Which would you pick? AoA or Springhill Suites in the Marriot Village?

[DisneyFansInLINY]

We are going for Christmas from Dec. 24-Dec. 31 and staying at SSR. However, my husband told me that if I want to go down earlier with the kids, I could for my birthday present. My budget is $600 including food. So my options are AoA in a LM room or Springhill Suites. We are annual passholders so we don't need tickets or to pay for parking at the parks.


Springhill Suites

Pro:
$69 a night with free breakfast!
I will have a rental car so I can go to Walmart/Target and the outlets
I can pick up our stroller rental and save $5 on the delivery to the hotel fee
Even with renting the car, paying for gas, and paying to park, I save over $100 staying here plus get free breakfast

Cons:
I have to rent a car
I will not have my husband to help me get our luggage; but rather a 6 and 2 year old at the airport
I have to drive from the airport to the hotel and to the parks
I have to check out of Springhill on 12/24 and pack the car up to go check into SSR and then drive the car to the Dolphin hotel to return it (also a pro because I can then walk to Epcot)
$5 fee to park my rental car at the hotel per night

AoA

Pro:

I don't have to drive
I don't have to rent a car
I don't have to worry about my luggage at the airport

Cons:

We stayed here for 2 nights in July because my daughter wanted to stay in a LM room so bad. Well it rained all day and she was throwing a fit because we were literally stuck there. So if it rains, it will suck as there is nothing to do. And I will not take the kids to a park in the rain because they get sick very easily.
I have to order my groceries.
I have to use the bus service and fold up my stroller. It can be a pain without my husband to help me. As we pack everything into the stroller. So I might have to pay for cabs.
I have to pay $5 for my stroller rental delivery to the resort

So what would you choose? Granted that you are going solo for 2 nights with 2 young kids during one of the busiest times of the year.

 

[powellrj]

We like the Spring Hills Suites at LBV, so that would be my choice. The free breakfast is nice and if it is raining, you don't have to go outside to eat, just go downstairs! Rooms are nice and you have a setting area plus a kitchenette.

 

[gillenkl]

Aoa

 

[momof3ds]

We don't have an issue with the rain so we did many parks when it was very rainy on our first trip. It was great because the parks were empty.

In your situation, I would choose the springhill suites.

 

[got2lovedisney]

I'd do AoA but you should check availability before thinking about this too much...those Little Mermaid rooms book up real quick!

As to your stroller comment...you'll have to deal with that one either way, won't you? Whether getting onto a bus or trying to wrangle 2 kids into a rental car. Rain probably won't be much of an issue in December. Also note...Xmas is CROWDED! I have seen cast members turn visitors away from the monorail from Epcot to MK at that time and only allow resort guests on board so it might be beneficial to be a resort guest.

Either way...have fun!

 

[trinchick]

You seem to consider having a car and driving as a negative, but I would view it as a positive in your situation.

Having personal transportation adds so much flexibility. Having breakfast included plus the option to swing through a drive-through at the end of the day would be huge pluses to me in the convenience department. The bus service that we encountered on our last trip took a loooong time, and I've decided not to use them anymore regardless of whether we stay on-site or off.

The thought of single-handedly navigating the food court with a toddler makes me cringe, so that alone would cross AoA off my list. I say this as the mom of a 2 yo myself.

My vote would be for Springhill Suites.

 

[kiki02]

AOA!!!!! absolutely! no ? asked.

Have fun.

 

[pigletto]

I would pick Springhill Suites for the extra space and the convenience of having a car. You'll be moving onsite later so have all those perks then

Where are you finding Springhill Suites for $69?
I am looking for something the night of the 13th before we start our week at Wilderness Lodge and that price and free breakfast sound perfect!

Nevermind.. I found it right on the website

 

[hsmamato2]

I'd go for onsite..... no renting car hassles,no luggage hassles, and if it rains, you can take the kids on a nice long tour of the buses and monorails for fun riding,shopping and eating! (I can't see getting bored onsite) bring a plastic stroller cover in case it rains,and raincoats....I wouldn't want the hassle of 2 small kids plus renting/driving/dragging stuff everywhere But again, IMHO rain doesn't stop the fun,we just adapt and keep going....

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

Stay at AOA it will be so much easier with out a car and such little ones by yourself

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[wiigirl]

I'd go for onsite..... no renting car hassles,no luggage hassles, and if it rains, you can take the kids on a nice long tour of the buses and monorails for fun riding,shopping and eating! (I can't see getting bored onsite) bring a plastic stroller cover in case it rains,and raincoats....I wouldn't want the hassle of 2 small kids plus renting/driving/dragging stuff everywhere But again, IMHO rain doesn't stop the fun,we just adapt and keep going....

