downgrading?

[Brian Noble]

Are you willing to leave Mom at home and go with someone else? If so, stick to your guns, but know that that's what it might come to.

Otherwise, a Moderate or a split stay sounds like a reasonable compromise.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Carrie -

My heart goes out to you. Everyone has really said it all already...
This is such a difficult spot to be in and I really understand!
Here's what I'm thinking - forget the POP? I've stayed there and even tho it would be fine if that's where you WANTED to stay, you are looking forward to someplace special. Sooo..how about trying to find a deluxe standard with a code rate? Any deluxe? I know your mom will not be happy unless you stay at the POP now that she's seen the prices, and you'll have to decide how much you can compromise. Probably the best compromise is a moderate (POFQ was just renovated), but with your heart set on AKL this is tough...still, she is paying her share and I guess she has you over a barrel to some extent. It STINKS for sure!!

Of course, you do not want to feel resentful and doing the "right thing" always wins out in the end. I guess a moderate is the way to go IF you can get a good discounted rate - otherwise you'll be spending nearly as much on the moderate as on a deluxe with a code.

Good luck with this decision - it's not an easy one and I don't see much way out for you unless you grit your teeth and stay where you want with the view you want...you sound like a great daughter...hope your mom knows you're special!!

Take good care. Good luch with the paper.
Christine

 

[10drum]

Leave your mom at home and take me!!! I won't complain.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

DITTO!!!!!!

 

[Laralyn]

I haven't stayed at a Moderate yet (first time coming up in Nov.!) but from what I can gather, there is a bigger difference in feel between the Value and Moderate resorts than between the Moderate and Deluxe resorts.

If your mom insists on saving the money, I would try to book a Moderate as a compromise. The price would be squarely between the two prices, and you could both feel like you got what you wanted.

 

[erinz]

Ok, I have a mother EXACTLY like that and I have had years and years of "honing my craft" when it comes to dealing with her attitude about my spending money. I now have it down to a science.

In a nut shell, go with GoodFairies advice: Lie

Tell her that you've heard that the busses have huge waits and go to a million more stops than the deluxe resorts.


Tell her you've been hearing all kinds of horror stories about how unclean the value resorts are.

Tell her that the value resorts are going to be full of cheerleaders and it will be chaos; you won't be able to use the food court, or pool. And you can't get a room that would be away from the practicing at 1am in the morning.

And, if you are able to come up with the money to make the difference: Tell her that you got an unbelievable deal (like getting an email with a pin number from Disney) and the cost will end up being only a $15 difference (see the trick is, you can't say it will be the same price because she might get suspicious and check it out).

And if nothing works.......then what I would do is just decide that you will stay in the value resort, have the best time you can, enjoy your mother because she won't be around forever, but at the same time, know that you are going take your savings and start another WDW trip fund where, in like 6 months or a year, you will take a friend, or go by yourself, and stay at the AKL......maybe even in concierge!

So Good Luck!!!!!

 

[MECH8T7]

First of all, I think its a great rate that you got yourself of AKL. We are going next spring and we are planning as if we are paying rack rates which, for AKL savannah, is almost $400 per night.

Wrt to any suggestions on dealing with your dilemma, my suggestion is that you keep you current arrangements...namely, first night at POP and the balance of your stay at AKL. However, as a compromise, you tell your mom that you think the cost difference for the AKL will be worth it but you will let her decide for herself but she has to stay there at least one night. So, you go the second day to AKL and make sure that it isn't a day that you are planning to spend a lot of time in the parks so that you can "take-in" the AKL experience. If, after your first night at the AKL your mom isn't convinced that the money is worth it, you go down to the front desk and get yourself moved to POP or one of the other values. (Hopefully other DISsers will confirm that you would be able to do this in a way that makes it likely that you will still get the discounted POP rates if you move).

I know that this sounds like it will be a real headache but I think that it solves a lot of problems if you are prepared to put up with the potential logistical inconvenience (if your mom insists on returning to POP). First, your mom may convince herself that AKL is more than worth the differnce in price...especially if you stayed at POP the first night. Second, you will have the chance to preview AKL for another next trip. Third, you will be demonstrating that you are prepared to take your mom's preferences into account provided that she is prepared to at least give it a try. Obviously, the fact that you are asking her to give it a try is predicated on the assumption that she can afford the price difference.

IMHO, I am not really sure that a "pre-planned" split stay makes sense in your circumstances. It would make sense if both of you felt that AKL is where you wanted to be but that the AKL is simply too expensive for the full stay. It sounds like, in your case, your mom feels that POP would be just as good. By agreeing to split the stay at the outset, I think you will be beginning your trip on a negative...even before you get to WDW, you will be getting worked up about how unhappy you will be on the days at POP and your mom will be bitter about how you will be forcing her to waste HER money during the nights at AKL. Not a great way to start the trip.

