Is this worth the effort?

[Dustykins]

I booked a solo trip to WDW in March (not ideal timing for saving money, but I'm watching my daughter's band play at MK). I'm at ASMu, but I splurged a little on a preferred room so I won't be walking so far, by myself on my way back from the parks at night (I know Disney's reasonably safe, I just don't want the anxiety) and I intend to use Mears Connect to transfer back and forth to the airport. However, when I went to book my flights, it ended up better to book the evening before I originally intended to leave (direct flight, not getting up way before dawn to drive 2 hours to the airport, a little extra buffer to make sure I'm getting there in time to watch the band, not taking up a spot that the band might need, etc). So, now I need a room for another night. I saved a little on a Thursday evening flight instead of a Friday, but another night in a preferred room at ASMu will be more than I've saved. So, I see two other options (probably more). 1. Book a standard room at a value resort (about $204-$209 a night before taxes, compared to $240ish a night before taxes for a preferred room) or 2. Book a room at an off-site hotel. The problem with this is now I need to figure out alternate transportation. The other hotels that Mears Connect services aren't an less expensive than a value resort (actually mostly more expensive) and Uber from nearer the airport isn't cheap, either.

My idea is to get a hotel with a free airport shuttle (I found one with a 24/7 shuttle, since my flight gets in fairly late, that gets decent reviews for $145 ish before taxes) and then take the shuttle back to the airport the next day and take Mears Connect from there.

Is that going to be more hassle than I'm saving? I know I'm overthinking this, I just can't make up my mind which way to go.

 

[CarolynFH]

I think I’d do the hotel with free airport shuttle, if I were trying to save the maximum amount of money. Free breakfast at that hotel would make it a no-brainer, for time as well as money saving purposes.

 

[Willow Ufgood]

I booked a solo trip to WDW in March (not ideal timing for saving money, but I'm watching my daughter's band play at MK). I'm at ASMu, but I splurged a little on a preferred room so I won't be walking so far, by myself on my way back from the parks at night (I know Disney's reasonably safe, I just don't want the anxiety) and I intend to use Mears Connect to transfer back and forth to the airport. However, when I went to book my flights, it ended up better to book the evening before I originally intended to leave (direct flight, not getting up way before dawn to drive 2 hours to the airport, a little extra buffer to make sure I'm getting there in time to watch the band, not taking up a spot that the band might need, etc). So, now I need a room for another night. I saved a little on a Thursday evening flight instead of a Friday, but another night in a preferred room at ASMu will be more than I've saved. So, I see two other options (probably more). 1. Book a standard room at a value resort (about $204-$209 a night before taxes, compared to $240ish a night before taxes for a preferred room) or 2. Book a room at an off-site hotel. The problem with this is now I need to figure out alternate transportation. The other hotels that Mears Connect services aren't an less expensive than a value resort (actually mostly more expensive) and Uber from nearer the airport isn't cheap, either.

My idea is to get a hotel with a free airport shuttle (I found one with a 24/7 shuttle, since my flight gets in fairly late, that gets decent reviews for $145 ish before taxes) and then take the shuttle back to the airport the next day and take Mears Connect from there.

Is that going to be more hassle than I'm saving? I know I'm overthinking this, I just can't make up my mind which way to go.

I would book the standard room at another value resort if I want to save the money. The thought of taking an offsite hotel shuttle back to the airport in order to take Mears to the Disney hotel makes me cringe. So much wasted time and you never know how often those free shuttles are going to run.

 

[leebee]

I think I’d do the hotel with free airport shuttle, if I were trying to save the maximum amount of money. Free breakfast at that hotel would make it a no-brainer, for time as well as money saving purposes.

Yup, this is exactly what I'd do in your situation. If fact, we've done it. There are a lot of decent hotels with airport shuttle near the airport. I think it's worth the money you'll save.

You won't regret the preferred location at ASMusic. It's a decently-large resort and the walk back to Broadway, Country, or Rock can be dark and lonely at night, and seemingly miles long if your feet are killing you. I got a free upgrade to preferred last November- ended up in Calypso- and I think it made a difference. Prior trips, in Broadway, there were a couple of evenings where I'd planned to go to Disney Springs or whatever and just didn't, because I was tired and my feet hurt and that bus stop seemed a loooooong way away. Didn't have that issue when I was staying in Calypso, and I appreciated it so much that I booked preferred for my upcoming November trip! For me, it's not a safety issue as much as it is being tired and solo, with nobody to say c'mon, Mom, you can do it, nobody else's energy to feed off of.

 

[DL1WDW2]

Sounds like your safety is not as important as saving money …
Your safety is more important Stay on Disney property .

