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AIBU?

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Original poster

Insisting on staying a hotel when we go to Disney World. Sister wants a holiday rental

149 replies

Moru · 15/10/2025 10:15

My sister and I are best friends. We have young children who are similar ages. We are taking them to Disney World as a very special holiday next year. But we are sort of at an impasse. I do t want to stay in a holiday let as I can’t be arsed to sort out meals and don’t want to tidy up. Our husbands are hands on but it just seems too much. Sister thinks it would be more fun and easier to stay in a holiday let. She doesn’t want to eat out for every meal. I also know I will miss simpler, home cooked meals on day 7 but we can find work arounds ie making salads/sandwiches. I prefer the idea of hotel which is so much less hassle. Sister says she will find it claustrophobic. The hotels are family rooms with suites. We would get separate rooms. We could also play socialising in the evenings by ear. Spend time together and have a drink when we felt like it. Spend time away from each other if we are exhausted for e.g.

Who has the right idea?

I want a break too. I don’t want to even have to think about meals after 8 hours in the park.

OP posts:
CaveMum · 15/10/2025 10:51

PastaAllaNorma · 15/10/2025 10:38

On site Disney hotels are great but expensive and quite claustrophobic with a toddler and young children. You do spend quite a lot of time stuck in a hotel room with sleeping children as opposed to sitting outside by the pool while the kids slept in the holiday let.

We did half and half when they were that age and the holiday let was more relaxed. We ate out for most main meals, had cereal for breakfast and could pop home from the parks for the youngest to have a sleep while the others played.

However, the Disney hotel was great fun, amazing service (anything you buy at the park is whisked to your hotel room for you, they made reservations for us everywhere and we're so helpful) and the extra time before the parks open to the public are great.

Our trip coincided with two birthdays and Disney mad such a lovely fuss of them. Amazing memories.

The worst option imo would be a non-Disney hotel. Claustrophobic without any of the benefits.

Edited

Sadly they don’t do the “deliver to your hotel” service in the parks anymore - we were there last year and it was not available. I believe it’s one of many perks that fell away after Covid.

We stayed onsite at Caribbean Beach, yes it was more expensive but we wanted to be in the Disney bubble as it’s likely to be our only visit, plus the transport just made everything so easy.

PullTheBricksDown · 15/10/2025 10:52

Would you be all sharing the same holiday let? Or looking at two close together?

If your sister wants to cook, will she be ok with them doing that while you and your kids get takeaway or go out? Or will that cause friction?

FuzzyWolf · 15/10/2025 10:57

I would get a hotel and let her get a villa. You won’t be able to help each other out as much but that’s the compromise you are making rather than one of you being unhappy with the sleeping arrangements.

RoseAlone · 15/10/2025 11:02

Go to a rental. Having been to Disney lots of times it's a no brainer.

CasperGutman · 15/10/2025 11:14

We stayed at Orange Lake Resort. Basically a hotel, but the 'room' was really a two-bedroom villa. There were also apartments/studios if preferred. The resort had everything you could have wanted - pools, restaurants, bars, mini golf - but you also had a kitchen diner, living room etc.

There were Publix and Target supermarkets nearby with plenty of easy meal options if your sister wants to do that but also plenty of restaurants on and off site if you don't. Personally I liked having the option to just stick a pizza in the oven or eat a big indulgent store-bought dessert a couple of times a week instead of always having to go out for a meal, but not everyone feels the same.

The only thing is that you'd need a car, but that's the American way! We could drive to the parks faster than the Disney transit options would get someone staying on site to some of the more distant Disney World parks.

ExtraOnions · 15/10/2025 11:16

We stayed on-site (animal kingdom lodge), and would stay on site again. The Transportation is so easy, from the front of your hotel, to the front of the Theme Park.
We used to go to one park first thing, go back to the hotel for a siesta, then go back out in the evening for tea and fireworks / show whatever was on. It was really easy to do these split days as we were on site.
We also had Disney Dining, so tea was easy .. just had to pick which park you wanted to go to.

CasperGutman · 15/10/2025 11:17

PullTheBricksDown · 15/10/2025 10:52

Would you be all sharing the same holiday let? Or looking at two close together?

If your sister wants to cook, will she be ok with them doing that while you and your kids get takeaway or go out? Or will that cause friction?

