Help me decide?

[nutsforgolf]

My Trip:

8 nights at AKL, (DW, DD 8 DS 5 and me) for 8/24 - 9/1 Free Dining. We are also going to BB and TL and DD for 2 - 3 dinners. We are arriving around 4 pm on 8/23. So here are my choices for the night before:

1) Use 20,000 Marriott points at the courtyard in LBV, rent a car, got a great rate of $170 for 8/23 - 9/1 including all taxes, etc. PLUS GAS$$$.

2) Use 20,000 Marriott points at the courtyard in LBV, rent a car for only one day at $70 and drop off at the Dolphin (we are going to Epcot the 1st day) including all taxes, etc. PLUS GAS$$$.

3) Stay at one of the value hotels for $92, take ME and then would need to take a cab from the value to AKL on the morning of 8/24.


Here is my issue...I don't plan on driving to most of the themeparks, because the buses are direct, however, when we go to BB and TL will the bus trip take a while if they are not direct. Also, we have 2-3 dinners at DD planned, so would driving be better.

I usually don't feel like I am on vacation if I am driving, but I do have two kids to consider.

So which choice should I make and WHY?

 

[nutsforgolf]

Help Please

 

[Freiden8]

how old are the kids. If they are small, I'd have your own car. If they are older (10+) I'd just stay at the value and use the disney transportation.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

I am a penny pincher but here is my input. Stay at the value. I can't believe I am saying that! But here is the reasoning. You don't have to worry about bags from the airport because ME will bring them to you. You will not have to rent a car, saving money, you don't have to use your points, saving points for a bigger and better use and in the morning you just check out, request your baggage be brought to AKL and again you don't have to worry about the bags. You can then go to a park with the kids and take the bus back to AKL and check in. Easy and cost efficient.

 

[mskayjay]

I agree with MinnieVanMom. Why burn your points just for one night? And since all the moving will be done for you....sweet!!!!!! I'd pack one overnight bag for the one night at the Value Resort and just leave everything else packed! Its vacation. You dont' need this aggravation my friend!

 

[disneyfan55]

My Trip:

8 nights at AKL, (DW, DD 8 DS 5 and me) for 8/24 - 9/1 Free Dining. We are also going to BB and TL and DD for 2 - 3 dinners. We are arriving around 4 pm on 8/23. So here are my choices for the night before:

1) Use 20,000 Marriott points at the courtyard in LBV, rent a car, got a great rate of $170 for 8/23 - 9/1 including all taxes, etc. PLUS GAS$$$.

2) Use 20,000 Marriott points at the courtyard in LBV, rent a car for only one day at $70 and drop off at the Dolphin (we are going to Epcot the 1st day) including all taxes, etc. PLUS GAS$$$.

3) Stay at one of the value hotels for $92, take ME and then would need to take a cab from the value to AKL on the morning of 8/24.


Here is my issue...I don't plan on driving to most of the themeparks, because the buses are direct, however, when we go to BB and TL will the bus trip take a while if they are not direct. Also, we have 2-3 dinners at DD planned, so would driving be better.

I usually don't feel like I am on vacation if I am driving, but I do have two kids to consider.

So which choice should I make and WHY?

Maybe I missed something, but Free Dining is avail for I believe your dates. I'm not 100% sure of the first day of the offer. If so, why not do that or just change it to the first day of the free dining if you could. I know it's near the end of Aug for the first day of stay. YOu could pay the 92/night and have your food as well. Just a thought.

 

[MKFan-PR]

I agree with the previous posters. 20K points are too much to burn for just one night. The cost of the car for just one night is not worth it, IMHO, and renting a car for a week when you really don't want to is not a good idea (esp. when you include, as you so eloquently put it, "GAS$$$". ) Go for the Value and let Disney handle your luggage and transportation.

If you have dinner ressies at DTD you can take the bus (all resorts have direct buses to DTD).

Have fun!

 

[krmlaw]

Id stay at the Value resort too and avoid the car. OR stay a night early at AKL if you find a good rate! That saves a BUNCH of headaches!

 

[disneysuncat]

I am in a (somewhat) similar situation. (except that I'm driving down.) Our package reservation for Poly starts on 10/26. I had planned on just arriving on that day, but then thought about how that would "waste" part of our first day with arriving, getting there early afternoon, etc. I decided to leave a day earlier and get into Orlando the night before, so we'd be fresh for our first Poly day. After starting to price hotels close to WDW, it finally dawned on me to just do a value stay that night, and zip to the Poly the next morning.

We're getting in around 4 PM, and that will still be plenty of time for my daughter to enjoy the "magic" that Pop Century will have, splash around in the pool, etc. I'm sure that your kids would be the same, totally excited by the "Disney magic" of a value that first evening.

As far as you renting a car, etc, personally I think you'd be saving $$$ and hassle by just taking a cab over to AKL the next day.

 

[disneyfan55]

I am in a (somewhat) similar situation. (except that I'm driving down.) Our package reservation for Poly starts on 10/26. I had planned on just arriving on that day, but then thought about how that would "waste" part of our first day with arriving, getting there early afternoon, etc. I decided to leave a day earlier and get into Orlando the night before, so we'd be fresh for our first Poly day. After starting to price hotels close to WDW, it finally dawned on me to just do a value stay that night, and zip to the Poly the next morning.

We're getting in around 4 PM, and that will still be plenty of time for my daughter to enjoy the "magic" that Pop Century will have, splash around in the pool, etc. I'm sure that your kids would be the same, totally excited by the "Disney magic" of a value that first evening.

As far as you renting a car, etc, personally I think you'd be saving $$$ and hassle by just taking a cab over to AKL the next day.

Yes, for the cost of the Values and the hotels in the area, it's your best bet especailly since there most likely will be special rates out there for mid to late Oct. Have fun!!

 

[nutsforgolf]

DisneyFan 55, Free dining starts on 8/24, so I need to recheck into AKL that day.

Does anyone know how I could get a better rate than Rack Rate at a value?

How are the buses to and from BB and TL?

 

[disneyfan55]

DisneyFan 55, Free dining starts on 8/24, so I need to recheck into AKL that day.

Does anyone know how I could get a better rate than Rack Rate at a value?

How are the buses to and from BB and TL?

They may put out some general public codes as well as AP. The current ones are through 8/2 and came out a few weeks ago.

 

[MD DisneyFreaks]

OT question for OP...


Where did you get that rental car rate and what class did you reserve? I have a car reserved 9/7-9-16 and it's a Compact and it costing me $287 from Enterprise. It was by far the cheapest I could find.

 

[nutsforgolf]

OT question for OP...


Where did you get that rental car rate and what class did you reserve? I have a car reserved 9/7-9-16 and it's a Compact and it costing me $287 from Enterprise. It was by far the cheapest I could find.

I got the rate through SimplyWheelz by Hertz. That rate has went up from the time that I booked. I just checked your dates and it is $384.

 

[MD DisneyFreaks]

I got the rate through SimplyWheelz by Hertz. That rate has went up from the time that I booked. I just checked your dates and it is $384.

OUCH!!!

Thanks for checking into that for me!