Help, I'm ridiculous!

[Poola]

The main pool is still open, correct?

The WL main pool is still open but, yes, some things are closed. The beach and the nature trail over to Fort Wilderness are closed. I can't remember what else. There is a DVC Expansion thread devoted to WL construction. You can get good information there.

 

[mindeola]

If you really want deluxe, how about renting DVC points? you can often stay there cheaper than at a moderate!

 

[Dreamin192]

I just wanted to say you aren't the only one! My husband is about ready to cancel the whole thing because I literally change my mind on resorts every day. Right now I have us booked at two of them lol. Personally I'd look at Swan/dolphin and/or Beach and Yacht. My dilemma right now is Grand Floridian or Beach Club because the beach Club room is going to be $2000 less than the GF one, so lower cost rooms can be had at BC and it's in the same area as S/D.

 

[dmaxphil]

We like BC a bunch more the GF but everyone is different. If being a quick monorail ride away from MK is worth it, go for it. BC is walking distance to Epcot and HS. GF has a splash pad. BC has huge pool. Our girls love playing in the sand play part of the pool. The BC pool is very spread out so it can be difficult to keep track of your family in some cases.

 

[clapton]

If it's between S&D and CSR, S&D is way better IMO. The location alone is great, the rooms are bigger and the pools are better. We stayed at CSR for one night last year and never again. The food at the QS was horrible, the room was dark and outdated and the location is not ideal, but that's my take on it and I know some people love it. Have stayed at S&D many times and always loved it!

 

[exit30]

POR is one of our all time favorites, great theming, great price, I miss it very much. Unless you rent a car, you will have to use bus transport, but that's not a big issue in my opinion. Just a beautiful resort, in fact I think its as nice as WL for the money.

 

[Mom of Jack 2009]

I just wanted to say you aren't the only one! My husband is about ready to cancel the whole thing because I literally change my mind on resorts every day. Right now I have us booked at two of them lol. Personally I'd look at Swan/dolphin and/or Beach and Yacht. My dilemma right now is Grand Floridian or Beach Club because the beach Club room is going to be $2000 less than the GF one, so lower cost rooms can be had at BC and it's in the same area as S/D.

Wow, that is a big difference in price! I hope you figure it out and have a great trip!

 

[Sue M]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I agree that having money for experiences probably outweighs the benefit of a resort upgrade. I have looked through so many reviews of each hotel and obviously everyone's taste is different, but there seems to be something to love about each one. I am going to check out some websites/travel agencies to see if I can find a better deal than on the Disney website.

For those who have stayed at WL during the construction, besides a wing (or wings) of rooms being closed, is anything else closed? I thought I read somewhere that the beach either is or will be closed at some point. I am not very familiar with the hotel so I don't know how much that would affect the overall atmosphere of the hotel. The main pool is still open, correct?

I really did not realize the Disney was so gluten-free friendly. The last time we went (my husband was not diagnosed at the time) I did not notice many things on the menu that were gluten free, but we ate almost exclusively at quick service restaurants due to having a QS dining plan as part of our package. Perhaps its the table service restaurants that are more accommodating?

I really appreciate all of your responses!

There is a thread on Dis for WL construction updates. I believe the beach, marina & bike rentals are closed and the WLV pool is closed. In addition if you plan on relaxing at the resort in the afternoon or take a resort day, you will hear construction noise.

I believe all restaurants are allergy/gluten friendly, incl CS.

 

[Lambiebell]

There were more things that I could eat that were Gluten Free in WDW than there are in my own kitchen! It's amazing.
Every one of the restaurants will go out of their way to make sure there is something your husband can have and that it is safe for him eat it without any cross-contamination from the gluten of other people's food.
Down to the ability to eat gluten free chicken fingers and fries that were both cooked in a separate fryer so that the oil wouldn't have any trace amounts of gluten in it.
Every one of the restaurants on property has an allergy menu that will list what things they have that are gluten free or that they can prepare specially to be gluten free. So the dining plan might actually not be a terrible thing if the pricing seems right for you.
And the bonus of eating gluten free at WDW... they don't charge you extra for making it gluten free!!! All the extra work they do to make it for you, and they still charged me the exact same price as my mom's "regular" versions.

 

[Mom of Jack 2009]

I am so pleasantly surprised to here all the gluten-free options! I guess since it wasn't an issue in the past, we didn't take note of it. Thanks everyone!

 

[KHZ29]

If funds are an issue I would probably just stay at a moderate the whole time. Or if I really really wanted a deluxe I would stay at WL because it is always the best priced deluxe.

 

[athumann]

Have you considered looking into renting vacation club points? You are far enough out that there should be decent availability. You can stay deluxe for moderate pricing in most cases.