Planning trip to WDW with 4 kids!

[darlingfamily]

Hey there! I am new here! This place is AMAZING! I have been reading for several days now and have already received answers to many questions for a trip we are planning in Oct. But I do have a question on hotels. My DH wants to stay at the Best Western on Dis property. I would rather stay at a resort but, we are looking at budget costs. (all the more spending suvenier money for me! )

Has anyone stayed there? I was kind of thinking of the HIFS since it looks like that is highly recommended but I wanted to check and see if anyone has anything to say about BW.

Thanks!

Heather

 

[tonysgal34]

Stay at AllStars!! It's inexpensive and perfect for kids. There's the pools, arcade, and even pizza delivery!! You'll love it....get adjoining rooms and you'll have plenty of space. Have fun!!

 

[crazelion]

You can post your question on the Orlando and Attactions board that where most on the offsite people hang out. Also check trip advior.com and travelocity.com for hotel reviews.

Another hotel to consider is Tropical Plams Resort they have two bed room cottages for less than 100.00 night.

It really depends on budget. How many people is going. You have four kids your options is limited onsite.

Hotel that accomadates onsite that in Downtown Disney is the Doubletree Suites Hotels an again check tripadvisor.com for hotel reviews.

Some people say WDW hotels has majic and disney feel. I don't believe the disney feel and majic stuff. The main reason I stay onsite so I don't get lost. I can go back to staying offsite if I have to. It depends on how many people is going. If need more room. Anymore than 4 then I can't afford onsite.

My advise is do a budget for :
Hotel
gas
food
tickets
suvenier

Also another site to check for hotels is hotelkingdom.com . They have resorts at good prices that will fit into your budget. Also be sure check for discounts AAA, goverment rates, and senior rates.

If goverment employee let know I will pm you a site for government employees can get condos for 249.00 a week.

 

[darlingfamily]

Thank you! That is all so helpful. I am wondering, though. Last time we went (1994 - 2 kids at the time) we did a moderate resort and it wasn't too bad. This time around because of the number of kids and adults (total of 6) we will need two rooms most like. We were thinking Best Western or Holiday Inn both are onsite I believe because of the cost but I am wondering if the all-star resorts would be comparable to either of those two for price and amenities and we would get to stay in a Dis resort. Something I prefer and my DH just would rather get more for his money. We are planning our trip for the first week in Oct since that seems to be an off peak time of year. Our two oldest are autistic so we wanted to avoid any overly large crowd days since that tends to overload both of them.

Anyway, to get back to the point. I think Best Western which is located at downtown disney gave him a quote of $410 for Oct 3-8 and while that might be less expensive than an all-star resort I wonder if the kids would enjoy the all-star better? I am just sort of torn.

 

[breana902]

I have 4 kids also - 5,6,9,11 yrs old. We have stayed at all stars movies, and this past trip we split our stay between the dolphin and pop century. The kids love the all star hotels the best (even over the dolphin!). I also had a 12 and 15 year old with me this past trip and they seemed to prefer pop century also. The first two trips we stayed offsite, but the kids don't want to do that anymore since they got a taste of the onsite experience.

 

[breana902]

Originally posted by crazelion
The main reason I stay onsite so I don't get lost.

Glad to hear that I am not the only one who would get lost!! Everytime I pulled out of the parking lot I got lost. One night I would make a left and got lost, so the next night I would make a right - got lost again. Took me almost a week to figure out what I was doing wrong!

 

[lilsonicfan]

i would go with an offsite vacation home or condo. we had seven people (4 adults, 3 kids) and got an awesome house for 8 nights, $700 US - and i've seen ppl get even better deals than that. the house we got had 4 big bedrooms, 3 baths - it was about 5 min from the World, and i must say, i don't believe the onsite "magic" either.... i'd much rather come home to a big space than cram into one or two small hotel rooms.

 

[HeatherC]

My vote is also for an offsite villa. You can get so much more space for your money and some are just as close as an onsite resort. You may want to check out SKYAUCTION's Ready Set GO Auctions. You can get a 2 bedroom for about $300 for the week! We stayed at Orange Lake last time which is right near Animal Kingdom and loved it. Happy planning!
HeatherC

 

[MELSMICE]

There are on-site options, it just depends on what you want to spend:

1. Two rooms at a Value resort - 2 baths - may be too busy for your 2 oldest.

2. A cabin in the Fort Wilderness campgrounds - full size kitchen, 1 bath - sleeps 6 - very quiet & private. Probably good for your 2 oldest.

3. Renting points from a DVC owner - a 2BR unit sleeps 8, 2 baths, 2 bedrooms (obviously) 3 TV's, full kitchen. Many options to choose from as far as scenery, & how loud or quiet the resort is.

HIFS is nice, we've stayed there. It is not on-site. Free breakfast daily & kids under 12 eat free w/ paying adult. Will you have your own vehicle or a rental car?

Many people disagree, but I believe that staying on-site enhances the trip & makes it that much better. JMO!

Keep watching mousesavers. You may be able to get resort codes.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

With six in the family, I would certainly consider offsite vacation villa or condo rental. There are many of them close to WDW and the price is right.

Since you mention that you are looking for budget costs, the offsite accomodations would be something you might consider.


MELSMICE mentioned good possibilities onsite. You just have to make the choice. If your DH wants to stay at the Best Western in Hotel Plaza Blvd., then you might want to check out the priceline possibilities. Remember though that it is very hard to get a specific hotel through priceline.

 

[Debbie]

Been there, done that. . . but with 5 kids.

Melsmice has given you good on-site advice. Two rooms at the All-Stars (or Pop Century) would likely be my personal on-site choice.

I can't find where you have told us the ages of your youngsters, but in '99 we did a split stay with my kids 5--->14 years old. Half at HIFS and half at the Beach Club. The kids loved HIFS and for the number in the family, the breakfast counted for a LOT in the budget area. The nicest thing about HIFS (when does it become a Nickelodian?) is that, while there is only 1 bathroom, , there is a private room for mom and dad. The living room is really small when the sofa is made into a bed, but that's okay. I think it's better than the "suites" where it is all one big room with one bath, anyway. You do need a car, though, for HIFS IMHO.