Cheapest offsite lodging

[sbkline]

From reading the various threads in these forums, I have been surprised by the lodging that some have chosen who stayed off site. I've heard comments like "you can't stay off property for cheaper than the value resorts", etc. Everybody talks like you can't stay off property for less than 60 or 70 a night.

When my wife and I have gone, we have always stayed in the Super 8 motel on Vine Street in Kissimmee. Naturally, the price has been a little different each time, but the first two times we went, we were paying $40 a night or less. Total room bill for 10 or 11 nights of less than $400, I believe...or at least pretty darn close to it. Not the fanciest of places to be sure, but a decent, clean motel which serves the purpose: a place to sleep at night and a place to shower and shave in the morning and then spend all the time in between at the area attractions. I felt like there was no need to spend tons on a place that we were only going to see early in the morning and late at night. However, after having done that a couple times, we've decided we really want to try the whole WDW resort experience.

So what about everyone else. What is the cheapest you've paid for offsite lodging? Do you have to have the best, or are you willing to settle for a Super 8 or a Red Roof Inn?

 

[JimboJones123]

By the time you pay for parking and the additional gas, depending on time of year, you are better off at the values. Right now it's $64 a night.

 

[sbkline]

By the time you pay for parking and the additional gas, depending on time of year, you are better off at the values. Right now it's $64 a night.

Ya, I did have to fill up the tank two or three times on those trips, from driving to the WDW parks 4 different days, as well as Sea World and Bush Gardens. However, I should only count the 4 WDW parks, as I would still be driving to the other places, albeit from a closer distance. And ya, you're right...parking for 4 days at 8 bucks a piece comes up almost to the price of a tank of gas, so perhaps with that stuff considered, I would be just as well off staying on property...depending on what time of year I stayed, of course. I think the time of year that we usually go, it's in the 80 or 90 dollar range.

 

[JimboJones123]

But then again saving 15 bucks over 10 days even after gas and parking, is still $150. First and formost should be concidered budget. If a WDW trip is going to stress you out for money, then definatly do what you need to do. The regular value rate is $79 in value season. $99 in reg, and $115 in peak. I think it's also $129 in holiday. They might not be exact but pretty close.

We would never stay anywhere but Pop again. The "value" of stying there is perfect for us. We only travel in value season too. I just can't justify playing 30% more for hotel because we go on a different week. I stand by Pop though. Refill Mugs. Pools that you don't need to take a shot before going into.

The free parking is the kicker for us. It just hurts to pay for parking anywhere. I don't believe in it. I won't go downtown for that very reason.

I would always look into Pop as an option. It's essentially a Moderate resort without the water slide.

 

[sbkline]

But then again saving 15 bucks over 10 days even after gas and parking, is still $150. First and formost should be concidered budget. If a WDW trip is going to stress you out for money, then definatly do what you need to do. The regular value rate is $79 in value season. $99 in reg, and $115 in peak. I think it's also $129 in holiday. They might not be exact but pretty close.

Thankfully, we've been blessed so far in that we haven't been stressed out for budgets on our previous WDW trips. We had money saved up every time. Initially I picked the Super 8 in Kissimmee because that's where my buds and I stayed in 2000 when we went and I'm the type that tends to do things the way I did before. Plus, at the time, I preferred to have more money to spend on area attractions as opposed to spending alot of money on a place we aren't even going to be spending much time at. Then, in '04, I had the same thing in mind, but also was wanting to "redo" our honeymoon from the previous year. Ya, ya, I know...I'm a sentimental old fool. :lol:

I don't regret those choices one bit and we had a blast. However, as sentimental as I am and liking to do things the way I've done in the past, we're both ready to try a different experience. This next time, we're cutting it in half...one week instead of two...and chopping out all the non-Disney theme parks, although we will probably still play mini-golf off property. And just doing WDW for the whole 7 days and spending that "saved" money on the higher priced accomodations of the Disney Resort experience.

btw, I never realized that Pop Century was so nice. From the pictures I've seen, I thought it just looked like another "all star" resort.

However, we seem to be digressing from the original topic of what is the cheapest off property place people have ever stayed in.

 

[awalte7]

I always stay at the hawaiian maingate lodge on Irlo bronson highway. Yes it's tacky, but I don't spend any time in the room. It's 35 bucks a night, it's four minutes from disney and there is a free shuttle to the parks. Even if you don't take the shuttle, 4 miles is not going to use much gas and even though it's 8 bucks a day to park, 43 is still cheaper than 70.
When I have kids I will probably opt for the onsite hotels just for the experience But if you're on a budet, it's not so terrible to stay offsite.

