Stay Inside Or Outside Of WDW?

[Jeremy B.]

Like most other families my wife and I can not decide on wether or not we want to stay in a resort hotel inside Disney, or a little nicer place outside of WDW. We are on a budget of course, and need a few things to make the stay enjoyable as we are bringing our 4yr old daughter (turns 5 while at WDW) and our 16 month old son. We are needing a room with a refrigerator and microwave, and also a room that has a little extra space to put the crib. It would be nice to have a suite where we could stick the crib in an area that we could make quiet for short naps, etc, however if we stay in a Disney resort we will more than likely not be able to afford this.

We have narrowed our onsite choices to the Pop Century Resort and the Caribbean Beach resort. Pop Century from a budget side of things, and the Caribbean Beach as a little more nice place to stay. However, if we stay outside we can get a lot more bang for our buck. We plan on attending Magic Kingdom one day, and the Animal Kingdom the next day. Other than that we do not plan on attending any Disney parks, the rest of the time will be spent at the hotel swimming, shopping, going to other small area attractions, etc.

So far for places to stay outside of WDW we have narrowed it down to Comfort Suites Maingate. We are still open on this though, and looking for more outside suggestions.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[biz410]

I faced the same decision last year when we were planning on hitting MK for a couple days on the way back from Tampa. We ended up staying off-site and I have regretted it ever since.
Transportation was difficult and it didn't have the Disney "feel".
I highly recommend staying on-site. Even if you stay at a value, you get all the benefits for resort guests.

 

[disneysteve]

We are needing a room with a refrigerator and microwave, and also a room that has a little extra space to put the crib. It would be nice to have a suite where we could stick the crib in an area that we could make quiet for short naps, etc, however if we stay in a Disney resort we will more than likely not be able to afford this.

if we stay outside we can get a lot more bang for our buck.

So far for places to stay outside of WDW we have narrowed it down to Comfort Suites Maingate. We are still open on this though, and looking for more outside suggestions.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!!!

Given what you are looking for, I'd highly recommend staying offsite. For the price of a Disney value or moderate (CBR is a moderate I think), you can rent a spacious multi-room condo off-site. You'd have a FULL kitchen, living room, dining room, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, washer and dryer and lots more. Especially since you aren't planning on spending much time in the Disney parks, it seems a waste to pay Disney prices and squeeze into a tiny room at Pop Century.

I'd suggest checking out Windsor Palms. Their condos are very nice. Go to vrbo.com and http://www.windsor-palms-resort.com.

 

[NikeGirl2]

Id recommed staying outside the park. It is so nice to have the extra space when you have 2 young children. Our first family trip to Disney was last year with a 2 year old and 3 1/2 and we stayed at the Holiday Inn Family Suites which is now a NICK hotel. It was great and only a 10 min. drive to the parks. We are going back in a few weeks and staying at a Marriott, again something w/ 2 bedrooms. The Marriotts have full kitchens and washer/dryers in the rooms.
I know so many people love staying on-site and maybe when my childern are older we will do this as well but for now off site is the way to go for me!

 

[spiceycat]

when are you going?

with only 4 in your party - you might be okay staying onsite -now if 5 - definitely off site.

timeshares - 2-bedroom condo can be cheaper than hotels - but only if you are staying 7 days (week).

look here

www.skyauction.com
click on USA/Canada
Click on Florida (to the right)
click on hotels only (right bottom)

then look for 7 days only - this is an auction site - so you need to add the exchange fee $195 plus the auction fee $15 - with whatever you are willing to bid.

don't bid unless you get an okay from someone here - some place aren't worth the $211 (my opinion)....

others are great resort - Hilton Grand Vacation Club, Sheraton Vistana Resort, Orange Lake

Cypress Point and Silver Lake are very nice - not great - but very nice.

this site is owned by the same company that owns RCI (where these timeshare come from) - so it is definitely legal.

if you don't like to bid then go with II (Interval International) -
www.condodirect.com
these will be more - you might get a bargin if you can wait until 60 days before your arrival date.

RCI and II are the two big exchange companies of timeshares.

I dearly love Pop Century - but I also love the 2-bedroom condo at HGVC and Sheraton Vistana.

if you stay off site a rental car (unless you are driving to WDW) is a MUST - don't try to stay off site without a rental car - or you will hate it!

 

[Jeremy B.]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

when are you going?

We will be arriving on 4/24/05 (Sunday), going to MK Monday, AK Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will be "free" days, to do whatever we feel like doing. We will be departing on 4/29/05 (Friday) morning. We are driving down from Indianapolis.

My thought of the Comfort Suites Maingate was having access to shops and restaurants within walking distance. We planned on driving to the parks both days that we go. We want to be in the "mix of it all", so we do not want to stay too far out somewhere though.

 

[spiceycat]

Silver Lake (about a mile from AK), Cypress Point (about 1 miles from DD), and Sheraton Vistana (about 2 miles from DD - about 4 miles from Epcot)

are much closer than Comfort Suites...

you might be able to rent points from a DVC member and stay at OKW for $110 a night for a studio. that is $10 a point - sometimes you find points for less - 11 points a night for Sun-thursday (leaving on Friday)

a studio has 2 queen beds, a microwave and an under the counter refrigerator, wet bar, toaster, coffee-maker - a balcony.

I can check availability for you tomorrow if you like - my points are gone until June - so I can't rent you anything.

if I find availaiblity - and you decide to go with this - then go to the
dvc rental/trade site

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=29

and find someone you think you can work with -
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=29

 

[Jeremy B.]

Ok.......I've been reading up over there on the boards you recommended that I try out, and to say the least........I am lost!

