Help! On Disney vs. Off

[Pookey]

Two families planning to travel together to Florida in Aug. 2003. One wants to stay on and the other off. Have chance to get 3 rooms at the Contemporary for great price through Shades of Green. Other family wants more space than a hotel room, and a kitchen for meals. We would prefer not to plan big meals and spend more time in the parks. We don't want to bother with rental cars, except for a few days to go to Universal or Seaworld. We are currently at a stalemate. Cabins in Fort Wilderness would be ideal, but expensive. When do AP prices come out for August of 2003 and would we need 1 AP per family or could one family rent 2 cabins with AP discount? Stayed here in '99 with Magic Kingdom Club discount and got a great deal. Need advice on what to do. My hubby is afraid the whole idea of 2 families traveling together is a bad idea. I think we can make it work. But don't plan a vacation like this often enough to say we will do it their way this time and our way next time. Especially since our 3 children will be 21, 17 and 10. Probably won't be another time for us all. Are there AAA discounts on resort prices and if so, are they any good?
Please help with any suggestions, other than staying separately. too hard to get together each day.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Our first real WDW trip was DH and I and another couple who are our best friends. We have even vacationed together prior at other locations and get along great.
No kids, just four adults. The other couple is 20+ years older than we are.
We all enjoyed ourselves, but I think whenever anyone travels with anyone else, both parties need some alone time.
The other couple had been to WDW prior and knew it fairly well. (Not as well as I do now. )
So they were of immense help in that area. But being younger and our first time, we had a tendency to try for commando style (right or wrong).
We all even stayed at CSR because it was the only resort we could all agree on! And of course it worked out fine.
You have some extra concerns because of the on-site vs off-site and you have kids thrown in the mix.
It's a hard choice and maybe expectations are too high, from both ends. It sounds like the two families want two different types of vacations.
Can you split your resort/hotel stays as a compromise?
We have never gone in mid year, so I am not sure when the discount rates come out. It depends partly on which rates you look for (AAA vs AP, etc). My understanding is that AAA and DC are the same or if not the same, too close to make a difference.
But I wouldn't think they would be out until early next year, at the very earliest.
Not sure I was of any help, but keep us posted on your decisions.

 

[erikthewise]

As an onsite option, you might consider renting points and staying in 1BR or 2BR suites at a Vacation Club resort (Old Key West, Boardwalk Villas, Beach Club Villas, or Villas at Wilderness Lodge). These suites are 700-800 sq ft for 1BR units and 1000-1300 sq ft for 2BR units, and have complete kitchens and other features.

You can also often pay cash to stay at these resorts. Renting points is usually more economical but also more complicated.
For more information, post a question on the Disney Vacation Club forum or see
-- the Rent/Trade FAQ at http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33
-- mousesavers.com/disneyresorts under "Renting Disney Vacation Club Points"

 

[Tara8595]

You didn't say how long your trip was, but if it's for 6 or more nights, you could always just split your stay. Stay onsite at your Contemporary like you want for 1/2 the time, then rent a car on property (National at Car Care Center), drive to the offsite property for the other half and do your Universal days outside the World.

Otherwise, if you've got the money, you could rent a 2BR villa. But I'm with you, who wants to cook when you're on vacation??

If you can wait to finalize your plans, keep an eye on the resort page of mousesavers.com. I think the FW cabins are currently $139. Maybe there will be another discount in time for your trip next year. It's still early yet to tell. Those codes usually only come out around 3 months in advance or less.

Tara

 

[dwfanatic]

We've done both. I do LOVE the vacation home that we stay at. With 2 families you may be more comfortable off property. The home that we stay at is 5 minutes away from the world. We love it!! We like having our own pool and jacuzzi, having the luxury of "spreading out"-- if you are off property, however, you do need to rent a car, and you said you didn't really want to. We don't feel "out of the magic" either...Just a thought...

 

[Pookey]

Thanks, you have all been helpful. I think we do want totally different vacations from the other family, but am committed to making this work. Splitting the time between the 2 options may be the answer, though I think the other family is rather fixated on this private house deal. Will have to convince hubby to maybe go their way this time and our way with 1 or 2 kids in another 4 years or so (any excuse to go back to Disney, would love to go every year, but just doesn't work). If our oldest finds a decent job, maybe he will even be able to go with us. But you gave me lots to think about.
Always open to more suggestions if anyone has any!

 

[Tara8595]

How many and how old are the other family's kids? To answer your original question about AAA, I think the discount is 10%. Disney Club discounts might work for you too.

It would be a shame for you to have to give in on what you want, when it seems already that you are the one taking the initiative to plan the trip. Try to get compromise and remember that this is *your* vacation too!!

 

[Pookey]

Yes, I am doing most of the planning, but the teenage girls of the other family keep finding things for me to check out and new ways to save money. I don't want to spend a fortune, but want top have fun.
Our family - Me, Hubby, Son - age 21 (at time of trip), Daughter - age 17, and son - age 9
Other family - Husband and wife, daughter - age 17 and daughter - age 14
I really think that the FW cabins would make eveyone happy if I knew that I could get a rate such as $129 or $139, but it sounds like there is no guarantee of that. Does DW penalize you for cancellations? I know that our SOG rooms at the Contemporary can be cancelled up to 30 days before our trip and no penalty. Are all Disney resorts the same? The houses all seem to penalize you and cancellations need to be made at lease 3 months before you go.
The other family is pushing for a decision, so that we don't have to worry about finding something. They don't want to have to settle.
Thanks again!

 

[susy]

It does sound like you want two different vacations. I would do this: spend half the time with them, then split up. Rent a car and spend the first half of your vacation off property. Then spend the second half of your vacation at the Contemporary. That way you will have time together and can do the things you really want to do when you have your time alone. I'm with you. There is NO WAY I am cooking on vacation! I don't even want a suite becasue I don't want to see a kitchen (or a fridge) in my room.

 

[Lisa P.]

I have two possibilities to suggest:

Doubletree Guest Suites on Hotel Plaza Blvd. (near Downtown Disney) I have not been there so cannot personally recommend it but they do offer regular bus shuttles to the parks as well as offering suites with limited kitchens, for the family that wants that. Check for reviews on the "Orlando Hotels and Attractions" forum and look for good discounts there - remember to look them up with some of the wholesalers, like HotelKingdom.com or Expedia.com.

Swan or Dolphin in the Epcot area. These are very nice hotels, not unlike the Contemporary, but they also offer suites at more reasonable prices than most onsite Disney suites. You get all the same transportation options as offered at the Disney Epcot resorts. This hotel often has a discounted price ($149?) for nurses, teachers and all government employees for their regular rooms.

We have really enjoyed BOTH our onsite AND offsite stays. When offsite, we usually have a spacious, luxurious 2BR suite or timeshare villa with a full kitchen, inroom washer/dryer (return home with clean stuff!) and big jacuzzi tub. Doesn't mean we always cook - breakfasts are sure cheap & easy though! And we enjoy sometimes gathering with others in the LR for late evening coffee & bakery goodies or ice cream sundaes together. If you decide to venture offsite, look into Sheraton Vistana Resort for a lovely resort with a good location only a mile or so from Disney property (2 miles to DD). Hope that helps!

 

[Patsy1969]

Hi, With the ages of the children, stay on property. The tranportation system is great for letting them do some things on their on. We went with 10 family members last August. We were all speaking when we got home. Some of them would get tired and would go back to the hotel to swim and the kids could take a nap. Also my ds and his wife could go to PI at night with no worry about driving back. Have fun with what ever your do!!! Patsy