I love credit cards so much!

[Haley R]

Agree though we will leave the resort for dinner each night anyways...whether we stay at any of the three...but yeah, it doesn't have the vibe I want for a couples only resort stay. I'm still holding out hope something opens up for us to stay at a deluxe but right now I just cannot justify the prices since our family may be making several trips to WDW this year to visit dd.

We’ve stayed at pop twice: once with our niece and her mom, the other time just Dh and I. If you’re hoping to swim I wouldn’t do pop. To me the main pool seemed small and shallow compared to other resorts. The new rooms are great but it is a pretty busy resort. We did CSR in July and the new rooms were great but we personally didn’t like the resort much. We are doing cbr for the first time January 31 so we’ll see how that goes!

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

I did look at Swolphin but the rates are pretty high for our nights. IIRC, with the resort fee, it would be well over $300 night. I just cannot spend that right now since I don't know how much we will be heading to Orlando later in the year.

That is a good point about maybe extra chaos at the CBR pool.

No points? The 50k is kind of a lot though

 

[wendow]

We absolutely loved the theming of CS when we stayed in november. I thought it was beautiful! Don’t know what the main pool situation looks like with construction though. I know it was closed when we were there, but maybe it’s opened back up now.

I think Pop is a great resort, but if you’re planning on spending a lot of time at the resort then maybe it wouldn’t be as great. If you like kitschy then you would probably enjoy it. I have no problems with it at all and am looking forward to our stay there again, but maybe if your DH isnt all in on Disney or less than traditional theming then he might not like it.

My dh is concerned about the construction at CS. There was quite a bit going on when we were there in 9/17. We had stayed at the Poly back in 12/14 and it looked like a bomb had been set off so the CS seemed minimal in comparison. Still would prefer to not look around and see walls, caution tape, bobcats and cranes. I'll pop over to the CS thread and see what is currently going on.

My dh LOVES Disney but he doesn't love the value resorts themeing. His fav is Poly and BC.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I was told it was the first of the month. We'll be going about a week after BIL's birthday. I saw some talk on here when I did a google search about purchasing the $25 Landry's membership card and apparently you get a $25 new member credit for the first time you use it. There seemed to be some debate as to whether you could use both the new member discount and the birthday discount at the same meal though. I wonder if you did separate checks if you'd be able to use both...

We will be at WDW a week before my bday so I won’t get to use mine. I’ve been a member for a few years so I don’t recall if I used the first credit and bday together. I went nuts one year signing up for anything free for birthdays.

 

[wendow]

No points? The 50k is kind of a lot though

I have the points but I don't think I can spend 50k a night there I'll have to think on that one...

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

@MrPTato - my local Bjs has the visa gc back in stock. I’m not telling you where so you don’t deplete! A bunch was hidden behind a $200 one someone must be buying a lot and trying to “hide” some. Still fee free I got 2.

Also they rumor is on the 15th disney gcs online on bjs will be discounted so if you use your staples Visa cards might save you close to SB/BB deal and do it in less trips. Not sure if it’ll be in time for ur trip

 

[StephPlum]

Dh booked his and my flights to Orlando end of March! We are staying the first two nights at Rosen Shingle Creek which is where his conference will be. It seems so far away from everything but the resort itself looks very nice! We will have a car until we get to WDW and then turn it in. I booked that already through UR's (much cheaper than either Costco or the conference discount rate).

I stayed at the Rosen for a conference though it was 5+ years ago. Nice resort, nice pool and lazy river. But if you want to do anything else, eat at a place other than the hotel, you'll need to drive. It really is somewhat isolated.

 

[wendow]

We’ve stayed at pop twice: once with our niece and her mom, the other time just Dh and I. If you’re hoping to swim I wouldn’t do pop. To me the main pool seemed small and shallow compared to other resorts. The new rooms are great but it is a pretty busy resort. We did CSR in July and the new rooms were great but we personally didn’t like the resort much. We are doing cbr for the first time January 31 so we’ll see how that goes!

We felt exactly the same about CSR. However, the pool was pretty quiet compared to other pools like BC, Poly and BLT. That was nice.

I really, really want to go back to POFQ (we got to stay there one night last April). I find the PO resorts so romantic. But I really am trying to watch the budget and with tax, POFQ would be $300 night.

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

I have the points but I don't think I can spend 50k a night there I'll have to think on that one...

