Wwyd?

[pinoke]

Would you stay offsite at someplace like WBC for $130+ fee and parking, or stay at a mod for $230ish and get free dining? We are a family of 3 ( one kid disney/adult).
I've been hoping the homeschool days would be decided but we are getting close to 180 days out from when we'd like to go so I just need to decide already.
If we could stay offsite and get a great rate for tickets that would work but that looks unlikely.

 

[dismom115]

No doubt, off site at WBC. The space of the condo vs everyone on the same hotel room is priceless! Laundry, kitchen for breakfast. We have done dining, but felt like we ate more than we normally would to get the value. Driving to parks a breeze. We met friends who stayed at BC. We left parks at same time, us driving, them on Disney transport, we were back to WBC before them each night!

 

[Amanda999]

Unless you truly will do a character buffet daily (and keep in mind if your child is like mine, you will set up an expectation for the next trip - which I know I wouldn't pay for our of pocket!), and do not care about extra space (some families do not), I'd do offsite.

We did FD bounceback last August. My kids often share a meal - they nor I can (and I don't want to - I gain weight!) eat all the food. DH hates being crammed into 1 hotel room. I didn't like the stress I felt to make and keep ADRs in a manner to make sure I got all the 'value' possible - and still had 17 CS credit remaining on the 2nd to last day! (And, sometimes I didn't like the dessert options at a CS. So I endlessly planned which CS to eat at - to get the most value. A pain.)

Anyway, I booked FD for this August (as bb from Aug 2014). I've canceled it and we'll stay at Windsor Hills instead. 3 bedroom, 3 bath, 3 tv, full kitchen, private splash pool (and community pool with long slide) for $100/night with tax. I can feed us for $100 a night, but even if its $150 or $200 we are not crammed into a small hotel room. I'll pay less for a 3 week stay at WH vs. 10 days at POR. Of course food will be on top of that, but I don't want to do TS daily anyway - too much stress surrounding the process.

I guess the savings of FD is different for every family. I remember one Disser who said she'd rather eat saltines and peanut butter (offsite in a multi-bedroom rental) than be in 1 hotel room with FD. I agree, and I'm a very frugal person who has a disabled DS - Disney adult - who LOVES character meals. Oh - and we rent a car anyway, so that is not an extra expense to us for offsite.

Good luck!

 

[denneg]

I think it really depends on your family. If you tend to go to the parks morning to night, or take a break but spend it at the pool (not the room), and you can all sleep comfortably in the same room - take the free dining. If you do tend to go back to the room for breaks, or one person is a night owl and the others early birds, or someone snores, take the extra space.

We vary between on and off property, and loved our stays at POR with free dining when it was DH and I and DS was a baby who could sleep through anything. Once he started fighting with us over the TV, or I (the night owl) had to sit at the pool reading until DS and DH (the early bird) were asleep, and DH most definitely did not tip toe around when he woke up at 4:30am....we needed more space.

Now with 2 DS's, we either stay off property or use DVC points to stay in a one bedroom on property. We currently have a visit in May in a 2 bedroom offsite, and September in a one bedroom at BC. We'll have just as much fun in both, but if costs were always equal, I would choose to stay on with dining - I just like knowing that everything is paid for in advance, and we know how to take advantage of the dining plan.

 

[kerriemiller]

A couple things to consider. How much time will you spend in the parks? Are you thinking about heading back to your resort for breaks? Is the savings of staying at WBC going to allow you to do more on your trip? How do you like your meals, big sit downs every time or light easy on the go?

Our family likes to take frequent breaks, we like one site down a day and we like to be close to the action. For those reasons we would take the MOD with FD.

I noticed you mention home school days are you aware of the Disney Youth Education Series? We just got tickets through the program for a significant discount. Its a really great opportunity.

 

[pinoke]

Yes, thanks for mentioning the YES classes. We've done those every trip and while the savings for us is good, we spend a small fortune on meals- my son eats constantly and still likes the character meals, and we all love Boma. We own at DVC but cannot use points this trip so it's going to be different for us anyway, so the FD is tempting. But I am intrigued about staying offsite as well.We don't care to cook meals but usually have breakfast in our studios, so a small fridge and microwave would be handy. But we are going only for 5 days I think so the time will pass quickly!
We usually head out early and return to the pool after lunch- or certainly after an early dinner. We never do all day and night at the parks but sometimes return after dinner if we are staying at a convenient hotel.

 

[kerriemiller]

I've looked at WBC very seriously also. We always stay in DVC rooms, 1 br. WBC is significantly cheaper. But we just really like to be right next to the parks. We stayed AK Jambo house last time. It was terrible going back and forth to the parks. So far away. I understand WBC is just as far out as AKL.

 

[Spanky]

WBC is not as far out as AKL. It is located adjacent to Caribbean Beach Resort so it is just down the road from DHS and around the corner from EPCOT. Yes it is a good drive over to the MK or AK parks. It is also located near DTD. I find it more convenient than waiting on the Disney buses. If you don't mind driving on vacation, it can be a fast exit from all but the MK.

 

[pinoke]

Yes- while we own at AKJ and always stay there, we usually do a split stay and our AK nights are those that we tend to head out for the day, then return for dinner/pool/smores at the resort. Occasionally after dinner we will go to Fantasmic or something but if we are doing that we may grab a cab- at least one way. Many nights we simply enjoy the resort and retire early to be well rested for the next early morning . Its such a relaxing place to be!
I think if we were offsite, once we left we probably wouldn't return later in the day, but I could be wrong…and I'm thinking the driving/parking could be a pain- no?

 

[Spanky]

Driving at WDW is a personal decision that each family may make. I live in a small town with little public transportation so I find it very frustrating to wait on the Disney buses. When I am ready to go - I want to go. This is especially true in the mornings when you are anxious to arrive at the parks and the first 4 buses that come are not going to the park you want to visit.
Now, other folks think it is great to have a week off from driving. Folks find it very convenient to use the Disney transportation - sometimes it can be amusing to overhear the conversations on the buses. - other times when you are tired, and you have to stand for the ride back to your resort it can be a real pain.
Even when we stay at Disney resorts we still rent a car. I guess it is the small town West Texas mentality.

 

[dismom115]

WBC is not as far out as AKL. It is located adjacent to Caribbean Beach Resort so it is just down the road from DHS and around the corner from EPCOT. Yes it is a good drive over to the MK or AK parks. It is also located near DTD. I find it more convenient than waiting on the Disney buses. If you don't mind driving on vacation, it can be a fast exit from all but the MK.

I was shocked at my experience a couple weeks ago. Left MK with friends staying at BC. We were at WBC. We took the monorail, then the tram to our car. As we got into the car, my friend texted that they should get on the bus soon. We were moving out of the MK parking lot before they were. A we had not left after fireworks or a parade. I texted her when we stepped into our condo and they were still on the bus. I never would have believed it! IMO the only thing faster from MK would be a trip to a monorail hotel.