Ok Lets Talk Resorts,

[mushumadness]

I can here the "here she goes again!"

Ok So we are looking at splitting the three week stay

Any suggestions? Also does any annual pass discounts come out for such as the beach resort etc?

Any suggestion? we were either looking at splitting ten days by eleven day, of three sevens, what do you think

anna

 

[AlanUK]

Hi Anna,

We've split our stay in the past and whilst I agree that it's lovely to experience different resorts, I would say that it is slightly unsettling as well having to pack up your stuff and move on those couple of extra times. We never really felt like we could unpack properly until we reached our last resort as it was always in the backs of our minds that we would have to put it all back in our bags and move on again until that point

Having said that if we were going to split up our stay again and were looking at resort hotelsI would probably go for The Beach Club, Animal Kingdom Lodge (Savannah View) and if we could afford it the Grand Floridian or the Poly.

Have fun planning what you are going to do

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Must admit although we have done 2/3 centre holidays we have never split our resorts/hotels whilst staying in Orlando.

I think if you are going to have a split stay you need to go for 3 weeks, that way you could plan to stay at your last resort or location for the majority of your holiday.
To move around so much will in my opinion be too much hard work.

Next month we are staying at the Boardwalk for the 1st few nights but then have the final 17 nights at a villa.

 

[jjpenguin]

I agree, we aren't really splitters... but if you do do it then definitely start good and get better... moderate to luxury to concierge perhaps!?!?

AP discounts usually come out pretty close to dates but for most hotels, you can change your booking, if done via Disney, to include the discount. Check out Mousesavers for more info on past AP discounts.

 

[Miffy2003]

Perhaps you could furbish us with some additional information so that we can give more considered advice?

Budget would be helpful. I know you had booked (?) Concierge GF and / or Contemporary or Poly but cancelled due to reasons beyond your control. There's not much point me suggesting say the Boardwalk if this is more than you care to spend.

I seem to remember you have stayed at Pop, CBR, and at least one of the All Stars so I am guessing you don't need or want opinions on those.

Personally I really liked CBR but I seem to recall you saying you hated it.

I also liked AsMo very much but it really depends on your party and what sort of accommodation you are looking for.

We like to split our stays as we enjoy exploring the different resorts. Last trip we did CBR, BWV, AKL and SSR.

 

[gilld]

I don't mind splitting but a maximum of 2. Given the budget I would choose what we did last year which was Beach Club Villas(or Beach Club) followed by GF Concierge or just possibly AKL.

If it needs to be a moderate, then POFQ wins my vote - none of the others appeal to me.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

This year I spilting it up:-

1 week Royal Pacific at Universal for first in line access,
1 week Disney Magic DCL to Carribean
1 week WDW Polynesian

I like the Contemporary as well both ofr easy access to MK

If you do not like cruises Clearwater Hilton for a break in between to avoid HITTING the theme park WALL

 

[mushumadness]

Hiya

Sorry I didnt give alot of info to start with

We are definatly looking either ten days value, and eleven days deluxe
or 7 days value 14 days deluxe
or whatever lol

But theres definatly going to be a value at the start and I do love pop.

I seem to remember being advised that epcot area is very nice. Also remember we will be sending my parents to which ever is our last hotel as well.

Also is there such a thing as an epcot view? and whats the difference between yacht boat and boardwalk sorry to sound silly

Alos what resorts can you get a boat to the parks from

 

[LJP]

Hi, DH and i have spilt our stay a few times. We always stay down the coast the first week and then keep best till last at WDW!!
Last year we had 4 nights at AKL, 2 at Poly and 1 at Dolphin
Year before 3 WL and 3 AKL
Have also split CBR and AKL

As you can probably tell we love AKL our absolute fav - even better since the codes are out for this year and a standard view room at AKL is just about £85

Have fun whatever you decide. It's almost like having 2 different holidays

 

[mushumadness]

wilderness lodge may also be of interest to us, can you see epcot fireworks from there?

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Hmmm, I was right again: said that youy would want to change your hotel (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=13557941#post13557941 and http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=13531662#post13531662 just to start with... DESPITE your protestations...).

I will re-iterate my advice from the previous threads (and others):
- Why do you not wait until AFTER you go to Orlando this year (Spetember) BEFORE making any more changes???

The only real way to find out what you personally like is to go and look around the resorts - they are all very different. It is great fun to look around the resorts - so you can have fun looking and planning.

Availability will not change much at all (for Novwmber 2007) between now and October. Neither will prices change... There is NO ADVANTAGE in changing your booking now, RATHER than waiting and seeing what you like.

Otherwise I pretty much GUARANTEE that - if you change now - you will change again after you have visited.

Ok, you are the customer, and you have the perogative to change your mind twice a week for the next 16 months if you want... BUT I can also guarantee that your Dreams agent will be tearing their hair out by the roots by then...

So why not just concentrate on creating a "short list" of resorts to visit in September, rather than changing your reservation again now?

Boo

 

[mushumadness]

This year I arnt
really in the position to tour resorts

we have visited

pop century
all stars
caribbean beach
grand floridian
polynesian
contemporary
boardwalk
and had a walk round sarartoga springs

we went to see the christmas decorations

As we were not at the resorts at night I wanted to know about viewing of the fireworks.

I also wanted to hear from people who had had the experiance of actually staying in the resorts for a holidays, as we just stayed stayed at each resort a while

 

[AlanUK]

wilderness lodge may also be of interest to us, can you see epcot fireworks from there?

