Better Resort vs. More Park Days (at Christmas)

Tom P.

Mouseketeer
Joined
May 11, 2015
This could fit on multiple boards, so I decided to just drop it here and get the DIS community opinion. :-)

We're considering a Walt Disney World trip during the Christmas season next year (2016). We are a family of 7, including five young children who will be ages 9 and under at the time of this hypothetical trip.

In the past, we've stayed at a value (Art of Animation) and a moderate (Port Orleans Riverside). We've liked both but, honestly, as beautiful as Riverside is, we preferred AoA with our small kids because the theming is fantastic for them and the more compact nature of the resort works better for us.

If we were going back at any other time of the year, AoA would be my hands down pick. No question. But we're talking Christmas. And I keep hearing how fantastic Wilderness Lodge is at Christmas. We could get a deluxe room at Wilderness Lodge, still fit all of us (since the youngest will be under 3 still, it counts as 6 people in the room), and have our first deluxe experience. In fact, we'd even be staying concierge to get the deluxe room.

But we don't have unlimited funds. A deluxe club level room at Wilderness Lodge is roughly double the price of a family suite at AoA during the same time. So going deluxe will likely mean shaving a few days off our trip.

So... what do you think? More total days at the parks at Art of Animation, or sacrifice a few days and do a shorter trip in order to experience Wilderness Lodge at Christmas?
 
First, let me preface this by saying I have no kids......

I LOVE the WL, and try to get on property there (as I do AKL, and POFQ) every visit - usually for a meal, or at least to "resort hop", which is also something I love to do, especially at the Christmas season. I have never Christmas or New Year week, and personally would NEVER attempt either. I have been early-mid Dec., and mid-late Jan. If you think your kids would enjoy the ambiance and decorations of WL, and wouldn't mind hanging out there as opposed to "riding the rides", than I'd say go for it. But if you think they'd miss out by not being able to do as many rides due to the big crowds, and your stay being shorter, than stay at a "cheaper place" and make the stay longer to be able to get more "park stuff" done.

I'd say only you know your family best, and can decide which they'd like, since crowds and money ARE both going to be a "given fact", no matter how you slice it. I will also tell you that - as an adult - (again, no kids), I have found MORE than enough to see/do at holiday time resort hopping, and now with Disney Springs gearing up nicely, I think NOT going to/doing as many parks could be an option. I can also say that I have stayed at a "lesser resort", or had more "non park days" to keep the costs down to make my trips longer, and see/do things I would not otherwise have had the time or ingenuity to think to do.

Good luck, whichever you decide, and please stop back by and let us know!!
 
I have done both longer less expensive stays and shorter more expensive stays. I have done WL over Christmas but it was 2001 so that's not a recent, real world experience. WL is my favorite of the Disney resorts (though Swan Dolphin is my all time favorite). But given you said you are going to go over Christmas, if it were me, I would go for the longer stay because the Christmas crowds make it so time consuming to do anything. You can always spend some part of your vacation at the WL, book a lunch, walk around the resort (but no pool hop :rolleyes1). You can experience a lot just going to the resort. Regardless, I hope you have a good time.
 


We had that decision to make this year. We went with a longer stay at CBR vs a shorter stay at WL. I just couldn't bring myself to spend more for a shorter stay.
 
We tend to choose a longer trip at a cheaper resort, and then resort hop to see the nicer resorts. Someday we'll stay at a nicer resort, I'm sure, but for now we would rather have more time in the world.
 
Thanks, everyone, for all the opinions and insight! I'd like to clarify that when I said the Christmas season, I didn't mean actually being there the week of Christmas/New Year's. What we're probably looking at is doing the first or second week following Thanksgiving so that we get all of the Christmas decorations and events, but not the Christmas week pricing and crowds.
 


Have you considered a split stay?
I've done split stays quite a few times, and enjoyed it. I will say it does take some time out of your vac. to "move" (however you do it - I've let Disney do it, I've done it via taxi, stc.) because of the
"checking in/checking out", getting set up at a new place as far as unpacking, acclimating, etc. As long as you know that going in, and maybe plan some extra time for that, it's all good.

I would also advise if staying at different "classes" (values, moderates, deluxe, etc.) to only consider going UP. I switched from Old Key West to Pop one time, and even though I'd gladly stay @ Pop again in a heart beat, I caught myself feeling like I was in a tiny cinderblock prison after the larger, more lush ambiance of OKW. I know it ain't so, but it felt like that. So - my lesson to self was "always switch UP" :)
 
I think a lot of it depends on how much time you spend at your resort. We are rope drop to closing kind of people, so the resort experience doesn't mean that much to us. If you enjoy spending time at your resort then choose your resort over more days.
 
I agree that you could look into renting DVC points. You might be able to get the WL for the same price as AoA and not give up any days.

But, if you don't do that then I say go for the cheaper resort for more days. Then you can spend time resorting hopping, and as it was said before, you could have a meal in the resorts you want to see, etc... They don't decorate the rooms for Christmas so you get the same effect by walking into the lobby as a guest as you would from staying there. The Grand Floridian is beautiful at Christmas as well with its' full size gingerbread house.

