Old Key West, Beach Club, Fort Wilderness or.... Private Villa?!

[Holstar]

So, up until yesterday we pretty much had our plan sorted for Disney. We were going to stay in a One Bed Villa in Old Key West, do the dining plan and fly Premium Economy.

But, a good friend of mine pointed out that we could make significant savings staying at a private villa, and then put that money towards spending money, clothes for my nieces etc.

I don't know though.... Somehow, it just doesn't feel like "disney". I've wanted to do this since I was a little girl, and there's something holding me back! Plus, adding it up, £1000 for a villa for two weeks, plus £1200 for park tickets, plus flights, plus food, plus car hire, plus petrol and parking... I don't see how we'd save much money! Additionally, I like to eat out a LOT when on holiday, and I know I'd want to eat at Disney restaurants... without the dining plan, this would be so expensive!

I could understand it making sense if we were doing all the parks, but we only plan on doing Disney and Discovery Cove/Wet 'n' Wild! Thoughts?

Whilst trying to weight up out options with the villa idea last night, my partner suggested that we fly economy, save a £1000 or two, and then maybe stay in a different resort.

I'm instantly drawn to the villas at Beach Club, but he likes the cabins at Fort Wilderness (with two adults and three children, we'd like some privacy, and I think the master bedroom houses the bunk beds so I really don't like this idea!).

What's your experience of these resorts/external villas? Do they detract from the whole disney experience? What's Old Key West really like? I've noticed in reviews that quite a few people don't like it...

The only issue at this point is that Disney haven't released their villa rates for 2013, so it's all guess work! They told me how much they think OKW will be, and Fort Wilderness, but I don't have a clue how much Beach Club would work out at for two weeks... expensive I'm guessing!

I really need your advice guys!

xxxx

 

[disneyholic family]

i've worked the numbers and assuming that OKW with free dining is offered at the 43% discount it was offered at this year (or was it 47%, whatever, a very big discount), you won't be able to do any better than OKW.

Although with 5 kids, i would go for the 2 bedroom at OKW, rather than the 1 bedroom.

The 2BR is absolutely INCREDIBLE!!! And if you get that discount, well, you'll never be able to go to disney any other way.

But even the 1 BR is amazing.

if you like eating out at the WDW restaurants then there is absolutely no way that a villa will work out cheaper by more than a few hundred dollars (if even that much). Again, assuming they have the OKW with free dining discount again for next year.
And you're right, in a villa it won't be disney.

as for FW - you're right. It's not private enough - the kids are in the bedroom with you.
the Beach Club is a wonderful resort, but it will be much more expensive. Especially if they have the OKW discount again next year.

One question - will you rent a car?
if you don't rent a car, then the beach club will be more convenient at least in terms of epcot and DHS.
But then again, i've stayed at OKW without a car and it's great there too. i happen to really love OKW. It's my favorite DVC property.

i think your husband is right about the premium economy though.
i would go economy and use the money to upgrade to the 2 bedroom.
but be careful, it's really hard to go back to anything else after that!!!!

 

[mackay_j]

we used to do hotels, includding disney and universal ones until we rented a villa about 11 years ago (the one we now use is between 750-800 for 2 weeks) and then we realised that we much prefered it so we now do the villa for 2 weeks and do a few treat nights at universal, however this year because of the free dining offer we are back at OKW for 2 weeks. The free dining package was just toooooo good to pass up, as we like to eat out for most of the trip and as we are all adult meals- for 4 that adds up. Im not sure about not having a villa (we opted for the sudio but now wish we had splashed out a bit more for a 1 bed) but we will see how we cope....

 

[Elise79]

I have opt for OKW over any of the other options. With OKW you can get either a one bedroom and have the children sleeping in the living room and save money or get a 2 bedroom and have plenty of space. TBH the one beds are massive anyway!

The BCV will need to be a 2 bedroom (the one beds only sleep 4 there) and will around double the cost of OKW if the discounts remain.

OKW is a great resort - we stayed for the first time in Feb and can't wait to go back.

Free dining sounds like it will be a big saver for you so I would stick to onsite.

As for flights we always fly PE so I can't advise there

 

[zippy99]

If you have the discount and free dining I would go OKW every time. We did a Villa last year and I missed staying on site - extra hours, the busses, the themed restaurants and dining plan.....

The only thing I liked about off site was I finally drove for the first time out there (only took 4 trips)!

