Want deluxe, want to pay value

[smorkovsky]

After continued researching, I really don't want to settle for AofA, but I really don't want to pay for Poly.

Sooooo, thinking of staying off site because we REALLY want a nice room! We'll rent a car, and drive. I like the idea of that freedom anyway because we still will have a 4 year old and require some down time, and the ease of stopping at Wal Mart whenever I really need it!

Will I regret this?

 

[bigbabyblues]

Have you thought about the Swan or Dolphin?

Personally, our family would never stay off site, but there are a whole lot of people who don't agree with me; it is just something each family has to decide. If having a nicer room is important to you, offsite may be the way to go.

 

[WDWAurora]

I would regret the added parking costs. Include those in your off site costs. Also, be sure of resort fees. I didn't find anything earth shattering price when I included resort fees and parking. I'm not a deluxe hotel visitor, though, at disney or not.

 

[dbrn]

Nope, I don't think you'll regret it. We went with a condo at Windsor Hills, and it was like getting a deluxe for less than the price of a value. The drive was very short and easy, and the condo was lovely and relaxing. My kids are looking forward to going back and have said they'd like to stay at the condo again instead of on site. Check VBRO for rentals by owners. There are a lot of good deals to be had. Enjoy your trip!

 

[dimndgal1]

After continued researching, I really don't want to settle for AofA, but I really don't want to pay for Poly.

Sooooo, thinking of staying off site because we REALLY want a nice room! We'll rent a car, and drive. I like the idea of that freedom anyway because we still will have a 4 year old and require some down time, and the ease of stopping at Wal Mart whenever I really need it!

Will I regret this?

In another post you made it sound like you want to take it kind of easy and take some breaks, which might make off-site a bit time consuming for you. Also, I'm not sure what time of year you are thinking of going, but take into consideration the traffic you might have to face when you hit the parking lots.

We stayed off-site the entire year we had APs (DH and I were young, newlyweds and picked the cheapest hotel we could on our 2-3 day trips over the year). It's not bad... but now that I've stayed on site, I really do see the benefits... and this is someone who tends to just focus on moderates.

I highly recommend looking at historical discounts for when you are thinking of going. Some of them make the deluxes very reasonable and the addition of parking costs ($15 a day) might defray the difference in cost between an off-site and an on-site. Don't get me wrong, there are some GORGEOUS off-site hotels... but definitely don't count out the deluxes until you've factored in all variables!!!

 

[robinb]

After continued researching, I really don't want to settle for AofA, but I really don't want to pay for Poly.

Sooooo, thinking of staying off site because we REALLY want a nice room! We'll rent a car, and drive. I like the idea of that freedom anyway because we still will have a 4 year old and require some down time, and the ease of stopping at Wal Mart whenever I really need it!

Will I regret this?

Welcome to the DIS! You have posted in the Disney Resorts board and most folks who read on this board don't stay off-site. If you want to get some support for your idea, you'll want to try over on the Orlando Board here: http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=15

If you stay off-site you can get a condo for less than you would pay at AoA. However, I see from your other posts that you are going from Sept 14-20. That's smack-dab in the middle of the Free Dining promotion which is one of Disney's best promos. I would suggest that since this is your first visit to WDW you try to stay onsite. I'm usually not one to blow pixie dust and Disney "magic" up people's ... well this is a family board ... but I think that you will find a WDW resort to be superior (even the values) to most of the "nice" hotels in the area. Especially if you get free dining! Unfortunately you are limited to where you can stay with 3 kids: 2 rooms at most values and moderates, one of the value suites, Port Orleans Riverside or the Deluxe resorts. You'll get the most bang from your buck at Port Orleans.

 

[davedmaine]

After continued researching, I really don't want to settle for AofA, but I really don't want to pay for Poly.

Sooooo, thinking of staying off site because we REALLY want a nice room! We'll rent a car, and drive. I like the idea of that freedom anyway because we still will have a 4 year old and require some down time, and the ease of stopping at Wal Mart whenever I really need it!

Will I regret this?

