days try skyauction.com they have 2 bedroom villas and in the living room sofa is a sleeper, just like an apartment i got 1 for a total of 216.00 for the 7 nights check it out and good luck

 

[DVCLiz]

Other than price, the two bedroom villa at the Villas at Wilderness Lodge meets all of your requirements beautifully. So convenient to the Magic Kingdom, where you'll be spending a lot of time if your kids are little. Boat transportation or the ability to use your own car to reach all of the theme parks. The "full" Disney resort experience, without the campground feeling of Fort Wilderness. A full second bedroom with two double beds or a double bed and a full-size sleeper sofa, a living room area with kitchen, and a master BR with a king-size bed. Two bathrooms, one with a jacuzzi tub. It will ruin you for other options!!!!!

Looks like a full week rental on DVC points would be:

December 14th - 30 points (Wednesday night)
December 15th - 32 points (Thursday night)
December 16th and 17th - 61 points each/122 points (Friday and Saturday nights)
December 18th, 19th and 20th - 32 points each/96 points (Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights)

Total points - 280

Rented from a DVC member at the going rate of $10.00 a point, this would put you at $2800.00, about twice what you said you wanted to spend. If you were checking out on the 20th (can't really tell from your post) then you could subtract those last 32 points, and also subtract $320.00 dollars from your total. $2480.00 is your new total, still about $980.00 over budget.

I can't think of another way to get everything on your list on-site, except the previously mentioned FW cabins, any cheaper, and I haven't stayed there so I can't compare.

 

[beattyfamily]

It's going to be difficult to get all that for a decent price onsite.

I agree that your best bet is renting DVC at WLV.

You will get a lot for your money though at a bargain of what others pay for rack rates. You could easily fit in a one bedroom which has a bedroom with a king size bed, and a big living room with a pull out couch. A full kitchen, a washer and dryer, and a Jacuzzi. It's a deluxe home away from home.

You will also get close proximity to MK and be onsite. It also has an amazing pool and great restaurants.

Good luck!

 

[DVCLiz]

Sorry, I reread your post and you will be leaving on the 20th, so do subtract that night from my earlier calculations!!!

 

[DVCLiz]

If you moved down to a one bedroom, you would have a sleeper sofa and a king-size bed, but there wouldn't be a third bed. You could easily bring an Aero bed or something like that, though. Then you could put kids to bed in the king size bed and you could enjoy the living room area. At bedtime, you could easily move kids to the sleeper sofa/Aero bed in the living room, and take the king-size bed yourselves. The point rental for that scenario would be 188 points, so $1880.00 total, not too much over your budget. You would lose the second bathroom, but no biggie - all the other amenities would still be there!!!

 

[crisi]

You could also book two connecting rooms. That would put the kids in one room with you in the other. You'd probably end up at a moderate for the price.

 

[Anthony1971]

You could also consider old key west it uses less points then the rest if you go to ***********.com (or other resale sites) they have points charts for the diffrent resorts and size rooms. a one bedroom will only have one king and queen sofa bed (2 rooms)
you could also try to get connecting studios as this will about the same amount of points as a one bedroom and you will have 2 beds and 2 sofa beds--if it is OKW you will have 4 beds as they do not have the sofa beds in the studios the points rent for 10 a point...
the other option would be connecting rooms in a value or moderate you could book the room only and sometimes get a deal by calling diretly or you can always get a AAA discount if you are a member.
also a deluxe cash will accomadate 4 they have 2 beds and a daybad (small) and they are spacious--but you will have more room in connecting rooms
the points will be the best value in your case as you will be around 180 a nite for a value and 260 for a moderate plus tax for 2 rooms where as renting points will cost you a about 180 for the weekdays and 440 for saturday sunday but they are deluxe accomadations so you would be less then the moderate when all is said and done.
or you can go to a value on the weekend and rent points for the weekdays
good luck

 

[DVCLiz]

Good points, crisi and Anthony, but the OP said deluxe so I didn't even mention the idea of connecting rooms at a moderate. Of course, if she's willing to move her resort category, that makes good sense.

 

[DisneyCosmo]

Thank you so much for allthe information. Y'all really helped me narrow it down. There's so many choices that its hard to know where to start!

So DH and I will sit down this weekend and rethink the accomodations budget and figure out which is best for us.

Thanks again!