catra121
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2011
Okay...so I feel pretty confident in my knowledge about the various Disney resorts. I am planning a trip in September 2013 which went from being a solo trip to now being me, my brother, and my cousin (who will be going to Disney for the first time EVER). I'm VERY excited about this cousins trip. We are all in our 20s.
A little background:
I will be paying for the resort room as I have an annual pass and won't need to pay for tickets and the boys will be paying for their tickets. We will all pay for our own airfare and divide up the costs of meals (I have a TIW card...so that will help with the cost). I don't want to pay too much or waste money...but I DO want it to be an amazing experience.
My only real requirement with regards to resort is that it be on property. I don't do off site when I am paying the bill...lol!
My cousin doesn't care and will leave everything up to me.
My brother tells me today he has three requests.
1. There is a kitchenette.
2. There is a place to work out.
3. There is a hot tub.
UGH...my brother has to ruin all my plans...lol!
What I was thinking was that I would get us a suite at AoA in the Lion King area (which is my cousin's favorite Disney movie). Here are my reasons:
1. THREE beds. We are cousins and not the sharing a bed type. So each of us having our own bed would be a big plus in my opinion. Otherwise the boys will have to alternate who sleeps on the floor...it won't be me.
2. TWO bathrooms. Ummm...one girl and two boys. Enough said.
3. A kitchenette. My brother is a health nut and I knew this would be important to him. I also like that we could bring leftovers back to the room because I LOVE to have leftovers for breakfast and it would keep costs down.
4. I think it would be a very DISNEY experience for my cousin and since Lion King is his favorite movie...awesome.
5. It's new and I would like to stay there.
6. It's still a value so costs are reasonable and I like the transportation at the values.
Alright. My other idea was to stay at a deluxe. I would LOVE to stay at AKL and had actually intended to stay there when I was planning this trip solo. I think my cousin would really love this resort. But...only two beds, one bathroom, and no kitchenette. We could stay in a studio which would give us the kitchenette but then it's a pull out couch...which we could deal with I am sure. It's going to be pricey though. Don't think I would want to spend the money for a one bedroom. Plus side there would be hot tubs and a fitness center.
Now...we could do a slightly bigger deluxe and then we would get two beds plus a daybed. This would work...but no kitchenette. BUT...there would be a fitness center and hot tubs.
Now...I believe that I read somewhere that you can USE the fitness centers at other resorts for $12 a day...so if it's that important to my brother then he could go ahead and do that a couple of times during the trip and just pay for it himself.
And my feeling about the hot tubs...he can take a hot bath in his own bathroom...lol!
But seriously...I don't want to just ignore what he wants. He said the kitchenette is the number one important thing to him. AoA suite would have that. He could use the fitness center at another resort if he wants for $12 a day (if I have that right).
So what do you guys think? What would be some good options for us keeping in mind a reasonable budget. Most of our time will be spent in the parks...I don't use the pool or other amenities. My brother will likely work out 3 times during an 8 day stay...though he did say he could work around the fitness center if it wasn't an option. I'm going to wait until fall discounts come out to book the resort but am beginning the planning/budgeting now.
I am also hesitant to rent DVC points since my cousin and brother are two guys in their 20s...not the most reliable people I have ever met. I would hate to rent points for a one bedroom DVC and then have them flake out on me. A studio wouldn't be a big deal because I wouldn't care about spending that on myself. But the options would probably be limited on this short of notice.
Thanks in advance for any opinions as I try and sort through this...
A little background:
I will be paying for the resort room as I have an annual pass and won't need to pay for tickets and the boys will be paying for their tickets. We will all pay for our own airfare and divide up the costs of meals (I have a TIW card...so that will help with the cost). I don't want to pay too much or waste money...but I DO want it to be an amazing experience.
My only real requirement with regards to resort is that it be on property. I don't do off site when I am paying the bill...lol!
My cousin doesn't care and will leave everything up to me.
My brother tells me today he has three requests.
1. There is a kitchenette.
2. There is a place to work out.
3. There is a hot tub.
UGH...my brother has to ruin all my plans...lol!
What I was thinking was that I would get us a suite at AoA in the Lion King area (which is my cousin's favorite Disney movie). Here are my reasons:
1. THREE beds. We are cousins and not the sharing a bed type. So each of us having our own bed would be a big plus in my opinion. Otherwise the boys will have to alternate who sleeps on the floor...it won't be me.
2. TWO bathrooms. Ummm...one girl and two boys. Enough said.
3. A kitchenette. My brother is a health nut and I knew this would be important to him. I also like that we could bring leftovers back to the room because I LOVE to have leftovers for breakfast and it would keep costs down.
4. I think it would be a very DISNEY experience for my cousin and since Lion King is his favorite movie...awesome.
5. It's new and I would like to stay there.
6. It's still a value so costs are reasonable and I like the transportation at the values.
Alright. My other idea was to stay at a deluxe. I would LOVE to stay at AKL and had actually intended to stay there when I was planning this trip solo. I think my cousin would really love this resort. But...only two beds, one bathroom, and no kitchenette. We could stay in a studio which would give us the kitchenette but then it's a pull out couch...which we could deal with I am sure. It's going to be pricey though. Don't think I would want to spend the money for a one bedroom. Plus side there would be hot tubs and a fitness center.
Now...we could do a slightly bigger deluxe and then we would get two beds plus a daybed. This would work...but no kitchenette. BUT...there would be a fitness center and hot tubs.
Now...I believe that I read somewhere that you can USE the fitness centers at other resorts for $12 a day...so if it's that important to my brother then he could go ahead and do that a couple of times during the trip and just pay for it himself.
And my feeling about the hot tubs...he can take a hot bath in his own bathroom...lol!
But seriously...I don't want to just ignore what he wants. He said the kitchenette is the number one important thing to him. AoA suite would have that. He could use the fitness center at another resort if he wants for $12 a day (if I have that right).
So what do you guys think? What would be some good options for us keeping in mind a reasonable budget. Most of our time will be spent in the parks...I don't use the pool or other amenities. My brother will likely work out 3 times during an 8 day stay...though he did say he could work around the fitness center if it wasn't an option. I'm going to wait until fall discounts come out to book the resort but am beginning the planning/budgeting now.
I am also hesitant to rent DVC points since my cousin and brother are two guys in their 20s...not the most reliable people I have ever met. I would hate to rent points for a one bedroom DVC and then have them flake out on me. A studio wouldn't be a big deal because I wouldn't care about spending that on myself. But the options would probably be limited on this short of notice.
Thanks in advance for any opinions as I try and sort through this...