Hilton's Parc Soleil..

 

[gilsan]

Look at renting points from http://www.dvcrequest.com/. We are staying at AKV for about $100 more than AoA.

 

[nugov2]

I would stay off site and just did! Everyone is different though so you have to decide what is important to you. We stayed in a 6brm/4bath home that was decked out in all that is Disney. We had a private pool and game room plus a resort pool with waterslide(something you won't get at a value). We were just as close to the parks as the values/mods. We drove with no traffic at peak season and would valet the car and walk over to the MK. Most days the wait for the monorail was 20+ minutes so we were probably in and out of the park and home faster than those staying on site. With valet you can come and go as much as you want and again be back to the house just as fast as on site..if not quicker. Could something happen and you run into traffic, yes, but the bus or monorail could break down so that works both ways. We did all this during peak season for $245 a day($261 if you add in daily valet parking at WDW parks). A value will run you around $200 a day more if you go to AoA.

We didn't hit the parks every day, but took a couple of days to chill poolside, but even going everyday would have been just as easy off site. I have posted this on a few threads since we got back, but really you are only in the so called Disney bubble when you stay at a deluxe(IMO) otherwise I think the best value is at an off site, but close location where you get close to deluxe amenities and pay value prices. We did a lot of resort activities on our nonpark days...we also toured a couple of hotels I though we would like. At no time did my kids ask if we could stay at any of them(even a the poly..though that was the one pool that intrigued them) My dd was sleeping in a princess room, one boy in a buzz lightyear room, the other with Mickey. They loved the Disney house Look at all your options, like I said you will find people who would never stay off site. Different strokes for different folks. As long as you guys are happy...it is the righ choice!!

 

[disney-akj]

We have stayed at Wyndham bonnet creek and barely knew we were off property. Nice resort and super affordable. (See thread on off site accommodations like poster above mentioned.)We have stayed at AoA too which I know you were considering. It was great for my kids, but they loved bonnet Creek just as well. Two lazy rivers, two pools with slides, 5 pools, mini golf etc. Right next to Caribbean Beach and only paid $120 a night. Of course we had to pay to park but that was no big deal considering the savings. Plus the space, full kitchen, laundry. We prefer to drive to the parks a lot too even when on property. With that being said we have been on several trips. If it was a one time trip, I would stay on property to make the most use of time at the parks. There is something to be said about the disney bubble, especially for your first visit. Whatever you decide will be what works best for your family I am sure

 

[MichiganDVC]

People alway "prefer to drive" when they're not staying walking distance to a park. This is the key factor, for me, in wanting to stay on-site at a deluxe.
Those condos, houses, etc..all sound great IF I was staying in Vermont. Or Northern California. But at WDW, I want to be AT Disney! I want Mickey waffles for breakfast, Mickey-shaped pools in the afternoon, and be able to walk back to my resort after the fireworks.

As a PP mentioned, look into renting DVC points. It gives you more space and amenities than a regular, deluxe room...and at a competitive price!

 

[disney-akj]

Double post- crazy phone

 

[Ofinn]

Unless you stay at a MK resort or a Epcot resort I see no advantage to staying onsite. The offsite deluxe resorts like Bonnet creek and Waldorf are not any farther of a drive than staying at a value or moderate.

 

[msquire80]

Nugov2 where did you find a deal off site for 6 bedrooms? I could use a place that big for my family trip.

 

[BigTex71]

We stayed at a Windsor Hills 3 bedroom condo in January/February of 2011. We usually stay onsite and even though we had large accommodations for cheap ($99 a night!) we will not stay offsite any time soon. We prefer just hopping on Disney transportation for afternoon breaks and for our family, we prefer the Disney bubble (and the service that goes along with it.)

You can read more about that trip in my trip report in my signature. (I know, shameless plug.)

 

[nugov2]

People alway "prefer to drive" when they're not staying walking distance to a park. This is the key factor, for me, in wanting to stay on-site at a deluxe.
Those condos, houses, etc..all sound great IF I was staying in Vermont. Or Northern California. But at WDW, I want to be AT Disney! I want Mickey waffles for breakfast, Mickey-shaped pools in the afternoon, and be able to walk back to my resort after the fireworks.

