What would you do ??

[thephoo]

The walk from Santa Fe is only 10 minutes max so you're still able to pop back to your room.

I love that walk to and from the hotel's, it's all part of the Disney holiday make up for me I can't understand why so many people go in for the scrum on the shuttle buses to be honest.

 

[Bexx]

I would happily stay in the "posher" hotels everytime - it's definitely part of the holiday for me. Loved the Disneyland Hotel but that was a one time only choice because we got such a good deal that included the half-board vouchers.

When I'm trying to balance the hotel/meal budget, I go for Sequoia Lodge, which I find very comfortable, and then eat at the better value restaurants - like Plaza Gardens. I think the counter service food is much less good value, but we are also spared the expense of Character dining because we aren't that bothered!!

 

[giuly09]

I am with those not too much bothered with an onsite hotel but i have to say we have no kids in our family and so to hop on a bus is not a problem for us.
In the past we have always chosen Cheyenne - not too expensive not too far as the Santa Fe - but for one time we staied at SL and were pretty disappointed about it.
For my brthday treat in July we have chosen the Dream Castle, it looks posh but affordable and you can have a cooked breakfast that is an option for Brian as cooked breakfast is not something you easily find in Italy..

 

[jothp]

We stayed offsite for the first time last summer and it was a bit of a pain getting the train back after watching the fireworks at 11pm with very tired small children and it didn't feel quite the same as staying onsite..... but it was a lot cheaper to buy ourselves annual passes and pay for the offsite hotel than it was to buy an onsite package.

This time we have gone to the opposite extreme and are staying at DLH because we got a good ap discount but it will most likely be a one off. Most of the time in the past we have only used our hotel to sleep in, leaving straight after breakfast and not coming back until after dinner when we are so exhausted we all sleep. This year though with the late hours we are planning rests in the afternoon and some later mornings so it will be nice to stay in a great hotel. I think the next time we go we will have to try DCR, santa fe or HNY so we can get the complete set.

 

[Disney Princesses LW]

I've never stayed off site before; but plan on doing so next year and buying Annual Passes with the discount I get thru being a shareholder.

We stayed at the Sequoia Lodge in 2010 for our honeymoon; which was amazing as it was a special holiday. Since then we've always gone for the cheapest hotel we could get and used the money saved to pay for things like the character breakfast, character tea party and more expensive meals and souveneirs. You spend so little time in your room as long as it has a good bed to lay our heavy head and is clean; that is great for us!

can I ask how much you save on hotel cost being a shareholder?? Who do you book through?

 

[DLPdaft]

can I ask how much you save on hotel cost being a shareholder?? Who do you book through?

you don't save money on rooms generally by being a shareholder, but you do get 15% discount on buying annual passes with shareholders discount. Also, from November through to February usually, Expedia sell onsite room only for DLP at very good prices (ie far cheaper than Disney themselves).

 

[Disney Princesses LW]

Thanks for the tips how much are APs??? we are travelling in feb/march so possibly get some good deals from expedia