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

[dameodie]

We just got back from WDW, and of course I'm already thinking about our next trip. In theory, I would LOVE to do our next trip "in style". Stay at the Wilderness Lodge (I've wanted to stay there ever since it opened, but my folks always camped when we went), be on the dining plan, fly down rather than drive...

But.

The difference between a week at the WL and a week in a value resort is staggering price wise. And ANYTHING is more expensive than where we stayed this last trip. My parents own a vacation condo in Kissimmee (Windsor Palms) which they let us use free of charge.

So, if you had these options what would you do?

A) Put the trip off several years (4-5 at least) and stay at the Wilderness Lodge
B) Put the trip off a few years (3-4) and stay at a value resort
C) Stay off-site at no charge, and go back in maybe a couple years.

 

[DVC Mike]

I would stay free (choice C)! I see no reason to turn down such a generous offer from your parents.

 

[ldo]

we usually stay free at parents' timeshare. With the $ we saved, we bought 10 day park hopper waterparks and more non-expire tickets. We use 2-3 days of parks and 1-2 days of waterparks each trip. We then book 1special character meal and have a very fun and full week.
By doing this, we were able to go to Disney 3 full weeks (once a year for 3 years) for about the price of one trip at a deluxe.
To feel like we are at Disney, and stretch our passes, we might book an early character dinner (Chef Mickey's, Cindrella at GF) or a breakfast (Ohana, Chef M) on a day that we don't go to the parks, so we still get a good dose of Disney even that day.
I just can't justify the cost of the deluxes, and the walls of the Values (at least POP) were paper thin, so I would rather be in a nice place off-site.

 

[minnie61650]

I would stay free (choice C)! I see no reason to turn down such a generous offer from your parents.

I agree.

Have fun at Disney wherever you choose to stay!

 

[safetymom]

I agree that free is the way to go.

 

[lam712]

I would stay free and go more often! I believe it is so easy to visit and enjoy the public facilities of the resorts, such as the Wilderness Lodge restaurants, who cares where you sleep? Although I love staying onsite, I enjoy the privacy and comfort of a condo or villa. We have been weighing all of our options for our next trip- we have six people in our group and my brother and his family are taking 5 people. There are lots of extra expenses for us since we have to get a large house, rental vans, etc. if we stay off site but it still may be the best way for us to go. I just hate to get stuck washing towels, cleaning the kitchen, etc on my vacation. I think I will assign everyone one day to wash and dry towels if we stay in a villa next year!

 

[DonnaL]

If it were me I would go with Choice C as well.......and we're DVC members so I'm a bit biased toward onsite stays!!! However, Windsor Palms is a very close offiste location....especially if you use Sherbeth Road to get onsite....a matter of minutes. We're considering renting two houses in that general area
(maybe WP, Windsor Hill, or Acadia Estates) for a family get together in spring 2009....there will be about 16 to 20 of us and we initially considered a grand villa and a 2 bdrm, but, it would require just TOOOO many DVC points and really not meet our needs in so far as sleeping/bath accomodations, therefore, will be far more economical to rent two 4 or 5 bdrm houses, probably across the street or next door to one another.

 

[klinlin]

If I could stay for free offsite, I'd never pay for a value. But I might save up for a special trip somewhere I always wanted to stay. Maybe even just a short trip??

 

[marlynnp]

I vote for a FREE week off-site and 3 more days at WL!

 

[stitchrulz]

Another vote for free!! Maybe you can tuck away some of the money you save by staying free toward that WL stay. Every little bit counts.

 

[bytheblood]

Going on your options, I would pick C! Good Luck with whatever you decide.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

I love Disney resort hotels as much as the next person, but free is free!!! Which means more money for other stuff!!!

 

[fla4fun]

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.

 

[Mickey'sfriend]

If it's free, it's for me!

 

[Orelover]

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.

 

[Jrabbit910]

Free is a wonderful thing... BUT not staying on property makes me upset.... weighing the options and your financial situation you have to see what works best for you... Again... Free is a WONDERFUL thing you can always save up like you were going to stay on property & use that money for fun things at WDW!

 

[KittyKitty]

I just booked 7 days at the WL for 8/08. The price is high, but have wanted to stay there for forever! Now I am saving for it, hoping for a AP discount,eating mac n chesse, working more. That's how much I want to stay there!

Option D. Stay 3 nights at WL, and rest of the time at Timeshare. That way you can do EMH's for those days.

Have a great time no matter what you choose. You will be at WDW!

 

[figaromeetsmarie]

I would stay at the Free Place!

 

[G8r4evr]

I choose C =)

 

[spiceycat]

I vote for a FREE week off-site and 3 more days at WL!

you might consider this choice. just stay offsite sat to sat, or sun to sun - so you will be paying the Sun-thur rate - not the fri and sat one.