Is it worth it?!!?

[supermom0726]

We've mostly stayed at mod resorts in the past but are planning on spending Christmas (including Christmas Day) at the world this year. We are trying to decide if we should spend the extra $1200 to stay at WL. We always try and stay at a different resort each visit and our only mod left is CS. WWYD? We are trying to do this trip on somewhat a budget but if it will truly make Christmas that much better or worse with one resort or the other we want to know. Thanks in advance we are really struggling with this one!!!

 

[Upatnoon]

We've mostly stayed at mod resorts in the past but are planning on spending Christmas (including Christmas Day) at the world this year. We are trying to decide if we should spend the extra $1200 to stay at WL. We always try and stay at a different resort each visit and our only mod left is CS. WWYD? We are trying to do this trip on somewhat a budget but if it will truly make Christmas that much better or worse with one resort or the other we want to know. Thanks in advance we are really struggling with this one!!!

Wilderness Lodge is beautiful, especially at Christmas, but if you are on a budget, I would just visit and have dinner there and head home to the moderate with the extra $1,200 in my pocket, especially since you are on a budget.

Are you really sure you want to come on Christmas Week? The the most crowded and expensive time of the year to come?

 

[dfarner]

We've mostly stayed at mod resorts in the past but are planning on spending Christmas (including Christmas Day) at the world this year. We are trying to decide if we should spend the extra $1200 to stay at WL. We always try and stay at a different resort each visit and our only mod left is CS. WWYD? We are trying to do this trip on somewhat a budget but if it will truly make Christmas that much better or worse with one resort or the other we want to know. Thanks in advance we are really struggling with this one!!!

I have never been to CS, but I have been to Wilderness Lodge several times, one being Christmas.

Wilderness Lodge is special anytime of the year, but definitely magical during the holidays. However, for a savings of $1,200 I would be totally fine with visiting the lodge, but staying at CS. IMHO, I would stay at the resort that is more within the budget, but plan on spending some time touring other resorts to see the decorations. This way you get the best of both worlds. Plan on having a meal there and spend some time taking pictures and such. Get something special from their gift shop to take home with all the money you are saving

It's Christmas at Disney World! You will have a great time wherever you stay

 

[supermom0726]

Thank you! We've been to the world during Christmas season before and LOVED all the decor and the MVMCP!! We've experienced much of Christmas at Disney already so this trip our goal is mostly just to spend Christmas Day away from being "the hosts" of all our family's holidays and just to enjoy a week with our girls full of quality time! We plan on leaving the 26th before the even bigger crowds arrive but are def realistic on what to expect. We are honestly more the shopping/dining/viewing kind more so then the ride all day type people anyways. I'm feeling a little down as our older child has lost the "magic" of Christmas and I want to hang on to every second I can of it with our youngest

 

[mickeynut1]

Thank you! We've been to the world during Christmas season before and LOVED all the decor and the MVMCP!! We've experienced much of Christmas at Disney already so this trip our goal is mostly just to spend Christmas Day away from being "the hosts" of all our family's holidays and just to enjoy a week with our girls full of quality time! We plan on leaving the 26th before the even bigger crowds arrive but are def realistic on what to expect. We are honestly more the shopping/dining/viewing kind more so then the ride all day type people anyways. I'm feeling a little down as our older child has lost the "magic" of Christmas and I want to hang on to every second I can of it with our youngest

 

[stargazertechie]

If it won't require eating Ramen for 3 months, I say WL at Christmas is the way to go!

Waking up to this every morning- SO worth it

 

[supermom0726]

Do you guys know if WL lodge does any special Christmas Eve or Day activities? Like Santa stopping by etc? If they do, will they give you a list of what's going on when you check in?

 

[Missytara]

Do you guys know if WL lodge does any special Christmas Eve or Day activities? Like Santa stopping by etc? If they do, will they give you a list of what's going on when you check in?

I don't know if they do anything special at any of the resorts at Christmas, but you do get a list of all the activities in your welcome packet.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

The fact that you even mention the word "budget" would make me say skip the extra $1200. I mean it's $1200!!!!!! We're not talking about $50 or $100. You'll sleep just as well at a moderate--and probably even better because you've saved over $1,000!

 

[WisconsinDad]

I would stick to the mod and visit WL. If I were there at Christmas I would also visit GF and the Poly. You could use the $$ your saving to dine at those resorts.

 

[kmb584]

I suppose my question is, what do you mean by "somewhat of a budget"?

If the extra expense of $1,200 for WL is going to break the bank I would opt for CS without a second thought. I'd also opt for CS if that $1,200 would make your finances tight or tighter than you're comfortable with. If, however, that amount won't have a huge impact I'd book WL. All of the resorts are beautiful during the Christmas season but WL is one of my favorites. The atmosphere, the fireplace, the overall feeling - it's all incredible.

