Off site recommendations with good transport

[talksalot81]

Hi there,

I am a newbie here so please forgive me if this has been covered. I did a quick search and didnt come up with anything.

My future wife and I are intending to Honeymoon in the Orlando area a couple of weeks after easter (4/24 for 14 nights). Much of the stay will be disney time however we just cannot afford disney accomodation on top of transatlantic travel. In addition we would like to come and go into disney (we'll have our 14 day passes) and I do not want to have to repeatedly pay $10 to park (if we were in morning and evenings that quickly mounts up!) so would like to have somewhere close enough to Disney and with a decent shuttle service.

At the moment I have naively eyed up the Radisson Resort Celebration. Has anyone any thoughts on this?

Suites are nice, but we just dont need full kitchen facilities as we will eat out the whole time. Also it seems to me that the suites type accomodation is that bit further from disney and lacking in the transport links.

Are there any hidden gems near the disney marketplace which might suit (budget is going to be $1500 in total)? The grovenor resort seems very cheap but I have read alot of bad reviews about it... any others?

Thanks for the help

Adam

 

[spiceycat]

offsite places don't give good or relability bus service to anywhere. they come late or early. If they are scheduled to come at that time and the bus can't hold everybody - you either have to wait for next scheduled time - or take a taxi (sometimes necessary at night)

you only pay for parking once per day.

the value resorts are pretty inexpensive. $99 per night for your time (does not include tax). It also does not include the discount that Disney will probably come out with before then.

for 14 days I would go with a condo -

www.skyauction.com - okay this is probably a bad ideal - but try it anyway.

looking for 7 days and the extra fee is $195 per week (not daily). you might have to change condos.

also cypress pointe
www.hotelkingdom.com

to do either of these you will need a car. Cars are pretty inexpensive in the Orlando airport to rent.

I am not through with my report on Vacation Villa (appears fairly often on skyauction). it has a shuttle to WDW charges $6 per person. so $12 total. I don't know how relability it is. they did have a free shuttle to the local Publix, outlet malls and old towne.

 

[spiceycat]

but if you insist
http://www.bestwesternlakeside.com/shuttles.html

be carefully of any place that won't give you a transportation schedule before you arrive.

 

[Brian Noble]

I love love love staying offsite, but think a rental car is an absolute necessity. It's almost not worth going otherwise. I can't think of a single offsite location that has adequate transportation, except for the Downtown Disney hotels, but none of them are cheaper than a Disney Value hotel.

I'm with Spicey. I think you will find that, once you add up all the costs of parking, rental car, etc., that you will come out ahead financially by renting a Disney Value resort room, and taking Magical Express between the airport and your hotel, especially considering the likely discounts for that period.

 

[Princess89]

I second the Hotel Kingdom website! Also look through tripadvisor.com for reviews on what you choose. I really like that site. Also, have you checked the Downtown Disney Resorts. Sometimes the Hilton will have good prices on the web. You could in the process join their HHonors club (no cost) and earn points for future use. Its similar to the other hotel chains. In past experience a lot of the offsite hotels don't offer great bus services. The schedules just didn't seem to mesh with my agenda and were very limited. You should definitely inquire about their schedules before booking!

 

[talksalot81]

Sorry I do believe you have misunderstood. I am fully intent on getting a car, I have been in the area half a dozen times and well know the necessity.

The reason I havent considered Disney is because the prices I have found are high. The best I can find is £900 ($1600ish) for the time at the all-stars. However, having spent time in the contemporary and grand floridian as a child, I am afraid the all stars just doesnt cut it! Hence I am going offsite where I can get a level of accomodation that I want, but without the price. I have indeed looked at the marketplace area, but again the price is prohibitive even factoring in the potential for $140 of parking.

Thanks again

 

[Princess89]

Sorry I do believe you have misunderstood. I am fully intent on getting a car, I have been in the area half a dozen times and well know the necessity.

The reason I havent considered Disney is because the prices I have found are high. The best I can find is £900 ($1600ish) for the time at the all-stars. However, having spent time in the contemporary and grand floridian as a child, I am afraid the all stars just doesnt cut it! Hence I am going offsite where I can get a level of accomodation that I want, but without the price. I have indeed looked at the marketplace area, but again the price is prohibitive even factoring in the potential for $140 of parking.

