Please help me choose a Resort :)

[rdw]

We are going for 5 nights at the end of May. From least expensive to most expensive we are looking at:
POFQ
AKL
WL
YC

Difference (including taxes and fees) is $650 between POFQ and YC, with the others in between.

POFQ rate is based on a PIN and YC is spring room rate. AKL and WL are through Expedia. All are the most basic rooms.

Kids will be 7 and 5 (boy and girl) at the time of the trip.

We stayed at the WL in 2011 and know that we love it. We went for one day last year after a cruise on the Wonder and stayed off property (Buena Vista Suites) - and that was fine, but I think we'd prefer to stay on property this time and avoid renting a car. We are booking this week thanks to $100 rt airfare on SW, so airfare is about $600 less than I expected. (Which I can use to justify YC, but that $$ is tied up with SW due to cancelled flights (canceling disney wonder cruise that was planned for April).

Lots of info there - which would you choose and why? I think I am mostly down to POFQ, WL, and YC. Difference between WL an YC is about $175.

I love the convenience of WL to MK and the wonderful theming. Like the idea of Storm Along Bay and proximity to Epcot / DHS.

Totally torn and looking for input from the experts! (This vacation is taking the place of our cancelled cruise).

 

[Trekkie]

Do you want something different? (And how much different?)

To me, AKL has a rather similar "feel" to WL. The theming and layout are very similar. (They were designed by the same architect.)

So, you can kind of think of AKL as "WL, but in Africa, with animals." (But no boat to MK or to Contemporary/FW.)

It would be similar, but not identical, to something you've already liked.

I've never stayed at YC, but I sure think you've hit the important benefits: Absolutely fantastic pool, and close to two parks.

Have you looked at the new splash area at WL? I also consider the ability to take a boat over to Chef Mickey's to be a nice benefit, too. (I'm a big Chef Mickey's fan.)

 

[lovin'fl]

YC has the best location and the best pool. I'd vote for that....BUT...WL and AKL are stunning and 2 of our faves as well. If you can swing it, go for YC.

 

[kristywvu]

I have stayed at several resorts but out of those you mentioned, I like WL the best. Good food, nice pool area and so easy to get to MK by boat or bus. It is also convenient to get to the Contemporary or FW campground by boat if you are planning to go to the Pirate and Pals cruise (Contemporary) or any of the Hoop-de-Doo/Mickey's BBQ/ Campfire Sing-a-long events (FW campground).

Another good option is the Art of Animation Resort-- it has become my son's favorite. It is much better than any of the other Value resorts. It is the newest resort so the rooms are very nice. With 2 kids, you will have much more room in the Family suites which have 2 bathrooms. The food court is great and the Nemo pool area is one of the best.

Have fun!

 

[rdw]

AoA is more expensive than the others. The splash area at WL did look great.

I think AKL is out due to the fact that it is all buses.

So, probably between WL and YC. (Or really save and do POFQ).

Really like the boat services from WL. Love the pool at YC.

I guess we could take a water taxi to Hollywood Studios and to the Boardwalk?

I'm thinking if we don't decide to spend all of our time at the parks, YC is a better option, but not sure. Really torn by WL proximity to MK.

Let me add another wrinkle. YC and POFQ are direct through disney with my TA. WL And AKL are expedia. (I'd feel guilty about the TA). I don't mind missing out on the dining plan.

Anyone know about the renovations at storm along bay - and when they should be done?

 

[minniemomRN]

I could tell you which one I would choose, but that wouldn't do much good since I am me and you are you ;-)

You need to ask yourself a few questions:

1. In which park do we want to spend the majority of our time?
If the answer is MK, understand that you will be spending a lot of time on the bus unless you choose WL. Likewise, if you desire to have dinner in Epcot or on the Boardwalk most nights, it might be better to be in the Epcot area. Any way, you get the picture.

2. Do you hop? Do you like to go to a park in the AM, come back to your resort and spend time in the pool, and then go to a different park at night?
Think about transportation issues, and how much your kids want to be in the pool. The three deluxe resorts all have nice pools -- SAB is almost a mini water park.

