Post # 1
Member
462 posts
Helper bee
So as of right now, for our honeymoon we are booked at a Fairfield Inn that is very close to Disney at a little less than $100 a night for 6 nights totaling us a little over $620….
So I’ve been rolling over in my head lately the idea of staying in a Disney hotel, especially when we go to Epcot and want to drink, and we don’t have to worry about who is the DD or whatever.
THE PROBLEM is obviously that a Disney hotel (I wouldn’t pick the value, it’s too cartoony and childish themed for a Honeymoon), for the moderate resort, is around $250-300 a night…. Obviously costing me like $1000 more.
Now, I’ve been reading many articles where almost everyone insists on going for the onsite Disney Hotel, and that paying the higher price is worth it.
Now I was thinkin though that maybe we could do only 5 nights, because the first night is not really necessary. And also Fiance said he would contribute to part of this cost (when before I was thinking I was paying it by myself). So in that sense, I’d be spending only a little over $200 of my own money than what I had planned to…
The cons are that the Disney hotels do not offer complimentary breakfast like Fairfield Inn does (but being on my honeymoon, I don’t know if I really feel like waking up early just for that). So we may or may not be spending more money on food, but then if we wake up late enough, it might already be lunch time anyway… Also, that’s money we are missing out on spending on food and shopping.
And the question is not about if I can afford it or not. I could afford it, but do I want to spend the extra money for that? Is it worth it to pay extra money for a Disney hotel on property for my Honeymoon?
Anyone else who has been on a Disney honeymoon or is going to have one, what was your decision?
Post # 2
Member
1117 posts
Bumble bee
It is very much worth it to stay in a disneyeirld hotel. You never have to pay for any transportation (they’ll pick you up and drop you off at the airport) and you get extra hours in the parks. Also, if you get the Disney meal plan you can have fantastic food, often for less than you would have paid otherwise. DH and I found that on our honeymoon we generally didn’t get up before lunch, and if we did we used our snack on the dining plan as a small breakfast.
Post # 3
Member
462 posts
Helper bee
I haven’t looked into the Dining Plan yet, I’ll have to look into that. (EDIT: Since we are actually Annual Passholders, we wouldn’t be able to participate in the dining plan) Transportation won’t be a major factor in our decision, because we live 2 hours away from Orlando in St. Petersburg. So we still have to drive to the hotel we choose either way, but it would be nice to be chauffeured around on our honeymoon instead of me having to drive everyday and everywhere (my FH hates driving!).
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This reply was modified 6 years, 8 months ago by
raziel1687.
Post # 4
Member
54 posts
Worker bee
Personally, I think staying at the Disney hotels makes it so much more magical. If you can afford it, I think you should choose a Disney property. It’s your honeymoon!!
Post # 5
Member
3 posts
Wannabee
We didn’t have a Disney honeymoon, but I’ve been several times, and stayed both on (moderate Disney hotel) and off-site. Personally, I prefer off-site. The hotels are often smaller and more personal, the parking is closer to your room, and free breakfast is WAY less hectic. You can get a much nicer room for much less $ off-site. Just my 2 cents.
Some people (including my husband) feel that staying off-site just doesn’t have the same “Disney feel”, but it never bothered me a bit. You’ll be so tired at the end of the day, you won’t care that your towels weren’t folded into the shape of Dumbo. 🙂
Post # 6
Member
462 posts
Helper bee
princessdi: Your last sentence made laugh!!! lol You won’t care that your towels weren’t made into the shape of Dumbo. LOLLLL
Post # 8
Member
593 posts
Busy bee
I would definately stay on site. We have been 3 times and although more the experience is so worth it. I love Beach Club or any hotel by Epcot (We love being able to walk to Epcot) Not sure when you plan to go but they do run specials. Check out this web site. Those Disney fans know everything. http://Www.disboards.com.
