what would you do?

[tkme4ard]

I posted this on the resort board but I wanted to post here since more of you have stayed off site. I need to add also we have a 7 yo 4 yo and 19 month old going on the trip, We are arriving on the 3/4 yo bday and leaving on the 6/7 yo bday and I thought that was really neat (the days we have at the contemporary) We don't plan on rushing through the parks to see everything in a hurry, nor are we planning on riding every ride as the kids could take them or leave them and we're not much into riding rides. We just really want to soak up disney HOw much of a hassle is it really to stay off park?

here's my post..
help....... what would you do??
Okay I have reservations for the Contemporary thru SOG but I've come across another terrific deal through www.govarm.com for a 3 bedroom condo 2 baths with jaccuzzi tubs and a full kitchen and I believe 2 living areas for 419 for 7 days. The Contemporary we got for 8 days for 800$. There are pluses to both places. The condo would be about a 6 minute drive. We're going Aug 26-Sept 3rd right now. I have PS's set up and our fireworks birthday cruise. So that would be a pain switching PS's and before I even think about switching I have to find out if I can get new PS's cause if not it's moot point. The reason why I would have to switch is because the condo si Sunday to Sunday and right now we have Tues through Weds. The room would be nice esp since my 18 yo niece is meeting us there. Saving money would be nice. Our own bedrooms, the tubs (a little romance LOL) Saving money by having some of our meals there. But is it worth it? Is it worth the hassle of driving back and forth? Staying in the north garden tower at the Contemporary so we'd have a trek in order to go do anything anyway right? I just am so torn..... tell me about how wonderful it will be to stay on site please?

Angela

PS posting this on the budget board too just in case it's not the right forum for it.

 

[dzneprincess]

Well, here is my opinion, I always say I am going to stay onsite and take a midday break to go back to the room and sleep,or swim! The problem is that since I am on site, I never to to actually get out the door before 11am! LOL I usually end up driving my own car anyways since parking is free and I don't have to wait on for a bus. I NEVER take advantage of Magic Hour, which right now is the only benefit I see to staying on site. Also, when I stay on site I am always too tired to go offsite for cheaper food, it is too convienient to eat at the food court. So you would probably save money there as well. Since you are going for such a long period of time, I would suggest offsite, because almost $400 is alot of savings! If it were only a few days, then I say onsite LOL But in reading your post, I would go for the offsite ressie.

edited to add if you dont think the driving is worth it, think about it 8 days of driving divided by $400 of savings, thats $50 bucks a day! Would you pay someone 50 bucks to drive you 2 places everyday?? LOL ( Too and from park) Even if traffic was really really really bad, at the most it would be 30 mins right? LOL

 

[Tiger Fan]

We stay on and off so I'm being very fair in my thinking here. At that rate for the Contemporary you're getting a very good deal. Plus, with kids those ages think of the ease of using the monorail and not having to buckle car seats, etc. We stay off-site often, but this a case that if it were me - I'd stay at the Contemporary. Have fun whatever you decide.
Lisa

 

[lilsonicfan]

while i personally might choose offsite just b/c of the savings, and also b/c i like having more space - i think that the poster who said that you're getting a great rate has a very good point. when we monorailed through the contemporary, i found myself thinking, man it sure would be nice to stay here..... the convenience!!! and it would be neat to have the birthday thing.

maybe this time you could aim to have one or two dinners offsite, and try to stick to that - that way you'll get a bit of both worlds...

 

[4greatboys]

Personally I'd stay onsite. We have stayed off site before but to me nothing beats staying onsite.The deluxe resorts are awesome. You dont have to drive if you dont feel like it. Everything is convenient.
We are a large family and typically stayed in a regular resort room. Ds #3 just turned 3 and ds#4 is 1 so we still can stay in a deluxe room.

 

[DMRick]

With 3 adults and 2 kids, I'd stay offsite. Even if the Contemp price is including the third adult, I'd stay off site. You're in a wing at the Contemp, so it'll be a hike each time to the monrail or a walk over to the MK, or a bus or ride over to AK..you might as well park and take a tram right up to the front. The kids will be able to sleep better with their own room..you'll be able to unwind with your hubby in you own room<g>, and you'll have a room when your niece visits of her own, without all 5 of you in one room. You'll also be more apt if you are at your condo, to eat at a regular restaurant instead of paying DW prices, or eating food court food..of which it is often hard to find anything besides mac and cheese and chicken fingers for the kiddo's.
If the kids aren't much on rides, I assume you won't spend the entire day at the parks, so I would check out the pool at the Condo..the Contemp pool isn't much, so if you are going to be spending time relaxing by the pool you might as well spend less to do it..and think of the time you'll save on breakfast, not having to wait for it to be cooked.