I wouldn't go deluxe though if it meant that it'd make things rough financially.

 

[JanB]

I have stayed at both resorts and love both.

If I were in your situation, I would not want to think of my resort selection as making my Christmas better or worse. That's an awful lot of importance to be placing on that single decision. You are going to be spending Christmas with your family, which is a wonderful thing. The fact that it will be at Disney is a big plus.

Even if you stay at CS, there is nothing to prevent you from spending an afternoon or evening at WL. Take your special book with you, and read it to your child in front of the fireplace.

Of course, if you can't afford it, then it's probably best not to do WL. Even if you can afford it, think about how you can put the $1200 to use towards dining or other special activities with your family.

 

[honeybunches]

The only benefit of staying at WL for us is the convenience of getting to MK. Otherwise I don't think it is that big of a thrill. My daughter likes POP better because it is so bright and fun, my husband likes the mod better for whatever reasons. I am so tired after a day at the parks that I can sleep anywhere. $1200 is not worth it to me.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

We've mostly stayed at mod resorts in the past but are planning on spending Christmas (including Christmas Day) at the world this year. We are trying to decide if we should spend the extra $1200 to stay at WL. We always try and stay at a different resort each visit and our only mod left is CS. WWYD? We are trying to do this trip on somewhat a budget but if it will truly make Christmas that much better or worse with one resort or the other we want to know. Thanks in advance we are really struggling with this one!!!

WL for Christmas is on my bucket list! If you can swing it financially I would do it for sure!!!!!!!

 

[Alabama Minnie]

We have stayed at both during Xmas and I really can't compare the two. WL is just perfect for a December trip. I would suggest a split-stay if you can. Saving a little $$ and getting to experience Wilderness Lodge a few days for the Xmas atmosphere.

We always drive down and stay "cheap" the first night or two and then stay deluxe the rest. We really don't mind doing split-stays if it means getting to stay some of the trip deluxe. Just be sure and do the "cheap" days first.

 

[disd55]

WL at Christmas would be a dream come true. Honestly, if this opportunity is available for you and you have the money please go for it!! How many times in your life will you get to stay at such a beautiful resort during the most beautiful time. It's so cozy. It's also convenient to MK with the boat. There are also two hot tubs if you get cold. CS isn't anything special IMO so you aren't missing out. CS will always be cheaper than WL so you'll have a better chance getting a deal at CS again then WL.

 

[pigletto]

I don't know if there's anything left but I have three ideas for you. One is to watch for the room only discounts that will come out for the week before Christmas. The second is to watch for the release of the rumored free dining dates. That might help depending on your plans. The PIN dates for the free dining were between the 15th of December and the 22nd, so as long as you checked in on one of those dates it would be good for your whole stay.
You can see the details here
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3124653

Or you can do what I did and rent points to stay in a Studio in the Wilderness Lodge Villas if there is anything left. It was just over 1400 for seven nights for us. We're going from the 14th to 21st. Of course then you don't get housekeeping but that isn't a big deal to us and it saved us loads off of rack rate. We did book a few months ago so I don't know what's left now.

So you have a few options to get that total down. It was definitely worth it for us, but not at full price.

 

[supermom0726]

Great suggestions!! We got a free dining pin so including room tickets and dining a mod resort is around $2600 for our stay -definitely a great price for Christmas and doable!!! WL is about $3900 for all the same dining and tickets. I really really like doing a diff resort each visit but have seriously thought about doing POFQ again since we really loved that one so much. CS is the only mod we haven't don't and we've yet to stay at a deluxe :-/ Resort choice is always my toughest one and ESP for this trip!! $1200 is a good chunk of money and I could use that for extra gifts, new furniture etc so it's definitely a big decision. I plan on bringing a small tree and lots of decor for our room plus shipping lots of Santa gifts down so it should be special either way. Errgghhh I love to hate planning!!!! Lol

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

OP... We are budget-minded travelers, and have always wanted to stay at WL. For our upcoming September trip I have booked us there because the price difference in a 5 night stay between that and a mod was only $700. I figured I'd never see the spread that low again so I went for it. Not sure what my price point would be where I would NOT have upgraded, but one surely does exist. I think each guest has to find his/her price point. I would not upgrade for $1200, but that's just me.
The rationale goes something like this... WL looks fantastic, but mods and WL are probably about the same once you turn the lights out and close your eyes (since queen beds are at mods and deluxes). There is absolutely some value there to justify an upgrade, but not as much value as Disney likes to charge most of the time

 

[rwdavis2]

Wilderness Lodge is beautiful, especially at Christmas, but if you are on a budget, I would just visit and have dinner there and head home to the moderate with the extra $1,200 in my pocket, especially since you are on a budget.

Do this. You won't spend huge amounts of time in the lobby looking at decorations. It's beautiful when decorated but not worth $1200. A dinner there should do it.