Planning a Christmas trip, help...

[cassmat]

Whoo hoo, we won a travel gift certificate and are planning, planning, planning...

We are Disney fans and have been every year for a long time, but this is extra special as we are staying on Disney property for 11 nights...most we have ever been is 3 nights, as we can't justify the expense, lol...and at Christmas...a thing my hubby said he would NEVER do..

Here's a rough plan, to accomadate everyone...

1. 3 nights at the Polynesian
2. 5 nights at Coronado Springs, we want to try a mid-range
3. 3 nights at The Beach Club, we love it, and this will be where we are for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day!!

Questions, we can do Concierge for 3 nights at The Polynesian or The Beach Club...I have heard the food selction is better at The Polynesian, BUT due to it being a holiday, I thought it would be more special to do that at The Beach Club...plus do you know if you call ahead, would you be able to have a small artificial tree in the room?

And are concierge rooms better at The Poly or The Beach Club?
Our kids wil be 10 and 14 at that time.

We are thinking the Polynesian first as that will be much quieter then the next week, so more time at The MK.

The other thing we could do is 3 nights at The Polynesian, 4 at Coronado, 4 at The Beach Club BUT no shot at concierge.

Any advice, opinions?

 

[cassmat]

to my own thread, lol!

 

[Mrs Hobbes]

I can't help with your concierge questions, but we stayed at Coronado for Christmas last year and we took a 3ft artifical tree with us to put up in the room. No one said anything about this so I assumed it was ok.

 

[cassmat]

OK, how was Coronado at Christmas? Buses on Christmas Day? Could you move anywhere? LOL, any help would be great!!

 

[Cass]

Hi cassmat, you have 2 hotel change days, that means you have to check by 11:00am and then check in again by 3pm.

You know you will be without a room for the time in between? Also you are traveling at a super busy time of year... the hotels will be sold out and the parks packed. You will want the hotel to move your luggage for you but it might be better for you to do it yourself (ie) check out, take a cab from Poly to CSR, check in and leave your luggage until your room is ready. Same for switching from CSR to the Beach Club, I wouldn't trust my luggage to bell services during the busiest time of the year, it might get lost or delayed.

IMO I would keep concierge to the last part of your stay, because it is so nice and it's harder to go from Concierge to Non concierge. but, I have stayed concierge at BC and although it was very nice I think Poly has a better set up for concierge with the separate building and big lounge.

BC has a tiny lounge and it closes in between services, they actually close the doors so you can't get in for a drink while they set up for the afternoon food and then for the evening desserts they close again.

 

[ObsessedwiththeMouse]

WOW, that's alot of changing of your rooms. We stayed over Christmas at the POR and Poly and just changing once was a pain.

I personally didn't like the Coronado Springs, but others here do like it. To each their own.

I would try to limit it to 2 hotels and not the 3.

Congrats on winning the trip!!

 

[Cass]

I agree with obsessed, 2 hotels would be much easier to handle. Could you not split the time between a moderate an a deluxe? (doing the moderate first)?

 

[cassmat]

Too many choices, but I have now sent our plans to the travel person...changing hotels is not a huge deal as we have a car...
We looked at the prices and uggghhh $500 for snacks didn't seem worth it, so no concierge for us.

3 nights at Polynesian, 4 nights at Coronado Springs then 4 at The Beach Club, made more sense, so we will be there on the 23rd...instead of checking in on the 24th.

My son, 14, wants to spend a day just wandering the resort area, so we will do that one day that we move...
Also he wants to do Disney Quest, so that will probably happen on the other change over day!!

Now I will stress til it's all confirmed then stress about presents, that are small and will travel! One child still beleives..she will be 10 by then, so who knows..

 

[cassmat]

Too many choices, but I have now sent our plans to the travel person...changing hotels is not a huge deal as we have a car...
We looked at the prices and uggghhh $500 for snacks didn't seem worth it, so no concierge for us.

3 nights at Polynesian, 4 nights at Coronado Springs then 4 at The Beach Club, made more sense, so we will be there on the 23rd...instead of checking in on the 24th.

My son, 14, wants to spend a day just wandering the resort area, so we will do that one day that we move...
Also he wants to do Disney Quest, so that will probably happen on the other change over day!!

Now I will stress til it's all confirmed then stress about presents, that are small and will travel! One child still beleives..she will be 10 by then, so who knows..

 

[Cass]

Concierge is more than just snacks... you get advance itinerary planning to help you get all your ADRs, you get a nice lounge to relax in and have breakfast, remember the resorts/restaurants will be packed! You get cocktails and dessets in the evenings and nice appetizer foods at the dinner hour. I love concierge and stay when I can swing it.

Good luck with the planning, I would still just do 2 resorts if I were you, you are a trooper to try 3!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Last December my family and I stayed Club Level at the Polynesian and we thought the food they served in the lounge was great. The only thing we did not like were the Sticky Wings, however everything else was good. Besides that the lounge has a fridge stocked 24 hours a day with Coke, Diet Coke and Sprite, so you could take them anytime you wanted. Their lounge also happens to be very big with a lot of tables, although considering the Hawaii Longhouse is 3 floors they need a lot of space for all the guests who stay there.