staying off site

[DisKim]

Looks like we Jersey folks will all be hitting the road on 10/29! That's when I'm leaving too! Thanks for all the info, Steve. How do you make the drive in 17 hours? That's great! I always seem to hit some major traffic jam. My worst record is 27 hours! That was driving through the night. I guess past bad experiences make me nervous to drive again. I usually drive Easter break though which might explain the traffic problems. You made Windsor Palms sound wonderful. Now I'm excited!! Thanks so much. I'm so excited for my very first Halloween at Disney.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

Hey, we were also driving down on 10/29, but yesterday I found fare at continental out of newark for $115.00 total. And today I see fare matching by others. May want to check it out.

 

[Amirah95]

We made it to Orlando in 17 hours last year too. We only stopped for bathroom breaks and gas. We left on a Friday afternoon (2 pm) and hit Maryland traffic at 3pm and then hit major Richmond traffic at 6pm (nightmare) ane after that we stopped in Peterberg, VA to get a bite.

After that it was smooth sailing. We breezed through NC, SC (made one stop here) and GA. We take 95 south all the way down. We made it to our resort at 6am.

Next time I'll avoid Richmond's rush hour.

 

[Mandalou]

It's nice to hear we are not the only "cost conscious" Disney-lovers! We've never flown down -- the costs would just be too great. We've gotten pretty used to the appr. 24 hour trip, too (from Wisconsin). We stop overnight at the same place on the way down and back and we, too, pack our mini-van with enough stuff to entertain the kiddos.

All your conversations have me re-thinking our Pop Century stay, though, in Nov/Dec. We've only stayed on-grounds two other times, but this time we thought we'd "splurge" and stay at Pop Century. (Yes, we consider that splurging.) We're going with DH's folks and are getting two rooms, instead of staying at a friend's spacious 3 bedroom condo, because we wanted to be in the "magic" 24/7. BTW, our friend's entire condo costs less than one hotel room at PC. Now. . . I'm wondering if we should do it. Hmmm. . . Thanks for making me think this stuff through a little more!

 

[disneysteve]

Amirah95 - Be sure to take the 295 Bypass around Richmond. At rush hour, its probably still bad but better than staying on 95 through the downtown area.

DisKim - I don't know where in NJ you are. We're in Cherry Hill and 17-18 hours is no problem. We usually leave Saturday morning about 8 and drive until about 9pm. That's 13 hours. Then we stop for the nite in SC or GA. Sunday, we drive from 8 to about 1 and we're there for lunch.

This trip will be different because we are going to leave on Friday as soon as we pick up DD from school at 3:30. I figure if we are on the road by 4 and drive until about 10, that leaves about 11-12 hours for Saturday and we'll check in at a reasonable time that nite.

All of NJ folks should meet up that week. What do you say?

 

[Amirah95]

I'm cool with it Steve...where are we meeting?

 

[DisKim]

Steve - I'm from Forked River. I'm only about an hour away from you. I'll have to leave around 6 pm at the earliest because I have to wait for my mom who is planning on meeting us at 5pm, which in her world means 6. I know people get blasted on the disboards for saying this, but I drive through the night. It's easier to drive with the kids sleeping and I know I wouldn't be able to sleep if we stopped anyway. I'm not good at just checking into a motel and konking out. I'm hoping to be there by noon on Saturday.

 

[Grog]

Hey, I'm still there!!

That's the attitude to have! We're currently planning a December trip and would love to stay onsite, but it's just not in the budget this time. By staying offsite and driving instead of flying we're going to see a substantial savings. I've stayed off site and on site, and I've found that a trip to Disney is what you make of it. If you go in with a positive attitude you'll have a great time. Also, by staying offsite you're more likely to want to see more of what Orlando has to offer.

 

[Gillian]

Originally posted by DisKim
I'm not good at just checking into a motel and konking out.

I am, and so is DH but we discovered that our kids are NOT!! We left at 7 and drove until 11ish. The kids were sound asleep until we got to the hotel. At home they will stay asleep when we move them, but not on the road, apparently.

Next time the plan is either to leave Saturday like Steve or possibly to drive through the night on Friday. But not until the end of April.

Have a great trip!

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I hate to throw in a little reality as far as driving vs flying is concerned but here is another reason to drive especially from NJ (which is closer than Mass where we come from) not only is the cost less but (and do not flip out on me for this one) my cousin was in Disney during 9/11. He was basically trapped in a hotel room with no way to get home. He had his brother in law drive down with a van (he has 6 kids and was with his sister, her husband and his wife 9 in all) and pick him up to bring him home because all he wanted to do during that trip was get home!! I know this is extreme BUT driving gives you in my opinion a lot more freedom than flying.
As toc staying off site...I agree with disneysteve 100%. YOu will be amazed at what you get for often the same money as a value hotel in Disney. The first time we stayed at Vistana Village we were dumbfounded and thought they made a mistake. Two bedrooms, two baths, three tv's and on and on for the same price as Port Orleans. Sometimes the magic just gets better when you know you have a whole lot of money with which to enjoy the magic.

