Needing some help!!!!

[madcam]

Hi DISers!! I could really use your advice!

Ok....so I am planning our 2nd trip to WDW. (technically 3rd but I don't count the first since I was very young) My ideal trip was 7 or 8 days in late November or early December of 2009 staying at the Poly with one of the dining plans. DH says we can't afford to stay for that amount of time at the Poly. I am SOOOOO bummed!! But since I don't want to stay for less days (can't stay more because my daughter will already be missing 6 or 7 days of school) and I don't want to give up the dining plan and I want to go at that exact time of year, that means I have to look at the more affordable resorts.

I would prefer not to stay at any of the value resorts but can yall tell me your favorite moderate resorts and why they are your favorites? Please look at it as you trying to convince me where to stay. Tell me the perks, what you love, post pics if you have them. No such thing as "Too Much Info" here. I want to know ALL there is to know about your favorites. I really want to go so I am trying to be very open minded.

Thank yall for any info you can provide!!!

 

[Aliceacc]

WEll, my last trip was in 1990, and we stayed off site. My last on-site visit was in 1976, right after HS graduation.

So I'll skip the recommendations, OK?

But remember: you can get a 10-15% discount off your rooms through AAA.

 

[Redbudlover]

If you like the POLY, try the POR. Same lush, gorgeous landscaping, wonderful pool, nice lounge, a wonderful food court and a good sit down restaurant. And it has hot tubs, which the POLY doesn't have. You can take a boat to DDT - a wonderful, romantic trip at night, rent sea raycers at the marina, rent bicycles. And the walks along the river are so beautiful. You will love it.

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

Maybe you would like CBR? I have not stayed there yet (will in October) but it look very tropical to me. Also the new pool will open in September, it looks like it is going to be great!

 

[zumbergc]

I guess what view at the poly were you planning on staying at, the basic standard room, or ones which can cost a lot more. What price for the room were you wanting to pay.

Would going down to a standard room help?
Standard rooms over at AKL start out at a cheaper rate?

Otherwise look for a code over at the swan and dolphin, you can't get the dining plan, but you get a better location, near epcot, DHS. The codes are sitting in the theme park and attractions sticky at the top. You get a delux resort at disney standard price.

Another alternative would be to rent som dvc points, over on the dvc board, although look carefully about this, and research doing this, as it involves trust on your side and the person renting.

 

[ZebraDomeCrazy]

Port Orleans Riverside would be my choice. You said no such thing as too much info, soooo here goes;

1 - Truly beautiful landscaping! So relaxing and romantic. There is a nice path all around the resort and the sister resort French Quarter. You can even take a horse drawn carriage ride at night around it.
2- Probably one of the nicest and most fun pools at Disney, especially for a moderate. Pool bar area also nice. Fantastic playground, jungle gym area for the little ones. Nice hot tub, too!
3- Great food court, and sit down restaurant. Pretty lounge with very lively and funny entertainment - with snacks.
4- Huge game room.
5- Boat ride to Downtown Disney is a huge perk! A really relaxing and pretty ride.
6- Fishing pole rentals for the kids, right at the resort - or you can reserve a fishing trip and they'll pick you up right at the dock and take you out for a few hours. ($$)
7 - Rooms are really pretty. The Mansion side are elegant and the Alligator Bayou section rooms are "rustic". All have a curtain dividing the bathroom sink area from the bed area for added privacy getting dressed to get out. We have 4 of us and that really, really helps!
8 - Quiet pools -In addition to the fun main pool area, there are various quiet pools scattered throughout the resort, which are also nice and sometimes more convenient, especially at the end of the day.
9 - You may encounter complaints on the Boards regarding the buses here, but we have really never had a problem. And the time of year you are discussing is relatively slow so you really shouldn't have a problem at all.
10 - Bicylce rentals, hair wraps, great souvenier shops, pretty lobby, etc

Okay, that's just off the top of my head, but as you can see it really is wonderful. I would definitely recommend it, especially over a value resort. And honestly for a moderate, this one is IMO closest to a deluxe all around as it gets. Good luck choosing!! If you have any more questions, just ask. And have fun! Jane