Did you have to talk your spouse into a higher level resort?

[BensWife]

We have booked OKW and am going to change our reservations. I'm just not feeling it, and want something more exciting for my boys' first trip to WDW. I want to move our reservations to WL. DH gave me an original budget of $4000 and our OKW booking was $4200 - which was close enough. However, if we book WL it goes up to $4952. If we add CL, which I want to do - it adds $800 to the extra $700 so $1500 over our original reservations. If we cut a day and keep the CL, the difference is only $695 (not $1500), but then we lose a day. I don't think DH would want to cut a day to get club level, but I do. Well actually, I am willing to shell out the extra $1500 to keep the extra day and CL. We stayed at CL in Disneyland once, and ever since then I have wanted to do Club again. It will add an extra $800, but I don't think that is bad since we are staying 6 nights. Any good points I can tell him to help him add the CL?

 

[Bob NC]

We have booked OKW and am going to change our reservations. I'm just not feeling it, and want something more exciting for my boys' first trip to WDW. I want to move our reservations to WL. DH gave me an original budget of $4000 and our OKW booking was $4200 - which was close enough. However, if we book WL it goes up to $4952. If we add CL, which I want to do - it adds $800 to the extra $700 so $1500 over our original reservations. If we cut a day and keep the CL, the difference is only $695 (not $1500), but then we lose a day. I don't think DH would want to cut a day to get club level, but I do. Well actually, I am willing to shell out the extra $1500 to keep the extra day and CL. We stayed at CL in Disneyland once, and ever since then I have wanted to do Club again. It will add an extra $800, but I don't think that is bad since we are staying 6 nights. Any good points I can tell him to help him add the CL?

Your story is that you need to upgrade resorts and upgrade to CL because of your 3 & 5 year old boys?

I can't really think of any points that would help.

You asked.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

Have you run the numbers using the new promotion? We are staying at AKL (similar pricing as WL) the end of May/June - not club level - but our trip is costing much less then $5000.
And I can't help you sell the CL angle - I know people adore it - but I can never justify the addtional cost for our family.

 

[BensWife]

Have you run the numbers using the new promotion? We are staying at AKL (similar pricing as WL) the end of May/June - not club level - but our trip is costing much less then $5000.
And I can't help you sell the CL angle - I know people adore it - but I can never justify the addtional cost for our family.

The prices I put are including our airfare from Colorado, which is $1600.

 

[jamala]

We stay deluxe club level and I can't think of anything to help your case for the kids sake. Because the kids really will not care about Club level, lol. But if YOU want it then just tell your husband that. Money wise it doesn't add up to an extra 800.00 for us because we just use the club for breakfast in the mornings and really don't use it for anything else. Maybe once or twice we will hit the 5 pm snacks but not everyday. We book it because my husband loves to stay club level, lol. Also we are not alcohol drinkers and that is where most people I know get the money out of staying club level, (or that's the excuse they use,lol)
I will say that with your boys ages staying at WL will be easier to get to MK on the boat than waiting on buses for everything Have fun on your trip and enjoy every moment.

 

[Brook1099]

I would look into renting points for Davids or a DVC member. Best way to go in my OP. Then work out cost difference and go from there. Skip dining plan and budget yourself especially since u want to go club level, and purchase tickets via undercover tourist.

 

[pixarmom]

Hi Benswife! First, I agree those numbers seem very high - maybe check and re-run them applying applicable promotions. We've always been able to apply discounts and rarely spend more than $350/night for CL. (Exception: CR Atrium Club last October, but worth it for one night.)

Your boys are 3 and 5 years old - that's an excellent argument for WL and CL! My husband is usually the one advocating for a deluxe resort and CL because it's so much easier with kids. Seriously, breakfast is quick and easy. You don't have to worry about juggling trays at CS locations or finding breakfast food for the room, or spending lots at TS breakfast restaurants. I just can't emphasize how much easier it is to walk down the hall to feed your kids in the morning. They wake up and breakfast is ready! And you don't have to plan it, prepare it, or clean it up! (Well, we all clear our plates from the tables, but I don't have to put everything away like when I'm making breakfast.)

And it's great for an afternoon snack or healthy appetizers. If you stop by the lounge before dinner for a snack, the kids don't arrive at dinner hungry and are far happier. Better dining experience for everyone. And our youngest falls asleep during our dinner ADR relatively frequently, so we are happy knowing he already drank milk and ate fruit, veggies, cheese, maybe a chicken appetizer or two. We find our kids eat much healthier when we're staying CL - really cuts down on snacks in the park and increases the fruit/veggie/cheese/milk intake!

Then, of course, there's the glass of wine or beer during evening appetizers while our kids have some downtime with their snacks and other kids in the lounge. Our youngest loves to make friends in the lounge and talk to other kids about their day. And we love not paying $10 for every pre-dinner drink.