Yeah if you were doing the five nights (4th free) I could see it. Our trip next month is one night Pop (getting in at 10pm plus magic bands and DME), first night Swan I used my $300 spg lux credit plus there was a $60 back marriot deal on the card so I made like $30! Then I sprung for night 2 with points. More palatable. Never stayed there before so I’m excited to check it out! Did you get the deal to upgrade to LUX?

 

[wendow]

I stayed at the Rosen for a conference though it was 5+ years ago. Nice resort, nice pool and lazy river. But if you want to do anything else, eat at a place other than the hotel, you'll need to drive. It really is somewhat isolated.

This is definitely the impression I have gotten, which is why I wanted to rent a car and keep it for that part of the trip. It seems so isolated. I plan to hang out at the pool most of the time though if it's warm!

 

[wendow]

Yeah if you were doing the five nights (4th free) I could see it. Our trip next month is one night Pop (getting in at 10pm plus magic bands and DME), first night Swan I used my $300 spg lux credit plus there was a $60 back marriot deal on the card so I made like $30! Then I sprung for night 2 with points. More palatable. Never stayed there before so I’m excited to check it out! Did you get the deal to upgrade to LUX?

I don't think I got the upgrade offer. Maybe cause I haven't even had the spg card for a year yet?

ETA: If we could use Marriott GC's at Swolphin, I would do that but last I read, that doesn't work yet.

 

[DisneyMandC]

My dh is concerned about the construction at CS. There was quite a bit going on when we were there in 9/17. We had stayed at the Poly back in 12/14 and it looked like a bomb had been set off so the CS seemed minimal in comparison. Still would prefer to not look around and see walls, caution tape, bobcats and cranes. I'll pop over to the CS thread and see what is currently going on.

My dh LOVES Disney but he doesn't love the value resorts themeing. His fav is Poly and BC.

The construction at CS is contained entirely to the area where the tower is going- it's not AT ALL like what Poly had going on! We saw that on our honeymoon in 4/15 and agreed that we would hate to stay at a hotel with that much construction going on everywhere.

We stayed in Casitas 3 and it was very quiet, I would venture to say perhaps even the quietest resort we've ever stayed at. I will admit that we didn't venture around the resort much at all, but I don't think you would see much of or hear anything from the construction staying in that area. We had our car the whole time we were there so I'm not sure how far the walk is from there to the lobby though.

 

[wendow]

The construction at CS is contained entirely to the area where the tower is going- it's not AT ALL like what Poly had going on! We saw that on our honeymoon in 4/15 and agreed that we would hate to stay at a hotel with that much construction going on everywhere.

We stayed in Casitas 3 and it was very quiet, I would venture to say perhaps even the quietest resort we've ever stayed at. I will admit that we didn't venture around the resort much at all, but I don't think you would see much of or hear anything from the construction staying in that area. We had our car the whole time we were there so I'm not sure how far the walk is from there to the lobby though.

When we stayed at the poly in 12/14, it was terrible. The lobby opened the week after we left but even that was closed when we were there. It really was a magic killer. The only reason we stayed there was b/c my aunt had won a trip (back when Disney gave away a trip every day in Jan) and she took my dd's as her 3rd and 4th guest. They stayed at the GF and we got 40% any room for us but even with the 40%, GF was too $$ since it was Christmas time. The Poly had slightly lower rates to begin with so the 40% made it very reasonable.

Staying in the casitas would be nicer for getting to the lobby. We were in the ranchitos and we were in the ones completely as far away as you could get from the main building. But back then there were only a few refurbed buildings and we wanted a refurbed room so we requested that.

Good to know the construction wouldn't be too much of an issue!

 

[Haley R]

We felt exactly the same about CSR. However, the pool was pretty quiet compared to other pools like BC, Poly and BLT. That was nice.

I really, really want to go back to POFQ (we got to stay there one night last April). I find the PO resorts so romantic. But I really am trying to watch the budget and with tax, POFQ would be $300 night.

I actually thought the bc pool wasn’t bad at all in October. I absolutely love POFQ!!! It’s my favorite so far. We stayed there for our honeymoon. We haven’t been back because we always try to get a new resort. I’m sure we’ll be back sometime because we can’t do a deluxe for an entire trip. I can’t believe you saw it at $300 that’s crazy high for a moderate. It was $185 for our dates

 

[MrPTato]

@MrPTato - my local Bjs has the visa gc back in stock. I’m not telling you where so you don’t deplete! A bunch was hidden behind a $200 one someone must be buying a lot and trying to “hide” some. Still fee free I got 2.

