Resort Conundrum...

[KyCoKe16]

We are currently in the process of planning a big, 10 person family trip for the week of Thanksgiving with my husband’s family. While I do get an annual pass holder rate, the values are still close to or over $200/night for that week. I’ve suggested that we rent points, as we can get some really good deals if there is availability, but the others don’t seem interested. I think that they are skeptical, even though I’ve done it several times myself. Also, my MIL is a Disney travel agent and will lose the commission on the trip if we rent points. Also, I don’t think they like the idea of having to pay it all up front.
Currently we are booked in a standard AOA mermaid room and the rest of the family is booking at POP ( I really don’t like the bus situation at POP, especially during Covid and social distancing). So my two questions:

1. Are the Mermaid rooms all renovated at this point?

2. If we can find a great deal renting points, once we get a bit closer and can pay it all upfront, should we just go ahead and book it for ourselves? My husband seems to be leaning toward doing this, as we are having a hard time stomaching the idea of paying over $200 plus tax to stay in a value resort. But at the same time, I would feel bad being the outliers, staying in a completely separate area of Disney and taking commission away from my MIL. Also, my SIL is rooming with us, so we’d be forcing her to isolate as well.

I’m just not sure what to do, at this point....

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

We are currently in the process of planning a big, 10 person family trip for the week of Thanksgiving with my husband’s family. While I do get an annual pass holder rate, the values are still close to or over $200/night for that week. I’ve suggested that we rent points, as we can get some really good deals if there is availability, but the others don’t seem interested. I think that they are skeptical, even though I’ve done it several times myself. Also, my MIL is a Disney travel agent and will lose the commission on the trip if we rent points. Also, I don’t think they like the idea of having to pay it all up front.
Currently we are booked in a standard AOA mermaid room and the rest of the family is booking at POP ( I really don’t like the bus situation at POP, especially during Covid and social distancing). So my two questions:

1. Are the Mermaid rooms all renovated at this point?

2. If we can find a great deal renting points, once we get a bit closer and can pay it all upfront, should we just go ahead and book it for ourselves? My husband seems to be leaning toward doing this, as we are having a hard time stomaching the idea of paying over $200 plus tax to stay in a value resort. But at the same time, I would feel bad being the outliers, staying in a completely separate area of Disney and taking commission away from my MIL. Also, my SIL is rooming with us, so we’d be forcing her to isolate as well.

I’m just not sure what to do, at this point....

This is a tough one.

1. I don't know if all have been redone, surely someone on the boards will know.
2. This is so tough to answer since it's your family trip and you know how you like to spend it. If you're all the type of family that's going to be doing meals together, socialize outside of park time, etc. then yes staying elsewhere at WDW may be annoying as far as getting to each other especially if you won't have cars. It's not like you can take a bus from resort to resort so if being apart is more of a logistical nightmare, I'd just as well stay at Pop with everyone else. I see no real difference in accommodations between AofA little mermaid rooms or POP. The remodeled rooms at POP are very nice and modern. However, if I recall, I think the LM rooms are really far from the lobby so that's a negative IMO. Now if you're the type of family that after you hit parks together, you all split and call it quits till the next day, then where you stay is of no consequence but if you all have kids that will want to be together during your resort time to socialize, you will be spending/wasting time going back and forth if you stay else where. Even if you do stick with AofA, going back and forth from POP to AoA may get old depending on where your rooms are located within each resort.

Also, the politics of you being the only family staying else where may not be well received and could cause some issue. I think renting points is great but given all the COVID craziness, I'd be less inclined to do so now unless you had the ability to move your travel, not sure of specifics on that but I'd rather have to reschedule my trip with WDW than a third party point reseller. And just my two cents, unless someone else is paying for your trip, they really don't have the right to tell you where to stay. They can be miffed with you about commission or whatever, but unless they're footing the bill, they need to take a step back and realize they don't control others.

 

[Sarahslay]

You also need to remember that the closer you get to the date the less likely you are to be able to get a room renting points. Of course we don't know how availability is this year for the holidays, but normally by this point pickings are getting kinda slim. Most of the time I can't find any availability for holiday stays renting points past 7 months, and usually have to request at the 11 month mark so those at their home resorts can get a room before others can at 7 months.

