OT-Places to Stay in Disneyworld

[Scout]

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.

thank you! I tried googling Disboards and then I realized that was the real name of them! I was on it for about 2 hours last night!! And I will look for the guide.

[countrymom]

I'm here right now, we stay in a house.

[DCMom]

We went through VRBO and rented a huge 4-bedroom house with a pool on the 18th hole of a golf course in Kissammee. Even with the car rental it was still cheaper than a hotel and buying all our food at the resort. About the third day, our kids just wanted to stay at the house with the pool and we went to the parks in the evening. It was nice not to have 5 of us cooped up in a hotel room and we saved a ton on food.

[Scout]

I'm here right now, we stay in a house.

I hope you have a WONDERFUL, RELAXING TIME!!happyface

[Scout]

I think I am going to be addicted to the Disboards!!:: I was up til 1 last night scoping out different off site resorts!! I am leaning toward a condo resort over a house now only because I don't want to have to worry about little guy walking out the door and into the pool(you never know if we may forget to lock a door!). So far I love Sheraton Vistana Villages and Lake Buena Vista Resort and Spa has the coolest pirate ship pool for the kids too! This will be a very hard decision for me!

[countrymom]

its so much better staying in a house then on resort. First you don't have to worry about people screaming and yelling at all hours, you buy your own food so you save money and washer and dryer. You can wash your own clothes so when you go home all you have to do is put it all away ! we also like the fact that the kids have their own space so they do whatever they want in the house.

[spud912]

I think I am going to be addicted to the Disboards!!:: I was up til 1 last night scoping out different off site resorts!! I am leaning toward a condo resort over a house now only because I don't want to have to worry about little guy walking out the door and into the pool(you never know if we may forget to lock a door!). So far I love Sheraton Vistana Villages and Lake Buena Vista Resort and Spa has the coolest pirate ship pool for the kids too! This will be a very hard decision for me!

Haha ditto!! I have been frequenting that board more now than this board. We are going to DisneyLAND in a month and a half....soooooo excited!!! We are staying off site (across the street, which is a closer walk than some of the Disney hotels). We ultimately decided on a cheap hotel with a suite (separate rooms for sleeping convenience) since we aren't going for the hotel . We do make a point of saving up enough money to eat out because we enjoy it, so we will be eating out most of the meals (except breakfasts ).

[Play Care]

I think I am going to be addicted to the Disboards!!:: I was up til 1 last night scoping out different off site resorts!! I am leaning toward a condo resort over a house now only because I don't want to have to worry about little guy walking out the door and into the pool(you never know if we may forget to lock a door!). So far I love Sheraton Vistana Villages and Lake Buena Vista Resort and Spa has the coolest pirate ship pool for the kids too! This will be a very hard decision for me!

Haha! I am on pretty much nonstop when we are going. I have to go cold turkey when the trip is over because I get jealous of everyone still planning

I don't know how old your kids are but one of the pros of staying onsite when you have little ones is being able to go back and forth easily from park to hotel. One of the posters already touched on an issue some people have when staying off site - they find they want to hang out at their "home" and are not at the parks as much. Now, for me, this wouldn't be a terrible issue - some of the rental homes and condos have so many things to do right there and we go in winter so just being out of the snow/cold is mostly good enough. But some people get really tweeky at the thought of having shelled out almost a grand for park tickets and not going every day (you've probably already read their posts:: ).

As I said we just got back and stayed onsight. While the transportation was awesome toward the end of the week I didn't feel so much as surrounded by the Disney "bubble" as suffocated by it. By Thursday I would have sold my soul to be able to cook a meal and wash some clothes. ::

[Scout]

its so much better staying in a house then on resort. First you don't have to worry about people screaming and yelling at all hours, you buy your own food so you save money and washer and dryer. You can wash your own clothes so when you go home all you have to do is put it all away ! we also like the fact that the kids have their own space so they do whatever they want in the house.

I am only looking at resorts with full kitchens! and most have washers and dryers too! I just am really worried about a patio door to a pool that is RIGHT THERE! Kwim? I still have lots of time to plan so we will see!

