The Great Budget Challenge

[SRUAlmn]

Ok, so I have been searching these boards for a while now and I have seen threads about best vs. worst off site hotels, pros and cons of staying offsite, etc... There are always SO MANY to look up and read through that it's difficult to narrow down. Here is my dilemma. I have always stayed on site, but, even with the codes, this year I don't know if it will be feasible. If not, here is what I'm looking for...
* King room for 2 adults- 2 doubles or queens would be ok too.
*Less than $70/night- the lower the better
*preferably 3-4 stars (diamonds) from AAA or higher
*free & frequent WDW transportation
*preferably a free breakfast
*Nice decor and atmosphere
*Week of September 18-25, 2004
I'm hoping new codes will come out by then, but if not, I need help! There are SO MANY choices, and I'd like to hear everyone's favorite suggestions that fit the criteria above. THANKS, I love these boards!!!!

 

[d.daniels]

we are alo going the 18 - 25 of september i am also hoping for codes. we went 3 years ago in september and the codes came out in april. keep our fingers crossed!!!

 

[floridagirrl2]

I don't know if there are any off-site hotels that have frequent Disney transportation--even when DH and I stayed at a Downtown Disney Hotel, we were unimpressed with the bus service (claimed to run every half hour but on weekdays was more like every hour, lots of downtime with the bus drivers waiting at the parks--took us a solid hour to get from Epcot back to our hotel using the bus, plus another 15 minutes waiting for the bus to arrive).

Other than transportation, I think there are plenty of hotels that will fit your criteria. We liked the Comfort Inn Suites Maingate (on 192).

 

[kilee]

Offiste hotels are not consistent w/ their WDW transportation usually. That is going to be your only glitch. Many offer transportation at the beginning and end of the day-- nothing in between.

For $77-- if a good rate comes out obviously you may be able to snag an all star. I was just researching mousesavers this morning-- the bad news as we are looking at the end of Sept early Oct-- there were no room only codes for this timeframe last year because of the FTP. If anything is going to come out, historically it will happen within the next month-- so we'll all have to wait and see.

 

[CarolA]

Transportation is the kicker. If you got it cheap enough would you consider a rental car?

That said have you thought about Priceline. I have gotten the Marriott, Hilton and Wyndam around $65 each. Wyndam and Hilton are DTD and have decent transport. Marriott has transport, but I don't know the details.

 

[disynut]

Here's just my opinion:
If you decide to do offsite, I would try for Priceline for a 3 or 4 star in the WDW area. You could check this site to do some research on what's coming up at what price(I wouldn't bid before I did some research):
http://pub210.ezboard.com/bpricelineandexpediabidding
But you may or may not get the free shuttle this way.

But if it was me, even if no codes come out I would try an all-star or PopCentury. JMHO, but I think these hotels, except for the size of the room are comparable to a 3 star in cleanliness and service(I don't know what AAA gives them). And for just two adults, space shouldn't be too much of an issue. More than two adults and maybe I'd reconsider. But, if the size of the room is important to you, then you might want to do the Priceline route.

Good luck!

 

[SRUAlmn]

(d.daniels and I crossing our fingers!)
I didn't realize the codes would come out that soon. I really would TOTALLY prefer staying on property. Especially after the comments about the transportation not being very reliable, that was my major concern (since there are only 2 of us I don't really care about room size.) You pay SO MUCH for PH tickets, and to have to restrict when you can use them based on hotel transportation seems silly. I don't think I would want to rent a car 1. because I don't really know my way around all that well, 2. I have heard horrible things about the traffic and parking , and 3. if I paid extra to have a rental car (and sometimes have to pay for parking at hotels) then maybe I could swing a value or moderate with a code. Here's Hoping! The last thing I want to spend my vacation doing is sitting in traffic and getting lost Thanks everyone for your suggestions! If anyone has stayed somewhere that has great transportation, let me know

 

[tink2dw]

I checked MouseSavers.com to check that I was correct;

Pop Century

Value Season: January 1 - February 11;
August 29 - September 29 October 31- December 19

Your dates are in value season!!

Rack rates

All-Star Sports, Music and Movies Resorts (add 12% tax)
Pop Century Resort (add 11.5% tax)
Value
Standard View $77
Preferred Location* $87
King Preferred Location* $87


You can have onsite in one of the NEW-est Resorts as low as $77.00, then you have eveything you are use to.

 

[cahogbin]

We are going in Sept the 17-25th and we're staying at All Stars Movies for $69 a night INCLUDING taxes by using our AAA card.

