Does anyone feel guilty when they pick the more expensive option?

[LilyWDW]

I have trouble with spending more money even if I can afford it. My trip next year is the first time I could afford to stay at any resort I wanted but I can't talk myself into spending that much money. So I am staying at my old favorite of POFQ. Even though I would love to stay at the Contemporary or Grand Floridian. I just can't get past the cost difference!

 

[Momoftwins+1]

I have trouble with spending more money even if I can afford it. My trip next year is the first time I could afford to stay at any resort I wanted but I can't talk myself into spending that much money. So I am staying at my old favorite of POFQ. Even though I would love to stay at the Contemporary or Grand Floridian. I just can't get past the cost difference!

We were like that about POFQ, but after adding twins to our family of 3 we couldn't stay as a family of 5 anymore so we decided to bite the bullet on the Contemp...and it was so worth it! Now if DH and I went alone, we'd probably use POFQ because it is quaint and we have special memories there and we go at a casual pace. With kids however, if we were traveling alone we'd chose a deluxe on the monorail every time. (CSR is traveling with family in 2014 so we chose what was in everyone's budget) It is hard to make that first reservation at a deluxe, especially after paying value or mod rates in the past but after we did it, we no longer felt guilty about booking deluxe in the future.

 

[Happyjen27]

Nope.

Not one tiny little bit.

 

[dimndgal1]

I have trouble with spending more money even if I can afford it. My trip next year is the first time I could afford to stay at any resort I wanted but I can't talk myself into spending that much money. So I am staying at my old favorite of POFQ. Even though I would love to stay at the Contemporary or Grand Floridian. I just can't get past the cost difference!

This is very much how I feel. We are fortunate that we can afford most of the resorts (thanks in large part to the fantastic rate Disney offers)... it's just hard for me to justify the added cost. We are the type that will stay Motel 6 or Hilton when traveling: a room is a room.

That said, we have had a lot of loss in our family over the last year and one thing it taught us was to cherish the time with family and make our time meaningful. While we could stay off-property in a tiny room and save a ton, we know that by finding a nice place to stay with great amenities will only enhance our trip and hopefully make those moments even brighter. It's just finding that happy medium between picking the right room for a better trip and not having the cost weight on my mind!!!

 

[StephenandLisaS]

We usually go for a moderate resort, until our last trip in Dec 2012, it was just me and DW so we go a King Bed at Caribbean Beach or Coronado Springs, we stay in the parks most of the time so all we use the resort for is sleeping, and the occasional meal. My wife has stayed at the Grand Floridian and the Contemporary when she was young, I just don't see the point in paying extra for a place to sleep since we spend most of our time in the parks.

 

[Ofinn]

No not as long as I'm comfortable with the cost, and can afford it. I won't upgrade to CL unless I get 35% discount, and the cost to upgrade is around 100.00 a night. The only deluxe resort I can't seem to spend the money on is GF. I like WL and Poly, and when I compare the difference in price I can't justify it.

 

[Couchy]

I have felt a tinge of...." you could save $$ elsewhere" but then I realize I would want to be at BC/YC and would miss the convenience of it. I would be annoyed by all the busing and be missing walking to 2 parks. I would hate not having the WS in my backyard and strolling the Boardwalk at night, and that would make me miserable while at WDW.

 

[samnbilly]

I am truly trying to enjoy the planning for our trip next year, but I keep having a nagging guilt because I picked the more expensive option v. two cheaper options. It's not even DH that's guilting me - this is all self-inflicted!!! Our criteria: * Space! Bigger the better with me, DH, 2 DDs, and Family Friend * 3 beds prefered; lacking 3rd bed, space for an air mattress * Prefer stroller access from at least 1 park * Great pool! (zero-entry is a plus!) * Prefer immersion in Disney (first property stay for FF, youngest DD) We could stay at SOG and save, but we wouldn't get the theming and benefits of a Disney hotel and the cost of transportation to and from MCO cuts into the savings. POR (the only mod that meets most our criteria) was sold out at our rate, and I also debated a standard room at WL but we really want either a third bed or the space for an air mattress and we'll have a Pack n Play, so space would be tight. When I looked at the WL bunk rooms, the cost was about the same for BC, so I decided to book BC. It meets our criteria, and we loved YC last year, but I feel like we should be more economical. DH feels we can drop a sit-down or two and make up any cost, and FF is so appreciative that we're letting her tag along, she's up for what we think is best. Does anyone else have this same issue: feeling guilty for not taking the more economical route?