3. Do you want to try new things?
You loved WL. You know what you get there. Is that a comfort?

Sounds like you got a great deal on the airfare, so I would make the decision based on what types of things you want to do at Disney and how much time you want to spend traveling. No matter what you choose, you will be having a Magical Day

 

[Koh1977]

We are going for 5 nights at the end of May. From least expensive to most expensive we are looking at: POFQ AKL WL YC Difference (including taxes and fees) is $650 between POFQ and YC, with the others in between. POFQ rate is based on a PIN and YC is spring room rate. AKL and WL are through Expedia. All are the most basic rooms. Kids will be 7 and 5 (boy and girl) at the time of the trip. We stayed at the WL in 2011 and know that we love it. We went for one day last year after a cruise on the Wonder and stayed off property (Buena Vista Suites) - and that was fine, but I think we'd prefer to stay on property this time and avoid renting a car. We are booking this week thanks to $100 rt airfare on SW, so airfare is about $600 less than I expected. (Which I can use to justify YC, but that $$ is tied up with SW due to cancelled flights (canceling disney wonder cruise that was planned for April). Lots of info there - which would you choose and why? I think I am mostly down to POFQ, WL, and YC. Difference between WL an YC is about $175. I love the convenience of WL to MK and the wonderful theming. Like the idea of Storm Along Bay and proximity to Epcot / DHS. Totally torn and looking for input from the experts! (This vacation is taking the place of our cancelled cruise).

We loved WL last year, but trying BWI this time around mostly for the ease of getting to HS since we're doing Star Wars Weekends. LOVED BC, and YC isn't much different, but does have a bit more upper class vibe to it...? Was not impressed by POR so I'd probably stick to a deluxe if you can afford it. Also, Orbitz usually has an additional 10-15% off the discounted rates.

Where are you flying out of?? How'd you get $100 RT flights??

 

[Newsies]

YC is VERY nice. I would go with YC

Hope you have a magical trip!!

 

[minniemomRN]

I guess we could take a water taxi to Hollywood Studios and to the Boardwalk?



Yes. Or you can walk -- its about 20 minutes at a slow pace

 

[Koh1977]

AoA is more expensive than the others. The splash area at WL did look great. I think AKL is out due to the fact that it is all buses. So, probably between WL and YC. (Or really save and do POFQ). Really like the boat services from WL. Love the pool at YC. I guess we could take a water taxi to Hollywood Studios and to the Boardwalk? I'm thinking if we don't decide to spend all of our time at the parks, YC is a better option, but not sure. Really torn by WL proximity to MK. Let me add another wrinkle. YC and POFQ are direct through disney with my TA. WL And AKL are expedia. (I'd feel guilty about the TA). I don't mind missing out on the dining plan. Anyone know about the renovations at storm along bay - and when they should be done?

They are slated to be done by beginning of March.

 

[Kirk]

I like AKL but it really is a long bus ride from MK. POFQ is a bus ride anywhere. WL is my home resort (DVC) and I absolutely love the theme. But my personal preference is anything on the monorail (C, P, GF) or anything in Boardwalk area (BW, BC, YC). Both areas are so convenient and have so much variety a short walk, boat or monorail away.

 

[Ceryssa]

I was having the exact same discussion with myself yesterday. We stayed at YC in November for a few days and man, it's fantastic. Beautiful resort, plus Storm Along Bay, access to the Boardwalk, boat or walk option to Epcot and HS. We ended up going with WL because of its proximity to MK since we'll be there more than Epcot, the weather for our dates is unpredictable and we're skipping HS this trip, so a lot of BC's (YC is under refurb during our dates )benefit is lost for us, plus the cost factor. I'd encourage you to try YC, especially if the cost difference is minimal. I'm not sure what the refurb status is on the pool during your dates, but I do know at least parts of it will be open, and the work being done on the rooms should be in BC and BCV , so that shouldn't affect you.

 

[DemoBri1]

As a veteran of multiple stays at both resorts here are my thoughts...

YC has the best pool bar none. It is a bit more "stodgy" inside than it's sister resort BC or in your case WL. Also, you tend to get more convention people staying at YC because of the convention center. You are definitely more centrally located at YC being able to get to Epcot or DHS easily, and I think you have access to more restaurants at any place on property if you factor in the Boardwalk, Swan and Dolphin and WS in Epcot.

WL I love the theming at and you are a short boat ride away from MK, or you can also boat over to the CR to catch the monorail. You also are fairly close to one of the best value eateries anywhere on property in The Trails End Buffet over at FW. Also, WCC is my favorite place for breakfast. Not so sure about WL pool area as we have not been there since it was re-habbed. My son and daughter loved the bunk bed rooms at WL and it gave us a bit more room within the room.

You can rent bikes at WL and do some biking on the trails around the resort and over to the campgrounds. At YC you have to rent the Surrey Bikes over at BW and sometimes trying to navigate around Crescent Lake can be a chore depending on the crowds.

Honestly...I think it all comes down to what parks you'll be spending most of your time at. If you are going to be doing more than one day at MK I think go for WL.