Thanks again

Yes, I totally misunderstood you then. I thought you were going and not getting a rental car. Sorry I would really inquire at the hotels you are interested in about transportation. Each one is different. We stayed at one very close to the Maingate and it had horrible transportation options. As for the Grovesnor (sp?) I have had friends stay there, and they really liked the place, and have returned repeatedly with nothing but compliments. Good Luck, with whatever you choose!

 

[spiceycat]

Hi there,

At the moment I have naively eyed up the Radisson Resort Celebration. Has anyone any thoughts on this?

Adam

there is a bad review on the review board.

plus the prices I have seem this is definitely more than Pop. I like Pop. Now it is not a deluxe resort but it definitely has charm.

here is a link to pictures for Pop
http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=537

movies is pretty popular too - all star movies
http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=533

now they don't have room service nor valet parking. but they are pretty fun places to stay. but I can definitely understand not wanting to stay the entire time at one.

if you would leave out one weekend - stay 12 days instead of 14 - you might consider renting points from a DVC member.

sun-thurs - DVC rental are great, fri/sat they are expensive.

studio
1 queen bed and a double sleeper sofa for april 24-26 - $140 (14 point * $10) for BCV, BWV, VWL each night

april 27-28 $320 each night
April 29 - 30 $140 each night
May 1- 3 - $130 each night
May 4-5 - $290 each night
May 6-8 - $130 each night

OKW replace $140 with $110, $320 with $270, $130 with $100, $290 with $240

SSR replace $140 with $130, $320 with $290, $130 with $120, $290 with $260.

okw has 2 queen beds.

would your new spouse be very upset if you want in May instead (better rates) at the DVC resorts.

if you like the area - I can recommend Vacation Villa at Parkway they appear on skyauction fairly often.

 

[Lisa P.]

Given Spicey's figures for a DVC points rental from a DVC member, and assuming a $10/point rental price, I see 14 nights costing:
US$2,570 at WL, BC or BW (high end cost for a DVC studio)
US$2,070 at OKW (low end for a studio)

So while lovely (with excellent transportation but missing a jacuzzi ), those are probably outside of the budget suggested.

With a Fairfield/Wyndham Bonnet Creek points rental from a FF owner (@ $10/1,000 pts), those 14 nights would cost:
US$1,680 (1BR w/jacuzzi) - $195/nt on Fri or Sat, $90/nt on weeknights

This is still slightly outside of the budget suggested but it may be close enough to consider. There are occasionally FF owners who will rent their points for $6-$8 per thousand. So it's possible to reduce this price by 20%-40%. Bonnet Creek is a lovely, newer resort at the edge of Disney property with beautiful rooms, fair (limited but free) transportation to the Disney parks, two nice pool areas and a great location between the BoardWalk/Caribbean Beach Resorts and Typhoon Lagoon/Downtown Disney. You'd still need to drive/taxi to DD or BW but they're within a mile in either direction from Bonnet Creek.

Note that all the above options are pricier on Fri/Sat nights than on weeknights. Also, note that they only include full housekeeping service once per week with a trash & tidy once more per week. Daily housekeeping is available at any of them - for an additional fee, which would add up quickly. All of these options are best reserved as early as possible to secure them - waiting too long will mean they are booked and unavailable.

I would suggest that you consider staying the first 5, 11 or 12 nights at a less expensive offsite location (perhaps at Cypress Pointe in Lake Buena Vista - see HotelKingdom.com) to save money. Then move to one of the above options for an upgrade later in your vacation.
While offsite, you may want to consider visiting Universal's parks or Sea World. 14 days are a lot of days for just the Disney parks. A 7-day pass to Universal is available for ~US$90 online. Just another thought to consider - more reason to look at lower cost offsite options for part of your stay. HTH!

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage!!!

 

[spiceycat]

nice to see you back Lisa - you have been missed!!!

Lisa is right there are a few cheaper alternatives.

but the prices I am seeing on Raddison Resort Celebrations (use to be Parkway) are not better than Pop Century.

when I was looking for alternative for you I was surprised how expensive everything was - I mean heck this is almost off season - the main part of spring break will be ended by then.

 

[UKDEB]

when I was looking for alternative for you I was surprised how expensive everything was - I mean heck this is almost off season - the main part of spring break will be ended by then.

Not according to Disney, Pat. Looking at my DVC points chart, 15-30 April, 2007 falls into the 'Dream' season (i.e. the most expensive after Easter/Christmas).

