Input wanted - resorts, food etc.

kristennn

Mouseketeer
Joined
Feb 8, 2007
Messages
412
Planning my very first DVC trip and my first adult only triup and the first trip with my boyfriend who thinks he doesnt like Disney. ( He has been to animal kingdom once and they did it badly - he waited in line for flights of passage for 3 hours) It's also going to be my birthday while we are there. We are going 10/25 - 10/29 and the 24th-25th is like some run and food and wine so it was hard to find rooms and I have had to slowly piece it together. I am planning to do one theme park day - and hopefully two waterpark days - I havent been to a Disney waterpark in forever but i remember them as being awesome and we both like swimming/wave pools/lazy rivers etc. So sat night we are in a studio at kidani (this probably cannot be changed - because everything is booked solid for sat) plus it's my home resort. Sunday/monday we are going to stay in a studio at poly - which I have always dreamed of staying at. I am thinking on the 26th we will go to a waterpark and the 27th which is my birthday and a monday we will go to epcott and hopefully they will have the extra evening magic hours. We will do some rides and eat and drink around the world. THEN Tuesday we could stay at poly studio or we could switch to a different resort and then do a waterpark day on Tuesday. hopefully whichever waterpark we didnt go to. There is a lot more open this night so we could stay alomost anywhere. I was thinking maybe boardwalk - but we are staying there two nights in december. There are many good options - BUT I am thinking maybe staying at Saratoga preferred - and then after going to the waterpark we could check in and then walk over to disney springs to eat and walk around. It IS a lot of moving around - but we will be packing light and gone during the day. and on our long epcot day we wont have to switch resorts and would maybe go back mid day for a swim or rest IF they have extra magic night hours. So what do you think - is this a good time to stay at Saratoga even thought its not in high demand (i do find it charming) or stay someplace harder to get like boulder ridge or boardwalk or go back to animal kingdom. I also thought about doing the dining plan for one of the short day long stays. IF I did it for the first night - we could do the counter service that night and use the table service the next day for dinner right? Is there any limit to what time the next day you could use it? I am also thinking maybe doing a one day dining plan the first day and eating at Boma on arrival night -late-ish (we dont arrive in orlando til 6:30 and then using the counter service the next day someplace at poly. Also - I havent been to Disney in a couple years and the only place I have eaten at the poly is at Ohana - I love the noodles, wings, pot stickers and bread pudding and I know you can get them at a lounge there? Is it a table service reservation place or a first come first serve place? Where else is awesome to eat at the poly. Also debating making a reservation for my bday dinner or just eating all day whenever and wherever at epcot. I dont want to be overly structured because my bf likes to go with the flow and I want him to like disney (bewcause I just bought dvc - but have been stressing it doesnt have to be all about the parks - it can be about resort time and pool time)
 
A couple of things….

After your night at Kidani, I’d try to spend the rest of the time at The Poly or it will be too much moving. Save Sarasota for another trip. Don’t try to cram too many resorts into one trip. As you say, you want him to like it. It’s never relaxing when you move around too much, because you spend much of the time homeless if your room isn’t ready til later.

Also, there will only be one water park open in October, so I’d maybe just do one water park day.

Honestly, I’d skip the dining plan, especially for one day.
What if your plane is delayed and you miss your Boma ADR. More stress. Especially if he likes to go with the flow.

You can eat at the Tambu Lounge at the Poly. We love it there! There are no reservations. It’s first come first served. So waits can be long. They start serving food after 4pm. We usually go right at 4pm or after 8pm to try to avoid crowds.

I would make a reservation at Epcot on your birthday. It doesn’t have to be a fancy place, but somewhere for drinks and appetizers or a shared meal like Via Napoli or The Rose and Crown or San Angel Inn. Sometimes you just need a nice break and someone to serve you in order to recharge. :)
 
If you want him to like Disney, I would not be doing as many resort hops/split stays or water park days as you have planned. Rather, I would spend some time at the resort(s) enjoying amenities and relaxing at the pools instead of the water park. The water park is great for a day, but not necessarily more than one.

You said you don't think it has to be all about the parks, then I would pick one a day--go early in the a.m. and leave early afternoon for downtime at the resort. If you are rejuvenated after your downtime, you can always hop to another park (provided you have hoppers or AP) for the evening.

Definitely no dining plan.

Your plan feels as if you are trying to cram too much into the trip and that will not make a Disney lover out of your BF. You own DVC, there will be other trips! :flower3:
 
If you don't already have reservations, I wouldn't count on getting anything at an Epcot resort during Food and Wine. Those are usually the first DVC to be booked solid because of easy walking into Epcot.
 

