My head is just swimming....a Moderate or Hilton (try Priceline)

[princessmomma]

I have been back and forth on this decision a million times, whether to book into a moderate (if I buy an AP $88) or try Priceline ($57 + tax, I will probably get the Hilton).

I will need 2 rooms for 4 adults and 4 children.

We will have our own vehicles.

I have stayed at BC, AKL, and Polynesian, but cannot afford a deluxe this time.

Any recommendations on which moderate? POR was my first choice, but I am concerned it is next up for renovations. CBR is my second choice, but I have no experience at either. What are the pools and restaurants like?

Please help so I can finalize my plans...

 

[Bojangles]

When are you going? I wouldn't count on AP rates though. They have been pretty scarce lately.

Can you try to get Swan/Dolphin on Priceline? That area would more convenient than DTD.

 

[IheartMickey]

I would personally rather stay at a very nice offsite hotel rather then a moderate. I have stayed at the CBR before and it's a perfectly good hotel, but it's lacking in certain features some people might think are important.

For example, there is a pretty long walk from some of the villages to the food court and main pool. The food court closes at 11 or 11:30 PM and so does room service. We often returned to the room hungry and had no idea what to do other then sleep. And there is only one restaurant on the premisis and it's only open from dinner I believe.

If you're fine with this then the CBR is a great hotel for you. The theming is beautiful, you really do well like you're on a caribbean vacation.

 

[princessmomma]

IheartMickey,

Would you consider the Hilton to be a "very nice offsite hotel"? I have never been to Downtown Disney and really have no idea what to expect for the hotels.

Bojangles,

We are going just before Christmas and already have a $88 AP rate secured at POR.

The Swan/Dolphin are rarely coming up on Priceline anymore. I really liked the Swan. The Dolphin was not as desireable because we got an unrenovated room, the beds were really terrible, consequently moved over to Swan. We would be back here, but the teacher rate is now up to $149 +tax + resort fee....

 

[Bojangles]

I thought the DTD Hilton was very nice but I would stay with POR since you already have that rate.

We got a $139 + tax + resort fee AP rate at the Swan for Thanksgiving (they added a free upgrade to lake view)

 

[princessmomma]

Bojangles,

REALLY, you would stay at POR for a $88 rate over $65ish at Hilton?

Please convince me.

 

[stacy6552]

We havent stayed at the Hilton, but we did stay at the Wyndham Palace. We will never stay at a non-disney ever ever again, not in a million years. Go with the moderate. Especially since with priceline you could very well end up at the Wyndham, which would be aweful for sure.

Another thing to consider is renting points form a DVC member and staying in a two bedroom. Then youll have the full kitchen adn can offset the room expense with dinning in.

Whatever you do, stay with Disney.

 

[hercamore]

How about trying the new Pop Century rooms if cost is a big factor.


herc.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

princessmomma, I can'y speak for Bojangles but I can speak for myself. I have stayed at the Hilton (with a Priceline rate of $60) and Riverside. I would definitely pay more to stay at Riverside than stay at the Hilton, and have !. We have found that we want more from our resort experience than just a room to sleep in. There is that hard to define Disney "magic" that Riverside has that the hilton does not. To be quite honest, Priceline would probably be my last choice for booking a room because of the likelyhood that I would end up with the hilton. We have decided to vote with our wallet, and we vote Disney !

 

[IheartMickey]

See I love hotels. I love spending my time at the pool, in the restaurants, etc. So even if a hotel is lacking in disney charm, I'd probably still pick it over a moderate. But can you just tell me the name of the Hilton you're thinking about? I'd like to see it.

And we stayed at the Holiday Inn Nikki Bird (It was something-gate at that time) when I was 7 and we loved it. Not all offsite hotels are bad but when you get spoiled by the disney atmosphere it might be hard to go back.

 

[princessmomma]

I am just assuming I will get the Hilton in downtown Disney if I bid on Priceline. But now I am really concerned if I get the Wyndham. I have read many reviews and it is funny how these two DD hotels can get such high praise from some and really get slammed by others.

 

[Bojangles]

We payed rack rate at the Hilton at DTD and would have rather been onsite even at the AllStar. The Hilton is a very nice and spotless resort but it felt really far removed from the Disney magic. It was Christmas time and all of the onsite resorts were beautifully decorated.

You also won't have to bother with driving at all if you stay at POR. The restaurants at the Hilton are very expensive. If you were on a budget, you would have to drive out for all of your meals.

