On Or Off..help Us Decide

[KATIESMOMMY]

Am planning a return trip to WDW and am now debating getting a rental instead of a value on property.We stayed at Poly and Pop on our first trip--Poly was awesome, but I cant afford 2 weeks there(I won this portion),Pop was just too small/crowded for us. DH has 4 weeks vacation coming this yr, so I have us leaving thanksgiving, driving to Jax to visit bil and then onto orlando on the 25th leaving dec 8.I would love to see more than wdw and to do some shopping and actually relax this time.
Differences- we are driving this time, flew last time and had no car.

would we be happy offsite? recommendations of good area/owners/properties? I would rather have a pool home if offsite

 

[spiceycat]

depends upon what you want.

timeshares/condo - have activities and other things to do (generally)

houses - generally don't - although some of the houses have a community center where your kids can participate in activities

www.vrbo.com

other disers home
http://www.jansfloridavilla.co.uk/
http://www.mickeysluxuryfloridavilla.com/
http://www.mickeyscondo.com/
http://www.dsnyhomes.com/

http://www.vrbo.com/66164 - not sure if this is a Disers?
http://www.vrbo.com/42631 - not sure
http://www.vrbo.com/71842 - not sure


other sites to look at
http://www.windsorhillsrent.com/
http://www.onlinefloridavillas.com/Search.aspx
http://www.lastminutevillas.net/
http://www.floridavilla4us.com/
http://www.floridahomesdirect.com/book_online.htm
http://www.villadirect.com/
http://www.orlandovillas.com/
http://www.allstarvacationhomes.com/
http://www.mousepadsorlando.com/
http://thepalmshotelandvillas.com/

 

[spiceycat]

forgot a map
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/villa/map.htm

so you know where you are looking.

Emerald Island, windsor hills & palms - get pretty good reviews.

 

[Darcy03231]

I've done both and have enjoyed both for different reasons. If you're going to be there for more than a week and plan to do other things than I would definitely stay offsite. I like having a larger space and being able to eat meals in. I rented a 5 bdrm/3.5 bath house for August 2007 for 2 weeks at vacation rentals dot com at a cost of $550/week. There will be 10 of us going. Even with renting two cars its much less than staying onsite. If you really want to stay onsite you could do it for three or four nights and then offsite for the remainder of your vacation. Staying onsite I love using Disney's transportation and its much easier to go back to the hotel for a swim and rest, especially if you have young children. Have a great time whatever you decide.

 

[sympatico]

If you were to stay in the Formosa Gardens / Windsor Hills area in a pool home you're only10 min away from Disney. Windsor Hills, Windsor Palms, Emerald Island and Terra Verde ( which is off Poincianna) are all resorts with community pools and clubhouses etc. The other places like Formosa Gardens, Indian Creek, Rolling Hills etc. are estates which don't have a community pool or clubhouse. When we've stayed in a pool home we've rarely ever gone to the clubhouse or pool. Having your own pool is way better. You'll have plenty of room to relax and with your car you can come and go as you please. We stayed at Windsor Hills and had no problem leaving Disney for a while and returning later in the day. It probably didn't take any longer than having to wait for a Disney bus to take you back to your onsite hotel. If you have children and stay in a home they can have their own room and entertainment. Makes for a lot more privacy for everyone.

 

[KATIESMOMMY]

Sorry didnt give particulars earlier. there will be me, dh, mil possibly,72, dd katie who will be 3.5 and dd carrie who will be 15 months.
We went on our first trip just last month and loved it, but we took it at the babies pace and really didnt see everything (never made it to akl and only spent 2 hours at epcot in 6 days) and the idea of the extra rooms and private pool are appealing plus price wise they seem to make the longer trip more feasible.I am also looking into possibly renting points for a studio, but still seems like we will be crowded....

All input is welcome and appreciated!!

 

[spiceycat]

I think you will be fine offsite - your children are young enough to need naps - so might your MIL - so that works.

the problems would be if one person wanted to leave and the others didn't.

if you stay onsite not a problem - but offsite it is harder transportation wise- someone has to drive.

so until your kids are teens and insist of going off by themselves....you will be fine.

 

[sympatico]

A lot of the homes have complementary cribs, pack n' plays, strollers, high chairs, even baby monitors etc so that you don't have to bring so much from home. They also have at least a couple of master suites with ensuite baths so that you don't have to share. Also child safety gates and alarms for the pool area. Some have game rooms with pool table, ps 2, etc. Although you have to remember that there's no maid service and you look after the home as you would your own , garbage etc. But we still love staying in a home even when there's only the two of us.

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

As much as I love staying on site, I think that offsite might be best for your family. My reason is two weeks in one hotel room would simply be too much for me. Have the space is important with small children. If it were me I would go for offsite.

 

[KATIESMOMMY]

forgot a map
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/villa/map.htm

so you know where you are looking.

Emerald Island, windsor hills & palms - get pretty good reviews.

thank you SO MUCH- the map has been great in helping me wade through all the options!! Thanks again!


Thanks everyone for your input.Our2girls- I think you hit it on the head, 2 weks in a hotel is just too much!

Thanks again, I am having so much fun looking at all the homes and options. I have defiantely narrowed it down to a pool home instead of a condo. My short list is now donw to 40 and am still getting more replies to my inquires, lol
I am sure I will be back asking for more help real soon!

 

[BellaPhotos]

forgot a map

so you know where you are looking.

Emerald Island, windsor hills & palms - get pretty good reviews.

Great Map! I am staying at a rental in Lake Davenport (Palms), can you tell me if it's near any of the places on this map? I hope ... I thought is was in this vicinity, but I didn't see it (or maybe I'm just blind) Thanks for any info you can provide!

 

[BellaPhotos]

Great Map! I am staying at a rental in Lake Davenport (Palms), can you tell me if it's near any of the places on this map? I hope ... I thought is was in this vicinity, but I didn't see it (or maybe I'm just blind) Thanks for any info you can provide!

Yep...I'm blind...I see it. Thank you!