Under my suggestion, you may end up with a split stay anyways but I know how awful it feels when you think you've convinced someone you are travelling with to "upgrade" to something that they don't see any value to....it has the potential to really ruin your enjoyment of the upgrade and you feel like you are continually spending your time trying to do the cost-benefit justification for them from their perspective or getting into debates about whether it was worth it. Under my suggestion, your mom would be deciding for herself that the upgrade for the balance of the stay is worth it and, because you have told her that you are prepared to go back to POP is she doesn't think its worth it, she will evaluate it with an open mind. If your mom still decides that she wants to go back to POP, so be it. There will hopefully be lots of opportunities in the future for you to enjoy AKL with someone else who would appreciate it.

Good luck

 

[4greatboys]

Thats a tough one. I would just tell your mom its part of your graduation gift, to stay at a really nice deluxe resort.
Im going over the same thing now but with myself. Im taking 3 of the boys to WDW in Dec. I can stay at PC for $55 or I can stay at CR for $145 tax incl. I havent stayed at CR yet but I really want to give it a try. We are doing 2 MVMCP and you can beat the location. But all the while a little voice keeps saying "but you can save so much by just staying at PC" lol".
Im pretty sure CR will end up winning and I will enjoy my stay but until then I think I'll keep hearing that little voice
Show your mom all the great stuff about AKL and show her what RACK RATE would be. Maybe she will see the great savings on a wonderful resort and change her mind.
If worse comes to worse then just offer to stay 2-3 nights at PC then move to AKL.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

4greatboys,

Cont R for $145 inc tx is incredible! I hope you take the opportunity and go for it..I understand about the little voice - it's been nudging me since June when I made a reservation with a mail code.

I started at POP for $55 including tx, then changed to AKL Pool View because that was so nice, then changed to POFQ because my friend did not want to stay at AKL again...ohhhh... then a CRO CM convinced me to try WL - where I did not like even when I visited there..but I made the res, evetunally switched again and after hurricane Jeanne was able to get a room at GF - I'm tired just thinking about it. The CM's were wonderful every time I called. I've never, in over 20 yrs ever even changed my reservation once, never mind I don't know how many times!

The gist of all this is trying to convince you to go with the great Cont R rate because you will not regret being on the monorail, watching the monorail glide thru...and if you request a room in the North wing, facing the monorial, your boys will be thrilled (and you will too) every time it glides by! We stayed in that wing when my munchkins were 7, 8, 9 & 16 - what a wonderful trip. AND you can even walk to/from the MK if you want!!

Sooo, that's my .02 cents!!

 

[CheapMom]

Another vote for splitting your stay. Since you are going to be checking out of Pop and into AKL anyway just do it 2 days later. Also- my mom is really judgemental about what I spend my $$ on too but she loves to get a bargain. Show her what the rack rate is on that Savannah view room.

 

[MyGoofy26]

I feel so repetitive, but that you all so much for all your advice - I'm taking each and every bit into consideration. I'm sitting here in the library at school testing rates so I can look at price difference and really weigh my options and have something solid to show mom when I talk to her about what to do.

I found rates at AKL for the last 3 days of our stay at $132 for "waterview" on Travelocity (none on disney's site, and haven't called CRO due to hurricane) I could always book that and just hope for a "courtesy" upgrade - maybe they'll be generous if I mention my graduation, haha. Even if I didn't get upgraded, at least I'd be in the hotel. Or maybe I could even talk her into splitting the upgrade cost once we're actually there and halfway through the trip.

Mom was excited about AKL - in fact she's the one that first mentioned it! I never brought it up because "splurging" for her had always been a moderate. She's the one that first threw AKL on the table. . . but like I said before, that little taste of value rates turned her head pretty quickly, lol!

Ok so here are my "options" thus far. I'm going to do the pre-tax rate since the only one I have tax included is my existing reservation.

