Villa or Hotel

[CHEK]

I need some advice please!!, we are looking at going back to WDW at the end of Jan beg of Feb for 2 weeks , now as you can see we have stayed in both previously, BUT convince me what we should do next time , we love the privacy of a villa, but next time it will only be the 4 of us , where as on previous visits to a villa there has been at least 6 of us. If staying in a villa we would pay for pool heat, BUT could the children realistically swim in the pool at this time of year Hope you can help make my mind up!, Thanks

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi Karen,

I don't think there is a wrong or right way just down to personal choice.

With Joshua's needs a hotel is not for us and as you will see from my signature recently we have stayed in villas.

Nowadays we like to do a split stay between a timeshare/DVC type resort and a private villa. Mainly because we go for 3 weeks and for part of the holiday we like to have on-site facilities, restaurants etc for some of our stay.

Find the isolation factor the only downside of a villa.

If I had to choose between a hotel and villa - a villa would win every time as you cannot beat the extra room. Naturally this is just my opinion. However, like I say don't think I could spend the entire holiday in one anymore.

We have stayed in a villa with pool heating in March, and many days were on the cool side - didn't stop Joshua enjoying the pool though so I would say you would have no problem with that.

 

[disneyholic family]

i really love staying onsite, even though it's more expensive and you generally have much less room.

My kids have been happy at every onsite resort we've ever stayed in, from the GF down to the All Stars. We've had a great time in all of them, even in the tiniest of rooms. And i find being onsite so convenient and so disney, it adds to our holiday.

 

[castanea1985]

Hi Karen
With regards to temperature of pools.
My mum goes to stay with a friend in Fort Myers every Jan/Feb and they swim in the pool every day. So I wouldn't worry, but you'll have to pay for heating if you are in a villa.

With regards to staying on site v a vila. I think it all depends on the age of your children. There is nothing better than being on site, to be 'part of the magic'. I know it is more expensive, but IMHO worth every penny.
I like the fact that you can get in the parks early, it takes alot less time to get every where, therefore you can do/see more!
When we stayed on site, I made sure we did the extras like character meals, hoop de doo review, which 10/15 years ago, wasn't the norm!
Now our kids are 15 -20 and have been to Disney since they were v. young, (they've 'been there got the T shirt'), we prefer staying in a villa - we are golfers, and where, years ago, we would be in the parks everyday, we now golf nearly everyday, so we don't need to be near to Disney.
If you can't afford to stay for the full two weeks, split your stay. Have one week in a villa and one 'on site' - then you get the best of both worlds. If you can, I would go to at least a moderate resort/dvc too!?
Hope this helps.
Tracy

 

[T16GEM]

I have never stayed onsite so I can't give an opinion on that but we usually go for a villa. We love the independance that it gives and being able to choose when you eat, and what you eat are big factors for us. We also like not having to be up and out at a certain time ready for housekeeping to come in etc. Much more space and private pool are also big plus points for us. Especially now that we have the children.

We have been in Jan, Feb and March and used the pool every day - just make sure that you have the heat on and you will be fine, it can get chilly when you get out but you are straight into the villa afterwards so that's not really a problem. When we first arrived in January the pool heat wasn't on and we used the pool to chill our bottles of Bud!

Hotels do have their plus points too though, no cleaning up (to speak of), towels etc cleaned and replaced - you would have to do your own washing in a villa, onsite help at all hours, where as you might have to wait for the office to open unless it's an emergency.

Villas win hands down for us.

HTH
Gems

 

[Disney owl]

This year it's just the 4 of us & we've a 5 bedroomed villa booked!

We may change to a hotel when it's just DH & I but I may have to persuade him even then. He hates the thought of sitting in your bed-room to relax at the end of a long park day.

But as long as the kids are with us it's a villa every time!

We were in Las Vegas in FEb & swam outside every day. The water was heated & it was great

 

[wayneg]

As others have said its personal choice, we all like different things in a holiday, we stayed onsite once in ASM and said never again, apart from a week in Clearwater it was the worst time we have had in Florida, Rooms too small, overpriced, hated the buses, pools too busy. not a good experience but it was Xmas and very very busy. One day might try a moderate but would have to be a cracking deal to get me back into Disney hotels. Our perfect holiday is staying somewhere like Courtyard by Marriott at LBV £25/night and has everything we need and on Disney land in about 60 seconds.
Trying a condo next Easter for a new experience.

 

[CHEK]

Thanks for all your replies, I totally agree with you that it's a personal choice, and to be honest I think we'll probably opt for the Villa , but maybe try a couple of nights at a disney Hotel if we can get a good deal

 

[OscarsMum]

We were torn like you as we really like the space and relaxation of a villa. Our solution for Oct is a week at Royal Pacific and a week in a villa. Not sure I'll like having to re-pack/unpack but we'll see!

 

[CHEK]

We were torn like you as we really like the space and relaxation of a villa. Our solution for Oct is a week at Royal Pacific and a week in a villa. Not sure I'll like having to re-pack/unpack but we'll see!

Sounds ideal , have a wonderful time and please let me know how it works out for you

 

[Goofysmate]

We have only stayed in villas and have loved every minute next year when we go again its just the two of us . ( don't have to share a pool with other peoples children having a wee in it) is one of the other reasons also.