What am I missing?

[floydfamily4]

Hi all. I need some advice. I have been holding off buying our park tickets from UT for our trip week of Nov. 16th in the hopes that some great package deal would come out for that week. However when I mentioned the possibility of free dining and moving onsite to DH he said "I'm sold on the 3bdr. townhouse (WH) so it will have to be a lot less and as comfortable for me to think the "free dining" is really free". Well, unless I am missing something there is no way even with free dining the price and comfort will be similar for us (DH,DMIL, DS, DD, me). Am I missing something besides the "magic"? I am not opposed to staying off site. I've been to WDW 2 other times and both were at Best Westerns in Kissimmee so WH is quite the upgrade I think in order to be comfortable onsite we would need at least 2 value rooms or a suite at a DVC. My DMIL will not be at the parks the whole time so her ability to relax is also important. We will have a car as well. Anyway, just wanting some confirmation and feedback that this is a good plan and there really won't be some great comparable deal that will make me wish I didn't get my tickets from UT. Anyone with a crystal ball?

 

[ChrisinNJ]

I have never stayed on property so my opinion may be a bit biased, but here it goes...

We stayed at WH our last trip. We are a family of 5, 2 adults & 3 kids. We loved having 2 bathrooms, a full kitchen 4 different tvs to watch, video games to play & the space to spread out. I LOVED having the washer & dryer in the room, and I know a lot of people think that is crazy because they want to be on vacation from their wash as well, but we spent 12 nights there, and having the washer & dryer saved me a lot of overpacking, and excess shopping for that matter since I dont have 14 days worth of clothes.

I am assuming you are paying about $100.00 per night at WH. I dont think disney has any single room that is that cheap with free dining included. And you are right in thinking you would need either 2 rooms or a suite with that many people. You will never get that space for the same price on property. Does the free dining & not having to pay to park make up for the difference on the room rate? You would have to crunch the numbers to find out. I have yet to see a free dining offer in November anyway, unless you got a pin.

Here is my last little bit of input...the free dining does not intrigue me all that much because I hate having to make reservations. My family & I like to eat when we are hungry, not plan our entire day around a reservation. We tend to make 2-3 reservations per trip, & grab a snack or counter service meal at other times. We also like to eat off property. We get a bit tired of the disney food.

So call & see if you have a pin, & then see what prices you get & decide if it pays for your family or not. For me it might pay if we were flying down & doing a shorter stay, but to drive down & spend 10-12 days, I don't think it does pay. Just my 2cents

 

[PinballFamily]

our trip week of Nov. 16th in the hopes that some great package deal would come out for that week. However when I mentioned the possibility of free dining

Free dining is (has only been) offered during mid-August to early October onsite guests.

Good luck planning your trip!

 

[albertamommyof4]

i have never been but was wondering what WH stood for as $100 a night sounds awsome
Thanks

 

[floydfamily4]

Free dining is (has only been) offered during mid-August to early October onsite guests.

Good luck planning your trip!

There are some people getting pin codes and I heard that they offered it to Disney Visa holders last Nov. so that was my frame of reference. I also was just throwing it out there to the DH as "a what do you think about this if we get it, idea".

thanks.

 

[floydfamily4]

Yes, our total at Windsor Hills with tax, etc. was $784. I just don't think its possible to beat that on site and not be completely cramped and uncomfortable. I guess I just needed to hear/read someone else say it.

 

[Darcy03231]

With a larger family off-site is the way to go. I'll only stay on-site if there are 3 or less of us.

 

[bumbershoot]

The one thing you might be missing from calculations is renting a reservation at DVC, though I doubt a 2 bedroom unit would come in under your WH place.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

i have never been but was wondering what WH stood for as $100 a night sounds awsome
Thanks

WH= Windsor Hills, a gated community about 2.5 miles from disney property. WH consists of condos, townhouses & single family villa homes. Few people live there, most of the units are vacation homes or vacation rentals. You rent from individual owners.

The community has a pool, fitness room & game room and a small playground. There is a lot more info on WH on the orlando hotels board.

I stayed at mickeys safari, www.mickeyscondo.com/safari It has 3 bedrooms (1 king, 1 queen, 2 twins), 2 baths, full kitchen, livingroom & dining area, and a washer & dryer. All the comforts of home!