 

[lovethattink]

We just spent last weekend at Pop Century with a 9 month old and an 11 year old. We used one of Disney's cribs...it was a pack and play and worked out great! There is just enough room to slide the pack and play between the 2 double beds. For a refrigerator, we used a collapsable cooler bag and ice from the vending machine. Each morning I warmed the baby's cereal or baby food in one of the microwaves in the food court. I think our room was 9034. It was very convenient to the parking lot, food court and 80's pool. It was in a rubix cube building.

 

[LovePug]

Homewood Suites in Kissimmee is where we stay. For June, $80/night with a AAA discount. A 2 room suite with a full sized fridge, stove, microwave and dishwasher. Every day they have a free breakfast buffet and Sun-Thurs evenings is a free light meal for dinner. It is minutes from the parks and a very easy drive.

 

[Mainebound]

Ok.......I've been reading up over there on the boards you recommended that I try out, and to say the least........I am lost!

Jeremy,

Spiceycat is referring to the practice of renting points from a DVC (Disney Vacation Club, i.e. timeshare) owner. By renting "points" for a trip from an owner, you can get an on-site villa, (from studio size to three bedroom) for your stay at a cost which is much lower than calling WDW direct and booking it iat "rack" (or retail) rates. WDW villas are located at Wilderness Lodge, Beach CLub, Boardwalk, Old Key West, and Saratoga Springs. It is still pretty costly compared to single WDW hotel rooms or offsite condos, however.

As for staying onsite vs. offsite, we have stayed onsite the last two years and will be staying onsite this March with our sons, now ages 3 and 5. I think there is a definite convenience to staying onsite when you have small children, especially getitng to and from the parks, and Disney Cast Members really bend over backwards for you. On the other hand, as others have mentioned, there is a lot of convenience staying offsite with more room and amenities for a lower price.

You can't go wrong either way -- it's a Disney vacation, after all!

 

[Tiger Fan]

Another vote to stay offsite. I love both and we chose different each trip for various reasons. I absolutely feel you can be offsite and still have that "Disney feel". I hate when people say it's not Disney enough if you're offsite. Since you are only doing 2 days at actual Disney parks you will like having more options. Anytime we take a day off from a park, we like to drive over and still have a meal onsite at one of the resorts or Downtown Disney. I feel since you are looking for space and are spending plenty of time in your hotel and swimming that's what pushed me over in voting for offsite. Have a wonderful trip and keep reading - you'll learn so much from this site.
Lisa
Tiger Fan

 

[Laurajean1014]

Stayed inside WDW once and will NEVER stay outside ever again! EVER!

 

[Reflection]

We do a combination of staying onsite and offsite for vacations in Orlando. This year for our August trip, we are planning to stay onsite at Universal for FOTL (front of the line access), stay at Holiday Inn Family Suites for other activities in the Orlando era, and then onsite at WDW. Right now we plan to start at Universal and end up at WDW but could start at WDW and end up at Universal depending on availability.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

I had an experience off site much like biz410.

That disney vacation feel wasn't their, the transporation schedule was lacking and missed the evening activities because of the van schedule. Because of all this, I will never stay offsite again.

 

[spiceycat]

sorry about that - my first link is to skyauction - this is an auction that you can bid on timeshares (and hotels) - the timeshares just say 7 days - the hotels can say anything from 1 -3 or 1-7 or 1-14 or anything in between - I don't think these are good buys.

however most of the time the timeshares is.

the condo direct - is not an auction - you pay their price - these are all timeshares - no tour is required with either condodirect of skyauction.

the disboard link is a direct link to the rental/trade board on the Dis -

instead of renting OKW for $339 ($378 with taxes) per night for a studio - you can rent from a DVC member for around $110 (with taxes) per night Sun-thurs nights. this is at $10 a point - sometimes you find a good deal for less than $10 a point - so I also gave you the point amount 11 points per night - so you will need 55 points for your entire stay.

there are several DVC members right now who are offering their points at $9 a point - so instead of paying $550 ($10 * 55) - you would be paying $495 ($9 * 55).

however this won't work if they can't get you are reservation.

if you can wait until they have send you a confirmation reservation before sending them any money. (most owners will agreed to this - some won't)

sorry I wasn't plainner before - I can be very confusing!!!

 

[Mainebound]

I had an experience off site much like biz410.

That disney vacation feel wasn't their, the transporation schedule was lacking and missed the evening activities because of the van schedule. Because of all this, I will never stay offsite again.

I would never stay offsite without a car. MK05 is right that the transportation from offsite resorts is spotty at best.

 

[spiceycat]

OKW has a studio availability - so the most you should pay is $550 for your stay.

OKW is a WDW resort - so all the on site features and stuff - you will be entitled too receive.WDW transportation (buses, boats, monrails), the extra hour early morning, and the extra 3 hours evening, charging to your ID (key), package delivery, etc.

as I say - OKW is a studio - so it includes a kitchennett area.

I think you will enjoy OKW more than Comfort Suities (my opinion - yours will vary).

After you decide come back and ask about near by grocery stores - I don't want to add to your confusion by talking about grocery stores now.

 

[disneysteve]

I would never stay offsite without a car. MK05 is right that the transportation from offsite resorts is spotty at best.

I agree 100%. I'm a huge devotee of staying offsite. I think it is far nicer and more convenient but I would never do it without a car.

 

[pat's mom99]

I have stayed both onsite and off. I have a 5 yo DS and I would defintely go for the room. We stayed at POP last year before we checked into our timeshare. I loved POP but after going to a park all day my DS was shot at the end of the day and really needed a seperate room to go to sleep in at night. When we got to our timeshare we were able to put him to bed at night and my DH and I could relax in another room. You will also say $ by getting something with a kitchen. Being able to make a quick meal really adds up and if you get a place with a washer and dryer take detergents tabs and getting your laundry done is a cinch.