Airfare or Deluxe resort delima???

[Robinbare]

Well We booked 5 nights at the Pop Century resort for Nov 28th thru Dec 3. I really have amazed myself at how quickly I have paid for this trip. I have sent money each month until it was paid for. At the time I booked this trip I really thought we would have to struggle to get it paid for but just by cutting back and being so determined to get to Disney(this is our first time) we have accomplished this sooner than I first thought.

My ideal trip would be to stay at the the WL resort, now Im tending to lean toward upgrading. But we are planning to drive from N.C. Now I have to ask myself should I take any extra we have and fly. I have read so much positive things about Pop Century I dont want to sell them short. I really guess I have to ask you all is a deluxe really worth it the extrA $$$$. my kids are 7 and 11.(either of them have ever flown or been to disney). Help!!!! Do I stick to the original plan or go all out??


Robin IN NC

 

[ripleysmom]

Robin normally i would say no but if it's WL then I think so. Pop Century will be fine too but I really like WL.

 

[PolyAddict]

If it was the Poly, I would say absolutely!! Because of monorail access and walking distance to T&TC. I have never stayed at a deluxe w/o monorail access, so I can't say that I think the extra cost is worth it. Either way you will have fun!!!

 

[fac]

How much of a problem (or pain) for driving?
can it be fun as well?

Will you spend all of your time in the park? Do you plan to spend some time in the resort?

If so, I will drive.
Note that if you fly you probably may still want a car.

 

[Liz]

Since its your first WDW trip you might be spending a lot of time in the parks. Will you really have much time to enjoy the resort? If not I'd consider using the money to fly and stay at POP. Save the WL for your next trip (because after you go once you know there will be a next trip!) Have fun whatever you decide!

 

[safetymom]

For your first trip fly and make it a great adventure at POP. It will all be so new and fun. If you go back again then you could always do a deluxe resort. Your kids will love it no matter how you do it.

 

[beaglebiz]

personally, I would drive and stay at Pop. if you find yourself with more $$, why not open up an acct for a cruise???

 

[Leota]

I'd save the extra money & stay at Pop for your first trip. You'll be so busy with Parks, you most likely won't be spending much time at your Resort.
Next trip, I'd upgrade to a moderate or deluxe. If you have money left over, you can always put it away for you next trip.

 

[ducklite]

North carolina isn't that far of a drive, relatively speaking. I think I'd do something completely different than what was suggested.

I'd stay at French Quarter, drive, and use the left over money for a couple of great meals or tickets to MVMCP.

Anne

 

[punkin]

The drive from NC is really not bad at all. I would definately drive. I have never stayed at WL, but I have stayed at POP. I liked it. Yes, it's a motel BUT it is extremely clean an cheap. The busses to the parks run great and there is only one bus stop. If this is your first trip and you'll be at the parks all day, then I would just put my money aside for my next trip (and maybe stay at the WL then).

 

[crisi]

I probably wouldn't fly. I'm not sure how far your drive is, but even a short flight seems to take all day by the time you get to the airport early, fly and pick up your luggage at the other end. Plus, if you fly, then you'll want a rental car (or a towncar and be dependant on Disney transportation).

We like the WL - I haven't stayed at the value resorts. I'm such a snob that I'd rather not go than stay in those tiny rooms - even just to shower and sleep. However, we have stayed in the moderates and enjoyed those. You realize that with a moderate or deluxe, you get a pool slide (assuming the weather is warm enough when you go), your kids seem pool slide age. I think I'd lean towards recommending the moderates as well. If you like WL, book at meal at WCC to check out the resort. You'll get a feel for the hotel and can decide for yourself if its worth the money for a future trip. (the rooms are not much bigger than a moderate and the big change is decor and location). One thing I like with moderates over deluxes is deluxes don't have much in the way of fast food. The moderates have great food courts.

Another reason to not book deluxe first trip out is that there probably will be future trips. Some people discover its hard to go back down the luxury scale. A step isn't too difficult (we did the Poly then CBR on the same trip), two steps from deluxe to value may turn you into my kind of snob.

 

[RumpleMom]

We have stayed at the All-stars several times. They had great theming and were very clean. I'm sure Pop C will be too. I envy you on your short drive from NC. We drive from PA. No need to fly- you will be going back to WDW.

We thought our 1989 trip was a once in a life time trip, but we were hooked and managed to go every 3 years for a while, doing local vacations in between to save money.

Anyway, in 2000 we joined DVC. Something we never thought we could afford. But then we realized we were becoming less park commandos and wanted to enjoy hotel amenities, our oldest was near 18 and would require us to pay the extra adult charge for our room and paying for a week at a deluxe was not going to happen. DVC was the answer. We have a much better room, kitchen facilites, and in room laundry. We can now take the grandparents in the winter for a stay in a 2 bedroom unit. A room we could only dream of at one time, but this is low season for DVC points.

My point in explaining all this is that we wish we had joined sooner. My advice is go, have a wonderful family time, see if you like WDW and think you will be returning again, then seriously consider DVC. We just wish we had joined sooner.

 

[Robinbare]

Thank you all so much for your advice! I too guess I have the mentality that this will be the one and only trip. I guess thats why I want everything to be so perfect!!

