Confessions of the Resort Changers

[momtoPrincessA]

nonsmom, the official last night is 8/31. I'm not sure how to post pictures yet but I'll learn.


MomtoprincessA, that was really a leap of faith. Let me know it turn out and if it turns out great, let me in on what you said to smooth it over. (There's a book I'd pay good money to read "how to convince DH to switch resorts). I agree with ktink, stick to a standard and he will be even more happy when you get a great upgrade .

I'm not really sure what I was thinking when I did it. I just called to switch back to the POP but they are upgrading the system and can't change any reservations. Maybe that's a sign to stick with AKL..........

 

[jonestavern]

My Name is Jean & I am a resort switchaholic!

It usually builds to a crescendo as the months draw nearer to vaca time!
I tend to switch the 1st & 3rd resorts until time runs out!

We do split stays (mostly) so you'd think this would be much less of an issue!
We do have a goal to try every on site resort--but nowadays, DS18's schedule doesn't allow him to have the longer time that we enjoy--so all new properties must be sampled as a family

This Nov/Dec trip we have the 1st 2 pieces in place (though I'd like to change it up a bit, DH is standing pat!) so now I will obsess on the last bit.
Should I book POP & hope for a code & switch?
pros: 1. themeing 2. price 3. cons: 1. no coffee pot! 2. Pop Warner
Should I book a mod?
1. CBR-sentimental fave 2. POR?FQ-we haven't tried, but Patrick won't be w/us 3. CSR-very convenient. I loved it! (Yes, I know what yr vote is Buzz! )
Okay, on to the pros & cons for the Mods........
Jean

I am only looking to book our last night, a Friday.
So far I have gone to POP, no, Pop Warner is there, so that leaves out PO, too.
So I got the bright idea of Swan or Dolphin, no for $214 a night (for the 2 of us) I can stay @ CBR or CSR & have dinner paid for...
Would love to stay @ Poly...
Hold me!
I think I am going to book CBR--again!

On the Switchaholic roller coaster,
Jean

 

[stepdisney]

Jean, Jean, Jean, when on the switchaholic rollercoster, make sure your safety harness is securely fastened, don't want to loose you. CBR is so nice. The rooms are nice sized. Check Swan and Dolphin for discounts. We were quoted $149 when I was looking for a room our first night. They have a discount for government/millitary as well as for teachers and I think I read nurses also. I've seen them as low as $129. (Not to send you back on the rollercoaster or anything)

 

[dancemomnj]

I guess I'm in the club now! We will be in Disney from July 1st to the 6th. Started off value at All Star Movies then changed a couple days later to CSR. I kept looking at pictures of the Poly and told dh I would love to go back next year and stay at the Poly. DH gave in the day we had to make our final payment and said to just make the change. I am so excited Poly here we come!

 

[ktink]

I guess I'm in the club now! We will be in Disney from July 1st to the 6th. Started off value at All Star Movies then changed a couple days later to CSR. I kept looking at pictures of the Poly and told dh I would love to go back next year and stay at the Poly. DH gave in the day we had to make our final payment and said to just make the change. I am so excited Poly here we come!

Welcome to the club! And congrats on Poly.

Jean, I feel your pain. I'd probably go w/ CBR too. But like stepdisney said they do have great discounts.

I am a twisted unstable individual. I just called DH because I had this great idea that I would see if I could talk him into staying the last night at AKL. Which I know he doesn't like to change resorts. He said he'd never do that. So he says, "You pinky promised me that you wouldn't change anymore. Why don't we just stay at AKL the next time we go." TA DA Now he's fallen into my trap. So I say, " Or we could just go ahead and do that this time." He said we'll talk about it later. I'm on the way to meet him to haul a horse over to the vet. So I'll have him trapped in a semi truck for about an hour.

Wish me luck. But we will have to loose a night so I don't know if he'll give that up.

 

[ktink]

Well I thought I would update yall on the situation. And we all sat down and decided to go ahead and drop our last night there but fly out late on our departure date. So I called CRO and AKL it is! So the bad thing is that the DDs won't be surprised since they were in on the discussion. I needed them on my side. How many times have I said we're staying put this time? Well I'm for real this time.

 

[mickeysaver]

Let's see.....me a resort change-a-holic? Well....um......not so much really except for this trip......I.....um....we have changed our plans and gone through 4, yes, 4 resorts as our home base for our upcoming stay. But, I can defend each change!

