Thinking on-site, but now????

[rcpae]

This is our first trip to WDW. Our kids are 8,9, and 11. We had pretty much planned on staying at POR w/trundle. My sister is a part of interval international (timeshare) and the Sheraton Vistana 2b/2b is available for our dates in November (11/12-11/19). Staying at the Vistana will save us about 400$ on room charges.

How hard would it be to drive into Disney everyday? I've heard the traffic can be bad? How long would it take us to get from this resort to the parks? Anyone ever use their shuttle? How are the rooms? Any traffic noise?

At this point, we are planning this one Disney trip. Who knows we may or may not go back in future years. Therefore, I don't want to make a decision we will regret based on 400$.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Christine

 

[HappyLawyer]

i am sure you are going to get some feedback on this one but in the end you have to decide, some are for onsite some are against, i can tell you i stayed onsite until my one offsite experience now i will never stay onsite again, i love being off site cuz there is so much more to fl and we go different places, it is not hard to drive to disney or anywhere for that matter, believe me i am such a landmark driver it was my first time rentina a care and i was scared but even te great toll peple on 528 told me i would be ok and i was, i use time share and skyauction and realized you can stay at some great places and save SO MUCH money good luck

 

[rcpae]

Thanks for the info. Also, I should have mentioned since we are only in FL 1 week...we are only planning on doing disney. The parks and 1 waterpark. I am probably going to buy 3 day hoppers and then the waterpark admission. This will give us 2 extra days we thought for Downtown Disney and relaxing.

Thanks again. Would love to hear more.

 

[spiceycat]

do you have a time when you must go?

if yes - then the Sheraton is fine - not WDW - but it is a nice place. You want to drive!!! there shuttle is expensive.

If no - then have your sister start to look for a DVC resort - they are SSR, OKW, BWV, BCV or VWL - you will need at least a 1-bedroom but OKW does have 1-bedroom (on II as DVC) that come up often. Now you might find one for summer - but May, Sept, Oct, Nov and Jan are more likely.

these are besides DVC resort - WDW resorts - so you are staying onsite.

 

[MiaSRN62]

do you have a time when you must go?

The OP doesn't list where she is from, but I vaguely recall those dates she listed as being "2005 Jersey Week" dates. This is a time frame when many of the NJ schools are closed and folks from that state flock to WDW.
I'm just guessing on this, and I could very well be wrong. If so, and you are more flexible with times, Spiceycat had a good suggestion. If you could secure a DVC villa that would give you the onsite perks.
But if you're confined to that week (maybe you've already gotten airfare?), then Vistana is a good choice. It's no more than 10-15 min driving depending on traffic. Getting into the MK will take the longest. While it's only a 10 min drive to the parking lot there, you then have to board and tram and subsequently the monorail or ferry before you're in the MK. So that park can take up to 45 min to actually get into. Have a great trip.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

I think "Jersey Week" is earlier, maybe the 4th - 11th?? I'm not sure either. Maybe it switched this year but usually it's the first week in Nov.

Normally, I would advise on site for the first trip. You know, just so you get to experience it once. But............$400 is $400 and it's VISTANA!! We stayed there last year.......WE LOVED IT! 10-15 minutes to the parks.........easy, easy. I would snatch that up in a heartbeat. And we LOVE POR also. But with three children that age (we have 5, 9 and 12) the extra room, extra bathroom and laundry is well worth it, not to mention the kitchen. (even if you don't cook, it's nice to have somewhere to put drinks, snacks or make bagels,etc. at breakfast)

Good luck and enjoy!!

 

[MiaSRN62]

I think "Jersey Week" is earlier, maybe the 4th - 11th?? I'm not sure either. Maybe it switched this year but usually it's the first week in Nov.

I believe I did read on another board that it changed this year ? Can't remember which one though ? I agree, it's usually earlier in the month because we normally tend to go during that time.

 

[Gillian]

The NJEA convention is nov 10-12 thursday-saturday. So people will vacation the 7th - 11th. It's the same week as election day, which is a little later this year because Nov 1st is a tuesday. Stupid trivia -- Election day is the first tuesday after the first monday of November.

I would stay onsite if this might be your only trip for a while. I've done both & enjoy both. I understand and appreciate the size of an offsite condo, but really think you should try onsite this time. If you love it and want to go back, then try the condo.

Yes, you may be a little crowded in the hotel room, but you probably won't spend much time there anyway.

It is possible (I'm not saying likely!) that there will be a discount for your dates. Then it would be less than $400 difference.

Also, check out the price difference to add extra days to your passes. 3 days is probably not enough, although good for the first visit. It doesn't cost much more to add on days and it's nice not to feel pressured to see everything quickly! Subscribe to Mousesavers.com newsletter because sometimes you can find out about ticket discounts that way.

