luxurious 2 bedroom condo close to DW help

[kkrupski]

Hello Disney experts! Help me please. We are coming for New Years and would love to stay at the Disney reosrts, but can't justify $12,000 for one week in a 2 bedroom. However, I want to get a luxurious 2 bedroom outside the gates. What are the nicest resorts close to Disney with 2 bedroom units?
Or is there a way I can pay to get a DVC villa from an owner that would rather take the money and vacation somewhere nicer?

 

[2girlsmom]

You can rent DVC points, but hard to say whether there is availability for DVC 2 bedrooms this close in, they tend to book VERY far out, from what I'm told. I love Caribe Royale, 2 bedrooms are roughly $200 a night (may be somewhat higher for high season), and have king bed in the master as well as a 2 person jacuzzi tub, walk in shower, etc in the master (Tub is actually in the bedroom, shower in the bath). 2nd bedroom with 2 queen beds, full 2nd bath with tub/shower combination, open living/dining room, full kitchen. 2 pools on property, a quiet pool close to the 2 bedroom units, and then the large pool with waterfall, etc up at the main building. Restarants and coffee shop on site, and it is on World Drive, so about 10 minutes drive at most from anyplace on Disney property, closer than that to Epcot and DTD. We are staying there later this month after falling in love with the property in May over Memorial Day weekend.

 

[ParkHopperFan]

Try Windsor Hills. It's 5 minutes from Disney and they have great amenities.

Windsor Hills

Look under the 2 bedroom condo section.

Good Luck!

 

[kmb584]

If you google DVC Rental you'll find a solid number of rental stores, but since you'll be visiting during the busiest time of the year it's hard to say whether a 2 bedroom unit will be available. They tend to go quickly once the booking window opens at 11 months out.

As far as off-site options, I have two favorites: Sheraton Vistana Resort and Wyndham Bonnet Creek, with SVR being in the top spot. My first visit was in '93 as a little girl and when I was looking for a cost saving option that would allow me to bring my daughter to WDW biannually I decided that one on-site stay and one off-site stay per year was the way to do it, and SVR was the first resort I opted to stay off-site at.


You can easily get a 2 bedroom, 2 bath unit for less than $175/night in high season and the units are beautifully updated. The resort offers a large amount of amenities, from park transportation to dining options to seven pools in total. The units all feature very well done updates with granite in the kitchen and bathrooms, a full kitchen, dining room, living room and large patio or balcony depending on your floor location.

WBC is where we book when we want to be closer to the parks (however, in reality, SVR is only a 10 minute drive anyway) and enjoy Disney fireworks from our balcony. Again, the resort has beautiful units with large balconies and while it's not Disney property, it is located passed the WDW welcome sign and just a quick 3 minute drive to Epcot.

 

[jeff968]

Check out the Hilton Parc Soleil. New and very nice. Under building parking, huge rooms, soaking tubs that fill from the ceiling, very nicely done. They have 2 bedroom units and the top floor (14th) has limited access with a private room for floor guests.

 

[kkrupski]

You guys are the best. I'll look into all these wonderful suggestions.

 

[sb682]

Another vote for Wyndham Bonnet Creek. We stayed there a few weeks ago in a 2 bedroom deluxe unit. The rooms are a steal (I booked through Vacation Strategy), they're really nice and it is so convenient to all the parks. I plan on staying there for any future trips.

 

[happymommy]

Just out of curiosity, I looked at DVC rentals on redweek.

So far, I see a 2 bedroom at the Beach Club for 12/28 - 1/4 for $571 a night.

Okay, that's all I saw for New Year's!

That is a lot, but less than I expected really.

Beware - that week is so busy (yes I've done it!). Mostly, now I prefer to have a large condo nearby rather than a small Disney resort room (for which I'd probably pay a lot more), but during that week it is a huge trade off. Driving will be bumper to bumper at times I'm sure - NYE at Epcot got to be just so crowded! I never saw such crowds. We spent a lot of time at the resort!

It is worth it to still see if you can rent points or something, or make do with a smaller unit (we have all crammed into a one bedroom villa at the Boardwalk over Christmas once - it was tiny and honestly I wouldn't do it again, but it was nice to be right there on Christmas day too, and their sofa sleepers are actually comfortable, versus most sofa sleepers).

I give lots of advice to friends on planning trips to Disney, and that is the one week that I say to try to avoid (especially for friends who have never been before, since they will not see or do as much as they may like to). If you've been before and aren't trying to do everything, then go for it!

 

[FormrCastMbr]

We loved Sheraton vistana too!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

As far as off-site options, I have two favorites: Sheraton Vistana Resort and Wyndham Bonnet Creek, with SVR being in the top spot.

You can easily get a 2 bedroom, 2 bath unit for less than $175/night in high season and the units are beautifully updated. The resort offers a large amount of amenities, from park transportation to dining options to seven pools in total. The units all feature very well done updates with granite in the kitchen and bathrooms, a full kitchen, dining room, living room and large patio or balcony depending on your floor location.

We loved Sheraton vistana too!

Another vote for the Vistana Resort. A beautiful property with so many great amenities. You can check out my August trip report for lots of photos of the rooms and the resort in general.

Like another PP said, though........be prepared for the worst traffic you have ever seen. Absolutely insane. While we expected congestion during our Christmas week trip in 2012, it was far crazier than we had even feared it would be. Be sure to get to the parks super early and allow lots of time to get to your ADR's.