Need advice on 3 weeks...

[jaycee]

Hello there,

Previously, we have always gone to WDW in October for 2 weeks. Next year though, we have to go during the schools summer holiday. This is giving us the opportunity to stay for 3 weeks (which we have always wanted to do). Haven't really got too far into looking yet, so I wondered if anyone could give me any tips. The one quote for a hotel came up with an astronomical cost (airtours). Might it be cheaper to buy a flydrive, and then book hotels online? Won't be having a villa as there's only me, hubby and teenage son. Any info. would be most appreciated. Please help to point me in the right direction, thanks, June

 

[codge90]

The cheapest way for three weeks is....

1) Find the cheapest fly-drive (Travel City Direct are normally the cheapest)

2) Book the hotel on the Internet (such as this website)

or

Bid for a hotel on www.priceline.co.uk

I got the Wyndham Orlando Resort for £20 a night + Tax

Codge

 

[vernon]

Another alternative to Priceline is http://www.hotwire.com The advantage of hotwire is you can see the price you're going to pay, as opposed to bidding blind on priceline. I've used both and think they both offer great value. I wouldn't dismiss the idea of renting a villa, you can often rent one for the price of a moderate hotel in the area, although there are some fantastic deals on hotels at the moment due to the area having a quiet time. I would be suprised if the price for villa rentals doesn't follow the price of hotels and I'm sure there are some great deals available.
If you're looking for summer 2004 it may be a little early to be able to nail down hotel/villa costs , but I'm certain it will work out cheaper to DIY than to use a travel agent.

 

[UKDEB]

I agree with Vernon - don't dismiss the idea of a villa. We just rented a 6 bedroom, new, top of the range villa for just dh and me. The nightly rate worked out cheaper than an equivalent quality hotel. We booked Portofino Bay Hotel for the final 3 nights at a deeply discounted AP rate and it was still more than our nightly villa rate despite the fact that we booked the villa through a Management Company for the first time. Normally we book directly with the owner which is cheaper still.

 

[WDWfan uk]

Hi June Welcome to the DIS

I'd also recommend booking a fly-drive - are you planning on a two or maybe three centre or will you be spending all your time in Orlando?

 

[disney daft dad]

Hi June

We have gone for 3 weeks the last 2 years and are doing the same again. This year we bought flight from Virgin Travelstore and then booked direct with Disney, again villas are great deals... and depending on the supplier they will either quote you a per week rate or I have had experience of a per adult per night rate which is great for us as we only have 2 adults but still get a 3 bedroomed villa. Get more quotes, there are some great deals on the go

Good
Luck

Disney Daft Mum

Val
x

 

[vernon]

Another thing to think about with a teenage son is entertainment in the evenings over 3 weeks. In a hotel room, if you're not collectively ready for bed there really isn't much to do. In a villa you can let DS watch TV in one room ( most villas have at least two TVS) while you and hubby can relax with a cocktail or bottle of wine ( or a coffee) . This has to be a much cheaper option than spinning out a restaurant table or sitting in a hotel bar for a couple of hours.
I've found even just having breakfast at home ( cereal, toast or bagels) can save $20-30 per day. Combine that with a bar tab every couple of days and getting a take out or frozen pizza it can easily save you $50-60 per day on average over the 3 weeks holiday.

If you like that "hotel pampering" I've found spending most of the time at a villa and the ending up with 3 or 4 days on site at one of the top class hotels (using their pool facilities) leaves you feeling you've had the best of both worlds.

 

[squitty]

Hi
I would agree with what Vernon is saying.
We have been for 3 & 4 weeks and we always stayed in villas.
You could look for a 2 bedroomed villa which would be ideal for you.
We too have always booked direct with the owner and we have always got a good price for longer length of stays.

 

[Enright78]

We have only one (teenage) DD and would heartily reccommend a villa/condo for the above reasons!
If you are unsure about a villa what about a Condo? We have recently been hiring a 2 bed 2 bath condo on a development for a very reasonable sum and it had proved plenty big enough (and has two TVs!)
Although to be honest we would not mind looking at a 3 bed villa even if it was just the two of us!
I can let you have some email adresses and websites if you PM me?

 

[bengunn]

Go for a villa, they are not expensive compared to a hotel and then you and your teenage son can have your own space (and probaly your own TVs). We did 3 weeks with our 2 teenage children last year in two 3 bedroom villas (1 for 2 weeks in Kissimmee and 1 for a week on the Gulf Coast); it worked well because we had plenty of room and could get away from each other when we wanted to do so. After 3 weeks in one hotel room, I don't think that we would all have been on speaking terms

 

[signtalker]

Another vote for the villa option, weve just done 3 weeks in one with just myself Ds and DH, I booked my flydrive seperate, the best thing weve ever done!!!.Villa wins hands down(unless somebody wants to pay for me to stay onsite for 3 weeks!!).

Jules

 

[UKANGEL]

yep, agree with all th replies we have one teenager and next year when we all go we'll definately have to have a villa...it'll be so much cheaper than booking 2 hotel rooms!...then we'll probly have a couple of nights at the end at the Hard Rock

 

[DizneyDaze]

Definately a villa. We booked with Airtours a couple of years ago and booked a three bed villa for four of us two adults two teenagers staying at Palm Key Villa's and there was no under occupancy, it didn't have a pool but had a great jacuzzi and we were upgraded when we arrived into a 4 bed - I don't know if that is still the case but worth a try. If not you should book flights and villa seperately there are hundred of villas on the internet and it is great fun looking at them all chosing the one for you.

 

[SidB]

Absolutely has to be a villa. Take a butchers at www.villas2000.com for an idea of prices. If you want to go during the school holidays you'll need to book it now though. We're going for 3 weeks next year and can't wait. 2 weeks in Orlando and 1 on the coast. Excellent.