HELP... I'm driving myself crazy!!!

[woodysgrl]

Just read thread from wendyl. I too have read read read, planned
planned planned. I can't decide where to stay. Money is a factor
and there are 6 of us so need two rooms. kids 7,4,2 and adults
49,42,62. I change my mind every day. I think it is now down to
wl std room vs. cr wing std room.
wl -- great theme! sounds cozy since our trip is 1st wk in DEC
lots of nooks and crannies to explore. Layout seems
pretty straight foward. I'd love lobby just to sit and
people watch. BUT small rooms and maybe some
slow transportation which would be hard w/ the kids.

cr -- kids will love monorail and w/ std room prob can watch
it from room. We'll be right in the middle of things.
The rooms are large for the kids to play. BUT looks
like a hike from wings to tower for food entertainment.
Not much of a view but maybe of monorail.

PLEASE, someone post something to help me decide. I am
truly obscessing about this and have spent way to much
time on computer researching--fun though! love the DIS

 

[johnsonet]

I have read that the wings are pretty plain and dated. I would def. pick the WL. People seem to love it!

 

[Scoootch]

Have you thought about the FW Cabins? They accomodate 6, have a kitchen (great to save on a few meals), has a separate bedroom from the living area and a deck to relax on at night. And you would be able to walk over to WL from there

Just a thought, may be less expensive with alot more space. I've seen rates for them as low as $149.00 per night in the past.

 

[bhillier]

I havent been myself yet but I've read that the WL x-mas dec's are awsome. I think that the first week of dec is supose to be a slower time compared to closer to x-mas/N.Y's. Maybe the transportation being too slow won't be an issue. At leastthat's what I'm counting on d/t the fact that I'm also planning a x-mas trip for the first week of Dec.

 

[karebear1]

You can't beat the WL at Christmas- go there- you won't be sorry!

 

[Kimberle]

Originally posted by woodysgrl
Just read thread from wendyl. I too have read read read, planned
planned planned. I can't decide where to stay. Money is a factor
and there are 6 of us so need two rooms. kids 7,4,2 and adults
49,42,62. I change my mind every day. I think it is now down to
wl std room vs. cr wing std room.
wl -- great theme! sounds cozy since our trip is 1st wk in DEC
lots of nooks and crannies to explore. Layout seems
pretty straight foward. I'd love lobby just to sit and
people watch. BUT small rooms and maybe some
slow transportation which would be hard w/ the kids.

cr -- kids will love monorail and w/ std room prob can watch
it from room. We'll be right in the middle of things.
The rooms are large for the kids to play. BUT looks
like a hike from wings to tower for food entertainment.
Not much of a view but maybe of monorail.

PLEASE, someone post something to help me decide. I am
truly obscessing about this and have spent way to much
time on computer researching--fun though! love the DIS

Ennie meanie miny moe...... catch a tiger by the toe...........

*LOL* I've stayed at both WL & CR wing rooms. I find them about "equal". We really loved our stay at both resorts.

CR - yes rooms are bigger. I prefer the bathroom set up too. Wing rooms have no balcony, though, unless you're on the 1st floor, then you get a patio (not to private). Monorail is nice, but overrated (in my opinion). Easy to MK, but very long to Epcot (mono to TTC, then change trains to Epcot. I MUCH prefered the direct bus from WL.) We could see the fireworks from our room in the north wing. It also was very quiet. Didn't use the pool area, so I can't comment.

WL - just so beautiful! Yes, the rooms are smaller, but it didn't really matter to us. I LOVED our private balcony. We had a room overlooking the quiet pool & villa's. It was so pretty. We LOVED the pool area. My then 4.5 yo dd loved the kiddie pool. It took about an extra 5 minutes to get to MK than CR. We found the rest of the transportation WONDERFUL!!! We rarely waited more than 5-10 minutes for a bus or a boat, coming or going.

Which ever one you choose, be sure to visit the other. There is a small boat that goes WL/CR/FW (any order) so it is very easy to "hop". Eat dinner at Trails End at FW at least once. I think it's WDW's best kept "secret".

They are both wonderful family resorts. Choose the one with the "themeing" that most appeals to you!

 

[MELSMICE]

I would also consider a cabin at FW for 6 people or renting points from a DVC owner & getting a 2BR unit.

Cabins - You'll have a full kitchen, large outdoor deck, there is a lot to do in FW; one bath & I think one TV now (if that matters). Sleeps 6

DVC 2BR - Full kitchen, very spacious, sleeps 8, 2 large baths, 3 TV's.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[sharonk]

I have stayed at both with my 2 kids ...at WL when they were 2 and 4 and at Contemporary when they were 3 and 5 and I was 8 months pregnant.

(We're going back in 2 months and staying at GF! : )

For me, the decision between the two boils down to the attractiveness of the resort versus convenience.

The Contmeporary is UGLY...we had a garden wing room and it was hideous. However, the resort and monorail access are so convenient. There can be quite a walk from the garden wing rooms to the main building, but you can always ask to be put in a room near the main building. We asked to be put at the very end of the Garden Wing closest to the MK, and this was awesome. We never even bothered to take the monorail to the MK...it was just a 5 minute walk. This was great with little kids and a stroller...no waiting for transportation and no hassling to get the stroller in the monorail or on a bus/boat.