I just did a quick search for an idea of pricing AoA or renting points. This year, for your party size, from 12/7-12/13 the room only would be $2144. For the same time at WL a 1 BR unit would be $2464 or 2 BR for $3248, based on $13/point. If you shopped right you might get it even cheaper. Of course I don't know your exact dates or length of stay but it was just to show the possibility. I hope that helps.
 
I prefer to make the resort resonably price and spend more time at WDW. We apply the money we saved on room elsewhere and really love during special occasion/holiday trips this way..

To bring in more of the holiday, we plan more things around resorts that are more decorated. We'll generally plan some adrs around the resorts and make it part of a 'holiday decoration resort crawl'. One day it might be the monorail resorts, another it'll be the epcot resorts, etc etc etc. We always pick up some holiday themed stuff and we'll do that early on in the trip and 'decorate the room' to bring the holiday's back to our lower cost accommodations and splurge a lot more away from our room. Basically go all out on the holiday but not where we are going to be asleep.
 
I almost always choose a longer trip over fancier accommodations. In Dec. 2009 I did a split stay between Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge. While both were lovely, I wasn't at the hotel much during the day to enjoy then.
 
Another vote for renting points if possible. Ultimately, the resort upgrade vs. length of stay decision all boils down to personal preference. I see this question come up on Facebook Disney groups at least once a week and it would seem that a good 80% of the people opt for a longer trip, but that's not to say that a shorter trip in upgraded lodging isn't without its merits. I'm one of those people who would rather a 6 day stay in a deluxe vs. an 8 or 9 day stay in a moderate. I like a bigger room, I like a resort that's walking distance to at least one park, I like having a lot of TS dining options in and near my resort, I like a balcony/patio, and I like interior hallways.

I'd also like to offer a side thought on WL at the holidays. My girls' first WDW trip was a December trip and I picked WL for lodging simply because of the raves about the decorations. Had it been a non-holiday trip, I would have gone with my fave and stayed at the Contemporary. In the end, while I really liked the resort holiday decor and thought it was nice to stay over the lobby and see the big tree each time we left our room...I wish we stayed at the Contemporary and just visited WL to see the decor. Yes, it's all personal preference, but there's something to be said for picking the hotel that best fits your lodging preferences.
 
I feel these are questions you need to answer:

Price of travel (why spend over $1000 to travel for only a few days there)
Time you want to spend in the parks (A great resort is only worth it if you spend time at the resort)
Park or parks you visit most (WL has a boat to MK, busses to the rest which are only slightly better than Pop)

I loved the WL, but I'm a park person. I could make a week there and feel relaxed and never buy a park ticket, but that isn't why we go to Disney. I want 7-10 days in the parks and a clean bed, easy transportation, and a hot shower. Anything else I want I can get by jumping on a bus or monorail and doing it at another resort without paying the price. Take the boat from MK over to WL to see the tree and have a great breakfast.
 
I'm a bit of a resort snob, so take that into consideration when reading my thoughts. LOL

I'd prefer staying at a deluxe over more pal days. However, that's also because I go to WDW several times per year. If this is your big trip for 2016, you might appreciate staying longer, enjoying AoA with the kids again, and visiting WL. You could have a meal there and then visit some of the other deluxe resorts to see their holiday displays (Grand Floridian, Poly, etc.).
 
Renting points to stay at VWL is a great option which will get you in a bigger space for less money. But do be warned that early December is the busiest time for DVC members and DVC properties. Peak park times and peak DVC times don't always coincide, and this is the best example. So while I think it's a viable option you should look into, have a good back-up plan in place in case you can't rent what you want. I would also consider AKV if VWL isn't available.
 
I too would rather stay a few more days than spend more on the room. Also VWL will most likely still be under construction at that time next year..so if renting DVC points that may have an affect on how things look.
 
Ok, I'll chime in and state that DH and I do not have children, At the age your children are any vacation to WDW will be special. The AoA lobby will be decorated and you are right the theming there is awesome. I have stayed at AllStars and Pop several times. I would eat at Whispering Canyon and Boma to ge the vibe of those resorts. I think you and your wife will appreciate the decor and the children will marvel at it for a few minutes but then move on. At that age the fact that I am spending the night in a hotel with cool stuff all around me is fantastic ( I am 47, but a WDW still a kid).

I vote for the longer relaxed visit with meals st specific places for Christmas decor. I assure you Christmas will be EVERYWHERE.

DH is given this choice every year...I always ask..." Do you want to spend seven nights on the savanna or 9-10 nights in a value studio ( Animal Kingdom Lodge DVC Members)...longer stay always, always wins.
 
I feel these are questions you need to answer:

Price of travel (why spend over $1000 to travel for only a few days there)
Time you want to spend in the parks (A great resort is only worth it if you spend time at the resort)
Park or parks you visit most (WL has a boat to MK, busses to the rest which are only slightly better than Pop)

I loved the WL, but I'm a park person. I could make a week there and feel relaxed and never buy a park ticket, but that isn't why we go to Disney. I want 7-10 days in the parks and a clean bed, easy transportation, and a hot shower. Anything else I want I can get by jumping on a bus or monorail and doing it at another resort without paying the price. Take the boat from MK over to WL to see the tree and have a great breakfast.
Not always true.
I prefer a deluxe because of its proximity to a park (or multiple parks)
Less time spent commuting
 

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