It's only $53/year for AAA Membership. We're using it for other discounts on the trip too like our train tickets, plus at Universal there are many discounts using AAA.

I'm hoping for the FTP like the one offered last year but waiting very impatiently for it.

Good Luck!

 

[SRUAlmn]

Where are you located? We are in Baltimore and are thinking about taking a train (Amtrak) ourselves. Much cheaper than flying and much easier than driving. Have you had any previous experience doing this? Is it easy to sleep in the seats, or would you recommend a sleeper car? It looks like it will be about a 20 hour trip for us. Does anyone know where the station in Orlando is in relation to WDW?
Thanks everyone for your tips- we have AAA, so I think I may go the POP route. Then we don't have to worry as much about transportation. Now, do I go for the AP or just stick with the PHs? I have to look at finances to see if we would get back within the next year Oh to dream!

 

[cahogbin]

Originally posted by SRUAlmn
Where are you located? We are in Baltimore and are thinking about taking a train (Amtrak) ourselves. Much cheaper than flying and much easier than driving. Have you had any previous experience doing this? Is it easy to sleep in the seats, or would you recommend a sleeper car? It looks like it will be about a 20 hour trip for us. Does anyone know where the station in Orlando is in relation to WDW?
Thanks everyone for your tips- we have AAA, so I think I may go the POP route. Then we don't have to worry as much about transportation. Now, do I go for the AP or just stick with the PHs? I have to look at finances to see if we would get back within the next year Oh to dream!

This is our first WDW trip EVER. So we are very excited and trying to find the best budget ways to get there. We are taking the Auto Train down from Lorton VA to Sanford FL. It's a 18 1/2 hour non-stop trip. We have friends who have done it before and said since it's only 1 night each way we won't need the sleeper car which would almost DOUBLE the cost anyway. They said the regular seats are comfy enough. We have an SUV - 2 adults and 2 children and with the AAA discount it was just over $800 for roundtrip tickets. We have friends that are taking the regular train from DC to Orlando and their trip will be about 20 hours due to stopping at other stations but they don't want to drive at all down there and will be using other transportation.

We are going to NASA and Universal besides WDW so it's cheaper for us to do it this way plus we will pack the car full of food to save on snacks and breakfast items this way.

The Amtrak Auto Train leaves at 4pm but you have to board by 2 or 3 depending on your car size. It's much cheaper if you have a regular car over an SUV or van. They charge much more for the SUV/van slots. And you arrive in Sanford at 8:30 the next morning. They say Sanford is only about a 30 minute drive to WDW. I'm not sure what transportation is available from the Orlando train station to Disney but I'm sure there are many choices like the Mears or Tiffany Town Cars or a plain taxi.

Our AAA card has more than paid for itself already. Plus they have a AAA station there at Disney if something would go wrong while we're down there.

I'm not sure of the cost on the regular trains - from my old notes for the 4 of us with AAA it looks like it would have been $480.60 round trip. If you are interested in the regular trains check out E-bay they have an Amtrak auction section for trips that might save you a lot too.

Good Luck

 

[SRUAlmn]

Thanks Chris,
I looked into the Amtrak website and saw that for two of us roundtrip (not auto train) it will cost $288. I think this would end up being MUCH less than flying. Do you get free meals on board? Without the cost of gas and not having to pay for meals I think this will end up being less than driving! I think we would be fine sleeping in our seats, I'm a dancer and I used to sleeping, eating and 'changing' on cramped busses full of people- so no worries I will just have to look into the cost of transportation from the station in Orlando to our resort. How does the Auto Train work? Do you ride on the train in your car like ship ferrys or do you leave your car and go into a separate section of the train. Those of you familiar with how this works are probably laughing at me right now, but I've never done it
Thanks so much for the help- I LOVE DISERS!!

 

[PattiPB]

Go with the Values on a AAA rate, and hope for a code! You are still within your budget.

Offsite alternatives are endless. Consider www.skyauction.com, and visit www.hotelkingdom.com for off-site hotels if you want to. When DH and I travel without the kids, I usually Priceline it, but if transportation and breakfast are key factors for you I wouldn't recommend it.

Good luck! See you there!

