One Night, On or Off Property?

[kevmag]

Curious what other people think...if we're flying into Orlando airport, arriving around 8 or 9 PM on a Sunday night...and assume there was a 'low points' studio available, say OKW or BWV (oh, its 2 adults this trip, no kids)...would you just grab a Hampton Inn for $90-100 by the airport, or book the studio? (Currently, our first night is Monday at the Wilderness, and we will have a car, so Magical Express does not factor in...)

I guess another way of asking....value wise, what's 10 points in a studio worth, stacked up against a relatively cheap hotel near the airport?

 

[photobob]

I guess what really matters is whether the use of a nights points coming in that late is important to you. I have done both. For us we just don't like to have to deal with changing and moving the next morning so we just stay where we will be staying for the entire trip.

We drive and usually arrive around 3-4 pm so our situation is a little different. Once we went down a day early and stayed outside the property and another time stayed at Pop Century. It just wasn't worth the extra trouble to us so we have quit doing so. We only have 180 points so we try to make the most of our points but we prefer just to go ahead and get settled in.

 

[ToddyLu]

DH and I have stayed at Pop when arriving late like that. Check in was easy and we were already in the World to start vacation the next morning. We left our bags with bell services and that transferred them for us while we went to have fun the next morning. However, we won't be doing the bell check for transfer again. DH stressed too much about his camera equipment when it didn't get to the room the next afternoon with the other bags. From now on we will just get a taxi, go to the next resort, check in and then leave our stuff with bell services. But it was much easier being already on property the next day.

 

[murcor]

I hate moving so I would spend extra $$ to be able to spend the night at Wilderness.

If I had to move than I would probably do the 10 ish points and stay on property

 

[Granny]

When we drive to WDW, we usually don't arrive until 9:00 p.m. or later. We can't see spending the points to basically sleep in a villa. Of course, we normally come in on a Saturday, so the points are higher.

We usually Priceline a hotel in the Disney area. Typically we get a very nice resort hotel for about $75 a night at most.

That's better than an airport hotel, because then I get up early the next morning and drive over to the resort we will be staying at. I check in, get the packet and drive back to the one-night hotel. We then have a leisurely breakfast and head back to the DVC resort to drop off luggage and start our day at Disney.

If you have a bunch of points, then a studio at OKW or SSR would be a good solution. If going cash, then I'd go Priceline before staying at a value resort. Of course, this only works because you said you will have a car.

 

[jstarcze]

I've done a cash reservation at Pop Music and I've used points for a studio at SSR. My next trip I'll probably get a room just off property. I think any of them are fine. Staying on property was nice because it was relaxing to know we were already there and we were already soaking up the Disney atmosphere.

 

[alice99]

My husband and I usually Priceline a 3 star hotel near Disney (not near the Airport)..... we have stayed in some really nice hotels for $50-75$.
Then go to our resort after breakfast out, check our bags at bell services and go to a park.

One time we landed after midnight so considered staying at the Hyatt at the airport, but it was cost-prohibitive.
Once you leave the airport you're better off just driving to the Disney area. It can be a bit seedy near the airport.

 

[kevmag]

I'm the OP, thanks to everyone for the feedback.

Another reason I was thinking of staying by the airport...we were thinking about taking the airport shuttle to the Hampton Inn on Sunday night, and then I would take the shuttle back in the morning, and rent the car then (basically saving one day's rental).

AND.....to further complicate things...we started pricing the rental car (we're going to be at WDW for a few weeks), and it costs so much...we're thinking about renting a car on property for about 5 days in the middle of our stay.

So, now I'm taking my own thread off topic! But...is it ok for us to fly into Orlando Sunday night...take the airport shuttle back to the airport on Monday...and take Magical Express to WDW?

Thanks all!

 

[BCDisneyFan]

We are visiting for the first time in November and were thinking about doing the same thing would love to know if this is the best way to go

 

[cjb-nc]

We always fly up the night before, typically arriving 5-7pm-ish. We always rent a car. Never spent points on that first night - the idea being we can get an extra night between full days out of our points budget.

Did the priceline thing for a while, but after a couple less than stellar results we settled on a favorite first night hotel. It's the Comfort Suites Maingate on 192. There's a winn dixie marketplace right behind it for a grocery run before we check in the following day. Price is usually 85-100 for the one night. The rooms are decent sized, clean, and consistent.

One trip, pre-cruise, it was actually cheaper to rent a car for that one night and drive to our first night hotel than to stay at the airport in the Hyatt. Plus, we got to wander an extra night at Epcot in the bargain, instead of being stuck 15 miles away.

Another idea for the OP, if you have AP's you might see if there are value resort discounts. I know I'm taking my next trip at All Star Music at 65-70/night thanks to the AP discount, and I could use the express if I wanted. Pretty sure you can arrange to have your bags moved between resorts.