Talksalot81 - I'm assuming you're British (?). Are you looking at package prices through a UK Tour Operator? They know that we'll often take our kids out of school around all the main school breaks and thus prices are considerably higher at these times. Clearly you don't have any option but to stomach those prices as far as flights are concerned, but you'll find it cheaper to book your accommodation directly. In the US you pay per hotel room, not per person as you do if you book a package with a UK Tour Operator. Given your posts, you probably know all this - forgive me if I'm teaching my Granny to suck eggs.

Come and join us over on the UK Trip Planning Forum.

 

[spiceycat]

that is just DVC

the Disney resort go on regular season (spring break is peak season) April 15.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...id=PopCenturyResortRatesListingPage&year=2007

we get much better deal in Oct, Nov than WDW resorts do.

 

[tednvon]

http://www.vrbo.com/37681
http://www.vrbo.com/37681

Hi, all great suggestions...Here is one more to digest...I went quickly to www.vrbo.com in about 5 minutes found these two condos, for well under your budget of $1500. Both are a very short drive to Disney and if you budget in 10 bucks a day for parking you are still under $1400 and you have lots of room, a huge pool complex, king bed, 2 baths for probably no reason but what the heck!!

Not sure if this idea appeals to you, but it does give lots of breathing room for 14 days...Now, I know on a honeymoon that you aren't like the rest of us yet! Most of us already marrieds really really like the chance to spread out and have some "space." But even newlyweds on a two week holiday might think all the room is a nice option...


If you would like to shop on your own there are hundreds of upscale condos at Emerald Island, Windsor Hills, Wiindsor Palms all on www.vrbo.com. Sometimes you can get 3 bedrooms for less than 2 bedrooms...
Also, if you want to try this do not be afread to ask for 10 to 20%$ discount for a two week rental...folks may be more than willing to cut you a nice deal...like "two weeks for $1100, total including tax."

Good luck...Ted

 

[talksalot81]

I'll be honest that, as a honeymoon, I really want to be in a hotel, not villas or the likes. More than anything else, we just dont need the space. A nice room is one thing, a suite is nice... but we dont need kitchens, second bedrooms.... we just want a nice resorty type area - a nice room, reasonable atmosphere, good pool, good accessibility.

You guys have convinced me against relying on free transportation. If Indeed it is only $10 per day (and not per visit) then parking isnt a big deal.

I am indeed British (well I prefer Irish, but close as!). I am working on any rates I can find. In honesty I dont go with the brochures because they cost silly money. Virgin holidays for example - good enough base prices but add fuel surcharge, add regional flight transfer, add car insurance (incidentally they charge more than most companies charge for rental PLUS insurance!)... suddenly it is just daft! So basically I have been planning to do it in parts and therefore have been checking rates online. So I have been limiting my viewing to about £900 ($1700). In consideration of the numbers above, this seems really quite low - however, it goes quite a long way. For instance:

Sheraton Safari - under £600
Radisson - under £800
courtyard marriott LBV - under £600
Renaissence Sea world - under £900
Best Western LBV - under £700
Royal Plaza LBV - under £700

Those are the sorts of places I am looking at... most are close to Disney to suit our desire not to have to travel too extensively.

Thanks for the help.

 

[spiceycat]

I would go with Sheraton Safari or Courtyard Marriott before Raddison.

here the link to the Sheraton
http://www.sheratonsafari.com/

here is the courtyard
http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/MCOLY

both are in great locations. both have outside restuarants that you can walk too. they do also have inside restuarants.

the Sheraton is a little closer to WDW than the Marriott.

generally both Radison and Best Western are cheaper than this.

 

[talksalot81]

Alot further away but it looks very nice... the renaissence at sea world?

 

[spiceycat]

renassiance is nice - one of my favorites.

you can actually walk to Seaworld from it.

http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/MCOSR

big rooms, nice staff, wonderful lobby.

It gets a 4 star from AAA. the best rating in the area. It is an older hotel. It has been there since Seaworld.

It is also a business hotel. So for the holidays you can sometimes get a great rate.

 

[spiceycat]

forgot if you still want other transportation - there is bus Lynx (public bus system) that stops not to far from the Renaissance. the one you want is Lynx 50. It stops at the TTC - which is where the monrail for the Mk and Epcot starts at. to get to the other theme parks - you can take the monrail to one of theme parks then take a bus to the theme park you want.

I would drive to everything except the MK - for the MK I would take the Lynx bus - unless I was staying for the night show - then I would drive.

http://www.golynx.com/schedule.cfm?route=50

this is not FREE - but pretty cheap.