 

[MrsPete]

The drive from NC is nothing -- we're near Charlotte, and we can make it in about 9 hours. I wouldn't even think of spending $$$ on a plane ticket. You wouldn't save much time. You have to get to the airport 2 hours early now, then you'd be in the air about an hour, then you still have to get your bags and make it to WDW -- you'd spend half as much time flying as you would driving. And you wouldn't have a car once you're at WDW; I don't think a car is a necessity at WDW, but it's nice to know that it's there.

I have stayed at Wilderness Lodge, and it is WONDERFUL! The pool, the details in the lobby, the proximity to the Magic Kingdom and the TTC . . . it's just a fantastic place. The bunk beds were a nice touch. My 10 year old still talks about it as the best hotel she's ever visited (and she's stayed in some doozies).

I guess the question is, how much time will you spend in the resort? We tend to spend a good bit. Our kids can't go-go-go all day and be good sports, and we enjoy a nice long mid-day rest at the pool. On the other hand, I see that you're going in November/December. So the park hours will be drastically shortened, and you won't have the luxury of the mid-day rest and long, cool evening hours, and you'll be "home" by 7:00 each evening. But you will have evenings at the resort. Wilderness Lodge is lovely at night. Low lights. Rocking chairs by the fire. What does Pop Century have for the evenings? There's no lobby, no indoor central gathering places. Just a food court and a pool.

With the parks closing early, you may be planning nice late dinners at other resorts (which won't close early like the parks). Taking the Disney busses to the parks is easy. Resort to resort is a bit more difficult. Wilderness Lodge has a big leg-up on Pop Century in this case because they're only about 2 minutes from the TTC; from there you can walk to the Polynesian or the Grand, or you can pick up another bus to any other resort.

 

[gigi1313]

since you're going for a week, i would stay the first four or five nights at POP and then splurge and switch over to WL... i would also opt to drive rather than fly 'cause you'll save $ but not save much time... don't forget, if you fly you have to have transport to/from airports, pay for parking if you leave your car, etc... driving seems like a wiser choice (and something i would love to be able to do, but ny is a lot further away than nc!)

good luck and enjoy

 

[hookedup]

I like Anne's idea - why not upgrade to a moderate and use the extra money to save or splurge while you're there? I have liked our mod stays very much.

The WL is nice and I can understand why you are tempted to upgrade! I have not stayed there but last trip we took the boat over and walked around the grounds. It is really cool. I have never stayed at any of the value resorts so I can't give you advice there but it is nice to stay in the MK area esp if you hare planning to go to MK a lot or have kids.

I live in CA so driving is never an option for us - if I lived in NC I would drive for sure (then again I hate to fly)

 

[Shelle&Dave]

I agree that since this is your first time you will not be spending much time at the resort. I think you should drive, since it's not that far and stay at POP. Then if you have some free time in the evenings you could visit a couple of the resorts that interest you. Seeing pictures on the internet or watching a video is totally different than being there. Once you actually visit the resorts you may change your mind about which one you would like to stay at next.

Use that extra money for a character meal (if your kids would be interested in it) or you could even save it to put towards your next trip!

 

[Lewisc]

Makes sense to drive.

I don't think I'd upgrade to a moderate. You still have to take a bus to the parks. The bus from POP doesn't have any other stops. The moderates don't have balconies.

I'd either upgrade to a deluxe (WL or even S/D with a discount) or stay at POP. Since this is your first trip you'll probably be at the parks most of the day. I'd keep my reservation at POP and spend your money in other ways.

If you have $ you might consider extending your trip by a day or 2. Give you a chance to try a water park or even spend a day at the pool and mini golf.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by ducklite
North carolina isn't that far of a drive, relatively speaking. I think I'd do something completely different than what was suggested.

I'd stay at French Quarter, drive, and use the left over money for a couple of great meals or tickets to MVMCP.

Anne

Same here. Or if you can, add extra nights at POP (by the way, we'll be there a few of the same days!)

On your first trip, you may want to spend more time in the parks and less in the resorts.

We are just two adults, and we are not really into staying around the resort so we usually go for cheapest nice accomadations and spend the money we save on great meals , and extra things like carriage rides, boating etc.

Sheri

 

[Ozymoe]

I'd drive and stay at Pop. What tickets have you bought? Have you made any character meal plans? LOL...I'm of the same opinion as most of the folks on this thread...you'll be back!

At the time you are going it will be "snowing" nightly at Celebration...and Santa will be available there too. These are free events. All the parks and resorts will have most of their Christmas decorations up so it's fun to go resort hopping in the evenings. I wonder if the GF will have a huge gingerbread house this year?

Also you might want to check into the campfire, singalong and out door movie at Fort Wilderness. This is free. You can buy a small package of mashmallows (and 2 sticks, I think) for $2.50...or bring your own (we do and always bring the fixin's for s'mores...sticks were 25 cents each a year and a half ago) The campfire is especially nice this time of year.

Yes, I'd definitely drive and stay at Pop because there's so much to see and do for first timers you'll probably only be in your room to shower and sleep. The extra money can be much more magically spent on special meals, snacks and maybe a special keepsake or two.

You have a 7 year old and an 11 year old?...boy(s)?/ girl(s)?