Do you plan for what you want or what you can afford?

[3pletprincesses]

\I do both. For hotel I book what I can afford but for food, I plan for deluxe and worse comes downgrade do DDP. It's easier to cancel reservation then to make some last minutes in most cases.

 

[thegilchrists]

Just my opinion......but all the resorts are relatively close to the parks. Especially with Disney transportation. I have heard many great things about Deluxe resorts but there is SO MUCH to do and see that we just don't spend enough time in the room to justify the extra expense of the Deluxe.

We stayed in a moderate resort the first time we stayed on property and spent even less time at the resort than when we stayed at a value.

We are going for our 5th trip in 5 years and still have not done everything.

Have you gone before?

Again,just my opinion but I would stay at a value/moderate resort (especially with a 6year old) and use the extra money for some awesome souvenirs! Bibbity Bobbity Boutique, portraits, etc to have some very special memories of your trip.

Have a magical day!
Sherri

 

[Marionnette]

Just my opinion......but all the resorts are relatively close to the parks. Especially with Disney transportation. I have heard many great things about Deluxe resorts but there is SO MUCH to do and see that we just don't spend enough time in the room to justify the extra expense of the Deluxe.

We stayed in a moderate resort the first time we stayed on property and spent even less time at the resort than when we stayed at a value.

We are going for our 5th trip in 5 years and still have not done everything.

Have you gone before?

Again,just my opinion but I would stay at a value/moderate resort (especially with a 6year old) and use the extra money for some awesome souvenirs! Bibbity Bobbity Boutique, portraits, etc to have some very special memories of your trip.

Have a magical day!
Sherri

I don't know of a single value or moderate resort where you can literally walk to one of the parks. I can name at least four deluxes where you can.

Not everyone spends every waking moment in the parks. Some people actually spend time at their resorts, so the ammenities are worth the expense.

Value resorts have full-size beds. Some moderates have queen size but all of the deluxes do. If I want a good night's sleep, I'm not going to get it when I'm sharing a full-size bed with my 6'2" husband!

Personally, I think BBB and portrait sessions are a waste of time and money when there is so much to see and do at Disney. Some people feel that tableservice meals are a waste of time and money. Differing opinions are what make the world go 'round.

 

[eliza61]

We stayed in a moderate resort the first time we stayed on property and spent even less time at the resort than when we stayed at a value.

We are going for our 5th trip in 5 years and still have not done everything.

Have you gone before?

Again,just my opinion but I would stay at a value/moderate resort (especially with a 6year old) and use the extra money for some awesome souvenirs! Bibbity Bobbity Boutique, portraits, etc to have some very special memories of your trip.

Have a magical day!
Sherri

I don't know Sherri, the problem is her dh is really not on board with Disney and I think she's trying to "WoW" him so he'll want to return. Sorry but at least for me the values had very little "I want to return" factor. In fact the first time we stayed we were more of a "let's go back but let's wait until we can afford a better room".

I've never really agreed with the "room is just some place to sleep" argument (not saying it's wrong folks, don't turn on me).

At the end of a long day touring especially if it's your first time, the room becomes vitally important to me. Values are small with a full size bed. Two adults on a full size, does not ensure for a comfortable nights sleep. Now throw in two kids and it really was a tight fit. It's not only the room, depending on when she goes it's also a crowded food court (ugh).

 

[thegilchrists]

Everyone has their opinion......was just offering mine.

My husband was not "Up" on Disney either.....but now he is more excited when it comes to vacationing at Disneyworld than I am.......but hey, everyone is different.

I , personally , do not mind spending a few minutes on a Disney bus admiring all the sights of Disneyworld to get to a park or our resort.

I guess I am easily pleased because for me....the WOW factor begins the minute we drive under the Welcome to DisneyWorld arch. The cleanliness of the propoerty, the atmosphere, the cast members.....I could go on and on.

I did not go to DisneyWorld until I was 40. I am now 45 and have gone 5 times in 5 years. We have been able to do that by being extremely budget conscious. We now have custody of our two grandsons (19mo & 3 1/2) and are planning another trip for November.

I did not mean to step on anyones toes or offend anyone.....was simply offering my opinion.


Sherri

 

[crisi]

I've never really agreed with the "room is just some place to sleep" argument (not saying it's wrong folks, don't turn on me).

At the end of a long day touring especially if it's your first time, the room becomes vitally important to me. Values are small with a full size bed. Two adults on a full size, does not ensure for a comfortable nights sleep. Now throw in two kids and it really was a tight fit. It's not only the room, depending on when she goes it's also a crowded food court (ugh).

And if I had a husband who really wasn't into the whole "ride" and "theme park" thing (and actually I do - well, he likes the parks, he isn't a ride person), I'd be looking to emphasize the things my husband liked. That might be relaxing at a resort, hanging by the pool, eating good food.

I can imagine my husband had we had a first trip that we did a commando vacation out of a value without good food....we'd have never gone back. He's a little spoiled. That first trip was a moderate and not a Deluxe - but it was a trip without kids and we had a king bed, good food all the time, and he took to Disney.

 

[gracie1]

Just my opinion......but all the resorts are relatively close to the parks. Especially with Disney transportation. I have heard many great things about Deluxe resorts but there is SO MUCH to do and see that we just don't spend enough time in the room to justify the extra expense of the Deluxe.

We stayed in a moderate resort the first time we stayed on property and spent even less time at the resort than when we stayed at a value.

We are going for our 5th trip in 5 years and still have not done everything.

Have you gone before?

Again,just my opinion but I would stay at a value/moderate resort (especially with a 6year old) and use the extra money for some awesome souvenirs! Bibbity Bobbity Boutique, portraits, etc to have some very special memories of your trip.

