Need help deciding when to go

[Rienchen]

My mum and I travelled to WDW together in 2012, our 'better halves' would not be happy there, so it was just a girly trip for the two of us.

We had planned to return in 2014. I realise that today is the last day for the current offer of 'free dining', the gift card and 14 day ticket for the price of a 7 day ticket. So maybe we need to hurry making a decision...

We both loved Coronado Springs and the Quick Service Dining Plan, it worked for us and we'd love to do it again.
I had looked at an October/November stay, to get both Halloween and Christmas decorations/parties, however there seem to only be king size beds available at the resort and we're both restless sleepers, so I'm not sure I'm happy to share a bed with her for 2 weeks.
Adding to that, I am currently 12 weeks pregnant(hooray) so baby is due in May. I work in childcare and am not too nervous about travelling with a little one and can't wait to make Disney memories with my little one.

Basically, I was just wondering what you would do:

Go October/November, stay at CSR in a King Size bed 'free QSDP' £2300
Go October/November, stay AoA, pay food Out of pocket, £1633 plus food [I guess this means we won't get the $100 gift card since we didn't upgrade to a moderate hotel]

or shall we just wait a bit longer and just book room only instead of rushing into booking this today.

Also, what do you reckon is the better time to go?
September with a 4 months old or late October, beginning of November when crowds might be higher(Food Festival, Halloween, Christmas), but temperatures may be cooler-with a 5/6 months old.

 

[2Tiggies]

Just a quick one to say I don't think today is the last offer for Free Dining - it's the last day for the gift card. The Free Dining offer ends in the first week of November (I don't recall the specific date)

At a quick glance I'd go with the moderate and FD rather than paying for food on top of the value. It does depend what resort you really want to be at and if you have your heart set on AoA then go for it. But if it's a case of choosing one over the other for the sake of making a choice, even eating cheaply, once you factor in food onsite, you're going to add a fair amount of cost to that value resort and it may not be that much cheaper than having your king bed The next point is that you can arrange a pack n play cot through Disney and a room with a king bed in a moderate will give you a lot more floor space than with 2 beds in the smaller value room.

September will be hotter and quieter. October is not a slow month anymore (not sure it ever was that slow but it's much busier now than it was a few years ago at this time of the year). But the October temps may be more bearable for you with the little one in tow

Congratulations on the wee one on the way

 

[orangetiggs]

Ends 5th nov for free dining

 

[Elise79]

I know you said you are not worried about travelling with a little one but would you consider waiting until they are a bit older?

We took DD at 9 months which was nice as she was more aware and interactive with the characters, took more notice on the rides etc but was till young enough to make it easy.

We have some great photos of her sitting on the floor with Mickey & Minnie

I would also choose CSR as the resort - the doors that close by the sink make a great baby bedroom and the pack n play fits in there very nicely

 

[flortlebap]

You might also be able to switch from a king to a twin on the day if they have one available - wouldn't hurt to ask.

CSR with QSDP is much better value than AoA. It's a great resort too. If you're set on a twin though have you considered the other Mods?

 

[Rienchen]

We have stayed at CSR and just loved it, Port Orleans resorts are more expensive and Caribbean Beach just doesn't appeal to me.
I did wonder if I could just request a room with two doubles on the day, a king size is more expensive, so we would basically 'downgrade' but we wouldn't mind.
I wondered if a big convention is the reason that there only seem to be king size rooms available in October.

I have considered waiting a bit, but would like to go before LO turns 1, so before May 2015, I'd like to avoid the stage where they're itching to get out of the pushchair and I think the flight is a bit easier, the smaller they are.
Also the smaller, the less 'stuff' they need.

We have been there in April/May twice now and would like to try a different season, yet still warm enough to swim.

Elise, when you use the vanity area as a place for the pack & play, does that still leave room for using the sink?

 

[flortlebap]

The lack of rooms is probably more to do with them only releasing a set number at the free dining rate so there may be more available soon. Worth checking on the day IMO