As for location, we love the boat to MK from WL! It's such a relaxing way to start and end your MK day and beats the bus any day. The pool is wonderful, the lobby is beautiful, the theming is great and our boys LOVE watching the EWP from the beach at WL. All good - my husband was not going to do repeat visits to WDW until we moved away from mods and into deluxes - starting with WL.

Our boys are ages 6, 12 and 13 and we'd definitely stay CL for all three resorts during our upcoming trip if it were available. But it's not available for Poly (CL renovations this month) or AKV (sold out, I guess.) Still checking to see if AKV CL becomes available because we'd upgrade our reservation in a minute! When we first stayed CL, our kids were 4, 10 and 11 and they LOVE it. During non-CL stays, our youngest always asks "where is the snack room? can we go there?"

 

[Mousemommy1]

Hi Benswife! First, I agree those numbers seem very high - maybe check and re-run them applying applicable promotions. We've always been able to apply discounts and rarely spend more than $350/night for CL. (Exception: CR Atrium Club last October, but worth it for one night.)

Your boys are 3 and 5 years old - that's an excellent argument for WL and CL! My husband is usually the one advocating for a deluxe resort and CL because it's so much easier with kids. Seriously, breakfast is quick and easy. You don't have to worry about juggling trays at CS locations or finding breakfast food for the room, or spending lots at TS breakfast restaurants. I just can't emphasize how much easier it is to walk down the hall to feed your kids in the morning. They wake up and breakfast is ready! And you don't have to plan it, prepare it, or clean it up! (Well, we all clear our plates from the tables, but I don't have to put everything away like when I'm making breakfast.)

And it's great for an afternoon snack or healthy appetizers. If you stop by the lounge before dinner for a snack, the kids don't arrive at dinner hungry and are far happier. Better dining experience for everyone. And our youngest falls asleep during our dinner ADR relatively frequently, so we are happy knowing he already drank milk and ate fruit, veggies, cheese, maybe a chicken appetizer or two. We find our kids eat much healthier when we're staying CL - really cuts down on snacks in the park and increases the fruit/veggie/cheese/milk intake!

Then, of course, there's the glass of wine or beer during evening appetizers while our kids have some downtime with their snacks and other kids in the lounge. Our youngest loves to make friends in the lounge and talk to other kids about their day. And we love not paying $10 for every pre-dinner drink.

As for location, we love the boat to MK from WL! It's such a relaxing way to start and end your MK day and beats the bus any day. The pool is wonderful, the lobby is beautiful, the theming is great and our boys LOVE watching the EWP from the beach at WL. All good - my husband was not going to do repeat visits to WDW until we moved away from mods and into deluxes - starting with WL.

Our boys are ages 6, 12 and 13 and we'd definitely stay CL for all three resorts during our upcoming trip if it were available. But it's not available for Poly (CL renovations this month) or AKV (sold out, I guess.) Still checking to see if AKV CL becomes available because we'd upgrade our reservation in a minute! When we first stayed CL, our kids were 4, 10 and 11 and they LOVE it. During non-CL stays, our youngest always asks "where is the snack room? can we go there?"

Agree 100% on all points!

 

[Marthasor]

We have booked OKW and am going to change our reservations. I'm just not feeling it, and want something more exciting for my boys' first trip to WDW. I want to move our reservations to WL. DH gave me an original budget of $4000 and our OKW booking was $4200 - which was close enough. However, if we book WL it goes up to $4952. If we add CL, which I want to do - it adds $800 to the extra $700 so $1500 over our original reservations. If we cut a day and keep the CL, the difference is only $695 (not $1500), but then we lose a day. I don't think DH would want to cut a day to get club level, but I do. Well actually, I am willing to shell out the extra $1500 to keep the extra day and CL. We stayed at CL in Disneyland once, and ever since then I have wanted to do Club again. It will add an extra $800, but I don't think that is bad since we are staying 6 nights. Any good points I can tell him to help him add the CL?

Can you tell us your dates, ticket and dining options? Maybe we can help you out with pricing.

My DH is not fond of WDW. The only way he will go with me is if we stay deluxe, club level. um, ok!

 

[BensWife]

Can you tell us your dates, ticket and dining options? Maybe we can help you out with pricing.

My DH is not fond of WDW. The only way he will go with me is if we stay deluxe, club level. um, ok!

Dates: June 8-14 - 6 nights, 7 days
Dining Plan: None - just not worth the expense since we are light eaters and do a lot of sharing
2 adults and 2 kids (6 & 3 at time of stay)
Want hopper passes for 6 days. 7 is not needed because of an early flight out our last day.

