Am I wacko or what?

[Alannah]

I am once again considering changing our plans. We've mapped out elaborate plans for our 10 nites at disney (elaborate in our world) and now I find myself thinking "Are you nuts? Spending all that money?". We had 10 nites booked at Port Orleans (2 rooms) and then I switched it so we would have 2 nites AKL Concierge with Sunrise Safari at the beginning and 1 nite at Poly Lagoon Concierge at the end so we would be "in the middle of it all". I get all caught up in reading trip reports and other people's reviews and then I talk to my sister (who is trying to be kind & smart) and I realize "What the heck am I doing?". All I wanted was to take the kids to DisneyWorld. I don't need the world on a platter. (Altho I want it). I just need to go and have fun and know that we're not overextending ourselves financially. But knowing that this is probably the only trip we'll make, it's hard not to fall into the "let's go grand style" routine. (I know it's not really grand but grand for us). Logically & realistically we should be staying at Value resorts but we really think we may find that a little too noisy? busy? garrish? I don't know. We've never been, but from the pictures we've seen we don't feel inspired. Or Fort Wilderness and prepare most of our own meals. That looks like a nice place, but do I want to prepare our meals????!!!! When does it make sense to overextend. I know it's a personal issue. No one else can measure my comfort zone. But do any of you guys do this? Book grand trips and then change them to something more realistic? Or on the other hand, book something realistic only to change it to something more grand? Just curious. May make for interesting discussion. PS. This board is extraordinarily addictive. I always prided myself on avoiding this kind of stuff and getting things done. Now it's just Disney, Disney, Disney!!!

 

[ChisJo]

Ok, first of all, you are not wacko. We all do it - that is why we have these boards so that we are able to come and indulge in our obsession together.
As for your question - I have gone to WDW twice and each time I would have loved to have stayed concierge, but each time I didn't. Why? Because financially, it wasn't logical for me. Instead, I stayed in budget resorts and feel that I had just as good of a time as I would have should I stayed in a concierge level. If you are worried about finances, but still want to partake in a concierge level suite, why not only do it one or two nights, to get the feel, then try staying in a budget resort, like POP century, or ASMo? Then, that way, you can get the best of both worlds. I know all those resorts sound wonderful, and I keep telling myself that when I get a job after University, I too will be able to stay in those places. But for all the places I travelled to, it was never the hotel I remembered the most - it was everything else.
Also, think of it this way. If you stayed in a budget hotel afterwards, you can indulge in nicer meals, moe character meals, etc. That is just what I think. If you read the reports on the budget hotels, people have just as good of a time there as anywhere else, especially with younger children.
The only time in my life I feel that I would over indulge is on my honeymoon, or if I was a millionaire - which, by the way, I am not.
Jo

 

[hellooothere]

I hear you loud and clear! I am so addicted to this board! And yes everything sounds so much better and you want it all for your family!
But then reality sets in.........hopefully before it is too late to cancel your reservations.......

We are staying at POP! It sounds busy and noisy and fun! We are only there for a short stay and I figure we will be at the parks most of the time anyway! Everyday I read trip reports and comments that make me think we should be staying Poly Concierge or WL but we aren't! We can't afford it....this time! Disney wasn't even supposed to come into play on this holiday! We were supposed to be spending a week at the beach! But the trip has snowballed to include a few extra days at Disney! And with information from this board we have fit it in nicely in a very affordable way!

We were originally booked at POFQ. We need two rooms as well. The difference in money saved between the Pop and POFQ was enough to make me change rooms. I have read some bad reviews about POP. I have also read some really really good reviews. I have read some bad reviews about Poly, POFQ, GF, AKL and yes even WL so......your holiday is what you make it.


I want to thank you for posting this because I finally realised that I am happy with my decision and that we are going to have a great time on this trip!!


And so will you.....whatever you decide!!!

 

[hockey mom]

I do the same thing and then get realistic about the amount of time we will actually be spending in the room. If you have never been to Disney you are not going to be able to take advantage of concierge offerings because you won't be around much.

As for resorts don't sell the value resorts short especially if you have young kids. We have stayed at Pop and ASMovies and loved the themeing. We could have moved up a level but we all wanted to see those huge icons.

I personally would skip concierge and spend the extra cash on character meals- I love those.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Our trips often "evolve" in the planning process so we end up with something other than what we originally planned. There is so much to see, do and try at WDW that we find it fun to do different things and save others for the next trip. Who knows, you may get addicted to WDW like the rest of us and you'll go back again, too! If you think that's a possibility maybe you shouldn't overextend this trip so you can plan another later (and if you KNOW you can't go back you better stay off these boards ).

