Weekend night - where to stay?

[treloarf]

Can someone point me to the thread that talks about where people stay for a weekend night instead of paying the high points. I tried to do a "search", but got message that its not available.

We'll fly down Fri. night & stay for 4 nights, but I can give up Sat. night points, but Fri. too makes it alot of points.

Also, if I would stay on site would Disney transfer my bags to my DVC resort?

 

[KANSAS]

did you consider a cypress point grand villa
3 bedroom, 3 bath for $199 plus TaX.??

 

[DownNeckBoy]

I've stayed at both the Hilton and the Royal Plaza. The Hilton was reserved via Priceline. The Royal Plaza was reserved using a Mousesavers discount. Both hotels were good choices, in my opinion, for points savings.

Good luck with your planning!

 

[JimC]

Swan/Dolphin often have some great rates, particularly if you have APs. Some folks use AP at other resorts, others use the value resorts and/or try to get AAA rates. Mousesavers is another place to check. Some use the internet or a travel agent to simply put them somewhere cheap.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Originally posted by treloarf

Also, if I would stay on site would Disney transfer my bags to my DVC resort?

Yes, Disney transfers your bags the same way, whether it's to a DVC resort or another Disney resort. I usually stay at wherever onsite is least expensive. Last year it was ASSports. Got up, dropped my luggage off at Bell Services on my way to the bus (they'll come to your room to pick it up, but this way I didn't have to wait-only 1 bag), then I headed off to AK. After I was done at AK, I got on the bus for BCV, checked in, got to my room and within 15 minutes had my suitcase delivered (as an aside, the CM who delivered it was one of the nicest CMs I've met in my 16 trips to WDW). I always stay on site the nite before I check in to DVC because the move is so easy. Also, I like staying at ASSports because it makes DVC seem that much more luxurious.

 

[TerriBelle]

I agree with Simba's Mom. For us the ease of leaving our bags and having them delivered to our DVC resort is the reason we stay on site. Last year we stayed at POR and they brought a van around, loaded it with our stuff and us, and drove us to the BCV! We were not expecting this but it was very nice.

This year I looked in to on-site & off-site and I am leaning towards trying a different moderate. I was given an AAA quote of $119 including tax for the night. If we stay on site, we can do without renting a car.

 

[spiceycat]

I like Universal's hotel.

so you can do Universal.....

 

[geffric]

Last year we stayed at Embassy Suites, we have also stayed at Marriott Grande Villa by Sea World. This year I want to stay at AKL but waiting for AP rates.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Here's another vote for the Swan or Dolphin using the great rates through DIS. Same wonderful onsite amenities and deluxe accomodations. I recommend it highly. We tried a Downtown disney hotel, the Marriott Courtyard and the stains on the carpet, lack of closet doors, peeling wallpaper and slow bus services stopping at each DTD hotel and that dropped you off in the middle of a dark busy parking lot with two kids in strollers next the the transportation station telling you to "find spot 49" when you wanted to return with other busses wizzing by reminded us of how nice we have it at Disney onsite. We checked out immediately after the first night of our two night reservations. DTD Hotels are not the same as onsite we learned. I have never stayed in a worse Marriott Courtyard Hotel.

 

[DeeP]

I am another person that aways stays on site. If I am not at a DVC resort then I am at another WDW resort. I also pick the non DVC resort by whichever I can get the best rate at and also which atmosphere, pool etc I am in the mood for. I even stay at WDW resorts when I am in the area for business seminars that are held in DTD! I can always get a better rate at a Disney hotel than the DTD hotels are offering the seminar attendees and the Disney resorts are so much nicer!

 

[vicandmick]

I agree. I only have 150 points, and don't really like to use them on the weekends. Thanks for the suggestions on the other resorts. Let me know if you come up with any others. thanks

 

[Disney Doll]

We did this for a quit a few years, until we bought a second contract that gave us enough points not to have to worry so much about conserving.

What we would do is usually arrive on Friday and stay Friday and Saturday(and sometimes Sunday)in an on-site hotel(usually a moderate or the Swan/Dolphin using the nurse's rate) and then move to the DVC property for the remainder of the trip. We always finished with the DVC property though, not the regular hotel room. That way we could still pack less, knowing that in 3-4 days w'ed have access to a washer/dryer, and the end of the trip was spent at the larger and more relaxing unit and associated relaxed pace.

If you stay at a Disney resort, they will transfer your bags. I do not believe they transfer your bags from any of the Hotel Plaza Boulevard resorts or from the Swan/Dolphin, as they are not technically Disney-owned resorts. If you have a car and stay at one of the on-site but non-Disney owned resorts, moving still shouldn't be a huge issue.

I actually didn't mind changing resorts mid-trip...in my mind, it gave us the opportunity to get a flavor of all the resorts, and since we always pretty much did Disney-owned, we used their bag transfer service and it was very easy.