help....... what would you do??

[tkme4ard]

Okay I have reservations for the Contemporary thru SOG but I've come across another terrific deal through www.govarm.com for a 3 bedroom condo 2 baths with jaccuzzi tubs and a full kitchen and I believe 2 living areas for 419 for 7 days. The Contemporary we got for 8 days for 800$. There are pluses to both places. The condo would be about a 6 minute drive. We're going Aug 26-Sept 3rd right now. I have PS's set up and our fireworks birthday cruise. So that would be a pain switching PS's and before I even think about switching I have to find out if I can get new PS's cause if not it's moot point. The reason why I would have to switch is because the condo si Sunday to Sunday and right now we have Tues through Weds. The room would be nice esp since my 18 yo niece is meeting us there. Saving money would be nice. Our own bedrooms, the tubs (a little romance LOL) Saving money by having some of our meals there. But is it worth it? Is it worth the hassle of driving back and forth? Staying in the north garden tower at the Contemporary so we'd have a trek in order to go do anything anyway right? I just am so torn..... tell me about how wonderful it will be to stay on site please?

Angela

PS posting this on the budget board too just in case it's not the right forum for it.

 

[melomouse]

What a Dilemma!!!

There's lots of folks who will give you lots of support for onsite, Ive done both and a combination of both. The trade off is being on property in more cramped quarters in the nidst of the resort and park magic. There is a price, obviously!
I have asked myself some of these questions...

Do you have an Annual Pass so you can come and go as you please, not feeling the time constraints that sometimes goes with offsite?
Are your offsite accomodations not only roomy, but really comfy enough to spend some time there to relax? Modern, clean, a little luxury?
When did you visit WDW last and when will you be back? Have you stayed on property before? What is your park touring style? Laid-back/commando/or something in-between?

My thinking goes something like this - if I am coming back within a year - save the money, stay offsite, be comfy, save money and eat in more Disney restaurants you haven't tried yet or buy more souvenirs or SAVE it!

OTOH -
If you GOTTA stay onsite, you gotta stay onsite. I know I'll always be back in a year or two - or less! - now that I have that AP! - and can stay on property another time, if not this trip!

Good luck - and let us know what you decide. It is a very personal decision. I struggle with it EVERY single time!!!LOL

 

[tkme4ard]

we plan on being very laid back /child led as far as the parks go. We just want to soak it in and live through their eyes for a week. This will probably be the main vacation we'll take for at least another 4 years unless dh makes Master We'll have 5 day ultimate park hopper passes. The condo is very nice my SIL's just went there 2 weeks ago, loved it and thought it was lovely, easy to navigate to and from etc. And we're not gonig at a super busy time. We haven't been with the kids and the lst time my dh went was 25 years ago (ROFL) and me um well uh 17 years ago. Never stayed on propery before...

does that help? LOL

 

[palmtreegirl]

we plan on being very laid back /child led as far as the parks go. We just want to soak it in and live through their eyes for a week. This will probably be the main vacation we'll take for at least another 4 years unless dh makes Master We'll have 5 day ultimate park hopper passes. The condo is very nice my SIL's just went there 2 weeks ago, loved it and thought it was lovely, easy to navigate to and from etc. And we're not gonig at a super busy time. We haven't been with the kids and the lst time my dh went was 25 years ago (ROFL) and me um well uh 17 years ago. Never stayed on propery before...

I would say stay at the CR and enjoy the SOG low rate! I think the kids will love it and you're literally staying in the middle of WDW at the CR resort. It's a real fun resort, you'll have the monorail footsteps away. You have easy access to the Polynesian and Grand Floridian, they're fun to explore and have some great restaurants. Plus EVERY night the Electrical water parade plays right in front the CR. SOG stays in the North garden wing and just outside by the water is a great picnic table near the playground. Every night we'd let the kids play and sit at the table and wait for the parade and have a drink. The parade would come and we'd all watch together, it made for some really great memories!!!

