Stressed. unusual situation. can't decide. please help!

[MotherOf2Princesses]

Sorry its long but I felt I had to explain why I have a problem choosing.
I am planning a trip for Jan 2008. It will be me, my two DDs ages 4, and 7 who's ADHD, and most likely my mom who has some special needs.
I am paying for the accomodations.
I want to stay on site for transportation convienence but considering off site for more space, and longer stay. Since my oldest is ADHD we leave the parks before her meds wear off and go back to the room to hang out and swim. So we are in the rooms a good bit. Swimming is big to my DDs so if the weather is cool we need at least a hot tub. And having a waher dryer in the room is a big plus since we swim and then change clothes almost every day. Since my oldest is ADHD we don't do sit down restaurant in the evening.
I have never stayed off site. So I don't know what it's like.
If I stay off site I will need to get a rental car. No big deal I got a rental on our last trip, instead of doing Magical Express. And my DDs want to go to Sea World. The youngest has never been.
Would you do on-site 5 nights 2 rooms at a moderate or 5 nights in a 1br villa at Saratoga. Using only Disney transportation and not bothering with a rental car. Skipping Sea World this trip.
Or off site for 6 nights at Windsor Hills townhouse with private pool. Or 6 nights at Horizons by Marriott in a 2br villa. How is the pool heat at Horizons in January. Horizons looks really nice. My girls would love the pirate ship.
I also want whats easiest for me. Will traviling to Disney from off site be a pain too big to outweigh the pro of everyone having their own space. Or will I feel more relaxed having a bigger place. My oldest likes having extra space.
If at last minute my mom can not go it will be just me and my two girls. Do I want to be off site if its just me and my two girls.
Mom had a bad accident and fell down the attic steps a year ago and broke several bones. She will need knee surgery within a year. I asked her what if she can't go due to needing surgery. She said she will schedule it after the trip. But who knows. She rents a scooter while at the parks.
Plus she is not much help with the kids. She has had several small strokes. I take care of the kids by myself with no to little help.
And I almost forgot to mention mom is a really loud snorer. I can't sleep in the same room.
This is not our first trip to Disney. I took mom to Disney with us on our last trip in Jan 07 six months after her accident. She had so much fun on our girls only trip that she wants to go again when I go in January. I rented a 1br villa from a DVC guest. Loved it but it was a pain folding up the couch everyday where mom slept. And renting a 2br is a lot of money to be giving a stranger. I did have a great renter. I might consider renting again but I would rather book with a company.

I have been so stressed trying to make a decision I almost don't want to go now. When I ask my mom what type of room she wants she says I don't care. It is nerve racking not knowing for sure if mom will be joining us for sure till about November or December. But I have to book soon. And I am nervous about off site.
What would you do.

 

[NeedaVacation03]

Wow that is a lot to deal with to you.
I think you have answered some of your questions in your post.
It sounds like more space would be good for you and your family. That way you could get a way from the girls and your mom for a while by yourself, but still be close enough to help out.
I would probably go with the Windsor Hills property. I would like the idea of the heated pool and the down time for your DDs. You would be just as safe there as you would be any where else, even if your mom didn't go. I think you need to be aware of your surrounding no matter where you stay.
I dont know anything about Horizons so I can not comment on that.

I think you will get a lot of great ideas about where to stay from everyone here. Just take a deep breath and get a nice cold drink, and it will all work out great. You will have a magical time.

 

[sympatico]

I think I would go for the WH townhouse. I've stayed in a couple and the floorplan would be good for you. There's a queen bedroom downstairs for Mom and upstairs there's a twin room and master bedroom and also washer and dryer. Each bedroom has it's own bathroom. The splashpool is big enough for the four of you and it's only a couple of steps out your patio door. We had ours heated to about 95+ degrees and had to get mc to lower it to 85. It's very easy to take a swim and be ready to go with no hassels of coming and going from a community pool. ( The community pool is very nice also when you've got lots of time and it was very warm when we were there in Feb/Mar.)
With a townhouse you also get to park right beside your front door so no long walks to get to your room.
Travelling from WH to Disney is very easy using the Sherberth Rd shortcut. It's only about 5 min to AK and 10 - 15 to the others.

 

[SB in KY]

Since you are going in Jan I might be tempted to try staying off site. Crowds will be light and the parks will close early so you could drive over in the AM's and leave after lunch. Sounds like the extra space would be good for you. I have not stayed at either of the resorts you mentioned so others will be better at helping you choose the best one, but since you will not be doing evening dining in the parks it sounds like off site might work fine for you...more space at a lower cost. The car will let you grocery shop and you can do some evening meals at the condo or easy access to fast service places or carry out.

If you were going at a busy or hot time of year or would want to spend evenings in the parks I would definately say on-site, but January is such a great time that I think you will be fine any place.

 

[dougsmom98]

I also think off site would be good for you. You will have a good night sleep without listening to your dear mom snore. Your girls will get some privacy, and the washer and dryer will be a dream. As for needing to go home mid-day, we stayed at Windsor Palms which is very close to Windsor Hills two years ago, we went home for lunch and a swim several times and it took no time at all. Parking outside your front door is so nice when you have sore feet and saves time too. Good luck.

 

[Mainebound]

you can absolutely go home midday when staying offsite. We have been doing it for years now with young children who need their breaks. And it doesn't take us longer to get to our offsite pool home than to get to an onsite hotel in most cases.