 

[Marthasor]

Would your family consider staying at the Swan or Dolphin? They are offering a 30% discount for WDW AP holders (code QWH) and it appears the cost of the rooms that week are about the same (perhaps slightly more) than what you are being quoted for AoA. Your MIL can still get a commission from Marriott. She simply needs to book through the Marriott TA site and enter her CLIA or IATA number or call Marriott directly (which may be easier) (Do NOT book Swan/Dolphin through WDW as it's vastly more expensive). The one downside is no ME, but you would get a much nicer resort within walking distance to two parks and your MIL will still get a commission. Just a thought.

Edited to add: As long as you don't book a non-refundable rate, your Swan/Dolphin deposit would also be refundable up to 5 days prior to arrival, so much better terms and conditions than renting DVC as well.

 

[PortieOwner]

If you are going to rent points I'd do it now. Prices are low. I expect WDW to begin increasing capacity at some point later this fall.

 

[KyCoKe16]

Would your family consider staying at the Swan or Dolphin? They are offering a 30% discount for WDW AP holders (code QWH) and it appears the cost of the rooms that week are about the same (perhaps slightly more) than what you are being quoted for AoA. Your MIL can still get a commission from Marriott. She simply needs to book through the Marriott TA site and enter her CLIA or IATA number or call Marriott directly (which may be easier) (Do NOT book Swan/Dolphin through WDW as it's vastly more expensive). The one downside is no ME, but you would get a much nicer resort within walking distance to two parks and your MIL will still get a commission. Just a thought.

Edited to add: As long as you don't book a non-refundable rate, your Swan/Dolphin deposit would also be refundable up to 5 days prior to arrival, so much better terms and conditions than renting DVC as well.

Thanks! I’ve just found out also that several of them don’t want anyone having to sleep on a sofa bed for a week, so this could solve that. I will look in to it.

 

[KyCoKe16]

Would your family consider staying at the Swan or Dolphin? They are offering a 30% discount for WDW AP holders (code QWH) and it appears the cost of the rooms that week are about the same (perhaps slightly more) than what you are being quoted for AoA. Your MIL can still get a commission from Marriott. She simply needs to book through the Marriott TA site and enter her CLIA or IATA number or call Marriott directly (which may be easier) (Do NOT book Swan/Dolphin through WDW as it's vastly more expensive). The one downside is no ME, but you would get a much nicer resort within walking distance to two parks and your MIL will still get a commission. Just a thought.

Edited to add: As long as you don't book a non-refundable rate, your Swan/Dolphin deposit would also be refundable up to 5 days prior to arrival, so much better terms and conditions than renting DVC as well.

Also, where do you put in the promo code when searching?

ETA: I figured it out. The AP rate looks great, but then they tack on so many fees it becomes quite a bit more than AOA. It went from $1176 total for the week to almost $2,000 for the week after fees

 

[KyCoKe16]

This is a tough one.

1. I don't know if all have been redone, surely someone on the boards will know.
2. This is so tough to answer since it's your family trip and you know how you like to spend it. If you're all the type of family that's going to be doing meals together, socialize outside of park time, etc. then yes staying elsewhere at WDW may be annoying as far as getting to each other especially if you won't have cars. It's not like you can take a bus from resort to resort so if being apart is more of a logistical nightmare, I'd just as well stay at Pop with everyone else. I see no real difference in accommodations between AofA little mermaid rooms or POP. The remodeled rooms at POP are very nice and modern. However, if I recall, I think the LM rooms are really far from the lobby so that's a negative IMO. Now if you're the type of family that after you hit parks together, you all split and call it quits till the next day, then where you stay is of no consequence but if you all have kids that will want to be together during your resort time to socialize, you will be spending/wasting time going back and forth if you stay else where. Even if you do stick with AofA, going back and forth from POP to AoA may get old depending on where your rooms are located within each resort.

Also, the politics of you being the only family staying else where may not be well received and could cause some issue. I think renting points is great but given all the COVID craziness, I'd be less inclined to do so now unless you had the ability to move your travel, not sure of specifics on that but I'd rather have to reschedule my trip with WDW than a third party point reseller. And just my two cents, unless someone else is paying for your trip, they really don't have the right to tell you where to stay. They can be miffed with you about commission or whatever, but unless they're footing the bill, they need to take a step back and realize they don't control others.