Also, you might consider that the arcade/ game room at the CR is much larger and nicer and your older kids might like this.

WL is just gorgeous. The rooms a bit smaller tha the CR's, but we had a room with bunk beds for the kids and that gave us more floor space. The lodge is deceptively large and spread-out...so our room was still quite a distance from the pool and main lobby. The pool at WL is much better themed and more attractive than the pool at CR, but it seemed smaller and more corwded.

The only negative about WL for us was the boat transportation to
the MK. SOmetimes, we had to wait 20 minutes for a boat, and I was very nervous standing on the boat dock trying to keep track of my kids and worrying that they would fall in the water. Also, sometimes, we got a large boat and could just roll the stroller right on, but other times, it was a small boat and it was kind of difficult to climb in and out of. The kids had to be lifted in and out and it would have been hard for someone with limited mobility to get in and out. We also had to take everything out of the stroller and fold it up.

Bottom line, if the attractiveness of the resort is more important to you, definitely chose the WL. But, if it's more important to have monorail access and very easy access to the MK, choose CR.

Good Luck!

Sharon


offsite (many, many times prior to 1990)
Disney Village Villa -1990
Wilderness Lodge- 2000
Contemporary - 2001
Grand Floridian - June 2004

 

[BambiTamby]

I loved what Kimberle said!

We just came back from our CR stay and LOVED it!

Now, I LOVE THE WL and all, but with those little ones the monorail can NOT be beat!

LOL! Even us BIG ones, too!

anyways, welcome to OUR WORLD here on the DIS!
Us DISers are a different breed!

 

[BambiTamby]

Also,,,,,


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[MELSMICE]

Originally posted by BambiTamby
anyways, welcome to OUR WORLD here on the DIS!
Us DISers are a different breed!

That is toooo funny. Yes, we are a different breed!

 

[Bojangles]

I would stay at CR. The transportation at WL wasn't very good.

 

[woodysgrl]

Thanks everyone! Great oppinions. Just what I needed to
make final decision... drum roll please... cr wing room. We
need the space and the convenience. Now I'll make the res
try to relax , and finally look at something other than the
resorts board --- still lots of plans to make. I'll be lurking
on the DIS bye for now

 

[funcinderella]

I noticed that one of your children is under 3. I'm not sure about the other resorts, but at the Poly you can sleep 5 people, plus one additional infant under the age of three. Some would say it is a tight squeeze, but I went to CBR when I was 25, my brother 26, and my parents who were both 48 at the time (for 8 nights), and we had a blast, no problems with all of us sharing a room and those rooms are smaller. (And we don't necessarily all get along all of the time; we just made it work that week; Disney magic, perhaps?)
If you are going in the beginning of December, you could book a room only ressie now, and wait to see if any codes come out (which I bet they will) and then have it applied.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Another option might be to get a 2BR for all of you at the Villas at WL. This part of WL is a DVC property and if you rent "points" thru a DVC member, you might be able to do this more cheaply than getting 2 rooms. Plus you'd have more space available to you, a full kitchen (so you can save on snacks and non-character breakfasts - big savings there) and a washer and dryer in the unit (so you can pack less ). You'd probably get a nicer room and nicer view this way too, lots more space in any case.

Check out the DVC Rent/ Trade Board here on the DIS, and read thru the FAQ, then see if someone won't make and rent you a ressie there. (we own at Boardwalk, and are using all out "points" this year, otherwise I'd offer to rent you ours). Depending on point rental costs and availability, it might be possible to get a 2BR at VWL for under $3,000 for 7 nights (total lodging cost), which comes out to $500 per person for the week.

 

[KristiKelly]

Have you considered renting points from a DVC member, you might be able to get a nice villa. I've heard the ones @ Old Key West are very spacious and you would have a kitchen. We stayed @ a studio @ BCV, too small for what you need, but the location & pool were great, you could look into a 2 br there. Go to the rent/trade board here on the DIS.

 

[woodysgrl]

kristikelley and pumpkinboy---I did go over to DVC trade board but it all seemed so complicated!! I used the calculator to figure
pts and you are right that I need around 300 at $10/pt $3000
for entire stay. Heres the problem, I guess I'd have to rent pts
from more than one person and what if I never got it worked out
and then there wasn't room left somewhere else? Does that make sensse? Also, will be more expensive with the pts. but
more room and kitchen--- sense we've never been to wdw I don'tknow how much $ we'd save eating some in. Lordy, lordy
this momma's confused !!!!!!! We definately need 2 rooms al=
though not necc 2 br's. Just somewhere 3 adults can relax
when kids go to bed. thanks so much, if you have more ideas or
oppinions please bring them on. I'll just take and extra "happy
pill" . Still having lots of fun reading the boards...

 

[Hugpug]

I would take WL but also would check and see if you could get one of the DV there. I also agree with the post about FW Cabins. I stayed there and just loved it and you can bike or walk or take a boat launch over to WL. Lots of things for the kids also at FW. They always have specials. Right now they are offering 169 their rack rate is 269 for regular season. You can cook some of your meals even bar-b-Q. They have a Douple bed and bunk beds in bedroom and a murphy bed in wall in front room. Just like being home. Worth considering. Hope you decide soon as that time of year is hard to get the closer you get to it.