Need Hotel options close to DTD.

[anabelle]

Hubby is a government contractor and had to take a 20% paycut to keep his job. I had been planning an onsite trip for all 5 of us in August. I have 19 and 20 year old boys as well as a 15 year old girl. Since my daughter is a little shrimpie, I knew we could fit in POR. She is not even 5 ft tall. But at this point, it is not looking good for an onsite stay. My boys love the whole disney bus system and that independence. Since they won't have a car. I thought maybe we could change to a DTD hotel that has good shuttle service to the parks. That way they could walk to Disney Quest and hang out as well as head to the parks when they want.

Any thoughts on a DTD hotel that would fit (or allow) 5 ?

Ana

 

[reddfrogg]

If your husband is a government contractor can't you stay at Shades of Green?!?!?! The prices should be comparable to most of the DTD hotels.

If not try mousesavers.com they usually have good deals

 

[disneyerin]

We are staying at the Hilton this December. It's the only offsite hotel that offers Extra Magic Hours. They have a Junior Suite (1 1/2 times the size of a standard room) and a Deluxe Junior Suite (twice the size). Both have two double beds and a sleeper sofa. We are staying in the Deluxe Suite with a DTD view for $240 a night.

Also, it is DIRECTLY across the street from DTD. The other DTD hotels are farther away, some as much as a mile.

Good Luck!!


December 16th here we come!!

 

[HopperFan]

This would put all the hotels in one spot for some comparisons.
http://www.downtowndisneyhotels.com/ Don't forget to factor in any resort or parking fees. Some of them run specials reducing that.

It's been a few years but we have stayed at Doubletree Suites in DTD a couple of times. We had two grown kids and a teen there. The space was ample, they brought an extra chair for our table set and had the micro/fridge. We got a deal via Mousesavers each time that included the cold breakfast buffet but it was ample. Also it's a quick walk across to Crossroads with more food options and putt putt.

Just a quick glance at math .... IF your trip is later August and in the spring they offer Free Dining again, it might be worth it to keep get the POR to stay on property but you would also have DDP for free. For the same approx price you could get two rooms at say POP with the QSDP free but it gives you beds for each kid and two bathrooms. AoA across the bridge has great food court so you have two to pick from.

 

[anabelle]

The Doubletree wil be about half of POR. Two rooms at a value are as much POR, so that is out. I am hoping to get it under $200 per night. How easy is it to walk to Doubletree from DTD?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Just a quick glance at math .... IF your trip is later August and in the spring they offer Free Dining again, it might be worth it to keep get the POR to stay on property but you would also have DDP for free.

I would not hold out hope for free dining for an August trip. August was completely excluded from any general public free dining promotions in 2013 (it was available by PIN or bounce back only).

Just so the OP's expectations are managed.

 

[nono]

The Hilton in DtD had rooms this past (late) August for as low as $79. I don't know how early those rates came out though. Also, their bus service has been direct to the park - no sharing with other hotels, which was nice.

 

[happymommy]

If your husband is a government contractor can't you stay at Shades of Green?!?!?! The prices should be comparable to most of the DTD hotels.

If not try mousesavers.com they usually have good deals

Contractors can't do this as far as I know.

 

[sunflare]

Contractors can't do this as far as I know.

Nope, under most circumstances they can't (believe me, if I could, I would...in a heartbeat!) You can if you're a civilian DOD employee, or if you are a DOD contractor who is working in the Pacific Region but outside the US on specific government orders. That's actually pretty specific... ouch! I don't think I'd move to Guam in order to get access to Shades of Green ;-)

 

[sunflare]

Contractors can't do this as far as I know.

Nope, under most circumstances they can't (believe me, if I could, I would...in a heartbeat!) You can if you're a civilian DOD employee, or if you are a DOD contractor who is working in the Pacific Region but outside the US on specific government orders. That's actually pretty specific... ouch! I don't think I'd move to Guam in order to get access to Shades of Green ;-)

 

[ain0004]

Check out mousavers. Buena vista resort? I think is recommended not exactly at DDT but down the road. Offers free am breakfast and rooms are nice size. Doubletree at DTD might be another option. On a side note have you ever looked at renting a 1 bedroom villa from a DVC member? It's a fraction of the cost. You can have your own kitchen and laundry. Just a thought

 

[happymommy]

Will you have one car or none?

If none, then maybe the Doubletree at DTD is a great option - two beds in the bedroom and a sofa sleeper, small fridge and microwave in the living room. Still, only one bathroom.

If you will have one rental car, your options may be better. I personally favor Marriott's (since I own one in Hawaii) but really am like them. We loved the Sabal Palms - since it's so close to Disney and has a nice quiet apartment feel to it. It's all 2 bedroom units, so one master bedroom with king bed, second bedroom with a twin and double bed, plus sofa sleeper - and two bathrooms. Gas grills right there so we cooked a few times on them (I stayed there 11 out of our 15 nights last August just me and the kids). A taxi to Disney parks isn't much but we drove.

I would stay at Shades of Green again also (DH was a Marine and we stayed once when he had a conference there) and now DH is a contractor (I feel your pain) but we can't stay there anymore (but really if it was only us two I'd do it, with the kids we still prefer a condo with a kitchen and washer/dryer anyway).

 

[HopperFan]

The Doubletree wil be about half of POR. Two rooms at a value are as much POR, so that is out. I am hoping to get it under $200 per night. How easy is it to walk to Doubletree from DTD?

I realize the rate is high, was only saying that if you got free dining, then you would have no food costs. My mistake on the date, I forgot they shifted it from late August to beginning in September. We've have gotten it so many times, but we don't do August.

The Doubletree is the farthest walk to DTD. We did walk it and I would say 10-15 minutes depending on your briskness.

 

[HopperFan]

I would not hold out hope for free dining for an August trip. August was completely excluded from any general public free dining promotions in 2013 (it was available by PIN or bounce back only).

Just so the OP's expectations are managed.

Agree, and I wouldn't book those resorts expecting it. I'm just thinking to not lock myself in elsewhere in case it did, and I could change. I would def book only what I could afford but make sure I could cancel if a better option on property came up. For us, I never book any trips that can't be cancelled or have penalty unless they are exactly what I want at the price I want.

The Bounceback for 2014 starts August 20th.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I'm actually looking at Double tree for our arrival night. It looks pretty nice to me and it's right there at DTD.

 

[anabelle]

I whimped out and decided to switch to 2 rooms at All Star Movies. I am going to get a prt time job to help out.