These are good points. And while she hasn’t tried to control us or tell us what to do, I would feel bad taking commission from her, as I know she appreciates it. The biggest concern from them about DVC is the sofa bed and the possibility of contracting Covid and then losing the money paid, which is understandable.

As far as Pop vs AOA. This is all me being difficult. I just really don’t like Pop. I’ve never stayed at AOA so I can’t technically compare, but Pop has been my least favorite for awhile now. We are not taking any kids on the trip. The youngest person will be my 18 year old stepdaughter. When I don’t have my own kids with me, my focus is usually more on down time than the parks. And I would prefer having a calmer, less busy resort to spend downtime. That’s just my own preference. And that may be selfish thinking in a party so large. We do spend most of our time all together, but last November we spent 4 nights there and were in 3 different resorts and it worked out fairly well. It’s just that this trip everyone will be there so togetherness may be more important.

 

[Marthasor]

Also, where do you put in the promo code when searching?

ETA: I figured it out. The AP rate looks great, but then they tack on so many fees it becomes quite a bit more than AOA. It went from $1176 total for the week to almost $2,000 for the week after fees

It's too bad the fees pushed the total up that much

Have you priced out CSR for that week, by chance? I was poking around for Thanksgiving week rates and it looked like CSR was just a few dollars more a night than AoA. I'm not sure of your exact dates, though.

 

[KyCoKe16]

It's too bad the fees pushed the total up that much

Have you priced out CSR for that week, by chance? I was poking around for Thanksgiving week rates and it looked like CSR was just a few dollars more a night than AoA. I'm not sure of your exact dates, though.

Yes! It’s not a huge difference but I know that some of us, my DH and me included, prefer the idea of not having to take buses everywhere. We all love CSR, but I’ve been twice since Covid and IMO the buses are kind of a pain right now...moreso than usual.

 

[Marthasor]

Yes! It’s not a huge difference but I know that some of us, my DH and me included, prefer the idea of not having to take buses everywhere. We all love CSR, but I’ve been twice since Covid and IMO the buses are kind of a pain right now...moreso than usual.

I totally get it! We are hoping we can keep our November trip and, if so, we will be renting a car which we haven't done since DME was introduced. I appreciate the insight on the buses!

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

These are good points. And while she hasn’t tried to control us or tell us what to do, I would feel bad taking commission from her, as I know she appreciates it. The biggest concern from them about DVC is the sofa bed and the possibility of contracting Covid and then losing the money paid, which is understandable.

As far as Pop vs AOA. This is all me being difficult. I just really don’t like Pop. I’ve never stayed at AOA so I can’t technically compare, but Pop has been my least favorite for awhile now. We are not taking any kids on the trip. The youngest person will be my 18 year old stepdaughter. When I don’t have my own kids with me, my focus is usually more on down time than the parks. And I would prefer having a calmer, less busy resort to spend downtime. That’s just my own preference. And that may be selfish thinking in a party so large. We do spend most of our time all together, but last November we spent 4 nights there and were in 3 different resorts and it worked out fairly well. It’s just that this trip everyone will be there so togetherness may be more important.

If togetherness isn’t a big deal then I’d go where you like and choose what’s convenient for you guys especially if you were spread out last time and it worked. Another resort that could be an option is CBR. Also on the skyliner so you could hop on there to get to/from pop. It’s not my favorite resort but a lot of folks love it. Another hotel option to maybe find something more affordable would be the Priceline express deals. Sometimes the no name hotels are 10-20% off the named hotels. And on occasion some of the values and mods are on Priceline. I know November is an expensive time of year but that might be worth a look. Good luck!!

 

[DaisyDuck001]

As far as Pop vs AOA. This is all me being difficult. I just really don’t like Pop. I’ve never stayed at AOA so I can’t technically compare, but Pop has been my least favorite for awhile now. We are not taking any kids on the trip. The youngest person will be my 18 year old stepdaughter. When I don’t have my own kids with me, my focus is usually more on down time than the parks. And I would prefer having a calmer, less busy resort to spend downtime.

