baileybrad
and Casey, too!
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2000
I listed 3 items in my subject because I have multiple questions and several areas of information that I am researching. We are Disney Vacation Club members who haven't any points left for the near term. We are trying to work in a 3rd trip on our APs in late January '02.
I made reservations at HIFS for 7 nights using the $139 a night with 3 nights free. I received the 7th night for $110 a night with a government rate. I received a "Kidsuite". The total with tax looks to be about $585.00.
We will be trying to get an AP rate at DXL (PO Riverside) when and if any become available. I have not stayed there in a couple years but the last time I got an AP rate of about $89 before tax. So with tax around $691.00 that is if the rate hasn't risen or unless one can't be had. Obviously, this is for 4 wall hotel room on property vs. a "Kidsuite" or 1 bedroom condo off-site. We will be driving down and be entitled to "complimentary" parking at the parks with our AP.
I am curious about a rate that I saw for Vistana Village for around $100 a night for a 1 bedroom on the hotelkingdom website. If there are not any other fees other than tax that would make VV about $777 for the week. I have a general idea where this resort is and it doesn't appear that the commute would be that bad. We have stayed up in Kissimmee at what was formerly Hampton Vacation Resort a couple times in the past and the commute from VV appears to be better than that one was.
I know that the HIFS includes the "free" breakfast and is "kid" friendly. My fear is that the size of the place may make it a bit of a rat race. Our little ones are 4 and 18 month so the theming of the rooms would not be huge, in my opinion. The size of the units worries me some, also.
I would think that the VV would be a more relaxing atomsphere. Hopefully, with our family's size a 1 bdrm would be fine. The washer and dryer are great perks. It is hard to stay off-site when you are used to staying on-site. But we have done it in the past and managed....although we would miss the convenience of the quality transportation found throughout WDW.
My questions are:
1st) A very general one, anybody got any input as to positives and negatives of one scenerio over the other. We are not rich but with driving down and having our park admissions already "paid for" money is not the big driver in our decision. I do have a problem with paying more than a $100 a night for a room, I suppose that I am just cheap.
2nd) Is the Vistana Village a secure property, in other words, is it gated with entry by card key only? Do the units have safes? Are there any additional fees involved other than room tax, around 11%? How many units are completed and can you see any of the construction? How are the grounds?
3rd) Just what is the atomsphere like at the HIFS? With it being off-season and cooler, we will be spending more time at the "resort" and just don't want to feel that the place is crawling with people. I suppose what I am asking is, Disney, even with the size of say PO Riverside is able to surround you with landscaping, etc. in such a way that it doesn't seem packed.
4th) Is it basically true that if for some reason that with hotelkingdom a cancellation only "costs" you $10.90 if you have to cancel for some reason? And, for those that have used them, how did things work out?
I know this is a bit of a ramble but any comments would be greatly appreciated. It may appear that we are leaning one way over the other but we are not. I did a search on HIFS and Vistana Village on the boards and got alot of good information. But as anyone who visits these great boards knows, the more information, the better, be it good or bad.
I made reservations at HIFS for 7 nights using the $139 a night with 3 nights free. I received the 7th night for $110 a night with a government rate. I received a "Kidsuite". The total with tax looks to be about $585.00.
We will be trying to get an AP rate at DXL (PO Riverside) when and if any become available. I have not stayed there in a couple years but the last time I got an AP rate of about $89 before tax. So with tax around $691.00 that is if the rate hasn't risen or unless one can't be had. Obviously, this is for 4 wall hotel room on property vs. a "Kidsuite" or 1 bedroom condo off-site. We will be driving down and be entitled to "complimentary" parking at the parks with our AP.
I am curious about a rate that I saw for Vistana Village for around $100 a night for a 1 bedroom on the hotelkingdom website. If there are not any other fees other than tax that would make VV about $777 for the week. I have a general idea where this resort is and it doesn't appear that the commute would be that bad. We have stayed up in Kissimmee at what was formerly Hampton Vacation Resort a couple times in the past and the commute from VV appears to be better than that one was.
I know that the HIFS includes the "free" breakfast and is "kid" friendly. My fear is that the size of the place may make it a bit of a rat race. Our little ones are 4 and 18 month so the theming of the rooms would not be huge, in my opinion. The size of the units worries me some, also.
I would think that the VV would be a more relaxing atomsphere. Hopefully, with our family's size a 1 bdrm would be fine. The washer and dryer are great perks. It is hard to stay off-site when you are used to staying on-site. But we have done it in the past and managed....although we would miss the convenience of the quality transportation found throughout WDW.
My questions are:
1st) A very general one, anybody got any input as to positives and negatives of one scenerio over the other. We are not rich but with driving down and having our park admissions already "paid for" money is not the big driver in our decision. I do have a problem with paying more than a $100 a night for a room, I suppose that I am just cheap.
2nd) Is the Vistana Village a secure property, in other words, is it gated with entry by card key only? Do the units have safes? Are there any additional fees involved other than room tax, around 11%? How many units are completed and can you see any of the construction? How are the grounds?
3rd) Just what is the atomsphere like at the HIFS? With it being off-season and cooler, we will be spending more time at the "resort" and just don't want to feel that the place is crawling with people. I suppose what I am asking is, Disney, even with the size of say PO Riverside is able to surround you with landscaping, etc. in such a way that it doesn't seem packed.
4th) Is it basically true that if for some reason that with hotelkingdom a cancellation only "costs" you $10.90 if you have to cancel for some reason? And, for those that have used them, how did things work out?
I know this is a bit of a ramble but any comments would be greatly appreciated. It may appear that we are leaning one way over the other but we are not. I did a search on HIFS and Vistana Village on the boards and got alot of good information. But as anyone who visits these great boards knows, the more information, the better, be it good or bad.
also ,it seems to be in a better area, and you don't run into bad roads or constuction on the roads I don't think you would be dissappointed in Vistana Village, goofy4mickey