The rate you're getting at the CR is VERY low and soon the new SOG will be open so this is probably your only chance to stay at an actual Disney deluxe resort for such a low price- go for it!

I don't think you'll regret staying onsite it's very special!!

 

[ziggy14]

tkme4ard, I am in the same position as you are and was pulling my hair out trying to decide. I have pretty much decided to stay at the Contemporary and give up the condo off site. The way I came to this decision was, I asked myself, without the SOG rate of $99 a night would I ever have a another chance to stay at the Contemporary, answer probably not. I am taking the Contemporary and going to enjoy this oppertunity I have been given. I can always stay off site next time. Not an easy decision to make so I know what you are going through. Good Luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

We just enjoyed CR, NGW and I have to say that it was a fabulous trip. SO easy to access MK and Epcot AND restaurants at other monorail resorts. We only used the car for MGM and AK, and that was fairly quick! To be in the middle of it all for that low rate will never happen again. As we laid by the pool and watched the kids swim, the monorail would whisk into the CR. DH and I said this was the perfect vacation.
The rooms and bathroom are quite big, DS enjoyed the daybed while DD got the other queen bed. We had a view of the lake, Space mt. the the fireworks! We have stayed at many of the WDW resorts, but this was our first monorail resort(will NOT be our last ) and we are forever spoiled.
What does that 6 minutes really work out to be? Is that 6 minutes to the WDW gate? By the time you park and monorail to MK it will more than likely be about 30 mins or more.
My kids loved the food and fun center, we even allowed them to go to the arcade alone one afternoon with the 2 way radios. We caught up with them for dinner.
Never leaving Disney is just an entirely different experience than staying off property, IMHO(which we did many years ago, never again!).
We are going back several times in the next year as we have SP's and we plan to try resorts we have never stayed at. They really are like another theme park in themselves. BUT, we may also go back to the CR as it has a special place in our hearts now.

 

[dg39]

Besides the fact that the CR is my favorite, I say stay on site. The CR has action, large rooms, great shops, wonderful restaurants, easy access to MK & Epcot, wonderful staff, & is on-site. Nothing beats the magic of staying on site. Being you all haven't been to disney in a while, and you did get a great rate for the CR, you can soak up all the magic this time & then next time you go you cn stay off site Even if you don't go to the parks much, you can rent boats from the marina, and hang out near the pool or even people watch in the lobby. You won't have to get all the kids in the car, look for parking or pay for it. The buses aren't that bad & you can walk around downtown disney at night, without rushing because your resort isn't loo far away. Just getting in and out of the car everyday can be a pain. You can do what you want in the morning & then go back to the resort for alittle rest and/or play,because the resort is right there. . THe arcade in the CR is a must for little ones and the food court is pretty good also. You can either walk over to the MK or take the monorail to either the Poly and GF to explore those resorts. THere's a few activities at the GF for the kids to enjoy, Adventures in Cooking, The Pirates Cruise or Tea with Alice. They could do that while you have a snack or just walk around. THe CR is in the middle of everything. I'm bias for the CR, we just love it there. Let us know what you decide, but is $400.00, plus changing all your ps's(what if you can't get what yu want, if you change), going back & forth loading the kids in the car and not being in the center of things worth it for you.(plus you can see the ewp from the CR every night)

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

We just really want to soak up disney

I read your post on the budget board and you made the above statement. I think you kind of answered your own question. CR is THE place to soak up Disney.

 

[novafan]

Go for the CR at the steal of a price!! That's what we are doing in September, well for half of our trip. We have a prepaid package at an off site condo so we are using that for 3 nights (hey, it's already paid for) but we are staying 3 more nights on site at the CR at the great SOG price. I was FLOORED at that price!! In fact, Monday I'm calling to see if I can get one more night at the CR. I hope it's not too late to get another night. I think staying at the CR will be magical.

 

[tkme4ard]

we're going to leave it the way it is and just tell myself to quit stressing and no more looking ROFL

Angela