First, we definitely pick a vacation we can afford.
Second, we are very similar in that we love Space-lol!!

You will definitely love BC!!
The only thing I was trying to understand, was how much room your family needed.

Are you saying that you will need room for either a 3rd bed & a pack & play?
BC rooms are a bit on the tight side.
Could the FF sleep on the Day bed & then fit the pack & play? The other option is a rollaway bed which is a great size for someone who doesn't fit in the day bed.

I'll be totally honest, & just give you my OP.
If you could rent points from a DVC member, I think you would definitely make out much better.
The space that you need would definitely work out in the DVC vs the Standard BC room. The only other room category that would help with the space is the Deluxe room, but that is CL.

Obviously you're familiar with the space, if you've stayed YC, but the reason we didn't book BC this time was that they cannot guarantee a Day bed & we have kids who are teens of the opposite sex.

Are you flying or driving with packing the air mattress? The rollaway bed would save you suitcase space

It was just a suggestion.. I'm sure you know what fits your family best, but I just thought I'd throw another option out there.

The only thing is that DVC you cannot have a rollaway bed or air mattress due to fire codes.

Hope you have a great trip!! Even though GF is my home away from home, I'm overruled with the families vote staying right by Epcot, lol!! I won't tell them, but I love Epcot as well, I just love my GF

 

[LucyBC80]

No guilty at all. I subscribe to the principle that money spent on making my family life easier/happier is money well spent so I splurge what I can when I can.

We're splurging a lot this next trip, 13 days on site (not a deluxe because I love POFQ) plus other 11 days onsite at Universal, balloon ride, Wishes Dessert Party, both MNSSHP and MVMCP... I feel it's worth it and I can't wait to do it all.

 

[Ames389]

I do feel guilty. I have been so many times and my kids who are now teens and grown with a family of their own still prefer values. I love the mods especially POR or POFQ. I even booked next years trip in a Royal Room and my kids asked me to change it to ASMu...so I did. Basically it means my food is now free in a twisted way! As long as we are comfortable I am okay.

 

[susanm]

IMHO if you can swing it...go for it... i myself like the extra days...(10+) so i go value.... i do this every time i start planning...

5 days moderate or up
10+ value

i do prices and look at discounts... and i always end up going for the value and 10 days

but as i mentioned before i would rather the days in the park....i leave my room by 730-8am and dont get back until 10-11 pm or later so i am not using the facilities you pay extra for.....

stayed at all the moderates in the past and enjoyed them, but feel most of the time there is more walking around getting from room to food court...

would love to stay deluxe...but cost wise i cant afford it...

last trip wanted to do 3 days WL (for 60th birthday) and then 5 days value...
ended up doing 13 days at the value...

SO REALLY - CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT THE MOST AND FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK

 

[butsy113]

The only thing is that DVC you cannot have a rollaway bed or air mattress

Actually they don't supply a roll away bed, but u can bring an air mattress. You must also bring your own bedding. Five people could fit in a 1bedroom but it would be tight and FF would have to share a pull out. You could rent points for a 2 bedroom. Go to www.dvcrequest.com to use a calculator to figure out the cost for the time of year you are going. What's great about the 1 and 2 bedrooms is you have a full kitchen 2 bathrooms and washer and dryer. If you order groceries you could eat a few easy meals in to save money. We almost always eat breakfast and often on pool or resort days eat sandwiches or pizza in the room. It's worth looking into if you want space.

 

[samnbilly]

Actually they don't supply a roll away bed, but u can bring an air mattress. You must also bring your own bedding. Five people could fit in a 1bedroom but it would be tight and FF would have to share a pull out. You could rent points for a 2 bedroom. Go to www.dvcrequest.com to use a calculator to figure out the cost for the time of year you are going. What's great about the 1 and 2 bedrooms is you have a full kitchen 2 bathrooms and washer and dryer. If you order groceries you could eat a few easy meals in to save money. We almost always eat breakfast and often on pool or resort days eat sandwiches or pizza in the room. It's worth looking into if you want space.

I'm sorry, I thought I read that adding an air mattress was a fire code violation, but I don't own DVC, so I'm sure others know more than me! The extra room of the DVC amazing!!

 

[dimndgal1]

First, we definitely pick a vacation we can afford.
Second, we are very similar in that we love Space-lol!!

