My husband and I got a cruise special that includes 3 days in Orlando at the Hilton Double Tree for 3 days. So we are planning to bring our kids to Orlando and do the ocean and Universal while at the Double Tree. Then I’m trying to decide whether it would be best to then drive (we will have a rental car) to Disney World and stay at an onsite resort for our Disney World time–OR whether to just extend our stay at the Hilton and drive in and out of Disney World each day. This will be our FIRST trip her and I would so appreciate any wisdom on this topic. i.e. What will be best for my family (husband, 3 kids)? Okay to transfer lodging locations–or is that unusual? Guessing it would be more expensive to transfer and then stay in the park–but maybe worth it? Ideas? Ideas for what to research? THANK YOU!
Yes, it will be cheaper to stay off site. You will have to either stay at a suite or at least a moderate resort for a family of five.
That being said- there are so many benefits to staying on site. Will your children want to get a FP for 7DMT? The ability to get FPs 60 days out is important. It also saves you a $20 daily parking fee (parking is free if you stay at a Disney resort). Plus- you will be in the bubble!
Oh that’s so helpful. Okay–so we will have a rental car–so that makes me think we should stay on site too. This is such a big deal for us as we don’t do “big” vacations and want to make the most of it.
So yes we will want FPs (remind me what that means). I’m just beginning reading my book “The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2016.” (Note should I get the book focused on kids too–or do you know if this one covers it).
SO 2 more questions:
- What’s the fewest amount of days you’d recommend to take in Disney? (know we are going off season–so no water parks) I’m thinking 3-4? We will be coming from a stay at universal Studios.
- Second–do you have recommendations for where to stay on-site with a family of 5? Which ones to look into first?
Thanks,
Jenna
What month are you going ( thinking about discounts)? Will you be on a strict budget ( will you want to pay for park hopper tickets which will all about $240 or so (I think?)
FPs are fast passes- do you know about those?
Oh! Three kids- $300 just for the park hopper addition! The park hoppeR would allow you to go to a park until 2:00 and then return to Magic Kingdom or EP at night.
Well I just started reading the Unofficial Guide and so I’m thinking about January or February in 2017 just over a year from now. We will want park hopper tickets so we can go to Hollywood studios/Magic Kingdom/Epcot (top 3). Yes we will want FPs–I do recall reading about those. We will want to book our reservations as early as possible to get the best deal–or I guess I will have to read about that. Second choice for time of year to go (according to the book and our calendar) would be after spring break–so mid-May. We don’t have a strict budget set yet. I’m just trying to figure out what it will cost–but also want to make the most of it–you know? Like we would want to cut corners like–eat breakfast in our room . . .
That will be a great time for Epcot and Hollywood Studios. I think you may want to try to fit Animal Kingdom. First, the Safari is fun but depending on the ages of your children Everest is a not to be missed attraction. Also, Rivers of Light (the new night time show) will not to be missed! I would say you will need at least four days. There will be three night time shows that you may/ may not want to see!
May would add the Flower and Garden show but January/February may have Star Wars.
On site for a family of 5 you have a couple of options. A family suite at a value will cost more than a moderate that sleeps five but would give you two bathrooms. Depending on the ages of your children (teenagers?) you could also get two value rooms. Finally, you could rent points at a DVC such as David’s or the DVC rental store (at 11 months).
It all depends on what you want and what you are used to. I think it is FUN to stay onsite. You are inside the bubble and you do get some perks - it comes down to a few things - of which $ is a big proponent. We have been several times and I offer the following
1 - As you have a car you may want to think of the Swan or Dolphin - you get a lot of the same benefits but it is much less $$
2 - You may also want to think of the Hilton near Disney Springs as it also gives extra Magic hours.
3 - If you can affort it - I would suggest an onsite Deluxe hotel (as you have 3 kids) - or rent points. But as it is your first time - Points may be too much to handle
4 - I would NOT get park hopper - especially if your kids are smaller. There is so much to do at a single park and you waste so much time going from park to park that we have never found the value in them. I would use the extra money to upgrade my accommodations. The Park Hopper allows you to HOP from park to park on a single day (NOT NEEDED) - you just need a 3 or 4 day ticket. Each day you go to a single park - you will be FINE - especially if it is your first time.
Good to know. So I’ve noted Animal Kingdom- Safari, Everest, and River of Light. I’ve noted 4 days. That’s helpful. My two boys (then will be 10/12) are HUGE Star Wars fans (did I say huge? 
) So that makes me think Jan/Feb. If you have suggestions around that, do tell. My daughter who will be 8 by then, will still want to do the princess tea thing and see princesses.
We are fine with one bathroom but will need sleeping for 5. So sounds like we should look for a “moderate room that sleeps 5?”
What do you mean rent points like DVC . . . can you say more–I don’t understand what that is.
