Help me make a decision

[rae662000]

I'm a newbie here so please help me decide what is the most economical way to go. I have a family of 4 DH, myself and DD 5 and DD 2. I am considering staying at All Stars movies Fri-Sun (I think the kids would like this place best) and purchasing some rental points for DVC during the days of Mon-Thurs (because they are the cheapest). I am looking to go in Sept possible even doing a MYW package with dining option for these days and a 7 day ticket. OR getting a 7 day deal off site @ Cypress Pointe or Summer Bay for $615-659 for the week and using the mousesavers discount and purchasing the tickets seperate and using coupons and entertainment book to deray the cost of eating, OR do you just think it is best to just do a MYW package with dining and stay at All Stars since I do not have to pay for the 2 year-old. Some many questions????? HELP!!!!

Just reading thru you guys have already taught me so much, so please don't hold back. Thanks

 

[ncbyrne]

There is a lot to consider. Is this your first trip, or have you been to WDW before? Will you have a rental car? Having a car is convenient offsite or onsite, but a necessity if you stay offsite.
DH and I have stayed in a variety of accomodations offsite and on. We have also split our stay several times. But no matter where we sleep at night, we've always had a fabulous vaction.
When I take my DGDs, I find it the easiest NOT to move. Of the options you posted, my vote would be to stay onsite at the All-Stars for the convenience, and because this resort is super family/child friendly.
The dining option is a nice perk for two reasons. First of all, your food and even the tip is paid for in advance, so there's no need to be concerned at the menu prices. It's also nice to be able to have one sit down meal everyday - it forces you to relax a bit. However, only you know the eating habits of your family and whether it would be worthwhile. ( to view the menus and check prices - http://www.allearsnet.com/din/dining.htm)

 

[rae662000]

Thanks for the quick reply. Last year in Sept we went and stayed at CBR I did room only with a discount code. It was nice there but in light of not having a code I cannot see myself paying full price. We also purchaed park hoppers at the local Disney store so I saved some there and we budgeted about $100/day for food and since we stayed for 5 days we were okay. I do know this time I will not get the hoppers, no good for me with small children. My oldest eats pretty good but my youngest not. My DH is a hearty eater and has a strong desire to sample the Epcot cuisine, since he enjoys cooking. I also had a bad experience with a hotel once we arrived in Orlando a day before our onsite check-in. Oh, almost forgot, we live in Georgia and will be driving in so I will have my car and I brought my own double stroller which folds down for Disney bus.

 

[canwegosoon]

I agree...moving with little children might not be fun (packing unpacking checkout checkin etc.)
Renting DVC points are 10 a point generally...They are nice hotels,and some great locations (BWV,BC/WLV) it will cost you 72-92 for a week or 8 a week night at OKW.
In the stuidos you have toaster, coffee pot, microwave, and fridge. I only use a toaster and fridge, so ...doesn't matter to me too much. Another benefit is the laundry if free.

But your children are small(therefor their clothing is small) and you are driving, so I would not think laundry would be a problem. You can also get to a grocery store to pick up, items that you can eat in room then have a night at Epcot and a character meal for the kids.

 

[kandeebunny]

Personally I wouldn't stay at the All-Stars. I just got back from a trip and we stayed at Pop...we drove down from NH so we had our car. Thanks to having our car we went to look at other hotels and their locations for future reference. If you want to stay at a value go to Pop. With young kids it may be easier. It took us (driving we don't do busses) less than 5 minutes to get to MGM and Epcot from Pop. All-Stars were out of the way. Also with kids that age if there are school groups there they may not get the sleep they need. I also don't reccomend changing hotels. Pop had a GREAT pool at its deepest it was 4' deep and also a great kids pool and goofy popin jets!

 

[EthansMom]

Personally, I think I'm able to get my Disney trips cheaper by booking things a la carte than getting the package. And frankly, my family just doesn't eat enough at one sitting to get our money's worth out of the dining plan.

With young kids, I would stay on-site, but I also don't split my stay with young kids. I mean, this is my vacation, I am not going to pack everything up and haul it all to another resort in the middle of my vacation. So, I would either go with renting points for the entire vacation or staying at a Value resort for the entire vacation. Since Sept. is Value Season, a Value resort would cost $77 per night plus 13% tax. Also, if you stay on-site, you don't have to pay the $8/day parking fee that you'd have to pay if you stay off-site.

I would sign up with Mousesavers for the newsletter: http://www.mousesavers.com/newsletter.html. Follow the links in the newsletter that is emailed on the 15th of each month to find the best deals on tickets from Ticketmania and Discount Orlando Vacations. The 7 day expiry MYW w/no hopping are currrently $197 per adult and $158 per child from Ticketmania with the Mousesavers discount.

I would bring bottled water, juice boxes, snacks, glow-in-dark toys, etc. from home. My family would drink water instead of ordering soda, purchase children's counter service meals for adults, share meals, dine at sit-down restaurants for lunch when prices are lower, etc. to keep costs down. I've tried eating off-site to save money when I was traveling with a family member who insisted it was the way to go -- by the time you spend 20 minutes driving to get to the restaurant, wait 45 minutes for a table, and drive 20 minutes to get back to the parks or your hotel, you've wasted 1.5 hours to save 5 bucks that I could have saved at the park by ordering water instead of soda and sharing one dessert for the family.

If I were having a difficult time affording my trip when I got it pared down to the bare essentials, I would consider trimming down the number of days and/or waiting until I could save more money.

 

[rae662000]

Thank you all for your candid ideas, I think we have found a way, we are getting the either the Cypress Pointe Grand Villas Resort or Summer Bay Resort for $264 (thanks to Tinkerbell) and we will pay a la carte for everthing else. Thanks again for the help and keep up the good work.

 

[simpilotswife]

I am sure that you will be happy with your choice. Cypress Point is supposed to be very nice.

Just an FYI for future reference.... Currently DVC is not permitted to participate in the dining plan. I am not sure if this will change in the future for DVC. My understanding is that the only people that are allowed to buy the Dining Plan are those guests that are paying rack rate for their rooms.

 

[VSL]

Personally I wouldn't stay at the All-Stars. I just got back from a trip and we stayed at Pop...we drove down from NH so we had our car. Thanks to having our car we went to look at other hotels and their locations for future reference. If you want to stay at a value go to Pop. With young kids it may be easier. It took us (driving we don't do busses) less than 5 minutes to get to MGM and Epcot from Pop. All-Stars were out of the way.

Yes, but AS Resorts are closer to OTHER parks.
All WDW Resorts are like that.