Please help me!!!!!! (pick a resort!!)

[Millermom0606]

Ok so heres the deal......

we are going this time next year, there are 5 of us that 'count' and what will be an 18 month old (roughly)
Me
DH
DD(will be 7)
DD (will be 4)
DS(will be 3)
DS (will be 18 mos)


I am trying very hard to pick a hotel and I'm STUCK

I know Shades of Green is a GREAT deal...... They don't have a meal plan but They would only be $2143 for room and tickets

The Cabins at Ft. Wilderness...... Tickets, Meal plan, and hotel comes to $4838

Port Orleans Riverside..... Tickets, Meal Plan, and hotel comes to $3924

OR we can HOPE they give us a room discount again (MILITARY 40%) and book the AKL Jambo Villa again.... which wouldn't be much more than The Cabins at Ft. Wilderness.....



My two worries are
#1 the Cabins sound SO far from everything and I don't want to tire my kiddos out before we ever get to the parks.......

#2 Trying to fit on a DOUBLE bed with my husband in PORv and Ft.W.C.

#3 Shades of Green isn't Disney "themed'' so will we REALLY feel like we're there?? (anyone know what I mean?? LOL)

SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!


We're hoping to not go over $5500 for room, tickets, and food.....

 

[Missytara]

Did you consider the Suite at AllStarsMusic?

Queen bed in bedroom
Pull out couch and chairs
Kitchenette
Second bathroom

I would price that one out as well.

 

[Disney grandma]

Shades of Green is a great place to stay, and what a savings! You are within walking distance of the Polynesian resort, the monorail, and the rooms are very large. While it may not be Disney themed you will definitely know you are on Disney property.

 

[wishing4PA]

My two worries are
#1 the Cabins sound SO far from everything and I don't want to tire my kiddos out before we ever get to the parks.......

#2 Trying to fit on a DOUBLE bed with my husband in PORv and Ft.W.C.

Hi Millermom...

I know you'll hear soon enough from the real experts. I just had to put my 2 cents in because I felt so close to MK at the cabins! Granted, getting to HS took a while, but MK and EPCOT didn't feel far, even though we did have to take that internal bus before hopping on the boat.
OTOH, I can't recommend the Murphy bed in the cabins for comfort. If you can play it up for the kiddos and get them to sleep out there, ... That would be the best plan if staying in the cabins.

Sounds like SOG is your best option, though. JMHO

Have fun planning!

 

[princesspeach]

What about csr? Its about the same price as por and they have queen beds. They also have a health club, cs and ts eateries. The pool there has a great slide and big jacuzzi. We only spent one night there before we moved to poly , but if ever have to say at a moderate I would stay here. I agree double beds or too small. Have you priced out Wl. I believe Its the cheapest of the deluxes. Also take into consideration there will probably be some public discounts that help bring the cost down.

 

[Millermom0606]

Thanks everyone!! I didn't realize that SOG was so close to the Poly.... hmmmm...... well that adds a + in their column LOL

I really think its between SOG and the Cabins.... but unless we magically spend like $2000 in food for the six of us, I can't see how SOG isn't the best option...... LOL

 

[sharadoc]

Hi. Unless you plan to be out most of the day, there aren't a lot of options for the meal plan in Fort Wilderness. If you plan on spending time in the room, maybe you could consider NOT getting a meal plan, getting a room discount instead (which is usually 40% on cabins) and cook some meals in your room and pay for the rest out of pocket. With little ones, their meals at CS are only $5-$7 each and you would be able to share, too.

I don't think I would ever do the cabins with the meal plan unless kids were older and liked restaurants. Looks like you'll need more down time with little ones, too.

A PP mentioned the All-Star Family Suite - we love it there and the price is right!

 

[Millermom0606]

I'm 'thinkin' there will be some room discounts at some point too Princess, thats why I'm so confused.... do I make the reservations on what I 'HOPE' they'll be or what I know they are right now......

Plus, even with a room % discount, it will probably still be more than SOG, and any money we save on the room we can spend on other stuff

 

[mickey&minniealways]

What about renting points from a dvc member. That way you can get a 1 bdrm villa for a lot less. You would have a full kitchen and a washer dryer. You won't have to worry about the bed being to short for you DH, you will have a king that way along with that huge tub in the master bath. You would also get that disney themeing you are looking for that way. If you go with Dave's it is about $13 per point. If you rent direct from a member you average around $10 per point. It really does make it more afordable.

