help with the pro's and con's of different vacation accamodations

[Banshee]

We have a reservation for HIFS from december 28th to january 11th for a grand total of around 1700- Then a qoute from magical memories for the same time frame for a 2 bedroom villa a Laguna bay for 1411- then we have a qoute for a very lovely private home with its own enclosed pool for a slightly diff. time frame jan.1st to jan11th for 968.93. Help me with the pro's and con's! Please I had read some reviews about HIFS that scared me.I know nothing about Laguna Bay or this Home. We have always stayed at hotels or on site at disney. So it is nice to have your room cleaned every day. But I am thinking about how nice it would be to have a villa or the house. With full kitchen's so we could also save money on food. The house has a master suite with a walk in shower and roman tub. And winnie the pooh themed room for the kids. I am confused we want to feel like we are on vacation, but I also dont want to be dissapointed. Also we are more laid back kinda people. We are not really into organized activitys. Thanks for any help!!

 

[kaylajr]

I would go for the house

we rent one every trip and you can't beat the comfort
of the room you will have to spread out

the kitchen to save $$$ on food

and laundry come home with a suitcase full of CLEAN clothes


and the private pool is great so nice not to have to watch out for everyone elses kids

 

[Banshee]

Thank you!! We are seriously considering the house! We figure not only will we be saving money on food but on the fee for the house. 1700- @ HIFS compared to 996- Thanks for the advice! Does it still feel like your on vacation though?

 

[Amirah95]

We do the resort stays because most resorts have activities and fun things for the kids to do when you're not at Disney. At a resort, you get everything that kaylajr says except the private pool.

 

[disneysteve]

I vote for the house. Once you stay in a house, you'll never want to do a hotel again.

You said you don't care much about organized activities so a resort setting isn't necessary.

It is true that a house has no daily housekeeping, but what do they really do anyway - make the beds and change the towels. Will doing those things yourself ruin your vacation? I doubt it.

The rental homes are wonderful. Tons of space. Privacy - something no hotel offers. A private pool so the only screaming splashing kids you have to deal with are your own . A kitchen with a full refrigerator and freezer so you can keep snacks, make breakfast and even prepare basic meals if you wish. Many homes offer other amenities like vcr/dvd players, video game players, even computers with Internet access. You just can't beat it, especially when you consider that it is the cheapest of the options you presented.

Take the house - you won't be sorry.

 

[ptcruisermom]

Take the house, we spent 3 weeks last end of Dec. first week of Jan. It was great. Still felt like we were on vacation, somedays we did things some days not just lazed around the pool. I get up before everyone else, so I would get up and take a half hour or so walk around the neighborhood come back pick up the paper( i called the orlando sentinal ahead and arranged to have it delivered) make some cinnamon toast(pepperidge farm, after all we were on vacation I could splurge on the PF bread) glass of juice and made my way out to the pool to eaat breakfast and read the paper. soemtimes I would throow a load of clothes in to wash, the otheres would get up when they wanted and have their breakfast, we ate whatever we wanted for lunch, we were usually in the pool in the am and after lunch, ate lunch out there too. There are usually plenty of towels included and if you don't feel like making the bed close the door, but not to hard to just pull up the covers. It was jsut nice not having to go to work or get the kids up for school.

 

[Banshee]

Thank you all. I think the house is going to win out. I think it would be nice to come back to a calm house after a day in the parks. Thanks for the advice!

 

[kaylajr]

HI
you asked if staying at a house still felt like on vacation

for us the answer is YES

for one the house is larger then "home" so there is luxury in that

also if we stay in a cramped hotel we get on each others nerves and the vacation is no fun

glad your leaning toward the house
i'm sure you won't regret it

 

[BonnieA]

With a house everyone gets separate bedrooms. It's usually quieter there than at a resort where there may be people running by your room or bouncing off the floors over your head. You will get a good nights sleep and be rested for your days at the parks.
There is also the convenience of having more than one bathroom. The washer and dryer came in handy when we spent a day in the pouring rain at Universal Studios.

 

[tednvon]

Quickly, where is the house located, which housing developement? If we knew that we could help with your location, distance to Disney, and some info on the immediate area....Did you see the home with pictures of the interior and pool? Is there additional for pool heat for after September rentals?..Good questions to ask.

I think you will fine the home a great option for vacation. There are literally thousands of home for rent in the area so it is worth it to check it out for location, amenities like king beds, TV in all the rooms, pool heat, spa?, and so on....

You will have a wonderful time....hard to go wrong but it sounds like you would feel better with all the information you can get.

All the best.....Ted

 

[dandelion]

We loved having the separate bedrooms for the kids and more than one bathroom. Our kids were 6 and almost 4 when we rented a house in Eagle Pointe. They still talk about how much they enjoyed it.

We've since taken shorter vacations to other areas, and boy do the kids complain when dad is in the bathroom or when the other one won't settle down at night! I'm almost thinking we'll have to find at least some kind of suite arrangement for any vacation!

All that said, if you want your own pool to relax by or to watch just your own kids play in, if the adults like to stay up later than the kids, if you're happy with a breakfast of juice and toast and coffee and your kids only eat cereal and toaster waffles no matter what - get the house.

I just noticed your travel dates ... make sure to find out the fee (if any) for heating the pool.

 

[Banshee]

Thanks all! It is becoming a toss up between the house or a Magical Memories villa, in Somerset, Laguna Bay or Sweetwater, I got a really good rate for a 2 bedroom condo. So we are still thinking. I gave my DH till Thursday to decide!

 

[tednvon]

Hi again, the condos at Laguna, Sommerset and Sweetwater are very similar except for location. I would lobby for Sommerset as they are closest to Disney and 192.

These are very nice condos with a big walkin shower in the master. They are getting a little older and are wood construction, so are showing age a bit, but should be very roomy and basic for your family.

The pools are nice and warm but are smaller with no frills, just a mice warm pool.


If you are paying about a $100/night you are paying a higher end price for these condos. December 28 to Jan 3 will be a higher rate but should go down to about 70 to 80/night after that.

If you want to do one more fun search and you have some time go to www.vrbo.com and search Disney area and do a search with bedrooms from low to high and look at the condos there.

Also lots of condos by bedroom at www.vacationrentals.com

Sometimes it takes a while shopping to get the best deal but once you get the hang of it you can save some great money and stay in great accomodations. We owned a 7 bedroom 6 bath home that rented very well and we checked in about every developement and condo rental that there was before we bought....

Good Luck...Ted