This year I am staying offsite at Vistana Villages and Wyndham Palms. It is costing me 1000 for 16 nites! Even at the rack rate of these hotels I am saving 3000(yes I did get deals but..). I cannot even imagine what the cost would be at a comparable Disney hotel. Try offsite. You really will like it. I thought the magic would be less too but it really is not.

 

[Amirah95]

Bella you forgot to mention the washer and dryer! LOL My DH says that when we do try on-site for the first time it will have to be a condo with three TVs, two bedrooms and a full kitchen w/ washer and dryer, dining area, living area and a balcony. What he's asking for will cost us a fortune but we desire a high comfortability level in wherever we stay. My sister said that the value resorts can be compared to a Days Inn room w/ Disney written all over it which is too small for the three of us. I really really really want to experience living on Disney for a week though!!!!

We would fly to Disney and rent a car if we had to funds to do it, but driving is what we have to do now and we enjoy it.

I think the only reason for flying is that people want to get there quick, fast and in a hurry which is not a bad thing either.

 

[DisKim]

Bella - you actually bring up a good point. I would be nervous to fly so close to Election day this year. I think I'd feel safer driving. It seems like every time I fly, they raise the threat level to orange. It makes me so nervous when I have my kids with me.

 

[april riddle]

We as a family feel that you get alot more "Bang for your buck" when you stay offsite. Every once in a while I think - I would like to but I go back to the thought about what a great deal I get on priceline for alot more and it is nice to be able to get away from the magic sometimes. I love the fact that we can go to publix and get ceral and milk for breakfast or stay at one of the many places where the breakfast is included. Plus as the kids get older they want to spend time at Universal and Sea World. Just my opinion but I find the food very expensive at Disney (well all the parks really) and with saving with the hotel price and better priced restaurants you can actually do a vacation reasonably there. (by the way last time we went we stayed at the Clarion Main gate - had a nice room with King Bed - pull out couch in a small alcove, refridge and microwave and got it for $30/night on priceline. It was very clean and had a nice bar and grill by the pool. Also the staff was very nice. We stayed for 10 nights and never once thought that we should have stayed onsite.) My DH must be rubbing off on me after all these years LOL because he loves to save money, and we came home having had a great time and not killing our pocketbook or credit cards.

 

[heatsinker]

Hello,

There are now more reasons I wish I didn't book my flight. I think this thread has changed my mind about flying. We will be in the World from Oct.30 to Nov 6th staying offsite at Orange Lake CC so the onsite/offsite has already been addressed. I hope everyone has a great time.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

We have stayed on-site for every trip except two nights during one of the trips. If money were no object, I would be at the BC Villas/WL Villas. Well, I think so anyway. That would be a hard price to gulp down. BUT, ofcourse, money IS an object!!

We are a family of five this trip. Last trip, my DS was only 1 so he fit in a crib. We fit at WL, but no more. And I just can't justify two rooms.

And having the space for down time and a washer/dryer sounds FANTASTIC!!

But, I will tell you my little plan. I want us to stay at a 3bed/condo for 8-9 nights, and then switch to POLY for two nights. We've always wanted to stay there, and we would all fit in one of their rooms. I'm going to save it for the last two nights of the trip so I can REALLY compare and see what I like.

I know I'll like being on the monorail, but I bet it's going to be hard to go from all that space to ONE room.

 

[Local_Girl]

We're an "off-site" family...I really would love to stay onsite sometime, but the bottom line is we get more value offsite than on. There is no way I can convince DH to spend $299 per night on the cheapest room at the Poly in value season (admittedly, rack rate), when we can get a 2 bdrm condo offsite for $249 for 7 days (total, not per night) through the AFVC. Yes, the Poly would be nice for lots of reasons, as would any of the onsite Disney resorts, but cost will ALWAYS be a factor for us. My job...to do my research (thank you, DIS boards! ) and get the best bang for our limited bucks!

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by Mom of Sleepy, Bashful and BabyDoc
I want us to stay at a 3bed/condo for 8-9 nights, and then switch to POLY for two nights. We've always wanted to stay there, and we would all fit in one of their rooms.

I know I'll like being on the monorail, but I bet it's going to be hard to go from all that space to ONE room.

If you are really set on doing that, I'd suggest doing the onsite stay FIRST, then going offsite. Its always better to do the nicer place last so there's no let down when you make the switch. Cram in to Poly for a couple of days and you'll appreciate the spacious condo that much more when you switch over there.

 

[KEANE]

What are the actual dates for Jersey Week 2004 ?

 

[Gillian]

the convention for the next few years is also usually election day week so many schools are closed at least 3 out of 5 days.

Dates for the future NJEA Conventions:

2004
Thursday, November 4
Friday, November 5
Saturday, November 6

2005
Thursday, November 10
Friday, November 11
Saturday, November 12

2006
Thursday, November 9
Friday, November 10
Saturday, November 11