 

[cahogbin]

Originally posted by SRUAlmn
Thanks Chris,
I looked into the Amtrak website and saw that for two of us roundtrip (not auto train) it will cost $288. I think this would end up being MUCH less than flying. Do you get free meals on board? Without the cost of gas and not having to pay for meals I think this will end up being less than driving! I think we would be fine sleeping in our seats, I'm a dancer and I used to sleeping, eating and 'changing' on cramped busses full of people- so no worries I will just have to look into the cost of transportation from the station in Orlando to our resort. How does the Auto Train work? Do you ride on the train in your car like ship ferrys or do you leave your car and go into a separate section of the train. Those of you familiar with how this works are probably laughing at me right now, but I've never done it
Thanks so much for the help- I LOVE DISERS!!

With the Auto Train your dinner, movie and breakfast are included. I don't know about the regular trains. With the Auto Train you park your car on a carrier car and lock everything inside of it and then move to the coach section. If I had to keep my kids trapped in the car for that long I might as well drive

If you have the Disney Visa I'd book with the AAA rate and hope for a better room only rate from Disney Visa. I'm personally hoping for the Fairytale Package that was offered last year yet.

Good Luck

 

[Straitlover]

Karen, is that $288 before taxes and fees? I just checked Southwest flying out of Baltimore I checked 9/5 - 9/12 since they haven't opened up the entire month of September yet. You can get 2 ticket before all fees for $293.96. W/ fees, it was somewhere around $335 total. For that little bit more, I personally would fly. They have an 8:55 AM flight out that puts you in Orlando at 11:00 AM. That gives you a good half day to do stuff! They also have late flights coming back, giving you extra time before you leave.

 

[CarolynNC]

I just wanted to throw in some information since I've ridden the regular train from North Carolina to Florida (twice) and I've stayed offsite at Downtown Disney and used their transportation.

First, the train. I'd take the train before driving. By the time I drive I'm exhausted and it takes me a while to recoup. I can catch the train at around 10pm and arrive at the Kissimmee station (closer than Orlando) around noon. I sleep most of the trip. I don't have problems sleeping in the seats but recommend you try to get a seat mid-car. Those doors opening and closing all night can be very disturbing. Food on the regular train is not included unless you have a sleeper. We usually pack a softsided cooler with drinks and snacks which hold us until we arrive. I usually grab a cab at the train station. I know there are rental cars at the Orlando station but I don't want to drive when I'm on vacation. All that being said, I prefer flying. I've been lucky the last two years to grab specials from Southwest with round trip flights for under $100 each.

If you plan to spend many evenings in Downtown Disney (Pleasure Island/Disney Quest) then I recommend the Downtown Disney hotels. I've stayed at the Grosvenor three times in the last couple of years. We've stayed in the value resorts about 4 or 5 times and enjoyed our stay. Now we prefer the location right across the street from Downtown Disney. Every experience with their transportation has been great, but I'm sure everybody's experience is different. They usually pick up every half hour and I've rarely had to wait while they sat unless they were early for their run.

I'm going back to the Grosvenor in June. We've got a party of 4 going and everybody voted for the Grosvenor over the WDW value resorts. We get a larger room (if it isn't larger it feels like it), a refrigerator, and a more compact resort. We don't have to travel as far to the buses, food, and pool. I used the Orlando Magicard and was able to get a rate of $59 per night plus tax and resort fee which was cheaper than the code rate at the value. Since I'm getting 2 rooms every $ counts. The best thing we get is a short walk to Downtown Disney. I've stayed here with Priceline bids as low as $35 but since we'll be flying I wanted to be sure of the hotel we received. I also get a cheaper rate for the towncar since they aren't going to a WDW resort.

Whatever you decide I know you'll have a great trip.

Carolyn

 

[SRUAlmn]

Can I just say how wonderful you all are
Lisa, I just went and checked Southwest.com and they have those Anytime Promos and with taxes it totalled $353.40 for 2 tickets. I'm definitely thinking that extra $50 (or less once taxes are added to the train) may be totally worth it! I'm a pretty nervous flyer, that's why I was looking at alternatives.
I think my best bet, hotel wise, will be to wait until the codes come out and see what I can get. Carolyn, I was strongly considering the Grosvenor, but had gotten some not-so-great reviews from a thread on here. I guess it all depends on a person's perspective.
I am such a planner, especially when it comes to spending a large sum of money, but I guess I have to relinquish control and realize that sometimes you just have to take a chance, you're at WDW, no matter where you stay or how you get there, it'll still be MAGICAL! right?

 

[Straitlover]

Karen, if you do decide to go w/ SW, make sure you keep checking back after buying. If the fare goes down, you cna get a credit for the difference for use on a future flight!

 

[SRUAlmn]

OOh...I did NOT know that! happy dance happy dance