WDW or a 5th cruise to get to gold status?

[HallsofVA]

We're (me, DH, DS5, DD3) currently booked on B2B cruises on the Wonder in early January. We'd originally decided to do a 4nt cruise with Kids Free since we've never cruised on the Wonder. Then we added on a 3 nt cruise before the 4nt also with Kids Free because 1) we'd always wanted to do a back to back, 2) always wanted 2 stops at Castaway Cay, and 3) it would get us to 5 cruises for Gold Castaway Club status.

We'd also originally looked at adding a night or two at the parks to the end of the 2 cruises, but decided against it for cost and time reasons. Now with the up to 40% discount on resort hotels that Disney is offering (either with the Disney Visa code or the pin code that we received separately) we're wondering whether we should cancel one of the cruises and do a park visit and stay instead?

We already have flights booked so we're committed to going to Orlando for 8 nights. We're not that thrilled with the 3nt cruise, especially since it all repeats on the 4nt. We're at 80 days from the 1st cruise so we still have time to cancel the cruise portion of either cruise with a full refund I believe. If we don't make gold on these cruises, our next cruise is the 14-day WB TA in Sept '10 so only another 8 months until then.

So do you think it'd be a good idea to consider swaping out one of the cruises (ideally the 3 nighter up front) for the kids' first visit to WDW or should we stick with the current plan for doing the B2B cruises? If we swap out a cruise for the parks, will we hate not being gold on the WBTA cruise? I believe I read that the additional OBC for gold doesn't start until 2011, so we'd be mainly missing out on earlier booking, additional stateroom gifts and the CC reception.

And on a side note, how feasible is it that we'd be able to do a 4 nt stay at a disney hotel plus 3-4 days passes and some sort of meal plan for $1500 to $1600 (the approx cost of the cruises) for 2A/2K? I priced out a value hotel for 4 nights with 3 days passes and the regular dining plan and it's $1775 before any discount for the wed-sunday stay (so possibly as low as $1580). Would we really really hate a value hotel for our first stay at the property?

I appreciate your thoughts. Obviously as the 75 day mark approaches we need to make a decision on this very soon!

[jiminyC_fan]

Quite honestly, I feel you shouldn't plan your vacation around the CC perk of becoming gold. It is just a term. Not much comes with it but status here on the board. If the kids have never experienced WDW I think you should go with that. Like you said, not much different between 3 and 4 night cruises so you would be just repeating the first cruise. It would be two different experiences for the kids if you would cruise 1/2 and go to WDW the other 1/2. I would cruise the 4 day and go to WDW for the other 3.

[ibouncetoo]

With kids that young, I'd stick with the B2B cruise. Just a few days at WDW for anyone's first visit can end up being pretty intense, unless you just plan on doing Magic Kingdom, for example. The little kids will need some down time each day. I'd want to save their first visit till they are a little older, taller and you can give it whole week. I'd want to avoid having to do the 'baby swap' thing on rides, for example.

Two stops at CC is also VERY nice.

[kcashner]

Originally Posted by HallsofVA

And on a side note, how feasible is it that we'd be able to do a 4 nt stay at a disney hotel plus 3-4 days passes and some sort of meal plan for $1500 to $1600 (the approx cost of the cruises) for 2A/2K? I priced out a value hotel for 4 nights with 3 days passes and the regular dining plan and it's $1775 before any discount for the wed-sunday stay (so possibly as low as $1580). Would we really really hate a value hotel for our first stay at the property?

I appreciate your thoughts. Obviously as the 75 day mark approaches we need to make a decision on this very soon!

Ok, what I'd do if you decide to do the parks...rent DVC points from a member (see DVC rental board). This basically gets you a deluxe resort for the price of a value. Dining plan $41/day for an adult, $11 per day for a kid...so $100 per day for your family. For kids, its a total bargain. The difference between a 3 day and a 4 day park ticket was $6 on our 2009 trip, so if you'll use 4 days, you may as well get them. A 4 day ticket is $225 for an adult. If you're only going for 4 days, I wouldn't mess with park hoppers--do one park each day. Ouch...this isn't coming out nicely....That's got us at about $1300 before the room. Even on DVC points, I can't do 4 nights for $200.

Will you hate a value resort--no. You'd like other resorts more. There are no sit down restaurants at the values, but you can eat at any resort. We love the restaurants at the Contemporary and the Poly. Can you eat for less than $41 for an adult at WDW...yeah, but it's nice to not have to think about where you want to go. Everything at the values is not quite as nice...the toiletries are a lower grade as is the TP and the towels. DO you really care how fluffy the towels are???

