Alice Kingsley: This is impossible.
The Mad Hatter: Only if you believe it is.
When the subject of where to stay eventually came around
well, Id like to say there was a heated discussion about it. Id like to say that I made little presentation boards to present to BF the differences among values, moderates and deluxes, with a small PowerPoint aside also offering the benefits of Fort Wilderness, and the DVC properties. Id like to then be able to point out that we hemmed, hawed, had many a sleepless night, made a decision, then went resort-switching-happy (NOCharlestonPrincess).
Id like to say that.
But I cant.
Actually, the resort choice was a fairly easy one. Based solely on one factor (actually, this trip was based solely on this same factor):
$$$
BFs rhyme and reason was thus:
I dont want to spend a lot of money on a resort since Im not 100% sure that Im going to love this. Id hate it if we went down there, I didnt really care for it, and wed spent all this money.
Makes sense. I guess. But you do realize what this rules out, dont you?
Tinkerbellarellas Polynesian. (Yes, MY Polynesian. I just share it with the rest of the world when I cant afford it, savvy?)
When Id originally dreamed of our first trip together, Id thought wed pull out ALL the stops deluxe resort, deluxe dining, 10 days. Ive since realized that, in reality, the opposite may be the very best way to start out. Not only is BFs point well taken but, should he really enjoy himself and concede to future trips, if wed taken the trip to oust all trips already, wed constantly be trying to meet or surpass that trip.
KWIM?
And frankly, the cash simply wasnt in the cards (or the bank) for that kind of trip this year anyway.
I thought about moderates and the advantages they would give us over values but then I took a good hard look at our plans and nailed the resort down for what it was this trip.
A bed.
A shower.
Somewhere for me to safely leave my shoe collection.
So, wed very quickly narrowed down to values. This was, mostly, a no-brainer. Id stayed at ASMu with a friend a few years back and loved it, but ASMu and ASMo arent really BFs cup of tea.
Well, hes not a tea fan at all, so lets just say they arent his flavor of Gatorade.
That left ASSp and POP. Ive never stayed at Sports. BF would love it, especially if we stayed in the Touchdown Hotel. Were big football fans in the Tinkerbellarella household (Go Pats!) I have stayed at POP. And LOVED it. However, were traveling during Free Dining. You know, the notorious discount program that usually sells out POP in about 6.2 seconds of being released to the public?
Mhm. THAT one.
I was worried that even with our very own room wed find ourselves somehow sharing it with another family of 6 that had squeezed into our room via that promo. And then sitting on that same familys lap on the Epicot bus after waiting 87 minutes in the sweltering heat for said bus. And I wont get into the horror of the buses back to the resort.
However, once I gave this a good, long think, I was ready to release myself from the padded room required for sanely and humanely choosing a Disney resort and be 100% satisfied with my decision (well, as satisfied as one can be when not staying at their #1, South Seas-themed, little piece of paradise).
Were staying at POP.
Heres why Im ok with this:
Reason #1 POP still has availability for our dates. I repeat, POP has not yet sold out on the Free Dining plan, for 9/19-9/25. This gives me some hope that it may not. SOME hope.
You know, as long as you all don't go scrambling to book during that timeframe.
Reason #B If POP sells out, people are going to defer to the AS resorts and, plain and simple, theyll likely be just as crowded so Im no better off. Plus, I think BF would really only get a kick out of the football section.
Reason III: The POP rooms are/have been renovated. I like the new, more minimalist, décor. The size isnt an issue for us, since its just us two.
Reason the Fourth: I like POP.
Now, though Im satisfied with this as a choice of resort, I still have some requests that Im crossing my fingers will be honored. As I mentioned above, we arent worried about the size of the room. Since we dont have any nuggets running around, arent traveling with anyone else and since Ive conceded that Ill only bring 1/3 of the shoes I own, we dont need anything huge. But the bed size could be an issue.
BF and I share a Queen-sized bed at home. And could easily do with a King-sized bed. And not because we have two kitty-shaped bed hogs. I roll a lot. And take the covers. A lot. BF is just shy of six feet and as you saw, isnt really a little guy. The doubles offered at POP arent going to be quite adequate. So Ive requested a King.
Our other request is location in the resort. When I last stayed there, I was in the 70s building that faced the 80s area. It was great. The best! I was a hop, skip and a jump from the busses and the food court without paying for a preferred location. Im hoping for the 70s building again, and have requested it, but this time would rather be over closer to Hourglass Lake and/or facing the foosball courtyard. If I got ALL of my requests, wed be on a top floor room as well.
No matter what, even if were in the 90s building, on the first floor, staring at the parking lot, with two double beds, it wont be a huge deal. As I said, the room is really just serving as a place to sleep.
When I showed BF where we were staying he had only one question. One.
Is there a gym?
Ahhh, my sweet, handsome, gym rat of a boyfriend.
My response:
No. But the deluxe resorts have gyms! There it was! My in! Wed stay deluxe after all! My Poly, its in my sights! (I wasnt going to mention that the Poly doesnt have a gym and hed have to stroll on over to the GF to partake, shame on me!)
But no dice. He admitted that he should probably use the time as a week off to let his muscles recover. Even though he does weight training and not cardio, I mentioned that POP did have lots of area for walking/running. He brushed that off like cat hair off a black sweater and said he could deal.
I also warned him about the possible bus situation going to/from the parks. I ride public transportation every day and am used to all manners of strange people up in my business. I am also strangely unaffected by the 60 minute wait for a bus back in the evenings. But I wasnt sure how hed swallow those pills. I also managed to slip in the ease of the monorail resorts and those within walking distance of Epicot and MGM (NODHS).
I was batting 0 for 2 here. Again he responded that it was no big deal and wed manage just fine. Which I know we will. I was just REALLY still hoping against hope for a deluxe stay.
Well shucks.
So there you have it. Well be living it up at POP for our week of Disney magic. And you know what? Im looking forward to it. POP is no Poly, but its not the Motel 6 in Kissimmee either (not that theres anything wrong with that; Im just an on-site kind of gal).
And really, WERE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD! Id stay in a broom closet if I had to.
UP NEXT: My meat comes from a happy place.
Joining in the fun!! LOVE your screen name 
that got you to pick that one. 
