Where to say 1 night before checkin?

[Degli]

Need suggestions on where to stay inexpensively. We could be arriving Orlando around 6:00pm on a Friday night. Don't neccessarily want to use my points on a Friday night stay. We'll be checking into VWL Saturday morning. Could anyone suggest a nice but inexpensive option for 1 night? Doesn't neccessarily have to be inside Disney. Thankx

 

[sheryl0521]

We have stayed at Pop Century and the Hilton at the Orlando Airport. Both very nice hotels, but we have decided the entire check in, sleep, check-out to move to a DVC hotel, then wait for the room (sometimes until 4:00) can really kill the first day of the vacation.

If you can - try to get the 25% discount on the cash night for the DVC room if you don't want to use points. We feel it starts the entire vacation right.

 

[Degli]

We have stayed at Pop Century and the Hilton at the Orlando Airport. Both very nice hotels, but we have decided the entire check in, sleep, check-out to move to a DVC hotel, then wait for the room (sometimes until 4:00) can really kill the first day of the vacation.

If you can - try to get the 25% discount on the cash night for the DVC room if you don't want to use points. We feel it starts the entire vacation right.

Thanks Sheryl for your input. I see your point. I guess what worries me also is checking in late. I've heard that the room you request can be difficult to get and I wouldn't want to be stuck with a dumpster view. any other suggestions?

 

[Miss Park Avenue]

I thought about doing this for our upcoming trip in August. I'd kind of like to get a code for a value resort the night before.

I thought that the bell service can move your luggage for you?

 

[robinb]

Stay at one of the value resorts. When you check out the next day, you can leave your bags under the window and ask the luggage fairies to transfer your bags to VWL. Very easy!

 

[sheryl0521]

Luggage transfer is very easy. Actually, we didn't bring our luggage into the Pop Century room and left it in the car. We only brought in the overnight bag. When we moved over to BCV, we made a point to have our swim suits with us so we spent the day at SAB and our room was finally ready at 3:30, and then we were able to get in.
It was just an odd feeling of "homelessness" during that day when we didn't have a room.

We have paid cash and arrived late to the BWV's in the past. No problem with getting a "bad" view. But I guess there is a chance.

 

[LarryK]

We have used the All-Star resorts for the same reasons on our first night. By 6:00 check in shouldnt be an issue (long lines earlier in day) and you still get that feeling that you have arrived that I always seem to be missing when we stay off-site. And although the value resorts are nice and well themed, they really let you apprecieate the DVC rooms the next day.

However, we usually drive making the hotel switch a snap, will you be renting a car?

 

[Degli]

However, we usually drive making the hotel switch a snap, will you be renting a car?

Yes, we will be renting a car. Has anyone stayed offsite?

 

[robinb]

Yes. I've stayed off-site using Priceline. The website www.biddingfortravel.com will help you bid. You can get a 3* nearby in the $30-$40 range. I thought about staying off-site on the first night of our December trip. However, with an AP rate of only $49 at All Star Sports the savings were not worth it for us to stay off-site.

 

[JoEllen]

We stayed at the Marriotts Fairfield Inn across from Downtown Disney last month before we checked into the Boardwalk. We had a late arrival from the West Coast and just wanted a place to sleep. We were pleasantly surprised by how clean and new this was. We also liked the security guard gate at the entrance. The rate was $58/night and came with breakfast the next morning. We checked into BWV by 9:30 the next day and our room was ready. Yea!

However, for our trip this spring we've booked a studio for our first night and will check into a 1 bdrm the next day. Think this will be easier with 3 sets of golf clubs!

 

[CarolAnnC]

We usually opt to stay the first night at the Swan or Dolphin. I adore the location of these resorts, and their restaurants are fantastic. We head over early the next morning to check in at our DVC resort, and if the room is not ready right away, immediately return and request a later check out. The Swan/Dolphin has always been able to accomodate us with this, but not sure if that is the norm or we just got lucky, lol.

 

[Rash]

Staying at PORQ for one night in Feb. for $94. Could have stayed at Pop for $74, but did that last year and hated it - very long walk with luggage to the room, very noisy even at 1 am, very crowded and indifferent CM's at check-in. After a long travel day with children, I want as little hassle as possible. It is worth staying onsite just for the luggage transfer, which worked well.

