I think I just ruined it for my hubby.....

[FigaroandFifi]

When are you going OP? You might still have time to change back to an Epcot Resort. How about a split stay, if some of your dates are available at BW? I’m sorry this is not going how you expected. If nothing else, remind your DH that the GF is at Disney, no one is out of place there!! There is no income requirement, no fact checking if you come from the right “area” and Miss Manners is not hanging around the resort ready to issue demerits! The CMs & other guests are average everyday people, just like you.

Hopefully your DH will see how much this trip means to you & how hard you tried to make it special. I’m sure he’ll
come around when he sees how upset you are by his reaction.

He knows how important this trip is to me and he really just wants me to be happy.

 

[FigaroandFifi]

Well I called again tonight. They were able to offer us a BC room for $200 MORE than what we are paying for GF. DH said "that is more money, no just keep what we have". So GF here we come!!!

I went to lunch today with a couple girlfriends and told them what happened. My one friend said to just leave the credit on our CC and let it decline during our trip. That actually makes sense for me since I tend to keep track of how much we are spending on trips anyway (except for gift cards, once those are gone they are gone until I refill them). So since I would normally leave money at home per se and keep track of what we are spending on our CC so I can just pay the bill when we get home, I think I will just go one step further and keep track of the credit that is already on the CC and decline that first. I called our CC company and asked about leaving the credit on our account, the man said we could leave it there for 5 months and that was if we didn't have any transactions either charges or payments during that time. So my CC is getting tucked away until it is time to go.

I guess I am looking at this trip as a trip we are taking without kids so we should stay somewhere we wouldn't stay with the boys. Having said that, our 15 YO son heard me talking about the GF and said that if we are staying there then he should be allowed to go as well. Needless to say, I told him NO WAY!

 

[Aladora]

Well I just spoke with him and yeah, he is concerned about how it will feel (we are value people after all, lol) but he also gave me another concern. We had the meal plan booked as well and have never gone to Disney without it. This reservation is room only no meal plan and I cannot add it at the rate I got. He said he is also concerned about having enough money. So that I think is his real concern, having enough money.

I may be wrong but it sounds to me as though your husband is mostly concerned about the cost of meals and his way of communicating that to you (without saying outright) is to talk about how he thinks he will "feel" at GF. I get that concern, I am in finance and I am always looking at the numbers. I suspect it is the unknown that may be worrying him, with the DP he always knows the cost, without it he is dealing with an unknown amount.

If it helps him at all, I have looked at the DP every which way and no matter what I do, there is no way that we (DH, DS and I) would pay less with it. If he is a numbers person like I am, you can even have him use this calculator and get him to figure out the difference. For us, we have too many TS planned for the regular DP and we don't eat enough to make the Deluxe DP worth it so we are paying oop for everything. Seeing the numbers might help him be more comfortable with not having the DP.

 

[Sue M]

You don't understand, my hubby would be find with motel 6 if it was cheaper

Omgosh that’s too funny!

 

[3gr8boys]

As for the feeling that "it's all paid for" the dining plan gives you, I get it....for our April trip I put what would be the cost of the dining plan into a savings account. We were able to dine knowing we weren't racking up credit card debt that wouldn't be paid off immediately ... charged everything to my cash back credit card via the room and paid it off when we got home. We saved $ that way ....what the dining plan would have cost was enough to cover food and souvenirs for the four of us. We had a TS meal every day, including several character meals. The other benefit to not having the dining plan is being able to order without thinking about how it fits into the DP structure.....multiple apps instead of an entree, app but no dessert, whatever. There are restaurants/ordering styles that make the DP worthwhile....but you may want to run some numbers. Maybe you can at least keep no DP from feeling like a drawback.

I hope you have a wonderful trip no matter which resort you end up in!

 

[AngiTN]

Hi, I really need some pixie dust. I had a room at the BWI but a friend of mine called one day and got a little cheaper rate on her trip so she actually changed her resort from a mod to a deluxe. So naturally I was like well maybe a little nicer discount will come up and I will save a little extra on our trip (it was already paid off so any additional discount really would have just gone into extra spending cash). Well yesterday I called to see if any better deals were out there and the woman said she had a little nicer offer at the GF but it was RO. So I did the math in my head and sure enough I was like WOW so I cancelled out BWI and took the opportunity to stay at GF. I don't need tickets I have an AP. Sooooo DH comes home and I am all giggles thinking he will be excited and he says "we will be out of place at the GF, I would rather stay at BWI". Needless to say, the offer I had booked for BWI originally is GONE and the room will cost a little more than originally. So needless to say, I am feeling terrible. I hope he decides that the GF would be nice but I think he was thinking it would be nice to walk to Epcot since we are planning to go to food and wine while we are there. So I am mad at myself and now just need a whole lotta Pixie Dust. Anyone want to send me some????

