I've lost that lovin' feeling... Where should we stay?

[scooffer]

Ok I will try to be brief, I could use some suggestions. I want to take another trip to Disney, I have conceded to drive since DH hats to fly... Has to be over kids spring break, as we would like to enjoy the parks before the awful heat! We went last may and it was miserably hot! We stayed at cypress grande villas and loved it, but the availability for our whole week is not there and the price has really gone up since last year.

Bonnet creek is out, DH has bad gut feeling about the reviews he found on tripadvisor and I cannot change his mind. I am looking at Windsor hills, but feel uncertain about renting from an owner vs a hotel type resort.

We need to keep the 7 nights under 700.00, need a full kitchen and at least one bedroom, kids are ok on sleeper.

Thoughts, suggestions? starting to feel like it cannot be done.

 

[BrerMama]

Look into Vistana. All Ears and Dreams Unlimited both have some good deals. Not sure if they can get it under $100/night, but it might be close.

 

[scooffer]

now, to make decisions even harder, I got a PIN last night for free dining! Oh goodness, decisions, decisions...

 

[Lucky'sMom]

*First of all, we have stayed at Bonnet Creek twice and had a wonderful experience both times. I still recommend it to friends coming to WDW.*

But....this year we wanted even larger accommodations, so after much research, have decided to rent a home in Reunion Resort. These homes are so luxurious looking, with higher end furniture and designer decor. I would suggest looking into the condos and townhouses there. www.homeaway.com has a nice selection. Just go to that website, put in Orlando, then Kissimmee, then Reunion. On that page, put in the max price of $750/week and these will all pop up. Many are around $89/night, and that's for 2 or 3 bedrooms. I have not stayed here before, so I can't comment on the distance from the parks, but on a map it's just a little bit further than Windsor Hills.

Good luck in your search!

 

[3pletprincesses]

Too bad your Dh saw bad reviews on Bonnet creek as we stayed there last May and loved it. It was nice, clean and really close to Disney. We are going back there again this year. Last year we paid under $600 for 7 nights in a 2 bedrooms. Probably the review dh saw was from one of the unfurbished rooms.

 

[Chaitali]

I also wanted to add a recommendation for the Sheraton Vistana Resort. We stayed there last October and loved it.

 

[Beemitchcowski]

Too bad your Dh saw bad reviews on Bonnet creek as we stayed there last May and loved it. It was nice, clean and really close to Disney. We are going back there again this year. Last year we paid under $600 for 7 nights in a 2 bedrooms. Probably the review dh saw was from one of the unfurbished rooms.

Wow! Thats a steal!...We are going in May and we can't get it that low!and I agree..too bad your DH saw the bad reviews...I saw them too..which made me a tad leary..but sooooo many people on here just love it....and with it being so close to Disney..I figure...why not!

 

[4forMe]

I believe a 2 BR in Windsor Hills through vacationcentralflorida.com would follow your budget guidelines - I believe it would be under $700. The only thing is that you have to stay Sat. through Sat.

 

[brucerob62]

Ok I will try to be brief, I could use some suggestions. I want to take another trip to Disney, I have conceded to drive since DH hats to fly... Has to be over kids spring break, as we would like to enjoy the parks before the awful heat! We went last may and it was miserably hot! We stayed at cypress grande villas and loved it, but the availability for our whole week is not there and the price has really gone up since last year.

Bonnet creek is out, DH has bad gut feeling about the reviews he found on tripadvisor and I cannot change his mind. I am looking at Windsor hills, but feel uncertain about renting from an owner vs a hotel type resort.

We need to keep the 7 nights under 700.00, need a full kitchen and at least one bedroom, kids are ok on sleeper.

Thoughts, suggestions? starting to feel like it cannot be done.

