How do you decide on a resort?

[milmore104]

I was just wondering how everyone decides on a resort. Our family Fav. is the AKL! But while planning our next trip I'm finding it hard to decide where to stay. I love staying at AKL but because we just bought a house and aren't suppost to be going to WDW until we finish the house I'm thinking maybe we should stay at CSR because my DH has always wanted to stay there. But then he wants to try POP too! I think to myself why not go for AKL but then we won't have as much money to spend on suvies. Just wondering how everyone else makes there BIG choice? Is it strictly budget, favorite resort, you want to try them all? Thanks for the info and help!

 

[califred]

Well I was able to get a military discount for our hopefully upcoming trip (my dh is in Iraq so it may not happen)...

I made a list and then let my Mom decide since it'll be her first trip to Disney World, I've been there but never on site.

It had to do partially with price and partially with where we wanted to stay. I'm not willing to pay over 200 a night so a lot of the deluxes were out. I dont' care for some of the theming so those were out. The only value I considered was POP

She chose 1/2 at POP, 1/2 at AKL instead of a staying at a mod all week.

 

[Bugsmom73]

Budget and theming are our choices. I have stayed mods and deluxes but not values but we have 5 people going and we are afraid of tripping all over each other. so we have 2 rooms value for 5 days 1 room deluxe for 2.

 

[mommykds]

Welcome to my world!

I have been driving myself crazy over our resort choice for our upcoming 2 trips (Oct & Feb). I have POR booked for 9 nights in Oct & 6 nights in Feb BUT since we are getting a new AP I want to "save" more money by going deluxe for 1 or both trips. I am hoping for an AP rate at CR for Oct & maybe Dolphin in Feb...then I think "oh just stay at POR, it gets great reviews & save the $". Then the next day I change my mind again.

I guess I'd say you have to start with what your budget is & then just pick from there..easier said than done!

 

[NCombs]

Well, our choices are narrowed quite a bit because of being a family of 5 and not wanting to do 2 rooms at a value resort.

Theming is a factor. Honestly, on our first trip last year we did a split stay so we could experience 2 resorts (BC and POR). Next year we are also doing a split stay because we want to try Poly and CR.

I would really like to try CSR, AKL and WL some day so we may have to see if we can get a good rate on 2 connecting rooms or their deluxe rooms some day.

 

[DisneyDotty]

My vote is to try somewhere new each trip. We stayed at CR garden wing years ago, so this trip we are checking out the CR tower. Hope to be able to say someday that I've tried all WDW resorts!

 

[*Fantasia*]

Can you do a split stay? Stay a little at AKL and the rest at POP? How about cutting down the souviniers? You probably got some souviniers already at AKL, how about just the refillable mugs from POP be a souvinier?

We have been to WDW many times, and every time we go, the less and less souviniers we buy. I just buy the kids toys (one or two each) and as for me, I usually just buy the refillable mugs and a couple of magnets for my refrigerator. We do less character meals now. We have done a few in the past and we already got lots of pixs and autographs of the characters. And as I notice, we are doing less and less timein the parks and more resort time.

You can probably do the AKL if you budget yourself. We are doing Poly for 2 days and doing POP for 3 days and POFQ for 3 days. Now, I may go with WL instead of POP. And the only way to do it is just to cut down is some areas and still be able to enjoy ourselves.

Good luck in your decision. And I am sure wherever you stay, you will have a great time.

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

we have stayed 2 times off site. but we have been going every year for the last 8 - years. We end up at the all stars. which dont get me wrong , we have been lucky to have a good time there. actually my dh loves it there. last summer we ALMOST made it to AKL with a code, but dd had 2 friends coming so there went that.....haha so we got 2 rooms at Music. my dh is really going crazy cause he would love to stay at AKL, and i think my first would be POLY then AKL. but i guess until we WIN the lottery , we will be staying at the all stars............ha.now we arnt supposed to be going this summer.........but i am getting anxious.........been checking out rates, also we come down by AMTRAK cause i dont like to fly. and then dd is at the age 16 , that we will prob. have to bring a friend again (which i dont mind at all) but we will stay at value to keep prices down.............