Well I just spoke with him and yeah, he is concerned about how it will feel (we are value people after all, lol) but he also gave me another concern. We had the meal plan booked as well and have never gone to Disney without it. This reservation is room only no meal plan and I cannot add it at the rate I got. He said he is also concerned about having enough money. So that I think is his real concern, having enough money. I get it, we always use a meal plan, we like knowing everything is paid up front except tips and what we decide to purchase. I said since there is a "credit" coming our way, I would just transfer the credit to a gift card and we could use that to pay for meals. I too am a little nervous not having the meal plan, like I said, I really like the convenience knowing everything is paid for, but I am willing to step out of my comfort zone and put my gift card plan to the test, lol.

Anyone ever have a hard time using a gift card to pay for a meal? How did you handle your tip? I would prefer to pay the tip in cash (we normally do that even with the meal plan), can we still do that? I was reading another thread that said to put everything on our bands and just use the gift cards to pay the balance at the end of the day so it doesn't go through to our credit card, that makes me a little nervous, have any of you done that? Would I be better off just leaving the credit balance on our credit card and whittling it down while we are playing in the parks?

I know I am going to sound really selfish right now, but this is our first trip without our kids. We didn't have enough money to go for our honeymoon because we just bought our house and paid for our wedding, so this is a dream trip for me. I just want us to be able to go and just be a couple, do whatever and not be concerned with anything.

The 2 items in bold don't compute quite honestly. Or something important is missing
If you have an AP you have a room only discount with the dining plan added on. It would have been what you booked at BWI
You can always add on the dining plan to a room only discount when you have an AP. So it doesn't make sense when you say you can't add it on to the new GF rate. You just have to tell them you want to do it.

 

[AngiTN]

As for the feeling that "it's all paid for" the dining plan gives you, I get it....for our April trip I put what would be the cost of the dining plan into a savings account. We were able to dine knowing we weren't racking up credit card debt that wouldn't be paid off immediately ... charged everything to my cash back credit card via the room and paid it off when we got home. We saved $ that way ....what the dining plan would have cost was enough to cover food and souvenirs for the four of us. We had a TS meal every day, including several character meals. The other benefit to not having the dining plan is being able to order without thinking about how it fits into the DP structure.....multiple apps instead of an entree, app but no dessert, whatever. There are restaurants/ordering styles that make the DP worthwhile....but you may want to run some numbers. Maybe you can at least keep no DP from feeling like a drawback.

I hope you have a wonderful trip no matter which resort you end up in!

The bold is very important observations.
Disney doesn't offer the Dining Plans because they loose money on them. That's something no one should ever forget. They offer them because they make money on them. Some guest can save money but not most. The avg guest would do much better to do just what you did. Disney banks on the majority loosing money on the plan (and they do) to make up for the few that benefit from the plan. I learned it very early on. I look at it much like casinos and gambling and free drinks they spread around. They do that to keep you there gambling. Sure that costs them money but they make way more on what you loose gambling than they spend on alcohol. In the end, who walks away with more money in the bank? It's rarely the gambler

 

[Karebear]

Well I just spoke with him and yeah, he is concerned about how it will feel (we are value people after all, lol) but he also gave me another concern. We had the meal plan booked as well and have never gone to Disney without it. This reservation is room only no meal plan and I cannot add it at the rate I got. He said he is also concerned about having enough money. So that I think is his real concern, having enough money. I get it, we always use a meal plan, we like knowing everything is paid up front except tips and what we decide to purchase. I said since there is a "credit" coming our way, I would just transfer the credit to a gift card and we could use that to pay for meals. I too am a little nervous not having the meal plan, like I said, I really like the convenience knowing everything is paid for, but I am willing to step out of my comfort zone and put my gift card plan to the test, lol.

