Help! not sure what to do- UPDATED Decision

[di$neyf@n]

Ok so I booked us (2 adults, 4 kids) in the Castle Club suites for Dec. for 2 nights but the way things are in the economy I know I can save thousands of US dollars by staying at the Explorers instead. I don't know if the extra FP vouchers and free drinks will really be worth it. I did want the kids to see what DH and I experienced in June but it's just so much money. And I was surprising DH by where we were staying. He knows it's the hotel but not what rooms. I don't know if my head or heart is going to win.

What would you do?

 

[torsie24]

Heya, it's a really tough one.

Why not stay on site but not DLH? Even a move down to HNY saves a lot of money from DLH and its the same star rating!! They even have toe empire state club rooms which come with free lounge and vip fastpass. That's where i'll be booking in future if I go at a busy time the FP will help but ant afford DLH.

But as you've always stayed offsite any of the DLRP might be owrth a try!! Sequoia is lovely!! And only a 10 min walk to the parks.

Cheyenne is only 15 min walk but looks great fun and will certainly be a fraction o the DLH price but you still wont have to leave disney at the end of the day!

 

[DLPdaft]

Honestly? If you could use the money you're shelling out for the CC for something else, I'd go with Torsie's advice and check out the prices for other onsite hotels.
You have already stayed at the Explorers, you know what thats like - and for kids I think its a brilliant hotel choice. Its my DD's favourite, onsite or off (but we haven't stayed at the DLH).

You'll know how your children will cope with the shuttle buses to and from the Explorers. Thats the main advantage of the DLH over all the other hotels - its at the gates of the park.

Head or heart? In DLRP? Tough one. My head rules when I'm booking (ie before I get there) and my heart rules when I'm in the Magic

 

[joolz1910]

That is a difficult one. With six of you, are you paying for two rooms at DLH? That must be expensive with CC on top. I would be inclined to price up a suite at HNY or SL, (as has been suggested) that way you wouldn't be sacrificing luxury/treat but it might work out cheaper than paying for two separate rooms! You would also get FP, which from what other people have said, is well worth having at busy times. I'd be interested to know how much the suites are, as we are a family of 5, so that'll be our future at DLRP soon!

 

[Cyrano]

Head or heart? In DLRP? Tough one. My head rules when I'm booking (ie before I get there) and my heart rules when I'm in the Magic

So well said

I would be tempted to go with the other suggestions about a less pricey on-site option.

Let us know what you decide

 

[britchic4]

With the children, would you really use the VIP fastpass? For us it isn't worth it as we just don't go on most of the rollercoaster rides but I can see how it would be tempting if you did. Good luck deciding!

 

[Ware Bears]

If it was me I would be booking a cheaper hotel but taking the family to Inventions for dinner. Not only will you all have a great time there but they'll still get to experience a bit of the DLH. The $$$ that you save can then go towards another trip!!

 

[di$neyf@n]

Well my head is winning right now. Travelors Explorers it probably is. It's my husband's favorite hotel anyways next to the CC. The kids love the pool, we can all sleep in the same room for about $350 a night and we don't need to do the shuttle since we always drive. Our AP's give us free parking so we park at HNY. It's where we're staying next week (TE) for the Halloween party also. It's the smarter thing to do. Given the state of the economy these days.

That must be expensive with CC on top.

The Tinkerbell suite with an extra room was going to cost $7340 for the 6 of us (I need to work for 4 months to pay it off) and I don't think the FP and free drinks will be worth that much. The characters coming to you at breakfast and the CC lounge was nice though. DH and I went for our 15th Anniversary this past June ($4130 for the 2 of us)and I wanted to share it with the kids.

With the children, would you really use the VIP fastpass?

FP are good for us as our whole family does coasters. We'll just have to do the rope drop for BTM. At least we still have EMH. We have been enough times if we don't get everything done it will be ok. I was just being a little selfish and wanted to show the kids how cool it was to have VIP FP

I would be inclined to price up a suite at HNY or SL, (as has been suggested) that way you wouldn't be sacrificing luxury/treat but it might work out cheaper than paying for two separate rooms!

I did price the other on site hotels, the suite at HNY only sleeps 5 so we still have to pay for 2 rooms for 2 nights $2108. Standard rooms at DLH would be $3284. We didn't care for SL or DCR when we stayed there and Cheyenne & SF do not have pools (our kids love swimming) NPB was about $200 less than HNY.

Travelor's Explorers will be about $750 for the 2 nights. Definitly a huge savings. Staying in the TB suite in June though kind of spoiled me I guess. I try to remember we are fortuneate enough to live close enough to go often. More than most people ever may in their lifetime. I should learn to be content with that. It's just so hard because I love Disney so much and the CC was very nice. DH as much as he loves Disney also would like to see more of Europe before we leave and take a Mediterranean cruise so I am trying to make sure we have money for that also.

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.

I hate being smart instead of carefree and reckless sometimes.

Besides if we can fit in more visits to countries other than Germany here before we leave we can treat ourselves to CC again!

I still have a few weeks before I need to decide though. I guess we'll see if my head really does win

 

[Booknut]

Wow that's a huge difference in price! I think you're doing the right thing, and even if you're not you'll have a huge pile of money that you can use to book CC next time!

