Off site or on site?

[Debbie]

Oh Akasha, it really is overwhelming the first time but let me allay some fears.

No, the dog can't stay with you anywhere in a WDW hotel. They do have a kennel, so puppy gets a deluxe vacation, too.

No, the babe can't just sleep on the floor. There are fire bylaws, and they are not just trying to get more money out of you. Well, they are, but nothing can be done about that! Hopefully, if you wanted an All Star, they moved you to Dixie-oops, I mean Port Orleans, Riverside, where the little one can sleep on a trundle bed.

And as soon as there are more than 2 adults, there is an extra charge per adult-it doesn't matter if the name is the same or not.

I have 5 kids, so, believe me, I know how expensive it is. We don't even have a trip planned right now. I just come here for my fix

You might want to check out your offsite choices again. Look into:

Roomsavers, Go2Orlando, Places to Stay and Kissimmee/St. Cloud

You've got some good advice earlier in this thread about preparing. Good luck in what you finally decide. I always tend to change my plans several times each trip!

 

[Dizpro]

The problem with most Moderates is there is so little floor space-if she is sleeping in a sleeping bag,she might get stepped on if someone gets up in the night to go to the bathroom. Why not try the WDW Campground? They rent some of those Movable homes/trailers that are plenty roomy-!!!

 

[JohnnyOldBoy]

Chill, Akasha! September is a great time to go. It also gives you lots of time to plan. Keep in mind that for many of the people on these boards the planning and the challenge of getting/doing the most with the least is a big part of the fun of WDW. Again, try The Unofficial Guide. It not only gives a lot of specific information but a good intro to the overall WDW experience.

 

[faith]

Hi Akasha! Check out some more info on the resorts board. With 5 of you the only room I know of in the moderates is PortOrleansRiverside(used to be called DixieLandings). The alligator bayous area have a trundle bed if you request that type room. You could put 2 adults in each bed and your daughter have the trundle. It's a beautiful resort, and well worth the money. In September you may get the Fall Fantasy price. Make sure you ask for room only price, the packages are not a bargain. With your little one it is so convenient to use the Disney bus system, and take an afternoon nap or swim at the resort. The playground is great, great foodcourt, etc. My grandkids love this resort. And no... three days is not enough, but if they are atleast three full days in the parks...meaning come in one day and hit the parks the next three days, then check out the next morning it would work. Have fun planning!

 

[HookdonWDW]

We went to WDW over President's Day Weekend as a "spur of the moment" trip... we only live 5 hours away, and we have annual passes. DH had hotel points, so even our room was free. This is the first time we have ever stayed off-site. Now, the hotel was clean, it was spacious (bigger than the moderates on property). We had two Queen Sized beds and a queen size couch, plus a microwave and fridge in our room. As far as lodging went, it was very nice.

BUT....

There was no Disney magic! Sure they had posters in the lobby. They ran shuttles back and forth, but they weren't at convenient intervals. We drove our car instead. We really missed all of the little things that you get when you stay on property. When we stay on-site, I feel like I'm part of the magic. Off-site, the magic ended when we left the parks. There were no Mickey wake up calls, No bedtime stories, etc.

That said, we will probably do this again for quick free trips, but if I'm spending my money, I'll spend a little extra to stay on-site, and save some money elsewhere.

 

[kgkmom]

We stayed technically offsite last August (Downtown Disney area), and had absolutely no problem with Early Entry. My DD and I were able to do everything in Fantasyland that we wanted to, before 10:00 a.m.!

Having stayed both on and offsite, I absolutely prefer onsite. The not having to drive is huge for me, and the few little perks are worth it. The only problem with the value priced resorts onsite (All Stars) is that the rooms are small-there's no getting around it. I would recommend at least a moderate priced (Caribbean Beach Resort is very popular) if you can afford it. If you are only planning on spending 3 days at Disney whether you stay on or off, then stay on. If you have to choose between more time at the parks and staying onsite, stay offsite.

Personally, I think you will be fine with 3 days. I know that goes against a lot of what you've read, but here's why. Because this is your daughter's first trip, she won't know what she's missed if you don't 'do everything'. A good guide book (or a few), purchased well in advance of your trip and read thoroughly, is a definite must. Every 5 year-old is different. For example, my daughter, at 8, won't go near The Haunted Mansion. Others wouldn't miss it.

We went in 2000 and only had 3 days. We skipped MGM altogether, spent 1/2 day in Animal Kingdom, 1/2 day at the pool, 1 day in Magic Kingdom and 1 day in EPCOT. It was tight, but still fun, and because I had read, read, read beforehand, I was selective about which rides to go on in MK, and my daughter never knew the difference.

At 5, I don't think EPCOT will be much fun for her, but it is definitely fun for adults. My daughter really liked Animal Kingdom, and unless your daughter is a zoo fanatic, you won't need a full day there. To me, MGM is more 'grown-up', but we still had fun when we went last year (2001).

Get a park pass (entry ticket) called a park hopper, so you can go to different parks on the same day. That way you won't waste time in a park if everyone is having a bad time, and can go to a park where everyone will have a good time.

If I had my choice, I'd stay onsite rather than offsite and spend more time rather than less time. But you do what you can with what you've got!

You'll have a great time! Enjoy!

-Sarah