Help - may need an off-site hotel for 1st night About This Page:

[jjj6689]

We were planning on picking our boys up at school on Nov. 7, driving all night (from Ohio) and just checking into the Polynesian on the morning of the 8th. We have done this before, but now work is stressing my DH out so he has been considering leaving the morning of the 7th, after working all night and letting me drive and getting an off-site hotel for one night. (we have done this before too). Now I am talking him into talking off at midnight or taking the whole night before off so we can start early in the morning, and just drive all day, Now the thought of mom and dad being rested when we start our trip sounds like a really great idea.

It would mean taking the boys out of school for one more day (6-7), but since they are good students (6th grade, 1st grade, and 1st grade) and we only plan a trip every few years we have had no problems. The teachers can just save the boys work and I (past teacher and I sub at their school) am able to use the Thanksgiving break to get them back on track. We also see this as being our last big school year trip, since our oldest will be in Jr. High next year and missing school will be even harder.

So now I need an affordable hotel, free breakfast would be great - any suggestions? We would love to be able to add this day for about $100, I already told my DH I could pack our food for the day.

[Colexis Mom]

We used to stay at the Hampton Inn near Sherberth Road (that leads to AKL) but that got taken over. I'd check out Mousesavers.....she recommends some off site hotels and some have free breakfast

MouseSavers.com - Discounts at Hotels Near Disney World - Orlando Hotel Discount

[TinkMulanMickeysMom]

If you subscribe to the Mousesavers newsletter, you'll get exclusive offers for hotels. Last year I was able to get a night at Royal Plaza (in Downtown Disney) for $62 and got a $10 gas card. The room was nice, the bathroom was huge, the pool was ok.

[BreadBaker]

The Homewood Suites, Embassy Suites and Hampton Inn chains all have free breakfast. The Hamptons are generally cheaper but the suites obviously give you more room including a foldout couch.

We've stayed at the two Embassy Suites near Downtown Disney and found both to be good. The one on Lake Avenue has a larger pool. (We frequently stay at a non-Disney hotel the first night also.)

We have a Hilton branded Amex card which we use to accumulate points. That's the major reason for the first night off site - we make sure it's free. Since you have until November, you should be able to charge enough to get a free stay somewhere in the Disney area.

-BreadBaker

[MelissaL]

We have stayed at the Buena Vista Suites (recommended by Mousesavers, with a rate of $99 per night in November). We had a two-room suite (two queen beds in one room, a pullout sofa, sink and refrigerator in the other, with a bathroom in between) that was much larger than standard rooms at WDW. They have a full breakfast buffet, including hot foods (pancakes, eggs, meats), included in the room rate.

Happy planning!
Melissa

[Disneybound!]

We've done the Holiday Inn Sunspree before, and they're great. Good price for the family/kid fun suites, with 2 double beds or 1 queen or king, and 2 sets of bunk beds. Nice pool and restaurant, and only about 3-5 miles from WDW. I found them in the passporter, so the number should be there to call. Good luck, Ruth

[disney_duke]

If you can get a deal at one of the hotels on Hotel Plaza Road, that's probably the best "off-site" (if you can call it that) place to stay. Otherwise, I have stayed just across the gate there on Palm Parkway at the Comfort Inn and found that to be a good hotel for "cheap." They didn't include breakfast at the time, but I believe they've added it now.

[Carousel96]

You might also want to consider a Value resort for the first night and let WDW transfer your bags while you enjoy your day.

[eff051102]

Originally Posted by Carousel96

You might also want to consider a Value resort for the first night and let WDW transfer your bags while you enjoy your day.

If you could get a value resort room, I would go with that. Since they would transfer your luggage for you and it would give you an early start in the parks or use the morning to swim at the Poly until you could check in.

[ShannonW]

We stayed at the Comfort Inn, right there across from WDW. Clean, nice pool.... got in late evening, got a pizza -- we had a kids suite room (really just a regular room with enclosed bunk beds for the kids -- but they loved it) -- and let the kids watch the Disney info channel to get "psyched" for the next morning. Then we were up, breakfasted, in the car and at the WL in about 15 minutes!!!

Shannon