Has the DIS ever swayed you?

[maxiesmom]

I'm curious. People (including me!) spend so much time on here asking each other for advice and opinions on resorts, I'm wondering if you ever changed your mind on where to stay, based on what you saw here. If so, how did it work out for you? I so can't make up my mind on where to stay next winter. I was thinking POR or the Poly, but then Buzz had to go and post those beautiful pics of Coronado Springs all decked out for Christmas so I am considering staying there now. There are so many choices, it makes me dizzy sometimes!

So, have you ever changed your travel plans because of the DIS? And if so, did you regret it, or were you happy you made the change?

 

[thesupersmartguy]

I take everything I read here as good input, in the end I make the final decision based on my needs and what will work out best.

 

[DisneySherpa]

So, have you ever changed your travel plans because of the DIS? And if so, did you regret it, or were you happy you made the change?

Have been a long time lurker around these boards (going back 6 years) and yes... on two trips we were swayed.... and both of which we were disapointed

In May of 2003 we decided to try something new besides CBR and booked POR based on the positive reviews/accounts read here. We weren't at all impressed and I questioned whether or not I made the right choice.

In Jan of 2007 we knew a moderate wasn't in the cards and we'd have to try a value for the first time. Again, I chose Pop based on the rave reviews of so many posters. Another let down to say the least. We later tried ASmu and found it to be a much better fit for us.

I've come to learn that everyone vacations differently, what's great for one family... isn't always great for another. I don't regret either decision to try those resorts... they just weren't for us... and I'm glad I actually have a personal account to know that, rather than assuming!

We still love the Dis... and will continue taking advice (and now sharing)... because even if we weren't overall fans of POR and POP... from my readings on the Dis... we were still able to make the most/best of our resort stay.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I don't think that I'd say that I was completely swayed by opinions posted on the boards but they have helped me in planning.

 

[tinkbyday]

I haven't changed my resort based on DIS, but I have chosen a resort based on stuff I had read here. We had gotten down to a decision between two and all of the positive feedback on WL swayed us to stay there - we did not regret it - it is a wonderful resort.

I actually have made dining changes if I read multiple bad reviews on a place.

Mostly, we just pick where we want and dream about all of the other choices

 

[kaffinito]

I try to weed out peoples opinions based on the similarities between what they care about on a trip and what I care about. For example, if someone posts that they loved XYZ about a resort, and I could really give a hoot about XYZ but am looking for a resort that has ABC, then I won't give their opinion as much weight.

I want/need to have friendly CM's, and lush greenery as well as a food court with edible food. I don't care about towel animals or making rope drop. I do care about shade at the pools. I did change my trip plans before based on what was said on the DIS, but also knew that it would be my own experience that would decide if I had made a mistake in "listening" to them or not. I'm a big girl, and only have myself to blame for poor decisions, KWIM?

 

[Pakey]

I have found some interesting facts here from a few dissers who really know their stuff but been swayed by opinions? No, I don't think so. I've found that many of the people here have not been to WDW that often and they base their opinions on a handful of experiences. They may LOVE resort A but then you find out that's because they have only stayed at maybe 2 resorts. Now when someone posts that they've been to every resort and they like this one particular one because........, then I pay a little more attention.

 

[tnd]

I don't know if I'd say I was swayed, but I didn't even know there were suites at All Star Music until reading here. We're staying there in January, based in part on all the rave reviews, and also because we really want the extra room so our son can go to bed and we can stay up in the bedroom and watch TV. Also - a queen sized bed and 2 bathrooms are two great benefits.

 

[If U Had Wings]

After reading so many positive reviews, I've decided to try Wilderness Lodge next December instead of my usual POFQ. I'm curious to see how that works out.

 

[Disney1976]

I think I'm guilty of being swayed, lol! I switched resorts 3 times! First I was going next December, staying AKL-CL. Then, so many people here talked about the Food and Wine Festival, and I went this year (after 5 years of not going) and loved it. So I switched my dates and resort to Yacht Club-CL late September/early October. But in the back of my mind, I kept remembering all the glowing reviews of the Poly...and I thought I just had to try it. So now I'm staying at the Poly-CL next September/October! Very excited, can't wait!