 

[greg42]

Here's something that happened in our party on recent trip: the family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children under 3) who originally booked family suite at All Star Music switched to 2 regular rooms. Why? Because the main difference between a family suite and 2 regular rooms is the kitchenette, which I believe is just micro and small fridge and a small counter. Okay, they DO change the layout a bit, and you get a couch in place of some of the beds. This can be a more useful layout, I'm sure, depending upon how much time you spend awake in the room. But it has a price: the family suite costs MORE than 2 rooms (which can connect, and I'll come back to this in a sec) and it doesn't qualify for free dining (if offered during that period), or didn't when we booked and double checked.

So, another thing to compare in these scenarios, as long as you have young children, is 2 standard rooms at an All Star resort (I don't know if one is better than another but Music seemed good and I hear that Movies at least has not been renovated). If you have young children, connecting rooms are GUARANTEED. In most cases this means you'll get 4 beds, as well as still 2 baths, 2 TVs, etc.

EDIT: Please note others have told me that although CMs will tell you this on the phone there are reports of still not getting connecting rooms even with small children.

I dunno if it beats Shades of Green though. Given the location, Shades of Green could be worth more than All Star (which is fairly far away from MK, for example). The actual theming of the resort means nothing to me but may be appealing to the children of course. I certainly can't see paying that huge difference for POR or the even bigger diff to Ft Wilderness cabins. Food can add up, but I don't think it'll add up to $1800! If you want to find something with meal plan that's closer to the SoG price, it's going to be in the All Stars.

Renting DVC points is another idea. I was intrigued by it, but others in the party didn't want to try it. Perhaps another trip I will convince them. You won't get meal plans this way either AFAIK.

 

[ElizabethB]

All Star Family Music Suites are book-able with free dining. But, when the units apportioned for the free dining promotion are sold out, then that's it. One needs to book a unit as soon as possible after a free dining promotion is announced.

 

[Millermom0606]

Thank you all SO much!!!!

One more question for you...... can anyone tell me how much of a hike it really is to the Poly from SOG?? I may make another thread about it, but thought I'd ask here first

 

[Sue M]

Poly and CR have the largest rooms on property, and have 2 queens, a daybed, and plenty of room for the pack & play. Plus they have balconies, so you can sit outside while the kids are sleeping.
The Garden Wing rooms at CR (no balcony) are the cheaper option, and you can try to request a patio on 1st floor.

You can get the discounts either free dining, or room discount. For your size family you'd have to do the Disney Math to see what the better discount is for you. For us, at the deluxe the 40% off room rate and paying for DDP is cheapest- I go with my dds, either 1 or both. DH stays home

 

[lovesdumbo]

I've never stayed at SoG but from photos I've seen I think I would stick with that.

getting a room discount instead (which is usually 40% on cabins)

Cabins are now classified at a "moderate" hotel so I wouldn't expect a 40% discount on the cabins.

I certainly can't see paying that huge difference for POR or the even bigger diff to Ft Wilderness cabins.

One room at POR is cheaper than 2 rooms at a value.

 

[rie'smom]

Thank you all SO much!!!!

One more question for you...... can anyone tell me how much of a hike it really is to the Poly from SOG?? I may make another thread about it, but thought I'd ask here first

It isn't that far. We stayed at SOG when it was known as the golf resort and we'd walk to the Poly so the kids could ride the moonorail.

 

[sharadoc]

Cabins are now classified at a "moderate" hotel so I wouldn't expect a 40% discount on the cabins.

Yes they are a moderate but the last few room discounts were 40% on deluxe and the cabins. Bounceback last year, too and my pin gave me 40% on the cabins even though it wasn't specifically mentioned in the pin e-mail. It's actually usually a pretty good bet that the cabins will have a better discount than the regular mods.

 

[Millermom0606]

Thanks!!

Ok so now I'm stuck between csr and sog. Assuming there isn't a room discount in which case we'll be all over akl or blt.

But how long will I have to wait for the possible discount to come out???

I can jump when they come out no problem, but don't want to miss out ::sigh::

SO MANY CHOICES!!

Thanks for your help!!!

 

[lovesdumbo]

Yes they are a moderate but the last few room discounts were 40% on deluxe and the cabins. Bounceback last year, too and my pin gave me 40% on the cabins even though it wasn't specifically mentioned in the pin e-mail. It's actually usually a pretty good bet that the cabins will have a better discount than the regular mods.

That's interesting. On the Disney site now for Nov/Dec discounts they don't list anything special for the Cabins so I would assume it is 30% off like the other moderates. They list GF & AKL as exceptions to the 40% deluxe but no exception noted for the cabins.

 

[jimandami]

Rent DVC points!!

 

[Tinkermom76]

just FYI I just checked and if you go next september and stay at Poly free dining is available and it will cost 4301 for tix, dining and room plus you are on the Monorail