Which value property for college girls in March?

[freshstart19]

Hi! My DD is planning on going to Disney for spring break with 4 or 5 friends. They wanted to be close to Pleasure Island but I now understand the nightclubs are closed. Trying to do this as cheaply as possible since they are students. Hoping in March it won't be as crowded since the younger kids are in school. Which value property would be better for 21 year olds? Is there one off site that would be cheaper but also offer transportation to Universal? City Walk is where they'd like to visit at night but have time at the Disney parks during the day. The girls will be there for 8 nights.

 

[su_A_ve]

None really. And AFAIK, the only club still open is Jellyrolls on the boardwalk area. Those resorts along the lake are all deluxe.

There is transportation available via a shuttle bus to Universal for about $15 RT per person via Mears.

Now, depending on the time in March, they might be able to get free dining, which will help tremendously specially if going to the parks.

I would suggest upgrading the quick service plan offered with the values to the basic plan.

Also, note that a value room only accomodates up to 4 people.

 

[SarahD]

Hi! My DD is planning on going to Disney for spring break with 4 or 5 friends. They wanted to be close to Pleasure Island but I now understand the nightclubs are closed. Trying to do this as cheaply as possible since they are students. Hoping in March it won't be as crowded since the younger kids are in school. Which value property would be better for 21 year olds? Is there one off site that would be cheaper but also offer transportation to Universal? City Walk is where they'd like to visit at night but have time at the Disney parks during the day. The girls will be there for 8 nights.

Of the value resorts, I would suggest Pop. It has the biggest food court and the most options. If they're flying in, they can use Disney's Magical Express to and from the airport. It's free and only for those staying on property. There is no nightlife at the hotel - any of them, as far as a 21 year old is concerned, but they can take buses from their resort to Downtown Disney, which is still quite hopping. There's Planet Hollywood, a great country bar (can't remember the name, but they had a very well known band playing when we were there - I was surprised!) and a lot of other bars & pub-type places. I can't help with offsite stuff!

 

[freshstart19]

Thanks for the replies. Well, the group 4 might now be 2! The free dining plan is not available from 3/5 - 3/13. That's a bummer! I had the impression that there was nothing left at Pleasure Island so I'm pleased to learn there is some night life left here. Getting food included would make the value properties more appealing than off site locations!

 

[bteaster5]

We love Pop Century! We take a group of 12 every year, ages ranging from 18 mo to 66 yrs.....everyone agrees PC is our favorite. We've stayed at other resorts all on Disney grounds (even some moderates that were alot more expensive) and in Feb when we return we will be going back to PC. I just cant see paying so much more for just a room. PC has a fun "Disney" feel and I am ceratin you will LOVE it like we do!

 

[SarahD]

We love Pop Century! We take a group of 12 every year, ages ranging from 18 mo to 66 yrs.....everyone agrees PC is our favorite. We've stayed at other resorts all on Disney grounds (even some moderates that were alot more expensive) and in Feb when we return we will be going back to PC. I just cant see paying so much more for just a room. PC has a fun "Disney" feel and I am ceratin you will LOVE it like we do!

I am with you 100%. As I've said on other threads, Pop Century is a visual assault of all things Disney and we love that! Also, we can go twice for the price of one week at a deluxe.

 

[freshstart19]

Thanks for the additional votes for Pop Century. With only 2 girls now, it just might be too expensive. Found an offsite property that provides transporation for 46.44 per night. Either we'll be cutting the trip short by a few nights or staying someplace cheaper. Don't see any discounts at all during their stay March 5 - 13!

 

[snykymom]

If you have AAA, you still might be able to get a discount on the room at a value, even during that time frame. I believe it's 10-15% or something like that.

 

[su_A_ve]

Thanks for the additional votes for Pop Century. With only 2 girls now, it just might be too expensive. Found an offsite property that provides transporation for 46.44 per night. Either we'll be cutting the trip short by a few nights or staying someplace cheaper. Don't see any discounts at all during their stay March 5 - 13!

