downgrading?

[MyGoofy26]

I'm trying to talk myself into this. My mom and I have a trip booked for December 2-8. We're booked with a Savannah view at AKL for $164 a night ($183 with tax) and I've been SO excited since booking. We just booked our airfare and had to come in late Thursday night to take advantage of the great deals that a lot of airlines were offering ($103 round trip!! before tax of course) and we booked that first night at Pop Century. The way we looked at it, coming in early and paying $60 for that room was still saving us about $60-70 over just paying the extra in airfare to come down on Friday.

Anyway, now that mom "tasted" that cheaper room rate, she wants to switch and stay there the whole week. I don't really want to, but I know my mom will drive me crazy for the next 2 months and then complain the whole trip how she doesn't have any money because she had to pay so much more for the room. Oh, we're splitting the room cost - AKL we'll be paying about $480 each, if we do PC it'll be about $180. I don't mind spending more money on a room, I've always been the type who would rather not spend a lot of money day to day and then splurge when I finally do spend it on myself. Mom would rather be constantly spending a little bit of money and then harp on me for spending so much when I buy something (even though we're probably spending about the same)

I've been REALLY going back and forth on this. I have so many pro's and cons for each side of the argument. I thought about trying to just meet in the middle and stay at a moderate, but then I think I'm going to be disappointed with any downgrade so I might as well save $300 and be disappointed rather than only save $150 and be just as disappointed. I thought about staying the last couple of nights at AKL but then that'll be like a huge tease, so maybe I should just wait til the next trip ( I don't vacation with mom a lot) and stay there the whole time so I can REALLY get the feel of the resort and really enjoy my time. But then I really had this trip planned around this hotel, and that hotel was one of the things I was most looking forward to. But then of course I could take the money I'm saving and put it towards my trip to Italy in March.

I'm so torn. I know I should just suck it up and be happy that I'm even going - it is Disney after all. I just don't think I'm ready to "concede defeat" quite yet. This all just came up this weekend.

Anyone else have experience dealing with this? Have you downgraded and then felt like your trip wasn't as good as it could have been? Or have you downgraded and then never thought twice about the other hotel?

Carrie

 

[princess lovers mom]

It depends primarily on how you plan to vacation....will you be in the parks all day and night? and only using room to sleep...Value resorts are a value for a reason, you will miss out on a lot of resort features..they are smaller rooms and beds, noisier, more crowded feeling and not as nice to spend the day at...pools, features etc....you have a good rate at AK...you and your mom will not regret staying there and it cannot be compared to a value resort at all......

 

[FeeFeeWhite]

One BIG VOTE for splilting your stay!!!!

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Another vote saying keep the AKL.

 

[ktglads]

I know its a bit of money ($300), but what about making that your Christmas (and possibly birthday and mother's day) present to her? You could just have her prepay you the amount like you were staying at Pop but then surprise her with the AKL. AKL is a great place to stay and you will be spending a bit more time in your room since the parks close early. You will be able to get the best of both worlds then.

 

[GoodFairies]

Just lie and tell her there's no availability for the rest of your dates.

 

[RachelTori]

Seeing how it's a Savanna view, I vote for AKL, but a split stay would probably be the best compromise. Whatever you do, though, DON'T lie - especially to your mother!!

 

[Sandi]

Have you stayed at any of the Disney Resorts before? I'm just trying to figure our your and your mom's frames of reference. Personally, I wouldn't want to stay at a value. I have stayed at both moderates and deluxes and I really think that moderates are great and the way to go. I really feel I get more for my money at a moderate and I do not feel disappointed (as compared to deluxes) at all.


Like the others have said, a split stay is a good alternative, too.

 

[DisneyFan09]

Here's another vote for splitting your stay!! I'd do the first 3 nights at Pop Century and the last four at AKL.

We did this last Oct. between Poly and CBR because there was no way I could afford the Poly for 8 nights and it worked out very well for us!!

Good luck with your decision!

 

[MyGoofy26]

You've all given me a lot more options to think about, thanks so much. Some more information - we've stayed at Disney numerous times. We did ASMusic once in June and vowed never again - usually it's moderates. Last trip we did Contemporary (mom wasn't on that trip)

I think I'm going to price a few different options and really try and break down whether to split the stay, have mom pay whatever half on Pop would be then cover the rest as a Christmas present, etc. I have to really look at my bills too - I have $500 a month I have to pay for tuition so that definitely comes first. I was fine as far as paying half on AKL, now I need to see if I can swing 2/3rds.

carrie

 

[jarestel]

Pop Century really doesn't come close to AKL as far as a hotel experience goes. Seeing the animals ouside your balcony is so nice and definitely worth the price. Having said that, if money is a serious issue for your Mom, I would just stay at PC to make it easier on her. You could always bus over to AKL and check out the hotel to see if she might want to stay there on the next visit. Good luck with your decision.

 

[princess lovers mom]

We did ASMusic once in June and vowed never again

...listen to yourself and have a great trip...

