DELUXE DP or Upgrade Resort

[jackal]

I posted this on the Resort thread, but I wonder what this board would think of this:

We currently have a reservation at Pop (Never been) from Dec. 28 through January 6. Would you upgrade to POFQ OR upgrade to the Deluxe DP if given a chance.

I have my ADR's made - so isn't a problem. Transportation is our biggest issue. We usually stay at a monorail resort so this will be new.

Do you think I should stay at Pop and got with Deluxe DP (we are big foodies - did deluxe last year and loved it) or upgrade to POFQ.

 

[distherapy]

Will you come back to the hotel during the day? Or not spend much time in the room?

If you're not going to spend much time in the room, I'd go with the DxDP, especially since you already know it works well for you!

 

[3boys4me]

I would upgrade resort. We just returned home last Saturday w/ the regular dining plan and I thought that was alot of food and reservations to make. Don't get me wrong i won't go back to Disney without the dining plan, we loved every bite of it. Are you going to be with children? I think deluxe is alot of time out of the parks for kids. Just my thoughts, sounds to me like you are in a win win situation .

 

[jackal]

We will not be spending much time in the room. Maybe for DD6 to take a nap here and there. But we do not plan on swimming or hanging in the room at all. My main concern is bus transporation. I guess that is everywhere there though. We are just used to being on the monorail.

Our children are DD6 and DD14. They can eat their weight in snacks.
And DH likes his appetizers. It's such a tough decision.

 

[wlwilliams9]

I'd go with the DxDP! I've been to both Pop and POFQ, both are wonderful, POFQ is a more relaxed, beautiful resort, but your kids will enjoy the theme at Pop. If you're not going to be in the room that often, I say DxDP.

We're foodies too!

 

[bangzoom6877]

If I had the chance to either upgrade from Value to Moderate or Deluxe DDP I would upgrade the dining plan. The mods and values are pretty similar to each other, in that the rooms are not MUCH bigger at mods than values, both have exterior corridors, are not in walking proximity to any parks, etc. The only way I would upgrade the resort if I were you would be to go for a deluxe since that is a MUCH more significant difference than upgrading to a moderate.

As far as bus transportation, it was fine at Pop when we went. Granted we did not use the bus all that much but when we did it was fine. Here's a transportation tip: if you are planning to go to a resort restaurant, you have MANY choices at Beach Club, Yacht Club, and Boardwalk resorts. You can just take the bus from Pop to Hollywood Studios and walk or boat to any one of these. The walk is shorter from DHS to Boardwalk, but you can take the boat to BC/YC. Your TS restaurant choices at these 3 resorts are:

-Flying Fish (Signature so 2 credits) (BW)
-Spoodles (BW)
-ESPN Club (BW)
-Big River Grille (BW)
-Beaches and Cream (BC)
-Cape May Cafe (BC)
-Yachtsman's Steakhouse (Signature so 2 credits) (YC)
-Captain's Grille (YC)

Of the above, Cape May Cafe has a character breakfast with characters dressed in beachwear.

You could also take the bus to MK and visit any of the restaurants in Grand Floridian, Polynesian or Contemporary. Among them you have California Grill, Narcoossee's, Citrico's and the Spirit of Aloha dinner show (all 2 credits).

So you have many options as far as transportation to take you to some of the best restaurants on property!! With deluxe you can really live it up and go to signature restaurants which are 2 credits, and you get the app included!

 

[jackal]

Thank you all so much for the suggestions. I think we might go Deluxe

I do have an ADR for Cape May at 9:50. Epcot FW opens at 9:00 that day. Could we take the bus to Epcot for opening, run and get fast pass to soarin or Test track and then walk to Cape May through the INternational Gateway? Do that have than open before WS opens up?

I am going to call and see if I can secure a few more ADR's

I really enjoyed the deluxe resorts and the DDDP because of room service. At least I can get pizza at Pop, correct? Is that 2 TS?

 

[bangzoom6877]

Thank you all so much for the suggestions. I think we might go Deluxe

I do have an ADR for Cape May at 9:50. Epcot FW opens at 9:00 that day. Could we take the bus to Epcot for opening, run and get fast pass to soarin or Test track and then walk to Cape May through the INternational Gateway? Do that have than open before WS opens up?

I am going to call and see if I can secure a few more ADR's

I really enjoyed the deluxe resorts and the DDDP because of room service. At least I can get pizza at Pop, correct? Is that 2 TS?

