Torn on where to stay

[DebRMN]

The past 2 years we have stayed off site. You really can't beat the cost.
I would LOVE to stay on site. I have actually convinced my dh (for the most part) to do it.

My dilemma is this: We are a family of 5. It kind of limits us as to where we can stay, without giving up my first born. Remember, we are used to the cost of off site.

The most financially feasable would be to stay at ASM family suite. I say this because my 3 kids are used to sleeping in their own rooms & have never come into ours at night. We have all shared a hotel room at the Dells, BUT it was one night.......not 9.
From everything I have read, I don't see many good things about the bus transportation times (long).
Does anyone know how they are at the end of April, beginning of May?

My convincing of DH included not having to spend $400+ on a rental car & the dining plan & all the restuarant choices with it......yet also from what I have read, it is not convienent to eat at any of the other resorts due to the somewhat isolation of the value resorts (along with some of the moderate resorts.....since I looked into that option also).
& not much of a food option at All Star resorts

with being a family of 5 would you stay at the value resort & just deal with the long wait for bus times (kids will be 5.5, 5.5, & 2y9m).....just to be in the 'magic & the food plan
or would you stay off site & have the convienece of space & a car??

Its kind of, 6 of one 1/2 dozen of the other when it comes to standing around 'waiting' for a bus......or the same amount of time as driving to the parks & parking......except that it 'seems' like less time because you are 'moving'.

UGH......I don't know

Any advice....experience?

 

[MRYPPNS]

I don't know if it would be too much $$$ for you but how about Saratoga Springs? That's where I'm thinking of staying in Nov so we can walk to DTD for food.
Have you shopped around for a rental car yet? I found a compact (I know you would need bigger) for 9 days for $220 using coupons/codes. It may be cheaper to get a car and then stay at a value resort.

 

[Schmeck]

Doesn't a child under the age of three 'not count' towards the room occupation limit?

 

[DebRMN]

no, it doesn't but I guess I am concerned with 5 of us in a 300(or so)sq ft room

I wouldn't even be concerned if it was just me & my kids.......it's really my dh *insert eyeroll here*

he is so worried about not being able to get food out of the kitchen & watch tv after the kids go to bed.
so the family suite or 2 standard rooms at a value resort would do the trick......I just wonder about the other stuff.

I'm going to see if I can find some extremely good rates for a rental

Oh, & yes, we have done WDW the last 2 years with the kids, & he still likes to be up late.....I don't get it :lol

 

[Aliceacc]

We're a family of 5 too.

I really did my homework on this one last summer (in preparation for this summer's trip... that tells you a bit about how psychotic a planner I am.)

I had it narrowed down to either a Family Suite at ASM or POR-- one of the rooms with the trundle bed.

But I kept going back to the Contemporary, and the convenience of being on the monorail line when my youngest had had enough.

With the AAA discount, the cheapest room at the Contemporary wasn't THAT much more than POR. (OK, it WAS more. But in the context of the price of our trip, not all that much more.) And you, with 3 small kids: just picture being able to WALK a cranky child back for a nap or a swim, regardless of how bad the lines are. To me, that's worth the price difference.

Then we got the 40% off code and switched to the Poly. But I would have been more than happy with the Contemporary.

So we'll eat a lot of pasta this year and find ways to save money. But, just for the fun of it, take a look at the numbers for the Contemporary.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Ok, we have stayed at the ASM and it really is not that bad for transportation and the food court is really good. We really like POP better if you decide to go with two rooms at a value. The bus there was much better than anywhere we have ever stayed (including deluxe) but ASM was not bad. The food court has lots of meal choices as well as lots of snacks. It is not hard to get to anyplace you want by bus. You will take the bus to any park and transfer to the resort you want to dine at.
We never move our car at WDW! You can get a freg at the values but must pay the 10.00 per night. There are some freg swaps that you can check out on the budget board or just use your cooler and keep it filled with ice.

We are huge fans of on site and i think that you should try it at least once to see if it works for your family.

 

[tanyaandallie]

We have not stayed at a value resort. However, we did try the busses for the first time this past trip. I was very leary and not sure we would like it. Turn out, they are not bad at all!!! Now, I will say that we had excellent luck about the first 5 days of our trip and the last 4 not as good. And you are right, if you want to eat at another resort, it's a huge pain, but other than that, the busses were good.

