Big decision... to switch or not to switch...

[megnsamsgracie]

Ughhh darn kittens.. I jsut had this long msg type out and then rolled onto my keyboard and erased it all! Anyway..

Right now, I have an AAA rate at CR for 12/7-12/17, total cost= $2916. Then I REALLY REALLY want to do MVMCP which is $233 for the tickets. Then I am looking at $1200 for park tickets and $700 for airfare. Then food of about $800!

We only pay cash. So I figured in my paychecks I would get between now and Dec ($291 dep due 7/11) and it would be about $6900 (I take home between $385-$450 a week but I only counted on $300 incase I needed things with the other part of it.. ya never know). Hubby pays all the bills so not sure I can grab any money out of that account or not. So I am basing my decision on jsut what I have for $ coming in.

Well, I called and the POR is open with the AAA rate for our dates and it would be $1305 total. A savings of $1611. Thats a LOT of money! Its our tickets and MVMCP tickets! I am thinking I should switch before there are NO discounted rooms at POR and I pay full price for a room (I NEVER pay full price for ANYTHING). But since we are only doing MK and BB and then one day at MGM, I really wanted the closeness of CR.

I am thinking maybe a split stay? I was looking at 12/9 for MVMCP and maybe I could do CR for the 7th-10th and then move over to POR. OR find a party date close to the end of our stay and then move to CR.

What do you guys think? I have plenty of time to gather the money, 5 months from now (it was like 23 paychecks I think!) and my raise and extra hours still havent kicked in yet!

Will CR be harder to get down the road than POR? Should I keep CR and see how things play out $ wise and maybe switch closer to the time if I am realizing I cant swing it all? My concern lies in say 3 or 4 weeks from check in, I realize, financially, it will be tough... and want to switch to POR and cant. So is CR or POR harder to get availability for in Dec?

Sorry for the confusion.. I just want it to be "perfect" although hubby says it never will be.. things happen!

 

[jmtf2004]

Well as nice and close as the CR is to MK, you really don't spend all that much time in the room, so even though it sounds like you could swing the stay at the CR financially, I would go for at least part of your stay at POR and save $$ for something else. I'm sure you plan to visit all the other parks, and CR is really only extra convenient to MK.
If you do decide to split your stay between CR and POR (or somewhere else - I would actually try for POFQ if you could get it - it's lovely and so compact), my recommendation would be to put the deluxe at the end of your stay - much easier to move up than to move down. Doing it at the end gives you something extra magical to look forward to all through your vacation too!
The extra $$ you save by staying at POR can go towards dining, souvenirs, or even your next trip! Or maybe you could save enough to get a tower room with MK view for one or two nights at the end. That would certainly be a magical way to finish your vacation! (I say that and have absolutely no idea what that would cost - probably but hey, it never hurts to look into the possibility... )

 

[megnsamsgracie]

I called back about a split stay and I could do it either way... CR first or last. There is a MVMCP on the 9th and one on the 16th. The 9th is cheaper by $42 ($7 times 6 tickets) But I know I would hate to go from a deluxe down to a moderate. So I am thinking to suck up the extra $42 for the 16th and do CR 14-17. Then have POR the 7-14. I would save over $1000 still and all dates are available with the AAA rate at POR and CR.

Also,I cant do POFQ because there are 6 of us. So we have to stay in the AB section in Riverside. Unless my dad comes then we could do POFQ since I could put 2 kids in with him. But we wont know about that until less than a month before we go. I hate to give up CR for the 10 day stay because I know the odds of getting it back are rare

 

[scanmom]

then you will not fit into POR. And unless 1 of your group is under 3, you will not fit at CR either. and I am guessing that none are under 3 because it looks like you are buying tix for 6 ppl, and the one under 3 would not need a ticket. Maybe you should check out the suites at the all stars or a cabin at FW. We have stayed in a cabin, and really liked it. It was very relaxing, and only a boat ride away from the MK.

 

[megnsamsgracie]

I am not going to get into right or wrong here about how many in the room at POR or CR. I have spoken to supervisors at disney about the age. Since we are paying for food OOP and tickets, they didnt have a problem with the ages. He is listed on the reservation and is in the room. Lets leave it at that. I have talked to supervisor at both CR, POR, Poly (our original choice) and guest services at CRO and the supervisor at Poly is the one who told me what to do.

