Dining/no dining/club level/no club level Dec trip

[mecheermom]

Hi...

We are planning a December trip...12/27 to 1/1. I am driving myself crazy with options!!! Can I please get some feedback from those who have btdt. In 2008 we stayed at the GF with a view of the castle. This time around we are trying to spend a little less, and our kids are 9 and 7. Honestly they do not generally like kids menu items. They both LOVE sushi, salads, vegetables, grilled fish, steaks, etc. They detest chicken nuggets and burger options. I am wondering if we should just opt not to do the dining in exchange for club level, and then they can split dinners with me and DH.


So here are my possible options:

1. Wilderness Lodge- with Disney Dining- Standard room, etc. ~$4600
2. Wilderness Lodge- Club Level with Dining- ~$5500
3. Wilderness Lodge Club Level - No Dining- ~$4600
4. Polynesian- Club Level - No Dining- ~$5500
5. Polynesian- Club Level - with dining - ~$6500 *OUCH*

Thanks!! Pixie Dust to ALL!!!

 

[BNukem]

What about Poly, standard room with dining?

 

[reiella]

You really should estimate what the meal costs will be out of pocket for your price comparisons.

I imagine much of the ~900 to 1000 you save by dropping the dining plan will still end up being spent, even with the club level lounge.

Something to consider is that most of what the club level lounge is going to save you on are snacks and a snacky breakfast.

As to if the kids will get enough food sharing off the adult plates, I don't know. I would personally budget with the kids getting their own meal since I'm uncertain.

 

[vicki_c]

Have you checked for availability for the room locations/types you listed? That is the most crowded week of the year and it's now only <4 months away. That might limit your choices some.

 

[mecheermom]

What about Poly, standard room with dining?

$5730 Poly w/dining plan- standard room

 

[mecheermom]

Have you checked for availability for the room locations/types you listed? That is the most crowded week of the year and it's now only <4 months away. That might limit your choices some.

Yes, all rooms are available.

 

[mickeynut1]

We've stay at both resorts and while the Poly is our favorite and would be our first choice, WL has the edge during the holidays . If it were any other time of year, we would choose the Poly without question, but the WL is just gorgeous at Christmas time and that would be our choice for a December trip . With that said, I would go with WL CL without dining. CL at the WL is amazing as the food offerings are great and the CMs are some of the best. I suggest no dining plan and paying OOP for your meals since kids on the DDP must choose off of the kids menu and since your kids aren't much into chicken nuggets, burgers, etc., I think the DDP would be a waste as they wouldn't have much variety from which to choose. Good luck deciding, although I'm sure you'll have a great trip no matter which resort you choose as they are both awesome places to stay .

 

[Pakey]

I don't know how much you eat for breakfast but I'm not sure staying club level will be less expensive than doing some cheap breakfast on your own, even if it's in your room. I have never found that staying club level saves any money.

I would probably just get a regular room and do no dining plan.

 

[mecheermom]

UGH...now DH is suggesting AKL club level?? SOOOO...

Poly club
WL club
AKL club?

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

3. Wilderness Lodge Club Level - No Dining- ~$4600

IMHO that is the best option from any angle and Christmas at WL is unbeatable!

 

[Debbart]

3. Wilderness Lodge Club Level - No Dining- ~$4600

IMHO that is the best option from any angle and Christmas at WL is unbeatable!

Totally Agree!!!

 

[bdklein]

Hi...

We are planning a December trip...12/27 to 1/1. I am driving myself crazy with options!!! Can I please get some feedback from those who have btdt. In 2008 we stayed at the GF with a view of the castle. This time around we are trying to spend a little less, and our kids are 9 and 7. Honestly they do not generally like kids menu items. They both LOVE sushi, salads, vegetables, grilled fish, steaks, etc. They detest chicken nuggets and burger options. I am wondering if we should just opt not to do the dining in exchange for club level, and then they can split dinners with me and DH.


