Where to stay in late January??

[Lisa Campbell]

Our family of 5 (2 adults and 3 kids--12, 9 & 9) are planning a 7 day WDW/Orlando trip for January. We are open to any week except MLK weekend. We were really hoping to stay on-property, but the cost of doing that for a family of 5 is prohibitive! I've read a number of guidebooks, visited mulitple websites, and monitored the boards here. I STILL can't figure out what would be best. Here's what we would like:

2 separate bedrooms (not LR plus bdrm suite)--one with 2 doubles or a king
a comfortable amount of room
a minimum of a microwave and fridge, full kitchen, and/or free meals
reasonably close to WDW parks
minimum of traffic congestion (not on 192??)
"fun" pool(s) for kids
cost under $1500 for the week (if possible)
NO high pressure timeshare spiels

Obviously we would also prefer it be clean, smell OK (REAL NS rooms), reasonably attractive interior and rooms, adequate parking (we will be renting a car as we want to eat off-property some of the time and plan to go to Sea World and maybe Universal).

Does anyone have any ideas? HIFS, Embassy Sunterra Grand Beach, Embassy Vacation Resort, Vacation Village Parkway, Sheraton Vistana, and Marriott Grande Vista are all on my list of potentials. Any feedback??


Thanks!

Lisa

 

[Sandyincanada]

Have you looked at Cypress Pointe? You can get great rates if you book through www.hotelkingdom.com. We rented a 2 bedroom (balcony, full kitchen, livingroom, nice looking resort, very nice pool etc) for around 73.00 a night, a 3 bdrm wasn't much more, amazing price, we go in Feb. Very close to WDW and has had great reviews on this board.

HIFS - we stayed a few years ago, great pool, nice to have breakie thrown in but the rooms were pretty small for a suite. The bedrooms were fine but there wasn't much in the way of a kitchen. We liked it but as long as your prepared for no real kitchen or balcony.

Vacation Village Parkway - we have also stayed there. More of a condo than HIFS as in more space. It was nice, clean, also has a balcony. The pool area was nice not really built with kids in mind, just a nice area. We'd stay again.

Cypress Pointe looks the best for us so far, guess we'll see in Feb.

 

[Big V]

We found a 3 bedroom condo at Windsor Palms resort for $475 total, including tax and cleaning fee for Feb. 4th through the 8th. We went directly through an owner and this wasn't the only one I found for this price.Rental sites

 

[AJKMOM]

We loved Cypress Point Grand Villas. Got it through Hotel Kingdom. The villa was larger than a suite though Embassy Suites.

 

[torismom]

I would suggest renting a home. Many owners are offering last minute deals extending out the next 60 days and etc.. You can get a really good deal, private pool and plenty of room.