Staying off-site first night?

[mommyceratops]

DH and I stayed at the Hyatt at the airport one time when arrived late. It was nice and we were glad we did that. Last thing you want to do after flying is wait another hour before you get to bed.

 

[keishashadow]

Although I'll probably "cave" and stay our 1st night @ AS, I'm actively searching for a clean, basic, lower-priced alternative.

We'll be changing rooms twice during our week-long stay. Our AAA rate for the standard is $95 (no bargin IMO). Almost a $30 (or 37 percent) increase from same time period in '03 - quite a jump in price.

The AS's check-in lines/wait times have grown worse each time I visit. Really don't want to spend an hour waiting for room keys for just 1 night. We've tried checking in @ different times during the day, just have never seemed to hit it right.

Since EMH aren't a factor for us the 1st day & we have a rental, I don't see the difference in the AS's location and once of the many outside the maingate or DTD area.

 

[remfam5]

Thanks for all the help! It sounds like it is about 50-50 for staying at a value or by the airport. I will definitely have to figure out what's best for us!
We have 2 kids (9 & 6) and aren't to worried about "missing" the opening of a park that day. We'll probably go to Epcot and walk around the World.


But, has anyone stayed at the airport, then taken all your luggage back to the terminal and taken Magic express to your resort??

Thanks again--- you all are so Helpful!!

 

[MickeyP]

I personally haven't. Call them and ask if you can still do ME. You're staying at the Poly, if they don't like it, hang up, call back and tell them you're arriving the next day. That way, you'll get a different operator.

 

[MartDM]

We do exactly what you are describing every time we come to Orlando. We take the 5pm flight and get in around 10pm so we have a full day the next day.

We've stayed at the Crowne Plaza at the airport which was very nice and have also stayed several times (using Hilton Honors points) at the Homewood Suites near the convention center, which is also nice.

Unless you can find a comparable price on site, you might just as well stay near the airport so you can get settled in quickly and have a restful evening in anticipation of your next big day

 

[poohraedopey]

We have stayed offsite for the first night in the past (at the Courtyard Marriot near Downtown Disney) and it worked out just fine. I have also considered (but never actually done, due to various trip logisitics) staying the first night at a value resort and then going to our deluxe resort for the rest of the trip.

Either way saves money from (as you said) spending several hundred dollars just to sleep.

We are planning to stay here this trip our first day. Not sure what time we will get to orlando as we are driving in but my plan is to hit the outlets and DTD the first day so we are staying there. We did the courtyard our hole week the first time hubby and I went and we loved it. Our last night we stayed at the Airport Sheraton in a suite which was really nice too. We had to be at the airport at like 5am so that worked really well.