Just found out we are going in DEC, HELP!

[Longsx3]

Okay, I could really use some advice, here is our situation:
ME, DH & DD(8) live in Germany, DH is Military. are going to meet DF(ather) in Orlando for Christmas instead of DF coming to Germany. We will be in Orlando for aprrox 10 days, Dec 19-29. We have so many options right now it is a bit overwhelming for me.
I will list our options and any opinions are greatly welcome!

A) We can rent a condo through AFVC (military program) in Orlando for $249(this is for all 7 nights) for the 17-25 of DEC, then move to a hotel or Rent a house. The main problem I see is moving on Christmas day but we might be able to save alot of money this way.

B) Rent a house for the entire 10 nights. Problems I see: not being on Disney property at all. But if we did this we could have a nice Christmas Dinner and invite other Family members from Tampa. Plus private pool & laundry! Any house rental recommendations?

C) Stay at Disney the entire time, either 2 value or may be moderate rooms with AP discount. I will probably buy AP for me, DH & DD because we plan to return in th summer. Upside well it's disney! Potential Problems:not sure DF would want to go to Disney for 10days especially with crowds at Christmas, the cost...of eating out for 10 days, not to metion the weight gain. Also not being able to have Christmas dinner with other family members...I can't decide if this is good or bad! DD & I will be in the US for at least 2 more weeks so we will still get to see family members.

D) Stay offsite at a Marriott the entire time and rack up a lot of Reward points!

If you read thru all of this I really appreciate it! One last thing I should mention is that DH, DD, & I have all been to Disney many times although we haven't lived in Fl for over 10years, we even managed to have DD's 6ht B'day at the Sandcastle club!

 

[zurgswife]

Personally, I'd op for all the time at disney....during the holiday season some of the parks are closed by 11:30am (I was there last year from the 21-jan4, this happened many times) and if you are off site you will have trouble entering the parks...the first level of closure is offsite...

If your ressie starts on the 17th you will recieve the discounted price for the entire ressie...so value rates will cover your entire stay...

 

[chyam]

If it were I and you know you will not be doing Disney the entire time you are there, I would stay onsite the first couple of days...say 17th-21st that will probably be the slowest time out of your schedule to see the parks (maybe Shades of Green?) and then either get a condo or house offsite to have Christmas dinner and family to visit. But anyway that you do it you had better start trying to get ressies now! This way you would still get the Disney experience and also have a place to do other things after Disney, and save some money on meals,etc.

 

[Longsx3]

Thanks for the responses! Here is what I am thinking if My Dad wants to stay at Disney the entire time then we will go do that, it isn't often that we have an opportunity to go for 10days and with PAP passes we will hopefully get a good discount and we can always leave when it gets busy.

If he doesn't want to stay at Diseny the whole time we will stay the 19th-22, on the disney site it says that 19th is value season?, then get a house. But we will still have PAP so if we want to visit the parks we can.

I have already made some reservations but I am still looking at Houses....there are so many Rental Houses in Orlando it is overwhelming!


Thanks again!

 

[dgaston]

I think your idea to split time between Disney property and renting a house is a great idea. We rented a house for my and my brother's family last Christmas in Windsor Palms. It worked out beautifully. Using the back entrance, we were only 12 to 15 minutes from the turnstiles at the MK and were easily able to go back and forth to the parks. We didn't try to get in to MK on either Christmas (I did cook a traditional dinner at the house) or on NYE.

HTH and have a great visit.

 

[mic_key_mouse]

Regardless of what you decide as a final plan, I would call today and book rooms at SOG (or resort of your choice) for the entire stay, then modify the ressie over the next few days as your final plan takes shape. IMHO you need to move pretty fast if you want to get ressies onsite at the resort you want to stay at for that length of time. Regardless of where you wind up, if it isn't your first choice call back regularly, as people do cancel.

Blessings

 

[Longsx3]

A couple of people have mentioned SOG, we have stayed there in the past and really enjoyed it but due to DH's rank we should be able to get a Moderate for less and possibly AKL for just a little more with an AP rate.


Once again thanks for all of the suggestions and I am definitely starting to make reservations already!