To save some money...buy your travel insurance privately--that way you can cover the 8 days plus a day for travel with one policy, and get kids free. Do one way car rentals from WDW to port and port to MCO--cost $45 vs. $140 for DCL transfers! (each way).

I wouldn't do the B2B just to get gold. If you want to do B2B, go for it, but that's not a reason. Do realize that the 3 day is really 2 1/2...and you get another safety drill in the mix. I frankly wasn't crazy about our B2B although I loved the crew on the Wonder. I'd do the WDW if that's an option, but you need to decide that it's a kid oriented time. It's not about mom holding kids while dad does an adult ride....it's "we're going to do the kid things." DD was 4 on her first trip, and it was SUPER!

[jilljill]

Check to see if park hours are posted yet for January. The parks tend to have shorter hours in Jan. so that may help you to make your decision. But they are less crowded then as well.
We'll hit the parks for a day or 2 after our 3 day in Jan., the first time we've been down there then.

When staying at the Value Resorts I think your only option for the dining plan is the Quick Serve plan and not the full plan that includes the sit down restaurants.
If you decide to book a dining plan check to see what if offered at the value resort.

[natale1980]

I think you should go to Disney World along with the cruise. As long as you don't give up your 4 night cruise!!! I hear those people are very nice.

-nat

[HallsofVA]

Thanks for everyone who's responded thus far. As we look at it, the tickets are a huge chunk of the budget - $865 for 3 days, 2A/2K. Add in the dining plan,and it's just about $1300 as Kcasher said. Doesn't leave a lot of room for the hotel, unless we a) do a value room, b) raise our budget, or c) look outside Disney hotels.

We've never really stayed at a Disney property (though I have stayed at the Swan/Dolphin and Buena Vista hotels in the past on business.) Is it worth it, or should I consider looking outside of Disney for the room? I have points with Marriott, Hyatt and Starwood that could get me all or some of the way towards a room, or it looks like Priceline has some reasonable rates, as long as we can get a room for the 4 of us.

Course now that a friend, who just returned from Disney with her son and her both coming down with H1N1 after their stay recommended we stay away from the parks for awhile, my DH is rethinking the whole WDW think.

[kcashner]

Originally Posted by HallsofVA

Course now that a friend, who just returned from Disney with her son and her both coming down with H1N1 after their stay recommended we stay away from the parks for awhile, my DH is rethinking the whole WDW think.

You could pick up H1N1 anywhere...along with just about any other "bug."

OK, here's what I'd do. I'd stay 3 nights at a DVC resort. You can get a studio at Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas for 32 points...$320 to rent at full value. There's no tax or anything as you're renting from an owner.

Would I stay off property...only if I couldn't afford to stay on property. Can you get 3 nights off property for $100 per night including all taxes and fees--yes. personally DD LOVED AKL, so that would be my top choice. To save a little money, cut the stay to 3 nights on property and rent a car the last afternoon. Get a room on the last night thru Priceline or Hotwire (cost $45 including taxes, etc) and at the 2.5* level all include complimentary breakfast! Since Friday and Sat. are the most points for DVC stays, that's serious money. Also, you've lowered your dining plan to 3 days, but it doesn't expire till midnight on the last day. We ALWAYS have more food than we need on the dining plan! And...if you did the DVC thing you'd have a refrigerator and microwave. You could bring a box of cereal and buy 1/2 gallon of milk...and that's breakfast for the 3 days you're there. THen you'd have plenty of meals on your dining plan...I can tell you how to stretch it.

Just some thoughts....

[HallsofVA]

Originally Posted by kcashner

OK, here's what I'd do. I'd stay 3 nights at a DVC resort. You can get a studio at Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas for 32 points...$320 to rent at full value. There's no tax or anything as you're renting from an owner.

Would I stay off property...only if I couldn't afford to stay on property. Can you get 3 nights off property for $100 per night including all taxes and fees--yes. personally DD LOVED AKL, so that would be my top choice. To save a little money, cut the stay to 3 nights on property and rent a car the last afternoon. Get a room on the last night thru Priceline or Hotwire (cost $45 including taxes, etc) and at the 2.5* level all include complimentary breakfast! Since Friday and Sat. are the most points for DVC stays, that's serious money. Also, you've lowered your dining plan to 3 days, but it doesn't expire till midnight on the last day. We ALWAYS have more food than we need on the dining plan! And...if you did the DVC thing you'd have a refrigerator and microwave. You could bring a box of cereal and buy 1/2 gallon of milk...and that's breakfast for the 3 days you're there. THen you'd have plenty of meals on your dining plan...I can tell you how to stretch it.