We started planning this trip over a year ago. We didn't think that we would be going in 2006, but we did end up taking a trip for a short long weekend. We boarded our dogs.....which was a saga that I won't bore you with.....in the end, we figured out that boarding our dogs was not a good thing since two of them have health issues and came home from a 4 day boarding overtired and a bit more fragile.

So, our first resort choice was FW. We were going to rent an RV from www.onfreewheels.com and stay at FW, so that we would still be onsite. But, Beanie's health began to further decline. She is now on meds for her heart problem and boarding her outside of a vet's office is out of the question. She is not up to the trip either, so it's best to bite the bullet, find a new vet with a good boarding facility and just board the babies. We never actually had this booked.

So, our second choice was POR. I love the look of the rooms in the AB section and I was ok with staying there. But, Gabby decided to spend some spend some additional money on the trip and totally spoil me for my 40th, so I got the ok to "bling out the trip". We never actually had this booked.

So, our third choice was AKL. I have dreamed of staying there from the first time that I heard about the resort. So, we booked it. Then, they decided to build AKV. Well, the thoughts of having our trip tarnished by noise, compromised views of the Savannah, or anything else that might take away from the image of the dream......we decided to save AKL for a time when the DVC resort is finished and it's back to a peaceful blisslike state.

Finally, I say finally, but you just never know, we decided on a 1 bedroom villa at OKW. In making this decision, we opted for one less day at WDW. We found out that in booking a stop at Discovery Cove that we could get into SeaWorld for free, so we spent a few more of my honey's Hilton Honors Points on another free night at the Hilton Garden Inn @ SeaWorld and changed our ressie to OKW for 6 nights. It's not that bad really with a AAA discount and when you figure in that we have 4 nights in hotels before we get to WDW completely free and a free day of fun at SeaWorld.

I hope to NEVER change my plans this much EVER again. Maggie

 

[ktink]

mickeysaver, welcome to our club! I know exactly what you mean by having to give up a day for your final resort choice. We did the same thing.

Please fill us in on OKW when you get back.

 

[stepdisney]

Mickeysaver, you are among friends now, no need to explain...and NEVER is so final, we like to follow the NEVER AGAINS with...maybe and a wink , it gives us a place to point to when....oh I mean if.... we change our minds again.

Ktink I love it when you go back to your original plan to stay at the AKL. I know you've wanted to stay there for a long time. (When is the 45 day finish line?) I'm sure you have it marked on your calendar. I'm still dragging my feet.

My DH has promised to look at some footage of AKL with me but every night we have something planned, either at our church or with the boys' baseball teams. You'll all know instantly if he agrees with it. Last night he said that if we stay at AKL then next time we would stay at WL so what difference does it make which order we go? He is concerned with (1) changing plans made by DS (2) construction (3) distance from the parks since we are going when it is so hot and we will be traveling back and forth to the resort for a break.

Disneybride, I agree with the addiction thing. I had to get back to a routine again which means I'll be posting early and late. Are you still my WL buddy? Hope so.

 

[ktink]

stepdisney, just to give you a heads up AKL will be on the travel channel on Great Hotels May 31! I'm not sure on the time. I've got Tivo set to record it.

 

[MimiofOlivia]

My DH and I were originally going to go Value because this is just a 3 day trip before a cruise. Then, with free dining, we (or I) decided on CSR because DH said he didn't think he would enjoy a Value. Then I discovered that for less than $200 more total we could go deluxe standard at AKL.
So, yesterday I switched us. I'm still wondering if I made the right decision. Is standard (front entrance/parking lot view) worth the extra $$ over CSR? We are going to hang around the resorts this trip, not spending much time at the parks, if at all. Never stayed at either resort.

 

[ktink]

My DH and I were originally going to go Value because this is just a 3 day trip before a cruise. Then, with free dining, we (or I) decided on CSR because DH said he didn't think he would enjoy a Value. Then I discovered that for less than $200 more total we could go deluxe standard at AKL.
So, yesterday I switched us. I'm still wondering if I made the right decision. Is standard (front entrance/parking lot view) worth the extra $$ over CSR? We are going to hang around the resorts this trip, not spending much time at the parks, if at all. Never stayed at either resort.

We are booked w/ a standard room. One reason why I decided to go ahead is that there are plenty of places to view the animals. I had read several posts saying that if you can spend the extra do book savannah but I also read several posts that say a deluxe standard view is worth the extra than any view you could get at a value or mod. I think the ammenities alone would make it worth it.