As a PP mentioned, look into renting DVC points. It gives you more space and amenities than a regular, deluxe room...and at a competitive price!

Well she mentioned staying at AoA so I would think pretty much everyone would prefer to drive vs. walking to the parks...unless they want to hoof it about 3 to 5 miles to the different parks every day. I would think that almost nobody would want to walk that far after watching the fireworks The OP never said she was thinking of offsite vs a deluxe, but AoA was her choice and was thinking to stay offsite to get deluxe accommodations...two totally different things. Oh and our WH rental had a mickey mouse waffle maker so you could even get those!! Seriously though, the onsite restaurants are amazing and we ate on property pretty much everyday. I think every character meal and restaurant was amazing and pretty much the food everywhere was great. You don't have to miss out on those perks off site. We also did the Pirate Cruise at POR and spent a day at FW riding the ponys etc. You can basically do everything but swim in the pools, but I'd prefer a private pool with the option to go to a bigger pool if it isn't crowded. Again you need to weigh all the options and what is more important for your specific family

 

[nugov2]

Nugov2 where did you find a deal off site for 6 bedrooms? I could use a place that big for my family trip.

http://storytimeorlandorental.com/

Here you go!!! If you book I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. The only real complaint I could make is that the carpet was worn in couple of places, but otherwise the place was super clean(and I am very anal about being clean) and you are immersed in WDW decorations. The owner was great to work with and responds very quickly. The rest of the resort was very quiet and well kept. Even a great park for the kids to play at. They also do have transportation to the parks, but we never used it so cannot comment on that.

Wanted to add we stayed at the Storytime Kingdom

 

[Judge Kemp]

We're going down from July 23-August 13.


No way to do it all on site, as family will be joining us on July 29, and our number will swell to 13. Since we're treating everyone to the accommodations, on site wasn't in the plans.

We're going offsite out of necessity, but even with that set-up, we're on site the first week. 2 BR at AKL from July 23-29 with my fam of 6 plus niece before we move to 6 BR offsite home.

There is something special about on site, but occasionally offsite fits the family dynamic/size better. We're six by ourselves, so it is either a 2BR or bust usually. Those get pricey.

 

[bluejasmine]

I have stayed off site many times but after first on property stay & it was at Asmo I was hooked and we haven't stayed off site since.

There is nothing like staying in site, your travel time will really eat into your time. Plus the $12 to $15 parking per day.

AOA is a brand new &. Amazing resort I visited it in Dec & was blown away! Pure Disney magic!

I've stayed at 9 different WDW resorts ranging from value, mod & deluxe & never regretted any of my choices!

It sounds like you want a deluxe w/o cost of deluxe. Maybe a mod like POR or CSR would be good for you? They are beautiful resorts! Or you can go lower cost deluxe w/o giving any of the amenities or beauty up & go with CR, WL or AKL!

Staying on the monorail line will have you always returning, the views are the best on WDW property & convenience of the monorail is priceless! We like to take afternoon swim breaks & this makes trips back to resort 10 mins or less! It's amazing what a difference it makes & how much more relaxing it is! Your going in Sept , we go every Sept for our anniversary, it will be quite hot & those swim breaks will make a world of difference to hot, cranky families! Plus you can watch Wishes from somewhere at you're resort if your family is too tired to be at the parks! That way your not missing anything!

ASMU/POR Dec 16-22, 2012 & CR Sept 8-15, 2013

 

[Nancyg56]

After continued researching, I really don't want to settle for AofA, but I really don't want to pay for Poly.

Sooooo, thinking of staying off site because we REALLY want a nice room! We'll rent a car, and drive. I like the idea of that freedom anyway because we still will have a 4 year old and require some down time, and the ease of stopping at Wal Mart whenever I really need it!

Will I regret this?

I cannot say you will regret it but for a first trip with a little one, I would compromise and stay at a moderate onsite resort.