Personally, I like the craziness of the Value resorts and am currently booked at Pop for January (though that could change ). Concierge is really nice (ours was a free upgrade) but there's plenty of magic to be had without a concierge room - I'd save that for a really *special* trip if it's not in your budget. I can't comment on POR because I've never stayed in a Moderate before, but I would say it's a great choice for your first trip especially if you think you might not enjoy the Values. I definitely think you should stay within your budget and think about going again sometime in the future once you see what you like, but that's just me. Good luck and let us know what you finally decide.

P.S. I was just thinking - I don't know how many are in your party but the CR rooms sleep 5 and are truly in the middle of the magic. You can get a wing room using a code for under $200/night - would that be a possibility for you?

 

[c&m]

DH and I could be doing a heck of a lot of other things with the thousands of $$$ we are spending on this trip -- save up for a new car, new roof for the house, and so on... But, hey, we all deserve to have some fun, take a break from our frantic schedules and all the mundane tasks in life.

We are staying at POR in March 2005. I would've LOVED to go deluxe because when my DH and I went in 2001, we stayed at the Dolphin, and it's soooo HARD to go back down to a moderate resort. But since we're travelling with our 2 DDs this time, we have to budget (park hoppers for 4 aren't cheap!!!). Plus, I don't think we'd spend too much time in our room or at the resort, because there's so much park hopping to do. Something to consider...

If this is going to be your **one** time at WDW (how can you think that??? Disney is sooo addictive), then maybe you should do 1 or 2 nights in style so you wouldn't have any regrets when you come home.

 

[alohamom]

I say break it up-go value or whatever your financial comfort level is for 7 nites and splurge for the other 3. I know with my little ones that we do take breaks and come back to the room but we tend to spend MOST of our time enjoying the parks, it just cannot be helped. Anywhere else you can lounge by the pool but when in Disney you are drawn to the parks and all the other great stuff too like Downtown Disney etc...End your holiday with your splurge rooms and you won't be sorry. Most of all stop panicing, you will enjoy yourself for sure no matter what you do!!!!

 

[Scratch42]

You Can't Put a Price On Memories!

Scratch

 

[langin]

You get totally caught up in the planning, I too am not sure about how much I or DH will like the Value resorts but I know the kids will love it. I think we will do 8 nights in Value and then 2 at AKL or...??.
I know that you really don't spend a lot of time in the room, my DS and I went to LA and visited Disneyland (3 days) when he was 7 yrs and we left at 8:00am and got back at 11:00 pm all 3 days, you're tired,all you need is a comfortable bed and bathroom.
Another friend may join us and she can't afford much more than we can so it helps not to think too much about the deluxe accommodations, I think I'll save that for my trip to New York with Dh in a few years.
I keep saying if I won the loto I would stay in ....well I haven't won so I have to concentrate on the positive and that is that this trip is finally becoming a reality!!!!
My MIL suggested camping to save $, that's where I draw the line. LOL!

 

[lookingforfun@disney]

We book the All Stars for the cost as we are never in the room often and just love the atmosphere of the resort. We figure it saves us so much extra money booking there with a code from mousesavers it gives us extra money for souveniers which are far more important than the hotel on property that I sleep in. We are never in the room much anyhow.

Secondly do you really need a CL room at AKL and Poly those are 2 very pricey rooms and levels you could almost stay an extra 4 or 5 nights at All Stars with the cost of those nights alone. Don't tie your money up in your hotel accomodations save it for better things like shopping. As long as you are on property what does it matter honestly.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I love planning for stuff - lately the planning for my wedding and honeymoon at WDW takes up most of my time. I think planning for a trip comes down to what you really want to get out of it.

For some, relaxation is the key, with as little hassle as possible. I think staying in a moderate or deluxe or concierge would suit these people best - you're in a great hotel (I assume - never stayed on site before!), transportation to the World is easy, etc.

For others, getting the most out of a dollar is more important... so they may stay at a value resort, knowing that they won't spend that much time in the room anyway.

