Need some help planning a December trip

[saysib]

Hi there! I dont post all that much, but am always reading as when I'm not planning an actual trip, I am planning a 'what if' trip, lol. Anyways, background.
May time last year I had it all set, we were heading to Disney Nov/Dec 2013. I was toying between POFQ for 3 weeks (with a dining plan upgrade) and a 1 bed villa at OKW. Making use of the dining plan was something I've always wanted to try and was very excited to book when my husbands bonus came through at the beginning of June. June arrives and with it the news that I was pregnant and due February 2013. We decided baby would be too young for such a big trip, and that we probably wouldnt enjoy it the same either so moving it back a year didnt seem such a big deal. The problem being, an extra year means an extra year of planning!!

The pregnancy was rough so many days/evenings were spent 'planning' this trip and there lies the problem. I am now completely overwhelmed with the amount of choice in front of me. Back when we were planning for it being myself, DH and DD (almost 6) the thought of 3 weeks in a Disney hotel room seemed a fine option. We did 2 weeks over her 4th birthday and had an amazing trip. The thought of taking an almost 2 year old, when he is only just 5 months right now is giving me a headache.

We have looked into staying at a villa, which looks amazing - so much space and freedom, plus a private pool. But what if I miss staying onsite? We've been in December once before and it was jeans and sweatshirt weather pretty much everyday. Will a villa be a waste if we cant actually use the pool or sit outside much because its 'chilly'?

On the other hand, will 3 weeks in one hotel room be too long and the room eventually feel to small for the 4 of us? What do we do if he needs to go the room to nap and its too cold to swim?

I know, so many questions! Any advice would be greatly appreciated, TIA.

 

[scoobydooby]

How about just a 1 bed villa at OKW? Full kitchen and washer/dryer and separate room for mum and dad. There will be more than enough room in the living room for your two children. Do you need a two bed villa? I certainly think the two rooms would be a bonus with a napping age child. Good luck choosing.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

We have been in December many times but have always managed a few pool days, even that year when it was really cold. Last December was quite nice and we wore shorts for at least half of the holiday.

I love the extra space of a condo, Townhouse or villa. My DD loves the hotels so for the last couple of trips we have done spit stays and gone to a WDW hotel and then gone offsite.

Hope you can get your head round everything

 

[saysib]

Thanks for your input guys. Good to hear it can be warm in December.
One of the OKW villas would be a dream Scooby, but I think its just going to be outwith our budget unfortunately

 

[scoobydooby]

Have you looked at renting points from a DVC owner? That would not come with free dining but might be somewhat cheaper than booking OKW direct with Disney. Or there are the family suites at the All Star resorts and Art of Animation. No free dining for Brits at value resorts though

I should just plan for the weather to be schizophrenic in December. During one two week trip the last two weeks one December we swam four times quite happily and wore hats, gloves and winter coats four times. In between we wore shorts, jeans and layered up and down none stop!!!!

When you are pricing it out don't forget to add in the price of a rental car and parking if staying off site.

My only other thought. There are some condos actually on Disney property not Disney owned. They are very good value. When the name comes to me I will post it if someone doesn't beat me to it. You would need a car but they offer greater space at a lower cost than Disney whilst been right there on site.

 

[Minniesgal]

When our kids were little we loved our offsite condos and so did they. We could put the little ones to bed and still have grown up time. We also found the offsite options for food suited them. Now they are almost grown up we have gone back on site as we bought DVC. Two bedroom villas on site work great but they are pricy so for a few years if the budget needs it offsite works. There are many condo places just a short drive from the parks. We stayed at the Lake Buena Vista resort and spa and it is just outside the WDW limits .

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

I think scoobydooby means the Wyndham Bonnett Creek resort that is near Epcot

 

[lolainkent]

When our kids were little we loved our offsite condos and so did they. We could put the little ones to bed and still have grown up time. We also found the offsite options for food suited them. Now they are almost grown up we have gone back on site as we bought DVC. Two bedroom villas on site work great but they are pricy so for a few years if the budget needs it offsite works. There are many condo places just a short drive from the parks. We stayed at the Lake Buena Vista resort and spa and it is just outside the WDW limits .

What did you think of Lake Buena Vista Resort & Spa? We just booked there a few days ago for next Feb after deciding that a teeny tiny room at the Art of Animation for £288/3 nights was ridiculous when we could get that hotel for almost the same for a 2bed/2bath. Is it nice?

 

[Minniesgal]

We liked it a lot, my kids lived the pool the condo was great heaps of room and the location was so close to both Disney and Lake Buena .vista restaurants we like we were almost on site. The only thing was housekeeping was truly awful. You don't get daily cleaning and I paid extra for them to come twice and regretted it. They removed so much stiff from our room on the pretext they thought it was hotel property or rubbish and it took a full two week to get compensated for some things they removed and couldn't find to return. One of the managers told us it happens all the time. The resort is great just don't boo housekeeping.

