As the Ticker Turns...the neverending saga of the Resort Changers

[danceintherain]

Welp. Found my people I didn’t know I needed! Bringing my boyfriend for his first ever trip at the end of September. When I booked it was just me, so I went with a WV king at WL. Then he decided to come and was going to try and work so asked for a desk/workspace in the room. I knew the AKL rooms had a sufficient table but also YC is a dream resort—he encouraged me to the YC swap.

But NOW I’m like, should we save the $250ish to be at Swan, which I’ve enjoyed when I’ve stayed there. But it’s his first time, so am I over valuing the true bubble experience? He’s since decided to not worry about work (yippee!) and treat it like a true vacation, so desk isn’t really a concern.

We will park hop; he’s interested in highlights and finding time to be relaxed; Epcot is my favorite park and we plan to hit it every day; should we be worried about not getting a true king room at YC? Any thoughts??

I stayed at AKL last year, first deluxe since I was a young child so like 35 years, and loved it but it was during Milton. So while part of me is sad to not stay at FQ and save some money, hurricane season and a deluxe mesh well, and I want to treat my bf a bit since this is his first time—he’s only ever been to DLP and that was like 20 years ago!

Swolphin is just so massive. It has more of a "hotel" vibe than a "resort" vibe. The pool is also so far away.
I'd choose the YC. Access to the "outside" is just so much easier. I also don't care if DH and I share a bed on vacation. I'm not a cuddly sleeper anyway.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I’m now looking at our 2026 trip. At this point, I have POP for a week followed by POFQ for a week. I’m thinking about dropping POP down to 6 days and adding one day at the Contemporary. If I do that, I might be able to spring for either a Cabana or Club Level. I’ve never done either of them.

The Cabana would give us a place to go after checkout, and a place to relax and for my spouse to nap. Club Level would give us a place to be on the arrival/departure days until the rooms are ready. But the CL lounge at Contemporary does not look too comfortable.

Anyone have experiences with either of these? And what would you do?

One day CL kinda sounds like a pain. I’d rather get settled at the second resort. What if you don’t like the CL offerings that day? Or you’ve got really annoying people just planting themselves with screaming kids for a couple hours? What if the weather is bad for the pool and your room isn’t ready until 4-5pm?

Have you considered adding a couple more days at Pop and then upgrading the last few days of the trip to CL? CSR GDT CL is one of the best club levels and it’s the cheapest due to the moderate status of the hotel.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Welp. Found my people I didn’t know I needed! Bringing my boyfriend for his first ever trip at the end of September. When I booked it was just me, so I went with a WV king at WL. Then he decided to come and was going to try and work so asked for a desk/workspace in the room. I knew the AKL rooms had a sufficient table but also YC is a dream resort—he encouraged me to the YC swap.

But NOW I’m like, should we save the $250ish to be at Swan, which I’ve enjoyed when I’ve stayed there. But it’s his first time, so am I over valuing the true bubble experience? He’s since decided to not worry about work (yippee!) and treat it like a true vacation, so desk isn’t really a concern.

We will park hop; he’s interested in highlights and finding time to be relaxed; Epcot is my favorite park and we plan to hit it every day; should we be worried about not getting a true king room at YC? Any thoughts??

I stayed at AKL last year, first deluxe since I was a young child so like 35 years, and loved it but it was during Milton. So while part of me is sad to not stay at FQ and save some money, hurricane season and a deluxe mesh well, and I want to treat my bf a bit since this is his first time—he’s only ever been to DLP and that was like 20 years ago!

I’ve come to adore Swolphin but because of the Newbie I’d absolutely want the full experience of YC.

YC is also easier to walk back to if t-storms roll in and shut down the boats from EP.

 

[VicarJT]

One day CL kinda sounds like a pain. I’d rather get settled at the second resort. What if you don’t like the CL offerings that day? Or you’ve got really annoying people just planting themselves with screaming kids for a couple hours? What if the weather is bad for the pool and your room isn’t ready until 4-5pm?

Have you considered adding a couple more days at Pop and then upgrading the last few days of the trip to CL? CSR GDT CL is one of the best club levels and it’s the cheapest due to the moderate status of the hotel.

We love GDT though we’ve not done club level, but we spent our 2025 trip there and are looking to do something different. The one night would be so that we could do the Extra Evening Hours at MK. Adding the Club Level would give us a place to land on both sides of that one night.

 

[VicarJT]

I am grateful for comments and recommendations. I am going to try for a two-night resort only stay, probably at someplace like AKL, and not add club level. So at this point, six nights at POP, 2 nights at AKL, 6 nights at POFQ. But you know … my name is a Joan and I am a Resort Changer.

 

[Dug720]

I've contacted my TA to change from CSR to Music. I love CSR, but my cat just got diagnosed with diabetes and the cost difference can pay for 4+ months of her meds. Since there is no advantage like Extra Evening Hours for Mods over Values and it's just me, it makes sense financially. I'm also not really one to hang around the resort or the room, so it's just some place to sleep.

 

[swummyh20]

Ok I don’t know what to do. The way things are right now, am I stupid to not swap and save $500 by moving to the swan? I don’t mean to bring “real life” into my post here, but I just saw the pricing for my week has gone down a bit and now I’m like, should I be smarter about this? I don’t know what to do, and I’m pretty sure it’s just a culmination of everything. I just want a nice vacation

 

[kylenne]

Ok I don’t know what to do. The way things are right now, am I stupid to not swap and save $500 by moving to the swan? I don’t mean to bring “real life” into my post here, but I just saw the pricing for my week has gone down a bit and now I’m like, should I be smarter about this? I don’t know what to do, and I’m pretty sure it’s just a culmination of everything. I just want a nice vacation

$500 is definitely nothing to sniff at, I feel like if you're going to be stressed/worried about it then switch. But I don't think it's stupid at all to pay the extra to stay at your dream resort. Like I said before, head vs. heart decisions at Disney are tough but I've never regretted siding with heart. I have with head though. But if it's a situation where it will cause hardship or anxiety to the point where you think you wouldn't be able to enjoy yourself, then switch. Only you can really know yourself in that respect.

 

[swummyh20]

$500 is definitely nothing to sniff at, I feel like if you're going to be stressed/worried about it then switch. But I don't think it's stupid at all to pay the extra to stay at your dream resort. Like I said before, head vs. heart decisions at Disney are tough but I've never regretted siding with heart. I have with head though. But if it's a situation where it will cause hardship or anxiety to the point where you think you wouldn't be able to enjoy yourself, then switch. Only you can really know yourself in that respect.

Thanks for your kindness. It’s just…everything right now. You said dream resort and you’re right, I need to focus on the good I can control right now. Thanks again.

 

[dansdad]

Thanks for your kindness. It’s just…everything right now. You said dream resort and you’re right, I need to focus on the good I can control right now. Thanks again.

The DIS is full of helpful enablers!