 

[Bugsmom73]

I would either split the stay or change to a moderate.

 

[micmacmissy]

Don't downgrade--stay where you planned, tell your mother that the other is unavailable...and offer to cover the difference between the two prices (instead of paying her half). After all, she did originally agree to it before she knew the other option...so don't feel guilty even if you can't afford to cover the cost for her.

 

[F1Julie]

I'd keep AKL, but maybe downgrade your view to standard or pool view to save yourself some money. You'll still be able to see the animals at all the resort viewing sites. I'm going shortly after you and got a poolview rate of $132. I believe standard view is $119 a night. I just don't spend enough time sitting on my balcony to justify the extra cost.

 

[cdrn1]

I personally like the lying-to-your-mother idea. What's one more? Seriously, if it's a financial hardship for her, meet her in the middle at a moderate but if she's just being tight, tell her how disappointed you would be to switch to a value resort. I know I wouldn't want to disappoint one of my daughters if she had her heart set on something.

 

[MyGoofy26]

The just telling her there's no availability thing. . I could've gone for (lord knows she's "fudged" the truth to me MANY times, including a couple things about this trip but that's another issue for another day, LOL!) unfortunately she already checked out the online reservations and saw that it was open.

I'd love to just "downgrade" the room type, but when I called the standard rooms were all gone. Savannah was the only thing left and I think $164 is an excellent rate.

Money's always an issue with my mom, just because she blows it as soon as she gets it. The original plan she was going to give me $100 a pay (weekly) to put towards the room, tickets, etc. Which would work. Just means she would need to stop, or limit, buying junk every pay that she never uses, haha.

I kinda feel like I'm being a bit of a spoiled brat about this. I just don't want to budge. I'm graduating in December (1st degree so I still have another whole semester in school) and I don't want a party, heck I don't even want to walk - the only thing I care about is that piece of paper, not the ceremony. I kinda feel like all the money that she'd have been spending on a party (she had planned on doing something but I don't really want it) could easily pay for the difference in the rooms. And I kinda want to go all out for this little "celebration" of a trip.

I have a paper to finish writing tonight so I'll be taking all my "breaks"from writing to come up with various rates, potential game plans, etc.

Thanks again everyone - you're really helping me out here, giving me great ideas and things to "reason" with her.

Carrie

 

[Gabrielle]

I think your mom should give in. She initially agreed to AKL - and there's no comparison between Pop/All Stars and AKL.

But, if that doesn't work - I vote for a split stay!

 

[queenof2princesses]

MyGoofy, I also have a trip in December, My family and I are doing 3 night Wonder and then coming to WDW for 3 nights. I have booked Cont for all 3. ($143/night) That is such a great deal and I have also been SOOO excited ever since I booked it! But I have a little voice in the back of my head telling me I could do POP for $55! I have worked my budget every way, DH and I are using our extra money and side incomes to pay for the trip. He has agreed to a set amount to pitch in, so I am left to budget how I can.
I guess it depends on how much I can 'not' spend before December. But still, I would love the convenience of Contemp, we'll be spending one day hopping, one day at the resort before MVMCP, so I know I want Contemp, but is it crazy to spend our first night after cruise at POP (we're going to spend that day at Universal), check out the next day, hop a while, then check in again at CONTEMP, hop some more... Can anyone comment on the hassle (or ease) of switching?
MYGOOFY, I think we are in the same boat! We are trying to make the most out of our trip and not be dissappointed by sacrificing what we really want. As for the spoiled brat comment, are you an only child? Well, I am just guessing because I am and I ALWAYS feel that same way. But even though I know what I want and if I downgrade, I will be dissapointed, I am sure you probably would be, too. I am seriously thinking of switching: POP-1st night, Contemp-2-3rd nights. Can anyone comment on that? Could this be called Resort Hopping? They should create a pass for that so we don't have to worry about these things!

 

[MyGoofy26]

Yes it does sound like we're in the same boat (although the boat I'd prefer would be sharing is the Wonder! LOL) I too am worried about the hassle of switching. Everyone says it's easy, just have them move your bags and then go check into the new hotel, but I'v never done it and it just seems like it would take a chunk out of your day to get this accomplished that you could be spending in the parks or out somewhere relaxing. So while I'm considering doing half at one, half at the other - that's the thing that's really making me think the most.

I think it would be a much more difficult question to answer in your case since your time there is so much more limited than mine. But I have to say, $143 is a great rate. We stayed at the Contemporary last December for $99 a night (my cousin is in the Air Force so my aunt and I went down to meet up with her, her husband, and kids and she was able to get a room for us as well with her discount) It was VERY convenient to be right there on the monorail and to have more than a food court to choose from when we were too tired to venture from the hotel's property.

And yes, I am an only child!! I do always feel guilty when I get too much attention, or too many "things" - the main reason I don't want a party for my graduation. I don't like knowing that people feel "expected" to give me a gift. So it's also part of the reason I'm struggling with this hotel thing - I feel like a brat asking my mom to spend an extra $300 on a hotel because I want to stay there.