 

[PamNC]

Personally, I would NEVER stay off-site. We really enjoy driving onto the property and never leaving. Love that 24 hour Disney magic. Aside from my Disney-obssessive advice, I thought about this: How often do you go to WDW? If the answer is every year, it's probably worth your while to go ahead and get an AP. We do because we go at least once every year. If you buy the AP in December, if you go before that time next year, you'll have zero costs as far as ticket media. And, if I were you, I'd pay $88 and go with the moderate. We stayed off-site once and we were so disappointed. Of course, the Hilton is barely off-site, but still, I say if you're going to Disney you should stay with Disney. Get the entire experience.

Or, you could try a value resort.

PamNC

 

[disneydiz]

I also vote for a moderate over the Hilton. I will never stay there again. Although neat and clean, it was very "undisney-like". However, the food was the most expensive we have ever come across. We had four families staying there, and none of us will ever return.

 

[MinnieGi]

I would also vote for a mod on site. I don't mind the walks to and from the food court and stores. It's so lovely to walk around a Disney resort! I love their themed pools and the friendliness of their cm's and I liked their themed rooms. POR is a great resort. I think CBR looks fun too although I haven't stayed there. Plus I think you said you will be going before Christmas and the Disney resorts are always so festive in their decorations. I also like being on their transportation line. We bring a car and use it a few times but most often take their transportation - it's a nice break from all the driving we do at home! My vote is for a Disney moderate!

 

[DISNEYMOMx5]

FWIW, we were in Disney this past summer. We own DVC, but I opted to get something through Priceline for the weekend since we were switching hotels anyway to save some pts. Anyway, I ended up with 2 rooms at the Hilton DTD for our family, & we'll NEVER do it again. As my oldest DD put it, the rooms smelled like Grandma's basement, lots of mildew, just plain yucky! To top it off, we got in late & needed some snacks. Paid $1.00 PER CANDY BAR, & they were old!! We decided if we ever decide to pay cash for rooms we would rather stay at one of the AS on-site & get adjoining rooms than stay at the "upscale Hilton". We've always loved the AS Resorts. Good luck with your decision & enjoy your trip!!

 

[tar heel]

Disney moderate in a landslide. POR is quiet and laid-back. Downtown Disney is a ZOO. Plus at that time of the year you need the ease of transportation you'll get on-site.

Here's another thing to think about. Priceline has a service fee AND most of the resort level hotels have a resort fee. You are obligated to pay this fee if you get a property that has one. You may do priceline and NOT save any $. And the Hilton (assuming you even get the Hilton -- with priceline there is never a guarantee that you will get a particular place or that you will get anything at the price you are talking about) is just a high-rise hotel like you'd have in any other city.

This is absolutely a no brainer with that kind of discount on POR.

 

[2MuchOhana]

Another vote for the moderate! We have stayed at the CBR twice and will be returning there in December. Would really like to try POR or POFQ; but waiting for a future trip after the remodeling is done. Eventually I will get to try the deluxes.

DH has stayed at the DTD Hilton in 2000 when he was there on business. I couldn't get off work. Bummer. Anyway, he wasn't overly impressed with it.

 

[Efastpitch]

Originally posted by princessmomma
I have been back and forth on this decision a million times, whether to book into a moderate (if I buy an AP $88) or try Priceline ($57 + tax, I will probably get the Hilton).

I will need 2 rooms for 4 adults and 4 children.

We will have our own vehicles.

I have stayed at BC, AKL, and Polynesian, but cannot afford a deluxe this time.

Any recommendations on which moderate? POR was my first choice, but I am concerned it is next up for renovations. CBR is my second choice, but I have no experience at either. What are the pools and restaurants like?

Please help so I can finalize my plans...

If you have stayed on property in the past, you will not be happy at the Hilton. I would recommend two rooms at a moderate resort.

 

[Disbug]

I would look to the DVC rental board to try and rent points. I have done this and gotten fabulous results!
(re: OKW studio for $48 per night; OKW 2 BDRM Villa for $170/night.)

You could look for a reservation that someone cannot use, especially for a 2 BDRM... then both families could stay together and share the kitchen/living room/dining room and laundry!

Other than that, I vote for the onsite Moderates... I have stayed offsite at both the Hilton and Wyndham (as well as others) and for the holidays, you will be glad you stayed onsite. So convenient and will add to your overall vacation enjoyment!

*BTW, we have stayed at the Wyndham DTD and loved it both times... we were upgrade to a suite and it was HUGE! The Hilton was OK, but definitely had that "convention hotel" feel.

Another offsite option, if you are leaning that way... is the Radisson Parkway which is offering a family special (one King bed room for about $70 and the adjoining room with 2 beds for the kids at half price). They also offer kids eat free program and many people say this is a great hotel. Also offers free Disney shuttle if you don't want to drive. Check out mousesavers.com or dreamsunlimited for this rate!