If I were the sister I'd suggest a few evenings when I'd cook for everyone if you shared the cost. Just easy stuff from the supermarket, but it would be cheaper and more chilled out than always having to eat out. I enjoy shopping in other countries, and it's not really any harder to stick twice as many things in the oven once it's hot!

Mrsoftandhisstrangeworld · 15/10/2025 11:19

You need to do a spreadsheet and compare unless money is no object at all. Because you're talking of going to the supermarket. If you're on site then you either need to pay for a hire car and very high parking costs per day or you need to Uber every ride.

The site buses are great but if you hit them at the wrong time it can take you a long time waiting for the next one to come around. They're often crowded so you have to stand for half an hour trying to hold your toddler up (I find the Americans very rude in that able bodied men will happily sit watching you trying to stand holding onto to a strap and 2 DC and never consider offering a seat) if you are wanting to go to any evening events (fireworks, shows) then you have to wait on the pavement for hours to get buses back as they are all so full.

ContentedAlpaca · 15/10/2025 11:20

We have never stayed onsite but have witnessed the huge queues at Disney restaurants and commented that we are glad we have the choice to self cater or use other restaurants.
I guess if you get an amazing deal that includes food it might be worthwhile, otherwise it is likely to be frustrating and exhausting.

There is a huge choice of restaurants, takeaways etc in Kissimmee and we do a combo of all. Being able to just grab breakfast without having to eat out is particularly handy.

MsWilmottsGhost · 15/10/2025 11:32

We shared an apartment with family and self catered. Onsite was too expensive and some of the DC had food allergies.

We meal planned (with input from all members including the DC) and did a supermarket shop on the first evening - simple meals and sandwich stuff - and then took turns cooking in the evening. Everyone made sandwiches in the morning for lunch at the parks. We did also had a couple of meals out at local restaurants.

I was worried it was going to be hassle, but it was actually really chilled.

nomas · 15/10/2025 11:36

Why not stay in a Disney resort that has apartment style villas but also restaurants on site? You can get apartments next to each other.

You can get a dining option and sister can get a self-catering deal and sort herself out.

Notagain75 · 15/10/2025 11:37

I would definitely want to do the same and your sister but if you both want different things why don't you stay in different accommodation, you can still meet and do things together

nomas · 15/10/2025 11:37

MsWilmottsGhost · 15/10/2025 11:32

We shared an apartment with family and self catered. Onsite was too expensive and some of the DC had food allergies.

We meal planned (with input from all members including the DC) and did a supermarket shop on the first evening - simple meals and sandwich stuff - and then took turns cooking in the evening. Everyone made sandwiches in the morning for lunch at the parks. We did also had a couple of meals out at local restaurants.

I was worried it was going to be hassle, but it was actually really chilled.

It doesn’t sound chilled. OP has young kids, she wants a break!

Danioyellow · 15/10/2025 11:39

Namechange546 · 15/10/2025 10:46

Is budget a big factor? Maybe price both up and factor in food costs?

Also, my tip is, if you can get a free dining package, it may be worth upgrading your hotel to get a bigger dinning package. The most basic hotels often it's one meal a day that's included but mid-range it's 2 and a snack. Id calculate roughly what you would spend per day on food without a dining package and see what option is best from there.

That’s what we’ve done. We’ve just booked 10 nights for a family of 5 with free dining. It was an extra £300 each to upgrade to basically breakfast, lunch, dinner, plus all day free refillable drinks at the park and in the hotel. Comparing the prices to eating/drinking anywhere else including a villa we thought it was well worth it.

ArtTheClownIsNotAMime · 15/10/2025 11:40

Moru · 15/10/2025 10:33

I would much prefer to stay at the same place. I don’t want to have to thing about the logistics of meeting up. If we are miles apart we won’t be able to switch in and out with looking after kids. The plan is to give each other some time off when possible. Even if that’s one couple just going for a supermarket run and a coffee.

Edited

Well you can't have it all your own way. What's more important to you, staying in a hotel or staying all together?

