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

[MotherOf2Princesses]

Sorry its long but I had a lot to explain why I have a problem choosing. Perhaps you can help me decide.
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.

 

[Traveliz]

I would do the one bedroom at SSR - I did that when my daughter (18 at the time) and I took her cousins (12 year old twins). It was just soooo convenient. WE LOVED the room - and the washer and dryer, the ease of getting around. To be honest though I am not a off site person

Also we had a pool near our building (Congress Park) and it was not busy at all - very nice hot tub too!

Liz

 

[rosiep]

What about a hotel in DTD? The Royal Plaza provides bus service, has a laundry room, and I think they can help with travel arrangements (for a fee) to other area attractions. Their rates are very reasonable, especially if you book thru mousesavers.com.

 

[cinamin27]

I just wanted to add that since your stay is in January, I doubt it will be warm enough to get much use of the pirate ship or water play areas anywhere. for the past few years, january & february have been the coldest months in FL. Even with pool heat, it would be too cold for them to run around while wet to play. I can see if they are emerged in warm water but to run around, bbbrrrrr!

With all of your concerns, it sounds like offsite would be your best bet. Maybe something like Windsor Hills townhome with a splash pool? Sounds like you all need some room to spread out. Your mom sounds like she may need her own room & your oldest dd might need quiet time to actually get to sleep at night (???)

I have been a single mom for 14 years & 95% of the time it is just my daughter & I traveling alone and we do not feel unsafe doing so. So unless you are not used to it only being you & your 2 girls & having to do everything for them yourself, I dont feel that you will have any problems.

 

[spiceycat]

would you consider a 2-bedroom at OKW? all the stuff is staying in Jan - Sun thru Thursday night - leaving on Friday morning.

it has bigger room and cost less than SSR

a 2-bedroom for your time period will be $220 to $308 ($10 to $14 per point) per night.

or I might even suggest 2 studios - a studio at OKW has 2 queen beds. then you and your mother get separate units. no pull out - but then again you will be sitting in a chair all the time in the studio.

studios will be $80 to $112 ($10 to $14 per point) per night.

now no kitchen, washer/dryer, whirlpool tub in the unit at a studio.

there is a whirlpool tub at each and every quiet pool, plus a washer and dryer for your use. A studio has a kitchennett - under the counter refrigerator, mircowave, coffee maker, toaster.

each bus stop and quiet pool has an ice machine (okay you probably want need one in January).

no dvd or vcr on the TV at present - they are putting in DVD in the studios - but are doing very, very slow.

in your situation I would go with 2 studios. just ask when you check in that the rooms be in the same building.

 

[snowangel72]

I vote for Windsor Hills for off site. Now if you mom isn't going with you, I would do on site unless you are really familiar with the streets. If you don't know where you are going, it can be very very stressful driving around esp. in the evenings or in the rain. You will need a second adult with you to read the map, look for street signs etc.
My DS is very very active and our off site rental was a blessing. I couldn't imagine being in a hotel room with him. He was able to run around the house and jump and play and it was a blessing. Plus, we were able to make dinner at the house every night. We also don't take him to t/s restaurants in the evenings.

 

[Darcy03231]

With all of your concerns I would definitely stay off-site. Its really not that hard to get around. I've even found that it can be faster getting back and forth to th parks by having your own car than waiting for the WDW buses.

 

[horseshowmom]

You might want to check into Bonnet Creek. While it isn't owned by Disney, you have to actually go on Disney property to get to it. It isn't serviced by Disney buses, but I think it has its own transportation.

I've seen several auctions on ebay for the two bedroom at some great prices (I would only rent from owners who are SquareTrade verified, are long term members with excellent feedback, and accept Paypal, so I could pay with my credit card for extra protection). I've gone through ebay and gotten some great deals in Orlando!

 

[Gillian]

I thought of OKW too, but with offsite if you rent a place with pool heat and a hot tub there is the advantage of them being right there in your backyard.

For your mom you can park in your own driveway, so less walking. You might think there is more walking from your car to the parks than from the busses to the parks, but I haven't found that to be the case.

You can all spread out, in your own bedrooms or the girls can share.

Lots of bathrooms, lots of tvs.

Even if your mom doesn't go, off season is a nice time to try off site.

There are other advantages to staying offsite, they're well documented in other threads in this forum. We've stayed both on and offsite, and would do offsite for your situation.

 

[MotherOf2Princesses]

I have a long time co-worker who owns several time shares and one that she can't use up this year. I think her time share is at a resort in Mexico in a 2br. Since she is with RCI she's not sure if she can get me in a Disney resort but can probably get me Bonnet Creek. She is looking into it and said it will be at least a 1 br with a 7 night stay no matter what she gets.

I really want the ease of on site but some space is needed. I like having Dining options right at your resort and the ease of the ME.
I would prefer to use ME and then get a rental car when I get to my resort. I've used ME on my 2 day trip ,mom only Mother's Day present and loved it. I felt like my vacation started when I landed and got to the ME desk. It was great not fooling with my luggage or having to get the renatl and drive to Disney. My past Jan trip with mom and the girls I got a rental and I kept asking myself "why am I not using ME". I could have had less hasstle.

If her time share does not work out then I think I will book the All Star Suite and upgrade to a 1br if and when discounts come out. Even if I have to get an annual pass.

So I am keeping my fingers crossed so that she can get me on-site with a Disney resort. But if the price is good I will settle for a week at Bonnet Creek.

Thank You for your concerns.

 

[swilphil]

Bonnet Creek is great if you can get a good deal on it. We stayed there Christmas Week and used their transportation some, but definitely rent a car. You could also look into renting DVC--Boardwalk or WL on Sun. through Thurs. is probably not much more than an All Star Suite if you go on the off season. The Swan/Dolphin has some specials occassionally.

 

[Princess89]

RCI doesn't trade with Disney, but a lot of other beautiful resorts do. There are the Hilton Grand Vacation Clubs Sea World, and International Drive. The I-Drive location is the closest to WDW. Also the Bonnet Creek area, which is even closer. I cancelled my reservations at WDW to stay in our timeshare this August, and it worked out to be over 1000 cheaper. Also, the pools are nice, and the activities they have for the kids are excellent. This goes for all timeshare resorts! Staying offsite does have its advantages. My DS is ADD and does very well on vacations. He requires less while there then at home. With that being said, for extra space a timeshare condo would be your best bet.