Need a 1BR Suite (or larger) with Kitchen(ette) for under $80 per night

[buckler]

Last year we stayed at the Embassy Suites in LBV using my Hilton Hhonors points. We are planning a 7 night trip for October 2004. I'm footing the bill out of pocket this time so I'm looking to go somewhere a little less expensive. We are traveling with 2 adults and 2 children (ages 3 and 5).

My must haves are:
1) At least one bedroom that can be closed off from the living area
2) A kitchenette or full kitchen
3) A kid friendly heated pool (needs a good sized step area for the kids to sit on, doesn't have to be a kiddie pool). The pool needs to be within easy walking distance for a tired toddler.
4) Very close to WDW
5) Approx $80 or less per night (before taxes) but we could go a bit higher for something extra special

So far I'm leaning towards Windsor Palms or Emerald Island. There are a number of townhomes/condos that seem to meet my requirements. I'm not sure if the pools at one would be better than the other for little kids. Can anyone comment on the pools?

Are there other places I should consider? I am a AAA member and an airline employee (on a leave of absence) so I might be eligible for a discount that way.

Thanks for your input! I've already learned so much by reading the posts on these boards.

 

[Jackie824]

We just returned home last week. We spent 5 nights at "Oak Plantation", a small timeshare condo.. We did get lucky with a price of 39$ a night, that was a fluke LOL
We had a one bedroom condo. Yes a real bedroom that you could close the the door. The bedroom had a king size bed. The living room had a pullout sofa, a queensize, that my 9 and 4 yr old slept on. A full kitchen, full size washer and dryer, and large dining room table. and plenty of room for kids to run around. There is a tv and vcr in living room, and tv in bedroom. We were right across the street from the pool. There is no little stores or bars on the grounds. They have a game room/playground, basektball court/tennis court, and area to feed the ducks.
I dont have their direct website, you could do a search, as i dont know how much their rates would be for October. It is VERY close to the Super Walmart in Kissimmee(Irlo Bronson hwy) Hope this helps a bit.
Oh, and nobody bothered us at all to do a timeshare tour..that was a big plus!
There are 2 heated pools, and I know one for sure has the steps to walk in.There is a heated kiddie interactive pool as well, where water is shooting out of stuff, and areas where you can pull a rope, and water comes down, the kids loved all this stuff.

 

[laurabelle]

Do you know about Skyauction ? I recently won a 1br at Vistana Resort for 7 nights in July for $400, and I know people have gotten it for even less than that. It has all the amenities you've mentioned and I've read positive reviews here. When you win on skyauction there is no required timeshare tour unless it's specified on the auction. You have to remember when you bid that they'll add $195+$15 in fees to your bid, so bid accordingly and be certain of your travel dates. Good luck!

 

[Belle1962]

Try Hotelkingdom.com We've had great luck with the two bedroom condos at Cypress Pointe, one mile from Disney on 535. I think they are less than $70 per night.

 

[26555]

I have been happy with Cypress Point Grand Villas and will likely stay there on my next 4 night trip. If you have 7 nights, skyauction is great. Its very easy to learn how it works and you know what you are getting. (Priceline is a bear in comparision and since you can't specify double beds instead of king, etc, I don't think its as good of an option for families.) I got a 2BR at Vistana for $558 (total) that I won't use until May 2005 because that's the first time I'll stay a whole week. I'm a FL resident and I think the deals on skyauction pursuaded me into a weeklong stay. For non residents who plan on a week anyway, it's a great deal. I like onsite for 2 or 3 night stays where you don't have time to stock a frig anyway, Cypress Point for 3-5 night stays and Skyauction for 7 nights. Good luck!

ps Renting from condo owners in Windsor Palms seems good too but I was having trouble getting anyone that was near the one big pool to respond and I wanted to be near a pool for the resort atmosphere. I think I would have pursued it more if I had needed 3 bedrooms.

 

[antmaril]

I got the Wyndham Palms Resort and Country Club last year for $89 per night on hotelkingdom.com

Very nice two bedroom condo with full kitchen, washer and dryer, big screen tv, master bedroom with very nice jacuzzi tub, screened-in balcony, 1500 square feet. Five minute drive from WDW.

Good luck!

 

[buckler]

Thanks for all of the input so far!

I checked out the Skyauction site. The Vistana is not available for our check-in date on any of the auctions. If there some reason why Oct. 9 would be blacked out?

The people who got Oak Plantation and Wyndam Palms at such great rates were really lucky. They aren't in my budget with the current rates.

But, the Cypress Pointe option is a possibility. Would the older less expensive section be as good as the newer Grand Villas section? Which section has the better pool for little kids?

