PPH or Embassy Suites South

[mommy2allyandaveri]

We have a 6 night stay coming up and I have reservations at both. I am so undecided and it's driving me nuts.

The reason is because the difference in price is only $600 total (after I've factored in transportation to and from the park each day). Sometimes $600 seems like a big difference but for 6 nights, that's only $100 a night difference. Early entry every day is so appealing and really hard to pass up and I feel like a lot of time is spent going to and from the park with the shuttle. If it's raining, having to wait for transportation is even less appealing.

But then I think well maybe I should save that $600 to put it towards staying on site next summer.

Anyone have an opinion they want to offer? I swear I have this internal debate every trip!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

If you think you will regret not staying on site, then go with the PPH. If you will regret spending the money, then go with the Embassy Suites. (Will you save more if you factor in the hot breakfast and manager's special at the ES?) $600 is a relative amount: a fortune to some, not that much for others. In the end, only you know what will work best for you, so go with your gut feeling. Both hotels are nice, so you won't lose with either choice.

 

[KalamityJane]

It depends on how much money your time is worth. We are staying offsite and saving a boatload BUT hours are long for when we go, and the price was $1700 for 5 nights or $1130 for 7. Also, we have a 2 room suite for the cheaper price off site versus 1 hotel room. We have stayed on site in the off season usually and really appreciate the early entry because it lengthens the hours we can get in.

 

[KalamityJane]

Also, how often does the shuttle run? Is that going to affect things?

 

[Canadian Harmony]

PPH is a nice place, but it's at least a 20 minute walk, even taking the shortcut through GCH, from PPH to the gates - that includes elevators, walking pace of kids, security check and line up at the entry gates. What's your time worth?

 

[jenmiller114]

I feel for you. I have the same debate every time we visit the parks, too! Personally, I like PPH for the EMH and it's a little more convenient if you want to take a break during the day but it is still a bit of a walk and everything nearby is so expensive.

We have stayed at Embassy Suites South several times and we really like it there. We are a family of 5 so we appreciate the extra space and we really like the cooked to order breakfast in the morning that is included. We get up early, eat breakfast and try to be on the first bus out. If we take a break during the day, we also enjoy stopping by for happy hour and snacks.

You do have to buy passes for the bus every day but it runs every 30 minutes and the pick up is right in front of the hotel. It picks up at one or two other hotels but this is the first stop which is a huge advantage. I believe buses run until 30 minutes after park closing.

When we stay there, we usually do not rent a car so we can save on parking fees. We can take the bus to the park and there is plenty of good dining in walking distance. Most important... Target is across the street so we can buy a case of water and other snacks & things we might have forgotten. I guess if you are going for 6 days, you probably have other things planned so you will probably have a car. But even so, I am sure parking is cheaper than PPH.

Hope that helps.

Jennifer

 

[Angrose]

I would choose PPH. I have never stayed at either hotel, but being the holidays, to me it would just feel nicer and more festive staying onsite. We splurged and stayed at the DLH the weekend after Thanksgiving last year and so happy that we did. You'll be greeted by the PPH Christmas tree each morning and will get to walk through the GCH as part of your route to/from the parks. It's so pretty in there! Plus, the EMH seems even more valuable these days with the parks being so busy. Besides, you said ONLY $600 more which leads me to believe that you can afford it. I say go for it!

 

[calilou]

I would most definitely choose a resort property. If you can afford it, it will be worth it.

What are the ages of your children?

 

[bumbershoot]

Embassy has free breakfast. So include the cost of breakfast to the cost of PPH.

I'd take some of that total savings and use it on cabs to and from the parks, personally...

(if this is the ES near Hilton Garden Inn, FWIW we walked back and forth each time except for one evening when we caught a cab)

 

[theluckyrabbit]

$600 can buy some really nice souvenirs, some nice meals or character breakfasts, and still leave seed money for the next trip. The ES hot breakfast and manager's specials can save money, too. On the other hand, staying on site and EMH may really be worth the investment. Choosing between these two hotels is a nice kind of problem to have.

 

[Oswald23]

PPH is a nice place, but it's at least a 20 minute walk, even taking the shortcut through GCH, from PPH to the gates - that includes elevators, walking pace of kids, security check and line up at the entry gates. What's your time worth?

Security check and line up at the gates should not be included because it's the same for every place you come from. I timed it, with 2 little children, the elevators, traffic light, Shortcut it took us 15 minutes to be at the de bag check. Considering it's with elevators the walk itself is about 10 is not that bad.

 

[Canadian Harmony]

Guess my kids and husband walk super slow then. It took fooooorrrreeeevvvverrrr.... but maybe it seemed that way because I really wanted to get in the gates

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

You guys all make great points! You're right, this really is a great "problem" to have. My kids are 9 and 12. I do love the hot breakfast at ES and the evening snacks. Even when we have the full breakfast we are "starving" for snacks around 10am (darn disney smells!) I don't mind the shuttle if we time things just right but sometimes you feel like you are standing there forever, then have another 15-20 minute shuttle ride.

I will have a car for the first day so I can run to target if needed.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

A good thing about Target is that they carry Disney items (e.g. t-shirts, toys, souvenir things, etc.) for much less than similar items in the parks. So, even though the items may not be identical to Disney Park things, you can save more money by buying them at Target. That would leave more in the kitty for a splurge of some kind in the parks!

 

[BensWife]

With that close of price, I would stay at PPH. We have stayed at ES South twice and enjoyed both stays. However, the savings for those trips were significant. If it was only $600 difference for 6 days, I would stay at PPH just for the early mornings and the full Disney experience. I do like the bigger rooms and the breakfast at ES, but for me the "Disney" feel is important.