Last Min trip in March need offiste hotel reccomendation

[NeverBeen2DW]

I am traveling with a friend and her son who are on a tight budget and they want to stay off sight. I called the double tree and can find a room at 189 per night. Does anyone else have any reccomendations on other hotels. I really do not want to go much further off sight than this. I understand there are a few hotels in this area any thoughts? Also how do we get to the parks can we walk to DTD and take buses from there. I know the hotels also have shuttles but it sound like they stop at multiple parks. We are traveling 3/19 30 3/22 are the parks packed then with spring breakers? We will mostly be at MK.

Thanks!

 

[5mins2disney]

The site that must not be named (it's like Voldemort the DIS cringes in fear if you do! hehe) has the crowd indexes listed as an 8 for all of your dates, and a 9 on 3/22 (on a scale of 1-10).... so fairly crowded, yes. It lists 3/20 as the best day to visit MK, and the other 3 days MK is listed as one of the parks to avoid.

189 a night doesn't sound like "budget" accomodations to me! ouch... (it's higher than our highest rate for a pool home offsite!) Will you not have a car?

From most of the hotels I've been to by DTD (was just at Royal Plaza last month), it's a VERY long walk to DTD proper...like almost a mile. Doable with a bunch of adults if you're out drinking and don't mind a very long walk back home, but I wouldn't do it with kids.

 

[buzz2400]

If you don't have a car you might just want to stay at one of the allstars or pop century. If you really want to stay offsite look into the comfort inn lake buena vista. It is close to downtown disney and they do have shuttles but I did not use them so I can't tell you the schedule.

 

[HeatherC]

I would also suggest looking into the mousesavers recommended hotels. I think you will find them to be less than $189 a night. Check them out on www.mousesavers.com

You could also check www.hotelkingdom.com for Cypress Pointe and Cypress Pointe Grande Villas. That is very close and you could have a two or 3 bedroom villa for under $150 a night.

I there are also some good rates on allears.net that you could check out.

Hope this helps you out.

HeatherC

 

[spiceycat]

I called the double tree and can find a room at 189 per night. Does anyone else have any reccomendations on other hotels. I really do not want to go much further off sight than this. I understand there are a few hotels in this area any thoughts? Also how do we get to the parks can we walk to DTD and take buses from there. I know the hotels also have shuttles but it sound like they stop at multiple parks. We are traveling 3/19 30 3/22 are the parks packed then with spring breakers? We will mostly be at MK.

Thanks!

the downtown hotels are here

www.downtowndisneyhotels.com

most of the time you can stay onsite at a value resort for less.

the shuttles at the DDhotel stop at all the DD hotels - they don't do multiple parks. there is one shuttle per park but many hotels. about an 30 hour wait.

the DD buses now only go back and forth to the resort hotels.

so you would need to take a resort hotel bus to that resort then transfer to the parks.

It is probably quicker to just take the hotel bus.

the parks are little less crowded than the week before - but here is hoping - I am going that week too!!!

I would suggest getting a DVC resort studio - but I know the value resorts are less price.

 

[NeverBeen2DW]

my concerns are two fold. If we stay at the all stars etc then I am afraid it will be real noisy and DS 4 will not get any sleep. I am a light sleeper and I will be a bit annoyed with loud kids running back and forth at night. I have hear the value hotels are really loud at night. Also the issue of food. We are not going to do the dining plan. I prefer to but my friend does not want to so I will follow suit. If it were up to me we would be staying at a resort. I am also thinking I might just pay for a moderate and let her pay the difference for her son and for the food plan. That is another thought. I really do not know what to do to be honest so this is why I am looking. The only moderate availible are the POFQ and riverside and I think the Carribean one.

 

[HopperFan]

Agree for you to check mousesavers.com. Her links give you specials.

I just went on there, clicked on preferred hotels, clicked on Hilton and put in your dates and they are as low as $129. This hotel is literally across the crosswalk from DTD close to the toy store and Rainforest. I stayed there a couple nights in September and enjoyed it. Plus children under 12 eat free with adult.

Doubletree was same price you have, but included the continental breakfast.'

Royal Plaza also includes child breakfast at the lowest rate of $119.

Best Western popped up $107 plus $7 resort fee.

But I stayed at POP twice last year and wouldn't hesitate to return. Very quiet, both times we requested rooms facing the lake.

 

[spiceycat]

you can run across loud kids - not to mention adults at any resort.

