where to stay?

[java]

DH has decided to drive like a mad man and we will be getting to FL around 7 pm the night before our reservations start at the GF. So do I just add the night at the GF? Or do I cheap out and stay offsite that first night. important to know that we have 4 children-2 small ones.

 

[KittyKitty]

Ok. Just to let you know I have no children and never have stayed at the GF!! So take my advice for what's it's worth

I suggest adding a day. With 4 children it will be easier to unpack just once. You can relax at the resort, and be fresh to start the 1st day of activities.

Have fun

 

[johnsonet]

Go for it and spend that extra night at the GF. It really will be worth it! Waking up there is so fabulous and arriving there is the best!

 

[3lilprincesses]

we are in a similar situation, and we will stay somewhere else. it is expensive to add a night at GF. but for us, more importantly, we want to arrive with fresh, awake children! we never like to start out our vacation with tired kids, so whenever we can, we stop a couple of hours away for the night. i can't wait to pull up to GF that morning, and know that we have the whole day ahead of us! this is what we did last jan. when we stayed at GF. as far as unpacking twice, i'm not going to. what i always do is just pack a small bag with what we need for that night. since you will have a car, i can't see any reason why it would be a hassle to stay somewhere different the night before check in.

whatever you decide, have a great trip!!

 

[stacy6552]

I would try to add the day at GF for convenience. If you can't get it or dont want to spend on it, I would strongly urge you to stay with Disney anyway, even at a value resort. Disney will move your bags for you while you play your first full day there, so you won't loose any time moving.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I would say wait for the GF until you're well rested. Also, sometimes checking in early in the morning gets you a better room request than after 7 pm. Is your youngest under three? You could get a room at POR for one night at an AP rate of about $100 per night. That's better than being off-site but not as expensive as GF. I know I love GF too but I like checking in first thing in the morning. This year we're doing two nights at the new Nick Hotel before GF, but that's not really cheap. I think we're paying $189 - but the room does sleep 7. Good luck.

 

[johnsonet]

assuming it really is around 7pm that you'll be arriving -
try and add the night at GF. Arriving there will give you all a "second wind" and you'll be there and be there for good!!
GF is the best!!

 

[Maverick Mike]

What we did last year, and are going to do again in July is this..

We drive down from St. Louis, which is about a 16 hour drive. Last year we planned on stopping around Valdosta, GA to sleep for the night. We just figured we would see how far we got, and then get a cheap hotel in whatever town we were in. Well, once we got to Valdosta and it was only 4PM, we just kept on going. Around the Florida state line, we called WDW and just asked for a value room for the evening. We had a 7-night package at POP, but we stayed the first night at ASSp. It was fun, because the kids got to see a totally different hotel, and got to swim that first night in a totally different pool. They still talk about it!

We plan on doing the same this year. We have our 8-night package at POP again, but are just going to call and get a room at any value the day we drive down! That way there is still a little excitement on the way!

Also, we get up early the next morning and check into POP first thing. We got a really nice room last time that way..