Huge difference when staying off site. You save some money, but you will loose lots of time, as the so call 'transportation' sometimes is every couple of hours.

Further, and since the girls are looking forward to spending time in the parks, they'll loose access to the extra magic hours (which though the morning one is pretty much useless - only an hour - the 3 hours in the eve are great).

Price it out - it's possible they'll extend %off offers during that times. There are PINs going out now that I believe have those times.

 

[su_A_ve]

I just cant see paying so much more for just a room. PC has a fun "Disney" feel and I am ceratin you will LOVE it like we do!

Depends...

For example, for our upcoming trip, with FD, the difference of staying on a mod (when upgrading to basic dining on a value) is only $175 for 6 nights (2A, 2J)

I gain a fridge and 2 queen beds.

We never used the pools and yes, only come back to sleep...

 

[freshstart19]

Yes, I am aware of the transportation difficulties of staying offsite. I called the hotel with the cheap rate and they only provide transporation to the Magic Kingdom so they'd have to transfer to the other parks. Will lose a lot of time. If the girls could travel on the 3rd, they's be eligible for the free dining plan but then I'm asking that they cut class. A lot of professors have assignments due on the last class before break so the kids show up. That would have saved a lot of money. Just noticed that I really have this post in the wrong forum. Guess it should be under Resorts. Just don't want the trip to be priced too high and out of reach for the kids! I'd rather my DD go to Disney than to a wild beach spring break sort of thing!!

 

[Minder]

If you are willing to do some digging, you can often "Rent" someones timeshare at the Sheraton Vistana or Orange lake, or any one of a hundred other time share resorts just off property.

Our friends do that all the time, and have gotten 7 days for $250

That price often makes up for transportation and food costs.

 

[freshstart19]

Hi Minder, thanks for the suggestion on renting a timeshare. I actually came across one today through Bookit that was cheap but only offered a shuttle one time going and returning. I did look at the Vistana to rent outright. Good idea about trying the timeshare route. Any reliable websites for that process? Again, key is the girls having transporation.

 

[Minder]

PhotobearSam on the DIS boards is a Master at that. I suggest you message her, she will have some good advice for you.

 

[SarahD]

Search online for rental car company coupon codes. Look carefully though - some require that you use a certain credit card (ex. a VISA) for the great rate. Others are pretty general. You may have trouble since it's spring break, but it's worth a try. I needed to rent a car for one day to get us from airport to pier and the cost was $80. I found an online code for $40.

 

[snykymom]

One problem is that for most car rental companies, if drivers are under 25 they pay a surcharge. Hertz has eliminated that surcharge, but they're usually not the cheapest.

 

[cruella4me64]

My daughter and 3 friends (all 21 yr juniors in college at the time) went for Spring Break March '10. Fabulous time but cold and rainy. They stayed at POP. I felt they were safer staying on property. One night at Planet Hollywood, another at Parasido (sp?). I said "but that's just a restaurant!" Apparently, they had a lot of fun and said they got carded everywhere they went. Prices were expensive to them. Guess when Mom and Dad were paying everything, she never noticed! Some of their sorority sisters did FL beach vacations and I am soooo glad they didn't want to do that! I never worried about them, just kept wishing I was there too!

 

[SarahD]

One problem is that for most car rental companies, if drivers are under 25 they pay a surcharge. Hertz has eliminated that surcharge, but they're usually not the cheapest.

You're right...I thought about the minimum age as soon as I posted. It was so long ago for me, I forget...

 

[nooneshome]

We are considering a Mardi Gras trip so this DOM suggests you stay at POP!!

ps - we bring lots of beads too!!!

 

[freshstart19]

Thanks for the replies. Right now, we're holding a room at POP. Actually, got a PIN yesterday morning and was soooo excited, but turns out we can't use it because it's in my name even though she's a member of the household. I posted that whole thing under the discount code section of the resort forum. Yes, the girls are under 25 so a car is a no-go. Some friends are taking a cruise to the Bahamas now and she may jump on that since she still can't find someone to go to Disney with. I was psyched she wanted to go there so I wouldn't worry as much