Sorry if redundant - Offsite Marriott or Value resort?

[moopdog]

Honestly - I vote for Horizons by Marriott because it looks so amazing for a family with kids but DH is NOT being convinced that it's okay to rent a car in Orlando and not have the transportation. That being said... would you stay at a value resort and (knocking wood here) hope for free dining - which we LOVED last time by the way or bite the bullet, stay at Horizons, pay for a car and pay for food?


In case it matters - we're going in the 3rd week of Sept.

Thanks in advance

 

[CarolA]

A couple of thoughts.

1. The "Free Dining" program offered this year to the UK residents does NOT include value resorts. To me that's telling. Remember it was the UK residents who first got news of the DDP changes (and tons of folks on these boards said "oh that's only going to be UK" which turned out to be not true) SO I view this as a leading indicator that Free Dining may NOT be offered for value resorts this year. (And remember REGARDLESS of what your CRO CM told you they don't have a clue. Disney executives know better then to give them inside scoop, they can't keep thier mouth shut. They are just passing on office gossip!)

2 Horizions is going to give you a LOT more space! Plus the full kitchen. The Marriott Vacation Club products are very nice!

3. Driving in this area is very easy!

 

[stacy6552]

We would stay at a Disney value resort over anything else every single time. The service is just simply so much better.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I would stay at a value resort. No transportation will be difficult to get around. If you're using an offsite shuttle, you'll be dependent on their time frame, not yours.

 

[CarolA]

We would stay at a Disney value resort over anything else every single time. The service is just simply so much better.

I am sorry, but Disney resort service is average at best. That said I find the service at the Values to be just as good as the service at the Deluxes (Sad isn't it?)

If you are only going for "service" see the Ritz or JW Marriott.... That's service!

 

[Goofyz3girls]

Just to throw this at you.Why not try Wyndham Bonnet Creek resort.Its inside Disney and the members that advertise to rent their times give you alot (usually a 2 bedroom suite) for I would say the price of a value resort.My brother just stayed there and said it was a beautiful resort.You pull out of the resort and onto Buena Vista Drive (can't get any closer).No matter where you stay I say rent a car.I still can't see how people want to wait for buses and shuttles to get around Disney.Unless you do it at home why would you do it on vacation.......Just my opinion.

 

[moopdog]

Here's my DH's biggest worry... that we have to park REAAALLLY far from the gate at the parks and wait in line for a tram... then do it again to get out of the park to climb into an ungodly hot car vs an air conditioned bus. Is he right (say it aint so) ? Will we park so far at the parks that the walk "getting" to the gate will wear us out before our day starts....will we need trams? I didn't consider this until Mr. Reasonable brought it up!

Also - is the Wyndham place part of II?

Last thing: If the Free dining doesn't cover Value, value suites OR DVC - what DOES it cover.... I'm confused.

 

[moopdog]

if we were to stay offsite & get a car, could we drive to DTD park and use the shuttles for free? Someone mentioned this to me once. Is this something people do and is it free parking? Would this be a good option for us if we were at Horizons - I really don't know where things are in relation to eachother. My brochure said Horizons is "just down the road" from the parks - is that like 5 minutes or 30 minutes? What about from the airport?

Okay - I'm don't now - promise!

 

[jennib5426]

if we were to stay offsite & get a car, could we drive to DTD park and use the shuttles for free? Someone mentioned this to me once. Is this something people do and is it free parking? Would this be a good option for us if we were at Horizons - I really don't know where things are in relation to eachother. My brochure said Horizons is "just down the road" from the parks - is that like 5 minutes or 30 minutes? What about from the airport?

Okay - I'm don't now - promise!

I think that there are no buses to parks at DTD. I think there are only resort buses which means you would have to do a lot of bus transfers and it would take forever. DTD buses are not the fastes especailly in the morning.

You can see the Horizons resort sign from I-4, it is only about 3 - 7 miles from Disney exits. 3 miles being the DTD exit.

 

[CarolA]

if we were to stay offsite & get a car, could we drive to DTD park and use the shuttles for free? Someone mentioned this to me once. Is this something people do and is it free parking? Would this be a good option for us if we were at Horizons - I really don't know where things are in relation to eachother. My brochure said Horizons is "just down the road" from the parks - is that like 5 minutes or 30 minutes? What about from the airport?

Okay - I'm don't now - promise!

No, Disney discountiued buses from DTD to the parks just because of this abuse.

I generally drive to the parks even when I stay on site. To me the benefit of NOT standing in the heat waiting on the bus outweighs the "hot car" issue. I also generally walk to the park from the parking lot. It does not wear me out, but I walk a lot normally YMMV!

 

[alldiz]

I would pick the values....onsite is just so much better....IMO...

It is also going to be HOT.....a lot easier to hop on a cool bus than walking
to the parking lot to your 150 degree car.
happy planning
Kerri

 

[Goofyz3girls]

We have gone at different times of the year (yes even in the middle of the summer) and you are hot no matter what you do.We start the car roll the windows down,turn the AC on high and before you know it the car is cool before you even leave the parking lot and you can go where you want when you want (no bus schedule...which one to take...etc.) You have to wait outside (hot) in line for a bus just like the tram,so what the difference being you drive yourself where you want to go without smelling some strangers "body order "doing it. If you decide to rent a car PM me and I will give you a code that will give you a huge savings depending when you are going to WDW.Its with a national car rental company.Also I didn't understand what you said about the Wyndham?