 

[lucyem]

We stayed in the Marriott Village once in April 2012. Never again. I forget which actual hotel we were in but there are a couple in the complex. Staff was nice, free breakfast great. Hotel itself was a little scary due to lack of maintenance. But that aside the biggest problem was outlet traffic especially on the weekend. Like bumper to bumper all the time. Just getting in and out of the hotel complex was a complete nightmare.

Anyhow I do not have a vote either way. Both options (on and off property) have some great advantages

 

[DCbride]

Alone? No question stay onsite! We stay both on and off and I would not attempt airport, getting luggage and rental with 2 little ones. Plus, getting out of Marriott Village during the day is a nightmare, a few days before Christmas - I can't imagine!! (The road is the same for the outlets)

 

[Desnik]

AoA!!!
We stood there for 3 days last Xmas week in a LM room. We had no rain, but the weather was cold so no swimming for us. The resort was fantastic & so was the Xmas decorations. We loved it so much we added on 3 days to our Aug trip this year just so we can stay there again!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

You left off a few things I consider "pros" for Springhill


A REAL rewards program, you can earn points towards FREE stays (Disney actually tends to penalize frequent visitors IMHO.. stay a lot "no pin for you" LOL!)

Is the Little Mermaid room the suite room or a standard room? If it's a standard that's a big negative LESS SPACE!

I have stayed at the Marriott Village a lot (holidays included) and never had a real issue with traffic.

IMHO Disney pricing has reached the stage... I won't be paying again LOL!

 

[firstwdw]

Reviews on trip advisor for spring hill are pretty bad. You may want to check those out first!
What about pop?? Wouldn't be as far from main building and buses!

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I am still confused as what to do.

DH has also offered an adult's only trip Sept. 27-29 at the Dolphin for the Food & Wine Festival. The rate is $139 a night. I know that there is a resort fee but still a nice price to be in walking distance to Epcot. The only thing is that we would have to fly Friday night and then be home early on Sunday. So I just can't see how it makes sense to go for such a short time. Plus I never leave the kids and I feel so bad to go to Disney without them.

The other option is to only go 1 day earlier on Dec. 23 and stay at a deluxe resort.

I am waiting to see what the details of the upcoming resort only offer will be and hopefully that will help me to decide. But DH said no way to an offsite hotel with the kids. As it would be too much work for me and I would go crazy lol.

 

[madelyn]

Was contemplating a summer trip as solo parent with my 3 kids and my first choice was AoA. Mainly since as a family of 5 we can't stay in a Little Mermaid room and I refuse to pay the suite prices at AoA. My kids love the extra magic hours for resort guests. I was also thinking of an off-site week in a condo through a timeshare exchange. My kids are now much older (15, 11 and 6) but when my youngest was 2 we were there with extended family and hubby stayed out later with our older 2 kids at the parks and I went back to the hotel (AK Villas). Daughter fell asleep while waiting for the bus transport back and at that time I swore I would not stay at a resort that wasn't walking distance away from a park (until my kids were older) to prevent the awful situation where I was holding my sleeping daughter on one shoulder and balancing the stroller with my other hand. A nice person on the bus gave up their seat so I could sit down once the bus starting moving so that made things much easier. I think another nice person helped me carry the stroller off the bus and maybe helped me open it since I was still carrying my sleeping child. So my vote would be for walking distance resort (Dolphin/Swan).

 

[Ali]

I stayed in the Marriot village last night at the Fairfield. The traffic was a nightmare. We were stuck on the turn onto Vineland going in for 25 minutes. Getting out was also a challenge. I stayed here on a free reward night and we were upgraded to a kid suite. But the biggest problem for me was that I am a light sleeper and I heard the traffic from I-4 all night long, and the in room ac unit cycled on and off all night too, so I had no sleep.

The room seemed good but DS slept in the bunkbed and had bites all over him in the morning. I had them check for bedbugs and they called to say it was negative but I don't know what bit him now.

I won't stay in Marriott village again. Not even for free.

I think the OP needs to figure out why she wants to go early and whether it is worth it. I would travel with help at that time of year.

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

I decided to go one day early on Dec. 23 and stay at Grand Floridian Villas in a studio. We are DVC owners but don't own there so we can't book it yet. But no big deal. I just contacted a member who does own there and rented points from them. So for $210, we are staying at GFV for one night! My daughter wants to stay there so bad so it is a nice Christmas treat for her