Post # 9
Member
462 posts
Helper bee
Mdmc: Thanks, unfortunately Disney apparently knew when our honeymoon was and decided not to do the specials for that specific week, but they have specials the week before and the week after!!! 🙁
Post # 10
Member
969 posts
Busy bee
Ok I have a few ideas for you!
What if you split it up and stayed at the nice hotel for a few days and the one you Already booked for a few days? it’s annoying to switch hotels but worth it if you really want to find a way to compromise!! the Disney hotels are amazing and really pay attention to detail/cater to your needs.
Another option is to stay at the holiday inn or one of the other hotels in downtown Disney. They arent Disney specific hotels so don’t offer all of the magic that the others do but most of them cater to the Disney crowd. There is a shuttle bus (free) that runs to all of the parks every day on a pretty regular schedule. I would highly recommend looking into that!! Fiance and I stayed in one when he was there for a conference (didn’t get to pick our hotel) and it actually worked out great!! They had a Disney gift shop/ room keys and everything so it almost felt like being at one of our usual haunts.
You could also consider splitting your time between the downtown Disney hotel and a Disney hotel for a few nights so you get je best of both worlds!
Have fun! feel free to message me if you have any other Disney questions we seriously go like once a year lol
Post # 11
Member
1117 posts
Bumble bee
raziel1687: Well I live in Canada so I never even considered the effect of those things! You have no idea how lucky you to live so close!
Post # 12
Member
103 posts
Blushing bee
My fiancé and I stayed at the Polynesian resort last year. It was absolutely amazing ! We had a theme park view room that allowed us to have an awesome view of the firework every night ! That experience alone was absolutely magical and worth the money to us. The convenience is amazing too, we were close to the TTC so it took 20 mins to MK by ferry and 20 mins to Epcot by monorail. We actually forgot our ID twice and it only took 30 mins ( we were buying drinks at Epcot too, we were there during the food and wine festival). The trip would had definitely taken more than an hour if we stayed elsewhere. Since it is your honeymoon, I will definitely go for the best ! Plus I believe they have discounts on their resort every so often especially if you are going in the off-season
Post # 13
Member
1609 posts
Bumble bee
I’ve never stayed onsite but stayed offsite in a condo last year. We were about 5 minutes from the maingate by car which was great. We were in Orlando for a week but only went to Disney for 2 days.
We’re planning on a cruise for our honeymoon but are going to visit Disney for 2 or 3 nights prior. My Fiance has only been to Disney once (in 1980) and has wanted to stay at the Contemporary Resort since then so we’re going to spend the extra money to stay there. We only plan on going to Disney in the Orlando area.
I’d say its worth it if you are only planning on doing Disney and nothing else. You get the dining plan (which I think they have a special on right now), Magic hours, and the transportation system. If you are planning on visiting other places (Universal, Cape Canaveral, etc) I’d stay offsite and get a car rental.
Post # 14
Member
347 posts
Helper bee
- Wedding: Davis Island Garden Club
I didnt honeymoon at Disney, but I am an Annual Passholder and also part of their Vacation Club Timeshare so I am probably a little biased but I say absolutly stay at one of their hotels!
The hotels are just gorgeous and the service is unbeatable. You will probably get upgraded due to it being your honeymoon. They have bus transportation to all of the parks and extra hours at the parks if you stay at one of their hotels. I would recomend the Polynesian for a honeymoon, it’s beautiful!
Post # 15
Member
9129 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
- Wedding: November 2013 - St. Augustine Beach, FL
raziel1687: If you can afford it staying onsite even at the value resorts is worth the price, especially with the new My Magic+ program. I live in Orlando and now resort guests get so many perks which are not avilable to regular ticket buyers that it’s almost worth it for me to stay at their hotel rather than sleep in my own bed. Resort guests even get perks the annual pass holders don’t get such as advanced reservations for Fast Pass and dining well before it’s open to pass holders and the general public.
It’s also probably why I own a Universal Annual Pass rather than a Disney Annual Pass.