You will definitely love BC!!
The only thing I was trying to understand, was how much room your family needed.

Are you saying that you will need room for either a 3rd bed & a pack & play?
BC rooms are a bit on the tight side.
Could the FF sleep on the Day bed & then fit the pack & play? The other option is a rollaway bed which is a great size for someone who doesn't fit in the day bed.

I'll be totally honest, & just give you my OP.
If you could rent points from a DVC member, I think you would definitely make out much better.
The space that you need would definitely work out in the DVC vs the Standard BC room. The only other room category that would help with the space is the Deluxe room, but that is CL.

Obviously you're familiar with the space, if you've stayed YC, but the reason we didn't book BC this time was that they cannot guarantee a Day bed & we have kids who are teens of the opposite sex.

Are you flying or driving with packing the air mattress? The rollaway bed would save you suitcase space

It was just a suggestion.. I'm sure you know what fits your family best, but I just thought I'd throw another option out there.

The only thing is that DVC you cannot have a rollaway bed or air mattress due to fire codes.

Hope you have a great trip!! Even though GF is my home away from home, I'm overruled with the families vote staying right by Epcot, lol!! I won't tell them, but I love Epcot as well, I just love my GF

We would prefer to have the 2Qu/1Day option with a PnP so that our oldest DD can sleep on the Daybed. My FF doesn't mind sharing with DD (she's beyond grateful we invited her to come so she'd sleep on the balcony if need be), but our oldest is similar to Shamu in bed so we are hoping we can have a separate bed for her to roll around in.

We considered renting points, but we're using the military discount and it's hard to beat that with points unless we go studio which won't work with our group. Definitely considering it for next family trip, though - would love to stay BLT!!!

IMHO if you can swing it...go for it... i myself like the extra days...(10+) so i go value.... i do this every time i start planning...

...

SO REALLY - CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT THE MOST AND FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK

My dream is to do 10 days at Disney, but DH never seems to get more than 7 days off at a time (except for holidays which are just WAY too pricey and crazy for me at WDW!), and we take advantage of the great 4-day PH we can get. We have had to cancel and reschedule the trip once because of all the government fun last spring, and soon he'll be in a position where vacations like this will be harder to take due to unplanned 'stuff'.

Part of that is why I'm definitely leaning deluxe and would love to have SAB: save money on the WP&M since we'll have the great pool and the Boardwalk and pool would be great time fillers. *sighs* I think it's just hard because I am just grateful we get to go on a great vacation with the girls and that my FF will get to really enjoy Disney (she has only been for 2 days years ago). If we could only afford Value, I still would be happy to go... I just don't want the driving force of going 'big' to be 'because we can', I'd rather it be 'because we should'.

THanks to everyone for the insight on both sides. I definitely understand both perspectives and honestly could argue myself both ways!!!

 

[kathy884]

I think the best way to keep from feeling guilty about spurges is to have a vacation budget. This sort of sets some parameters for what you think is reasonable to spend and then go for it, do whatever appeals to you most that is within the budget guidelines.

Many people think budgets are to control / hold in spending, but that's not how they work for me. Budgets for me are permission to spend /enjoy.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

I find that when not everyone in your group isn't a Disney fanatic...or even negative about a trip to Disney...spending the extra moolah on a Deluxe makes even the most reticent to really enjoy the vacation. That, in turn, creates a better atmosphere for everyone involved.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

Case in point...several years ago we booked a week-long trip and my teenaged niece was in a phase of(just wanna hang with my friends at home...Disney is dorky...etc.).

We stayed at the Boardwalk Club-Level.

My niece was actually sobbing on the ME returning to the airport saying she didn't want to leave and how she can't wait to go back.

Was it worth it? You betcha!

 

[LilyWDW]

All the below are for a single person, October 15-23 2014, with a 7day PH in the package:

POFQ Garden View (what I have booked): $2,166

Grand Floridian Outer Building Garden View (cheapest): $5,109

Grand Floridian Main Building Standard Club Level (the minimum in my "dreams"): $8,439

Grand Floridian Main Building Theme Park View Club Level (my dream): $9,033

I just can't get over the price difference! Can I afford it? Yep. But I could also do so much with the money. I mean, my minimum dream will most likely cost more then my 2015 trip where I am paying for 2 rooms and tickets for 3 adults and 1 child at POFQ. I can't even think about spending that sort of money on myself.