 

[sbkline]

I always stay at the hawaiian maingate lodge on Irlo bronson highway. Yes it's tacky, but I don't spend any time in the room. It's 35 bucks a night, it's four minutes from disney and there is a free shuttle to the parks. Even if you don't take the shuttle, 4 miles is not going to use much gas and even though it's 8 bucks a day to park, 43 is still cheaper than 70.

Plus, with the shuttle, you have to leave the park at a certain time, ready or not, or else you're walking or hitching a ride. I'd rather use a little gas and be able to leave whenever I want.

Wow, just out of curiousity, I checked online what the rates are for that Super 8 in Kissimmee for when we go next year, and it has shot up to $69.95 a night! It was only around 40 or a little less the times we were there in april '03 and april '04. Of course, I know prices can be weird that time of year because of when Easter happens to fall, but a 30-35 dollar hike?!?! Wow! I mean, we have definite plans to stay on property this time around, so we had no intention of staying there this time anyway, but still...

 

[barnum42]

Best price I had - flight from UK and two weeks a ten munute drive from the parks £350.

 

[MomofKatie]

DD and I are going for 5 nights in January, and we have reservations at Howard Johnson Maingate East on Irlo Bronson Hwy. We got the rate of $39/night. The total for all 5 nights is $232.85 (including tax and a $2.50/night room surcharge).

I hope it will be OK- we are "onsite" people, but this needs to be a super cheapo trip- DSIL promised us free lodging with them at OKW, then reneged AFTER we already bought tickets and made our ADRs. I couldn't face telling DD that our trip was cancelled, so I decided to suck it up, work some extra mystery shops, and find a really inexpensive offsite hotel.

 

[sbkline]

DD and I are going for 5 nights in January, and we have reservations at Howard Johnson Maingate East on Irlo Bronson Hwy. We got the rate of $39/night. The total for all 5 nights is $232.85 (including tax and a $2.50/night room surcharge).

I hope it will be OK- we are "onsite" people, but this needs to be a super cheapo trip- DSIL promised us free lodging with them at OKW, then reneged AFTER we already bought tickets and made our ADRs. I couldn't face telling DD that our trip was cancelled, so I decided to suck it up, work some extra mystery shops, and find a really inexpensive offsite hotel.

I'm sure it will be fine. We had a total blast the times we went and stayed at the Super 8. You won't have the extra ammenities of on-property guests, but you'll still have a great time. Perhaps you should also take the opportunity this time to do a few non Disney things in Kissimmee or Orlando, such as some mini-golf, or Medeival Times or something.

btw, I can't believe the low price. I would think that a Howard Johnson would be a higher quality than a Super 8, yet the Super 8 we stayed at before (for under $40 a night) is running about $70 a night. Of course, that's for April of next year, and the time of year could have alot to do with it, I suppose.

Just curious, whey did your sister in law reneg on the room stay?

 

[MomofKatie]

Just curious, whey did your sister in law reneg on the room stay?

They have friends who own DVC. The friends "gave" them the 6 night stay at OKW. SIL knew that their friends were staying there with SIL and her family- 3+5=8 guests in a 2 bedroom. She didn't tell me that the friends were staying in the room, too. Too many people in a 2 bedroom, since we would have made the total 10, and the limit is 8 people. SIL thought it would be OK with friends and us to overload the villa- I specifically asked her if there would be any occupancy issues, and she assured me there weren't. Well, her friends nixed the idea, and she didn't break the news to us until we had made all our plans. I was really POed for a day or so, but decided to go ahead and have a great trip with DD (and not go out of our way to do stuff with SIL) anyway.

 

[Nemo14]

The cheapest we ever stayed was with my mom in Groveland - 1/2 hour away. we used to watch the MK fireworks from her backyard.

 

[mousermerf]

DD and I are going for 5 nights in January, and we have reservations at Howard Johnson Maingate East on Irlo Bronson Hwy. We got the rate of $39/night. The total for all 5 nights is $232.85 (including tax and a $2.50/night room surcharge).

MoK, January is a super-dead time so i'm betting some hotels will be tossing their rooms on the discount sites in the next few months, if not already.

