GF Split stay help me decide.. PLEASE!

[Cmbar]

We are booked for 5 nights at GF in November and looking forward to staying there. We got a great deal with the 40% off code. We however would like to save some money and would like to add a split stay, therefore saving some money and extending our stay. We had planned on a DVC resort but evidently 11.11.07 is all booked for every DVC resort so that is out. This is our first day and we want to do the split stay with the GF being last. So DVC is out.

So my DH's only requirement is to stay someplace we haven't stayed before:

So here are my choices:

All Stars - (Save $335.00 and also add an extra day)
Coronado Springs -(Save 225.00 and also add a day)
Animal Kingdom - (Save $30.00 and also add a day)

The Poly, Beach Club and Contp. won't really save us any money since they are close in price to the GF.

So any suggestions on which one of these to try? Or should we just stay 5 nights at the GF!

Thanks!

 

[mommytobug]

I say 5 nights at GF. DH and I talked about a split stay last night and decided it would be a pain in the BUTT! Enjoy your stay at GF! When did you get your code...I am WISHING for a code for November.

 

[Cmbar]

Thanks Mommytobug!

I keep thinking staying put will be the easiest thing to do, but I can't get out of my mind trying a different resort and extending our stay. We have split before and didn't find it any problem at all. We did it the easy way and just plopped our butts and bags in a cab and were at our new hotel in minutes. Plus if we add a day we can relax on our "switch" day.

The other main thing is I don't really see a lot of threads about GF. My DH is worried that we are paying more for this trip than any other and we may hate the resort. I would feel better if I had more people say they love GF!

Guess I am just having Resort Regret right now! I still have five months to go!

Thanks for your input.

 

[mahoneyth]

How do you get a code for 40 percent off? Do you need to be a DVC mbr?

 

[Cmbar]

No I am not a DVC member. I got a post card back in Jan/Feb for 40% off during certain weeks of the year. We chose the November week just prior to Thanksgiving. We are booked with GF for 255.00 a night, but have been told that we can adjust our stay if we call the right people at Guest Services. We have good friends who are DVC members so we were planning on maybe doing a split stay with DVC but waited too long to make a decision.

I wish you luck to get a good discount. I know it was a huge surprise to me to get a discount! Here is some Pixie dust

 

[mahoneyth]

Thanks Cmbar!

 

[Cmbar]

Anyone else willing to give some suggestions? Please!!

 

[Disney Freak Numero Uno]

I'd stay the entire time at AKL and skip the GF altogether. Stayed there in May in Sugar Loaf concierge and really was not happy at all.

 

[Cmbar]

Disney Freak...

On NO. What didn't you like? I really wanted to try a Monorail resort. Maybe I should just try to get the Poly....

 

[ksc37]

Everyone's trip must be different, because we stayed at Sugar Loaf (free upgrade from garden view ) and we had a wonderful stay.

Anyway, back to the question, I would highly recommend against splitting a stay at a value and the GF. We did that back in '05 and we wished our value stay away, just waiting to get to the GF (which was HEAVEN after the AS Movies... also I would not recommend going from the GF to a value, it would really be a let down).

I think you should do the AK / GF split, because they're both beautiful hotels, but with very different atmospheres. You may not save as much $$$, but they both have a lot to offer.

 

[bellebud]

i'm very surprised every dvc resort is booked this far out. i've been able to book a 1 bedroom villa through cro at even 2 months out, for a very busy time (easter, july 4th). i'd call back about that.

i've stayed at GF twice... i like it, my dh doesn't. we both LOVE the poly.

I am a little confused about your split stay though... you'll add one night at the beginning??? then 5 nights at GF??? sorry if i'm being dense.

If you haven't done AKL, i'd do that. BUT only if you'll have at least a day (or more) to enjoy the resort... if you'll be doing mostly parks, do a value or moderate. To me, AKL is the best resort to enjoy a day off... it's really spectacular! maybe save it for another trip if you can't fully enjoy it this trip.

 

[latinqt]

My vote is definately the GF if you're wanting some extra special care during your stay. However, the AK would be a great stay if you really want to do 2 different resorts in one trip. That I can never do. We bring too much with us.