If you don't already have reservations, I wouldn't count on getting anything at an Epcot resort during Food and Wine. Those are usually the first DVC to be booked solid because of easy walking into Epcot.
There is also some sort of special run event going on that weekend so. It's been super booked. There was initially 0 rooms available on Saturday and Sunday nights but I have been stalking every day for the last 5-6 weeks and I've been switching rooms as I find better options. For example originally I had a one bedroom at AK for the first night and then later a studio popped up so I switched. Monday and Tuesday nights are easier. We are only going to to the parks one day ( Epcot on Monday) and we will be at poly Sunday and Monday nights, right now I also have poly booked for Tuesday night but I am debating switching it. ( In order to get additional water park day- and also I think it would be nice to be able to walk over to Disney springs.
 
If you want him to like Disney, I would not be doing as many resort hops/split stays or water park days as you have planned. Rather, I would spend some time at the resort(s) enjoying amenities and relaxing at the pools instead of the water park. The water park is great for a day, but not necessarily more than one.

You said you don't think it has to be all about the parks, then I would pick one a day--go early in the a.m. and leave early afternoon for downtime at the resort. If you are rejuvenated after your downtime, you can always hop to another park (provided you have hoppers or AP) for the evening.

Definitely no dining plan.

Your plan feels as if you are trying to cram too much into the trip and that will not make a Disney lover out of your BF. You own DVC, there will be other trips! :flower3:
We don't have annual passes, we are only going to Epcot on Monday and not doing any other park days- as you said - we will have more trips.
 
Since it's adults only and you're only doing one park day, I would recommend spending some time relaxing at the Polynesian instead of doing another water park day . We did a resort-only trip a few years ago staying at the Poly and it was wonderful. Enjoy the pool in the morning, get your name on the wait list for Trader Sam's, get a drink from Tambu Lounge and sit on the couches, watch fireworks from the beach, etc. Tambu Lounge has some of the food items from Ohana and Trader Sam's also has some food options. Neither need reservations.
 
I agree with previous posters...that many pack up/unpacks/check in/check outs/homeless for the day till 4pm will not help the BF become a Disney lover. Id try your hardest to stalk the DVC availability and try to keep that to just one move or less. Is SSR all booked for your entire stay?
 
I agree with previous posters...that many pack up/unpacks/check in/check outs/homeless for the day till 4pm will not help the BF become a Disney lover. Id try your hardest to stalk the DVC availability and try to keep that to just one move or less. Is SSR all booked for your entire stay?
Absolutely everything is booked for Sat the 25th, and most everything fo the 26th. The 27th and 28th have more options. For sure we are staying at animal kingdom the first night, and poly the second and third night. I could stay at poly the 4th night, or ... Just about everything else is open. We would only go to Disney springs our last night if we are staying at Saratoga moving to o Saratoga and then walking to and from Disney springs sounds easier to me, then staying at poly and bussing back and forth to Disney springs. We don't have to go to Disney springs at all though, but I think it might be nice. He is also not at all adverse to switching resorts, and I like doing split stays as well, even when we go other places ( like Vegas) but usually it's just one switch. I guess I need to look more into how easy switching is and what is involved. I was thinking since they moved any luggage for you, and you can check in right on the app - that it would be pretty easy. I do know that it would mean we don't have a room to go to for 4-6 hours.
 
Absolutely everything is booked for Sat the 25th, and most everything fo the 26th. The 27th and 28th have more options. For sure we are staying at animal kingdom the first night, and poly the second and third night. I could stay at poly the 4th night, or ... Just about everything else is open. We would only go to Disney springs our last night if we are staying at Saratoga moving to o Saratoga and then walking to and from Disney springs sounds easier to me, then staying at poly and bussing back and forth to Disney springs. We don't have to go to Disney springs at all though, but I think it might be nice. He is also not at all adverse to switching resorts, and I like doing split stays as well, even when we go other places ( like Vegas) but usually it's just one switch. I guess I need to look more into how easy switching is and what is involved. I was thinking since they moved any luggage for you, and you can check in right on the app - that it would be pretty easy. I do know that it would mean we don't have a room to go to for 4-6 hours.
I would move from AKL and stay at poly for the rest if its available.
 