Current Plan
*First night at Pop Century $55
*Remainder at AKL Savannah View$820
TOTAL = $875

Split Stay
*3 nights at Pop Century $165
*3 nights at AKL Savannah View $492
TOTAL = $657

Split Stay with Downgraded View
*3 nights at Pop Century $165
*3 nights at AKL water view $396
TOTAL = $561

Complete Downgrade
*6 nights at Pop Century $330

I think I *might* be able to talk her into the split stay with a downgraded view. It's just a little over $100 difference each. Plus mom's very "competitive" so I know she wants to do a deluxe now that my aunt and I have both stayed in Deluxes without her. That and a guy she works with was bragging about having the '2nd best hotel' that Disney has for his honeymoon, which turned out to be CBR. . . she couldn't make him understand that it was the 2nd best category, not hotel, LOL! So now she wants to "outdo" him and stay somewhere better. At least that's how it all started. . . until enough time had passed and now she knows how cheaply she can go.

*sigh* Hopefully I'll get this all figured out soon.

Thanks again everyone!
Carrie

 

[Minnie&Nana]

You've done your homework!!


A word of caution - I've read on this site about cancellations (without warning and left without a room) thru either expedia or travelocity -I would book only thr either CRO (I;ve been on the phone with them often and although there is a wait, it's no problem getting through), or try DU a lionk on this site - I've heard great things about them.

I'd say go with this option:

Split Stay with Downgraded View
*3 nights at Pop Century $165
*3 nights at AKL water view $396
TOTAL = $561

Because if there is a chance of an upgrade why pay more? And certainly tell them it's your graduation gift!!! Although you might not get the upgrade, the Pool view is nice and I would request a pool view with a view of the watefall - I;ve heard some say they could also see some animals from that view. By the way, I was upgraded from a standard to a Savannah view last time we stayed there. Never know!

Good for you!! You're terrific!!
Christine

 

[caribbeanme]

Ditto BaciBecky--

I would try to subtly guilt your mom into keeping the AKL (it's your graduation, after all). Remind your mom that she wants to show up ppl at work, so she should stay at AKL for sure.

If you end up splitting, the difference she'll see btw the AKL and the values may end up making your point for you (don't we all secretly love the "i told you so moment?"-- I'm evil, I know). Take any savings from this trip and set them aside for a proper deluxe trip with someone who wants to go and splurge.

I changed rooms from the WL and YC this summer and it was painless. Called the front desk, they sent someone who tagged our bags and gave us tickets for their retrieval, and took them away. When we checked into the YC, we just handed them the tickets and the bags were in our rooms about ten mins. later. For some reason, I remember someone saying once that it wasn't the same if you went from value to moderate or deluxe, but I can't imagine that it would be that different (you may have to take the luggage to the front desk or something).

~

 

[4greatboys]

Originally posted by BaciBecky
4greatboys,

Cont R for $145 inc tx is incredible! I hope you take the opportunity and go for it..I understand about the little voice - it's been nudging me since June when I made a reservation with a mail code.

I started at POP for $55 including tx, then changed to AKL Pool View because that was so nice, then changed to POFQ because my friend did not want to stay at AKL again...ohhhh... then a CRO CM convinced me to try WL - where I did not like even when I visited there..but I made the res, evetunally switched again and after hurricane Jeanne was able to get a room at GF - I'm tired just thinking about it. The CM's were wonderful every time I called. I've never, in over 20 yrs ever even changed my reservation once, never mind I don't know how many times!

The gist of all this is trying to convince you to go with the great Cont R rate because you will not regret being on the monorail, watching the monorail glide thru...and if you request a room in the North wing, facing the monorial, your boys will be thrilled (and you will too) every time it glides by! We stayed in that wing when my munchkins were 7, 8, 9 & 16 - what a wonderful trip. AND you can even walk to/from the MK if you want!!

Sooo, that's my .02 cents!!

Oh I definately agree with you. I know I will really like it there. I did request a room in the north wing so hopefully we will get it. And having a 2 yr old in a stoller and not having to fold up on the monorail like I do the buses is great.


MyGoofy26--I would go with split stay but with Savannah view room. We stayed in one in Dec 2002 and it was so awesome to step out on the balcony and see the animals. For me thats important. If you dont care if its pool or savannah then go pool. But I would make it part of my trip.

 

[MyGoofy26]

If you end up splitting, the difference she'll see btw the AKL and the values may end up making your point for you (don't we all secretly love the "i told you so moment?"-- I'm evil, I know).

I love that I'm not the only one here with that evil side! I feel so at home here!! I love those moments, especially with my mom as much as we butt heads.

As if I wasn't borderline exhausted from all this, my aunt decides to add even more to my plate. After a couple months of "I'm not going" she decides today. . actually a half an hour ago, that "hey, I think I want to go!! I could have a great time just shopping." We booked our airfare on Sunday, after days of her hemming and hawing and finally after the 3rd "last chance" I went ahead and booked. I KNEW she'd do this, which is why I put it off for so long. As soon as I booked, she walked in the house a little while later, "did you book your airfare?" yes "Well what happens if I decide I want to go?" Anybody got any smilies pulling their hair out by the handfulls?

