Please help with resort choice! Last trip for a while...

[heehee611]

Hi everyone, we are currently planning our 5th trip to Disney in the last 6 years, and I need some advice. My kids will be 6 and 10, and we have always stayed at the moderate resorts, and we've loved all of them (except we did the AoA suites last time because my MIL was with us). This is going to be our last trip for a while, as my oldest will be in 5th grade and I'm afraid that if we go when he's in middle school he'll just miss too much school work. I wouldn't go to Disney in the summer time if you paid for my trip - I hate the heat and the crowds. We've always gone either in Jan/Feb, or this last time the week after Thanksgiving.

So here's my question. Our current plan is to arrive Thanksgiving weekend and stay at Caribbean Beach. However, I have ALWAYS wanted to stay at WL. If we shaved one night off of our trip, it would cost about $850 more than CB. Is staying at WL worth it? Especially if we know we probably won't be back for some time?

We're hoping for free dining that time of year as well (we got it this last time). WL is usually included in free dining, right?

Thanks for any input you can share!

 

[halssister]

Don't know a lot about WL, but with the construction going on at CBR for the next two years, I wouldn't stay there. We were booked there, but switched to POR when we found out that the food court, gift shop etc were all going to be closed while we were there.

 

[Kerriowl]

Something to keep in mind is that WL is a deluxe so if you do get free dining, it would be the dining that comes with a deluxe hotel which I believe is upgraded from the plan for a moderate.

 

[Jupiter&Wolfe]

CBR has construction going on. If this is your last trip for awhile, go with WL, don't end your Disney marathon with a busted up hotel! It sounds like almost everything will be closed during construction too... WL still one of the cheapest of the deluxes and it sounds like you really want to go. I haven't stayed but I have visited and would love to stay there someday too. You have been several times so maybe you don't *need* that extra day.

A lot of folks may tell you that nothing is worth less time at Disney. But personally I am of the belief that it is about quality, not quantity, and I don't imagine a resort under construction makes for a very quality hotel stay.

 

[heehee611]

Something to keep in mind is that WL is a deluxe so if you do get free dining, it would be the dining that comes with a deluxe hotel which I believe is upgraded from the plan for a moderate.

Actually I checked and you just get the regular dining plan for both moderates and deluxe resorts. I have no idea how anybody could eat as much food as that deluxe dining plan has!!

 

[Hopefully]

Many consider WL as "Deluxe Light". It has smaller rooms and a cheaper nightly rate, but it is really nice.
I would not stay at CBR until the major announced construction is completed.
I definitely think WL is worth $850 more.
Enjoy

 

[4DisneyFam]

If it was my last trip for a while I would want to stay as long as possible.So I am in the group that wouldn't cut short my vacation to upgrade.Either way enjoy.

 

[VillainFavs]

If you're at Caribbean Beach during construction, you also get a $75 gift card per night. Is that figured into your cost/savings? We stayed at WL last year for the first time and really LOVED it. We were able to get in on free dining there last August. And, no, there's no difference in dining plan between Deluxe and Moderate when you get the free dining.

But when the savings are that much, it is tempting to stay put.

Maybe if you want to make it a memorable trip stay where you are and put some of the extra to doing something that's a splurge--a tour or fireworks cruise or dessert party or something like that. It would still be something special, and probably cost a lot less!

 

[allsaintsatx]

We loved WL. Very beautiful. And the 10 minute bus to MK was great! We love the restaurants there as well.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I don't think WL is worth it if makes you cut a night off your trip. I would go for the longer trip

 

[leebee]

It really depends on how much time you plan on spending in the hotel. For my family, there is no way we'd cut a trip short to upgrade on the hotel room, especially when it'll cost $850 to do so!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Personally, I wouldn't stay at CBR right now even with the $75 gift card offer. WL is beautiful, but we also love POR. If cost becomes an issue with WL, would you consider POR or POFQ? I would stear clear of CSR and CBR right now.