We are renting a house instead....

[Twinprincesses]

Well my dad went to Orlando on business and decided to check out some other options for our stay there. He has decided that we are not going to go with the comfort inn or the Boardwalk. I am kinda bummed about not being on Disney property but instead we are renting 2 5 bedroom houses. I guess the upside is we will be able to keep up with our laundry as well as save money on breakfast. We also have our own pool so I will not have to worry about my big behind in a swimsuit in front of strangers.

 

[Gillian]

With the little ones you will love having the room of a house!

How many people are going total?

 

[Twinprincesses]

We have 11 total but my mom said my DH and I get our own place (even though I offered to let my little sisters who are 11 & 10 to stay with us).

We had the Boardwalk Villas last time and they were amazing because of the kitchen and washer!! So we will definatly love having the same benefits again jsut without the on property location.

 

[spiceycat]

hey who knows you might get to like offsite....

 

[winniedapooh]

We have done both and with kids offsite works best for us. We have 5 cherubs and the savings on breakfast and laundry alone was awesome. We just came back a week ago today and stayed 13 days offsite and the last 2 on DVC points onsite. Truthfully the only that was good was the transportation, we were at the WL. The kids all mentioned at one time or another how nice the house and just walking out the door to the pool was. Also more room for so many people. Go figure???

 

[Mainebound]

We love staying offsite in a pool home. And I think it is better for my kids. They get to decompress and relax instead of hearing all the noise and the kids running by the room. And we are not all on top of eachother. It is much more relaxing. And what I found really shocking is that it actually is easier and less time consuming to get to the parks from pool homes than from WDW property, with the lone exception of the monorail or ferry to MK from the WDW deluxes. So I honestly haven't found the "downside" to it at all.

I guess DVC would get you many of the same benefits, but for many thousands of dollars more (yes, even renting points -- we stay for 11 days). Is it really worth it to me to spend thousands of dollars to be in a smaller condo on WDW propery? That money could be used on a cottage for a week in Prince Edward Island or Cape Cod in July, or to redo our bathroom floors, or something else that to me and my family is more important than being on WDW property. We also couldn't go every year if we stayed onsite. Just MHO.

And my kids? I asked them whether they would want to go back to the Wilderness Lodge (where we stayed part of the trip last year) or an Emerald Island pool home (where we stayed part of the trip last year) and they both said "the big house with the playstation where we can pick our own bedrooms and have our own pool"!

 

[Cherylzw]

Chrissy

We have both a brand new pool home and own DVC. I love DCV but I just love going to my home and sitting by the pool and having all that room to just spread out.

Last time we were in Florida and stayed half the time in our house and half at Boardwalk (because of F&W Festival) and I have to say I really missed staying at our vacation home.

You are going to LOVE it. Have fun!!!

 

[minnie29uk]

Many vacation homes offer so may extras now too - free phonecalls ,internets,private hheated pool and spa,TVs in all rooms and Ive just had a new games room in mine.Lots of homes do now.
Yopull have a great time,Enjoy,
Lynn

 

[Maria395712]

I want to try a house or condo also
maria

 

[LauraAnn630]

We are renting a 5 bdrm villa this time! Im so excited!! There are 11 of us going for Christmas and New Years. Seems so far off but I know it will come fast.

We are going for 11 nights. Every other day we are going to the parks. Im really looking for ward to putting up our tree together. We are going to reserve a ham for X-Mas.

Im hoping this will be a exciting Disney Christmas with time to relax too!

We will have our own pool, gameroom and yard!

Im still working on what we will need to bring going at December and having the villa instead of a small room at ASM.


Had to add the private hot tub !!

 

[rileyroosmom]

We are staying at a pool home this May for the first time. I'm really looking forward to our own private pool, space to move around and the convienence of a kitchen ( I will NOT be cooking, but it will be nice to be able to toast a slice of bread or a frozen waffle for breakfast). The washer and dryer is a plus too.
I know people say you will miss the magic, but I'm not so sure. Last May we stayed at the Poly, room only cost over $2,000. It was lovely, I'm glad we stayed there, but I'm wondering about the magic? Was the magic lugging everyone and everything back and forth to our room where we all sat together? Our sleep habits are different, some like tv on and others don't. Was it waiting for 4 people to shower and dress before I could? Was it wanting to use the pool only to find it closed? Was it listening to the toilet next door flush? Maybe it was the little bars of soap and tiny shampoo bottles with Mickey's face on them, both products I wouldn't personally use anyway. Maybe it was the maid that didn't get to my room until 3pm, just when I wanted to rest and then I had to stand in a hallway and wait until she finished.
I don't know, I'm looking forward to see how this trip differs. For me, the magic is seeing my kids get excited about seeing a character or a ride. Watching my ds12 help my dd4 onto Dumbo and hold her hand the whole time. Holding my trembling ds8 close during Dinosaur and having him tell me he wasn't really scared. Those things are my magic, not where I lay my head at night.
Sorry for the ramble....I just really got on a roll!

 

[LauraAnn630]

rileyroosmom, Im thinking like you! I dont think we will miss any magic.

We are just expanding our magic!!

I forgot about the washer and dryer. What a great plus thats going to be!!

We found it less expensive to rent a villa during the holidays.

 

[mbb]

...... I'm looking forward to see how this trip differs. For me, the magic is seeing my kids get excited about seeing a character or a ride. Watching my ds12 help my dd4 onto Dumbo and hold her hand the whole time. Holding my trembling ds8 close during Dinosaur and having him tell me he wasn't really scared. Those things are my magic......

Awww
I love reading how others experience "magic"...thanks rileyroosmom

...and Thanks Walt!!!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We are from the UK and the last few years we have rented a villa.

Love the freedom, privacy and extra room that you just cannot get elsewhere.

The only downside we find is having to drive everywhere, you cannot really go out for a drink in the evening.

We have considered DVC and have looked around the Boardwalk, the evening entertainment and facilities there are excellent, however a villa is still our first choice.
Our son loves the extra room , and the private pool just cannot be beat.

 

[Taratink]

We have stayed on and offsite and both vacations we wonderful. We enjoyed different things about both options. Orlando has so much to offer.
Tara

 

[2ltlprincesses]

Well this is our first time renting a home in Disney. Actually it will be my first time in Disney as well as my two girls. My DH has gone many times as a kid. But I found the homes to fit our family so much better. We will be bringing both sets of grandparents so the kids will be spoiled left and right. Instead of being in 3 different hotel rooms we will be in one big house . And when it's time for the kids to crash the adults can stay up and spend some time together. It's a win win situation. I really don't see any advantage to staying in the parks? It's expensive, small , you have to leave the room to get a snack or dinner and there's only one bathroom. Doesn't sound like a vacation to me. I really can't wait to see the amazement on my kids faces when they see Cinderella's castle or Mickey Mouse. It will be wonderful but once the day is done I can also sit back and relax with a glass of wine in the hot tub. It will be incredible.

 

[becky7953]

Chrissy

We have stayed onsite and offsite in a townhome. This next trip we will be renting a house. It is sooo nice. One of the nicest things is putting the kids to bed and still being able to be up and doing things. Have fun!