How long it took you to decide on a resort?

[devotedchristian]

I am STILL undecided and I've been in the planning stages...what...2months now? I can't move on to other things until I decide on a resort and we aren't even going until October 06!

So, I'm curious how long did it take YOU?

 

[**pixiedust**]

We originally booked CBR because we liked the theming, but then we really delved into the research and switched over to POFQ. But even after that, we still debated over maybe switching again (to AKL). It is so nervewracking!!! I'm very happy with our decision to stay at POFQ. The more I read about it the better it seems.

Good luck!

 

[twinklebug]

For the first trip I was in charge of planning, I visited a travel agent, grabbed up all their brochures and prices and studied everything 1000 times over before making up my mind to call the TA and let her help me make up my mind for me.

Now that I'm older, wiser and more experienced I make virtual plans for a year before we go. Then, when prices, time, and all other things in life fall into place I book our trip no more than a month before we leave. What can I say? I'm horrible with the waiting part.

BTW - just to confuse you a bit more, you can't go wrong with POR. You do get the most for your $.

 

[Bugsmom73]

Well it depends, I could change my mind a thousand times before I make a decision. Alot of it depends upon what you are looking for and what your main priorities are. I would suggest you figure out what your main priority is, ie money, location to parks, stuff to do at hotel etc. Are you the kind of person who loves being pampered? Maybe a deluxe is for you. The other thing to take into consideration is how many people are traveling with you. That may limit where you can stay considerably if you have 5 people in your party. If you give us some info maybe we can help.

Welcome

 

[devotedchristian]

If you give us some info maybe we can help.

Thanks , but I'm just curious as to how long it took others to choose a resort...

 

[murcor]

started planning about 11 months in advance, along the way changed our hotel hmmm....4 times (based on various reasons) and settled on hotel #5 about 2 months in advance. Good thing we have had the trip, one never knows how many more times we would have changed

Its fun to research and plan

One good thing about our upcoming Jan06 trip is that we enjoyed Saratoga Springs so much that we are returning there....no doubts

 

[rcraw45425]

We have made so many trips now that we pretty much know where we like to stay, so it makes it really easy for me (the planner). What I would suggest is going on the WDW site and also allearsnet.com and look at the resort photos. If necessary, make yourself a spread sheet with the resorts strenghts and weaknesses, along with your personal desires from a resort. First I'd settle on a category, then branch out and explore. For instance, when I booked our trip last June I was presented with a price for the Contemporary and also one for the Wilderness Lodge. I booked CR because we had stayed there before and my DH didn't want to try something new. Well, on that trip we took a boat ride over to WL and he was sad that we hadn't booked it. In fact, that was his request for the next trip we took. We have the luxury of living within driving distance so we go a few times a year, which helps. Once you narrow your list down, why don't you post here and get some feedback. I tuly don't think that you'll be disappointed with any of the deluxes. I cannot speak for the moderates and values, I have not even been to any of them to walk around.

 

[mommytutu]

In our case our resort have kinda been chosen for us. For October 2004, we knew we needed high speed internet connection (dh was a student taking some internet besed classes) and we didn't want to break the bank, so CSR it was. Before we started "studying" resorts I had talked about POP or ASMo, but dh said he didn't want Disney in our faces 24/7 , so I knew a moderate would have to be one of our first choices.

This time we are travelling with a family of five, and once again we don't want to go broke, so POR in the AB section it will have to be. Which is fine. I'm excited!

But if I didn't have a need for certain amenities, then it would take me months to decide.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Takes us all of about one hour. Its usually between 3 resorts and they are all deluxes. It's just a matter of where we want to be to spend the most time in what park, Poly for the MK, Y&B Club for EPCOT and Wilderness Lodge for MK with a cheaper, relaxing atmosphere. Also depends on how long our stay is vs. cost of resort.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I change my mind a thousand times and we still end up every year at the Grand FLoridian and then the Hard Rock Hotel. We'll be at the GF in July and now I'm driving myself nuts because DH is running the marathon and I'm determined to try another resort for this unexpected trip. You are not alone!

 

[PatsGirl]

It took me forever to decide on a split stay CSR/POP and still question my decision. I've stayed at POP so I know what to expect and we'll be doing the parks each of those days. The hard part was deciding on a resort for Thanksgiving weekend when we hope to hang at the resort itself. I think I lurked here on the boards for 6 months or so before I decided to pick CSR based on the pool/hottub/Pepper Market. But, like I said, I question myself all the time. I wonder if the kids are going to like the southwestern atmosphere rather than something loud and brassy (like POP, which my daughter loves). Oh well, gotta give it a try. Of course, if prices change for other resorts or I'm offered some kind of discount elsewhere all these plans go out the window. For now, I was able to get AAA on the entire stay which in itself presents the "dining plan" dilemma....