 

[Disney Doll]

I love Coronado Springs. I think it is a beautiful resort, and a tad bit more adult oriented since it is a convention resort. I love the themeing. I love how pretty it is at night.

That being said, if you only have one or two nights at your first resort before going to the GF, I'd probably do the AK, because staying in the atmosphere with the animals is pretty cool, they have a nice pool. It is the most "different" (IMHO) resort because of the animals. But, it is also a resort that I think people either love or hate. DH & I stayed there for 3 nights. It was interesting because of the animals, but I felt like we were way out, and after a while the whole African thing got annoying to me, so I was glad we were only there for 3 days.

 

[Cmbar]

i'm very surprised every dvc resort is booked this far out. i've been able to book a 1 bedroom villa through cro at even 2 months out, for a very busy time (easter, july 4th). i'd call back about that.

Believe me I am ticked! But it seems that our first day is November 11th. No Studio ANYWHERE. Only a 1 bedroom at OKW with the three nights we want. UGH! Not sure what is going on that day! It is a Sunday no less. Oh and we are going through DVC, not CRO. Not interested in paying the rack rate!! That's almost as much as the GF!

I am a little confused about your split stay though... you'll add one night at the beginning??? then 5 nights at GF??? sorry if i'm being dense.

I want to just do a even split stay. 3 nights and 3 nights. We aren't doing the parks the whole time. We have leftover hoppers and we are going to MVMCP one night so we want to relax at a resort.

 

[Disney Freak Numero Uno]

Our room in Sugar Loaf was very shabby. Clean but extremely worn. The TV was very small compared to those in other resorts. I don't know if the other buildings at the GF have been through rehab but I have read that the Sugar Loaf building is supposed to be closed for rehab soon.
Also, the resort was very crowded and there were too many out-of -control kids (I'm not complaining about the kids but the parents who let their little darlings do whatever they want).
The bottom line is that I didn't think the GF was worth the price and I have stayed at all of the deluxes. It is definitely at the bottom of my list. Not terrible, just nothing special.
AKL is one of my favorites.

 

[we1luv1dis]

We are booked for 5 nights at GF in November and looking forward to staying there. We got a great deal with the 40% off code. We however would like to save some money and would like to add a split stay, therefore saving some money and extending our stay. We had planned on a DVC resort but evidently 11.11.07 is all booked for every DVC resort so that is out. This is our first day and we want to do the split stay with the GF being last. So DVC is out.

So my DH's only requirement is to stay someplace we haven't stayed before:

So here are my choices:

All Stars - (Save $335.00 and also add an extra day)
Coronado Springs -(Save 225.00 and also add a day)
Animal Kingdom - (Save $30.00 and also add a day)

The Poly, Beach Club and Contp. won't really save us any money since they are close in price to the GF.

So any suggestions on which one of these to try? Or should we just stay 5 nights at the GF!

Thanks!

I vote for AKL, not saving much but the extra day makes it for me. I would also try and do the AKL first and then go the GF (as long as you can get into MVMCP on a night when you are in the GF).

Whatever you do, enjoy!!!!

We, (me, DW, DD10 and DD6) will be there from 11/10 to 11/17 so here is hoping we all get good weather!!!

 

[Cmbar]

Looks like AKL is getting the most requests. I was very nervous about being so far away from everything. Is AKL close to DTD or Epcot area? Of course I know it is close to AK!!

Thanks everyone for all the opinions.

we1luv1dis: Here's some pixie dust for our trips! Let hope for sunny, perfect temps with all the decorations up!

We went same week last year and the crowds were very low and the weather perfect! Osboune lights were amazing at Studios. The Christmas tree was up and lit in the MK for the MVMCP, but Epcot had the trees up, but not lit so that was a bit of a dissappointment! Have a great trip!

 

[we1luv1dis]

You have a great one as well no matter what you decide to do with the split stay.

Looking forward to warm weather too - We went the first week of December 2005 and it was a little to cool for swimming but all the decorations were up

The year before that we went during Xmas week (2004) thru New Years
(1/1/2005) - that was an experience but the decorations couldn't be beat then either.