Late Arrival--off site for one night?

[Keara'sMom]

Hi all! This is my first post, but I've been enjoying this site for the past couple of weeks--thank you for all of your great suggestions and strategies!

Here's my question: My DH and DD (age 8 on Jan 2 ) and I will be travelling to WDW on Jan 8 and have reservations at the WL. We got great code rates for Jan 9-12 but had to pay AAA rate for Jan 8. Not that big of a deal, except now we've made our plane reservations, and our flight doesn't get in to Orlando 'til 8pm. I'm figuring at least an hour to get luggage and our rental car, which puts us at WL pretty late. I'm trying to decide between cancelling the Sat. night WL reservation and staying off-site (for a lot cheaper), and then heading to WL first thing on the 9th, or just keeping things as they are (for ease) but shelling out more bucks. What do you all think?

Thanks again!

 

[jaysmom4285]

We did that for our recent trip, although not exactly for the same reasons. I couldn't get a decent flight for the day we wanted to arrive (Sunday), so I got a good flight for Saturday, and we stayed offsite. There are a zillion decent inexpensive places to stay in the area, so it's really no hardship. We checked into the CBR bright and early the next morning and got exactly the preferences we had requested, which is another advantage of being able to check in early. The room wasn't ready, so we left our luggage in the rental car and took the bus to Epcot. They'll give you a room key at check in, along with a number to call at some point during the day to find out your room number. When you get back, you can just go straight to your room.

 

[Keara'sMom]

Thanks, jaysmom! That's the way I was leaning, but I guess I wanted some support!

 

[DISNEYBIGGDOGG]

I would stay at one of the all stars for the first night. You could probably get it for about $50. That way they can transfer your luggage for you and you can enjoy your first day at the parks early.

 

[wilbur]

Our family (myself, DH & DD(2)) were in a similar situation in October. We stayed at POFQ on the 5 for 7 deal with the extra night added at the beginning with an AAA discount.
Arrived at MCO around 8pm. Sent DH to get the car while I waited for the luggage with DD. There was lightning that evening so the luggage was a little slow arriving and were on the road by 9:30. As we were leaving there were long lines at the car counters. So glad DH went ahead to get the car organized.
We also debated on the cheap offsite hotel. Both DH and myself are gald we spent the extra $$ and stayed at POFQ that night for several reasons.
We were given an excellent room!! Had only made 2 requests non-smoking ground floor. Ended up with non-smoking 2nd floor which actually worked out better.
We knew the first night we would be able to keep the same room. It was nice to get unpacked and settled in that first night. DH went early the next morning for a quick recheck in and grocery run. Then after a morning at the park we were able to return to our room for a rest and swim. If we hadn't checked in until the next morning there was a possibility of the room not being ready until after 3pm.
For us it was worth the extra few $.
JMO.

 

[boucheresq]

we're doing that 1/12 and staying at POP - it's only $77 plus tax - came to $85.85 total. The great thing about it is, if you ask, they will move all of your luggage for you from one resort to another, you just have to leave it all in your room! makes life easier for you!

 

[Kapp]

one night at All-Star Music the night before we checked into the AKL. We saved some $$$ but the hassel of checking in, finding the room, hauling in our stuff and hauling it all out the next day ....it was not worth it. Our next visit, we went straight to our resort (Dolphin) and decided we would not to the "Stay one night somewhere cheaper" route again. Hey....your on vacation!

Enjoy!!!

Kapp

 

[seashoreCM]

I often plan to spend the first night offsite in case of flight cancellations, if I am not arriving early in the day. Then, I am single so it may be easier for me than for most folks. Next trip (1/1/05) spending first night offsite because I couldn't get the annual pass rate for that night.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

<small>Never put soda pop in a baby bottle.</small>

 

[yecats]

You may want to consider bidding for a room using Priceline for that first night offsite. I've done this plenty and never had a bad stay especially for someplace that your only going to be in for 12 to 14 hours tops. Check out a site called biddingfortravel.com. This site is wonderful. People bid on hotels in Kissimmee, LBV, Orlando and Airport. Prices range, of course depending on the level of hotel, from $20-$100 offsite. Last Nov (2003) I also had the FTP and decided to add on days both before and after the trip. I decided to bid on Pline after studying up the bidding site. I bid for resort level in WDW vicinity and won two hotels in the DTD area. Before the FTP I stayed one night at DTD Wyndham ($72 plus tax and possibly resort fee) and then after the FTP one night at DTD Hilton ($62 plus tax and small resort fee). Both were great places to spend the first/last day of my stay and really put me in a great mood being that I was right across the street from Disney.

Being that you'll have a rental it would make it easy to get to any hotel (including a cheaper one say a 3* that you may win for $35-$40 for the night) or you may even want to consider staying at an airport hotel as it will be late when you arrive and you wouldn't have to go very far before settling in for the night. Then you wake up relaxed and ready to go the next morning. Just another option to consider.

 

[BevS97]

Personally I would stay at the airport, and then start your vacation relaxed in the morning

 

[Limmer]

It would be nice to already be at your resort first thing in the morning, no traveling, already unpacked, off you go to the parks. If it was in the budget I would stay at WL just to be able to get an early start without the hassle of checking out of a hotel, traveling (even if it is not very far), checking in at WL, waiting for room, storing luggage etc. Just have breakfast and start your day.

 

[nygrl]

we just did the same thing last month we got in late on friday night we stayed at the lbv best western it cost us 79 dollars for the night and it was perfect the next morning bright and early we checked in to the cr and really started our vacation. the best western was about 15 min from the airport and it is on disney property near downtown disney. the room was clean the restauarant was delicious and the price was right.

 

[TallyLassie]

We stayed off site our first night at the Sheraton Safari. It wasn't bad.

It worked out because since we were arriving late, we dressed our children in their pajamas and slippers (we drove). My husband got my son ready, I got my daugter ready. Well, my husband FORGOT my son's tennis shoes so we had to go buy my son some shoes before we could go anywhere.

 

[BigOnDis]

We drive down so our situation is a little different. We usually try to stop in Gainesville the night before, so we don't have a very long trip and can do some things Disney the day we get there.

I would save some money, when all you are going to do is sleep and spend that money somewhere else at Disney.

 

[cranbiz]

Last trip I was planning to stay off site the first night (even had the ressies) and then checkin bright and early at AKL.

The only reason that we did not do that is that we now own a house in FL and used that for several days before and after.

It's not too bad to stay off site and then checkin early. If you are staying at a mod or deluxe for your stay, you will save money. If you are staying at a value for your entire trip, the amount of money saved is not normally significant and that would make it not worth it to me.