Too many options/senarios...can't decide!

[d4est]

Okay, looking for some opinions. I am attempting to plan our first family vacation to WDW for next year, most likely Feb. pres week. I just can't decide on the where to stay issue. On site or off????

I am budgeting for about $2500 for 2 adults and 1 child (8). I would like to stay onsite for convenience, but want the most bang for my buck. The past 2 years we have stayed in really nice hotels (see sig) and we like it. I am not sure if we would be happy at one of the WDW value resorts...they kinda seem like glorified motel rooms. BUT, if we stay onsite, that is probably all we could afford. That is, unless, we got a good code or something for a mod.

I have looked into skyauction (seems like a great value) but then we would need a rental car. Have also looked into a timeshare deal thru fairfield.

My budget looks something like this:
2500-700 (approx for airfare)=1800
1800-500 (food) = 1300
1300-655 (park tix)= 645
So, I have 645 left. If I stay offsite I need a car so take off $200, leaving
445. Enough for something on sky auction etc. If onsite, I can only get a room (5 nights) for $645 or less.

What would you do for your first trip? Will I be happy at a value? Will dis magic make up for the value "motel" room at dis? I just don't know!

Any advice? TIA

 

[HeatherC]

I think it's great that you are working within a budget. You should be able to have a wonderful trip on what you have planned.

I know there are so many people who would never stay off site, but I am one who could never stay onsite. The reason being is I have 3 kids and would need two rooms. We have stayed at such beautfiul resorts off site with full kitchens, huge living areas, multiple baths, washer and dryer, terrific amenities, that I can't envision us ever staying onsite in one little hotel room. Plus, in our instance we would have to all go to bed at the same time in one room...which I don't like to do. Just a personal preference.

We have toured almost all the Disney resorts, and I can say from my viewpoint that I would be disappointed in a value resort. From what I saw at the All Stars was that it was basically a tiny hotel room. They do have nice icons and theming, but you are still crammed into one room. It is so nice at the end of the day to put the kids to bed and be able to grab a snack from the fridge and watch tv in the living room or go soak in the jacuzzi tub.

If you think you would miss out on the "magic", I certainly understand. But for us we like a quiet refuge with some space after a busy day of touring the parks.

With the deals on SkyAuction and through Hotel Kingdom, you can certainly get a nice place all within minutes of the parks. Cypress Pointe is one I can think of offhand. Also...the Marriott resorts....Grande Vista, Cypress Harbor, Sheraton Vistana Resort and Vistana Villages, Orange Lake, Silver Lake to name a few.

Another thing to consider is that if you use Disney Transportation, you do have to wait for a bus and it may share with another resort. So...this also adds travel time to your day. All the places I mentioned above are a very easy commute to any of the parks. In some instances, they are closer than many of the Disney owned resorts.

I have a car reserved with National for $195 for Feb 15-25th including all taxes. That is for 10 days. A week would be less. I'm sure once I get a coupon that is valid for next year, I can get the rate lower. This is for a full size. So if you get a compact or intermediate, you should be able to get it for even less. Especially if you don't need it for longer than 7 days.

Hope this helps you. Have a wonderful time planning your trip. I'm sure wherever you decide to stay it will be a terrific trip.

HeatherC

 

[Straitlover]

I agree that the $200 for a car sounds high for 6 days. However, you are not showing any $$ for souveneirs/misc or for parking if you stay offsite ($8/day), so it might zero out w/ adding that on.

You might have a hard time fidning anything in SkyAuction for Pres Week as that's a very busy time. Have you considered renting DVC points for a studio at Old Key West Resort? You might want to check on the DVC board about that. That would allow you to have some meals in the room and maybe cut down on your food budget a little to allow an onsite stay.

 

[d4est]

Thanks for the replies, very appreciated. All good advice/opinions, and along the same lines that I have been thinking. That is why it is SO hard. You are right, I did forget to add in extra for spending $. I had figured $100, we don't usually buy anything for ourselves, so it is just DS getting a souvie or 2.

I did think about DVC points, but know little about it and thought it might be a pain. I also think I might miss housekeeping. How hard is it to buy points? Is it a big hassle, as far as finding someone, then paperwork etc?

I am also now contemplating getting one AP and hoping for a good code. That way we could get a mod, maybe even a deluxe, at a price we could live with ($150 or under/night).

Sigh...what to do, lol!

 

[dgaston]

I think the 2 bedrooms at Cypress Pointe on hotelkingdom.com are extremely reasonable at mid 70's per night

 

[d4est]

I think I have decided to try and rent DVC points. It is looking like I could get a studio at OKW or BWV for under $600 for 5 nights. That is close to value resort rates, but with nicer accomodations. I think the 3 of us would be quite comfortable in a studio, plus...we would have a balcony! Yay!