Also I got these numbers from allearsnet. There are only 135 standard view rooms, 136 pool view rooms, 724 savannah view rooms, it goes on to list the deluxe rooms and concierge rooms. But there is an excellent chance for an upgrade as the savannah rooms out number the standards by far.

I know that you shouldn't go in expecting an upgrade but you can always hope.

 

[MimiofOlivia]

We are booked w/ a standard room. One reason why I decided to go ahead is that there are plenty of places to view the animals. I had read several posts saying that if you can spend the extra do book savannah but I also read several posts that say a deluxe standard view is worth the extra than any view you could get at a value or mod. I think the ammenities alone would make it worth it.

Also I got these numbers from allearsnet. There are only 135 standard view rooms, 136 pool view rooms, 724 savannah view rooms, it goes on to list the deluxe rooms and concierge rooms. But there is an excellent chance for an upgrade as the savannah rooms out number the standards by far.

I know that you shouldn't go in expecting an upgrade but you can always hope.

Thanks, Ktink, I have read also that most people are upgraded from standard and even if we are not, I am excited about staying there. No savannah rooms are available right now for our dates, only standard and pool view. An inside entrance and a balcony are worth it to me. I will stick to this decision...

 

[mickeysaver]

Well, at least you folks understand. God knows my coworkers, friends and family think that we are crazy. But then again, DIS'ers are a special breed.

I will gladly report on our trip. We are still itinerary tweaking. Last night we made yet another change. I need to call Disney Dining here in a few for a new ADR. We decided to ditch BB and MNSSHP. So, for my birthday, we will be making sure that I enter my 40's comfortably numb thanks to the many fine establishments at PI and of course that calls for sleeping late the next day. We will taking it easy at our resort on my birthday lunch happens at some point at Beaches & Cream, where Gabby promises to help me attack a Kitchen Sink. We will go to Epcot for the evening and try to enjoy the evening, even though it's going to have EMH and it's during the F&W fest.....I don't know if this is more brave or crazy, but at least I get some fireworks for my birthday.....maybe even while we dine at R&C Maggie

 

[momtoPrincessA]

Okay, I fed my addiction to calling CRO. After many attempts to upgrade my AKL ressie from standard to either poolview or savanna, I lucked out today and got pool view! It's a step in the right direction, but I ultimately want savanna view so I guess I'll have to keep calling! I'm soooooo glad to have people on this thread who call as much as I do!

 

[DisneyBride'03]

Hi all!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok ktink......stepdisney....still holding at WL DH wants to stay put!!!!

However, am feeling the need to change SOMETHING!!! lol

Ok...changing my mind abt concierge as I stated a bit back.....all my ADR's are made...DDP is free...so now wondering if the studio at the villas at WL might work??? Might give us a bit more space.....and a microwave to heat all the leftovers...lol...

Anyone know the sq footage to the studio??? They're cheaper than concierge..and there are only bunk bed rooms available now for my times!! Even if I play with the dates...soo.....what to do what to do...and supposedly CRO cant help now...system down????

Or "Resort Changer" popped up on the CM's screen, and she said ....Later....lol

 

[DisneyBride'03]

UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

I just posted a loonngg post...and lost it!!!!!!!!

 

[DisneyBride'03]

never mind

 

[stepdisney]

. Posters Traumatic Stress Disorder!

Disney sent us a beautiful, hardcover, DVC book, we are considering AKL ownership . It lists information on all villas. The studio is 356 sq ft. It has one queen-size bed and one double-size sleeper sofa, TV, a kitchenette with microwave oven, under-counter refrigerator, coffee maker, and wed bar and a private porch or balcony. (Easily fits a pack-n-play). Looks very spacious from the pictures.

 

[ktink]

Hello ladies! Disneybride, I'd go for a villa, that would be really nice.

stepdisney, good for you looking into DVC. DH doesn't want to make that commitment as we go every other year. I'm still working on that one too.

Well DD tells me last night that she really loves the pool over at BWI. DH looked at me and said, "Don't even go there!" But DH ended up telling me that he really wanted to stay at AKL all along but thought I wanted to save the money. I thought he wanted to save the money so we were on the same page and didn't know it. Which that means I thought I had worked my feminine wiles on him and it was simply AKL.

I have a bit of info to share w/ my good friends here. DD 6 graduated from Kindergarten today. They grow up so fast.