Have a magical day!
Sherri

Agreed We went to Disney two years ago for 11 nights 12 days and stayed at Pop Century. We loved the hotel. The beds were comfy. We spent one day just hanging at the resort at the pool. If we ever went back I would stay there in a heartbeat. We are the type who just sleep and shower in the rooms. But I would've had no problem hanging out in it. We loved it.

 

[thegilchrists]

Thanks gracie1!
As I said.....everyone is different. I would rather spend less on the room and stay longer, it makes it easier to justify going again!

We were in our rooms and asleep by 9:00 each night (with the exception of our Wishes night) and out by 7:30/8:00 each morning. Our beds were comfy(yes full size) but comfy nonetheless. we packed and planned well and even CAME HOME with $$$$$. It went straight into the Mickey Money fund for the next trip........

 

[Gr8t Fan]

Thanks gracie1!
As I said.....everyone is different. I would rather spend less on the room and stay longer, it makes it easier to justify going again!

We were in our rooms and asleep by 9:00 each night (with the exception of our Wishes night) and out by 7:30/8:00 each morning. Our beds were comfy(yes full size) but comfy nonetheless. we packed and planned well and even CAME HOME with $$$$$. It went straight into the Mickey Money fund for the next trip........

That's us too! We usually only sleep and shower in our room so no sense spending big $$. We are at the parks open to close and always stay for 2 full weeks, visit Universal and the outlet malls too, and not spending big $$ on our accomodations allows us to do that.

 

[crisi]

Thanks gracie1!
As I said.....everyone is different. I would rather spend less on the room and stay longer, it makes it easier to justify going again!

We were in our rooms and asleep by 9:00 each night (with the exception of our Wishes night) and out by 7:30/8:00 each morning. Our beds were comfy(yes full size) but comfy nonetheless. we packed and planned well and even CAME HOME with $$$$$. It went straight into the Mickey Money fund for the next trip........

And I'd rather go less often and stay Deluxe. But it isn't worth it for us to go for less than five days. And I have NO DESIRE to be at Disney longer than seven days. And I don't want to go more often than every other year. So my six day vacations in a Deluxe every other year are probably no more expensive than someone else's every year ten day vacations at a value. i.e. we can afford what we want. (though we are actually DVCers which changes the whole equation anyway. And if we weren't DVCers, we'd be offsiters at this point.)

But this isn't about US. This is really about the OP and her goal to give her husband a trip he might wish to repeat. Which really means that the OP needs to understand her husband - if he is going to enjoy the All Stars, they should stay there and not worry about the Wow of the Poly. If he is going to get to the All Stars think the rooms are too small and there are too many school groups running around - the Poly is probably a good investment in making sure there IS another trip to save towards.

 

[thegilchrists]

OP

I hope your trip is wonderful and magical wherever you decide to stay and whatever you decide to do!

 

[Marionnette]

Thanks gracie1!
As I said.....everyone is different. I would rather spend less on the room and stay longer, it makes it easier to justify going again!

We were in our rooms and asleep by 9:00 each night (with the exception of our Wishes night) and out by 7:30/8:00 each morning. Our beds were comfy(yes full size) but comfy nonetheless. we packed and planned well and even CAME HOME with $$$$$. It went straight into the Mickey Money fund for the next trip........

And there are some Disney-reluctant spouses who would be thrilled with the way that you do it because it is so affordable. I'm sure that there are quite a few who aren't in love with Disney because that one-and-only-trip cost them $5K-$10K!!!!

Like you said, everyone is different. I like to spend time relaxing at my resort. You like to take the parks by storm. It's all good.

 

[crisi]

And there are some Disney-reluctant spouses who would be thrilled with the way that you do it because it is so affordable. I'm sure that there are quite a few who aren't in love with Disney because that one-and-only-trip cost them $5K-$10K!!!!

Like you said, everyone is different. I like to spend time relaxing at my resort. You like to take the parks by storm. It's all good.

On the other hand, if the OP is only going to get ONE TRIP at the end of it, it might be worth it to splurge on this trip (provided that "affording it" means that she isn't really giving up anything really important).

 

[mom2val]

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[tlh0726]

I plan the cheapest way possible.
We could afford better, but I cannot let myself pay $$$$ for a hotel room that we only use to take a shower and then pass out on the bed from exhaustion, to only wake up to do it all over again.

 

[asea86]

Sorry if I caused anyone to argue about what I was asking but yes I was looking for somewhere that he will be comfotable and want to come back too. I KNOW he would not be happy at a value, even if it was only $100 a night. I have decided to go ahead with the Poly and hope for the best. If anything we ill change from a 6 day trip to maybe 5, if we cant get a discount for that time period. I do appreciate all the feedback and will def report back if the Poly was a good choice

 

[nrpofp]

Sorry if I caused anyone to argue about what I was asking but yes I was looking for somewhere that he will be comfotable and want to come back too. I KNOW he would not be happy at a value, even if it was only $100 a night. I have decided to go ahead with the Poly and hope for the best. If anything we ill change from a 6 day trip to maybe 5, if we cant get a discount for that time period. I do appreciate all the feedback and will def report back if the Poly was a good choice

I think you have made a good choice. The poly won my dh over along with the deluxe dining. You might want to consider the dxdp. Most men love to order whatever they want and not look at the price. There are some very good signature restaurants on the monorail loop. Have fun.

 

[NewmanFamily6]

We are DVC members and we plan what we can afford that year. Sometimes it is eating out the whole trip and sometimes it is meals in the villa. With a family of 6 we go with what we need to do on that trip