Wait for Discounts or stay offsite?

[mm824]

Hi!

We're heading to Disney in mid-September (airfare booked) and have waiting for fall discounts (I just bought an AP last year after our first trip to FW); we're coming up on our 60-day window.

We'll be traveling with our 5yo for her birthday, so our goals are mainly to enjoy the food/enjoy Epcot, spend some time in the pool, and spend some time in MK.

Our options are either to book a rack room rate at a cheaper on site hotel; book a rack room rate at a more ideal hotel (Y/B or Boardwalk?) and hope for a discount, or book the Waldorf Astoria for $200/night (incl fees,non refundable), all would give us the 60 day window to book Fast Passes.

Are there other costs or disadvantages to staying offsite besides the Magical Express? Is it pain to get to the parks? Can we take the Minnie Van as needed?

We went as adults to FW last year and it was a totally different experience with crowds in the evenings vs day time. We also did the MNSSHP and it was overly packed and chaotic (mainly adults) as I think they oversold the event. I would really like to have a good strategy to tackle this trip with a little one this year

I'd love any feedback or input, stories, suggestions you might have!

 

[sbd78]

Just a suggestion, have you priced out Swan/Dolphin? They are often much cheaper than Disney's Epcot area resorts and you still get the great location. Also, no guarantees, but the gondolas should hopefully be running by then from Pop/AoA/CBR which might make those resorts more attractive for you.

 

[rwdavis2]

If you don't have a car then you need to consider the shuttles from the off site hotels. How frequently do they run? Or drive and pay parking.

 

[pixiedustedme]

If the trip is in September, the discounts (if any) would likely already be out by now. I could be wrong, of course, but in my experience discounts are released 2-3 months in advance of the trip. They might not release any discounts for this fall due to Star Wars, or they might be waiting longer to release them, possibly.

 

[TOBS2010]

I would lean more towards additional discounts for this September will not be released. If I were in your shoes, I would book a non-Disney resort so you at least had somewhere to stay. You can use Minnie Vans to get around---sometimes they are a little bit of a wait during peak times and they can be expensive. The nice thing is at the parks they will drop you off very close to the entrance---versus Lyft or Uber that will drop you off further away and you will have to do some walking. Also keep in mind that Minnie Vans do not pick up at all affiliated Hotels---only Disney property and a few select others. Since your daughter will need a carseat, if I were you, I would consider purchasing a bubble bum that you can carry with you allowing you to be able to use Lyft and Uber more easily. I haven't ever had great luck with using off property shuttles. They are very limited to when they do pick-ups and drop-offs and sometimes finding the bus at the parks when you want to leave isn't an easy process.

 

[MomOTwins]

Cheaper hotel onsite—extra magic hours are going to be valuable in September

 

[DISNEY1975]

I just went back through 3 years of typical fall discount release dates. They were all April thru June.

Since free dining and room discounts were released (needed to be booked Jan - March) so early this year and all discounts for rooms now only go through 08/28 the day before star wars opens, my guess is they will not have any more fall discounts.

 

[Bjkandma]

Is book a cheaper on site hotel. Shuttles for off site hotels do not run as often as Disney transportation. September they have added dxtra, extra mAgic hours, some parks beginning at 6 am.

If you were to stay off site,Minnie vans are only available throughout Disney property. There is a flat fee and then like $2.75 per mile. Costs can run as high as $50 one way.

 

[dnw25]

I just got off the phone with a disney agent. She said they are not anticipating any discounts over labor day weekend. I was hoping for a passholder one.

 

[manicstreet]

I would much rather stay onsite at an all star than off site. That’s just my opinion of course. There is something to be said for being on property. Discounts are nice of course. I did get a discount for Coronado November 20 - 24. I’m more of a deluxe guy but money talks & I’ll be one step closer to having stayed at all resorts.

 

[_19disnA]

Since you have already booked the airline, it is safer to also have a hotel reservation even if full price. There are no guarantees the specific resort/room type will go on sale and if they are sold out, you could be left without a place to stay. Disney reservations can be rebooked if a lower prices becomes available. You can also cancel a reservation within a certain window if you find a lower priced option.

Staying offsite vs. onsite is mostly a matter of budget and personal preference.

 

[FSU Girl]

I am not a fan of values, which are pretty pricey for what you get. I would go with the offsite hotel, which will be as nice as a deluxe for value price. I’m not sure if a 5 year old needs a car seat, but Uber’s are a lot cheaper than Minnie vans. If you rent a car you won’t have to pay to park at the parks since you’re an annual pass holder and it’s included.

 

[Dave006]

Are there other costs or disadvantages to staying offsite besides the Magical Express? Is it pain to get to the parks? Can we take the Minnie Van as needed?

Minnie Vans don't don't cover off site hotels. Only available on Disney property and the Airport (unreal price).

Dave

 

[Magical2017]

Minnie Vans don't don't cover off site hotels. Only available on Disney property and the Airport (unreal price).

Dave

Disney Springs Hotels, plus Four Seasons, Bonnet Creek, and one other are also listed. Did that stop?
https://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-world/transportation/minnie-vans.htm

 

[MomOTwins]

I am not a fan of values, which are pretty pricey for what you get. I would go with the offsite hotel, which will be as nice as a deluxe for value price. I’m not sure if a 5 year old needs a car seat, but Uber’s are a lot cheaper than Minnie vans. If you rent a car you won’t have to pay to park at the parks since you’re an annual pass holder and it’s included.

Florida law requires a car seat from 0-3 and a booster from 4-5, so yes, they do need a Minnie van or an uber or rental with car seat.

 

[Christine]

Since you know your dates, have you tried booking a Disney resort through Priceline's Express Deals. They are often there and have a good discount. There's a Priceline thread in the discount forum here and they are really helpful with helping you to figure out if it's a Disney resort. I've seen people get pretty good deals through them.

 

[SwanVT2]

200 for Waldorf is a good deal if it includes the resort few. I've been told their sister resort Hilton bonnet creek has good transportation to the parks so I'd imagine Waldorf would be the same. At least you are on Disney property with them!