where to stay

[TwistGrl101]

What would your opinion be on the most cost-effective (but comfortable) place to stay for 3 adults, 2 children, 1 toddler (under 3)?

 

[cbg1027]

The most cost effective and comfortable option would be to stay off site, maybe renting a house. That will give the most space for the money.

If you want to keep your options to the on site resorts, you have a few things you can consider.

You can stay in 1 room at most of the deluxe resorts (all except for AKL and WL I think). But that would be really cramped with 6 people!

You could consider 2 rooms in a moderate, which would cost roughly the same as 1 room at a deluxe. A lot more space that way, but there is no guarantee of connecting rooms.

You could get 2 rooms at Value for much less, but again, no guarantee of connecting rooms.

There is always a family suite at ASMu, or AoA if you're going after May 2012. That costs a tad more than 2 value rooms.

The other option is a 2 bedroom villa. This is the most expensive option when booking directly through Disney, but if you rented points, you could end up paying 40-70% less than the Disney rack rate, which I think may put you back in to the price range of getting 2 rooms at a moderate.

 

[Upatnoon]

What would your opinion be on the most cost-effective (but comfortable) place to stay for 3 adults, 2 children, 1 toddler (under 3)?

For me, comfort would be at minimum a 2 bedroom unit.

1. Offsite. Tons of options. I like Wyndham Bonnet Creek, as it's located within the Disney gates and has good free bus service to the parks. A week there is around $700.

2. Onsite, renting DVC points would be the most effective. A 2 bedroom would probably start around $2,500 for a week.

 

[3pletprincesses]

We are going to be 2 adults, 6yo triplets and an infant next and we are staying at PORiverside for a week but I know it will be cramped. I'm sure we will be looking forward to our second Disney week spent at wyndham bonnet creek. If you can, maybe 2 rooms at a value hotel or a hotel with a 2 bedroom unit. That being said, we much prefer staying onsite but off site, we loved Bonnet Creek. Lots of space and worth every penny. You cna often find really good deals on ebay. We had a 2 bedroom unit this year for a 7 nights this past May and paid just under $600.

 

[saier1999]

We have stayed both on and off-site with a family of 5. Offsite we have rented 4 or 5 BR homes. The 3 kids can get their own rooms, each with a TV for times we are there, and the screened in pool is something that cannot be beat. Being able to go to Publix or SuperTarget is a great way to keep the food costs down.

That being said, if you want to be in the resort, and will be spending a lot of time at the parks, I would suggest POR Riverside until the toddler is over 3, and after that renting DVC points. You will get the space you'll need, and grateful, after a long day, to have that room.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

I would recommend the family suite at All Star Music resort. It has a bedroom with a Queen size bed and 3 separate sleepers in the living room. One is a double (couch) and the other two are child sized (chair and ottoman sleepers) The toddler can sleep in your room in a pack n play or in the living room depending on whose child it is. The benefit to the suite is you get TWO bathrooms and a kitchenette and a TV in each room. It cost us $230 a night which was a little more than 2 separate value rooms and a bit more than POR but there is no way I would try to jam 5 ppl into a trundle room at POR with a toddler in a pack n play. You would have zero room to move and nowhere to put any bags or luggage. It would be miserable cramped. The suite gives you the size of two value rooms all within one room. It is almost 600 square feet if I remember correctly.

If you are not dead set on having to be onsite, you can go through Villa Direct and rent a vacation rental home with 4 bedrooms, a pool and a game room for around $89 a night.

I keep seeing everyone talk about how cheap Bonnet Creek is but the only Bonnet Creek I found near Disney priced out at over $200 a night for us when I checked into it. Not sure how these folks are getting a 2 bedroom for a week for $700.

You could also check into the Tree houses at Disney.

 

[Upatnoon]

I would recommend the family suite at All Star Music resort. It has a bedroom with a Queen size bed and 3 separate sleepers in the living room. One is a double (couch) and the other two are child sized (chair and ottoman sleepers) The toddler can sleep in your room in a pack n play or in the living room depending on whose child it is. The benefit to the suite is you get TWO bathrooms and a kitchenette and a TV in each room. It cost us $230 a night which was a little more than 2 separate value rooms and a bit more than POR but there is no way I would try to jam 5 ppl into a trundle room at POR with a toddler in a pack n play. You would have zero room to move and nowhere to put any bags or luggage. It would be miserable cramped. The suite gives you the size of two value rooms all within one room. It is almost 600 square feet if I remember correctly.

If you are not dead set on having to be onsite, you can go through Villa Direct and rent a vacation rental home with 4 bedrooms, a pool and a game room for around $89 a night.

I keep seeing everyone talk about how cheap Bonnet Creek is but the only Bonnet Creek I found near Disney priced out at over $200 a night for us when I checked into it. Not sure how these folks are getting a 2 bedroom for a week for $700.

You could also check into the Tree houses at Disney.

You weren't looking in the right places!

To find affordable prices for bonnet creek, look on ebay to start. It's a time-share resort with lots of owners and businesses renting reservations.

There is a huge thread on the resort in the Orlando hotels and attractions board with even more suggestions on how to rent a reservation.