Am I right with this resort plan or totally off base??

[ToTBellHop]

Personally, I'd get three preferred location rooms at Pop. Every set of adults gets their own room and the kids get to choose where they want to sleep. Preferred keeps you by the main pool, dining, and bus.

If you want to splurge, 3 rooms at a moderate. You are planning on going after Easter, so I bet you could get 20-25% off at Coronado or Caribbean Beach when the deals drop early next year.

 

[jhastings74]

Hi all!
I am admittedly no Disney World expert. I have been there a handful of times throughout my life, but have never been in charge of planning the trip. Now I find myself the mother of four boys, who will be ages two through nine when we plan to go to the park next year late April/early May, and planning a trip for our family of 6 along with all 4 grandparents!

After all my research, given the amount of people we have, not being rich!, having little kids so not wanting to be off property/renting car (my youngest will need to be taken back to resort each day for a nap), I've determined we should get two family suites next to each other at the Arts of Animation Resort. Looks like Total cost for both combined would be about $700/night (unless you know of a deal- I'm all ears!) Each suite sleeps up to 6, so I was thinking one set of grandparents and the two big boys would be in one suite, with me and my husband the other set of grandparents and the two and three-year-old in the other. There's a bus that is exclusive to this resort that takes you to all parks, meaning you don't need to make stops at other resorts extending the ride time, which I figure is necessary with the little guys.

What do you think of that plan? Am I right on or completely missing a better scenario with another resort? Thanks so much for your input!!! I'm so nervous to book this trip and make a mistake!

I think you could also get two cabins at Fort Wilderness for about the same price...and you wouldn't have any neighbors directly connected to you, plus the extra space inside and outside. Not saying it's the best alternative, but just something else to consider.

 

[Disnee4Me]

Am I the only mean mom who didn't take my kids when they were little back to the resort for a nap? The Disney stroller worked just fine for nappinng...LOL. Ok, I know this is not helping with the resort issue, just saying.

 

[jhastings74]

Am I the only mean mom who didn't take my kids when they were little back to the resort for a nap? The Disney stroller worked just fine for nappinng...LOL. Ok, I know this is not helping with the resort issue, just saying.

When my son was little (up until about 4 years old), he would automatically nap in the Winnie the Pooh ride. We were always so excited for him to finally see it THIS time...and EVERY time...no matter when we would try to go, he would fall asleep waiting in line. It was funny (and a little weird), but the first day that he stayed awake for the ride was like a mini-victory for me.

So with dozens of visits (we were locals) over the years, we never returned for mid-day naps. That was just our preference, as like you mentioned with yours, stroller naps didn't bother him one bit (he had blankets and his comfy stuffed animals). That being said, I never have had any problem with the people that choose to go back mid-day. to each their own. And, it thins the crowds out for the rest of us.

 

[Noellikechristmas]

I've thought about getting suites a few times and sometimes I think its better to have separate rooms. You could get 3 rooms for under $200 each and that will put you below $700.

About staying off-site. If you're goal is to save money, I would definitely consider staying off-property. You can get a huge (newer) 4 BR condo for less than $200 a night and many places have their own pool for each condo and a bigger pool for the community.

Also, just to note..and you may not be open to this what-so-ever, but I figured it was worth sharing...Having someone go back to the room with a little one will cut so much time out of their day. That's an hour each way, lugging the stroller on and off buses, the nap, if the child even naps. I know I tried this one day with my 14 month old and she was so entertained with everything around, she wanted nothing to do with napping. I've read people on here with the same idea and by the time they get back to the hotel, the kid is already asleep in the stroller and the child wakes up when they try to transfer to the bed/crib. That said.....I would encourage you to bring a comfy stroller that reclines in case that happens or if they fall asleep at the park. I know my child would fight sleep so hard, than she would pass out where ever....and most of the time on rides! Anyways, Happy Planning!

 

[epcotisbest]

With a family of four or five, able to fit into a single vehicle, and if you don't have to rent a vehicle, your suggestion makes sense. But, with 10 people, the OP would probably need to rent either three compact cars or two minivans. A quick check on Expedia found that compact vehicles are running $33/day and up in Orlando, plus fees and taxes. Minivans start at $80/day. So, not only could the rentals of those vehicles add up, but also they are paying $20 per vehicle, per day just for parking. Rentals and parking costs alone are going to add close to $200 per day to the cost of the vacation. I've not looked up any numbers for home rentals, but it seems to me that unless the home rents for less than $500/night, on-site might actually work out to be less expensive.

12-passenger Ford Transit van rented at MCO is $58.74 per day for dates in early May, 2017. Even with taxes and fees and $20 per day parking, that is hardly $200 per day.
A 6-bedroom house with pool goes for about $1,700 per week including taxes, fees and cleaning fee in a beautiful, gated neighborhood during that same time frame. Now, it is about a 20 minute drive, so no, not anything like staying on property. And I appreciate that some people insist on staying on property. We are staying at SSR soon, knowing there are alternatives, just because we want to.
Anyway, a little time and effort searching alternatives can sometimes save a significant amount of money, but rarely, if ever can it save time or give you that in the bubble escape.

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

I recommend AoA over three rooms elsewhere because of the little kitchenette. I don't think there was even a coffee maker at Pop. It's been awhile, but I don't remember there being one. The microwave comes in handy. My daughter brings individual packets of organic oatmeal and cooks them in the microwave. I like having a sink that's not in a bathroom.

 

[njDizFan]

I would suggest a 3 bedroom lock off at the Sheraton Vistana Villages or resorts. They are within 5 minutes of the parks and you could probably pick one up for about $1500 for the week. 2 sets of kitchens 3 seperate bedrooms 3 bathrooms. This would be a huge savings

 

[PinnySmart]

It literally took forever getting the cars rented and taking them back . I also found it a pain getting in and out of all the parks not just the MK.I guess it is each to their own, but we found way to much of our time wasted staying offsite. No t to mention making dining and fastpass are much harder when staying offsite

If you go about it the right way you can go from baggage claim straight to the car, get in, drive through the check out booth and be on your way. If you stand in a line at the airport to rent a car you are doing it all wrong!

 

[ninjaprincesst]

If you go about it the right way you can go from baggage claim straight to the car, get in, drive through the check out booth and be on your way. If you stand in a line at the airport to rent a car you are doing it all wrong!

We went cheap and drive through was not an option. That experience ruined me on ever staying off site again. We had issues at pick up where they were trying to give us smaller cars than what we had paid for, It was just a nightmare from begining to end. We have rented from Alamo in the past and it went just as you stated. That is not the only reason I won't stay off site just one of them