Anyone ever have a hard time using a gift card to pay for a meal? How did you handle your tip? I would prefer to pay the tip in cash (we normally do that even with the meal plan), can we still do that? I was reading another thread that said to put everything on our bands and just use the gift cards to pay the balance at the end of the day so it doesn't go through to our credit card, that makes me a little nervous, have any of you done that? Would I be better off just leaving the credit balance on our credit card and whittling it down while we are playing in the parks?

I know I am going to sound really selfish right now, but this is our first trip without our kids. We didn't have enough money to go for our honeymoon because we just bought our house and paid for our wedding, so this is a dream trip for me. I just want us to be able to go and just be a couple, do whatever and not be concerned with anything.

I don’t like using my credit card at WDW either as I like to feel that everything has already been paid. What we do is look at the menus and estimate what we will spend and get a gift card in that amount. We charge everything to the room and pay off the balance with the gift card. Now the important part is that you need to pay off your balance the day before you check out. If you wait until checkout day, your credit card on file will have already been charged. We have done this on several trips and never had a problem. Have a great trip!

 

[Ashley Marie]

For what it's worth, we have stayed at BWI and my husband really disliked it it. He has no desire to return there, although if it was an incredible deal I'd probably convince him. But you really never know what you're going to enjoy until you're actually there.

I will agree that the monorail from GF to Epcot is a bit of a pain since you have to switch monorails and go through security twice. We ended up taking a Minnie van (we were with our kids, otherwise we would've just gotten a regular Lyft or Uber to save a couple bucks) to avoid the hassle.

 

[FigaroandFifi]

The 2 items in bold don't compute quite honestly. Or something important is missing
If you have an AP you have a room only discount with the dining plan added on. It would have been what you booked at BWI
You can always add on the dining plan to a room only discount when you have an AP. So it doesn't make sense when you say you can't add it on to the new GF rate. You just have to tell them you want to do it.

I thought it was strange too but I have learned that if I don't like the answer, then call back, I will most likely get a different answer. I don't know what the person did but when I run the numbers it looks like I might have gotten one of the general offers out there that says room only. I should just check my reservation online and see what it says. Once I get the room thing figured out, I will deal with the meal plan problem, lol.

 

[FigaroandFifi]

Well I slept on it, lol, and have decided that if I can get BC or BWI, I will take them no matter if it costs a little more. The more I think about, the more I feel like I should just stay near Epcot since I feel like that is where we will most like spend the majority of our trip. The idea is to go to F&W and MNSSHP and of course shop in DS so why I ever changed is beyond me.

Guess I start making phone calls AGAIN!

 

[NuJoy]

()

 

[tvsdisney]

You can track your spending in the app can’t you?? Then you would have a better idea of what you’re spending? I absolutely love the GF and it has become one of our favorite resorts!! The staff is just exceptional and the resort is just gorgeous in my oppinion. I say do a split stay and give it a try then go over to Your fav resort. That way you get to try and you’ll know if you like it for a future trip and if it’s not your thing then you are headed back to the Epcot area. Disney makes it easy to transfer luggage. Good luck!

 

[FigaroandFifi]

OMG I just had the ABSOLUTE BEST THING HAPPEN!!!!

So I called and got an awesome person who really knew what she was doing!! She looked at my reservation and said I wasn't getting the AP discount so that was why I couldn't get the meal plan. She tried to make the changes and the system was giving her a hard time so she said she wanted to try and just do a new reservation and I GOT THE BC with a meal plan!!!! So bye bye to GF but it wasn't making sense, I want to spend time at F&W so staying near Epcot makes sense. Although I would have loved to stay at GF I will be happy at BC. And the best part is that it pretty much wound up being what I was originally paying at BWI!! I couldn't be happier right now .

I promise I will NOT mess with anything now!! I got BOG for dinner the night we go to MNSSHP before the party starts and the yachtman's for our final night like I originally had!! So everything is back to what it was with the exception of the hotel which is fine, I never stayed at either so I don't know what if anything I am missing .

The hubby just laughed and said I have it all screwed up and he hopes we get there and even have a room to sleep in . But I did check MDE and everything looks good!! See you in September!!!

 

[davale4]

I think he feels like it will be stuffy and not the relaxed Disney feel you get. We normally stay at Pop because our kids love it there but since we are going without them I wanted to stay somewhere we normally don't stay with them.

