ntsammy5
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2006
- Messages
- 12,094
We stayed offsite in a timeshare for the first time in dozens of visits all of our other stays have been onsite. We stayed at the Wyndham Cypress Palms off 192 and booked through AFVC (Armed Forces Vacation Club). It was a great deal, but I was amazed that this stay was as good or better than any other visit we have had.
Accommodations
We often stay at SoG which is a very nice resort and we have stayed at other Disney resorts including CR. Let me just say there is no comparison in the facilities offsite is along the lines of DVC and much, much better than even deluxe rooms at WDW.
We had a 2BR 1200SF condo. One bedroom had a king size bed, a full bath with a Jacuzzi tub, two sinks and all the normal toiletries actually better ones than at WDW resorts. The second BR had two double beds a full bath and that bedroom alone was bigger than a value room. Both bedrooms had walk-in closets.
There was a completely stocked full kitchen, a washer and dryer TVs in the living room and both bedrooms, a DVD player and a stereo. The 7 Best Things About Disney was even one of the channels. There was also a fully enclosed porch which was nice to sit on and drink a beer.
The grounds were immaculate and well maintained, the staff was very friendly and helpful. There are two pools and two hot tubs and a lake. The pools were not themed but were a nice size. There is a recreation building and a barbeque and covered picnic area for guest use. There are daily activities for children, which we did not use since our kids didnt come with us, and besides the youngest one is 27.
Jim, just in case you were wondering, I didnt see a blender, but there was a mixer.
The room we stayed in was recently renovated and sparkling clean. The furniture was not luxury level but good none-the-less. It was a very comfortable and relaxing place to stay with lots and lots of room.
Cost
OK, this is where it gets good. The cost for the condo, through AFVC was $329/week under $50/day. Try getting that at any Disney resort. I wont harp on this BUT, its a great value. You could probably get as good a deal through SkyAuction.
Dining
Heres another one! The dining options offsite are nearly limitless, the food is as good and in many cases better that at Disney resorts and is much less expensive. There were 3 major chain restaurants within a 10 minute walk from the condo, Pizzeria Uno, Chilis and Cracker Barrel. Within a 10 minute drive there are hundreds of choices. We ate one night at a place my sister likes (she lives in the area). They have a Wednesday night special of stuffed 1 ½ pound lobster for $13.95! It was exquisite. I wont give out the name of the restaurant though, because shes afraid that it will become too popular. If we feel the need to spend twice as much for food we can always drive to Disney (15 minutes to Epcot) and eat there which we did a couple of times.
Because of the full kitchen, we ate breakfast in the condo every day. If youre so inclined all you meals can be there.
Transportation
We rent cars when we go to WDW in any event and the only park we dont drive to when onsite is MK so when we went this time it was the first time I had ever parked in the MK parking lot. I timed the drive back to the condo when we left MVMCP and from walking out the turnstiles it took 31 minutes and we had just missed a monorail and a tram so if we had made those the trip would have been shorter. When we left Epcot after F&W on a Sunday night, from turnstile to condo was 15 minutes on the dot. Transportation is not an issue since these times are as good as or better than to many of the resorts!
Having DME at Disney resorts is a nice deal, but not a show stopper. Many people comment that traffic is bad coming out of the park lots at closing. HAH! There is no traffic or at least there was none the night of the first MVMCP and the last two nights of F&W. It is very, very easy to get around. Weve been driving there for years though so we dont need directions
Disney Magic
Im still trying to figure this one out. People always talk about being immersed in Disney Magic 24/7. What magic? The staff at the condo were every bit as nice and as friendly as any CM at Disney. Do you mean themeing? I guess weve stayed at Disney too much. Im not impressed with their themeing any more its cute but thats as far as Im prepared to go. One of the ugliest hotel rooms Ive ever stayed in was at CR! Do you mean service? Even the best Disney resorts are only rated as 3 star resorts not a compelling argument at all. We went to POP and to CR one day so I got my fill of Disney themeing. AND the condo is quiet and peaceful.
There are other things I liked about the condos very tight security, instant response to requests, beautiful buildings, wifi, all in all a very good experience. I may never stay onsite again or at least not as often.
AFVC
Ive gotta add something about them. No hassle. None at all. I booked, paid and that was the only contact I had with them I got a confirmation email and about 2 weeks before we arrived the Timeshare sent us paper work. It was a great experience. I would suggest that whichever timeshare you book, research it thoroughly. Become familiar with AFVCs options before you book. I use trip advisor, but take their comments with a grain of salt.
