What would you do? Wilderness Lodge, a Value Resort, or FREE off-site?

[SplashMtnCrew]

If money isn't a problem, then stay at the WL, fulfill your Disney dream
If money is a concern, stay free and maybe splurge on your dining

 

[dameodie]

Thanks for the replies everyone

I kinda like the idea of a split stay... I was kinda thinking along the same lines anyway for a "dream" trip... we want to go for a week and a half, a Wednesday to the next Sunday. Stay the first half-week at Universal and get their on-site perks, and maybe work in a trip to Sea World. Then spend the following week at Disney

Free is just so tempting! The person who said stay for free and splurge on dining, well that's pretty much what we did this past trip and it worked well. I hated working around EMH days however That's mostly why I want to stay on property - I LOVE late nights at WDW. Plus one of my favorite memories from going as a child is taking the ferry from Fort Wilderness to the MK... never mind that the Wilderness Lodge really seems like an awesome place to stay.

I think what we'll probably do is save money for a couple years and see how much we're realistically able to save, then make a decision from there.

 

[momof296&02]

I seem to be the minority here, but my vote is for A. Vacton is a personal thing. You go places you've never been and stay in Resorts you've always wanted to try. So save and go, stay were your heart tells you to. You can always go off season and save some money or go when Disney is offering a discount on the rooms for the Resort. Every resort at Disney is different and offers a different vacation experience. WL is a very cool resort and I think you will enjoy your Disney vaction more by following your heart not your head.

I vote for A too. Save until you can afford to go in what you consider "style". There are soo many discounts at various times of the year that i would keep checking these boards until something affordable for you comes up. I personally wouldn't want to feel like "should've- would've".

 

[lovin'DVC]

When we go to Disney our travel costs are high, so we go less often for longer trips. We have stayed at a free timeshare (using Marriott points) for the first part of our stay, then at a DVC. We find that we really enjoy the Disney portion of our trip best, but splitting the stay is the best way for our family to make ends meet. We still enjoy the 1st part of each trip, but what we've realized about other resorts/hotels is that often they're very spread out, and having to use the car constantly takes away from that vacation-time-in-a-bubble feeling we get while staying at Disney.

I highly recommend looking at renting DVC points to stay at Wilderness Lodge Villas, rather than a room at WL. You will pay much less money for a nicer room. Check out the Rent/Trade boards to get an idea. For example, often you can rent $10/point. A studio at the Villas at WL in January at $10/point would cost $600 for Sun-Thurs. There is no tax. A regular hotel room at WL during the same period will cost you $1125, plus tax. So add at least another $150, and I'm not sure if they have other fees tacked on. The DVC studios have a small refrigerator and microwave, which we love. Even if you eat all of your meals out it's so handy for snacks or being able to take back leftovers. We generally eat at least breakfast in our room. We have 4 kids so we need to get a 2BR, which has a full kitchen. Much more economical for us, since we would need 2 hotel rooms otherwise. We stayed at the villas at WL a few years ago and loved loved loved it.

Terry

 

[Cindy B]

After the busyness of all the resorts this past week, I would say free off site.

We did a split stay of offsite and onsite, and enjoyed offsite much better.

 

[GinaGrumpyDwarf]

We usually have the same decisions to make as you. My parents have a time share at the same place!! We do a little of everything..lol.
When we first started coming down to Disney, we did the free condo thing. The last 3 years we've done the value (wich i happen to LOVE). This year though, we're being smart (so i think). We are driving down, staying Sunday to Sunday at the WL then the next week at the condo Sun-Sun. This is our first time at a delux for an entire week. I'll let ya know how it goes.lol.
No matter what, i'd choose the more often trip, no matter where i was sleeping. If a condo off-site will get you there more often....go for it!!

 

[momofdbsdc]

I would go with choice D . . . .

Use the free accommodations with a one or two night stay at WL tacked on the end, so you get the best of both.

I agree!