Maybe we should just stay with what we have booked. I just want to have a great stay for my kids. I'm so confused.

 

[firstwdw]

well this will not save a ton of money but you could think about getting rid of the park hoppers. We stayed at Wilderness Lodge for 6 nights for our 6year old DS's first visit and used the hoppers ONCE-but in reality we would have been just as happy to swim, watch a movie on the beach, do the campfire and watch the lights parade on the beach. We spent a day at Epcot, a day at Animal Kingdom and the rest at Magic Kingdom with our 6year old. Also......while Club Level would be nice.....to save money we did have a fridge in our room and order from Garden Grocer-you can also have them deliver beer and wine with your order. We made a quick breakfast in our room and packed peanut butter and jelly for a few lunches. We also did not do the dining plan. You could probably convince your husband of staying at Wl but not sure mine would go for Club Level.

Also.....your kids have nothing to compare it to so the place where you are already booked will likely be perfectly awesome for your boys! I did love being close to the MK and a fun boat ride away so maybe that's what you could tell your hubby.....
GOOD LUCK! (I would not go down to 5 days.....)

 

[mickeynut1]

WL is an awesome resort and would be great with little ones as it's so close to MK via boat or bus. Plus the pool is fun and there's a geyser behind the pool that goes off every hour that the kids would probably get a kick out of. As far as CL, our first CL stay was at WL and I can't say enough great things about it (WL CL ranks right up at the top with GF RPC for me). The food offerings are great, the lounge is arranged in a way that provides plenty of seating, and the CMs are amazing. We only stay deluxe (sometimes with CL and sometimes without) and, IMO, even if you choose to switch to WL and forego CL, you will still have a magical trip as the WL is a great resort, with or without staying CL. Good luck.

 

[merbobear]

If you are looking for excitement for young kids, you would likely be better off staying at a value with all of the larger than life icons. If you want the added luxury of staying CL, then just tell your husband that. No sense in telling him that staying CL is "for the kids," as he would see right through that statement!

 

[holbie18]

I say skip the club level. Now - I have never stayed there nor have I ever stayed at WL (but will be this weekend). You were given an original budget. But now your budget has increased over $1600. That is money better spent elsewhere. I have a 4 year old and a 6 year old and this too is their first time in Disney World. But they won't know the difference for what they are missing. My four year old eats two bites of something and then she is done. They are not that hard to manage...it is much easier now than it was with an infant and a two year old.

So, CL is going to cost an additional $800? How much would room service breakfast cost you? Could you bring snacks to the hotel? From what I've heard Garden Grocer charges a $12 delivery fee. Are you going to feel like you need to make it back to the hotel every night for the food/beverages?

The only way I'd do CL is if I was traveling with kids that were no longer kids for dining AND we planned to be at the hotel around most meal times. We would rarely do table service meals.

Also - if you fly out early in the morning have you thought about checking out a day early and staying at an airport hotel? It is probably cheaper that way and it might get you an extra half hour of sleep.

 

[pixarmom]

I posted before, but I wanted to add more about our experience.

At least for our kids - and as young as age 4 - they do care and love both deluxe resorts and CL. Three years ago, we thought they would love the theming at All Star Movies and booked there. We really thought we'd do Movies "for the kids" and surprised them with a March WDW trip for Christmas. They were excited and appreciative, but when we mentioned that we could change resorts to BC, they were through the roof excited. We made the change to BC and we (including the kids) were all so happy.

Again, having stayed in all three categories of resorts, I can say that deluxe and CL are great for kids, parents, etc. If it doesn't fit the budget, then there are other great options available.

So maybe you don't say it's "for the kids." But rather, it's for the family and will work wonderfully for the kids - for all the reasons I mentioned earlier! But it does need to fit the budget!

 

[Marthasor]

Dates: June 8-14 - 6 nights, 7 days
Dining Plan: None - just not worth the expense since we are light eaters and do a lot of sharing
2 adults and 2 kids (6 & 3 at time of stay)
Want hopper passes for 6 days. 7 is not needed because of an early flight out our last day.

Maybe we should just stay with what we have booked. I just want to have a great stay for my kids. I'm so confused.

I have a few thoughts and some prices, too. I, too, would not pick OKW for my child's first stay. I actually think many of the moderates are more magical and would drop your price significantly. One moderate recently added a "CL like" option which I'll get to below.

I agree to drop the hoppers. You'll save over $200 and if you find you really need them, you can always upgrade your tickets when you get there.