 

[Kim1964]

I read so many rave reviews about Pop that I added a night to our 2007 trip just to try it. We loved the atmosphere but the room and the beds were too small for us, so I'm glad we were only there for one night. I would, however, stay there again if it was just the kids and me.

 

[crazyoldmaurice]

There are nearly 200,000 users on the DIS and every resort is loved by many people here and every resort is hated by many people here. Obviously, there is no resort at Disney that is bad and everyone tries to avoid. Otherwise, Disney would tear it down and build a DVC there.

As others have said you have to take all info with a grain of salt and think about it in light of your situation and your interests. You have to keep emotion out of it somewhat or any objectivity goes out the window.

You see opinions on here that completely contradict each other, so it all depends on perspective.

Also, there are a lot of resort "evangelists" on here, just looking for an opportunity to prop up their resort. And I think most of us are guilty there.

 

[bookwormde]

Not by any one person but by relating peoples opinions and reasons and relating them to my owm situation. So far it has been very beneficial.

I would never have been comfortable with buying into DVC without seeing lots of “negative opinions” and seeing if they were valid and applied to me and if the benefits outweighed them


bookwormde

 

[MickeyNicki]

Yes it has, from resorts, to days at parks to food it has opened my eyes to a lot of things.

 

[tiger4me2]

Not here I pick the place on what I like after all I am the one staying there. I might ask opinions but would not change the resort because of them. What one likes is much different what someone else will like. MHO

 

[Lilolvr]

I'm curious. People (including me!) spend so much time on here asking each other for advice and opinions on resorts, I'm wondering if you ever changed your mind on where to stay, based on what you saw here. If so, how did it work out for you? I so can't make up my mind on where to stay next winter. I was thinking POR or the Poly, but then Buzz had to go and post those beautiful pics of Coronado Springs all decked out for Christmas so I am considering staying there now. There are so many choices, it makes me dizzy sometimes!

So, have you ever changed your travel plans because of the DIS? And if so, did you regret it, or were you happy you made the change?

I don't know if it has swayed me but I've learned a lot about WDW that I'm not sure if I would have found out if it wasn't for all the great things that are shared on this site.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I'm curious. People (including me!) spend so much time on here asking each other for advice and opinions on resorts, I'm wondering if you ever changed your mind on where to stay, based on what you saw here. If so, how did it work out for you? I so can't make up my mind on where to stay next winter. I was thinking POR or the Poly, but then Buzz had to go and post those beautiful pics of Coronado Springs all decked out for Christmas so I am considering staying there now. There are so many choices, it makes me dizzy sometimes!

So, have you ever changed your travel plans because of the DIS? And if so, did you regret it, or were you happy you made the change?

I was swayed on where to stay on my last trip in May by the DIS. And I was disappointed. But I can't blame anyone but myself, I didn't have to listen!!

I still love the DIS and love to read about people's experiences, but from now on I will go with my own instinct on where to stay!

 

[bosox57]

My family and I decided to try CBR this past trip past because of all the talk of the new pool and rehabbed rooms but were disappointed in our decision. But if we didn't try it for ourselves, we would have never found out.

 

[ElizabethB]

Yes, we tried 'Ohana solely based on the DIS. We were very disappointed.

 

[KatMark]

I would not say we've been totally swayed. We have taken other diners suggestions for places to eat (some of have been successful--Cape May for breakfast, Plaza, Mama Melrose and others have been disasters--Boatwright's for dinner and Whispering Canyon Cafe and the food court at the CBR). We are trying some new places next year based on some thoughts here. But we go in knowing that we may or may not like it, the staff may or may not be "on" that night, etc.

As for resorts, no, we don't let anyone sway us. We love the Coronado and we have no desire to change (we see no reason to mess with a good thing). We do enjoy reading about the POFQ and the deluxes, especially those we might want to try at a future date (once the boys are out of college)...but we already know which ones they are (would love to try AKL and Saragota, and have no desire to stay at Wildnerness or GF).

I've learned a lot of general helpful hints reading the various threads on the DIS.