 

[DCLMP]

I booked a solo trip to WDW in March (not ideal timing for saving money, but I'm watching my daughter's band play at MK). I'm at ASMu, but I splurged a little on a preferred room so I won't be walking so far, by myself on my way back from the parks at night (I know Disney's reasonably safe, I just don't want the anxiety) and I intend to use Mears Connect to transfer back and forth to the airport. However, when I went to book my flights, it ended up better to book the evening before I originally intended to leave (direct flight, not getting up way before dawn to drive 2 hours to the airport, a little extra buffer to make sure I'm getting there in time to watch the band, not taking up a spot that the band might need, etc). So, now I need a room for another night. I saved a little on a Thursday evening flight instead of a Friday, but another night in a preferred room at ASMu will be more than I've saved. So, I see two other options (probably more). 1. Book a standard room at a value resort (about $204-$209 a night before taxes, compared to $240ish a night before taxes for a preferred room) or 2. Book a room at an off-site hotel. The problem with this is now I need to figure out alternate transportation. The other hotels that Mears Connect services aren't an less expensive than a value resort (actually mostly more expensive) and Uber from nearer the airport isn't cheap, either.

My idea is to get a hotel with a free airport shuttle (I found one with a 24/7 shuttle, since my flight gets in fairly late, that gets decent reviews for $145 ish before taxes) and then take the shuttle back to the airport the next day and take Mears Connect from there.

Is that going to be more hassle than I'm saving? I know I'm overthinking this, I just can't make up my mind which way to go.

I've stayed at an airport hotel the first night on just about every trip to WDW or Universal. Sometimes I Uber to the next hotel. I've also gone back to airport to pick up a rental car. It's not a hassle it's a good way to save money. Is 200 the best rate for a value? Geez.

 

[HeiHei2018]

Check the cost of uber/lyft from airport #1 to ASMu. A shuttle to a bus will take a long time. That could give you an extra hour or more at the parks, which has value.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Yup, this is exactly what I'd do in your situation. If fact, we've done it. There are a lot of decent hotels with airport shuttle near the airport. I think it's worth the money you'll save.

You won't regret the preferred location at ASMusic. It's a decently-large resort and the walk back to Broadway, Country, or Rock can be dark and lonely at night, and seemingly miles long if your feet are killing you. I got a free upgrade to preferred last November- ended up in Calypso- and I think it made a difference. Prior trips, in Broadway, there were a couple of evenings where I'd planned to go to Disney Springs or whatever and just didn't, because I was tired and my feet hurt and that bus stop seemed a loooooong way away. Didn't have that issue when I was staying in Calypso, and I appreciated it so much that I booked preferred for my upcoming November trip! For me, it's not a safety issue as much as it is being tired and solo, with nobody to say c'mon, Mom, you can do it, nobody else's energy to feed off of.

I agree with this. I stayed solo at ASMusic once. I wasn't in the preferred section, but right after it, so I was just the second building. DS was a Jazz major at the time, so that was what I requested and got. Enjoy your daughter's band playing-it's an unforgettable experience to watch them play at Disney-so glad you'll see it.

 

[barkley]

we've stayed upon arrival or departure at hotels near the airport and used their transportation with no issue. I see no problem with it, you also (as someone mentioned) get a free breakfast which is a bonus. rather than calling the 800 number for the locations you are looking at call the places directly to see how their shuttle services work b/c some do it on a schedule and some will let you make an advance reservation. we just pack a small overnite bag so we don't even have to open a suitcase for the one night.

 

[DCL58]

Sounds like an awful amount of trouble to save a small amount of money. I would book another night in the resort I was already staying in. Even more so if I was traveling alone.

 

[leebee]

As I said above, I'd stay at the airport hotel. Fly in, shuttle to the hotel (good point about calling the hotel directly- some of them run routinely, some of them you need to call once you have your luggage), sleep. Have a good breakfast and then either shuttle back to the airport and take Mears or just call an Uber from the hotel to your Disney resort. It's easy, and it'll save you money. You'll probably get to Disney at about the same time you would have if you'd flown on the early flight, but you'll be rested, fed, and ready to roll!

 

[robinb]

I've stayed near the airport many times, either when our flight arrives really late or if it leaves really early. It's perfectly OK. Shuttles work fine. I get in, get out, and get on my way.

However, in your situation I would book the standard view room for your entire stay. WDW Resorts are very safe. You will 99.999% not be in danger walking an extra 5-10 minutes back to your room alone. In fact, I think a WDW Resort is safer than some random airport hotel because of the additional security at the gate and walking the resort itself. The only possible issue with a standard view room at ASMu is that some buildings can be a long walk from the bus. But that's why they are cheaper.