 

[rcpae]

Thanks for all the info. We have looked into using a timeshare week and trying to book a villa thru Disney, however, my sister and her family have/are using all of their weeks. They are allowing us to use their "getaway specials" if we would like. I just wasn't sure how this compared to on-site and what the Vistana was like.

Actually the Vistana wasn't the only available property. All of the following had 2bd/2ba available for our week. (I hope that isn't Jersey week...I had checked and was told it was the week before). I picked Vistana because it seemed to have the most positive response. Also available were:

High Point Resort
Wyndham Palms
Parkway International
Polynesian Isles
Westgate Lakes
Liki Tiki Village
Fairfield Star Island Resort
Vacation Villas at Fantasy world
Vacation villas at Fantasy world two
Westgate Towers
Westgate Vacation Villas

Is the Vistana the nicest and closest to Disney?

Thanks! (We are in Ohio)

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I would go with the Vistana... Squeezing five people into a single hotel room seems just plain icky to me. We had 3 people in a studio a couple weeks ago and it was clear to me that was as many people I could stand living together in a relatively large single room. I would look at the savings being considerably more than $400...the correct comparison would be two or three rooms not one. This is especially true since you are planning for downtime. The argument is generally that you will spend your time in the parks and not in your room so what difference does it make...but you are planning on spending time outside of the parks.

I would also use the $400 you save to buy one more park day rather than staying on site. EPCOT takes more than one day to do, AK less than a day, MGM may or may not take a whole day, MK takes more than one day. If staying offsite with newbies I'd probably do a plan something along the lines of one day EPCOT, one day MGM/EPCOT, one day MK and one day AK/missed rides at other parks.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Is the Vistana the nicest and closest to Disney?

Of the ones you listed, I'd say "yes" but I'm not familiar with all of them. Vistana is at least comparable to most of them. Just try and see if you can request the Fountains, Lakes or the newest Cascades section. Some have said the Springs section is nice as well. At Vistana, try and avoid the Courts, Falls, Spas and Palms. Once you confirm reservations, Vistana has an online request form called Diamond Lane that you can fill out about 3-4 days prior to check-in : https://www.svosecure.com/starwoodvo/diamond.jsp?resortID=5
I know you were also thinking about POR with the trundle but it's pretty small as far as beds go. When we were there, my youngest was 6 and she just fit comfortably on it. So unless your 8 yo is on the small side they might not be too comfortable. Five sharing 1 bathroom for a week can be tough too. The resort itself, is beautiful and it would be nice to have the onsite perk of Extra Magic Hour/package delivery etc, but I just think you'll all be cramped in the room.
I'm glad you're bypassing Jersey Week. This past one was pretty crowded in WDW.

 

[talicskai]

Vistana is gorgeous - the drive to WDW is very quick - I just use the huge Marriott as my guide to find my way home! I would definitely pick that over putting 5 people in a hotel room. You will love the space!
We have stayed at both the Vistana Resort and Vistana Villages several times so PM if you have any specific questions.
Teresa

 

[SammieG]

5 in a room at POR? no way.. I would go the Vistana route ANY DAY! (we have stayed at both POR and Vistana!! Its less than 10 minutes to Disney. To be honest, you will be quicker driving than taking Disney Transporation.

And you save money? ....
$400 gets you a lot or dinners out!!

 

[gjw007]

The Vistana Resort is about 1 or so outside Disney. I never had any traffic problem when I stayed there. The Vistana Village is closer to SeaWorld. You need be clear which Vistana you are referring to (most of the time is is Vistana Resort). It is nice and I have no qualms recommending it. There are many pools that are close to the villas so the kids should be happy as well.

 

[Hieatt]

If its between POR and Vistana, with 3 kids, go Vistana. We have stayed at Vistana - it is beautiful and is very close to Disney. Unless your on-site choices is one of the Epcot area or monorail resorts (all Deluxe, and $$$), I don't think POR even gives you that much of an on-site advantage over Vistana.

When we stay on-site, we stay at the Dolphin... then you have a significant advantage over off-site... being able to WALK to Epcot or hop a boat to MGM - that makes it worth squeezing a bit into a hotel room over a spacious condo. You may want to check on what AAA or other discount rates the Swan/Dolphin have your week - it can be surprisingly affordable, although a bit tight for 5 people in one room.

As for whether you will be back to Disney... don't worry, you will! It's addictive!

 

[rcpae]

Thanks for all the info. I never thought about Disney transportation possibly taking longer than our drive would be.

Hieatt: From what I've heard, once you go to Disney the question is when you will be back. I guess we'll have to see

Does anyone know is there a slide at any of the pools? My kids would love that also.

Thanks!