Just some thoughts....

That's a thought! I'd thought about whether it made sense to stay elsewhere for 1 or 2 nights during this period. The first night (Wed) we're flying in to MCO arriving around 5pm. I currently have a room or two at the Hyatt MCO reserved using Hyatt points (that could easily be canceled if I find something better.) Then Saturday night we could move somewhere closer to the port (for the Sunday cruise). That would leave us with two nights to stay on property (thursday and friday). Wednesday is lost to travel, and Sunday to the cruise, so we were looking at Thur, Fri and Sat for the parks.

Hmm. Something new to think about! I must admit that I have no idea how to go about renting points, and whether that's something that's easy to do 80 days out or not.

[natale1980]

Renting points may be hard. I was trying to book a room for a friend to come and visit us before the cruise and there was nothing available on Friday. Thursday & Sunday yes - but no Friday (and I mean in a DVC studio anywhere!) This may have changed now, so it doesn't hurt to ask.

Good Luck! The H1N1 freaks me out too... but no more then any other flu really.

-nat

[DVC Mary]

Renting points in January should be easier. You'll appreciate the fridge, microwave, & laundry facilities depending on the length of a WDW trip. If you are a Disney VISA card member, they just released room discounts for January:

http://wdwinfo.com/discounts/discounts-resorts.htm#visa

WDW is magical at the younger ages. We joined DVC when our son was 2 1/2 on our 1st WDW trip.

Stay on property w/ young kids--it makes it so much easier to pop back to the room for a nap/swim & then head back out in the evening. Staying on property can also save you the price of renting a car. Use Magical Express & if you do combine w/ a cruise, you can do a one way rental to the cruise that day.

Have fun whatever you decide.

P.S. Don't get caught up in the CC level hysteria. If you were one a way w/ platinum w/ the 14 day coming up, I'd consider it--but not for gold.

[kcashner]

Go to the DVC section of the boards...there's a section for rentals. I've rented out some points in the last year as with DD in college, we aren't doing WDW as much as previously. It's just a matter of how flexible you can be and availability. Obviously, low seasons are cheaper in terms of how many points you'll need and easier to get reservations.

The part that is "hard" is that you need to tell the member what you prefer and what you will accept, and then they have to make the reservation. If you want a one bedroom at Villas of Wilderness Lodge and nothing else will do, that's hard. If you want a studio somewhere on property, that's probably do-able, especially in January. You can also be wait-listed if what you want is not available on the first call.

[natale1980]

I was just saying that DVC renting may be hard since the weekend before 'our' cruise is the Marathon weekend.

Good Luck!! Let us know what happens!

-nat

[jilljill]

If you stay off property you will have the added expense of a rental car and will pay $14/day to park at WDW.
If you decide to stay at WDW just stay there all 4 nights as it will be easier and cheaper in the long run, especially if you are going to use DCL transfers to go to the port. You can take ME (Magical Express) from the airport to WDW hotels for free and they will transfer your luggage. This also saves you from having to change hotels 3 times with your thinking of they Hyatt 1 one nihgt, 2 nights at WDW and then 1 night near the port. With all that moving around you are wasting precious WDW park time. There's no need to stay near the port the night before, it's only a little over an hour's drive.
Sounds like you are going to rent a car to go over there if you go over the night before. If you stay at WDW the entire time you can take ME to WDW and if you really want to drive yourself over, which would be cheaper, you can pick up the rental car the night before or the morning of the cruise at Budget near DTD. No need to have the car the entire time if staying on property and it will save you some money.

BTW: staying at a value resort is perfectly fine. There's nothing wrong with the rooms and they a nice size. The bus service can be faster there than some of the other resorts. If you have a Disney Visa they may have discounts for the hotels in January, you can check their website for the info.

[HallsofVA]

Originally Posted by natale1980

I was just saying that DVC renting may be hard since the weekend before 'our' cruise is the Marathon weekend.

Good Luck!! Let us know what happens!

-nat

Nat - Thanks for the heads up on this! I hadn't even realized this, but I was wondering why these dates were specifically excluded from at least one of the discount offer!

Could this be a deal breaker for us? If we did WDW as discussed we'd be there the same days as the marathon and related activities. How crazy is it around the parks and getting around the area during this time? Is it restricted to the WWSports area or do the activities roll over to the parks and surrounding area (obviously the marathon course has to cover, um, some 26 miles or so?)