Do you mean Wishes in the MK?

Wilderness lodge is in the Magic Kingdom Area and not the Epcot area, there is absolutely no chance that you would be able to see Illuminations from there.

It's also unlikely you would see much, if any, of Wishes either as the Contemporary blocks any view of the MK from Wilderness Lodge.

It is a nice resort though and worth a visit if you get time

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Sorry but I am totally by this thread, are you changing an existing booking?

Never stayed on-site yet but would be happy to give you my thoughts on the Boardwalk when we visit next month, however there are many people in a better position than me to advise....?

 

[wilma-bride]

Anna, I too am confused by this thread. I am sure you said that the reason you had decided to cancel the grand plans you had originally for either Poly or GF concierge was due to cost. Then you said you would be going for 3 weeks instead of 2, staying at Pop to keep costs down but taking your Mum and Dad which (I assume) bumps costs back up. Now you are talking about staying at a deluxe resort again (albeit for a few days) and paying for your Mum and Dad to stay at a deluxe too. Surely that would take the costs way beyond what you would have been paying originally.

Sorry if I sound harsh but, over the last few months, you have been given some great advice by many DISers and it appears that you don't seem to take much notice of anything that is said. I don't think anyone here is in a position to tell you 16 months in advance whether you are likely to get a good AP discount on your room. If, as you say, you have booked through DU, why not ask them for recommendations based on their vast experience and knowledge and what you want to do. The trouble with asking people on here is that they will always tell you what they would like but that may not suit you and Chris and, if they are anything like me, they are probably at a loss right now about exactly what it is that you do want

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Completely agree with Joh - she managed to put it a lot better than I did.

To put it frankly, because you change your mind so often, there seems little point in giving advice - since two weeks down the line you will have forgotten any advice and changed your accomodation again (no exaggeration - you seem to make a fairly major change to your existing booking every week or two). This is fair enough (your holiday), but we know that there is little point in spending time typing anything helpful .

With 16 months remaining, at your current rate of change, you are likely to change hotel/flights/dates another 60 odd times... Yes someone will tell you "which resort has the best Epcot firework views", yes you will pick that resort (with a "Epcot View Room"). But in two weeks time you will have forgotten the fireworks and be back on to the "which resort has the best concierge" or "which has the best pool"

Yes we all DESPERATELY want to help you have the best holiday possible, but that seems impossible. Nothing is EVER perfect in this life - there are always compromises: even with Disney Resorts .

My advice is STILL to draw up a short list and visit any that you haven't already been to that are on it (like Yacht/Beach Club). The view of the fireworks at Epcot is a great feature, but a resort is about more than just one feature... You WILL have time to visit a few resorts (for ADRs if nothing else), but you just want to make changes and have to make them now. That's the bit I don't understand

None of that is meant to be rude, I just want to help: I don't think that you need help with "firework views", but with a "change management strategy"...

Boo

 

[mushumadness]

ok so FLAME me ok sorry for asking,

And the influx of money thats beause someone DIED! which is a personal thing which I didnt want to discuss and still do not wish to, but thanx for making the day of the funeral worse.

The taking of my parents, I can afford as we down graded from uc to premium which covered their trip costs, plus it is instead of their birthday christmas and anniversary presents next year which often rank above £600

Sorry I arnt perfect and yes I change my mind alot, but then thats my choice and I have no things to tie me down so I generally do as I pelase when I please.

I will remember not to ask again, and to keep my mouth generally shut

As you can imagine I am just a little upset by two certain replys,

Thank you alan, ljp and andrew derek, gilld, miffy jjpenguin for your replys they are actually really appreciated even if it doesnt seem like I listen I do actually.

feel free to close the post, its obviously not valued at all

 

[wilma-bride]

Anna, nobody is asking you to justify yourself. All I was trying to say in my reply is that you're a long way off your trip - you haven't even had this year's yet. Why not wait, pick up a bit more information and then decide nearer the time. Regarding the money, I'm sorry you'e lost someone you were obviously close to but you have to admit, you have been extremely open with everyone else about everything else that goes on in your life so you can't blame me for not knowing - it wasn't a deliberate effort to make your day worse. I appreciate you might be upset by the replies from myself and Boo but (and I can't speak for Boo) I can't help but think if you don't know what you want, how is anyone else supposed to

 

[mushumadness]

trust me I wont say anything else

and its really nice to know everyone may be thinking that about me.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

I am sorry for your loss Anna - beyond a certain age, most or us have lost someone close to us (infact, I lost my father just after my 30th Birthday).

However, nobody could know about your loss. So neither Joh nor I are to blame for making you feel worse because of that or because of the funeral today. Yes sometimes people say some things that you don't like to hear. Sometimes these things are said at "bad times", BUT neither of us knew it was a "bad time" (and certainly wouldn't be untactful if we knew it was a "bad time"). Both of us just want to make you think about the bigger picture - and stop you wasting much of the next 16 months changing your plans constantly and running around in circles.

I stand by what I said CONSTRUCTIVELY about moving forward (a "change management startegy" if you like):
- draw up your requirements for a resort/hotel
- compare the resorts to your requirements
- draw up a short list of resorts which meet your requirements (maybe 3 to 5)
- visit those resorts on your shorty list when you are in Orlando in September. If you only think that you will have time to visit 3, then only have a short list of 3...

I am sorry that isn't what you want to hear.

Boo