Not sure why he thinks it will be stuffy and not a relaxed feel. It is actually one of the most relaxing places we have stayed. My DH didn’t like coming to Disney every year but did it for the family. Everything changed when we stayed at GF for the first time 9 years ago. He LOVED the GF and that has been our home for the past nine years. Go with an open mind. I’m sure you’ll be surprised!

 

[Nancyg56]

You don't understand, my hubby would be find with motel 6 if it was cheaper

LOL!!! My DH says that too....and then I hear his "needs." He needs ocean front at the beach. Not open view or side ocean view. WHen he says open front he means open front. LOL! At Disney ne does nto belive he willbe in Disney unless if it monorail resorts. Not Epcot, Not AKL..... Monorail. He is still lamenting we are booked at OKW because it was a gynormous savings for the FD deal...we are 7 so it was $4300 just on food, not counting the savings on the resort. My DD told the "Princess" that if he keeps whining he is going to see what "cheap" really looks like at Disney! LOL!!! (He says we shoudl go cheap, but means deluxe all the way at "cheap" prices! LOL!

OP- BC is my favorite resort. You both will love it!

 

[AngiTN]

OMG I just had the ABSOLUTE BEST THING HAPPEN!!!!

So I called and got an awesome person who really knew what she was doing!! She looked at my reservation and said I wasn't getting the AP discount so that was why I couldn't get the meal plan. She tried to make the changes and the system was giving her a hard time so she said she wanted to try and just do a new reservation and I GOT THE BC with a meal plan!!!! So bye bye to GF but it wasn't making sense, I want to spend time at F&W so staying near Epcot makes sense. Although I would have loved to stay at GF I will be happy at BC. And the best part is that it pretty much wound up being what I was originally paying at BWI!! I couldn't be happier right now .

I promise I will NOT mess with anything now!! I got BOG for dinner the night we go to MNSSHP before the party starts and the yachtman's for our final night like I originally had!! So everything is back to what it was with the exception of the hotel which is fine, I never stayed at either so I don't know what if anything I am missing .

The hubby just laughed and said I have it all screwed up and he hopes we get there and even have a room to sleep in . But I did check MDE and everything looks good!! See you in September!!!

Great but real lesson learned here, get online and book it yourself. You can book the AP rate, add the dining plan and see the figures. It's so much easier than calling and letting someone who doesn't know what they are doing do it. Curious why you didn't just get on the website and try it that way at the start?

 

[Farro]

I'm so happy it worked out for you OP! Have a great trip!

 

[MadTownKatz]

After you guys stay at the GF, I think the only thing you'll have "ruined" for your hubby is his willingness to stay at Pop again. Since the first time we tried a deluxe resort, it's been deluxe ever since, save for one trip that reminded us why we do deluxe. It's a dangerous thing to go up to deluxe...let's just say it makes it "difficult" to go back to the values. My wallet has never forgiven me for it

Exactly! When my wife and I were dating/engaged, we always stayed at the Values because we were of the, "We just need a room as we will be at the Parks!" Well...when we married 20 years ago, we stayed at the Poly as a "Honeymoon Treat." Ever since that time, we have stayed at the Deluxes.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

OMG I just had the ABSOLUTE BEST THING HAPPEN!!!!

So I called and got an awesome person who really knew what she was doing!! She looked at my reservation and said I wasn't getting the AP discount so that was why I couldn't get the meal plan. She tried to make the changes and the system was giving her a hard time so she said she wanted to try and just do a new reservation and I GOT THE BC with a meal plan!!!! So bye bye to GF but it wasn't making sense, I want to spend time at F&W so staying near Epcot makes sense. Although I would have loved to stay at GF I will be happy at BC. And the best part is that it pretty much wound up being what I was originally paying at BWI!! I couldn't be happier right now .

I promise I will NOT mess with anything now!! I got BOG for dinner the night we go to MNSSHP before the party starts and the yachtman's for our final night like I originally had!! So everything is back to what it was with the exception of the hotel which is fine, I never stayed at either so I don't know what if anything I am missing .

The hubby just laughed and said I have it all screwed up and he hopes we get there and even have a room to sleep in . But I did check MDE and everything looks good!! See you in September!!!

I think you both will love the BC! Honestly, we stayed at GF twice and had bad experiences both times. I had talked DH into going the second time and I regretted it.

Enjoy your time at Epcot and F&W. We love it!