Ocala Welcome Center Deals?

[wickedsox]

Hi!

My wife and leave for WDW 4/30, and we have 3 nights booked already at CBR (and we are pumped!), but we are driving down from Atlanta and have heard and read about "great discounts" available on Deluxe Hotels thru the Ocala Welcome Center. Can anyone testify to actually getting a great deal on these hotels this way, or has this process been overblown?

We can skip it and be at WDW when the parks open on 5/1 (around 9:00) or we can stop at the Welcome Center and get to WDW around 10:30 or 11:00. I don't want to potentially waste a couple of hours if there are not really any deals, and I realize that every day is probably different than the next, but if I have a chance to stay at a deluxe for a good price, I'd certainly consider it. We got CBR for $109 + tax per night, and I can live very happily with that, but...

Anyway, I appreciate the feedback as always! Specific stories and rates would be a big help. Also, does it matter if I already have reservations for another Disney hotel? I wouldn't think so.

 

[corndog]

Stopping at the welcome center won't add 2 hours to your trip. It really shouldn't take you more than 10 minutes. It's right on the freeway.

We got a water/MK view at the GF from the welcome center last fall in the low $100s (maybe around 140 w/tax).

 

[wickedsox]

Thanks Corndog (never thought I'd be saying that phrase!). I didn't mean to imply it would take that long at the Welcome Center; I merely meant that we'll have to wait until 9:00 for it to open and then take an hour and a half or so to get to WDW, as opposed to getting to WDW when it opens.

Thanks so much for the info, though. That deal is simply amazing. If I hear one or two more stories like that, I'll simply have to stop.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I read on one of the forums here just last week that the welcome center has received NO Disney rooms this year ! You may want to try a search with the word Ocala and see what recent ones say. Or just call the Welcome center and ask if they still have WDW resorts.

 

[corndog]

I'm sorry. I was unaware of the operating hours.

 

[wickedsox]

Well, I got the answer myself by calling the Welcome Center. Apparently Disney is doing okay this year, because they haven't offered the Welcome Center anything except the normal Florida resident and AAA discount stuff. So, we won't be stopping at Ocala after all i guess.

Thanks for the responses.

 

[Bstanley]

Historically the Disney Information Center in Ocala wouldn't discuss actual availability over the phone. Perhaps they've changed the policy - or perhaps between the way you asked the question and the way they answered the question it sounded like they didn't have any rooms...

We received a very nice discount on a deluxe there last Dec. and recently in response to another question about Ocala someone posted that they had received a nice discount there in late Jan.

Anybody live nearby? and would be willing to go in and ask?

It would be really handy to know if you can actually call them ahead of time to get accurate room availability info or whether you still have to walk-in to get it...

 

[FFerret]

Would LOVE to know more about this myself for our December trip!

 

[Samsma]

Just Bumping. Very interested