Help me decide

[rachael95]

This is for DH, me and DS who will be about 20 months when we go.

We were originally planning on a September trip that would be staying at AllStar Music in the family suite. We were going to get FD. We had to cancel that trip and are now going to go down in November. I did the math and it's really a wash for us with FD money-wise. So I don't care if we don't get it when we go down again.

Here's my dilemma. We want to extend the time we're down in Orlando and have a day to relax as well as a day to visit my sister and her husband. So we will not be doing Disney the entire time. I also wanted to break up the Disney days with these off days so we weren't going to Disney every day, so a split stay is out. Besides, I have no desire to pack up all the junk you have to bring when traveling with a toddler to move hotels.

So my question: Should we still get a family suite at AM or do what my friend recommended which is stay at the Caribe Royale in a one or two bedroom villa?

Thanks!

Anyone done both to give an opinion?

 

[Robbi]

This is for DH, me and DS who will be about 20 months when we go.

We were originally planning on a September trip that would be staying at AllStar Music in the family suite. We were going to get FD. We had to cancel that trip and are now going to go down in November. I did the math and it's really a wash for us with FD money-wise. So I don't care if we don't get it when we go down again.

Here's my dilemma. We want to extend the time we're down in Orlando and have a day to relax as well as a day to visit my sister and her husband. So we will not be doing Disney the entire time. I also wanted to break up the Disney days with these off days so we weren't going to Disney every day, so a split stay is out. Besides, I have no desire to pack up all the junk you have to bring when traveling with a toddler to move hotels.

So my question: Should we still get a family suite at AM or do what my friend recommended which is stay at the Caribe Royale in a one or two bedroom villa?

Thanks!

Anyone done both to give an opinion?

Do you need transportation from an airport?
Will staying at Caribe Royale save money?
The practical pluses to staying onsite are free dining or the dining plan, ME, free parking, and extra magic hours. If these are not things you require, I'd stay offsite.
As much as I love WDW-we're DVC members- if I'm low on points, we stay offsite because Disney resorts, IMO, are not a good value. When your son is older, maybe book onsite because right now, he won't even really know the difference.

 

[mickeynut1]

If it was a Disney-centered trip, I'd say onsite is the way to go. But since you will be spending time outside of Disney and don't want a park every day, I think I'd stay offsite. Staying on Disney property and having the convenience of Disney transportation is a nice perk when you will be spending all of your time in the parks, but I would prefer offsite if there were other things in and around Orlando I was going to be doing.

 

[Sue M]

We enjoy on site. Even if we want a non park day, we can relax around the pool at our resort. With a 20 mo old, it's easier IMO to take a mid day break staying on site. But prob for what you're paying for a family suite at All Stars, you could have a pretty nice Villa at Caribe.

For just 3 of you, I wouldn't stay at All Stars, I'd look at a Deluxe resort like BC/YC prob for the same price you're paying at AllStars.

 

[shell8558]

We have stayed at the Caribe and at All star sports and movies , just not a suite . I really enjoy my time onsite at disney , however we do disney 24/7 for 6 days and we usually get free dining . If I did not get free dining and I would not spend everyday at disney - then I would go with the Caribe. We stayed in a 2 bedroom villa and we loved it! The space was great , it had a washer and dryer , we loved the pool area and it was literally a straight shot to disney - only about 4-5 minutes. I believe they also have free transportation to disney. Good luck

 

[rachael95]

We have stayed at the Caribe and at All star sports and movies , just not a suite . I really enjoy my time onsite at disney , however we do disney 24/7 for 6 days and we usually get free dining . If I did not get free dining and I would not spend everyday at disney - then I would go with the Caribe. We stayed in a 2 bedroom villa and we loved it! The space was great , it had a washer and dryer , we loved the pool area and it was literally a straight shot to disney - only about 4-5 minutes. I believe they also have free transportation to disney. Good luck

The Caribe is sounding like that would be our best bet. Thank you!