Help! I need advice about off-site properties!

[gusmydog]

There are 5 of us going to DW in Dec. Myself, DH, DD (age 3), DS (age 5), and my mother (age 60). I thought we had everything decided and was going to firm up our plans tonight. I was going to book 1 rooms at the Poly. Earlier today, my mother tells me that she doesn't want us all to stay in one room. She would rather stay somewhere where we can have 2 connecting rooms. I can certainly understand this but besides All-Stars, we probably can't afford 2 rooms. ASSp does have 2 rooms available at the time we are going.

My questions are: Is there somewhere we could stay off-site to get 2 connecting rooms? Possibly some suites? We will not have a car since we are flying in so we won't have our own transportation to the park. Has anyone out there used off-site transportation to the park? Did it go well or was it sporadic and unorganized?

Thanks for your help!!!

 

[baileybrad]

You have 2 problems that you need to overcome....you will not have a vehicle and you are limited to the amount of money you wish to spend on your room.

Depending on when you are going in December ie., busy time (expensive) or less busy (cheaper), I would say if it is a less busy time jump on the All-Star Sports adjoining rooms and take advantage of the Disney transportation. You will be glad that you did. Your party will have flexibility to go here and there. I don't blame your mom for not wanting to stay all in one room. I would not count on any off-site property having a transportation system that will be both cost effective and flexibility. There are some great off-site properties-- Sherations' Vistana Village and Vistana Resort. Even their 2 bedrooms out at Oak Plantation are only $88 a night through hotelkingdom.com. But you won't have a vehicle and that is really a must when staying off-site.

I would stay at All-Star Sports if I were you and enjoy a taste the Disney resort world. It is definitely not the Poly but you will have a great time with your family with the extra space.

 

[Patsy1969]

Hi, I also thinK you would enjoy staying on property in adjoining rooms. We have stayed at all 3 As resorts. You children might enjoy ASMO. The bus transportation is pretty good. The Toy Story section is very convenient to the food court and the buses. Unless you have a car, staying off property can be a nightmare. Little ones can get tired and it is so easy to catch the Disney buses back to your room for a nap or time in the pool. Have fun! Patsy

 

[mark & sandra]

Hello gusmydog- There is a special rate at Holiday Inn Family Suite if a member of your party is between 50-60 the rate is as low as 89.00 per night. They have free breakfast buffet for all, kids eat free lunch and dinner w/ an adult. Free shuttles to WDW and many other amenities. Kidsuites have a separate locking bedroom, kids room with bunkbeds and t.v. w/ nintendo and living room w/ gueen size couch/bed and small kitchette, coffee maker and microwave. If thats not good for your group the reg. suites have a queen sized bed instead of the bunkbeds + all the other things mentioned above. Do a search above for HIFS to get more reviews and check out www.mousesavers.com for their specials @ HIFS
P.S. The senior rates get better with the older the senior member of the group is, maybe there's another older member you would like to bring along too?

 

[alvernon90]

If you put a little effort in at skyauction.com (on the Ready, Set, Go auctions) you can get a two-bedroom apartment at a time share place.

We stayed in a gigantic two bedroom, two bath suite at Orange Lake Country Club with full kitchen/dishwasher and screened-in porch for less than $40 per night, taxes included. From there you would need a rental car, but the savings would more than make up for it.

Also, the suites are arranged so you can close one off entirely (bedroom and bathroom) so Grandma can have her privacy. The kids can sleep on the pullout in the gigantic living room. Mom and Dad can enjoy the huge Jacuzzi tub in the master bathroom. Great swimming pool (Splash Lagoon) and other amenities to top it off.

 

[emmalgin]

how obsessed people are to staying on-site..... I know it is a losing proposition on this site, but offsite for price and variety is much better and you save huge dollars and have the freedom to eat, go and do what you want.

Sharing a room with mom and kids...... Yuck....

Also did OLCC, loved it...... If it is hot kids and you need lot's of breaks from the parks and there is plenty organized at OLCC.

 

[baileybrad]

Not sure where the obsessive comment came from, "emmalgin". If someone chooses to stay in Orlando without a vehicle and have a party with different interests and stamina--ie., 2 small children and a grandmother who obviously wants some alone time. The All-Stars at a good rate are a good idea with adjoining rooms. I would encourage everybody to stay on-site at least once. I would also encourage folks to have a rental car while in Orlando but that is a personal/financial choice for the individual. We own at DVC, we enjoy staying both on and off-site. Our last visit in late January was at Vistana Village for 10 nights in a 2 bedroom for $79 a night. We are staying at Vistana Resort in a 1 bedroom for $86 a night in early December. We always have a vehicle. We eat on and off-site. Our 2 previous trips were at VWL and OKW. We do not feel obsessed. We just look for the most bang for our buck. I still think that this family would have a great time in 2 rooms at All-Stars. That is something that they must decide for themselves.

 

[Steve P]

My recommendation is to compose a 'short list' of offsite hotels
meeting your room requirements plus these 2 criteria:

1 - most liberal schedule of courtesy transport to the parks
2 - most choices of onsite restaurants (at hotel) or within
walking distance to hotel

then pick the best of the bunch meeting these 2 criteria.

You can probably get this info from the concierge (or equivalent)
at ea. hotel on your short list.

because of your specific requirements, I would NOT roll the dice with priceline!

Good Luck !!!

 

[emmalgin]

who rationalize staying onsite at all times. Two rooms at All Star is minimum $150/night or $1,000/wk. A week at OLCC cost me $299 in May (Skyauction) add a car rental $200 and you have half the price and a world of amenities not available at All Star (ie a kichen 3 tvs, vcr, jacuzzi patio living room....). And please lets not start costing gas and parking or I start on the Mears shuttles.

How I love those Disneyphiles how do not want to miss the "Magic" at any cost......

 

[gusmydog]

First of all, thanks for all the opinions and input. I don't know what I'd do without these boards!!! We decided to stay at ASSports with 2 rooms for $49/night. Just so happened that the day I posted this question I got a postcard in the mail with a PIN number on it that allowed me to get that great rate! This should take care of our concerns about transportation to the parks and also the privacy issue with Mom and even give us 2 TV's for the kids. Seems like the best of all worlds! Now if we can just secure a decent flight rate!