All star vs. Yacht club

[deebs]

i haven't been to Disney world in a while...I'm a California girl. My husband and I are in the process of getting divorced and Disney was always my kids happy place. I'm hoping my husband will let me have kids over thanksgiving break.
Anyways...my kids will be 14 and 16... I booked free dining and initially booked the yacht club. This morning All Star music opened up and with me upgrading to the regular dining plan, it's $2000 cheaper.
My kids are pained by the divorce, I know yacht club is nicer, but $2000 is a lot of money...but due to the curcumstances...what would you do? I keep thinking stay at yacht club because walking to Epcot and being so close to the boardwalk would be great. Advice please!

 

[Branflakes]

First and foremost, do what you can afford. If the additional savings of $2000 by booking the AllStar, will have any bearing what so ever on your personal finances, as far as paying bills, emergency monies etc, drop the Yacht club. If the money is inconsequential to your personal financial situation, keep the Yacht Club. The biggest issue is that.

I am a California girl as well. And I was a single mom for a time too. My kids started going to Disney when they were toddlers. I've lived on the east coast for 25 years. And WDW was at least once a year. I grew up in SoCal, and went to Disneyland ALL
THE TIME, may have even cut school a time or ten to go as well. So I understand the draw to Disney and wanting to preserve that with your kids. I took my boys to Disney every year after my divorce. I made planning for it a constant in my budget. They were 4,7 and are now 20,23. It is some of the best memories we have together. And still continue to go together. It's "our thing". I'm remarried, and my husband and I go the two of us, all the time. You couldn't choke the Disney out of me! That said if you can swing it, do it. If it's a stretch, wait to go until it isn't.

From a purely resort comparison perspective. There really isn't one. YC is a deluxe, and a very well appointed one. Excellent location, and the ability to go in the back door to Epcot at will or walk to Studios, is in my opinion worth every dime. YC/BC are a mainstay for us, then WL.
Also, sometimes free dining isn't so free. So I would also do some price comparisons without free dining as well.

 

[iivye]

I love staying at the Yacht club because of how easy it is to walk to Epcot or take a boat to Hollywood Studios but $2,000 is a lot of money. I think it comes down to how comfortable you are with paying the extra money and which parks you plan on spending the most time. Personally, I would stay at Yacht club just for the ease of going to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. I hate dealing with the buses and since you are going during a holiday week you might find the buses even more crazy. But if the $2,000 makes things too tight financially I'm sure you will still have a great time at AllStar.

 

[wilkeliza]

Did you book Yacht because it was all that was available on free dinning or because it is what you want and have no issue affording? The experiences are completely different. 2K is a lot for anyone and I imagine even more for someone going through a divorce.

 

[DLgal]

How important is saving $2000? That's the real question. All Stars vs. YC is apples to oranges comparison.

 

[deebs]

I can afford it, but is it worth the difference? Not sure how much time is spent at the hotel.

I wanted Boardwalk, but it wasn't available, so I went with Yacht

 

[WEDWDW]

$2000.00 is A LOT of souvenirs,Wild Africa Treks,Sea Raycer rides,AmphiCar rides,etc. for 2 teenagers!

 

[iivye]

If you plan on being at the parks all day then it probably isn't worth it. We like to do breaks in the afternoons and swim at stormalong bay. I would agree with the others that it is probably better to save the $2,000 for other things.

 

[Branflakes]

I can afford it, but is it worth the difference? Not sure how much time is spent at the hotel.

I wanted Boardwalk, but it wasn't available, so I went with Yacht

If you can afford it, then stay with Yacht Club. Hands down! And keep an eye open for Boardwalk! you will have a much more enjoyable time at a resort with amenities and it's all interior so there is a lot to enjoy by just being there in addition to Storm A long bay. Location can't be beat. Go and enjoy a good time at Yacht Club with your kids!

