Please help me choose

[ksl5f123]

I am taking my girls on a budget vacation to WDW in July 2011. It will just be me and my girls (ages 7 & 5). I can not decide where to stay. Here are the options I am considering:

1) Pop Century - $558 - the most expensive choice, but it puts us on property. The advantages of being on property are that I don't HAVE to drive (we will have our minivan) and it "feels" very safe for me to be walking around with just my girls. However, we will be bringing most of our food with us into the parks and there is no refridgerator.
2) Radisson LBV - $412 + $56 parking at WDW = $468 - we have stayed here before and the rooms are beautiful. However, it is July and we will be taking a pool break everyday. The pool is right next to I-4 so it is noisy with NO atmosphere. This hotel is also very difficult to get in and out of when driving.
3) Hampton Inn LBV - $383 + $56 = $439 - we have never stayed here, but it gets great reviews. It also includes a hot breakfast every morning (great for a budget trip). Since we have never stayed here, I have no idea how difficult it will be to get back and forth.
4) Country Inn & Suites LBV - $317 + $56 parking = $373 -we stayed here before and the rooms are fine (not great, but fine). The pool is VERY small with no shade. We can get a room with bunk beds for the girls which would give us a little separation. There is a basic breakfast here that is included. It is easy to get from this hotel to the parks.

Which would you choose? Or do you have another suggestion?

 

[taylor3297]

How about choosing the Pop and then renting a refrigerator? Granted that will add to the cost, but I think if you feel safer there, it might be the better choice.

 

[1GR8DISNEYFAN]

I would choose to stay onsite. To me, once you leave that "Welcom to Disney" sign, you loose all the magic. Have you considered Wyndham Bonnet Creek. This will be our first "off site" trip, we are staying at WBC, but with the location of Bonnet Creek, I still feel as though it is onsite, it just is not an official Disney resort, so you get more for your money.
You will have so much fun with your little girls. What a special trip!

 

[JoShan1719]

I've stayed at the Hampton. It was great, the breakfast was not amazing but it was better than just "continental." The room was spacious enough for H and I. It's close enough to the property that we left the parks everyday for a nap in the afternoon. Getting back and forth was very quick, no problems. I'm able to stay on property this year, but if I wasn't able to I would definitely stay there again. There's a fridge and a microwave already in the room, no extra charges, so that's great. I would recommend it if you're on a budget.

 

[mott]

Have you checked Shelby's friends and family rate for the Holiday Inn DTD? It gets good reviews and has a refrigerator.

Search for "friends & family", Shelby has the link in all her posts.

 

[sscassel]

POP is my choice. I have always liked staying on property. to me it makes life easier. I stayed off one time, won't ever do it again. BTW, with kids that young, do you have to go in July???? Can you switch to Sept. I have pulled my kids out of school thru 6th grade without any problems. You would bet a cheaper rate on the hotel AND get the FDD. Then you will not have to get food ready and pack it, walk to your car etc. etc. Would be worth it.

 

[John Tag]

We just stayed at Clarion on LBV. Place was GREAT-CLEAN ect. Bigger and better than any Pop,Music resorts we stayed in past. Cost avg 40-60 night..FREE shuttle daily with many times. Travelosity has many great packages.

 

[Kay1]

Considering the choices you gave, I agree with some of the others that POP may be your best choice as a nice pool is so important to you. You can just rent a fridge. OTOH, you could look at other hotels. We stayed at a place near Disney that had all the things you want, but I'm not sure about the price. It was called Caribe Royale.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[TotoToo]

POP is my choice. I have always liked staying on property. to me it makes life easier. I stayed off one time, won't ever do it again. BTW, with kids that young, do you have to go in July???? Can you switch to Sept. I have pulled my kids out of school thru 6th grade without any problems. You would bet a cheaper rate on the hotel AND get the FDD. Then you will not have to get food ready and pack it, walk to your car etc. etc. Would be worth it.

We found the exact opposite. Being onsite was Disney overload - it was too much and ruined the feeling of being special. Limited tv choices, small rooms lacking many features and poor choices for food all work against being on site for us. The parking cost, while too high, was easily manageable as overall we got better accommodations for so much less just outside the gates. The Hampton would be a great choice for the OP I think.

 

[kvnchapman]

How many nights are you staying? Check YES program availability on your dates! Great WDW ticket discounts for all 3 of you. Any chance of getting to go during free dining? If not, look at Bonnet Creek. Have fun!

 

[ksl5f123]

Thanks for the replies so far. I appreciate the review of the Hampton and will check out the rates at the Holiday Inn.

PP, we already have the YES tickets.

We can't go during school months because DH and I are professors. We have to be in Florida in July for a family event (my inlaws live in Vero), so we are just taking a few days from that trip for a "girl's vacation" while the boys stay at the beach. We will be there for 5 days/4 nights.

 

[Magic2000]

if you really want to be onsite, bring an ice chest with you. you can just replenish the ice every day. you can even just pick up one of the styrofoam ones.