Well she was still all "I'm not going" the rest of the day Sunday and yesterday. I told her I could book another seat for her, but she said no. NOW she asks, "hey, any seats left on your flight?" So I look it up, and there are seats. . . just $101 more. We paid $125 round trip, it's up to $226 now. She actually said, "well if you would've just waited. . ." I looked at her, "and then we'd ALL be paying $200 to fly!"

So now I'm sitting here with her debit card on my desk so I can repeatedly check the airline's website to see if they drop it any. I know airfares tend to drop Tuesday night/Wednesday morning (after midnight) and she thinks it'll drop tonight, but I don't know if they'll drop it this soon after dropping it so low last week. Hopefully it'll drop some - when I booked, it assigns your seat (lets you make changes) and only one of the 4 flights (we have a connection) had any other seats booked. So I don't see it selling out any time soon. Hope it stays fairly empty to last until another price drop.

The only good thing is, even with the extra person adding to the hotel rate, mom will go for the original room split 3 ways instead of just 2. Of course mom's so cheap, she would try and not tell them there's a 3rd (yep - mom's one of those people that would get flamed here). . .but I'm doing the reservations so she'll never need to know - it's only like a $40 difference each and she doesn't know exactly what the total cost is. Heck, I'LL cover the $40 just to be "legit" for the trip.

They can't make this easy on me, can they? I'm not a drinker but I have a bottle of limoncello in the freezer that's starting to look REAL good about now, LOL!

Carrie

 

[jazznms]

Good luck Carrie and buckets of pixie dust

 

[MyGoofy26]

Everything is FINALLY resolved!! The airfare for my aunt to join us DID drop last night, down to $113!! So with tax and fees it came out to $154. She told me if it dropped to $150 book it, if she complains about the $4 I might slap her

I didn't talk to her before booking it, I didn't want to give her a chance to back out again. She gave me instructions last night to check the website after midnight and see if it dropped and if it did, go ahead and book it. If she had time to re-think "caving" and going with us, too bad. I wasn't giving her the opportunity. All booked!

Yay! So now I just have to add another person to the reservation, and everything should move nice and smooth from here on out! Unless mom finds out that I "tattled" and told Disney there would be 3 adults, haha - there might be a little argument if that happens.

*sigh* What a relief! Thanks again everyone for all your advice!

Carrie

 

[MECH8T7]

When you get there, if everybody is really enjoying your stay at AKL, you might want to consider going to the front desk later during your stay to see if you can upgrade your last day or so to AKL concierge.

My understanding is that if you show up at the front desk and ask for an upgrade to concierge, it is much cheaper than if you reserved concierge (even with discounts).

There are a whole bunch of threads on these boards that talk about AKL concierge, with the most notable perk being access to the exclusive Sunrise Safari (which AKL concierge runs Tuesday and Saturday mornings for an additional fee -- I think the cost for the safari is around $50 per person but well worth it by most accounts.)

Have a great vacation.

 

[Del]

God Bless you and good luck!!!!

Del

 

[MyGoofy26]

Originally posted by MECH8T7
When you get there, if everybody is really enjoying your stay at AKL, you might want to consider going to the front desk later during your stay to see if you can upgrade your last day or so to AKL concierge.

My understanding is that if you show up at the front desk and ask for an upgrade to concierge, it is much cheaper than if you reserved concierge (even with discounts).

There are a whole bunch of threads on these boards that talk about AKL concierge, with the most notable perk being access to the exclusive Sunrise Safari (which AKL concierge runs Tuesday and Saturday mornings for an additional fee -- I think the cost for the safari is around $50 per person but well worth it by most accounts.)

Have a great vacation.

I would LOVE to do that - but at this point, after the past few days, I wouldn't push it, LOL!! When mom agreed to AKL in the first place I kinda threw how much I'd love to do concierge and she just doesn't "get" it. She's all about having tangible things to show for her money, whereas I'll pay to be pampered and have things done for me so I can relax and make the most of my time. I almost had her with the safari, but then when she found out it wasn't included in the price of concierge all she did was complain about the concept of concierge. So I will eventually do concierge, just not with someone who's going to comment on the money everytime we go to the lounge or go to the safari. I need to go with someone who will enjoy being pampered as much as me, haha.

Maybe I'll look through the threads and see if I can find how much people have paid at check-in for the upgrade and see if I can "spin" it so that she'll go for it. I'd be in heaven if I could switch those last 2 days and do the safari.

Carrie