Help me decide between onsite & offsite...

[Jillnkids]

Here's the deal....
We have ressies for 6 nights at All Star Music for myself, DH, DD (12yo) and DS (15yo). We are probably only going to do MK and Epcot. We'd also like to try Disney Quest and a waterpark.

I've been doing a bit of research...I believe we can stay in a condo cheaper. But I'm not sure of what places are nice to stay at. We'd like a nice pool area so we can escape the craziness of Disney. I'm looking at some places in Windsor Hills. Is there anyplace else I should look?

Would love some input! (BTW, we've been on 2 previous trips and stayed at WL)

Jill

 

[Upatnoon]

A 2 bedroom Wyndham Bonnet Creek would be perfect for your family size. Look in the "We loooooove bonnet creek" thread

 

[Brian Noble]

Are you flying in or driving?

If you are flying in, you really need a rental car to stay offsite---when you figure in parking fees, gas, rental car costs, you're adding about $50 or so to your nightly room rate. So, if you are flying, and price is your bottom line, it is probably hard to top the all-in cost of a single Value room.

That said, you could not pay me to stay in a single 260 sq. ft. room with one bath and one sink with my two children. So, even if it cost a few dollars more, I'd *much* rather stay offsite in a suite or a condo.

 

[Jillnkids]

We are driving down from KY.

I think the small room space is what is keeping me from getting excited. We usually go to Destin and stay in a 2BR condo.

What about parking fees at the parks? If I buy my tickets at AAA, can I get a parking pass?

Keep the suggestions coming!

 

[Ed J]

AAA gets you a parking pass, this gets you parked close to the parks entrance at some of the parks. You still have to pay the $14 to park. This charge is per day, not per park. So if you park hop, you pay just the 1 time. The AAA pass is not a fee parking pass (we usually get 1).

I agree with Brian Noble, I like to have a place, not a room. If we are only going for a couple of 3 days a room is fine, we usually go for 10 days or so, I want a living room, kitchen and a place to do some wash (or my wife can ).

 

[HeatherC]

I second Bonnet Creek. It is actually next door to the Caribbean Beach Resort so it is practically "onsite". They have beautiful pools, mini golf, two pool bars, clubhouse, etc. and most of all SPACE.

If you don't mind not having EMH and being immersed in Disney 24/7, it really is the best of both worlds. It's so nice to have a kitchen to have a snack in and multiple bedrooms for everyone to relax in at the end of the day. And...you request a fireworks view and watch them nightly from your balcony.

 

[Detailor]

You might also consider a timeshare rental. Upatnoon and HeatherC mentioned Bonnet Creek but there are many others that are very nice, relatively close to Disney (I'm thinking Sheraton's Vistana Resort, Cypress Pointe Resort, Orange Lake Country Club and Resort, etc.) and not overly expensive to rent a two-bedroom sleeps six or sleeps eight villa with living room, dining area, full kitchen, two bathrooms, washer/dryer and lots of resort quality amenities on the grounds. Check out www.redweek.com as one source for timeshare rentals. They rent on a seven night basis rather than six unless you go to a consolidator like www.hotelkingdom.com. When we used to rent timeshares we generally paid $100/night or $700 for the week.

On tickets, I'd suggest that you look at undercovertourist.com for discounted Disney park tickets (they generally start at three-day tickets). Go to mousesavers.com and sign up for the monthly newsletters and you'll get notice of new, lower-priced sales for mousesavers members through undercovertourist. No additional fee for shipment through this company.

If you're not planning to add the waterpark feature onto your tickets you can buy them separately at a discount. We've purchased Disney waterpark and Disney Quest tickets many times from ticketmania.com. Like undercovertourist, ticketmania is reputable and easy to do business with. I think that they have a small fee for shipping but you can pick up tickets once you get there if you want to avoid the charge.

Dick Taylor

 

[floydfamily4]

Since you are driving and will have a car, I would definately stay in a condo or townhouse off site. We stayed at Windsor Hills in a 3 bedroom town house and loved the space and flexibility. We then moved over to Pop Century and I thought we would suffocate I really loved being able to buy snacks and breakfast food. With the ages of your kids I would imagine you could save a lot of money on food alone. The 4 of you in one room - I just wouldn't do it. Now if the EMH is critical to your stay...might have to really think about it. Good luck!!

 

[Jillnkids]

Thanks for all the great responses!

EMH is definitely not a deciding factor. I've found those times/parks to be more crowded. We were planning on going to the park that did NOT have EMH.

Dh is definitely up for having more space for the same cost. I'm definitely leaning this way. With a boy and a girl (especially at their ages), privacy and space could be a really good thing. I wasn't exactly looking forward to sharing a bed with my dd.

I've looked at several places on VRBO. I've seen several units at Winsor Hills that are really affordable. We really only need 6 nights but would consider booking the week if necessary. My son has a marching band competition on Saturday so we can't get there before Sunday.

If we stay at Winsor Hills, where is a good place to go to the grocery that is close by.

You guys have been a BIG help!

 

[Brian Noble]

From Windsor Hills, I tend to use the Orange Lake Publix. Go north on Old Lake Wilson, take a left on US 192, and the Publix will be on your right hand side, just after 429. There's also a Super Target on the left hand side right around there as well.

 

[Detailor]

From Windsor Hills, I tend to use the Orange Lake Publix. Go north on Old Lake Wilson, take a left on US 192, and the Publix will be on your right hand side, just after 429. There's also a Super Target on the left hand side right around there as well.

I think that there's another, somewhat larger Publix store that's maybe two or three miles beyond the one at OLCC on 192 also on the right hand side. I've only been in there once or twice but, if memory serves, I think that it had a bigger selection than the OLCC store. And there's a Super Walmart that's on Route 27 North (just beyond that second Publix store). I don't recall that WalMart store being as nice as some but I could be wrong about that.

Those options and the two that Mr. Noble mentioned are all within about 7 miles of Windsor Hills.

Dick Taylor

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Bonnet Creek has a free shuttle to the parks. Also, you may want to consider one of you getting an AP. 10 days is a long time to go, so it may pay to get that AP in parking fees alone. If you were to go to the parks all 10 days, that is $140 in parking. Subtract that from the price of the AP, compare it to what ever tickets you are purchasing.. and it gives you an excuse to book another trip within a year

 

[Pembo]

We just got back from a condo at Windsor Hills, rented through Magical Vacation Homes. It was beautiful and clean. I too was leary of staying offsite...I've always stayed onsite. We found staying at WH to be much more relaxing.

The drive to WDW was quick using the Sherberth road shortcut. We saw Illuminations at Epcot at 9 and were home with kids in bed by 10. Even the drive to the MK wasn't bad with the added boat/monorail ride. We still got to our car fairly quick. We arrived at the parks before opening and got a close parking spot. We took breaks and got even closer parking spots when we returned.

Our condo was 1400+ sq ft and was $99/nt. I loved having the laundry and full kitchen plus tv's in every room. We shopped at Super Target and Winn Dixie. WD was great for picking up a few things and very close to WH. The WD was up Old Lake Wilson to 192, left on 192, then on your left a few blocks up. Quick and easy to get to.

 

[Friendly Frog]

I was one of the lucky ones to get a pin code, but we are thinking about just renting a condo instead. I am looking for more relaxation this trip, so off site is sounding better. For pure value though you can't beat a value with all the free transporation. (It is also the ONLY way I would ever do a solo trip.)