[Scout]

Haha! I am on pretty much nonstop when we are going. I have to go cold turkey when the trip is over because I get jealous of everyone still planning

I don't know how old your kids are but one of the pros of staying onsite when you have little ones is being able to go back and forth easily from park to hotel. One of the posters already touched on an issue some people have when staying off site - they find they want to hang out at their "home" and are not at the parks as much. Now, for me, this wouldn't be a terrible issue - some of the rental homes and condos have so many things to do right there and we go in winter so just being out of the snow/cold is mostly good enough. But some people get really tweeky at the thought of having shelled out almost a grand for park tickets and not going every day (you've probably already read their posts:: ).

As I said we just got back and stayed onsight. While the transportation was awesome toward the end of the week I didn't feel so much as surrounded by the Disney "bubble" as suffocated by it. By Thursday I would have sold my soul to be able to cook a meal and wash some clothes. ::

I definately don't want to go to a park every day! I am only going to buy a 4 or 5 day park pass for a 7 day stay. I want down time the first day, one in the middle and probably the last day. The kids will be 2 and 5 if we go in may or 3 and 5 if we go in Sept. You stayed at AOA right? Did you love it?

[Scout]

Haha ditto!! I have been frequenting that board more now than this board. We are going to DisneyLAND in a month and a half....soooooo excited!!! We are staying off site (across the street, which is a closer walk than some of the Disney hotels). We ultimately decided on a cheap hotel with a suite (separate rooms for sleeping convenience) since we aren't going for the hotel . We do make a point of saving up enough money to eat out because we enjoy it, so we will be eating out most of the meals (except breakfasts ).

I wonder what the difference is in the World and the Land? You will have to let me know if you've been to both.

[spud912]

I wonder what the difference is in the World and the Land? You will have to let me know if you've been to both.

Oh, HUGE difference! I've been to both already and World is a lot better IMHO. World (and the surrounding parks) has a lot more "stuff" to see so you would need more days to see it all. Plus, I like all the surrounding activities in Orlando and its outskirts (better beaches, more thematic dining choices, etc.). We are going to Land because we live in Arizona and we can drive. If I had to fly somewhere (4 tickets ), it would be out of our price range. I do want to take our daughters to World, but not until further down the road when I make more money

[spud912]

Haha! I am on pretty much nonstop when we are going. I have to go cold turkey when the trip is over because I get jealous of everyone still planning

I don't know how old your kids are but one of the pros of staying onsite when you have little ones is being able to go back and forth easily from park to hotel. One of the posters already touched on an issue some people have when staying off site - they find they want to hang out at their "home" and are not at the parks as much. Now, for me, this wouldn't be a terrible issue - some of the rental homes and condos have so many things to do right there and we go in winter so just being out of the snow/cold is mostly good enough. But some people get really tweeky at the thought of having shelled out almost a grand for park tickets and not going every day (you've probably already read their posts:: ).

As I said we just got back and stayed onsight. While the transportation was awesome toward the end of the week I didn't feel so much as surrounded by the Disney "bubble" as suffocated by it. By Thursday I would have sold my soul to be able to cook a meal and wash some clothes. ::

I've wondered how I'm going to "detox" from Disney thoughts and planning after we come back. I've heard the only thing to do is plan the next trip, but that won't be awhile for us (we hardly ever spend money on vacation so this will take some recovery).

[Play Care]

I've wondered how I'm going to "detox" from Disney thoughts and planning after we come back. I've heard the only thing to do is plan the next trip, but that won't be awhile for us (we hardly ever spend money on vacation so this will take some recovery).

That seems to be common disboard wisdom We are also not planning on going back for at least 3-4 years. To start planning now would be bordering on obession, IMO

[Kim]

Have you checked into Bonnet Creek. It's on Disney property but now owned by Disney. They have everything you're looking for plus they're really close to the all the parks. It even has a lazy river. There's a thread on the disboards dedicated to the place!

My favorite place to stay on property is Caribbean Beach- tropical getaway without paying a ton. I don't want a kitchen though- this mama isn't cooking on vacation! I usually wash our clothes mid week while we are at the pool. Whoever thought of putting the laundry building at the pool was really thinking!