 

[Deep-Thots]

The Best Western at the airport is also very convenient for late night arrivals (we tend to arrive on a 10:30 PM flight). The AAA rate is about $75/night.

If you really want to work the system, upon your arrival, you can get the hotel's shuttle from the airport to the hotel. Then, bright and early the next morning, you can have the shuttle drop you off at arrivals at the airport, where you can call your rental car company to get your rental car. Hey: it saves you an extra day on the rental car rate!

 

[robinb]

If you really want to work the system, upon your arrival, you can get the hotel's shuttle from the airport to the hotel. Then, bright and early the next morning, you can have the shuttle drop you off at arrivals at the airport, where you can call your rental car company to get

It only saves you an extra day if you return your car at the same time (or before) on that day that you leave. If you have a late flight, you'll be changed the extra day anyway.

 

[Deep-Thots]

It only saves you an extra day if you return your car at the same time (or before) on that day that you leave. If you have a late flight, you'll be changed the extra day anyway.

Yes, that's true. We tend to leave on mid-late AM flights, which require us to be at the airport (and have the car returned beforehand!) early enough so that getting charged for an extra day does not become an issue for us.

 

[Degli]

If you really want to work the system, upon your arrival, you can get the hotel's shuttle from the airport to the hotel. Then, bright and early the next morning, you can have the shuttle drop you off at arrivals at the airport, where you can call your rental car company to get your rental car. Hey: it saves you an extra day on the rental car rate!

I guess that I could get the rental car for an extra day.($40?) And stay at a really inexpensive hotel near Disney($40-50?) This still would be way less than paying cash for a studio at VWL. Considering we'll only be in the room overnight. I get the whole thing about already being in Disney and starting our vaca off right away. This would be more relaxed but we'll be in a 1BR for the week. The cash rate on this was $330 for Friday night. Too much to spend on a very short night. I checked with a value resort and the charge plus tax was around $110. What else could we do? Any ideas?

 

[bobbiwoz]

We often come in after DH's work on Friday and stay through Monday. We've stayed at Sleep Inns, Quality Inns and the Fairfield Inn near Universal for $60 or less, enjoy their breakfasts that are included and head for either check-in or sometimes to a Publix if we want to get some supplies. I don't remember if the Fairfield had a refrigerator, but the other chains have a refrigerator in the room so if we have ice packs, they can be kept cold overnight.

We've gotten rooms the next day in DVC as early as 10 and as late as 3, but either way, we've been happy and well rested.

Bobbi

 

[Degli]

We often come in after DH's work on Friday and stay through Monday. We've stayed at Sleep Inns, Quality Inns and the Fairfield Inn near Universal for $60 or less, enjoy their breakfasts that are included and head for either check-in or sometimes to a Publix if we want to get some supplies. I don't remember if the Fairfield had a refrigerator, but the other chains have a refrigerator in the room so if we have ice packs, they can be kept cold overnight.

We've gotten rooms the next day in DVC as early as 10 and as late as 3, but either way, we've been happy and well rested.

Bobbi

Great idea on the food shopping. I'll look for a hotel that might include breakfast.

 

[momsully]

Coming in from Denver we always arrive late at night. We usually try to get something near the airport and check in early the next morning. Our early December trip we checked into VWL about 9:30 am Saturday morning and got right into a room that met all of our requests - pool/lagoon view, upper floor, non smoking. You can get great rates at hotwire or I usually just use Orbitz so I know where we are staying and make sure the hotel has a continental breakfast.

We also pack a small bag that has everything for the first night and following day and just leave everything else in the trunk of the car.

 

[Alexander]

We're spending the first night at Pop Century in April. Our flight doesn't land until 12:30 AM and I couldn't see using that many points for a Friday night stay when we really wouldn't get any use out of the resort. We figured we'd check in early at VWL and if our villa is ready, great (we have gotten into our room as early as 7:00 AM before) if not, we check the luggage and hop the boat to MK. Have a great trip!