Pop does have a lake.

most kids seem to like the pool - so they are generally found on the pool side part of the resort - not the lake side.

don't get a first floor room.

now if you don't mind a long ride before you get to the parks - go with DD - we stayed at Royal Plaza once - it was 45 minutes later before it got to the park. because I think we were the first stop. Mother once we got there refusal to leave the bus and demanded we go back and get the car.....

 

[Lizab609]

I Don't Know If This Will Help But I Stay At A Place Called Magical Memory Villas It Is 10 Min From The Park They Have 2 Bedroom Villas At 100.00 A Night They Have Pools And Arcade Rooms But Best Of All They Have Washer, Dryers, Full Kitchens And That Can Help With Your Buget Which Is The Only Way I Go To Disney On Budget Good Luck......

 

[NeverBeen2DW]

I priced it all out and it is cheaper to stay at the Allstars. I think I am going to due the Movie one because from what I read it is popular amoung the preschool crowd. They gave us a price of $444.00 for hotel only once we added park passes and dining it was $1536 and some change. The price of the Hilton was $637. Once it was all said and done it cost us each $768 to stay at the Allstar - Movie including the dining plan and park passes (but not hopper passes) and it cost us $713 each at the Hilton with the price of tickets added in for a total of $1426 so it is worth it to pay $50 more each to have dining include and stay on DW property. I priced other hotels too that were off DW. When you made the reservations all these sneaky charges popped up. An additional $40 per night for additional guest in room and those types of fees so it did add up and was not worth it.

I also got ADRs for the Plaza Rest for the first night we will be there so I figure we could eat then go see Spectro Magic more rides fireworks and then go back to the hotel. I also managed to snag ADR's for Chef Mickey at 11:10 the 2nd day we will be there. I figure when we arrive to the hotel about noon time we will go straight to MK and make it a long night. Let the kids sleep in a little the next day and the go to Chef Mickey for a late breakfast early lunch then go back to the hotel hit the pool if it is a nice day and they go back to MK in the late afternoon until evening. and for the 3rd day ADR's at Tony's Town Square for Dinner. I am trying for Whispering Canyons though. I would prefer that just so we could leave MK for a bit. I have been to DW before but my friend has not so I thought she might like to see something other than MK every day and night.

 

[dgaston]

Sounds to me like you're just doing MK. Do you think your son would like Playhouse Disney or Voyage of the Little Mermaid at MGM? I see that you don't have hopper passes, so I understand why you're choosing MK. Turtle Talk with Crush and the new Nemo ride are excellent for pre-schoolers at Epcot for a future trip with park hoppers. And don't forget AK, but probably not "Tough to be a Bug" -- that can be scary for little ones. If you can't get Movies, try Pop. It's newer and really is nice.

 

[spiceycat]

I am confused - I though you wanted to avoid noise.

All Star Movies is a BIG attraction for small and not so small kids.

if you want quiet and All Star - go with Music - I don't like there bus service - but it is quieter than Movies.

however that say I definitely preferred Pop.

Your plans for dinning look fine!!!

also remember once you get the airline tickets to call for DME. they need a bunch of information - name, address, phone number, work pn, email, birthdays

 

[HeatherC]

Not to add to your confusion, but I just saw on the home page that Buena Vista Suites (2 room suites) which are right outside the gate are $88 a night. Just wanted to mention it since budget was a concern. Not sure if this is good for your dates, you'd have to check.

HTH

Heather

 

[NeverBeen2DW]

Sounds to me like you're just doing MK. Do you think your son would like Playhouse Disney or Voyage of the Little Mermaid at MGM? I see that you don't have hopper passes, so I understand why you're choosing MK. Turtle Talk with Crush and the new Nemo ride are excellent for pre-schoolers at Epcot for a future trip with park hoppers. And don't forget AK, but probably not "Tough to be a Bug" -- that can be scary for little ones. If you can't get Movies, try Pop. It's newer and really is nice.

my son and I went in DEC 06. I found at Epcot he was not crazy about Nemo/Living Seas etc and at MGM we saw the Playhouse Disney show and though he did like it there really was not much else for him to do there. Although I did enjoy Dinner at Brown Derby. So we are not doing Epcot of MGM because my friends DS5 does not care about Nemo and well MGM would be a waste considering it really is not for the preschool crowd. This really was the reason why we did not opt for park hopper passes. My friend and her son will be staying the 19th, 20th, 21st and leaving early the 22nd. My son and I will be there the same days but leaving late on the 22nd so we will go to AK then. We like AK my friends DS is not crazy about going to the zoo. So she really does not want to go to AK and to be honest MK does take more than one day to do everything. I personally like the option of park hopper passes. To add them would be an additional $180 I may just pay for it so we have the option. I am not quite sure my friend understand how big DW is as she has never been there.