 

[mevelandry]

Wilderness Lodge or Yacht Club.

 

[kiki02]

Wilderness Lodge or Yacht Club.

AKL your kids are perfect age. Do this now or soon with them. imho.

 

[rdw]

Thanks for the response!

Been thinking since I posted (even before I had a chance to read responses) - that even with the cost of YC - if I added in dining (to be determined) - we are still looking at less than we would have spent on our cruise on the Wonder (same # of nights). With that thinking, it's actually less $$ than we would have spent on cruise. It's the park tickets that put the expense higher (but the cruise doesn't have that anyway - but we are missing out on the great entertainment and kids activities included in cruise prove.

If we were to treat this vacay the way we cruise - ie, very relaxed - rather than Commando (which we've done at the parks before), I think YC makes even more sense. There's nothing that says we need to be park warriors. We could take some day time to just hang at the pool (which we did not do when we went in 2011) - I think we would really enjoy YC.

Not sure where we will spend our time yet, but our kids are more about the characters and the shows than the rides. I could see going to HS for Star Wars weekend (Sunday) - Ana also in general going back there. But, given their ages, should be a lot of time at MK as well.

Probably a bonus that YC offers the option of the dining plan if we can get good reservations. (I'm a little concerned given that we're well within the 180 days, but we'll see.)

Basically - I think if we go to relax and see characters and shows and get in what rises we can with some nice family time - YC is the best bet. And given how nice SAB is, maybe we'll save $$ later in the summer by skipping our annual waterpark trip. (Near home).

I'm sure I'll still be flip flopping, but I Think I rationalized well

No one thinks POFQ for $650 less than YC?

 

[Trekkie]

Just pointing out, I've never stayed at YC, but to me, nothing says "quiet and relaxing" like WL.

To me, it's almost spooky how quiet that place is, considering how close it is to MK.

And if you want characters, it's really tough to beat Chef Mickey's (a boat ride away). And there's tons of entertainment at Ft Wilderness (also a boat ride away.)

But, I do admit. BC/YC sure seems to have it's advantages, too. Starting, IMO, with a pool that's almost a water park. (And, if you want dining options, it's really tough to beat having EPCOT and the boardwalk right there.)

 

[rdw]

Just pointing out, I've never stayed at YC, but to me, nothing says "quiet and relaxing" like WL.

To me, it's almost spooky how quiet that place is, considering how close it is to MK.

And if you want characters, it's really tough to beat Chef Mickey's (a boat ride away). And there's tons of entertainment at Ft Wilderness (also a boat ride away.)

But, I do admit. BC/YC sure seems to have it's advantages, too. Starting, IMO, with a pool that's almost a water park. (And, if you want dining options, it's really tough to beat having EPCOT and the boardwalk right there.)

Too funny and too true about WL offering more peace and quiet ... However, to me, just not doing the parks commando and spending time chilling at the pool will be quiet and relaxing

Good point about Ft Wilderness. We've never been there. But for $177, think I'm leaning yacht club. (And that gives us the to piton to choose the dining plan which we won't have if we do WL through Expedia.

Still open to input - I have 6 days till deposit is owed

 

[WDGPCFR]

show your kids the videos for each of the resorts and let them pick

 

[partigus]

Thanks for the response!

Been thinking since I posted (even before I had a chance to read responses) - that even with the cost of YC - if I added in dining (to be determined) - we are still looking at less than we would have spent on our cruise on the Wonder (same # of nights). With that thinking, it's actually less $$ than we would have spent on cruise. It's the park tickets that put the expense higher (but the cruise doesn't have that anyway - but we are missing out on the great entertainment and kids activities included in cruise prove.

If we were to treat this vacay the way we cruise - ie, very relaxed - rather than Commando (which we've done at the parks before), I think YC makes even more sense. There's nothing that says we need to be park warriors. We could take some day time to just hang at the pool (which we did not do when we went in 2011) - I think we would really enjoy YC.

Not sure where we will spend our time yet, but our kids are more about the characters and the shows than the rides. I could see going to HS for Star Wars weekend (Sunday) - Ana also in general going back there. But, given their ages, should be a lot of time at MK as well.

Probably a bonus that YC offers the option of the dining plan if we can get good reservations. (I'm a little concerned given that we're well within the 180 days, but we'll see.)

Basically - I think if we go to relax and see characters and shows and get in what rises we can with some nice family time - YC is the best bet. And given how nice SAB is, maybe we'll save $$ later in the summer by skipping our annual waterpark trip. (Near home).

I'm sure I'll still be flip flopping, but I Think I rationalized well

No one thinks POFQ for $650 less than YC?