Int'l Gateway should be open for you to exit and walk to Cape May Cafe (it is open to guests staying in those resorts, as the boats dock there). Don't know if you will have time though to first walk to Soarin, get a FP and walk to Int'l Gateway exit (it's a good 15-20 min walk), walk another 5 min to BC, get to Cape May in time for your ADR. Within 50 minutes? Maybe if you walk fast and are very determined. I would have one person go to Soarin' with all the keycards to secure FPs, while the rest of the party goes to the restaurant to at least check-in early. Then have that person meet you there. It is a good idea to get to your ADRs at least 15 min in advance. You will have more park time afterwards in that case. Then when you return to the park grab another set of FPs for Test Track. Soarin is more crowded and FPs go faster so get those first thing, then TT after breakfast but before riding Soarin! You could also go to other attractions in The Land pavilion and the Seas pavilion, and Imagination before heading to the other side of FW for TT.

Yes, in-room pizza delivery at Pop is 2 adult TS credits. I believe it also includes dessert. No other in-room dining there. But they do have a wonderful food court which is nice for breakfast some mornings.

 

[jackal]

Thanks so much for the information I am quite determined so I think I will send DH and DD's to Cape May and I will get Fast Pass for Soarin. I'm a quick walker. We have been to Beaches and Cream at the Beach Club. Is Cape May pretty close to Beaches and Cream?

I also just secured my last ADR. We are going Deluxe I pretty much got what I wanted with the except of O'Hana Dinner. DH really wanted that one. Oh, well, he should be happy I got as many good ones as I did in such a little amount of notice.

 

[jackal]

I know a lot of people do not like the Deluxe plan because of the time spent in the restaurants, but we are going Dec. 28 through the 6th. That is PEAK time and I think the wait at counter service locations during that time can be just as bad if not worse than the TS locations.

The only day I did not get a ADR for was New Year's Eve. Big Surprise! So we are without ADR's for that day. I more than made up for it the other days through. I guess it will be Counter Service on New Year's Eve. There were some openings at Resort Restaurants, but I didn't want to risk leaving the park on New Year's Eve and not getting back in. Which, I understand could very well happen.

Do you think I should make an ADR at a Resort, or stick with the plan and stay in the park we are at for fear of leaving and not getting back in.

 

[bangzoom6877]

We are similar...I am also very determined! I had a specific touring plan in July and we HAD to follow it! Everything worked out very well with it and we did not wait in long lines! Thank goodness DH trusts me and allows me to make all the plans!

Not sure how close Cape May is to Beaches and Cream.

Keep trying for Ohana. Something may open up, you never know

Make sure that whoever you send to Cape May has the ADR confirmation number and the name the ADR is made under.

Have a wonderful time and enjoy deluxe dining!!

 

[bangzoom6877]

I know a lot of people do not like the Deluxe plan because of the time spent in the restaurants, but we are going Dec. 28 through the 6th. That is PEAK time and I think the wait at counter service locations during that time can be just as bad if not worse than the TS locations.

The only day I did not get a ADR for was New Year's Eve. Big Surprise! So we are without ADR's for that day. I more than made up for it the other days through. I guess it will be Counter Service on New Year's Eve. There were some openings at Resort Restaurants, but I didn't want to risk leaving the park on New Year's Eve and not getting back in. Which, I understand could very well happen.

Do you think I should make an ADR at a Resort, or stick with the plan and stay in the park we are at for fear of leaving and not getting back in.

I would stay in the park and not risk it, if you really have your heart set on being inside one of the parks when that clock strikes 12. If you want some alternative plans, maybe the Boardwalk? There is some entertainment there at night although I would think it will be VERY crowded now with Pleasure Island nightclubs closed.

 

[jackal]

Thanks so much for the great suggestions. Now all I have to do is wait 3 more weeks and change my plans about 100 mores times.

 

[scottsod]

we just had the same decision we got a pin and got some $ back chose to upgrade to deluxe over upgrading from pop

this time of year youre not swiming usually and no using hot tub or sprinkers

all we did was sleep at pop and eat some snacks

go for the deluxe its alot of food but it gave us the flexabilty to do 2 ts sit down

and shows also when we had to change plans it was nice grab princess breakfast and not worry about having enuff credits

buses were fine i have stayed at fq before i would say busses stops were less crowded at fq then pop but fq bus got crowded as it picked up people at 3 por stops after fq


scott

 

[wlwilliams9]

Thanks so much for the information I am quite determined so I think I will send DH and DD's to Cape May and I will get Fast Pass for Soarin. I'm a quick walker. We have been to Beaches and Cream at the Beach Club. Is Cape May pretty close to Beaches and Cream?

I also just secured my last ADR. We are going Deluxe I pretty much got what I wanted with the except of O'Hana Dinner. DH really wanted that one. Oh, well, he should be happy I got as many good ones as I did in such a little amount of notice.

Cape May Cafe is located in the BC lobby! Say "Hi" to Art the greeter for me!

 

[jackal]

Can we enter the BC to get to cape may through the back like through stormalong bay? THat's the only we know how to get there. Or do we have to go through the front?

 

[wdwluver]

If you're coming from EPCOT, there is a back entrance into the Beach Club that you can use to get to Cape May. It doesn't enter the pool area, there is actually a walkway.