Here are the prices I found using the spring discount. Let us know if you are getting different pricing. I have pricing with 6-day hop and 6-day base tickets and have included WL-CL, AKL-CL (which is a little cheaper than WL and is an AMAZING resort for children) plus CSR's new Business Class, which gets you some CL amenities (plus automatically puts you in the most preferred building at CSR) and is coming in at LESS than OKW:

WL, Standard Room, CL
with 6-day hop $4782.14
with 6-day base $4,539.30

AKL, Standard Room, CL
with 6-day hop $4,660.58
with 6-day base $4,417.74

CSR, Standard View, Business Class
with 6-day hop $3,087.86
with 6-day base $2,845.02

Here is the description of CSR, Standard Room, Business Class (it sounds like CL, light)

All rooms have 2 queen-size beds, hardwood furniture, desk and chair, vanity area with sink, a ceiling fan and a bathroom. All rooms are non-smoking. Amenities include flat-panel TV, in-room wall safe, voice mail, complimentary Wi-Fi, hairdryer, iron, ironing board, mini-fridge, coffee maker and access to Coconino Cove, our Business Lounge. A Pack 'n Play playard is available upon request. Wheelchair-accessible rooms are available. These rooms are located closer to the convention center and main building and offer standard views.

Coconino Cove – the new Business Lounge at Disney Coronado Springs Resort – provides a variety of exclusive amenities and upgraded services to our Guests.

Located in the Cabanas, building 9B, Coconino Cove is a semi-exclusive gathering place for networking, relaxing, working or playing.

Guests with Coconino Cove access will enjoy upgraded, semi-exclusive services and amenities, including:
Use of in-lounge iMac and PC stations, computer gaming consoles and flat screen televisions
Electronic device charging stations & boarding pass printing
Areas suitable for small groups to gather and meet in a relaxed setting
Assistance with dining reservations, ticket information and other special requests
Food & beverage offerings throughout the day
Guests with Coconino Cove access will be located in building 9B during their stay, convenient to both the lobby and convention center.

Coconino Cove is open 7:00 a.m. – 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. 7 days a week.


No matter what, you will be in Disney and you are certainly not alone in second-guessing your resort choice! Have a great time no matter what you decide!

 

[pixarmom]

CSR, Standard View, Business Class
with 6-day hop $3,087.86
with 6-day base $2,845.02

No matter what, you will be in Disney and you are certainly not alone in second-guessing your resort choice! Have a great time no matter what you decide!

This is a great idea!!!!

 

[BensWife]

Thanks for all the great ideas everyone! Will definitely look into some other options! Thanks again!

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

Thanks for all the great ideas everyone! Will definitely look into some other options! Thanks again!

I love being close to one of the parks. We really want to try WL and club level would be great. I feel if you can do it you should. We love staying club level. It is so convenient. Two of my kids are early risers and so am I. We go and have breakfast and relax in the club room while my husband and other kids are sleeping. We also will do a big lunch and come back and snack for dinner. Then go back to the parks.

I would do it. It is such a treat.

 

[sndral]

We have booked OKW and am going to change our reservations. I'm just not feeling it, and want something more exciting for my boys' first trip to WDW. I want to move our reservations to WL. DH gave me an original budget of $4000 and our OKW booking was $4200 - which was close enough. However, if we book WL it goes up to $4952. If we add CL, which I want to do - it adds $800 to the extra $700 so $1500 over our original reservations. If we cut a day and keep the CL, the difference is only $695 (not $1500), but then we lose a day. I don't think DH would want to cut a day to get club level, but I do. Well actually, I am willing to shell out the extra $1500 to keep the extra day and CL. We stayed at CL in Disneyland once, and ever since then I have wanted to do Club again. It will add an extra $800, but I don't think that is bad since we are staying 6 nights. Any good points I can tell him to help him add the CL?

Can't offer any advice, since I'm a firm believer in sticking to budgets - but that's me and I was the one earning the lions share of the income and thus responsible for supporting my family.
You and hubby set a budget of $4000 for a seven day stay and now you want to increase that budget by $1700? Because OKW is not 'exciting enough' for your 3 and 6 yr. old sons and because you're not 'feeling it.' Why would you agree to a specific budget and then want to increase it almost 50% - did a bonus get paid, overtime, or pay raise happen for one of you?
There are a couple of very nice CL suites at the GF that would make my next trip to the GF more 'exciting,' unfortunately, I am not independently wealthy and can't justify spending that kind of money, so I'll settle for what I can afford.
BTW, if you've already purchased your flights, cutting one day to stay CL may not be cost effective as changing your flights generally costs quite a bit (unless you have SW.)
Keep your eye on discounts, as they may be offered as your vacation approaches, and if something that appeals to you becomes available in your $4000 price range, jump on it. Even if you stick w/ what you have - I suspect your sons will love the experience no matter where you stay, and w/ 4 parks to explore, beautiful grounds, a boat ride to DTD from OKW (where the Leggo store is) this vacation will be exciting and special for all of you w/ or w/out CL.