Dh and I are taking our 3 year old and 12 year old to Orlando May 8-15. Visiting 3 Disney parks ( only 1 park per day), Downtown Disney and SeaWorld. We will be driving our own car and will only be in the room to sleep.
Is it worth the extra $$$ to stay at a Moderate Disney resort vs a Value resort or should we just find an off site hotel and save the extra $$$?
We are willing to pay more if something is REALLY worth it, but not sure if we%26#39;d use the Disney transportation since we will have our own car.
Plus, I have been reading that the Disney resorts have LONG walks from rooms to buses and can be VERY loud and TONS of screaming kids! Also, don%26#39;t really want to wait in long lines/crowded buses to get to a park, if we can drive our own car and get there faster.
Am I missing some other advantages to Disney vs off site???
Value Resort vs Moderate Resort vs off site hotelDo you happen to be a member of AAA? You can get great discounts at Disney value resorts if you are, as much as 20% off rooms.
If Disney parks are your main destination, I always recommend staying at a Disney resort. The parking fees for several days can add up ($12 per day), so just deduct that cost from your room cost and you%26#39;ll see the value resorts aren%26#39;t that much more money that a normal hotel outside property, and you are so much closer and quicker to Disney destinations. Remember, you can drive to the parks and not rely on busses if you choose, and you don%26#39;t pay parking fees if staying at Disney.
The EMH advantages are great as well. We always take advantage of EMH days, especially mornings.
Let me add that driving your own vehicle to the parks at Disney is usually a good idea, except for Magic Kingdom. The bus is better there, since you wouldn%26#39;t have to fool with the monorail or ferry boat back across to the parking lot.
Value Resort vs Moderate Resort vs off site hotelHello,
Another advantage is you can book your dining reservations earlier than if not on property.
I have to say that I have stayed at all the different types of resorts that Disney has to offer, from Pop to Caribbean Beach to Port Orleans to the Contemporary. Not in any of them have I heard of screaming kids. Once in a while you might hear someone as they pass by your door but not from room to room.
If you are taking your car you won%26#39;t have to worry about the wait for a bus. Just show your I.D at each park to park for free. This will give you much more flexibility and save you some time.
Donna
You can get some great deals off site. It all depends how into Disney you are. Staying on site entitles you to a few more perks like EMH%26#39;s, charging to your room and free parking at the parks. I would stay at a value if you only plan on showering and sleeping at the resort. If you will do more, I%26#39;d step up to a moderate.
Thank you for the replies!
We will only be in the resort to sleep. Don%26#39;t plan to use any of the facilities of any hotel Disney or otherwise.
We are only going to 3 Disney Parks, so the 7 day pass with Disney%26#39;s package is not that much of a ';deal';.
We won%26#39;t be doing any special character dinners, so need reservations necessary for that.
We won%26#39;t be doing the extra hours at any park---our DD is NOT a morning person and with DS being so young, he won%26#39;t make it past 7 PM anyway, so I don%26#39;t see this as being a benefit.
From what I see, our only ';benefit'; (for US) to staying at a Disney Resort is the Disney Transportation. Just not sure that is all that much of a benefit. If we go to only 3 parks, that is only a parking savings of $36. So, need to find other reasons to make it worthwhile.
Since you will not use many of the perks you probably should look at the downtown disney hotels to be close to disney but not in disney.
I like to be onsite but for all the reason you said you will not use.
TheMacks-----Are the downtown Disney hotels you are refering to part of Disney or are they independent?
DH is leaning towards staying at a Disney resort, as he was told that if you buy things at the Disney parks, they will be sent to your resort and you don%26#39;t have to carry the packages around all day. Is this true? That WOULD be important for us, as DD and I like to shop! ;-)
it depends how much of a big holiday this is for you. if you want to make it a really big deal for your kids, i would stay onsite. my parents took me and my sister to orlando most years from when i was 5 and we stayed in a different hotel each time. the only ones that i can actually remember are all stars sports, coronado springs and caribbean beach (the only disney hotels we%26#39;ve stayed at - as a 7 year old, i absolutely loved all stars!). it meant the spirit of disney was constant during those holidays, which just made them so much more special. those experiences really stand out in my memory, whereas the other hotels just blur into one. i do see where you%26#39;re coming from regarding the perks not justifying the extra expense tho. if i were u i would make this decision based on how much of a difference u think it will make to ur kids.
I like the on site hotel but only for a about max of 4 nights as they are small for a family of four. I prefer a villa/condo its about the same price and just so much more space. If you want to be near disney I would look at the double tree suites on disey world property or the homewood suites near by. These may give you the best of both worlds.
Yes they do send packages to your resort. Very easy I believe too. I saw someone picking up stuff at Coronado they had sent there. We did not use it.
The downtown disney hotels are on disney property but not owned by disney. They are independant. You do not get all the perks of staying onsite.
I like staying onsite and believe it or not you might use those Magic hours. You kids who are not morning kids will all of a sudden become a morning kid, those who go to bed early will not want to.
I personally like the disney transportation especially with kids. The getting in the car and driving each day takes from the vacation. Hoping on a bus with others heading to a park too on vacation keeps you in vacation spirit. We have been on full buses once in a while and everyone if in good spirits so it is not miserable. If someone has a sleeping baby someone will give up their seat. If someone is elderly they give up their seat. If a little kid does not have seat someone will give up their seat. Of course a few do not follow this but most do.
If I had no kids and a car onsite I might drive. Remember with a car you still have to wait for the tram to take you to your section in the parking lot. Also at MK you have to monorail or ferry to the park lot, if staying onsite you just go to your bus stop.
Hi mel9294
Have You tryed to calculate what the cost difference is If You buy three days bacis tickets for four person which is 3 adult Your one son is 12 ? and one child the price for 3 days are 815 dollars plus tax
The more days who is added the cheaper is it.
If You go outside maybe Hilton Downtown Disney You will get the morning hours and evening hours to get into the park and You might get a good rate there aswell.
Mutter
No comments:
Post a Comment