 

[pbb&j]

I think you could have a wonderful time at either! I haven't found a relationship between how much we've spent, and the memories we've made. That being said, the rooms at the value resorts are pretty small, with double beds. At Yacht Club you would have a balcony, which I always enjoy a little outdoor space. Our teens really liked the freedom of the Epcot area, and we could split up from time to time and it was really easy. There is a lot to do in the Epcot resorts area without going in the parks, which can make for a more relaxed vacation.

 

[JennyDrake]

With all you are going through and little time spent in the room, I would go to All Stars and make some new memories!

 

[Poohsmommi]

i haven't been to Disney world in a while...I'm a California girl. My husband and I are in the process of getting divorced and Disney was always my kids happy place. I'm hoping my husband will let me have kids over thanksgiving break.
Anyways...my kids will be 14 and 16... I booked free dining and initially booked the yacht club. This morning All Star music opened up and with me upgrading to the regular dining plan, it's $2000 cheaper.
My kids are pained by the divorce, I know yacht club is nicer, but $2000 is a lot of money...but due to the curcumstances...what would you do? I keep thinking stay at yacht club because walking to Epcot and being so close to the boardwalk would be great. Advice please!

No comparison, but do what you can afford. It makes zero sense to go broke over it.

 

[Poohsmommi]

I can afford it, but is it worth the difference? Not sure how much time is spent at the hotel.

I wanted Boardwalk, but it wasn't available, so I went with Yacht

If you can afford it then yes, it is most definitely worth the price difference. No comparison at all.

 

[goofyintoronto]

$2000 is A LOT of money. I'd stay at music. Think of all the things you can do with $2k?!?! Prepare your kids ahead of time about the type of resort it is...show them pics. Its a bit of a difference from yacht club.

Since youre hardly in the room, music will be fine. The ONLY issue i see is the bed situation. There's 2 doubles. Will that work? Which brings me to my next point.

What about meeting in the middle and trying out a moderate resort?? You'd still save quite a bit of money PLUS you'll have two QUEEN beds rather than two doubles.

 

[wilkeliza]

Yeah moderate to deluxe I would say save the 2k (probably 1K difference in that swap) but value to deluxe is such a big difference I would be much less hestitant to say do it because the beds are smaller and rooms are much smaller at value. Also Yacht and Beach club has the best pool on property.

 

[DLgal]

Yacht Club will be far more comfortable because the beds are larger and it's possible to get a daybed which would give everyone his or her own bed.

 

[Shanti]

i haven't been to Disney world in a while...I'm a California girl. My husband and I are in the process of getting divorced and Disney was always my kids happy place. I'm hoping my husband will let me have kids over thanksgiving break.
Anyways...my kids will be 14 and 16... I booked free dining and initially booked the yacht club. This morning All Star music opened up and with me upgrading to the regular dining plan, it's $2000 cheaper.
My kids are pained by the divorce, I know yacht club is nicer, but $2000 is a lot of money...but due to the curcumstances...what would you do? I keep thinking stay at yacht club because walking to Epcot and being so close to the boardwalk would be great. Advice please!

Personally, in this situation I would stay offsite to save money.

 

[Farro]

Personally, in this situation I would stay offsite to save money.

She said she was able to afford both.

OP - stay at Yacht Club if that's the case. Your kids ages, they might like laying around a pool day and that pool can't be beat.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

If you can afford it, I would stay at YC. The rooms will be more comfortable, more amenities, amazing pool, walking to EP and DHS.

Are any mods available for your dates? POR is really lovely and that would save you some money over YC, but still give you queen beds plus a boat to Disney Springs.

I would also recommend WL or AKL if they are available. They are both beautiful and, if available, would most likely price out below YC.

You could also check Swan/Dolphin's website to see if there is availability there. You can typically get rooms there for less than YC/BC/BWI, but you will be in the same EP resort area.

 

[deebs]

I cancelled the all star resort....there are no moderates available. The location of yacht club looks amazing, so I think we'll stick with it.

Thank you for all your replies!!