Maybe this is where I should start....

[jimmiecricketswifwe]

We are looking to go around 10/18 to 10/24...or value season 11/29 to 12/5...my husband really wants the Contemporary but the cost is astronimical...we want to be as close to MK as possible as we will be with a 5 year old and an almost 2 year old and a 16 year old son...we have to have a 1 bedroom suite for sanity reasons!!!! Can anyone help with some suggestions, I am sooooo overloaded with all of this, I thought it was going to be so simple finding a place...NOT!! I am looking for $7k with air, dining plan and 5 day magic kingsdom hopper pass.....I appreciate anyones help!

 

[Jill in Chicago]

Are you willing to stay off site? The Windsor Hills development is very close. You would have a lot more room and their pool looks really nice. You would need to rent a car, and obviously hopping on the monorail would be much more convenient to the Magic Kingdom. But, the off site housing would not be a bad commute at all to the other parks. It would also save you a lot of money.

Either that or maybe consider staying at the family suites in the All Stars section or a cabin at Wilderness Campgrounds.

I think what would matter the most to me is how much time you plan to spend at the Magic Kingdom. If it is the majority of your days then being on the monorail system would be worth it. On the other hand, if you are going to all the other parks too then I would look into other hotels.

We are renting a pool home in the Lynfield subdivision. It will be about a 15/20 minute drive to the parks and that works fine for us. When we stayed at the Wilderness Lodge it often took 15 minutes to drive to some of the parks.

 

[pepe of ohio]

To me its suck in your pride and vanity, you're the adults, only 5 in your party and the CR is ideal. Close to MK, walking distance, no suite needed. We've done Cr with 5 people easy, even 2 separate couples to save some cash. At Disney you get what you pay for. Its like buying a good deluxe car cheap, doesn't exist. The CR is ideal, rooms are huge, queens beds and a day bed, walking distance to MK, sure you can stay at 2 values, long trek to MK, extra small rooms, 2 twin beds and not much else. We're deluxe snobs and willing to pay for the experience, we crave the Poly and WL with WL winning out just on sheer price, great for 4 people, or 2 couples which we often do and split the cost. Hey, we know each other and to share the Disney experience for half the cost is magic. We only sleep there, our eyes are closed when we sleep and when the suns up, we're all off and gone.

You can only experience what you feel and see, cheaping out on a vacation leaves me empty, we pop for the extra, we stay 10-12 night and never exceed 2500.00. Catch a code, buy an AP, do not stay regular or peak season. But do not let your children dictate your stay, I'm paying, you'll abide by my rules and this is the location and sleeping situation. Case closed.

 

[spiceycat]

WL/VWL is a boat ride away from the Cont (a real short boat ride) - you can rent from a DVC member Sun-thurs (leaving on Fri) for a really good deal.

dec 2 - 6 - 22 points a night - so multiply by $10 to $14 for your per night rate.

for the Fri/sat - just stay at the Cont or BC.

DVC resort - no housekeeping but you get a full kitchen in a 1-bedroom.

rumor say that the CR will have a CRV (dvc resort) by 2009 or 2010.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Why don't you try a Ft Wilderness Cabin. You will have a bedroom with a full size bed, a set of bunkbeds, and a pull down Murphy bed in the living room, one bath, and a small kitchen area and the price during Value season is about $239/night. You will still be close to the MK (short boat ride) but without the high price of the Contemporary. There are many child friendly activities at Ft. Wilderness: Nightly campfire program, water sports, land sports, 2 pools, and playground.

More info and great pictures are available on Allearsnet.com of Ft Wilderness and all of the other WDW Resorts.

Suzanne

 

[jimmiecricketswifwe]

I agree but traveling with a 2 year old who wakes at the drop of a pin, forget it...she needs to be in a seperate room sleeping. We have done the couples sharing a room, no biggie it works but with small kids it is different for us...and the location is a priority..as close to MK as possible without going overboard with costs. You will be suprised as how much time you spend in the room with small kids, we will come back every afternoon to nap her. What would we all do while she is trying to sleep, walk on egg shells...no thanks!

To me its suck in your pride and vanity, you're the adults, only 5 in your party and the CR is ideal. Close to MK, walking distance, no suite needed. We've done Cr with 5 people easy, even 2 separate couples to save some cash. At Disney you get what you pay for. Its like buying a good deluxe car cheap, doesn't exist. The CR is ideal, rooms are huge, queens beds and a day bed, walking distance to MK, sure you can stay at 2 values, long trek to MK, extra small rooms, 2 twin beds and not much else. We're deluxe snobs and willing to pay for the experience, we crave the Poly and WL with WL winning out just on sheer price, great for 4 people, or 2 couples which we often do and split the cost. Hey, we know each other and to share the Disney experience for half the cost is magic. We only sleep there, our eyes are closed when we sleep and when the suns up, we're all off and gone.

You can only experience what you feel and see, cheaping out on a vacation leaves me empty, we pop for the extra, we stay 10-12 night and never exceed 2500.00. Catch a code, buy an AP, do not stay regular or peak season. But do not let your children dictate your stay, I'm paying, you'll abide by my rules and this is the location and sleeping situation. Case closed.

 

[MagicMe]

it sounds to be like FW Cabins might be an economical substitution. You won't have the luxury of the CR but you will have separate sleeping quarters and FW is a boat ride to the MK (and back). Otherwise you may want to look at WLV by renting DVC points. A one bedroom suite has two queen beds and a pull out couch. You would probably end of sharing the room with the little one but you can put them down for a nap while you relax out in the living room.