offsite advice needed

[Mysteria]

Hi all,

Need some offsite advice for my MIL to be. Will try talking her into staying onsite (FW cabins etc.) because she doesn't drive, plus all the other bonuses, but I do understand why she is looking off. Part of it is a budget. She is looking at taking her 3 grandchildren 8, 8 and 12 by herself (No not my kids lol I don't have any yet...but how does having a MIL that will take your kids to WDW rock!!? hehe). She would like to have a kitchenette...microwave and fridge as a minumum. Fridge is and absolute must as she is diabetic and needs it for insulin. The other must is transportation to the parks. Something with free transportation to at least WDW would be best. I'm on onsite person myself so a little lost when it comes to off. I know you all are the offsite experts so please help point me in the right direction.

She is looking at going April 23rd to 30th

Thanks,
Myst

 

[crazelion]

I would try talk into staying onsite WDW and at least staying Mod or Value and rent a frige. Since she is a diabetic she should get for free check disablities board they can help more.

Have she thought DTD hotels rooms that would be next best transportion besides WDW and she could have a fridge to.

www.downtowndisneyhotels.com and www.mousesavers.com

Mousesavers have a few reviews of some downtown Disney hotels as list her prefer sites and offer a discount on them.

If all else try www.hotelkingdom.com for discounts hotel rates. Then go tripadvsior.com for hotel reviews.

Mybe she try talking another adult into going that does drive then they can rent a car. Doing offsite without a car is hard on a person.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Since you mil doesn't drive, I would strongly urge her to stay on WDW property. Shuttle schedules from offsite hotels is sketchy at best.

I'm pretty sure all the moderates offer free mini refrigerators now---she'd have to rent one if she stayed at a value resort. Granted, these don't have a kitchenette but there is the food courts. FW Cabins and possibly renting a studio from a DVC'er would give her a kitchenette, but there's not much time left before she goes and not sure what availability would be with a DVC studio ? You'd be looking at approx $110/night at OKW and $140/night at BWV, BCV or VWL....and $130/night at SSR. This would give her a refrig/sink/microwave in the room. OKW has 2 queen beds and all the others have 1 queen and 1 sleeper sofa. Just not sure about availability this late. You can check over on the DVC rent board. http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=29
The going rate is about $10/point.

I also agree with Crazelion about checking out the downtown disney hotels:
http://www.mousesavers.com/hiltonwdw.html (she'd have to check about renting a frig here).

While I agree there are more bargains offsite, the fact that she doesn't drive is a negative I feel---especially with being elderly and having three kids with her. Good luck !

 

[laurabelle]

I'd have to agree that your future mil should stay onsite. I have only stayed offsite twice, so I'm sure there are others on this board with alot more experience.

I've only relied on offsite shuttles one time (a few years ago at the Courtyard DTD) and it shared busses with the other DTD hotels, dropped off in the parking lot, the drivers were kind of surly and unDisneylike, and even if we found the bus right away and hopped on, the driver waited around for quite a while before leaving. I guess that's how they keep their schedule, but Disney buses are better.

My second offsite experience was at Vistana Resort last summer, we had our own car, and driving to the parks was a piece of cake. But I can understand how your MIL (if she drives at all) wouldn't want to do alot of driving around a strange place as the only adult!

I took my kids (by myself) to POFQ last month and they had fridges in the room, I believe all the Disney Moderates do now. No microwave in the room, but I think all the food courts have them. I had a rental car from the airport, but let the Disney busses do the driving during our stay. POFQ is small, which is a big plus since none of the buildings are really far from the bus stop.

Since the fridge is medically necessary for her meds, she would be able to get a free one from a Disney Value resort if she decided to stay there.

BTW- I think it's awesome that she wants to take the grandkids...have you thought about joining her???

 

[florida-again]

I went last year without driving and also on a budget and we stayed half onsite in All Star Movies and half offsite at the Best Western Plaza. We found this was the best way to save money as we could use the free transport in disney to get around once we were there but spent the other week in the slightly cheaper hotel and did all the offsite things. Also, we used the free transportation to disney from Best Western to move to our disney hotel which saved a huge amount of money. Hope this helps!