Hi all,
Just my second post - and it's a long one - but I thought I'd share some of my trip planning experience to date and also ask a few questions about WH. Keep in mind all this is predicated on the fact that we couldn't firm up our vacation schedules from work until April 12 for a June 6 to 13 WDW vacation. Since then I (DH50) have gone on a planning bender
This is our first big(read expensive!) vacation in over three years, and we need it! Our party is (me) DH50(wants Magic and some golf), DW46(wants Magic and some relaxation), DD19, DS16, DD15 (typical teens - want Magic and pools). Our budget is $1200 per person/$6000 total from northern NH, and this needs to be an A+ vacation within those budget constraints. We are not kidding ourselves, 7 day WDW trips aren't cheap even staying offsite -air + lodging + WDW tickets + food + car + all the other plusses! We could save perhaps $1200 total by staying in lesser accomodations, taking redeye flights, renting a car from the cheapest company, eating cheap, etc, but the reality in life is that you almost never get more than what you pay for. The real challenge is in not getting less. I DON'T want to save 20% and ruin my vacation with uncomfortable beds, crowded bathrooms, rental car lines, closed/dirty/crowded pools, long walks other than in the park, waiting for buses/shuttles - yes, I have done this before ;-)
First, a big thanks to all who have posted tips and advice in this discussion board.
Second, my comments:
After reading many forums - this board, trip-advisor, yahoo, etc, I have booked a 4bdr/4bath pool home with pillow-top mattresses, pool/spa, pool table, foosball, computer and WiFi, etc, in WH for my family's June 6 thru 13 vacation thru a private owner at vrbo for $1300 (tax incl). We stayed on-site at the Poly many years ago ('91) with our 3 young children and honestly didn't find it to be anything special (aka Magical) as far as a resort experience beyond the WDW theme and the almost always nice CM's. We have also visited WDW/SeaW/BuschG(I'm a former A-B employee and Busch parks were free) for multiday visits two other years since and stayed off-site with good results in townhome style accomodations (most recently at Regal Palms a few years ago for a Sea World/Busch Gardens vacation, which was a nice stay for the price). This time we are doing WDW exclusively and wanted to be closer and with much luxury - but still at good value for our money. This is perhaps the last family vacation we will ever take as a group(the teens are quickly becoming adults
with adult agendas) and we want it to be special, memorable, and FUN for ALL.
I am a rather demanding, experienced traveler, and at 5 star prices(WDW) I expect 5 star amenities and service. This is bluntly where WDW just doesn't deliver based upon my personal experience and that of many others. The rooms, bedding, and resort pools aren't anything special; the extra magic hours tend to go un-used especially with the already extended hours during busier months. MK is open 9a to 11p - who's getting up (especially the "overworked" DW46 and "those teenagers") at 6am while on vacation to eat and get to transportation by 7:30 - 8:00 am or staying to midnight and beyond? The transportation system is a plus at a monorail serviced resort - but for going beyond MK I agree that the bus waits and transfers can be annoying especially at peak hours. We're planning to get out early every OTHER day, but probably not enough to justify the extra-magic hours benefit.
Having a party of five in a single room/bath anywhere is simply a recipe for disaster especially with older children. As such, I priced(through WDW and numerous other sources including
AAA, bookit, travel agents, and the big three online packagers) staying at either a WDW deluxe or moderate with two rooms (or villa accomodations) or a FW cabin(with single bathroom problem). Factoring in the price of 5 x 7 park hopper+ tickets($1440) and airfare component($750 to $1000), the cheapest was a travelocity deal for two ASPop(or similar) rooms at roughly $2000 for the week; next the FW cabin at $2425 for seven nights - roughly twice the price of staying at WH. The problem with FW cabin is one bathroom(granted campground bathroom is available), bedding/sleeping concerns, very large site (even more walking), inconvenient bus system. We also considered renting an RV for the week at around $1000 to $1500(rv) + $700(site) but decided against this option for the same reasons. Two resort rooms or a suite at a moderate WDW were $3000 and up, and forget the villas or deluxe WDW resorts - $4000+ for a week (maybe $3500 if you can get DVC points at $10/point - but very difficult for short term planning). Throw in the park tickets at $1440 total and $39 pp/pd for the meal plan($1365 total - you might as well buy it when staying onsite except at the villas) to any of these lodging options and the price starts getting really out of hand. On an "apples to apples" comparison, the WDW lodging prices are two to three times that of WH, and even more if you go down just one notch of luxury at other off-site resorts.
Note: A reminder, this is based on a fairly short notice June booking. To be fair, an AS "suite" can be booked for under $1200 off season, but you are still pretty much unable to cook other than microwave meals. With the exception of a villa or FW, you pretty much might as well buy the meal plan at $39 per person per day - for us this would be $1365. While we don't plan on cooking all of our meals, we will eat all breakfasts in, pack some snacks, eat three dinners out, and still come in well under this total in food for the week. WDW is offering the meal plan free in late Aug/early Sept - it's a heck of a deal if you can go at that time - but it is both back to school and hurricane season.
Third, my questions("FINALLY"
you say):
1) Is there a local taxi company anyone can recommend, and if known what are the approximate worst case (MK?)fares from WDW? I ask as there may be an evening when the kids want to stay at the park but DW46 and I want to leave and let them come back on their own.
2) On the subject of golf: I would like to play two or three rounds during our vacation. Is there a discount on play at Mystic Dunes for those staying at WH? Other recommended courses in area? Discounted tee times? (I'm looking into advance booking at Golfpac, etc.) Is there anyone staying there(other DH's with non-golfing DW's perhaps
) that would like to join me for a round during the time I'll be there (can play June 7 thru 12)? I'm a 10 index (I won't hold up you single digit players) and enjoy playing with anyone that's good company regardless of ability(or lack thereof) within reason (as long as we keep up with the group ahead).
3) Is there a day spa in the area? If I get to play golf, DW46, DD19, and DD15 get a spa treatment(pedicure/manicure). This is simply not negotiable - I know which battles to run from - it's their vacation too!
Thanks for all the tips, reviews and comments. I hope all currently there and going soon have wonderful vacations!
We've stayed at Disney resorts, and drove ourselves most of the time even then. Standing on a bus after a long day at a park is no fun at all! We now almost always stay in an offsite townhome or condo and love it!
. We also love that lights out for the kids does not mean lights out for us. That said i think that the Op has the best plan by splitting a stay- you really will get the best of both worlds. You can enjoy being immersed in the magic 24/7 and yet still have some nights when you get a little more personal space. The one thing to always remember is that you want to have a little down time planned in so you don't come home needing a vacation from your vacation
. hope your vacation turns out to be truly magical, whatever your choice! 
I may be in Disney but i'm sure going to miss my own bedroom with its peace and quiet
