Where To (LONG)

[ptcruisermom]

Right now i am planning a trip to Orlando, either early Nov. or early Dec. of 2008, leaning more towards nov as kids have PT conferences and would only miss 3 days of school. would leave ohio on friday after school and be in orlando sat afternoon, will be driving. I have 2 park hopper tickets with 3 days left on them, will have to come up with 2 more. It is me, DBF( who has never been) and DSwho will be 17 and DD who will be 14. DS21 will not be joining us( he didn't enjoy the last trip. This would be our fourth time there. The last time we were there we had one day left on PH and just went the one day and did some things we hadn't done before. However at that time there was ex H, and he was a PIA. We were there for three weeks and spent the majority of the time hanging out in the rental house, the other two times we also had a rental house. We did do old town a couple times.. The other times ex expected me to cook all the time and clean the rental as if we were at home... Now don't get me wrong all three of the homes we stayed in were nice, but I FELT so isolated. This time I would like to do either a condo or a suite hotel. Looking for suggestions on a nice place with good rate. The other times we went were all over christmas, and we never paid over 129.00 a night including pool heat. Would prefer a three bed if condo, but two would work if two separate beds. This time when we go we are going to go and have fun. If hotel a continental breakfast would be nice if not then a microwave and fridge woudl be good, where we would have the option of having breakfast in or go out. Maybe onelunch in and maybe one supper in, but heck i am on vacation too. DBF started in how he had one burner hot plate or camping, told him no way, I am planning trip and I am not going to go that route. BTDT. I just asked him the other day if he wanted to go and then he started with all that. Planinning on staying about a week. So any and all suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[dougsmom98]

There have been several recent threads about some inexpensive hotel options for under $100. One that I recommend is Comfort Suites Main Gate East. You won't have to cook breakfast because it is free. There is a recent review up above on the review board. I suggest using hotelmartusa.com to book this place as you can get a pretty inexpensive rate. Also check out hotelkingdom.com. Many people on these boards use them to get good rates on different hotels and suites.

 

[FayeW]

Keep an eye on the ready, set, go auctions with skyauction. We've used them 3 times and never paid more than $266 for THE WEEK in a 2bdrm condo. The 3 places we stayed were all very nice.

The prices have gone up since then but you can still get the 2 bdrm condo for about $350 or so. Basically, you bid on the auction. Most of them go for between $40 -$60. That is for the week, doesn't matter which resort you choose or what size unit, the price is still the same (you choose from the available inventory: you can either reserve something when you see it and they will hold it for you for 24 hours while you try to win an auction, or you can win the auction first and then whenever you see a unit/resort you like you reserve it and send an email with your winning auction number). Anyway, whatever price you pay for the auction you have to add $295 to that for your total price. It is a great deal and there are some excellent resorts to choose from. Orbit One and Silver Lake (both in Kissimmee) come up a lot, but inventory depends on the time of year you are going.

To check it out go to www.skyauction.com. Select "search" from the taskbar at the top, and then type in keyword "ready". Usually 3 auctions will come up, select one of them and then about 1/3 of the way down the page you will see "Click here to see where your next vacation will be". Click that and then you can put in your dates etc to see what comes up. Not much showing now for the fall but if you watch it this summer you will get a pretty good idea of what types of properties will be available next year when you are ready to travel. (You did say Nov or Dec 2008, right?)

Hope that helps.

 

[Gillian]

I'm reading a lot of things in your post, so I'm not sure what's the biggest concern!

Let me see if I have all the facts straight:
2 adults, you & DBF
2 older kids, 17 DS & 14 DD
early nov OR early Dec

Budget is ~$100/night
you will have a car
you don't want to cook alot
but a hotel breakfast would be good

A townhome or condo in Windsor Hills (or Windsor Palms) is convenient and spacious. Skyauction will be less money, but you'll have more control booking a privately owned home.

I know this is the "offsite" board, and I love offsite, but have you considered an onsite resort? One room can be tough with 4 almost adults, but if you went the moderate route (~$150 in december), you would be able to split up your group easily if you need a break form each other. There will probably be discounts available too. You can watch Mousesavers or here in the Resorts forum, codes and rates sub-forum.

Anyway, it's early to book for next year. If you are considering onsite and have AAA, the AAA rates for 2008 will probably be out in August, and that will save 10 or 15%. Discount code rates from Disney typically come out a few months ahead of time.

Have fun researching!

 

[Lisa BC]

For the best of both worlds, you might consider renting a unite at Windsor Hills, Regal Palms, Terre Verde... or even Vistana.

These communities rent 2-4 bedroom condos or townhouses, and are part of a larger resort. All of them have community pool complexes, some more elaborate than others. Windsor Hills has a really nice community center with pool tables / ping pong tables, and an arcade. I think Regal Palms has a lazy river and mini-golf - and offers pool side food service. Vistana is huge, has some onsite places to eat, and I think is more expensive than the others.

Btw, each of these communities is unique so it is hard to compare one to the other.....even how they are owned and rented is unique.

 

[ptcruisermom]

Hey everyone thanks for your input, i hae doen a little checking and have found some condos at Windsor Hills for 70.00 a night ( that is this years low season price-so I know it will be more next) have awhile yet so will keep checking these different places. The only bad thing is when I told DBF about the price and it was a 3 bedroom condo, he said oh we can eat there, I told him in no uncertain terms breakfast fine, maybe a lunch or tow and maybe one supper, but there was no way in H*** I was cooking, then he said we could take sandwiches in to WDW, well I said no way ,a nd told him this trip was going to be one wehere we did all the things we were promised before but didn't get to do, and he could easily be uninvited. BTW, I wasn't going to have him pay for anything but his ticket, because I was going on this trip with or without him so didn't really make a difference if he was along.

 

[5mins2disney]

Giordano's delivers pizzas to Windsor Hills if you spend a night "in". Also, you can take sandwiches into the parks if you choose to, we bring a small cooler with us. Because we don't like to do much in the way of cooking on vacation either, we buy the pre-made PB&J type sandwiches and the "lunchables" snacks for the kids to bring with us at Walmart when we arrive, it's easier and cheaper than eating in the parks! (and no effort involved). We eat breakfasts at home (again, no big production, it's easier than going out though), bring along a lunch usually, then we'll eat dinner out somewhere, or order in if we're staying at the resort and swimming!

It's vacation after all, no reason you should have to cook if you don't want to!