We have stayed offsite 1 time but I do prefer to stay onsite. Our family of 4 stays a regular room. DH and I just sit in the bathroom area and read or something until we are ready to go to bed. DH and I don't mind.

 

[npmommie]

I agree with the ages of your kids run the numbers for the Contempory and also try the Polynesian. We are Poly fans, and you really just can't beat the convenience of the quick boat ride or monorail ride to the MK. Priceless in my opinion although I know others disagree.
do you have AAA? there is a discount with that, it brought the cost of the Poly down close to $100 a night.
maybe with the savings of not renting a car the extra cost of the poly would work? oh and there is a special now for AAA, you can sign up without paying the sign on fee.....its only an $11 savings, but hey its still a savings!
good luck with your decision.

 

[tanyaandallie]

$100 per night at the Poly? I've never seen it that low. That's an amazing deal.

 

[Reagan&Co.]

We always stay at POP. We never drive our car once we park it, and have managed nicely to have a well-rounded experience. I think it is worth staying on-site just to get the meal plan. You can arrange meals at the resorts without even doing the park hopping.
Say, you stay at ASM. Then one day you go to MK or Epcot. You have easy access to dinner at the Poly, Contemporary, Grand Floridian via the momorail. That's a lot of restaurants right there to choose from. Plus, the monorail in itself is fun!
Just plan ahead for your meals, which you pretty much have to do for ressies, anyway.

 

[DebRMN]

Thanks guys, keep the suggestions coming!
I did check for the Contmporary, but it is saying nothing avail for my party size/dates.
I have been meaning to check out AAA but keep forgetting.
Thanks for the advice on using the monorail or whatever to go eat when leaving the park then take the bus back to ASMu if thats where we stay.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Family of five here too. However mine are older than yours. We did the family suites last year and loved it. I was worried about the buses but really they weren't that bad. I can't believe getting to the parking lot after fireworks is a solitary experience. Just be smart about when you ride the buses.

My family wanted to try different resorts so we're trying the POR with the trundle bed. I don't believe we'll like it better than ASMu suites but I'm willing to give it a try.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Just my 2 cents - Stay on site! We stayed off-site for many years, but once I stayed on site, I never went back. I have stayed at all the All-Stars, POR, Boardwalk and BC and I don't think the transportation is any worse at the values except that the stops at the parks are further away from the main entrances. We find it so convenient to have the transportation at our disposal. If someone is tired, not everyone has to leave the park. etc.

As far a where to stay, we stayed 5 in a room at POR. It was fine, but we decided 2 rooms next time. So, if DH is thinking that one room will be a problem, I would stick with the suite or 2 rooms at another value that interests you.

We have never had a problem getting to our dining reservations at other resorts. The MK resorts are very easy to get to. The nice thing about the dining plan is that you can go to the character buffets and other expensive restaurants with the kids without having to stress over the costs of things. Do you already have and ADR's made? You will definitely need to make those.

My vote is to give on-site a try!

 

[floridalaurie]

We stayed at the All Star Music in Dec. and loved it!! We thought the selection at the food court was good and the food and price weren't bad at all. I would definately do a suite at the All Stars.

 

[laughinplace199]

Have you considered renting points from a DVC member? A 1 BR unit sleeps 4, plus an infant under 3 yrs old. Also, most of the AKV 1 BR units sleep 5. You would have a full kitchen to save some $ on meals and you'd also have a washer/dryer.

 

[gabriellyn]

We stayed at ASMo in Dec/Jan and thought that the bus service was excellent!!! But then again, we were using ASMu buses! We were staying so close to ASMu that it made more sense to walk over there than walk all the way down to "our" buses.

We had five of us that were staying in a regular room - since all we did was sleep there it wasn't a problem. This time around though we are thinking of going to a Mod or Dlx for the second sink. I thought about the suites at ASMu and that is still an option as well. Having 2 bathrooms would be extremely convenient. I am SURE you will enjoy it - don't even worry about the buses. The only downside that I observed was that it was a longer walk to get to them when leaving the parks, but it wasn't a deal breaker.

Good luck!

 

[_queenie_]

We're staying at the Swan, got a rate of 210 a night!

We're also a family of five, DS is 17, DDs are 13 & 3, and they're all very tall. It still works for us to have DH and DS share a bed, and for my DDs and I to share the other bed. When it gets to cramped we'll just have to bring an aero bed.