HermioneWeasley · 15/10/2025 11:48

If you stay onsite then transport is east but eating is a PITA in my experience. Everyone is on the same schedule so the food places are heaving when you want to use them and the options at the resort are limited.

last time we went we had a villa for most of it. I like having lots of space and some quiet away from other people. Boring but I also like the flex of being able to do laundry when we want and not have to hike to get there, pool is easier and we don’t find it a lot of extra work. We sometimes pick up a pizza from Walmart and stick it in - not a lot of effort. Lots of great food options away from the parks which is part of the holiday for us and east to eat breakfast and dinner going to and from the parks so not an extra journey.

vivainsomnia · 15/10/2025 11:58

The main issue is what do you do once the kids are asleep? Does one parent stays in the room whilst the other enjoy the evenings, or do all retire for the night after 6pm?

I'm 100% villa. A nice pool, more space, more rooms for those sleeping early, getting up earlier. Also much easier to manage meal times with excited and over tired kids.

If the meals are a main issue for you, just order take aways.

Linenpickle · 15/10/2025 12:18

Then go to a hotel where you get a kitchen and seating area as well as bed. You will have the ability to cook yourself if you want, but also get made service and access to a pool. Great compromise.

SockBanana · 15/10/2025 12:24

Neither of you are wrong.
Staying for a week? Can you do 4-5 nights in a rental, 2-3 in the on site hotel? Work out whether its better to start or end with the hotel?
Personally I'd start with it - a few full on Disney days while the excitement is at its highest, then move to a rental at the point when you're probably all getting fed up of a hotel room and having to deal with the logistics or eating out every meal.

Spinner12345 · 15/10/2025 12:34

MsWilmottsGhost · 15/10/2025 11:32

We shared an apartment with family and self catered. Onsite was too expensive and some of the DC had food allergies.

We meal planned (with input from all members including the DC) and did a supermarket shop on the first evening - simple meals and sandwich stuff - and then took turns cooking in the evening. Everyone made sandwiches in the morning for lunch at the parks. We did also had a couple of meals out at local restaurants.

I was worried it was going to be hassle, but it was actually really chilled.

Disneyworld is the best place I’ve ever been for allergies, not sure when you went but there’s now so much choice and staff are super clued up and helpful. Often you can mobile order selecting your allergies too and it will come separately to everyone else’s food but you can always speak to a chef and they can modify most items

Parmaviolet3456 · 15/10/2025 12:36

NameChangeForThisQuestionOnly · 15/10/2025 10:19

You stay in a hotel with your family, she stays in a holiday let with her family, meet up during the day. Simple solution!

this ^ most obvious answer

weareallcats · 15/10/2025 12:36

We have done both and I much prefer staying on site - we stayed at the Wilderness Lodge. That said, my dc were much older (mid teens) and it allowed them some independence. I believe that there are room options with kitchenettes and full villas/apartments within Disney. It’s nice to stay in the bubble if you can.

blankcanvas3 · 15/10/2025 12:59

I’ve done both with kids and a holiday let/villa is much better. We only cooked once or twice, and we had the freedom to go wherever we wanted for dinner rather than just to the disney restaurants which we couldn’t stand in the end

Trainstrike · 15/10/2025 13:05

Price wise you'd need to factor in $35 a day parking per car too. Onsite hotels are much easier with younger children to be able to go back and nap, especially from Magic Kingdom where you don't have to transfer to the car park first.

We prefer Disney hotels with quick service dining. We mobile order in queues then just pick it up once we've finished the ride/show.

rookiemere · 15/10/2025 13:06

CasperGutman · 15/10/2025 11:14

We stayed at Orange Lake Resort. Basically a hotel, but the 'room' was really a two-bedroom villa. There were also apartments/studios if preferred. The resort had everything you could have wanted - pools, restaurants, bars, mini golf - but you also had a kitchen diner, living room etc.

There were Publix and Target supermarkets nearby with plenty of easy meal options if your sister wants to do that but also plenty of restaurants on and off site if you don't. Personally I liked having the option to just stick a pizza in the oven or eat a big indulgent store-bought dessert a couple of times a week instead of always having to go out for a meal, but not everyone feels the same.

The only thing is that you'd need a car, but that's the American way! We could drive to the parks faster than the Disney transit options would get someone staying on site to some of the more distant Disney World parks.

This seems like a good compromise.
We stayed in an apartment complex when we were there. Looked at a villa, but DS loved lazy rivers at the time and this place had a heated pool with a lazy river and some on site things to do.Apart from breakfast we rarely ate in and found supermarket prices expensive but eating out/takeaway cheaper. Downside of not being on site is you pay parking for each of the Disney sites as you don’t have free transportation, but it might be cheaper to uber it.