Now isn't it so much easier now that you've asked all of our opinions? By the way..we went your same dates two years ago...it was very nice..weather and crowds, except on Sund-Monday.. if I remember right, it was labor day weekend when we were there)

 

[C.Ann]

Another off-site vote here.. You won't miss a thing, but you will save a load of money and have tons of extra room that you won't have on-site..

Never been there the particular dates that you're talking about so I can't address the traffic situation, but I bet if you post the address of where the condo is there will be someone here who can give you some out-of-the-way secret route to get to the parks with no problem..

Look at it this way - you could put that savings towards another trip!!

 

[JOC]

With the ages of your children I would say that staying at the Contemporary, mainly for convenience, would be the better choice. However, since your niece will be meeting you, I think that all six of you staying in one room at the Contemporary is going to be awfully crowded. That's just my humble opinion...good luck with your decision!

 

[DMRick]

Oh..I missed one of the kids..that just firms up my feeling of off site. Six in one room, three kids to get to sleep with 3 adults..can you all even stay at the Contemporary?

 

[kayeandjim00]

My vote is for on-site. After having done both I don't think anything beats having the magic 24/7 staying on site gives you the opportunity for. The convenience will be a big plus and the rate is great. Who knows when you would get another chance to stay there for that rate! Good luck with your decision - just my $.02 after having done both. Have a great trip!

 

[disneysteve]

Several responses mention the "convenience" of staying onsite. Sorry, but I just don't see it that way. With the sole exception of hopping on the monorail to get to MK, I find it much easier to be offsite, especially with the number of people you are talking about.

Everyone will be much happier, sleep better, etc. with the extra space of the condo. Trust me - after a couple of days crammed into a room at the Contemp, you will be on each other's nerves. That's not how I'd want to spend my vacation.

The transportation issue also favors offsite. I'd much rather hop in my car and drive to the park than stand in line waiting for a bus and crowding onto it with several of my own kids plus everyone else's. I also never feel entirely safe considering when you get a seat (which isn't always the case) there is no seat belt. I know I can hold the bar firmly, but my daughter can't. Driving my own (or a rental) car is much less of a hassle than using Disney transport. You estimate a 6 minute drive. It takes longer than that to get around on property. Only downside is you do have to pay for parking unless you have an AP.

Just so you know, I have stayed in the Contemp wings in the past. Even though you are getting a great price for that room, it simply can't compare to the offsite accomodations in space, price, or convenience.

Steve

 

[Lisa P.]

We've been onsite many times and offsite many times. To me, the most important part of the question has not been stated. Where exactly is the offsite location???

Since it's through a discounted military site, it may be an RCI timeshare resort. Most of the 3BR locations are excellent! Most of them would be an easy winner over a single hotel room with a single bathroom at the Contemporary, hands down! (yes, I've stayed in a tower room there) The description leads me to think it may be at Sunterra Cypress Pointe Resort/Grandvillas or Silver Lake Resort. Both very nice places, convenient, only a mile offsite.

...a 7 yo 4 yo and 19 month old... don't plan on... {commando touring - my edit}... We just really want to soak up disney ... Aug 26-Sept 3rd

It will likely only be somewhat busy on the Sat/Sun of Labor Day weekend - but still not really crowded. The rest of the time, kids throughout the nation are in the beginning of their school year. WDW is pretty deserted, plenty of walk-on rides, relatively short park hours.

...switching PS's...

You'll only need to switch them if you are switching your dates of travel. You are permitted to make PSs at the same time, regardless of whether you stay offsite or on. Sometime before you arrive, call back and tell them your accurate reservation info - then they can reach you if needed.

...18 yo niece is meeting us there.

It is just as easy to meet your niece at a park attraction or restaurant as it is to meet her at a Disney hotel or offsite condo. Just choose a date and time, with a way to contact each other, if possible. Meeting with a PS is easy because it provides a way to get a message to one another if one is running late.

Is it worth the hassle of driving back and forth? Staying in the north garden tower at the Contemporary so we'd have a trek in order to go do anything anyway right?

The Contemporary is more convenient to MK. But for all the other parks, you'll probably find it faster and easier to simply drive your own car. No wait for bus or monorail transfers. I wouldn't bother with the bus for any waterparks or DD either.

When our kids were younger and we stayed one night at the Contemp at the end of an offsite condo visit, we enjoyed the fireworks from our balcony (you won't have that). But there is virtually no "theme" at this property. Getting them ready to swim or ready for bed with just one bathroom wasn't fun. Getting them to nap or settle for sleep while DH & I sat on the balcony wasn't much better. We much prefer closing a door to a quiet, darkened bedroom for young children. JMHO.

