offsite home or onsite dilemma

[kermittheturtle]

Hi DISers

I have a dilemma! I am going to WDW in January(our first time). There will be six of us 3A/3C fo 8 nights. I originally wanted to stay onsite but it was just so expensive! I decided on a vacation home. I have been so unsure since I mailed the deposit. Anyway the check got lost in the mail. So now I feel like I should hold off sending them a new check and look into staying at Disney again. Since it's our first trip I need some advice on which resort for the six of us. What should I do? I already have a rental car and 5 day PH,we do plan to do other things while were there. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

[DJBounce]

Why not get 2 rooms at Pop Century?? I will be cost effective and you will be onsite.

 

[girlsx2]

I agree, Pop Century would be a great idea as it will be newly opened (opens in Dec). Keep in mind that January is value season and you should be able to get a good rate at some/most of the onsite hotels. We went in Feb (still in value season) and some of the Value Resorts were offering $55/night (plus tax), moderates were $85/night and AKL and WL were $119/night. Keep in mind that you won't have the convience of a kitchen to prepare your meals on site (unless you stay at Fort Wilderness) but you can always make a trip to the grocery store for donuts, cereal, milk and a small disposable cooler that you can fill with ice from the hotel. It is definately looking into. Discounts for your time frame should be out within the next couple of weeks (hopefully)!! Hope this helps!!


Sherri

 

[mep319]

Stay onsite...it is sooo worth it! Of course once you do you'll never stay off again...

 

[susy]

I have done both offsite and on and nothing compares to onsite!!!

Be advised that the VERY LAST weekend in Jan, the cheerleaders will be there and most likely be all over the value resorts.

The bus service is great from the values and will be better from Pop Centruy, since they don't share buses. We have done two rooms at the All Stars and it works nicely. Just request two CONNECTING rooms. You get the two bathrooms and one room for the kids to go to bed early , while the adults still have a place to hang out.

The food courts are great. I don't cook on vacation. That includes making toast. The value resorts have Mickey Waffles and a pool bar!!! There is also hair wrapping by the pool and daliy maid service.

I dont' think I woudl like a vacation home, just because it's too much like a home- complete with dirty dishes and towels everywhere. I think you will be spending your whole vacation cleaning up or being disgusted with the mess.

 

[Mike Jones]

... it's that old chestnut again! I can't imagine again spending two weeks with my DS & DD sharing the same room, (with each other or us!) let alone the same bed! And the on-site options with additional bedrooms seem SCARY money! We've enjoyed two exceptional off-site hols, most recently at Indian Creek, which is honestly more convenient for most of WDW than some of the Disney resorts, particularly using disney buses etc at peak times. The benefits of a private pool, lots of living space and bedrooms for each kid outweigh for us all the perceived advantages of staying on-site. I do, of course, appreciate that for many people, the atmosphere of the disney resorts is a major component of their vacation, but it is so expensive. (for us, the opportunity to escape the world is actually a plus..the kids calm down quicker and sleep better, thus getting up earlier for the next assault.. and sitting quietly in the dark or squeezed on a small balcony because the kids have gone to bed is not my ideal way to relax in the evenings!) Good luck with your plans... at the end of the day, ANY way of being at wdw is better than NOT going there!

Mike

 

[erikthewise]

Check lost in the mail, eh?
Whatever you do, I strongly suggest no further dealings with the company that lost the check. While it is possible it was legitimately lost, it is also possible (and more likely IMO) that something else is wrong.

We prefer onsite, but there are more people that stay offsite than onsite and I'm sure most of them have a great time. You just have to be careful to pick someplace that comes highly recommended or is otherwise known to be reliable.

 

[Tigger Fans!]

We stayed off-site in a vacation rental a few years ago. The home was amazing...lots of room....and the rental agency was great to work with (Holiday Homes of Orlando). BUT... if you're planning to spend much time at WDW onsite is MUCH more convenient. I'd suggest checking out the DVC rent/trade board to see if you can rent points for a Disney Home Away From Home resort.

TTFN!

 

[kermittheturtle]

Thank you for the replies. Still unsure about sending another check. Sounds a little fishy to me too....
I am very interested in staying in a Home away from Home Resort. Can someone please tell me more about this and where they're located. Do any of the Disney hotels have indoor pools ? We're going in January. Which Home away from Home is best for kids?
TIA for any info!!!

 

[erikthewise]

There are four onsite DVC ("Home Away From Home") resorts:
Old Key West (near Downtown Disney)
Boardwalk Villas (near Epcot and MGM)
Villas at Wilderness Lodge (near Magic Kingdom via boat)
Beach Club Villas (near Epcot and MGM)

The last three are connected to deluxe resorts of the same name. Old Key West is the oldest and is completely separate from other resorts. All of them offer studios, 1 bedroom suites, and 2 bedroom suites.

You can stay at these resorts on a cash basis, but it is more economical to "rent points" from a member.

They are all just fine for kids; Beach Club Villas gives access to Stormalong Bay, generally recognized as the best pool complex at any resort, but the others have their advantages too.

I suggest you look at the DVC Discussion and DVC Rent/Trade boards, and post any questions you have there.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

You could go to disney's web site and select Resorts,you will be able to view all options avl. at Disney's Home Away From Home link All the resorts listed with the exception of Ft Wilderness Resort and campground are DVC and you could try and rent points for your say from a DVC Member or make ressie thru CRO. they also rent. The Wilderness Homes at the campground do sleep six. I have stayed at each and my favorite is Villas at Wilderness Lodge, and my nephews also love the Lodge.