Need some advice

[Disneyfan71]

As you've probably read on some of the other threads, my DW and I are going to WDW in September. Now I've checked at staying on property and the dining plan (one table, counter and snack per day) and well it's rather pricy. Now I know you can save money with the dining plan.

I've stayed off property every visit and had to park at the TTC. I do know most hotels have transportation to and from there. How would you get to AK or DHS? Could you take a bus from the TTC?

I know the advantages of staying on property...but if we can save $$$$ for a motel I'd rather do that too...I'm just, well stumped at this point on what to do.

Thanks.

 

[korg]

As you've probably read on some of the other threads, my DW and I are going to WDW in September. Now I've checked at staying on property and the dining plan (one table, counter and snack per day) and well it's rather pricy. Now I know you can save money with the dining plan.

I've stayed off property every visit and had to park at the TTC. I do know most hotels have transportation to and from there. How would you get to AK or DHS? Could you take a bus from the TTC?

I know the advantages of staying on property...but if we can save $$$$ for a motel I'd rather do that too...I'm just, well stumped at this point on what to do.

Thanks.

I THINK the busses are suppose to be for on property guests but i could be wrong. Personally I perfer having a rental car ... I think having the FREEDOM and ability to do things when I want rather then sticking by the busses schedule takes a lot of the headache of touring away and make it worth the expense.

 

[VAN]

First of all - keep an eye out in the spring for a Free Dining offer for September. That last few years one has been offered, but they can go fast for the value resorts for certain dates.

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It is my understanding that one of the perks of a park ticket is riding the WDW transportation system. What it does NOT entitle you to is free parking. You would still need to park at one of the main park parking lots where they would charge a daily parking fee. From there, you could then travel to other parks and/or resorts using the WDW system. I believe that all of the resort parking areas have security at the entrance to check IDs.

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When factoring in the cost of hotels, please take into account the parking fee you would need to pay each day if you stayed off-site. Those staying on-site are given a parking pass and do not pay a daily parking fee, even if they choose to drive to a park instead of ride the bus.

If you plan to visit in September, it will be during the Value season ... I cannot imagine that you would get a motel off-site significantly cheaper than you could get a Value resort room - especially when you factor in the parking cost. There are many discount codes that are also offered at this time of year and you can find out most of those from this site and/or mousesavers.com.

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There is a bus that goes directly from AK to DHS. So if you drive, you can park at AK and then just ride the bus to the Studios. You would, however, need to take the bus back to AK. Because the Studios is open longer than AK, I would probably just drive there rather than risk not having a bus to go back and pick up my car.

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I hope my response has been helpful. If you are planning to spend most of your time at WDW, I really do think you could stay at a Value Resort just as cheaply as offsite and I think you'd be happier.

 

[VAN]

Oh, I reread your question. There are huge parking lots at each of the parks ... AK, Epcot, DHS, and MK/TTC. I recommend parking in the lot for the park you are going to that day. The parking charge is the same as TTC. You only pay one parking charge for the day ... so if you decide to visit one park in the morning and then drive to another park in the afternoon, you just show your receipt and do not pay a second charge.

However, if you want to park-hop you don't have to move your car; but do want to make sure you will be back at your car within a hour of park close.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

i could not imagine ever staying off property, the hotels make the disney experience 24/7 and the busses make everything so easy. the dinign plan at first looks like a lot of money but it's really worth it, it does save money plus makes ordering stress free since you dont have to look at the prices, no receipts to worry about calculating to see if you stayed on budget. we have always stayed at the value resorts and found them to be totally worth it. i would say go for the disney resort and dining plan, then you can see for yourself which option works best for your family.

 

[seadd67]

We have stay off site, ONCE! The Motel Is a little cheaper but transporteing back and fourth if they offer a shuttle and most do is long and fustrating and tell you what the extra bucks you save at the motel you will spend on Tylenol. about the only way i would honestly stay off site again if we were going to see other sites,but since my ds is all disney he does not even want to see any other park. But really take a second look at the values i think if you do enough research you will find the values to be worth staying on site. Good luck

 

[Mickey'sfriend]

I'll give you a different take on it..... I don't think the dinning plan saves you $ unless your family is used to eating large quantities of food and you are planning to have a TS meal each day. Our family of 5 budgets $50/d for 2 CS meals and 1 snack/d. We do breakfast in our room and I bring water bottles into the park. Off property hotels can save you $. I have stayed as low as $40/night for a simple hotel room, but I would not depend on their transportation. A car would be needed IMO and don't stay more than 3 or 4 miles from any WDW gate. The traffic around there can quickly make getting to and from the parks a headache.