That means within a few bucks of the rate you currently have, you might be able to upgrade hotel class signifigantly (I've gotten 3* for $40 a night). Or, you might even get something closer or mid-range (2.5*) for less (WDW's All Star Music and All Star Sports popped up for $36 a night this fall) through priceline or hotwire. Yes, you don't get to choose the hotel, but you do get to name your price and star rating, and with the help of websites you can hedge your bets.

I'd keep your eyes on mousesavers.com and do some research via the bids people have made via betterbidding.com and biddingfortravel.com which both list information on how to bid, and what people have won for what price.

 

[Floridasunshine]

Gotta agree about Priceline and Hotwire ... you can't hardly beat them. But you have to be a little of a gambler at heart because you do not know for sure where you will stay until after you pay ....

Every once in awhile I get a 'dud' hotel or a booking below my expectations thru them, but about 9 out of every 10 bookings, the hotels usually far exceed my expectations. I have gotten Marriott Renaissance in Atlanta for $45 a night; Sheraton New Orleans for $49, Gaylord Opryland in Nashville for $79, Amerisuites for $35... I even bid $22 on one one time and got a decent LaQuinta.... Next month, i stay at Westin Resort Hilton Head for $72. Last month I stayed at a Comfort Suites near Universal for $32 a night --not the Taj Mahal but fairly comfortable for the price.

There are definitely good values to be had thru them,,,,just remember that in a way you ARE gambling as it is ALL non-refundable/non-transferable.

Another good site to check is skyauction.com. Also sign up for newsletters from travelzoo, sidestep, site59, and lastminutetravel among others.

 

[MomofKatie]

mousemerf and Floridasunshine, thanks for the info and tips! I did book one night at the HoJo through Hotwire- $34 plus tax and fees to total $45.50. The HoJo website lists the rooms at $39- I reserved for the other 4 nights through them, so I could cancel if I needed to and get a refund.

We did Priceline for a Washington DC trip this spring- ended up paying $40/night during Easter weekend at the Alexandria Comfort Inn. Pretty good deal considering DC prices and Spring Break!!

I've heard that the best $$ deals are at around the 45-60 day window, so I'll keep checking back with Hotwire, Priceline, etc. Maybe we can get an even better deal!

 

[lentesta]

MomofKatie, which HoJo did you book at? My experience at the HoJo Enchantedland on 192 was terrible. I wouldn't stay there again if it was free.

I do like the Econologde Polynesian Isle just off 192. Clean. Quiet. Friendly staff. Free Little Debbie snack cakes for breakfast. Roughly $40 per night most of the year, and something like 11 minutes from most theme park parking lots.

Len

 

[MomofKatie]

MomofKatie, which HoJo did you book at? My experience at the HoJo Enchantedland on 192 was terrible. I wouldn't stay there again if it was free.

I do like the Econologde Polynesian Isle just off 192. Clean. Quiet. Friendly staff. Free Little Debbie snack cakes for breakfast. Roughly $40 per night most of the year, and something like 11 minutes from most theme park parking lots.

Len

Len,

We booked with Howard Johnson Maingate East. I will look into the Econolodge, though- I did pay for 1 night at HoJo through Hotwire, so that night is non-refundable. But I would be OK with doing a different hotel if it is nicer.

Second, let me just say COOL! I actually "talked" with Len Testa, the UG guru!!! I feel honored. You are a :king: bigwig among the Disney-obsessed!!

 

[mkt]

http://www.homesuitehome.com/

Homesuitehome on US 192, formerly the Holiday Inn Nikki Bird.

$160/week... that's all. It's cheap, and nothing more. Housekeeping will visit you once that week, you'll get a bed, and that's about it.

 

[shoppingnut]

http://www.homesuitehome.com/

Homesuitehome on US 192, formerly the Holiday Inn Nikki Bird.

$160/week... that's all. It's cheap, and nothing more. Housekeeping will visit you once that week, you'll get a bed, and that's about it.

Unless they have gutted that place to the studs and have redone it, I wouldn't put my foot even in the parking lot. We stayed there before the moderates and values came along and I thought it was horrible then.

The Howard Johnson's on 192 is very old, hope they have at least redone the rooms recently because otherwise you might not be happy.

 

[mkt]

Unless they have gutted that place to the studs and have redone it, I wouldn't put my foot even in the parking lot. We stayed there before the moderates and values came along and I thought it was horrible then.

The Howard Johnson's on 192 is very old, hope they have at least redone the rooms recently because otherwise you might not be happy.

I was going for cheap, not good