The slide at the pool is fun for a 7 yo, but the 4 yo may be too intimidated. There's a kiddie pool too and a video game room near the food court, if that interests them. Most offsite resorts have those too, plus nicer playgrounds - some have other activities for young children. The Contemp's appeal is more for teens and adults, IMHO: Boat rentals, restaurants & shops.

So Angela, unless you were a family who rises early enough for Early Entry, I don't think I would recommend spending more for a hotel room than for a Three-Bedroom condo offsite at a nice resort with resort activities. And with low crowds during your stay, you probably won't need EE anyway! JMHO. HTH.

 

[BostonMouse]

I'd also vote for off-site. It will be so much more convenient to have a kitchen and separate bedrooms for the little ones and it's cheaper to boot. The extra room for 6 people definitely out-weighs the benefits of being on the monorail.

On the minus side, don't forget that you will be paying for parking at the parks if you're not a Disney resort guest. This will offset a portion of your savings. Also, timeshares don't always offer daily maid/towel service so you might be making beds/cleaning up a bit after yourselves.

 

[tkme4ard]

Clarion Suites Spas at Resort World • SPA
2800 N. Poinciana Blvd.
Kissimmee, FL 34746
USA

here's the condo addy. does anyone have anything to add to this?

ahngela

 

[Lisa P.]

Hm... this place has pretty mixed reviews. It would not be my first choice. The drive would not be bad, now that road construction has all been completed. And there are a lot of resort amenities available at adjoining, sister properties.

However, this is an older resort. While the staff is apparently responsive, to my knowledge, it has not been recently refurbished. I've read complaints about noise levels and inadequate night lighting. So given that this is the place, assuming it's the only option you have for a larger villa, I'd have a much harder time recommending it.

The $100/night rate at the Contemp would win, in this comparison. I had been thinking you meant a place like Sunterra Cypress Pointe, HGVC (Hilton), Silver Lake, Orange Lake CC, Fairfield Cypress Palms or Marriott Imperial Palms. Sorry.

 

[DMRick]

Is your niece staying with you? I assuemd she was, and didn't think she would fit in your room at the Contemporary. Do you have AP's, which would make the parking free.

 

[tkme4ard]

yes she would be staying with us I just assumed the day bed would be enough for her and the other 2 enough for the rest of us. when we go home to the IL's we get a 2 quieen suite and it's plenty of room. As for parking it would only add 35$ (5$ a day/ 4 day hopper pass) right? So it's still a good deal and cheaper in the long run.

Angela

 

[Straitlover]

I thought parking was $7/day. Is it $5? If so, woo hoo! That will pay for lunch one day of my trip! ($2 X 4 days = $8; that's a good counter meal!)

 

[DMRick]

yes she would be staying with us I just assumed the day bed would be enough for her and the other 2 enough

You might wanna check..I"m not sure you can have 3 kids and 3 adults (even if the kids are young) in the Comtemporary rooms. They of course will charge extra in any case for the third adult.

 

[LKS]

Just wanted to give my opinion that it's not "a hike" from the North Garden wing, unless you just can't walk at all. We are talking about a wing connected to the main building by a covered walkway that is not very long. It's not some remote, distant building. If you're staying in a Wilderness Cabin, by all means, use the car, but from the Contemporary, we used all monorail and bus with our three young kids and it was fantastic. Having to get in a car and drive through traffic to get to the parks is a "hike." Remember that if you are off-site going to the MK, you park and take a tram to the TICKET and TRANSPORTATION center, and from there you have to take the monorail or a boat to the MK anyway. It really is quite time-consuming and incredibly easier to just walk into the main building, take the escalators or elevators (2) to the monorail, get on and get out at the MK. It's almost as easy to just walk the 10 minutes to the MK, but then you can't sit up front on the monorail with your kids. The other parks are not as bad to get to from off-site, but I bet you really want to go the MK at least twice on that 4 day hopper.

We always, always go to the parks for a while, come back, swim, change, eat sandwiches from our food stock in our cooler and go back to the parks. With little kids, the swimming is a huge part of the day and it was always more fun mid-day, for us. It is not practical if you have to leave the park, find the car, drive and then do it all in reverse. But, maybe it's worth saving nearly $50 a day for your family. If I could stay at the CR for $100 per night, I'd be there in a minute. It's a great rate. We've stayed in the North Garden Wing once and the tower twice, as well as the AKL and several places off site. On site is easier for us.