HI,

Too bad your husband only looks at trip advisor..I NEVER go by TRip Advisor..there are always negative reviews on there..for every place you can find on there. ANd everytime I have gone to a place Trip ADvisor has been dead wrong as far as negative comments go. I have been to WBC it is awesome clean..spacious rooms..2 bd for $400 for 5 nites in Nov of 2011, got a fireworks view of illuminations upon request. Of all the times I have gone to Disney ..my kids said this is the best place they have ever stayed. It has free shuttle to the parks and DD. It has 3 pools and a lazy river. We will go back definitely. SO if you can convince your husband check out vacationstrategy.com for best deals. They are great people to work with, they work with many different off site resorts and can tell you how awesome WBC is.. Have a great trip no matter what you decide.

 

[scooffer]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts! After we got the FD pin, I ran the numbers over and over and over again... DH agreed that this could be a real chance to dive into Disney 24/7 and we are staying at Coronado Springs... boy what a 180 for us! The Lovin feeling is back!!!

 

[kimmer]

You mentioned that you wanted a 1 bedroom with a full kitchen? That is a must for us as well! We too got a FD pin and tried to crunch the numbers to stay on site this year, but it still didn't work out, cost & room size wise...

What type of accomodation are you looking at at coronoda springs?

 

[scooffer]

We decided to survive with 2 queen beds at Coronado. When we were at WDW last year off site, we rarely got back to our hotel in time to actually make a dinner, we ended eating out anyway. We always ate breakfast in the hotel and tried to pack small lunches or snacks. I looked at all our receipts and our family of 4, then 4 and 2, spent nearly $800.00 on food and groceries last year! I am not the best person to skimp on food, its vacation and we ate well. But never spent more than $100.00 on any one meal. Only one sit down per day. So, when I budget in $900 for our food and groceries for off site, the on site with FD came out to less than $200 more and we got an extra day in the park. here is what I looked at:

Rental Car 530.88 Minivan
Hotel - Buena Vista Suites 733.50 7 nights
Disney Tickets 970.00 5 day park tickets
Food 900.00
3,134.38


Rental Car 530.88 Minivan
hotel 4/14 - Daytona 100.00
Hotel - Coronado Springs 2,573.68 6 nights Dining upgrade (tickets and food)
3,204.56

 

[kimmer]

yeah, see i'm just unwilling to budge on the seperate bedroom. our kids have a fairly early bedtime, and so i just can't picture tiptoeing and whispering for the whole evening. I want to be able to spend time with my DH, watch tv, fix a snack (in a kitchen!), have glass of wine, etc etc.

so, when i crunched the numbers at the coronado, even with my FD pin, the 1 bedroom was $700 more. I just don't want to spend $700 more, and be down a bedroom, and a kitchen...

argh! i really wanted to try on-site, but gosh darnit I can't budge on the bedroom thing

glad it worked out for you guys, and hope you have fun this april! the coronado looked awesome btw!

 

[scooffer]

I know, I am really nervous about only having queen beds and a very small table.

Last year we spent many evenings on our veranda with a glass of wine, unwinding after the kids went to sleep... I will miss that and I will miss the washer and dryer even more! We did at least 1 or 2 loads a day, just because we could.

But, I am hoping we will spend more time in the pool this year. When we were offsite, all I wanted to do was be back in the parks. We would often just get in the car and walk about DTD since it was "free", but then I would spend tons in the snacks or stores.

Can't wait to see what the 2 trips work out to at the end. I am sure I will not SAVE money onsite with FD. I am just hoping we can survive the single room with no couch!

 

[kimmer]

yes, the pool at the coronado looked cool! i'm sure you'll have a blast. post back how you found the resort, room ,and fd, k? even just a quick line

 

[cey]

I have always found Trip Advisor to be accurate, as long as you read all the reviews and I have used it to book hotels all over the world! It really is a great tool!

I stayed at POP for 14 days in September 2011 and even with free dining, really missed the freedom of staying off site, ( I am a huge WH fan!) and having my own vehicle. I found CS to be way too much food and really had a hard time spending all my snack credits! If you want to be immersed in Disney 24/7, then on-site is definitely for you. I prefer, my own bedroom, kitchen, pool, spa etc. No comparison for me! Give me off-site any day! I have rented the same house in WH for 4 years now, and love the fact that I can stay longer due to the lower cost factor. I found that buying everything from adult beverages to souveniers on-site is way more expensive!