So here are my possible options:

1. Wilderness Lodge- with Disney Dining- Standard room, etc. ~$4600
2. Wilderness Lodge- Club Level with Dining- ~$5500
3. Wilderness Lodge Club Level - No Dining- ~$4600
4. Polynesian- Club Level - No Dining- ~$5500
5. Polynesian- Club Level - with dining - ~$6500 *OUCH*

Thanks!! Pixie Dust to ALL!!!

No Dining Plan, based on how your kids eat. And perhaps skip the Club Level-what's the reasoning for wanting CL (although we just did it last month)?

 

[baler31]

3. Wilderness Lodge Club Level - No Dining- ~$4600

IMHO that is the best option from any angle and Christmas at WL is unbeatable!

+1

We just came back from a quick three night trip. It was our first trip without club level, we will never do it again. We do not eat large meals, tend to order appetizers etc. The dining plan does not work for our style of dining and although only one child is on the children's plan he does not care for the options.

Our favorite club levels are GF RPC, BWI, and WL. We have done all with the exception of AKL.

With your description of food choices I would go with CL. The other point is to make sure your touring style enables you to be in the lounge when services are available.

 

[TJA]

Sounds like your kids would be better off with alternate foods rather than the normal kids' options, so CL would be an outstanding choice for you. My family also prefers CL and no dining. We plan our "big" meal around the lunch hour, and then just use the hot appetizers in the lounge as our light dinner. Many people on here say that the hot appetizers are not enough for dinner and shouldn't represent dinner, but for our family it's perfect as our dinner because we had a huge lunch as our main meal. And it's also a great way for kids to experiment with different types of food, which my kids love to do. We have tried 3 CL lounges and all 3 had the basic options for kids as well, such as PB&J, apples & caramel, stuff like that.

As far as which resort, really, it's a personal preference depending on your style. We tend to go with the more convenient resorts, thus we'd choose Poly -- love the TTC with direct monorail to Epcot and MK. Also love the incredible view from the lounge and being able to watch Wishes right at the table while eating our dessert. However, it's hard to deny the beauty of WL, especially at Cmas time -- no doubt you'd enjoy either resort.

 

[lylone]

I would do CL w/out dining at either resort. Sometimes with the dining plan each meal is too much food!

 

[MMS1125]

I'd think about how long you will be at the resort during the day to take advantage of the CL offerings. Some of the kid's menus have a good selection with fish and other items besides nuggets so I'd look at the menus and decide if dining would be worth it for you all or not. I think I'd skip CL unless I had a good bit of resort downtime to enjoy the offerings.

 

[monami7]

I just decided on doing WL CL instead of the dining plan. The savings on breakfast snacks and drinks should make up for it alone!

 

[mecheermom]

DH is really pushing for AKL. He thinks the savannah view woukd make it worth it. Has anyine done CL at AKL?

 

[mickeynut1]

DH is really pushing for AKL. He thinks the savannah view woukd make it worth it. Has anyine done CL at AKL?

We stayed a few nights at AKL in December 2010 and it's also a beautiful resort and is very nice at Christmas time . The savanna views are nice and there's nothing like walking out onto your balcony to see the animals roaming around. I can't help with CL though as we've never tried CL there, but it is on our list to try as I have read nothing but rave reviews about the lounge, food offerings, and CMs. Good luck with your decision .

 

[pepe of ohio]

Personally, and we have done Poly, WL CL,.... No dining plan and standard room, no CL!

CL used to be worth the cost but that was years ago.... Today it's a waste of money..... If you're not back at the resort for serving times you loose....and the offering are not all that great, especially for the money you spent....

Dining plan, we never even consider it... We feel the TS meals or over hyped and too time consuming and we sure as heck ain't gonna plot out where we will be eating and at what time 180 out...

WL is our favorite resort, over 10+ stays, and Roaring Fork breakfast offerings are decent and fair on prices... Easy in and out... Even their lunches are not bad.. For some good buffet, FW Trails End is fantastic and only a boat ride away...for us it's easier to dine how and when we want and pay out of pocket and our lunches are always pool picnics with groceries we picked up in route... Sandwiches and snack fixing plus drinks.. Alway a pleasure at the pool over restaurant food...