 

[Dallas_Lady]

No question, I would take the free choice. Especially since it's not your first trip. Once we have our second child, we will probably start renting vacation homes offsite for the extra space. I love Disney resorts, but free is hard to beat!

 

[mouseclick1]

I would go with choice D . . . .

Use the free accommodations with a one or two night stay at WL tacked on the end, so you get the best of both.

This is what I would choose! While staying offsite, I would visit Epcot, MGM, AK, and any other area attractions. I would then add 2 more nights on a WL. I could then end my trip by balancing my time between enjoying the resort and visiting MK.

 

[Caitsmama]

I would say to go free, and go more often.. especially if you have kids.. they grow up so fast, try to enjoy it now with them..
You could always go and stay at the WL for a long weekend trip with just the hubby (or wife, didn't read to see if you are a he or she posting!LOL sorry!!) when the kiddos get older..
Then that would be very romantic for you two!

 

[kmcford]

I would go with choice D . . . .

Use the free accommodations with a one or two night stay at WL tacked on the end, so you get the best of both.

This is what I was going to suggest. Stay free for the majority of the trip but stay for a couple of nights at the WL at the end of the trip.

 

[simonkodousek]

I would stay free, then do one or two nights at the WL.

 

[septbaby]

Stay at a value for a few days to start the trip and take advantage of the perks, including dining plan. Then switch to the free DP. I'd do the WK as an anniversary or other Mommy and Daddy special trip. You will have given the kids Disney so no guilt there.

Another possibility is convince your parents to come down and keep the kids at the condo while the two of you sneak off for a couple of nights at WL. Then the rest of time can be a true family vacation. Do a family meal at WCC on your check out day.

 

[Mercy]

I would go with choice D . . . .

Use the free accommodations with a one or two night stay at WL tacked on the end, so you get the best of both.

That would be my recommendation also! (If you can swing it.) Free is, well free, but there is nothing like staying on-site. I don't think I would pay for a value resort, and we stayed at the WL last year... it was OK. Why not go with a moderate, we stayed at CSR and loved it there.

 

[dameodie]

Stay at a value for a few days to start the trip and take advantage of the perks, including dining plan. Then switch to the free DP. I'd do the WK as an anniversary or other Mommy and Daddy special trip. You will have given the kids Disney so no guilt there.

Another possibility is convince your parents to come down and keep the kids at the condo while the two of you sneak off for a couple of nights at WL. Then the rest of time can be a true family vacation. Do a family meal at WCC on your check out day.

Wow, that's a great plan Thanks!!!

 

[lucincia]

Take the free accomodation, sublease it out to someone else, and use the money to stay at WL!

And hopefully you don't get disowned

 

[itchin2go]

We actually can stay free as well, and this is always a dilemma. Last year, we opted to stay at the Wilderness Lodge Villas instead of the free offsite location (nearby hotel). After having done it, I don't think it would feel the same to stay off-site. We loved the WL! Really a spectacular place. And the boat rides to MK were great. So in 08, we're staying onsite again, this time at BWV. I was able to get a really good AAA rate, so it's actually slightly less than last year's total, plus we're doing deluxe dining. We are not made of money, though (and the trip is not paid for yet!), so I'm always a bit torn about opting to stay free. It's just such a singular experience, I think, to stay onsite and really feel like a part of it all. Just my two cents. I think the suggestion about tacking on a day or two at WL is a great one. Maybe the best of both worlds?

 

[lunabkat]

Why don't you stay at the condo for free for most of the stay and do 2 or 3 nights at the lodge to "get the feel" without so much of a pinch in the pocket? If you do, schedule the resort stay at the end so you don't regret leaving property to go to the condo. That way you save a little money but get to experience your WL!

 

[mjf2wdw]

If its free its for me. Enjoy WDW whenever and wherever the budget allows. You can always go over to Wilderness Lodge and check it out. Whatvever you decide Enjoy