Help me decide

[nuts4wdw]

Ok, disfriends, help me! I currently have a free dining bounceback reservation booked for the first week in Oct. and plan on attending the MNSSHP. My dh and I went last year solo to the party, so we have reserved a room at Pop Century for us and our 3 sons (will be 8, 6 and 2). We will get free dining and the kids will only miss 3 days of school due to a teacher inservice. Here’s the dilemma. I’ve been contacted by a friend that we can go in mid April, stay at there Windsor Hills Townhouse, go to the pirate and princess party, and get one last trip in on my dh’s annual pass. So, what should we do? If we go in Oct. it is free dining, and the MNSSHP. If we go in April, we get a 3 bedroom 3 bath house with pool, and the pirate and princess party. I’m worried about all 5 of us in a small hotel room, but love the party and free food!!!! My boys aren’t big eaters, yet. I’ve never been to the Pirate and Princess party, how does it compare? The cost is the same, either way. What would you do? This is cross posted, so I can get a lot of different views.
P&PP pros and cons:
Pros- 3 bd townhouse with pool, car rental, pirate party, flower and garden festival, better weather,
Cons- boys have to miss a week of school, no mnsshp, no free dining,

MNSSHP pros and cons:
Pros- Free dining, onsite, the party, boys only miss 3 days of school
Cons- Hurricanes ?!?, Hot, cramped in one room,

 

[HopperFan]

I voted for POP, dining and MNSSHP......Why?

1 ) After next year your little one will make you 5 and will totally change your options at WDW and you might find yourself offsite more than onsite. Stay on site reasonably, while you can !
2) POP is so much fun, especially for their age.
3) FREE DINING, it is a vacation, and I try to avoid cooking, so the kitchen is not a plus for me. To be able to eat that well for FREE is vacation at it's best !!
4) April is a busy time to visit, lots of spring breaks and I think October would be less crowded.
5) Done MNNSHP and PPP, while we had a good time at PPP and would do again if there, it is not as good as MNNSHP and I wouldn't plan a trip just to include it. The park has all the extras of the party, but is not decorated or lighting changed to create a new atmosphere. Parade highlights are pirate ship and tinkerbell. I liked it but if given a choice, hands down MNSSHP.

 

[dougsmom98]

I was going to vote for Pop, until I read that there were five of you. I have heard that the rooms are pretty small for even four people. I know your youngest is small, but small kids have lots of stuff. If you are not big eaters, then the dining plan isn't that great of a deal for you.

 

[swilshire]

Can you do both? Take the boys in October and return with DH alone in April? Since he has a season pass, it seems the cost would be fairly minimal.

I wouldn't want to be in Pop with 5, but it IS a fun place. We're just spoiled by staying in timeshares and even with 4, it was WAY TOO cozy for us. We stayed there briefly a couple of years ago to check in on the last possible day for free dining. Then we moved to a timeshare at the end of the week.

Sheila

 

[loadsapixiedust]

I'm voting MNSSHP and Pop because when your kids are older that won't be an option for one room, also October is my favourite time at WDW.

 

[Lesley]

I don't feel like I can make a decision for you, but I have to say that staying at Pop with 5 people is not easy. My youngest dd was 2 when we did it. By some fluke we were given a king room so my dh and I slept with both our girls (then 2 and 6) in the king bed and we brought a twin air mattress for our oldest (who was 11). We had extra floor space because the bed was a king rather than two full beds, so it wasn't as crowded as it could have been. If you feel you can handle the lack of space and your kids can handle spending full days in the parks without a real place for relaxed down time, go for Pop this one last time. Otherwise, if you need more space and more down time, I'd try the townhouse.

We have never stayed in a townhouse, but as we're selling the bulk of our DVC points we will probably try it in the future. I have a friend who enjoyed her stay in one. And I can get a week in an off property townhouse for less than my annual DVC dues.

Unfortunately, for a family of 5 the best options are DVC or off property.

Another consideration is how easily spooked your kids are. MNSSHP can be overwhelming for an easily spooked child. Even thought its called "not so scary" and there aren't any big shocking horror elements, if the HM queue is too much for your kids (all of my kids have been scared by just the sight of the HM, as well as the howling dog, at various points in their lives) the party probably will be as well. Of course, I'm just going by my own kids and how they've handled things in the past. Your kids may be different. I also would imagine that the P&P party, if you're not going at Easter, would be less crowded than MNSSHP.

Just a few more things to throw in the hat....

 

[Southernswthrt1]

Townhome hands down.

1. You'll save A LOT of money by eating breakfast and a few other meals at your townhome.

2. You will not be sorry about ALL THE EXTRA SPACE. This alone makes it worth it.

Once you stay in condo / townhouse accomodations, hotel rooms just don't cut it anymore. Stay offsite - you won't regret it. This past Dec, I switched all my onsite ressies to offsite and couldn't have been happier (afterwards). You get SO SO much more for your money, both in space and luxury, than on WDW property.

And the transportation system at Disney is a pain. It's much easier (and faster) to rent a car and come and go as you please.