 

[Disneyfan71]

Thanks for all the responses.

As for staying on property or off proptery...I'd rather not have the hassle of finding transportation. Plus we're flying and rental cars can get pretty expensive--this much I do know. I think staying on property will be more fun and I get the Disney experience.

As far as the dining goes...not sure what we'll do just yet. The last time I went, the Dining plan option didn't exist.

 

[glesgalass]

We went for the first time this year and stayed off property at the bottom of I-Drive. Now, at home, we both drive a lot with work, and ferrying the kids about, so thought it would be an adventure to use the buses. We deliberately chose a hotel with buses to WDW and US and SeaWorld (although we could walk there, and did in about 15 minutes.). We were there the first two weeks in July, it was blisteringly hot and we have two sons who were 8 and 6 at the time.

We had a ball.

The bus services were great, free for us, and very reliable. Some of the late ones back at night were a bit hokey, but we never felt unsafe, and we enjoyed every bus trip as a chance to relax after a long day, or to finalise our park plans on the way in. They take you to the TTC, and you can Monorail, Boat or bus to anywhere you needed to go. Sure, it took time, but there was no driving stress, no fighting for a parking place, and no driving home at the end of a long exhausting, but wonderful day. We would do it again, no bother.

Having said that, we're staying onsite next time, because we want to experience that, too, and got a great deal on free dining (we're in the UK). But do what feels right for you. We stayed at the Int Plaza Resort, which I know you can priceline, they got some poor reviews on Trip Advisor last year, but the remodelling is finished now - we've actually reccommended it to several friend who will be first timers next year, and they've booked up.

Have a great time!

 

[seadd67]

I'll give you a different take on it..... I don't think the dinning plan saves you $ unless your family is used to eating large quantities of food and you are planning to have a TS meal each day. Our family of 5 budgets $50/d for 2 CS meals and 1 snack/d. We do breakfast in our room and I bring water bottles into the park. Off property hotels can save you $. I have stayed as low as $40/night for a simple hotel room, but I would not depend on their transportation. A car would be needed IMO and don't stay more than 3 or 4 miles from any WDW gate. The traffic around there can quickly make getting to and from the parks a headache.

Great job Family of five on a budget at WDW thats a a Job. The Breakefast in the room is a great idea we did that last year and It work out great.But Since there is just me and my DS we set out a couple of Chacter Breakfasts, and we do make eating out at the park part of the Disney experince. But Its what ever makes your Disney trip great for your whole Family

 

[disneydad861]

I'll give you a different take on it..... I don't think the dinning plan saves you $ unless your family is used to eating large quantities of food and you are planning to have a TS meal each day. Our family of 5 budgets $50/d for 2 CS meals and 1 snack/d. We do breakfast in our room and I bring water bottles into the park. Off property hotels can save you $. I have stayed as low as $40/night for a simple hotel room, but I would not depend on their transportation. A car would be needed IMO and don't stay more than 3 or 4 miles from any WDW gate. The traffic around there can quickly make getting to and from the parks a headache.

Yous aid that you budget 50 dollars a day. Is that 50 dollars a day per person so a total of 250 dollars a day for the family? Thanks.

 

[korg]

Thanks for all the responses.

As for staying on property or off proptery...I'd rather not have the hassle of finding transportation. Plus we're flying and rental cars can get pretty expensive--this much I do know. I think staying on property will be more fun and I get the Disney experience.

As far as the dining goes...not sure what we'll do just yet. The last time I went, the Dining plan option didn't exist.

If you've never stayed on property before I'd recommend staying on Disney Property. Their themed hotels are cool! They ARE expensive though. In regard to Disney transpostation ... keep in mind, although it's Disney transportation it's still PUBLIC transportation. You'll have to cue up in line for your ride ... wait for the busses, come and go on their schedule, often times you get stuck standing in a crowded bus full of tired and sweaty people, and they may make several stops before getting to your distination so a 15 minute ride could take 45 minutes. I've stayed on property several times in the past ... used their bus system on one trip ... never again!!! One night it took over an hour to get from Pleasure Island to my Disney hotel. Now regardless if we stay on or off property we always rent a car. I very much prefer the freedom having a rental car gives you. PLUS I personally never go all the way to Florida without doing SOMETHING non Disney during my trip. Usually we'll do one day at universal or Sea world. If you stay on Disney property with no rental car you're STUCK doing nothing but Disney. If this is your plan ... cool! But i thought I should point it out what I feel are the down sides of relying solely on Disney Transportation. It can save you money if you stay on property but IMO you pay in other ways.

In any event ... enjoy your trip! All the complaining aside there's still no better place then Disney! My wife and I will be flying there in 2 days!!!