I've stayed solo at AoA Mermaid room, Pop, and several other WDW hotels. As a solo adult I felt least comfortable at AoA, in the sense that I didn't see any other adult-only groups there. It was all people with little kids. I did see adults without kids at Pop and the other WDW hotels where I've stayed. Now maybe my experience was a fluke and yours would be different, but if I were looking for a calmer, less busy resort that is not so focussed on little kids, AoA Mermaid would be about the last choice (maybe tied with All-Stars, although I've never stayed there so I don't really know).

 

[SarahC97]

No, not all the LM rooms have been renovated. Only some rooms in building 8 from what I hear.

 

[KittyKitty]

I was debating between the 2 resorts. Looked at videos of rooms. Pop has better counter space in sink area, glass doors on tub verses curtain. I like the food at AoA better than Pop. And the skyliner is in the middle of the bridge between them. The map does show mermaid rooms pretty far from busses, and main building. So decided to keep the Pop res.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Right now there are zero studios, one or two bedroom villas available for the week of Thanksgiving with check in on Sun Nov 22 and check out Sun Nov 29. If your dates are slightly different, you might find something. Otherwise, you are too late. DVC villas are starting to book up for the rest of the year with members trying to save their points from expiring. You might be able to find a reservation or two that other renters have decided not to purchase on some of the brokers' websites. But the might not be the exact nights or resort you want. During non-Covid times, you would have needed to make that reservation at seven to 11 months out.

 

[KyCoKe16]

Right now there are zero studios, one or two bedroom villas available for the week of Thanksgiving with check in on Sun Nov 22 and check out Sun Nov 29. If your dates are slightly different, you might find something. Otherwise, you are too late. DVC villas are starting to book up for the rest of the year with members trying to save their points from expiring. You might be able to find a reservation or two that other renters have decided not to purchase on some of the brokers' websites. But the might not be the exact nights or resort you want. During non-Covid times, you would have needed to make that reservation at seven to 11 months out.

Thanks for checking! Yes, I’ve rented a lot of times and realize you usually have to rent far in advance, but I also know that there are a ton of confirmed reservations for rent right now. We also don’t mind split stays. Our dates are actually Nov. 21-28, but I’m sure it’s the same situation

 

[KyCoKe16]

I was debating between the 2 resorts. Looked at videos of rooms. Pop has better counter space in sink area, glass doors on tub verses curtain. I like the food at AoA better than Pop. And the skyliner is in the middle of the bridge between them. The map does show mermaid rooms pretty far from busses, and main building. So decided to keep the Pop res.

If togetherness isn’t a big deal then I’d go where you like and choose what’s convenient for you guys especially if you were spread out last time and it worked. Another resort that could be an option is CBR. Also on the skyliner so you could hop on there to get to/from pop. It’s not my favorite resort but a lot of folks love it. Another hotel option to maybe find something more affordable would be the Priceline express deals. Sometimes the no name hotels are 10-20% off the named hotels. And on occasion some of the values and mods are on Priceline. I know November is an expensive time of year but that might be worth a look. Good luck!!

I actually stayed at CBR with my kids and SIL and niece and nephew, just last month. Not my favorite, but would prefer it over a value. However, it’s much more expensive that week and would end up costing us about $400 more on the week.

 

[Miffy]

As far as renting points goes, right now I personally wouldn't do it. What if there's a significant second wave of covid and WDW shuts down again or Florida has a quarantine requirement for travelers from your home state or your home state has a quarantine for travelers from Florida? Or someone in your traveling party gets ill? Or a lot of other things. Much much better to have a WDW reservation or something else (like Swolphin) that you could cancel if necessary and still get your money back.

I'm aware that many owners on this board were able to work out arrangements with renters who booked stays during the shutdown. This isn't in any way to disparage owners who rent points. I'm just pointing out a possibility and the advantage of having a WDW resort reservation.

 

[JM23457]

Also, where do you put in the promo code when searching?

ETA: I figured it out. The AP rate looks great, but then they tack on so many fees it becomes quite a bit more than AOA. It went from $1176 total for the week to almost $2,000 for the week after fees

What fees are you referring to? Do you mean taxes?