I do kinda like the cabins but I am not up for renting a golf cart that wont even fit us all!

I decided to keep the CR ressie as is for now and see if good rates come out with like AP in August. If not, then I am doing a split stay. We are going down in August and this will give me a chance to check out both resorts anyway since we are only doing 1 park day with 5 days down there.

 

[usewickhouse]

I am not going to get into right or wrong here about how many in the room at POR or CR. I have spoken to supervisors at disney about the age. Since we are paying for food OOP and tickets, they didnt have a problem with the ages. He is listed on the reservation and is in the room. Lets leave it at that. I have talked to supervisor at both CR, POR, Poly (our original choice) and guest services at CRO and the supervisor at Poly is the one who told me what to do.

I do kinda like the cabins but I am not up for renting a golf cart that wont even fit us all!

I decided to keep the CR ressie as is for now and see if good rates come out with like AP in August. If not, then I am doing a split stay. We are going down in August and this will give me a chance to check out both resorts anyway since we are only doing 1 park day with 5 days down there.

Just wanted to put my thoughts out there to you. My family has stayed at both resorts with 6 in the room, again no flames here, and to be very honest the POR is just really not big enough. We were very cramped. Last Christmas we stayed at the CR MKV and the room was so big that we had no problem with there being 6. If you have the money stay with the CR the rooms are so awesome and the proximity to MK is great. Enjoy!!!!!

 

[megnsamsgracie]

I am hoping my dad DOES come, then he will get a room and 2 kids will stay with him. But because of his kidney disease, he is a last minute thing. So I cant count on that yet. I called and did a split stay. 7 days at POR and 3 at CR. If they come out with an AP rate then I will definitely switch to all CR as the price I will pay for a split stay with no discount at CR and AAA at POR will be only $200 less than a full CR stay. Right now, with my split stay, my total is $1788, a difference of $1100 off the original. IF the AP rates are close to what they were last year, then I am looking at about $2000 for a full CR stay. I am going to pay $100 per week on the reservations with the hope that I will have the extra $ to do a full CR stay. Also, maybe after visiting POR then we will realize it aint gonna work and change then to a full CR stay anyway.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Edited to say: Oops! Ok, disregard my post below as you are doing a split stay. I hope it all works out and you have a magical time.

Well, just my opinion, but I'd stick to CR. I am not fond of split stays, but have done them. With 4 kiddies, I'd stay in one place. You'll have enough room for everyone at CR. Returning to CR after the party will be a breeze compared to the bus stop cattle call at the other resorts. I have always had a difficult time finding availability at CR, so I am pretty sure CR gets snapped up quicker than POR. Good luck with your decision. tink

 

[megnsamsgracie]

Thanks.. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE a full CR stay, but not knowing if things will happen financially, I am not sure I would have the cash. On paper, yes, no problem.. but things happen out of the blue. I am DEFINITELY switching to full CR stay if an AP rate comes out or I get a code or something!

 

[scanmom]

if I sounded like I was flaming you, I didn't mean for it to sound like that! I just didn't know if you knew the room limits, and if you wanted to squish that many people in them. I have 6 in my family also, and I know how crowded a single room can get!!! LOL!!! And FWIW, we did not rent a golf cart at FW, for the same reason you don't want to! And we actually had 7 people in the cabin, and we were still quite comfortable. But, we could not use EE because they would only give us room keys for 6 ppl. , so hopefully you won't run into that problem!!!
If I were you, I would not discard the cabins yet, they really are nice, and I am NOT a camper, but we really liked them!!!

 

[megnsamsgracie]

No, its okay. I know how some people feel about "over the limit" and I didnt feel you were flaming me. About a month ago, we were going to do a full Poly trip. So I called a supervisor explained the situation and told him my childs age. That I didnt want to do something against policy but I also didnt want to stay in 2 rooms. He said well, if its room only and not free dining, just put him as 2, pay for his ticket and food. As long as he is counted in the room total, thats all that matters. So, when I realized I would be doing CR and POR I did the same thing. Called the 2 hotels direct and asked for a supervisor. Again, explained it and they said as long as he is listed on the reservation. So... if people have a problem with 6 in our room, then so be it. Disney knows what I was doing before I made my reservations. I am paying for food for him and buying him tickets for everything we are going to do.

