Need Accomodation help...

[jtlund]

Not really sure where to post this as it involves both Disney Resorts AND off-site accommodations.

I've had a wrench thrown into my *plans*. I was getting ready to put my deposit down for our trip this Fall at Wilderness Lodge. One of the attorneys here came up to me and was asking me to do something and saw I had Disney up on my screen. Long story short, she said "why don't you use my timeshare instead of paying big $$ for Disney hotel?" I asked her how much - she said she'd get back to me. A little background: the three times I went to Disney as a kid, we stayed at Wilderness, Poly and Contemporary. I've never stayed anywhere but onsite and I LOVE that experience. I was kind of appeasing this attorney by asking how much because it was worth $750 more to me to stay on-site. Well - what does she do but send me an e-mail that she talked to her husband and she wants me to HAVE the timeshare free of charge - just let her know what week. Yikes! So - now instead of the rationalization of paying a bit more for the onsite Disney experience - I'm looking at FREE nice 2 bedroom/2bath condo at Parkway International - 1 mile from gate of Disney versus $1,800. Also - timeshare is a week and I had originally booked 4 nights at WL for $1,800. I'd be stupid not to take it. Right?

TIA!
Judi

 

[jimmiej]

Like you, I would have a tough time deciding (and I'm not rich by any means). Do you already have the $$$ budgeted? What else could you use that $$$ for? I guess it really depends on your overall household budget. I would much rather stay on-site, but $1800 would go a long way for other things.

 

['OhanaMama]

I have stayed on-site and off. I do prefer to stay on-site. Both are fine, you just get a different experience with each. And FREE! That just seems like a no-brainer. You can even stay for a longer period of time. But you'd have to rent a car. I don't know if you were already planning that or not. You can always stay on-site next time.

Stephanie

 

[magsnden]

that's a tough decision!! maybe you could think of it like this. are you flying ? that $1800 could pay for your flight, and the tickets for wdw, and a lot of other stuff!

maybe this once you can stay offsite - i'm sure this timeshare is like the big villa at a DVC resort!!

let's not mention the implications at work if you say no! lol!

whatever you do, it'll be great. wilderness lodge is beautiful, and i'll bet the timeshare is very nice too. let us know what you decide!! and good luck!

 

[dreamin in pa]

I would take the free timeshare. You could take some of the extra money and do something extra special on your trip. I would then save the rest of the extra to pay for more nights at WL on my next trip.

 

[ehstrojette]

I agree take the timeshare and have fun with the money you save, do character dinners and some other stuff you haven't been able to do

 

[Jrabbit910]

What was included w/ the WL price? (dining tickets??) Weigh out your options and see what your other expenses would be by staying offsite.
Were you planning on flying? WL included transportation to & from hotel & parks so you wont have the expense of parking, tolls, gas & etc... Do you mind cleaning up & cooking on vacation... The way I look at it, Im on vacation I do enough of that at home . How far away from Disney is the timeshare?? Do you mind driving? If you are traveling w/ kids and you want to take a break is it close enough to leave and come back?

In all honesty, if I had all intentions on booking a WDW trip I would want to stay on property for convenience & ease. My Dh wouldnt want to drive after a long day at the parks and I for sure wouldnt want to come back to clean any messes....

Whatever decision you choose I hope it works out for you and ur family. As great as your associate is for offering I would decline!

 

[pepe of ohio]

We would go with the on site resort. Free usually isn't that free, big draw backs I see are the travel to and fro. We're on vacation, we know we're going, have saved the money and enjoy being immersed in the Disney magic of staying on site. We like the buses and monorail and boats, in over 40 trips, never been a problem. We feel we're entitled to a care free, cook free, clean and wash free vacation, hence the Disney stay. We prefer the deluxes and usually stay at the WL, good AAA or AP rate, we're close to the MK, which we can spend hours and days in and we're a boat ride from FW and the CR for monorail traveling to EPCOT. For us nothing beats leaving our car at home and not worrying about driving anywhere on property. We just came back yesterday and all transportation was great, we watched the traffic from the bus windows trying to get to where they wanted to, out of towners create huge messes leaving parks, they just put on the turn signal and scoot across 3 lanes, totally nuts, can't see that being a real vacation, buses know the routes, have short cuts and avoid the major jams. We're back in a blink, no tram, no long lines in and out, no missed turns, no long walk from the parking lots.

We'll always stay on site, always have and have never given off site a moments thought, nor renting a car. disney is the only place that I know that once you get on property, nothing is needed, just to sit back, choose the resort of your choice and pocket book and let them do all the driving.