Disney has DVC (Disney Vacation Club). Most studios can sleep five but it will be tight. They also have a microwave small kitchenette area. DVC are all in deluxe resorts (Animal Kingdom Lodge, Beach Club, Boardwalk, Winderness Lidge, Poly) or DVC resorts (Saratoga Springs, Old Key West). Try this for info : David's Vacation Club Rentals & DVC Rentals - MouseSavers.com
Swan/Dolphin as recommend above is great but there is a resort fee and parking fee, so it will add up. I think the Hilton is losing some of the benefits this December? (It may be another off site hotel?)
I think you should also get as much information about the park hopper before you decide. My first thought was no way you should pay that much. That being said- I would never go to Disney without a park hopper. I spend extra time in Magic Kingdom. I will go to Magic Kingdom in the morning, take a break and then use my Fast Passes in a second park, or spend all day at another park and then go to Magic Kingdom. When you go there should be night time activities in al, the parks so maybe you can just focus on one park. The thing about Disney tickets is that the more days you get the cheaper it is.
This is very helpful. Thank you. It is our first time–and since that is the case, I can see just being at one park each day and being fine with it. So that makes sense to use that money toward accommodations. So I think I will research the onsite Deluxe hotels . . . are there a few? Do you have any suggestions on which one?
I don’t understand the points very well–but “PrincipalTinker” directed me to a site below so I’ll look into it. Not sure if it would be helpful to be in that DVC or not–but I can check.
For a family of five you can stay at Boardwalk (I think they are addin a day bed) Yacht Club, Beach Club . Those resorts are Boardwalk area and you can walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studiios. The rooms will be about $300 a night after discounts. You may be able to get a very good discount in February through Magical Vacation Travels. They sometimes had agency exclusive rates and then you could buy discounted tickets through Undercover Tourist or another ticket seller. The monorail resorts also sleep five but will be more money. Animal Kingdom Lodge only sleeps five in their DVC I believe. WL when you are traveling would be the cheapest deluxe.
Regarding the hotels - there are several and they are “grouped” around different parks. So if you plan on doing a lot at Magic Kingdom - you may want to try the Contemporary, the Polynesian, the Grand Floridian or Wilderness Lodge. All are nice. The first 3 are “monorail resorts” - which means there is a monorail available to take you directly to the Magic Kingdom or you transfer and can take a Monorail to Epcot as well. Wilderness Lodge is NOT on the monorail - but you can take a boat to the Magic Kingdom. All resorts have buses that go elsewhere - but if you have a car - you are better off driving.
Wilderness Lodge - not as expensive but is a great resort - looks like something out of the National Parks. We love it.
Contemporary - not much theming - but convenient and the monorail goes right through the hotel
Polynesean - think HAWAII
Grand Floridian - looks like the hotel Del Coronado in San Diego. Some people say it is too formal - but if you can afford to stay there - it probably isn’t too formal for you.
Near Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom Lodge - Awesome. Friends of ours were on actual Safari and they thought this was as close as you could get to it
Around Epcot /MGM (you can walk)
Beach and Yacht Club (2 hotels connected)
Very cool - upscale but comfortable. AWESOME POOL - you won’t need to go to a waterpark
Boardwalk - very nice - however the pool is creepy. There is a clown that looks like the clown from Stephen King’s IT
Swan / Dolphin - not disney owned (Sheraton / Westin). Not as expensive or as themed as disney - but the location is great and you get a lot of the same perks.
There are many other options too - if $ is no object there are even more options.
Some people will say the hotel isn’t important - I love to come back to a nicer hotel where it is just calmer and the accomodations nicer. We have stayed at value and they are nice - but given the ability to upgrade - I would suggest it.
In the end you don’t have to stay on property and can stay some very nice places off property. When I went as a kid - MOST people stayed off (as did we) - so staying on is a treat - not a necessity.
Boardwalk and
So helpful–really. I love this forum and the fact I can learn from others.
I will check out the options you have listed. I want the place we stay to have a little fun to it–and I like the idea of having it be a relaxing nice place to return too. Money is an issue–but we will save and make it work --don’t need to have the nicest. I will have to look into which places can work with a family of 5. And how/where do I look for discounts. Do I choose the resort I want first?
If is an issue (and when is it not??) I may suggest staying close but offsite. You can save a lot of by staying off site. Like I said - we used to when we were kids and it was still awesome. Port Orleans Riverside is a moderate and does accomodate 5. We have stayed there and it is perfectly nice. There are a TON of hotels and you really aren’t in the rooms that much. Yes - you need to pay $20 a day to park - but if it is $50 less a day
try mousesavers.com - great site!!!
If you can swing it, I recommend PH. I love the flexibility, especially for dining.
I think the only question is- what is the monetary value of FPs at 60 days (assuming it will be the same) when this trip happens. I imagine the wait times for the new Frozen attraction and Anna and Elsa will be a 60 day booking- which, as Disney wants, adds a value to an onsite stay.
Value Resorts for a family of 5 include Art of Animation Suites and All Star Music Suites. Moderate Resorts are Port Orleans Riverside and Caribbean Beach Resorts. The moderate resorts have 2 queens and a pull-down Murphy bed. Our family of 5 has stayed at both the moderates and liked them both! We have also stayed off-site at one-bedroom condos with a full kitchen and washer/dryer for around $105 a night. 