Absolutely everything is booked for Sat the 25th, and most everything fo the 26th. The 27th and 28th have more options. For sure we are staying at animal kingdom the first night, and poly the second and third night. I could stay at poly the 4th night, or ... Just about everything else is open. We would only go to Disney springs our last night if we are staying at Saratoga moving to o Saratoga and then walking to and from Disney springs sounds easier to me, then staying at poly and bussing back and forth to Disney springs. We don't have to go to Disney springs at all though, but I think it might be nice. He is also not at all adverse to switching resorts, and I like doing split stays as well, even when we go other places ( like Vegas) but usually it's just one switch. I guess I need to look more into how easy switching is and what is involved. I was thinking since they moved any luggage for you, and you can check in right on the app - that it would be pretty easy. I do know that it would mean we don't have a room to go to for 4-6 hours.
I’d check into the Poly on the 26th, do the waterpark for the day and watch the Halloween fireworks from the beach in the evening.

You’re going to be at Epcot on the 27th all day. So you really haven’t had a chance to explore The Poly. I wouldn’t check out on the 28th.

Stay at the Poly one more night on the 28th. Relax at the pools. Maybe do a monorail pub crawl in the evening. Explore the GF and Contemporary.

Save Saratoga and Disney Springs for another trip.
 
I agree with the others - I would switch to Poly and then just stay there. It is a beautiful resort and there is so much to see and do there and in the monorail resort area. I would not switch to SSR just to get another water park day and the ability to walk to DS. Especially if you are going to EP during your Poly stay - you won't have any time to enjoy Poly if you pack up and go to SSR. The resorts are destinations in themselves at WDW, particularly Poly IMHO. There is so much to do there - watch fireworks from the beach, rent a boat, etc.
 
Absolutely everything is booked for Sat the 25th, and most everything fo the 26th. The 27th and 28th have more options. For sure we are staying at animal kingdom the first night, and poly the second and third night. I could stay at poly the 4th night, or ... Just about everything else is open. We would only go to Disney springs our last night if we are staying at Saratoga moving to o Saratoga and then walking to and from Disney springs sounds easier to me, then staying at poly and bussing back and forth to Disney springs. We don't have to go to Disney springs at all though, but I think it might be nice. He is also not at all adverse to switching resorts, and I like doing split stays as well, even when we go other places ( like Vegas) but usually it's just one switch. I guess I need to look more into how easy switching is and what is involved. I was thinking since they moved any luggage for you, and you can check in right on the app - that it would be pretty easy. I do know that it would mean we don't have a room to go to for 4-6 hours.
If there is an option / opening to stay at the Poly for the 4th night I would def do that. IMHO the idea of walking to DS is over-rated. Even if we stay at SSR we take the water taxi. We've done a couple of split stays over our almost 18 years of ownership but we only do it on longer trips & will only do 1 switch. I despise packing. The last time we did it, our son & his friend who was with us both got the stomach bug on our move day. They really just wanted to sleep and throw up but there was nowhere to go. No bueno. I'd re-think moving that much. JM2C.
 
I agree with the others - I would switch to Poly and then just stay there. It is a beautiful resort and there is so much to see and do there and in the monorail resort area. I would not switch to SSR just to get another water park day and the ability to walk to DS. Especially if you are going to EP during your Poly stay - you won't have any time to enjoy Poly if you pack up and go to SSR. The resorts are destinations in themselves at WDW, particularly Poly IMHO. There is so much to do there - watch fireworks from the beach, rent a boat, etc.
Another one who agrees! Besides the reasons given, Poly seems to lend itself to "go with the flow" more than some other resorts. Have a sudden desire to ride that big ferry? Hear the Electric Water Patent, and run out and see it? Go to Epcot-it's a fairly short trip.
A relationship with a non-Disney fan can work. I've been married to one for over 40 years. He didn't even go on the DVC tour with me, but he's smart enough that when I came back with a huge grin on my face, he said "I think joining is a great idea!" But I'll admit that his favorite DVC resort isn't at WDW. The off-property resorts seem to lend themselves more to the "go with the flow".
 
If there is an option / opening to stay at the Poly for the 4th night I would def do that. IMHO the idea of walking to DS is over-rated. Even if we stay at SSR we take the water taxi. We've done a couple of split stays over our almost 18 years of ownership but we only do it on longer trips & will only do 1 switch. I despise packing. The last time we did it, our son & his friend who was with us both got the stomach bug on our move day. They really just wanted to sleep and throw up but there was nowhere to go. No bueno. I'd re-think moving that much. JM2C.
I was thinking that as well.

SSR is so spread out. Some of those further out buildings are not walks to DS that I would want to do.
 













Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE














DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter

Back
Top