 

[wayneg]

I would wait until all the prices are released and compare.

Everyone enjoys different holidays, for us we totally dislike villas, don't mind offsite hotels but villas are not our thing, we had to make our own bed for starters
Stayed in a condo a few years back, just used the bedrooms, never used the living area or kitchen.
We are doing OKW for the 4th time this summer, love the resort, far better than a villa for us.

Flying PE again this summer but only because we are using airmiles, to me its worth about £100-£150 extra (£50-£75 each way) more than that I would rather fly economy and try get extra legroom seats (we were upgraded free to them last year, legroom better than any Business class seats I have had)

 

[TheFram4]

I'm with OKW it's nice and relaxing with just the right amount of 'Disney', no parking charges, boat to DTD etc etc

I would agree with flying economy and upgrading to 2bed, 1 bed does have lots of room but it's all the personal bits and bobs that are out of the way in a 2 bed (esp with girls)

 

[Queequeg]

Boardwalk is nice.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

What month are you planning on going as this may affect the prices and the decision you make?

 

[loobzuk]

we love having a private villa - it's like a home from home. The children enjoy having a pool to themselves (last year they voted to stay in the villa pool rather than visit a water park!). We have not had the dining plan but the sheer amount of food puts me off a bit and there are many non-Disney restaurants that we always want to visit. We enjoy the space and the privacy and when the children were younger it was good to be able to tuck them into bed and not have to creep around a hotel room trying not to disturb them. (I can remember our trip first trip to DLP and having to camp out in the bathroom for what seemed like an age waiting for DD to fall asleep!)

We have only stayed on site once (our first visit) which was great as we didn't really understand the sheer size of the whole place. DH loves driving in America so staying off site and driving isn't an issue.

As for flights, we had always flown economy, believing the cost of PE to be too expensive. Last year though we decided to push the boat out and treat ourselves and, would you believe it - next year we've booked PE again! We look at what we want and, rather than compare one cost against another, just say that's what it costs, can we afford it? If the answer is yes we go ahead (if the answer is no then I sign up for extra overtime!!!!)

Good luck with deciding which way to jump, but whatever you finally decide I'm sure you'll have a great holiday.

 

[dixonsontour]

OKW is a lovely resort.

When looking at reviews I don't think i've ever seen a negative one by a Uk resident.

If the OKW or SSR deal is offered again for 2013 which it looks like it will be then it is the obvious choice. You only have to see how many go for it on here.

 

[Holstar]

What month are you planning on going as this may affect the prices and the decision you make?

We are somewhat restricted by our nieces school holidays, and as such the very lovely lady at Disney advised us to go at the very end of August as it should be quieter!

We're looking at the 27th of August until the 10th of September!

My partner definitely won't mind driving in the US, but if we were staying on site, we'd only rent the car for a day or two (we're only planning on doing Wet 'n Wild and Discovery Cove outside of Disney!).

I think, realistically, given the sleeping layout FW is out. And, like you've all said, it does somewhat depend on how much everything is when the prices for villas are released next month... but... I'm guessing BCV will be super expensive and just destroy our budget!

We were quoted somewhere around £4500-4800 for a 1 Bed villa at OKW, assuming the 14 day for the price of 7 days ticket offer is still on, and so is the Disney Dining Plan. If we upgrade to the two bed, I think it was about £1,500 more... so more or less the cost of the upgrade to Premium!

Looking at Villas... they all seem to come out around the £900-£950 range for two weeks (with pool heating). Which sounds amazing, but when I've added on park tickets, food (all books recommend £100-150 per day budget when staying off site), car hire, petrol and parking, it comes out around £5,000!

I think you're all right. I should stick with OKW! We're not going to be there an awful lot anyway, there's so much to do... It's just, and this sounds silly, that I've wanted to go to WDW since I was a little girl... I was the child that constantly (at least once a week) phoned the premium rate US number for a VHS video just so I could have it come through the door!

We're taking our nieces as their family can't afford it and we just about can if we make sacrifices... I want it to be a big memorable holiday. A once in a life time thing! I worry that not staying on site will detract from that.

xxx

 

[Jakejosh4]

i've worked the numbers and assuming that OKW with free dining is offered at the 43% discount it was offered at this year (or was it 47%, whatever, a very big discount), you won't be able to do any better than OKW.

Although with 5 kids, i would go for the 2 bedroom at OKW, rather than the 1 bedroom.

