What would you do????

[ajwolfe]

We are going to WDW in Jan 2006, our ds will be 2.5 yrs old at the time. We have found a great house off Disney with a private pool and hottub for a very reasonable rate. Now here is the problem: In the beginning I was wanting to stay on Disney (budget would only afford Value) and use the Dining Plan but DH was against the dining plan. Well now, after some more discussion he likes it. So we are stuck: do we stay on site in a Value resort and not be as comfortable or do we stay off site and have a ton more space and just pay for our meals as we go (and probably not eat as many big meals). Do you really think with a 2.5 yr old we will get that much good out of the table service meals? I know we would do some regardless but probably not one every day. Really needing some insight here.

Thanks

 

[pbharris4]

How long are you staying for? Personally, I'd stay at a Value resort and get the dining plan too. The convienence (sp? never could spell that one ) is so much better and you can go to the parks earlier on early magic hours or whatever it's called. The dining plan (from what I have read) will save you money, plus eating at table service will be A/Ced. Now, I have always stayed on property. One time I stayed at Grosvenor Resort and hated the rooms, location wasn't too bad though. And food...my gosh..we EASILY spend $500 on food for 5-6 days actually probably much more. My DD was 13 months last year and will be 25 months this year. I don't believe there is a charge for her at buffets, but might be at other places. She can share with her older sister (9) or depending on the price have her own. For me..with small children..convienence is everything!

 

[ajwolfe]

We are going for 6 nights. Do you feel crowded in a value room with a child, especially a small one that needs room to play and run?

 

[Bugsmom73]

Here are my thoughts.
#1 DS will not be on the meal plan, he is too young. DD was 3.5 and we found breakfast in the room easier than trying to get to the food court every morning. Cheaper too. You can have groceries delivered to your room or pick some up on the way.
#2- I would pay for a fridge at the values. WIth a young kid, it is valualbe for milk, etc.
#3- request a king room, you have one less bed to deal with and if DS is still sleeping in a pack-n-play great.

You get quite a few perks staying on site these are most beneficial in an off-season as everything closes sooner. You get to go in to the parks earlier or stay later than everyone else who stays off site. Advanced dining reservations, the ability to have stuff sent back to your room, very convient with a child and stroller and everything else you need. CLose proximity is also great for naps. WDW is very over whelming and he will need naps or downtime.

 

[pbharris4]

When my older was 5 we had a reg. hotel room and we were out so much it didn't matter. (The little one wasn't around then). Last year we had a 2 bdrm villa when the youngest was 13 months so that doesn't count. This year though, we are in a studio (which is like a reg. hotel room and then a small cabin (Cat.11) stateroom on DCL. So we'll be somewhat cramped this year. I can let you know when I get back! :0) Now a studio has the fold up sofa so there will be more room. If you do not intend spending a lot of time in the room then I guess it wouldn't matter. I know what you mean though. I prefer 1 bdrm villas (we're DVC members). If I stayed in a value..I would take my child out to the playground and also walk the hallways when we leave (only if they are interior halls). I think there would plenty of opportunities to walk/run and they may get tuckered out. My DD (almost 2) is at that age where she wants to walk everywhere and sometimes it's good and sometimes not so good..depending where we are.

I just like staying on property, but like I said we are DVC members and it's already paid for. If I had to pay cash (and I had the cash to do it)..I'd still stay on WDW property, BUT if $$ was an issue I'd stay off if it were cheaper, but it'd have to be **** and span clean..my sister has told me some horror stories. I hope this makes sense..I am typing it in a hurry as my DD just woke up from her nap and is soo ready to get out!

 

[funcinderella]

I'm all for staying on site, but being that you are going in the off season, I think the parks will probably close early. Will you stay at the parks all day? Does your little one have to have a nap? We went in April when my twins were just turned 2. We stayed off site at the Holiday Inn Family Suites. We pretty much forewent the naps on this trip, but got back to the hotel very early, and very early to bed for them, which is what they were used to (in bed by 8). Since we had my Mom with us, we were able to go out to the pool and such. But if you don't have anyone else with you, you will be stuck in your hotel room if your child goes to bed early. If you have the house, you can put your child to bed and then still be able to enjoy the pool and hottub with your husband. In this situation I would say stay with the house. If your child was a little older, and you were going at a time when the parks were open late, and you could just go, go go, go, then I would say stay on-site. My kids our now 4, and we are getting to that just go, go, go stage, which I love!

 

[ajwolfe]

Thanks, these are all great points. I'm not sure how much we will be in the room, since the parks close early I would think a considerable amount in the evening, but then you never know. Ds is not a huge nap taker, but I am sure he will get tuckered out and need one a few times.

 

[devotedchristian]

I had this issue and went back and forth back and forth...we decided to stay offsite at The Marriott Grande Vista Resort. Although DS (3 years old when we go) will sleep with us if he wants to, we are getting a 2 bedroom Villa.

They have a Whirlpool Bath in the Master bedroom which DH and I plan to take full advantage of.

