OT-Places to Stay in Disneyworld

[Scout]

We are planning a trip next May(2014) and I am getting overwhelmed with where to stay! There are so many great options!! At first I was sold on The Cabins at Fort Wilderness because I want a full kitchen for at least breakfast. I also don't want to be confined to just a hotel room when DS naps! But, the more I look the more I find more affordable options! Most of them are time share resorts so I have been reading reviews and see many are ok if you don't do the presentations. We were going to drive at first but, have since decided to fly since traveling with a 2 and 5 yo isn't ideal for a 20 hour ride! Also, then we can stay 7 dayshappyface!!

Have any of you ever stayed at a resort off of Disney property that has condos or full kitchen rooms that you would recommend for a family with young kids? Thanks!

[NeedaVaca]

We rented a house with a pool when we went to Disney. It was awesome because we would go to the parks in the morning, come home for lunch or naps for the young kids. Older kids could swim, go back to the parks in the afternoon. It didn't take more than 15 minutes to drive to the parks from the house and we saved a lot of money on food!

[Play Care]

Have you gone on the DISboards? You can get some awesome info off there.
We just got back from Disney. We stayed onsight at their new Art of Animation resport in the Little Mermaid room (we went over President's week and the cost of the suites was a bit much...) We LOVED the Disney transportation. They picked us up from the airport and then we used their shuttles the whole week. When we stayed off site last time, the place had shuttles but they were not as frequent. So if you are not going to have a car, it's something to really think about.

[Scout]

Have you gone on the DISboards? You can get some awesome info off there.
We just got back from Disney. We stayed onsight at their new Art of Animation resport in the Little Mermaid room (we went over President's week and the cost of the suites was a bit much...) We LOVED the Disney transportation. They picked us up from the airport and then we used their shuttles the whole week. When we stayed off site last time, the place had shuttles but they were not as frequent. So if you are not going to have a car, it's something to really think about.

That is a struggle for me as I REALLY LOVE THE CARS SECTION OF THAT RESORT! I know ds would be in complete awe of it all but, if we do that with airfare and only a 5 day park hopper ticket it's close to $5000! I was looking on Expedia and I can get air, hotel, and a car rental for only $2000 so this is why I am confused!! We would save at least $1000....what to do, what to do! Do you have a specific board you visited? i have only checked out the moms panel on Disney's site and I am pretty sure they are supposed to get you to stay on Disney properties!

[Scout]

We rented a house with a pool when we went to Disney. It was awesome because we would go to the parks in the morning, come home for lunch or naps for the young kids. Older kids could swim, go back to the parks in the afternoon. It didn't take more than 15 minutes to drive to the parks from the house and we saved a lot of money on food!

Did you do a VRBO?

[NeedaVaca]

Did you do a VRBO?

I'm sorry I don't know what VRBO is

[Springdaze]

I think its better to stay at a resort. you get transportation and the late hours!

[Unregistered]

That is a struggle for me as I REALLY LOVE THE CARS SECTION OF THAT RESORT! I know ds would be in complete awe of it all but, if we do that with airfare and only a 5 day park hopper ticket it's close to $5000! I was looking on Expedia and I can get air, hotel, and a car rental for only $2000 so this is why I am confused!! We would save at least $1000....what to do, what to do! Do you have a specific board you visited? i have only checked out the moms panel on Disney's site and I am pretty sure they are supposed to get you to stay on Disney properties!

I'm on a different device I will try to give you the link when I get my laptop back ( dh is currently hogging it ) the DISboards are great because you get opinions from those who have stayed both on and offsite and you may get a better idea of what would work for your family.
The deciding factor for us is money, but also that for our family, Disney is not a premier travel destination. We are not going to pay top dollar for an amusement park vacation. Don't get me wrong, Disney does it like no other, but at the end of the day, it's still an amusement park. We plan on going to Hawaii in a couple of years and a European trip when are girls are a bit older. I don't want to stay at the Grand Floridian if it means I can't go to other places.

[Unregistered]

And please excuse the spelling, grammar and other mistakes

[Michael]

We were going to stay at the Disneyland Pier Hotel next week but we also own a townhouse 20 minutes away in Laguna Beach and decided to stay there instead. The Disney hotels can be pricey but its nice to stay within the Disney environment. Here are some Disney resorts to compare: http://disneyland.disney.go.com/hotels/compare/

[Scout]

I'm sorry I don't know what VRBO is

sorry, it's vacation rentals by owner!

[Scout]

I'm on a different device I will try to give you the link when I get my laptop back ( dh is currently hogging it ) the DISboards are great because you get opinions from those who have stayed both on and offsite and you may get a better idea of what would work for your family.
The deciding factor for us is money, but also that for our family, Disney is not a premier travel destination. We are not going to pay top dollar for an amusement park vacation. Don't get me wrong, Disney does it like no other, but at the end of the day, it's still an amusement park. We plan on going to Hawaii in a couple of years and a European trip when are girls are a bit older. I don't want to stay at the Grand Floridian if it means I can't go to other places.

I agree. I want to go and have a great time but, there is no way I'd pay over $500 a night to stay at a resort! This is sortof why I am looking off site now. Some of these resorts have putt putt, basketball, etc. and ds is a sports nut, even at 4! I will greatly appreciate the link too! I just wanted to do a fun family vacation for them and I really don't like the beach, even though we will go to Myrtle Beach probably the next year or year after that(want to make sure little guy knows how to swim before that).

[Springdaze]

I'm on a different device I will try to give you the link when I get my laptop back ( dh is currently hogging it ) the DISboards are great because you get opinions from those who have stayed both on and offsite and you may get a better idea of what would work for your family.
The deciding factor for us is money, but also that for our family, Disney is not a premier travel destination. We are not going to pay top dollar for an amusement park vacation. Don't get me wrong, Disney does it like no other, but at the end of the day, it's still an amusement park. We plan on going to Hawaii in a couple of years and a European trip when are girls are a bit older. I don't want to stay at the Grand Floridian if it means I can't go to other places.

I agree with this. I went for the first time in dec and it was really cool and I was excited to finally say I went, but I think I would have had just as much fun other places. Money adds up pretty quick!

[NeedaVaca]

Did you do a VRBO?

Yes! In the end even though we needed a car rental I think we saved more this way and it was a much more relaxed atmosphere. The kids were so wound up from the parks that it was nice to get away at the end of the day. We saved $ eating at the house and with the pool kids got to swim during the day and at night with no one else around which was awesome!

[Play Care]

http://www.disboards.com/

I also like "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World" by Bob Sehlinger. He updates the book every year. Your library may have a copy or if you have a interlibrary network they might be able to request it from one who does. He also reviews the pros and cons of onsite vs. offsite.