The 2BR is absolutely INCREDIBLE!!! And if you get that discount, well, you'll never be able to go to disney any other way.

Oh wow if anyone sees this offer please please post it means we could stay on Disney instead of a villa for the first time !!!!!!!!!

 

[Tony Toon]

It really does depend on what is important to you. You say that you like to have privacy. Well, you have all the privacy in the world in a villa and there are plenty of villas available within 10/15 minutes of Disney property. Be careful with that as some owners advertise this fact but are clearly rather optimistic or very fast drivers. Staying off site also gives you the opportunity to dine in many of the very good and much less expensive restaurants outside of Disney. There are many threads on these boards to advise you of these.

We love staying in a villa but we equally love staying onsite. We are also staying at OKW (for the first time) this summer with the dining plan. It really is such a good deal and we can't wait although I suspect for the last week of our holiday after spending some time on the Gulf coast we will return to Orlando and stay in a villa or condo so will experience both. Roll on July!

As for the flight we have travelled PE on occasions but find the extra cost unnecessary when on a budget. We consider the time flying as just a necessary part of getting to where we really want to be and much prefer saving the extra fare to spend on a nice meal somewhere.

 

[Evoga]

I've stayed in every Disney resort bar Grand Floridian, Bay Lake and Tree House.

I love Fort Wilderness and have stayed there many times. We sleep in the main room which has a double pull down bed and the kids stay in the bedroom with a double and 2 bunk beds which also has it's own tv.

The only part of the other resorts is the swimming pool at beach club which is the best at Disney and can help sway your choice if the children spend a lot of time in there.

Old key west rooms are massive but there is no real Disney ambience or real quick service.

I would never go back to a private villa again.

I also like sitting outside the cabins and cooking a BBQ or relaxing at night with a drink.

 

[kevin harrison]

I wil be honest, I really didn't want to stay at OKW, so my family and I compromised on a week at OKW and a week at HRH.

But - I loved OKW, it wasn't too "Disney" - I also loved the boat ride listening to Jimmy Buffet on the way back from a night out. Very relaxing.

Actually I asked for a price to stay for an extra week - was quoted $800, thought that was a great deal - turned out that was per night !! lol

If you get free dinning and 43% off - it's a no brainer !

 

[wideeyes]

I was planning on a villa, however now tempted by this offer with free free dining and if there is 40% off as we have decided to go later in the year. We were going in June but decided November now.

I wanted a villa so we would have more space and my eldest daughter could have her own room but like the idea that all food is sorted apart from Tips. Free parking at the disney parks and if we got a 1 bed we would still have lots of space. I am also worried about booking a villa for the first time, disney onsite is more in my comfort zone, I have to convince my partner though. I think the free food should do that though!!

 

[wayneg]

Actually I asked for a price to stay for an extra week - was quoted $800, thought that was a great deal - turned out that was per night !! lol

If you get free dinning and 43% off - it's a no brainer !

A 2 bed villa has a Rack rate of upto $1,100/night incl tax. for holiday season, $980 peak season. The rates we get here are great compared to these.
For our studio this year, rack rate with no food is $370/nt or £235/nt, we have paid £118/nt incl food.

 

[Holstar]

Thank you all!

We've decided we're definitely going to do OKW, probably a 1 Bed Villa, but we're considering upgrading to a 2 Bed, depending on the price when they're released next month!

Quick thought though... Originally, we planned on doing 14 days, with a trip to Discovery Cove and Wet 'n Wild during our stay at the Disney resort. However, what are your thoughts on perhaps splitting our stay?

We had a quick look at prices, based of course on this years current prices, but there's about a £1000 difference between an 10 night stay and a 14 night stay!

I'm thinking maybe do 11 nights at Disney, base all of our fun there. And then go to a villa for a week (we've been quoted £450 all in for 7 days), and do things like Discovery Cove/Wet 'n Wild etc from the villa.

Do you think 10/11 days would be enough time to do Disney?

xxx

 

[Elise79]

Personally, we hate moving mid holiday. We did it 3 times and would never do it again however some people seem to love it. Once we arrive I like to unpack and make my self 'at home'.

Is there any reason you want to do wet'n'wild? Disney has 2 brilliant water parks that are far nicer plus there is Aquatica now which is part of the SeaWorld group.

OKW is nicely situated to get offsite easily (I assume you will have a car if you are looking at a villa) and if you stay there you can use the DDP to get your meals still when around the resort and you could use your TS meal in the evening easily.