Question about 1 day at On-Site Hotel

[bookworm0312]

We will be going to US/IOA on 12/20, 12/21 and 12/22 this year. I'm planning on IOA first day, IOA/US second day and US third day.

I am not able to afford an on-site room (this is at the end of our Disney trip), but, since it's getting close to Christmas week, I'm wondering if I should book one night on-site for 12/21 and have FOTL for 12/21 and 12/22.

This would involve a lot of "hotel-hopping" (and approx another $150), so, I don't want to do it if three days are long enough to see everything at that time of year.

Any opinions?

Thanks!

 

[bubba's mom]

I'm not experienced with that time of the year, but I would 'assume' it would be busy. I would stay one night to get your 2 days of FOTL

 

[unixadm]

We are staying at Disney's Saratoga Springs 12/26-1/1 but going to US/IOA.

I ended up getting one night at Royal Pacific (28th) so we can have Express Pass on the 28th and 29th.

Rather than hotel hop, we decided that we would keep our Villa at Disney for the entire stay since our clothes and food, etc will be there, and just take an overnight bag to RPR for the night of the 28th. Yes, we are paying for two hotels on that one night, but it sure as heck beats moving all our stuff out for one night, then back into a different room the next day.....that is a HUGE waste of time and is such a hassle. Think about the wasted time of packing everything up, getting it downstairs, in your car, then in the new hotel for 1 night, then back to the other hotel again the next day. That will waste 1/2 day at least.

The room is $319 + tax, but if you divide that out by the 4 of us for two days of short lines, it comes to $43@ per day to get unlimited Express Pass access. We'll cut out a couple of the table service dinners that we usually take, and that cost is covered.

I look at it as an investment helping everyone have a more enjoyable time.....There is no way my kids (or my wife or myself) could stand to wait in 2 hour lines to get on a 2 minute ride. Not gonna happen...so this ensures that we will have reasonable wait times, and a smoother, more memorable vacation.

Right before Christmas and right after Christmas are the busiest times of the year....so I think the cost will be worth it.

 

[AlexandNessa]

Gulp. I just checked the AAA prices for 12/21, and wow. I would never pay $319 for a standard room at RPR, but wow. That kind of rate means the parks are going to be B-U-S-Y. So, it may be worth 2 full days of FOTL for you, especially if you have at least 4 in your party.

ETA: holy cow. Does anyone have an AP? If so, your rate at the RPR goes down to $164 per night. Bargain!

 

[bubba's mom]

We are staying at Disney's Saratoga Springs 12/26-1/1 but going to US/IOA.

I ended up getting one night at Royal Pacific (28th) so we can have Express Pass on the 28th and 29th.

Rather than hotel hop, we decided that we would keep our Villa at Disney for the entire stay since our clothes and food, etc will be there, and just take an overnight bag to RPR for the night of the 28th. Yes, we are paying for two hotels on that one night, but it sure as heck beats moving all our stuff out for one night, then back into a different room the next day.....that is a HUGE waste of time and is such a hassle. Think about the wasted time of packing everything up, getting it downstairs, in your car, then in the new hotel for 1 night, then back to the other hotel again the next day. That will waste 1/2 day at least.

The room is $319 + tax, but if you divide that out by the 4 of us for two days of short lines, it comes to $43@ per day to get unlimited Express Pass access. We'll cut out a couple of the table service dinners that we usually take, and that cost is covered.

I look at it as an investment helping everyone have a more enjoyable time.....There is no way my kids (or my wife or myself) could stand to wait in 2 hour lines to get on a 2 minute ride. Not gonna happen...so this ensures that we will have reasonable wait times, and a smoother, more memorable vacation.

Right before Christmas and right after Christmas are the busiest times of the year....so I think the cost will be worth it.

SMART plan....and your EPass is for TWO days!