As for the cabins. I have nothing against them at all. They look really nice and the kitchen is a plus... my only concern is having to walk so far... I have read that the walk to get to the bus is a PIA. Thats all. And if I am going to pay $50 a day for a golf cart, then the savings (figuring if there is an AP rate in Dec for them) would be the same as CR.

 

[bonzarella]

Have you considered renting DVC points? I don't know your mod rate but they may be comparable. Have a great trip

 

[bonzarella]

Forgot- we did not find the trans. at Fort W to be sooooo awful. Kids have been asking to return since our first trip, our Christmas trip will be spent at the cabins. I am kinda of excited, pools are blah, but how much swimming can you do in Dec?

 

[megnsamsgracie]

Yes, I would ABSOLUTELY consider renting points! 2 studios would work fine (and CHEAPER) then a 2bdr. I just am not sure how it would work. I could get half of the $ upfront.. .maybe more depending on how much and then the rest in like 2-3 weeks after. But I am very worried about it! I have looked at the pts calculator and I have been to the DVC board to rent.

Just checked the pts again, and since weekend pts are higher, I would have to either 1) change my dates to NOT arrive on a friday, or 2) do the DVC JUST during the week (9-15) and stay at a regular hotel for the weekends.

2 studios for the 9-15 is only 80pts at AKLV.

 

[bonzarella]

If your heart is set on AKLV that may pose a problem. We also never stay DVC weekends, although they are starting running really good cash weekend rate. Read through all the stickies on rent/trade board. We don't have any points to rent but have been through the process several times, pm me if you want some help.
B

 

[Irishhockey]

But since we are only doing MK and BB and then one day at MGM, I really wanted the closeness of CR.

Did I read that right? Your in Disney World for 10 days... and only doing 3 parks?! Where you going the rest of the time lol?

Keep in mind that Dec. in Fl isn't always warm and rarely do you get ideal swimming weather. It's nice for pools, as there heated... but constantly getting in and out of the water at the BB is down right cold in the winter months! Hopefully you'll have good weather!

What about a cabin and renting a car? I know you mentioned the golf cart issue... but from the sounds of it... I really do think a cabin would work best. It's affordable (less then CR room) and will provide you with lots of space. Having a full kitchen will help cut down on food costs in the parks and the cabin loops have 3 bus stops and a quiet pool all within easy walking distance. The "saved" money can go to renting a car if you have transportation concerns, but the way the internal bus works, you shouldn't have much of a problem getting down to the boat dock. I think for that time a year... a cabin would be so fitting!

If I was in your situation though, I think I would have gone with the ASmu family suite. Yes, I know it's a value, but the 2 bathrooms and seperate bedroom is a blessing if you have a big family! I like the "mini kitchen" area and the food court is a great assest. All suites are close to the main building and the resort having two pools so close is a nice feature. What attracts me the most is the price!

 

[usewickhouse]

Hi again, I have been thinking about this after re-reading your original post. If I were you I would stick with CR only as they will have a code that comes out in August and it should save you approx $80 per night at the deluxe hotels. I came up with that assumption due to the past trends of discounts. Are you planning on staying at CR garden view or standard? The price that you have for the POR will not go down that much if at all when the codes are released. I hate to get personal but what kind of tickets are you planning on purchasing? If you could buy just one annual pass you will be able to take advantage of the code well before it comes out to the general public and it may be less too. You do not need the pass to book the reservation you will only need to show it when you check in. I have stayed at the CR 2 times in the last year and stayed in the main bldg as well as the the garden rooms and they are exactly the same. Same size, same decor, same everything! The rooms at the CR will book before the ones at POR due to its proximity to the MK so you may want to re-think your split stay and stick with just the CR for now, plus only one deposit too, and if you for some reason do not get a better rate in August then you can book POR. Just wanted to throw that out there, sorry to be a pest just wanted your vacation to be as perfect as possible. Becky