 

[G8r4evr]

I would go with the Marriott over a value any day. Ask me again to choose between a mod and the Marriott, and my choice would be the mod. We also drive to the parks, even when staying onsite.

 

[loco4dis]

I, too, would go with the Marriott. Full disclosure: I've never stayed at a Value, only mods and deluxe, and I've read here from enough folks that going to Value from those can be a real bummer. But I have stayed at various suite hotels (is Marriott a suite hotel?) and they are awesome. I really, really like staying on-site, but am definitely considering off-site, especially now that the kids are getting older. You should post on the Orlando Hotels thread and get some feed-back about your choice.

Here's a question that might get me flamed: If you're off-site, what's to stop a person from parking at a resort and taking the buses to and from parks from there? Resort parking is free, so how do they know you aren't just checking it out or eating there or something. I am not suggesting people break rules, just wondering if this is done.

 

[CarolA]

Here's a question that might get me flamed: If you're off-site, what's to stop a person from parking at a resort and taking the buses to and from parks from there? Resort parking is free, so how do they know you aren't just checking it out or eating there or something. I am not suggesting people break rules, just wondering if this is done.

Disney is on to this too. When you show up at the resort you are given an THREE hour parking pass.

Of course it's still done, but it's (A) Rude and (B) possibly going to get you towed!

 

[loco4dis]

Disney is on to this too. When you show up at the resort you are given an THREE hour parking pass.

Of course it's still done, but it's (A) Rude and (B) possibly going to get you towed!

I figured they were on to it b/c it seems like if there's a way to get around things at Disney, someone has thought of it! I had inquired on another thread about parking at CSR b/c we're renting a car in June and staying there. Someone responded and said there's a huge lot for conventioneers. I thought, what's to stop anyone from parking there? Getting towed. How much would that stink? I don't even want to know where cars go in Orlando when they get towed, but I'll bet it's not nearly as magical as WDW.

 

[plutospup]

We stay on property, but still use our car to travel to the parks. One of the many reasons we use a care is:
Don't like to stand in the heat waiting for a bus!!!!!

How to deal with a HOTTTT car...driver quickly gets in car, windows are lowered, air conditioning is turned on. Within two minutes the car is comfortable, and the windows go up, and the car gets even cooler. It's true that initially it is hot. However, you will travel back to your hotel in a cool, and more comfortable vehicle.

 

[ElizabethB]

For free dining, I'd stay at a value. Otherwise, I'd pick the Marriott. We always rent a car, even when staying on site. Bus service is totally unsatisfactory -- and driving around WDW is very easy -- good roads, lots of signs.

 

[septbaby]

Honestly - I vote for Horizons by Marriott because it looks so amazing for a family with kids but DH is NOT being convinced that it's okay to rent a car in Orlando and not have the transportation. That being said... would you stay at a value resort and (knocking wood here) hope for free dining - which we LOVED last time by the way or bite the bullet, stay at Horizons, pay for a car and pay for food?Thanks in advance

Why a Value and not a Moderate? The rate at Horizons is probably more similar to a Mod, right? Add up the cost of your room, rental car and gas and its gotta come closer to a Mod. With the Moderate you'll get a themed pool, good food court and fridge in the room. I guess you could also consider the family suite at the Values now. I just like the whirlpool and the themed pool for the kids so its at least a Mod in my mind.

Port Orleans Riverside could accomodate 5: A typical room has 2 double beds, an armoire, a nightstand, a TV, a small table with 2 chairs, a luggage rack and 2 pedestal sinks with mirrors that are in a vanity area separate from the tub and commode...Another special feature found only at the Port Orleans Riverside, are the trundle beds. These are small beds, just big enough for a child under the age of 9, that pull out from underneath a larger bed. These are available in the Alligator Bayou section only.

Horizons is family oriented, but not the best product from Marriott, the Grand Vista is even nicer. We toured Horizons, and stayed at Grand Vista twice. If Disney is the purpose of your trip stay on site. If its just a day trip, then Marriott would be better. We did not venture to Disney on either Grand Vista stay. On the first trip we didn't do any parks and on the second we spent several days at Universal Studios. On one other trip we stayed off site and drove to the WDW. Getting into the lot was a pain, lots of traffic. I can't recall leaving. We made a second trip, but it was to GF for the Cinderella dinner. It was pouring rain and we used valet and never felt a drop. Dinner was wonderful and we enjoyed the lobby piano player and gift shop after dinner.

Sept 2007 was my first on site stay. I'm with your hubby. If Disney is your destination stay there. If its a day out of 5 or 7 I can see off site. I agree the pirate pool, mini golf, etc. at Horizons looks like fun, but you can get those things at Disney too. You'll be a bit more cramped in your Disney room, but you'll spend less time in that space anyway.

As for Free Dining, it would be nice, but who knows. Hope the Mod fits your budget. If you're going to be getting the look from hubby the whole time you're driving to WDW from Horizons and trudging back to the car, it may be worth going a bit over budget!

 

[KingdomHearts]

Another perk of staying on WDW property is that you can do the EMH's, so that said if you stay off property then you cant do them.