 

[smallblackstars]

My DD was not long turned 2 on her first trip. It was just a short break with only me, DD and my mum. We stayed at Saratoga Springs in a studio for 11 days and with her at that age it was just the right amount of time being in a hotel room. I think a villa would be much better, there is a limit to how much time you can be cooped up in a room with a little one who needs naps, is potty training and who is firmly in that 'terrible twos' bracket! If you get a villa then if little one is having an 'off' day you are able to stay there and have more room and a pool all to yourselves. We would have much preferred a villa but we were using up left over DVC points that would have been lost had we not used them. Taking a little one that age is no walk in the park, yes it is an amazing experience but if I could do it again I would definitely have stayed in a Villa over a hotel room. We had 7 day tickets and the days we weren't at the parks were where we really felt the space being an issue.

 

[lolainkent]

We liked it a lot, my kids lived the pool the condo was great heaps of room and the location was so close to both Disney and Lake Buena .vista restaurants we like we were almost on site. The only thing was housekeeping was truly awful. You don't get daily cleaning and I paid extra for them to come twice and regretted it. They removed so much stiff from our room on the pretext they thought it was hotel property or rubbish and it took a full two week to get compensated for some things they removed and couldn't find to return. One of the managers told us it happens all the time. The resort is great just don't boo housekeeping.

Good to know, thanks! I saw that you had to pay for extra housecleaning. We're only there 3 nights so we can survive without it.

 

[saysib]

Thanks so much for your input and recommendations. I think we have settled on a villa/condo. I've been scouring the web looking for the best prices and have a few offers from privately owned villas - anyone gone this route? I'm a bit nervous to rent from someone directly.

Would a condo be better for our needs if going in December? They are a bit cheaper when booked through the travel agent than the villas. If we were going summer time, the private pool would be a no brainer but are we wasting money in December?

Sorry for more questions, lol

 

[LauraDaveCharlie]

We've done two private villa rentals and been very happy. I wanted to pick the villas specifically as I have a thing about a supposedly 'private' pool that is ten feet away from the pool on the left and ten feet away from the pool on the right! Found exactly what I wanted after a lot of searching and went to the same one twice.

Our son was three and four when we went to the villa in Orlando and the space was perfect for him. We returned to WDW when he was five and that was fine with us all in one room then. Hope you find what you are looking for!

 

[saysib]

I wanted to pick the villas specifically as I have a thing about a supposedly 'private' pool that is ten feet away from the pool on the left and ten feet away from the pool on the right!

THIS exactly has been my issue too! Do you mind me asking if you have a link to the villa you used? Especially if you liked it enough to return!

 

[Tinkerbell1989]

I often go with a lot of family and so villas make the most sense to us. This December, there will be 12 of us, and were staying in a HUGE villa from a couple my Grandad knows (after 25 years of Disney vacations to their villas, theyre like best friends!)

Uniquefloridaorlando . Com

Several villas of various sizes, we've stayed in 4, 5th one in Dec, never any problems, often gated communities, we've never been any further than a 20 minute drive from WDW.

Hope that helps, Steffi x

 

[LauraDaveCharlie]

Hi Saysib,

No problem - the link is http://www.vr360floridavillas.co.uk/propertydets.asp
(villa number 605 if it doesn't take you there). It has changed hands in the last year but we loved it here. The villa is a U shape with the pool in the U and it is also on a bend so you literally cannot see or hear anything from the villa. I looked at about 1,000 villas to find it! We really liked the location too - Davenport - found it ideal just a few exits down from WDW, five minutes off I-4 and a few mins from a Publix supermarket. Take a look and see what you think!

 

[saysib]

Thanks Steffi! I'm off to take a look! Do you usually go in December?

Hi Saysib,

No problem - the link is http://www.vr360floridavillas.co.uk/propertydets.asp
(villa number 605 if it doesn't take you there). It has changed hands in the last year but we loved it here. The villa is a U shape with the pool in the U and it is also on a bend so you literally cannot see or hear anything from the villa. I looked at about 1,000 villas to find it! We really liked the location too - Davenport - found it ideal just a few exits down from WDW, five minutes off I-4 and a few mins from a Publix supermarket. Take a look and see what you think!

Thanks Laura, it looks great! Pool seems ideal, do you know if it can be gated off for a toddler?

 

[LauraDaveCharlie]

Hi Saysib,

Yes - the gate is up when you get there and it is your responsibility to take it down if you want to. Obviously we, like you, kept it up and it was perfectly safe. Every door of the villa also had an alarm too so we knew if our son opened a door out to the pool area. Really wish we were going this summer hols, sigh...

 

[saysib]

Its sounding better and better!!

Me too! November next year seems so far away! Will be here before we know it though! Where/when is your next trip?

 

[Tinkerbell1989]

Thanks Steffi! I'm off to take a look! Do you usually go in December?

You're welcome! This will be my 3rd trip in December x