What would you do: value hotel or off site suite?

[carol9999]

wow thanks for all the help although i must admit, i dont know what to do still...there are pros and cons thats for sure.... the biggest thing is the breakfast and the fridge etc to save on those meals.... we would have brkfst every morning (it is a hot full breakfast that i heard is quite good) and then i would have cold cuts etc that i would make up sandwiches for lunch and bring with us to the parks... then all we would buy is dinner in the parks : sometimes less expensive and probably a few nice dinners.... i figure this would save lots of money(also to get a frige at pop century would be $10 day).... BUT the magic everyone is talking about is very tempting.... my kids are 10,9 and 5 for those who have asked.... is it really a pain in the neck to drive, park, etc? i figure the car will cost about $250 and we would have the ability to get to grocery stores as well as universal or anywhere else we wanted vs. $100 or so to just get a car to take us from and to the airport.... well, i just have to keep thinking!!! thanks

 

[Ibelieveinfairies]

carol9999, will this be a once in a lifetime trip or do you think you will be coming to WDW again? If it is a once in a lifetime trip, I say go for onsite to make your visit as magical as possible.
We have stayed both on and off site...more off than on...and once we experienced staying at a WDW resort, we will not stay off site again. That is just our family, though...it truly is a personal choice that can be very hard to make. When the kids were much younger, we loved having a kitchen to cook for them...they got very cranky after having to get ready for breakfast and then wait in a restaurant. When you are weighing the monetary pros and cons, don't forget to add in parking fees (that you will pay once a day), gas, and rental car fees. Good luck with your decision...and know that regardless of which you choose, you will have a wonderful time!

 

[Real Loser]

Carol,

We have always stayed on Disney property and ,I suppose, always will. This last February we took two connecting rooms at Pop Century, so that we could spread out a bit for our nine night stay. It was the first and last time we will stay at a Disney value resort. We were there for the nine nights leading up to and including PResident's weekend, so that might account for some of the problems, but I will never go back again.

The first big problem was that we faced the 70's pool and people are allowed to use the pools at night when there are no guards. Three nights in a row we were woken after midnight by children screaming in the pool. My husband, who never complains about anything, finally called the front desk who came out and quieted things down. We were told it is a continual problem.

The second problem was that, twice, we were not able to get a table to eat our rather expensive food court meals. It was that crowded.

We have never experienced these problems at the Moderates ( the REAL value on Disney property) or in any deluxe.

We only have one child and the rooms were fine, clean and connected. That was really nice. However, if I were traveling with three kids I think I would take the suite, after I was sure it was well-rated on the 0ff-site board. That free breakfast and fridge are awfully nice perks for someone who has to feed a family of five.

Use the extra three hundred to begin the fund for next year's trip!

Whatever you decide, have fun!