 

[NeverBeen2DW]

I am confused - I though you wanted to avoid noise.

All Star Movies is a BIG attraction for small and not so small kids.

if you want quiet and All Star - go with Music - I don't like there bus service - but it is quieter than Movies.

however that say I definitely preferred Pop.

Your plans for dinning look fine!!!

also remember once you get the airline tickets to call for DME. they need a bunch of information - name, address, phone number, work pn, email, birthdays

I know it may be noisy I figure I have to sacrifice something but I look at it this way the kids will love the theme there, we will be spending most of our day at the parks. Not sure we will even be able to get some pool time in there and with ASMo being a 20min ride for MK I really do not think we will come back at all until the day is over. The best time to be in the pool in my opnion is when it is hottest in the day and that would be mid day. I really do not want to come back mid day if you know what I mean. I started panicing about staying here and looked at WL only to find out the pool was under construction GRRRRR! I was willing to pay the difference which was only $330! Also the theme here I think will really be enjoyed by the kids. They are 4 and 5. I think if I switched to another resort at DW my friend and I might enjoy it more but the kids would not get the wow factor. KWIM? I am still searching. My thoughts are this my friend will commit to paying her share at this point which $768.00. I look at it this way. I am willing to pay more so if I can find another DW resort at this point and switch hotels for so called "luxury" lets face it a hot tub at the end of the day for my aching body would be nice then I will pay the difference. So I am still looking. I really want the ease of having everything taken care of and being on DW property. I am open to other resort suggestions. At this point I am commited to staying on property. It gets to complicated staying off. Well at least for my overwhelmed brain.

 

[NeverBeen2DW]

Hmmm now to add to my confusion I just saw I can stay at POR-Riverside for $275 more. (this also includes: passes (not hopper) and dining plan. Okay which would you do POR or ASMo? I have never been to POR or ASMo. I am not sure if it would matter at all if we plan to stay at the parks all day anyways. I assume they both are about the same bus ride time wise right? Like I said she is on a budget and I am not on as tight of a budget so would we fair better if I paid the difference of $275? Would we be happier at POR? Has anyone stayed at both?

 

[NeverBeen2DW]

i just did a search on the boards and it seems the little kids really enjyoy ASmo. so maybe it is the best choice then. I did price a few others and can do CBR for the same price but this is for me and my comfort level more than us as a group. Looking at the pictures of ASMo. I think the kids really would get a kick out of it at this age. Once they are older they may not enjoy it as much. I just want it to be nice for my friend. She has not take a vacation in 4 yrs so I want her to be able to enjoy it too and her marriage is on the rocks right now etc so wanted her to also be able to relax at the end of the day and enjoy a glass of wine etc. At ASMo there just does not seem to be a relaxing spot for adults to sit and relax at the end of the day while the kids are sleeping. Any thoughts?

 

[spiceycat]

all the moderates are the same time - or close to it.

neither moderate or values have a balcony for you to sit own while the kids nap.

however that say - I think you should reconsider and try for Pop. It has a lake and you can relax while enjoying it - you won't be alone - lots of parents sit outside the room and enjoy the lake.

Pop has enough Disney stuff for the kids - still it also has its adult side.

POR right now has it food court closed. now the one at POFQ is still opened. but still a moderate without a food court is not going to be the great fun that POR generally is.

although yes the moderates have a slide and hot tub.

You really might reconsider WL. the latest news I have heard was WL guests were allowed to pool hop to the Cont and Polyn.

WL has another pool - the quiet pool at VWL. Now it is no means as big as either one at the All Stars. but there is still a pool.

now WL if you really want a balcony while your kids are asleep.

but either a value or moderate would work great - especially with your friend on a budget.

 

[NeverBeen2DW]

WL with out water is not worth it. It takes away the beauty of the water falls etc I would think. So that one is out the running. No food court would also take POR out of the running for me too. I thought about checking AKL but I did not have a great experience there the last time I was there. I had bad service and the staff was not real friendly. I would be willing to try it agian for the balconey and all the near sitting areas. Part of me wants to make it special and surprise my friend and part of me thinks the kids would really like the theming of the AS.

 

[spiceycat]

so go with the Movies.

doesn't mean you can't manage to visit the WL or Polyn which you are there.

the bus ride to the MK is even further from AKL.

since this is busy season at WDW - don't be surprise if your resort doesn't share with the other all stars.