We only plan to do 1 park (MK) and we won't be returning in the evening because I have read the Marriott Grand Vista is an "attraction" in itself. They have a complete array of kids' activities and a huge indoor jungle gym that I am sure will attract DS.

After DS is in bed, we will have "date night" in our villa. A nice whirlpool bath and a nice dinner on the patio of our villa.

We couldn't afford Disney's "home away from home" and we needed the space. We are also going on a short trip too but still, these were our requirments.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

We are big belivers in onsite. With a little one it is just so much easier to get back to the room. I would get a king bed too. The value resorts are very family friendly with playgrounds, arcades etc. Pools are heated so swimming in January is an option on site. Off site pools are often not heated and hot tubs are not safe for toddlers. Dining plan seems to be a good deal but we have not experenced it for ourselves yet. January is our favorite time to do WDW. Parks close early but we rise early and trun in early. For evening there is DD, the board walk, resorts to visit and epcot stays open later most night. Good luck with your choice.

Jordan's mom

 

[bubba73]

I have stayed in a 3 bedroom house off property with a private screened in pool and thought it couldn't get any better. (All though the tv had a terrible selection of channels. It didn't even have Disney Channel.) The house came with a garage and 3 baths. How could life get better? This year we are staying at the POP and I haven't beenthis excited about a Disney trip in a long time. I have read a lot of good and bad things about this resort but I can't wait. I have less than 5 weeks before we go and short of a few serious family problems, this trip is perfect (so far). i would say stay on the property. You get more magic 24/7.

 

[Suzanne74]

I agree with what funcinderella said..

Any other time of the year, I would probably tell you to do value as it is nice to be onsite but in Jan, the parks close early and the crowds are low so you won't have to really utilize a lot of the onsite perks such as extra magic hours and easy access to and from the resort when going back for naps.
If it was crowded, real hot, and parks were open past 8pm I would tell you utilize onsite hotels as ds would have to nap everyday, even if he normally doesn't.

If you do not have a AP though you will have to pay for parking everyday if you stay offsite, so take that into consideration. It would probably even out to all the darn resort taxes you pay anyway.

I am not sure the dates you are going but another option is, you could rent points from a DVC member for a studio at Old Key West. We did this when dd was 3 and it was wonderful. They usually charge $10 a point so for you it would be $80 a night during the weekdays (weekends are higher) but that includes all taxes etc... There is a sink, fridge, microwave and you can park your rental car right outside your door. Personally I can not stand the buses, it just takes forever sometimes so we liked just hopping in the car and parking free and coming and going when we wanted.

But then again, even OKW doesn't have the pool, hot tub etc... that you and dh could enjoy so I would probably stay offsite and enjoy some time together as a couple while DS sleeps. Values don't even have a balcony so you are sorta stuck in the room. If he doesn't nap during the day, he WILL be in bed early and you will be BORED in the hotel room 5 nights in a row.

Before you know it DS will be older and will want to be at the parks all day and night and you and DH will have NO down time and will be asleep from exhaustion before him THAT is when you stay onsite.

 

[devotedchristian]

Before you know it DS will be older and will want to be at the parks all day and night and you and DH will have NO down time and will be asleep from exhaustion before him THAT is when you stay onsite.

 

[cutienibbler]

We stayed at Pop in April, myself, DH, Dd 4 and Dd 23 months. We were not crowded because we didnt really "hang out" in the room. We would go to our park of choice in the a.m., go back to the resort for some downtime and naps in the afternoon and then go back out to the parks for the nightime festivities like Wishes, Spectromagic, Fantasmic, Illuminations.... I like staying onsite because it made it really easy to go catch our downtime and enjoy all aspects of the parks.

So, the 3 times I have been to wdw with my kids I have stayed onsite and would only stay onsite even if its a value resort.

 

[ajwolfe]

Thanks for the replies!
Suzanne74, I agree with so much you said and I think that is the way we are leaning. I think we would all get bored in a small room and get tired of not being able to make any noise after ds went to sleep in the evenings. The house we are looking at is not far away from Disney, but from the sounds of it, this time of year we wouldn't probably leave and come back that often.

Thanks again!

 

[rt2dz]

I'm a big believer of staying on site. Stayed off site for years and after staying onsite, I won't do anything but. There really isn't a lot I can add that hasn't been said, but don't forget to add an extra $10 per day for parking if you stay offsite. I'm not sure if I read that or not. Onsite is just so much more magical.

 

[isyt]

I really, really prefer staying on site. If you are going to spend every day at the parks anyway why shuttle back and forth. The meal plan is a great deal and the baby is free. The restuarants in Disney are an experience in itself. MGM is my favorite for dining. I have 3 kids and for two of them their first DIsney experience was at 4 months old and on site was the easiest.

The idea of renting points is a great idea for your situation.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

But renting points while getting a more affordable and better onsite acomodation still doesn't include Dining plan. Planning to do Half Marathon in January and just can't decide where to stay myself. Dining plan is tempting.