For our honeymoon, I considered the big splurge of the Grand Floridian, etc - but in the end, I really can't justify that sort of expense. Instead, we're looking into getting a condo at Cypress Pointe for either $70 or $85 a night US. Since our trip will be long, I know I'll appreciate the value of being able to prepare some meals at "home" (especially breakfasts), having a washer/dryer, and just space in general. While we'll probably spend lots of time in the parks, I know my fiance will go crazy if we spend more than 8 hours in a theme park, so it would be great to have somewhere comfy to return to after a long day.

I think you just have to choose where to splurge. I'm considering staying on-site at Universal for two nights, to get the Front of the Line access to the Universal Parks.

Your trip sounds great either way you do it - the only thing I would say is that for myself, switching hotel rooms twice would be a little irritating. But it may be worth the trouble if you are just dying to stay at that resort.

 

[FayeW]

Alannah, I know how you feel, I'm even thinking about buying DVC and I've never seen any of the resorts ( except a little of BCV when we went to Beaches & Cream)!

Think about it this way, is it the COST of the trip that makes you say it will be your only trip? If so, go as budget as you can, and maybe you'll be able to go again! That's what happened to us. We were going on the "once in a lifetime trip" and I did such a great job ( thanks to this board) of planning and budgeting, that we are now planning our next trip for Nov/05. That would not be happening if I had gone "hog wild" and stayed onsite. We booked a 2 bdrm condo via skyauction ( $262.US), and added another night via hotelkingdom ($88.US). Why don't you try something like that for your "in-between" days. That way you could still book AKL Concierge for a day to do the sunrise safari, and a night at Poly Concierge just for fun. I couldn't go to the expense of the deluxe resorts/conceirge because I am just too cheap ( and I hate for all 4 of us to be in one room, I can't sleep at all). We had a wonderful, magical time for our first trip and we stayed completely offsite, which allows us to go back again. Have fun!

 

[striker3636]

We have also had a few revisions about how long and where we are staying. What started out as a 1 week trip to stay at a value resort has morphed a few times from moderates, to now a 2 week trip staying at FW in our new camper we just had delivered last week! Initially we were trying to keep the hotel room cheap and simple figuring with only 1 week, how much more were we going to do there other than crash each night? In the end, once we knew we would be able to camp, we wanted to stay longer and get more out of the trip. For us, that meant now having more money (from the savings in hotel and meals) to go to a character breakfast and other perks like that, that previously we have never been able to go to. While we would love to come every year, money just won't be there to do that, so we want to get the most out of this trip we can.

So, I would say that fit in as much as you can comfortably afford. Maybe squeeze in a few extras if you can if this is a rare trip for your family. I would't totally max out the credit card though either......(LOL). Take a minute and really think about what you and your family would really get the most out of, and try to get those things in first. If perks at the hotel are your thing, then go for it, but will you be around enough to get your money's worth? Would it all be lost on the kids?

We have also added in a lot of things to see and do at WDW thanks to this board, and have increased the budget to accomodate that (however we are still less in the long run by staying at FW). If you want to make it grand and can afford it - go for it. Just stay focused on what everyone will enjoy and have fun! The planning and dreaming is an awesome way to wait until you leave....
Annette

 

[Alannah]

That was a very interesting read...thanks. It's quite bizarre right now to be thinking about this trip as we have been without power and running water for the last 36 hours (since yesterday morning when we woke up until about 2 hrs ago). I was just focused on surviving and staying warm with the 3 kids (husband away for a month on course). It's been quite an adventure and quite a contrast between thinking concierge and thinking survival. We were told it could be a week before power was restored. It sure helps to put things in perspective! I'm just glad to have heat and lights again. There are still many in Nova Scotia without. And as far as my trip goes, still haven't decided if I'll change anything or not! But your right...there is definitely fun in the planning. DH is happy with the way things are & thinks we should make no more changes, but will go along with it if it's driving me nuts. And on and on it goes ...

 

[Sandyincanada]

Welcome back to the land of power, couldn't have been alot of fun. My DD's bf is who also is in NS is still without.

For us, we've done a few "grand" trips and found out that we are alot happier in a suite or condo. Even with connecting rooms (with just beds) we feel closed in but then again our kids are older. We go off season so we park all day and we do spend time in our room (or the pool/hottub) in the evening and appreciate the space. So onsite, to us. is no longer an option because it would cost a small fortune to get the kind of room we want, lol and this is more important to us than onsite.

People feel so differently about this, we feel our room is part of our holiday and others feel their room is just a place to sleep so I guess your decision is based on how you feel about it.

Try not to dwell on everything you read on the boards, there is always someone that seems to have a better idea or a nicer place, etc etc