 

[Suzanne]

Well so far it's been 2 months and I still haven't picked! I read the boards almost every day and keep changing my mind.

I was determined I would stay at Poly concierge. Then one day on the boards I asked about the view and several people talked about CR so I thought maybe that's a good idea, they do have bigger rooms. Then I asked my DS (10) if he had any input and he said "as long as it has a good pool" so I figured Beach club here I come. Now I've extended my stay and decided maybe WL would be more cost friendly, NO more changes...... Wait I just read a post that says the WL pool is very crowded, since that's the only requirement of DS maybe I should rethink this............

AAHHHHHH

 

[mommykds]

I am rethinking my decision all the time...it didn't take me long to decide because we are a family of 5 & wanted to go moderate this time. So the choice was actually made for me because only POR AB can accommodate us.

I like the POR & it gets nice reviews but it doesn't look like my cup of tea..I much rather like the beach look so I have been going back & forth seeing if we can go to the BC instead..or even the Dolphin because of the location & we won't have a car this trip. Also checking into the CR because we will have an AP & we'd get a good rate at value season...I can't decide if I want to stay with POR for $99 a night or CR wing for $159??? I don't think my final decision will be made until the AP rates for early Oct come out & I see how far we can stretch our $.

 

[magsmom]

Not long to choose a resort, however, where we ultimately stay is based on DVC availability and rates. I always make a list. We have usually gotten our first choice when we pay cash for the majority of our stay.

Our first choice for the majority of our next trip is at AKL, however, the first night was primarily chosen for availability. All moderates were full with the code we are using, so we are going to try POP for 1 night.

 

[Disney_Freak56]

I am 12 days from my arrival and I am still torn between three resorts and I have ressies at all. I DEFINITELY need to make a decision and stick to by this coming weekend or Disney is going to get a lot of one night deposits from me.

This comes from having another adult in the mix -- it was so much easier to pick a resort when it was just my daughter and I, but she's in college and I have since remarried -- one word of advice -- don't remarry.

 

[SorcererDonald16]

Ironically enough, this June is the 7th time I'll be going (5th time on property) and it never took me so long to decide where to stay. First time I stayed in Dixie Landings, and I decided that within a few minutes of watching the free video. 2nd time wanted to stay there again, but it was booked so immediately chose Coronado Springs. 3rd time, decided right off the bat Caribbean Beach. Last year, knew right away wanted to go back to POR. But this time... this time I started debating between AKL, WL, and POR back in February and just decided on WL this past Friday as I was making reservations. First I thought AKL, then WL, then it was a toss up, then back to WL, then to AKL, then a toss up between the three, then POR, then AKL, then POR again, and lastly back to WL. It's a miracle I got a reservation. The only thing that ultimately decided it for me was I narrowed it down to either POR & WL, and POR was full. So, who knows what I would've done or how much longer I'd have dragged it out if POR wasn't full.

 

[goodferry]

I always have an initial choice, no reason for the choice, but an idea where I want to stay. Last trip it was the Poly, so I made our reservations. Then, I spent five months anguishing over my choice, would WL be better, maybe we should stay the the BC, you get the idea. In the end, my first choice always wins out.
I am planning two trips right now, one for Aug. and one for Dec. For August, I immediately knew I wanted BWI (it will be just dh and I) and for December, the Poly again. But I, once again, keep going through and second guessing myself, but I so far have not made any changes. Although, if GF RPC opens up on the 23rd of December, that could all change.

 

[Lizzybee]

I think it took about 5 mins to pick POR, 5 people and we didn't want to spend a ton. I am so glad we did pick POR instead of two value rooms we LOVE it, it's like home.

 

[geetey]

How does forever sound? This is dh's biggest complaint - even when we *finally* decide on a resort, I am still researching to make it is the *right* choice! Our first trip was the easiest because we didn't have a choice - the resort was selected for us in an exchange - but every other trip I have worried and worried and worried about. Guess what? Each trip has been great! LOL

Have fun choosing!

 

[dznyntnh]

I've been planning my September trip since I got back last May (2004) and I jsut now made my final reservations for POFQ (changed from Dolphin, which was changed from BWI). Since you can't make dining ps's until 90 days out, the resort is the main thing you can keep thinking about. That's part of the fun.