 

[Sandisw]

I would probably see about getting VWL and spend the points. This way, you won't have to move in the morning.

If that is not available, then I think I would go with using points. For me, spending cash when I have the points available would not be my first choice. That is what the points are for.

Unless they would be borrowed points and it would leave you short so you would not be able to book your next trip, why pay money when you don't have to? Save it for a nice dinner for the two of you!

 

[dgaston]

When we arrive late to MCO, we like to priceline an airport hotel, shuttle there and then in the am pick up the rental car or take ME to WDW. We have also used priceline for resort level hotels near Disney for Friday or Saturday nights, and have had excellent luck with that as well.

We have APs, so don't pay for parking, and only a limited number of DVC points.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I would try to get the night at VWL!

 

[kevmag]

Another idea for the OP, if you have AP's you might see if there are value resort discounts.

I thought of that, but we're buying our APs and TIW the next day!

I would probably see about getting VWL and spend the points. This way, you won't have to move in the morning.

We're waitlisted there...

When we arrive late to MCO, we like to priceline an airport hotel, shuttle there and then in the am pick up the rental car or take ME to WDW.

So it's not a problem to go back to MCO the next morning, and take ME to the Wilderness (even though we actually flew in the night before)?

I would try to get the night at VWL!

Go waitlist!

 

[sparkyboy]

One thing to consider is that there could be delays with your flight. We had weather related issues in May so our 9 p.m. arrival time ended up being 1:30 a.m. I had a rate of $100 for the Hyatt airport so ended up booking that late that afternoon when we knew of flight delays. Also saved us a day on car rental from Alamo.

 

[dgaston]

So it's not a problem to go back to MCO the next morning, and take ME to the Wilderness (even though we actually flew in the night before)?

We've just picked a dummy flight for ME arriving in MCO around the time we head to WDW and picked our bags up ourselves. We put them on the ME bus and tip the driver. Works great!

 

[kevmag]

We've just picked a dummy flight for ME arriving in MCO around the time we head to WDW and picked our bags up ourselves. We put them on the ME bus and tip the driver. Works great!

Perfect, thanks Debbie! Just what i was hoping to hear.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm the OP, thanks to everyone for the feedback.

Another reason I was thinking of staying by the airport...we were thinking about taking the airport shuttle to the Hampton Inn on Sunday night, and then I would take the shuttle back in the morning, and rent the car then (basically saving one day's rental).

AND.....to further complicate things...we started pricing the rental car (we're going to be at WDW for a few weeks), and it costs so much...we're thinking about renting a car on property for about 5 days in the middle of our stay.

So, now I'm taking my own thread off topic! But...is it ok for us to fly into Orlando Sunday night...take the airport shuttle back to the airport on Monday...and take Magical Express to WDW?

Thanks all!

If you can get VWL studio for that first night, go for it. Use DME to get there. Then, rent a car for the time frame that you actually need it while there.

Make that DME reservation for the day you will arrive at WDW. If you are able to get the addlt night at VWL, give DME that arrival day. If you choose to stay offsite, and then return to MCO on your original day, give them that info. You can give them dummy info if you choose.

 

[kevmag]

If you choose to stay offsite, and then return to MCO on your original day, give them that info. You can give them dummy info if you choose.

We've just picked a dummy flight for ME arriving in MCO around the time we head to WDW and picked our bags up ourselves. We put them on the ME bus and tip the driver. Works great!

Do you guys have any idea how often ME runs from MCO to WDW? I imagine with all the flights going into MCO, it's probably hourly, or something like that, right?

 

[Disney Princess]

I'm the OP, thanks to everyone for the feedback.

Another reason I was thinking of staying by the airport...we were thinking about taking the airport shuttle to the Hampton Inn on Sunday night, and then I would take the shuttle back in the morning, and rent the car then (basically saving one day's rental).

AND.....to further complicate things...we started pricing the rental car (we're going to be at WDW for a few weeks), and it costs so much...we're thinking about renting a car on property for about 5 days in the middle of our stay.

So, now I'm taking my own thread off topic! But...is it ok for us to fly into Orlando Sunday night...take the airport shuttle back to the airport on Monday...and take Magical Express to WDW?

Thanks all!

Obvoiusly you've received the information on taking ME the next day. If it were me - I would want to be on property ASAP. If your WL comes through - terrific! If not, I would do a Value resort using an AP rate. I know you said you were buying the AP the next day, but I believe you can get the AP rate and just have to show the AP at check-in. You would just purchase the AP at check-in. That would only be one day difference in purchasing the AP, give you a cheaper rate, and you'd be onsite ready for your vacation. You could have Bell Services transfer your luggage and check in at VWL the next morning. That way, you don't have to waste time shuttling back to MCO and then catching ME. You'd wake up AT Disney World, ready to go.

I agree about the car too. Rent the car on property on the days you need it. Good luck - have fun!!!