With all the money you're saving why not book lots of character meals to replace the characters you'll be missing out on at breakfast? Maybe do Cafe Mickey for breakfast, Inventions for dinner and one of the tea party's

 

[Melodyuk]

I'd definately go with the cheaper option after all you will not be in the hotel for more than a few hours a day???

and then book in lots of character meals

 

[marcus.ka]

Yes that really is a huge different. But you should consider also these points. I don't know when you are visiting DLRP But if it is during Christmas (holidays) or on a weekend the VIP fastpass will be worth a lot. (Especially if they really start FP for Crush.) And it can be very cold during your visit and then it is great if you can simply walk to your hotel and warm-up. And then the free hot drinks at the CC are also worth a lot.

Why not booking a family room at the DLH? They are not at the CC level but this way you can stay at the most beautiful hotel and you have 3 FP per person and you can use your room to warm-up during cold days. And you can also use the DLH pool during the day. We have been there 4 times and during the day the pools are empty (like in all other hotels) but they are very crowded in the evening hours.
It would take hours to just go back to the Explorers for a swim at the pool during the day but not at the DLH.

 

[Bolanette87]

Why not stay on site but not DLH? Even a move down to HNY saves a lot of money from DLH and its the same star rating!! They even have toe empire state club rooms which come with free lounge and vip fastpass. That's where i'll be booking in future if I go at a busy time the FP will help but ant afford DLH.

I'm not sure, but isn't it only the Suites at the Empire State Club that get FPs??

I hope you come to a decision soon about where you're going to stay di$neyf@n!

Bob xoxoxox

 

[marcus.ka]

And by the way as you are living in Germany do you book via Germany or via the US? Because now with the financial cirisis the $ is much more worth than even some weeks ago. So the trip is much cheaper for people from the USA living in Germany and get paid in $.

 

[giuly09]

I would say save the money and spend them to have more fun with your family.
After all hotels are just for resting aren't they????
Have fun

 

[di$neyf@n]

Well fate has made the decision for me. Our van died yesturday twice and had to be jumed again this morning by ADAC and is now at the dealership waiting to be fixed. It sounds like an alternater but we don't know yet. I may now be renting a vehice for our trip next week since I will be nervous to drive the van after having come out of the shop.

It would take hours to just go back to the Explorers for a swim at the pool during the day but not at the DLH

We never swim during the day while the parks are open. We would miss the rides The Explorers pool closes at 10pm so we always do that at the end of the night as a refresher before bed and the pool there is way better than the DLH one which is small with no water slides or water play areas.

by the way as you are living in Germany do you book via Germany or via the US?

I call the suite line direct. That price we got for the suites was without tickets since we have AP.

When I make RSVP at Explorers I go through their website which winds up being cheaper or the same price as the US Expedia. Going through the Explorers I can pay with Euro when we get there. Going through Expedia you have to pay upfront with a credit card and it is non refundable. I can cancel through Explorers if I need to with no penalty.

With all the money you're saving why not book lots of character meals to replace the characters you'll be missing out on at breakfast?

Well having done all the Character meals a bunch already (don't hate me ) it gets boring seeing the same characters all the time (except for Tigger) I wish they would rotate them more. That is why I am hoping we'll see different ones for the Halloween party Oct. 31st. I plan on wearing a costume so hopefully that it'll get some attention in the crowds.

We always do CM for Breakfast so we can have eggs and I might drag all the boys to Auberge. (have gone with DH and DD before) They are 16,14, and 8/9. The 16 year old will like the princesses if they are hot The 14 year old won't eat anything and will be grumpy the whole time so maybe Snow White can cheer him up if she is there and the 8/9 year old will be like I can't believe I have to stand next to a girl so it should make for fun photos. They won't eat much but the character interaction is good here.

We might try the tea party at the different places but I am not into sweets much so haven't decided for sure yet.

I am starting to get over the no CC dissappointment by thinking about all the things we will enjoy at the park.

Thanks again for all the kind words, encouragement and support.

 

[DLPdaft]

Benotel offer the Explorers, and they can be cheaper than the Explorers site. You don't pay in advance with Benotel, and you can cancel up to 48 hours before you travel, with no penalties.

 

[di$neyf@n]

I have never heard of this company before.

Do they send you confirmation by e-mail?

Though they have no availablity for the time we are going the prices are amost 100 Euro less so I may book through here in the future!

Thanks

 

[DLPdaft]

Yes, they do send you a confirmation email, with a booking reference number. This is all you need to check into the Explorers, and you pay when you arrive there.

 

[Ware Bears]

Benotel offer the Explorers, and they can be cheaper than the Explorers site.

Definitely check them out next time, di$neyf@n.

I've booked the Explorers three times with Benotel. On our last trip in August our nightly rate was over €100 less than the Explorers own site's best rate ~ that's why we were able to stay for so many nights!

 

[di$neyf@n]

Ok so I called to cancel my TB CC Suite & adjoining room and I asked about reg. CC rooms (they only had 1- probably the one I canceled) so I checked on standard rooms at the hotel and they had some so we are still staying at the DLP hotel for Christmas!

We also added the half board premiere (so Inventions and Auberge will be a go) which I like having those meals paid for ahead of time.

The price difference is $3895. A huge savings. I priced the CC rooms for 2 nights should some become available and they were going to be $5102 not including the half board addition. I think we will stay in the Standard rooms then we can compare the 2.

I will miss the pool at Explorers though. Will definitly have to try out the DLH one.

Just wanted to let you know the decision was reached.