.
Accommodations
We often stay at SoG which is a very nice resort and we have stayed at other Disney resorts including CR. Let me just say there is no comparison in the facilities offsite is along the lines of DVC and much, much better than even deluxe rooms at WDW.
We had a 2BR 1200SF condo. One bedroom had a king size bed, a full bath with a Jacuzzi tub, two sinks and all the normal toiletries actually better ones than at WDW resorts. The second BR had two double beds a full bath and that bedroom alone was bigger than a value room. Both bedrooms had walk-in closets.
There was a completely stocked full kitchen, a washer and dryer TVs in the living room and both bedrooms, a DVD player and a stereo. The 7 Best Things About Disney was even one of the channels. There was also a fully enclosed porch which was nice to sit on and drink a beer.
The grounds were immaculate and well maintained, the staff was very friendly and helpful. There are two pools and two hot tubs and a lake. The pools were not themed but were a nice size. There is a recreation building and a barbeque and covered picnic area for guest use. There are daily activities for children, which we did not use since our kids didnt come with us, and besides the youngest one is 27.
Jim, just in case you were wondering, I didnt see a blender, but there was a mixer.
The room we stayed in was recently renovated and sparkling clean. The furniture was not luxury level but good none-the-less. It was a very comfortable and relaxing place to stay with lots and lots of room.
Cost
OK, this is where it gets good. The cost for the condo, through AFVC was $329/week under $50/day. Try getting that at any Disney resort. I wont harp on this BUT, its a great value. You could probably get as good a deal through SkyAuction.
Dining
Heres another one! The dining options offsite are nearly limitless, the food is as good and in many cases better that at Disney resorts and is much less expensive. There were 3 major chain restaurants within a 10 minute walk from the condo, Pizzeria Uno, Chilis and Cracker Barrel. Within a 10 minute drive there are hundreds of choices. We ate one night at a place my sister likes (she lives in the area). They have a Wednesday night special of stuffed 1 ½ pound lobster for $13.95! It was exquisite. I wont give out the name of the restaurant though, because shes afraid that it will become too popular. If we feel the need to spend twice as much for food we can always drive to Disney (15 minutes to Epcot) and eat there which we did a couple of times.
Because of the full kitchen, we ate breakfast in the condo every day. If youre so inclined all you meals can be there.
Transportation
We rent cars when we go to WDW in any event and the only park we dont drive to when onsite is MK so when we went this time it was the first time I had ever parked in the MK parking lot. I timed the drive back to the condo when we left MVMCP and from walking out the turnstiles it took 31 minutes and we had just missed a monorail and a tram so if we had made those the trip would have been shorter. When we left Epcot after F&W on a Sunday night, from turnstile to condo was 15 minutes on the dot. Transportation is not an issue since these times are as good as or better than to many of the resorts!
Having DME at Disney resorts is a nice deal, but not a show stopper. Many people comment that traffic is bad coming out of the park lots at closing. HAH! There is no traffic or at least there was none the night of the first MVMCP and the last two nights of F&W. It is very, very easy to get around. Weve been driving there for years though so we dont need directions
Disney Magic
Im still trying to figure this one out. People always talk about being immersed in Disney Magic 24/7. What magic? The staff at the condo were every bit as nice and as friendly as any CM at Disney. Do you mean themeing? I guess weve stayed at Disney too much. Im not impressed with their themeing any more its cute but thats as far as Im prepared to go. One of the ugliest hotel rooms Ive ever stayed in was at CR! Do you mean service? Even the best Disney resorts are only rated as 3 star resorts not a compelling argument at all. We went to POP and to CR one day so I got my fill of Disney themeing. AND the condo is quiet and peaceful.
There are other things I liked about the condos very tight security, instant response to requests, beautiful buildings, wifi, all in all a very good experience. I may never stay onsite again or at least not as often.
AFVC
Ive gotta add something about them. No hassle. None at all. I booked, paid and that was the only contact I had with them I got a confirmation email and about 2 weeks before we arrived the Timeshare sent us paper work. It was a great experience. I would suggest that whichever timeshare you book, research it thoroughly. Become familiar with AFVCs options before you book. I use trip advisor, but take their comments with a grain of salt.
.
For us it just adds to the vacation knowing we haven't gone into debt to pay for a hotel that is above our means. 