Also they rumor is on the 15th disney gcs online on bjs will be discounted so if you use your staples Visa cards might save you close to SB/BB deal and do it in less trips. Not sure if it’ll be in time for ur trip

You don't need to tell me...who do you think hid them there?? Good to know about the fee free. I will have the BBP out tomorrow so I may as well make a stop.

I have time to get the AP as the trip isn't until March 3rd but I wanted to get them sooner than later so I can try and snag a FP or two in Toy Story Land. I will probably just wait. I am not opposed to standing in lines for something new. Won't be overly warm during the day either. If they don't go on sale, I could just run to BJs and take them off the rack as there is still savings, which I didn't think of until you mentioned it. So thank you! I wanted to make FPs so bad that I was about to buy them off the site with a couple gift cards I had left plus putting it on the CC. I will wait and get my discounted cards!

 

[wendow]

I actually thought the bc pool wasn’t bad at all in October. I absolutely love POFQ!!! It’s my favorite so far. We stayed there for our honeymoon. We haven’t been back because we always try to get a new resort. I’m sure we’ll be back sometime because we can’t do a deluxe for an entire trip. I can’t believe you saw it at $300 that’s crazy high for a moderate. It was $185 for our dates

That is with tax! The rate is $280 night, IIRC.

We have stayed at BC 3x and once the pool was quiet but there was a hurricane coming in lol!

 

[Haley R]

When we stayed at the poly in 12/14, it was terrible. The lobby opened the week after we left but even that was closed when we were there. It really was a magic killer. The only reason we stayed there was b/c my aunt had won a trip (back when Disney gave away a trip every day in Jan) and she took my dd's as her 3rd and 4th guest. They stayed at the GF and we got 40% any room for us but even with the 40%, GF was too $$ since it was Christmas time. The Poly had slightly lower rates to begin with so the 40% made it very reasonable.

Staying in the casitas would be nicer for getting to the lobby. We were in the ranchitos and we were in the ones completely as far away as you could get from the main building. But back then there were only a few refurbed buildings and we wanted a refurbed room so we requested that.

Good to know the construction wouldn't be too much of an issue!

I think we had the same trip at CSR lol. We were in the ranchos too because we wanted a refurbished room. It was pretty far from the lobby. When we were there, there were lots of soccer groups around

 

[MrPTato]

Curious...has anyone cancelled a room reservation that they had used a gift card on? How long did it take the refund to show back on the gift card?

 

[DisneyMandC]

When we stayed at the poly in 12/14, it was terrible. The lobby opened the week after we left but even that was closed when we were there. It really was a magic killer. The only reason we stayed there was b/c my aunt had won a trip (back when Disney gave away a trip every day in Jan) and she took my dd's as her 3rd and 4th guest. They stayed at the GF and we got 40% any room for us but even with the 40%, GF was too $$ since it was Christmas time. The Poly had slightly lower rates to begin with so the 40% made it very reasonable.

Staying in the casitas would be nicer for getting to the lobby. We were in the ranchitos and we were in the ones completely as far away as you could get from the main building. But back then there were only a few refurbed buildings and we wanted a refurbed room so we requested that.

Good to know the construction wouldn't be too much of an issue!

Yeah that Poly construction was insane. We went to eat at Kona and I couldn't believe all the scaffolding and everything. Poly has never been high on our list anyways, but I think seeing it with all that construction made DH really uninterested in every staying there.

I just looked at a map of CS and realized that where our room was located in Casitas 3, we were actually about as close to the lobby as you could get in that building lol. We didn't put in any requests and just ended up with a corner room there.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Is last minute travel club dot com the website most of you have used for DL tickets? Apparently they recently changed their name? I'm considering buying DL tix at the the old price, and their price is over $100 less for 2 adults, 2 children 5 day PH's compared to UCT, who I usually use for WDW tix. I guess I want some reassurance that they're reputable before dropping $1200. Any input would be appreciated!

I used that site about 11/2 years ago, no issues. What name change? I just went to last minute travel dot com & it auto logged me in. They have been LMTClub or Last minute travel since I used them.