Updated to add: I just found Oak Plantation on HotelKingdom. The rates are better than on the direct site I found thru Google. On HotelKingdom the 1BR averages out to about $52 a night. Unfortunately the 1BR only has 1 bed plus a pull out couch. We really want 2 beds. The 2BR villa averages out to $94 per night before tax.

 

[Familyof14]

antmaril - When you book a condo like that, what do you do about transportation to Walt Disney (Magic Kingdom) when you don't have a car? This would only be for one night, so I guess we would need to catch a taxi . About how much would a taxi run?

 

[BonnieA]

Windsor Palms is a very nice gated community. I got it a year ago (April) for $55/night 2 bedroom/2 bath. It's close to disney.

 

[antmaril]

Bucker:

I don't believe there was any kind of shuttle from Wyndham Palms - we had a rental car so I didn't pay any attention. Not sure about a taxi - $10 or so, but that could be low. You know how those things are always more than you think they are going to be.

Wyndham Palms is really more suited to having a car.

 

[ejj234]

I bought an entertainment fook for $15 and with that am saving $55/night at Holiday Inn Family Suites. It's 1 mile from Disney Gates. The price I have for July is $99 or $104/night (I can't remember!). Everyone eats a free breakfast and all kids eat free with adults all day long (food court for lunch & Club Car Restaurant for supper). In addition, you can get gift certificates for the restaurant at restaurant.com so save even more on the adult meals. We've never been there before but reviews from the hotel discussion board are good. Hope this helps.

Kim

 

[disneysteve]

A 2-bed condo at Windsor Palms in October is $79/nite at http://www.closesttodisney.com. Also check rates by contacting owners at http://www.windsor-palms-resort.com/. You may find something even cheaper.

We stayed in a 3-bedroom condo at Windsor Palms in November and it was quite nice. They have a good size heated pool next to the clubhouse. The complex is about 10 minutes from Disney.

 

[LisaRay]

You might try hotelkingdom.com i have looked on there for our Nov. trip and you can get a 1 bedroom suite for $67.55 most nights and $79.00 for some. It has a seperate bedroom with 2 queens and a living room area with a sleeper sofa, kitchen with full size fridge etc. also included is a full breakfast buffet! It is in lake buena vista and i don't think its far from the embassy suites where you stayed in the past.

If there are no codes for the fall we may stay here.

 

[LisaMM]

Kim,

I also have reservations at HIFS, but they told me they don't accept the Entertainment card anymore -- that they quit about 1 month ago. Did you make your reservations a while ago? I'm so bummed that I missed out on this -- what a great deal.

If you have younger kids, this is a great place to stay. We stayed there about 4 years ago and this will be our first trip back to WDW. You probably already know that they are doing some construction and are changing it to the Nickelodean Hotel.

--Lisa

 

[Ahrizel]

We stayed at Cypress Pointe in December, very nice....But-the one bedroom is all one room( at least as of 2 years ago). Great for a couple, not good for little kids. The 2 bedroom would be fine, king bed and jacuzzi for you, twin bedroom for the little ones.

 

[sln88]

Originally posted by buckler
Thanks for all of the input so far!

I checked out the Skyauction site. The Vistana is not available for our check-in date on any of the auctions. If there some reason why Oct. 9 would be blacked out?

Did you check out the ready set go auctions on skyauction? there were a few condos available for your dates. The inventory on there changes often. You could always make a cancellable ressie somewhere and then see if what you want shows up on Skyauction. Sometimes the better stuff shows up last minute.

Is 10/9 around Columbus day? Isn't that a time when school kids go to WDW? Maybe that is why there is less availability.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

WE were lucky we got Wyndham Palms for 75 a night for the 2 bedroom last year no tour!! This year we were not as lucky but since I liked it so much I am taking the tour and in return getting a rate of 99 per night for 10 nights.

I must say I am very disappointed that we do not have as much of a choice for under 80 as we did last year. I broke my vacation up 3 ways and will take a tour at Vista Grande also but I try to do whatever I need to to get the type of room I want for as little as I can. I am however very lucky I am staying for 16 days so I can afford a couple of 90minute tours. Still I wish I did not have to.I am going to look over Cypress POint when we go and maybe will try them.

Note: we actually go a call from Westgatelakes for 49 per night but after reading some of the comments on this board there is NO WAY I would ever go there.

 

[buckler]

Originally posted by sln88

Is 10/9 around Columbus day? Isn't that a time when school kids go to WDW? Maybe that is why there is less availability. [/B]

Arghh!!! You're right. That is the week of Columbus Day. Hmm...I'm going to have to rethink this. Thank you for pointing that out!