Resort Upgrade? Help!

[cjlong88]

Had our trip planned for Labor Day Weekend. With the potential hurricane, we decided to postpone to December 26th-29th. We are currently staying at All Star Sports, but I'm tempted to upgrade to Wilderness Lodge. My friends have told me it's an incredible resort to stay during that time of year...but it's WAY more than I was hoping to spend on a hotel. We are talking $1,700 difference between the two resorts.

This will probably be our last Disney trip for quite some time...thinking our next time won't be for another 6-8 years. Part of me wants to go all out. Part of me wants to save my money. What would y'all do? Help!

 

[amw]

I can’t answer what is “worth” $1,700 ... but I wanted to make sure you are talking Wilderness Lodge and not the Fort?

It also depends which parks you will be most likely going to as WL is a quick boat ride from MK if the crowds get too large.

 

[Disneylover99]

Had our trip planned for Labor Day Weekend. With the potential hurricane, we decided to postpone to December 26th-29th. We are currently staying at All Star Sports, but I'm tempted to upgrade to Wilderness Lodge. My friends have told me it's an incredible resort to stay during that time of year...but it's WAY more than I was hoping to spend on a hotel. We are talking $1,700 difference between the two resorts.

This will probably be our last Disney trip for quite some time...thinking our next time won't be for another 6-8 years. Part of me wants to go all out. Part of me wants to save my money. What would y'all do? Help!

Save your money.
Go for a visit.

WL is nice. We had lunch there on Christmas Day. But I honestly don’t get the love for it over the holidays. It has a big tree. Lol.

 

[terri33inne]

WL is nice. We had lunch there on Christmas Day. But I honestly don’t get the love for it over the holidays. It has a big tree. Lol.

I agree with this... For me going all out for a Christmas trip is GF... the tree, the gingerbread house, the poinsettia's in EVERY garden, the white lit deer.

When we went we made time to tour the other resorts to see their decor... I would do that. Take that $1700, and add on a night or two.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Had our trip planned for Labor Day Weekend. With the potential hurricane, we decided to postpone to December 26th-29th. We are currently staying at All Star Sports, but I'm tempted to upgrade to Wilderness Lodge. My friends have told me it's an incredible resort to stay during that time of year...but it's WAY more than I was hoping to spend on a hotel. We are talking $1,700 difference between the two resorts.

This will probably be our last Disney trip for quite some time...thinking our next time won't be for another 6-8 years. Part of me wants to go all out. Part of me wants to save my money. What would y'all do? Help!

We stayed at WL the week before Christmas in 2016 and it is GORGEOUS! Is there any other time you can go? You have rescheduled your trip for the most expensive and most crowded time of the year.

 

[SteveH]

@cjlong88 only you can decide. For me based on the number of nights you are going $1700 would be to much for me to spend, but it's your money and your choice. You might price out something like POFQ or CSR to see how much a moderate would run for comparison.

 

[Disneylovingmomof2]

Depends on who is going. If only adults, I’d consider staying at a value and I would only go to the room to sleep. If you’re going with children I’d stay at WL.

 

[OKW Lover]

If the $$$ aren't an issue, then Wilderness Lodge over Sports every day.

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

...This will probably be our last Disney trip for quite some time...thinking our next time won't be for another 6-8 years...

I said the same exact thing 2 years and 7 trips ago...

 

[Babsy]

Wow! I was going to say move to WL but $1700.00 is a lot extra for three nights! I love the WL, but that is a huge difference per day. I think that I would stay put and enjoy ASSp.
OTOH, it is your vacation and the WL is lovely, especially at Christmas. If you aren't going again for a while and can easily afford the extra $$$, it can make sense to splurge. ( I wouldn't sacrifice any plans to change resorts though.)

Have fun choosing!

 

[Bjkandma]

I'd stay at All stars and take Disney transportation and visit all the deluxe resorts for their deco rations. Use some of that money and buy special holiday treats.

 

[DISNEY1975]

$1700 for 3 days is a lot unless you plan on spending all of your time t the resort, even then, its still a lot. Id save the $$$ and put it toward something you really want or need that will last you more than 3 days!

 

[DWillowBay]

Just have dinner at Whispering Canyon and take in the Christmas sights. It is a great resort at Christmas time, but I wouldn't pay $1700 just to see it.

 

[disny_luvr]

WL is absolutely amazing at Christmas, but $1700 is a lot of money. Like others mentioned, I’d save my money and visit there during your trip.

 

[thepicklebee]

For 3 days, no. How much time are you really going to be spending at the resort?

 

[cjlong88]

Y’all are amazing. Sometimes I get in my own head and need people to talk sense into me. We are “resort people”. We can easily stay at the hotel for a few days and just enjoy what they have to offer. But yeah, we thought we were crazy to throw that much money at an upgrade like that.

We opted to add a day and do Universal. Even with express pass it’s cheaper than to upgrade our resort stay.

Thanks for the solid advice!

 

[Sandisw]

Personally, I would spend the extra money because Wilderness Lodge is indeed beautiful at the holidays. And being resort people, it is such a relaxing place. I see you have already decided, but IMO, deluxes are worth it if you can financially make it work!

Have a great trip!

 

[glocon]

With only 3 days, you will probably be in the parks most of the time, not the resort. I usually will say take the upgrade, but with only 3 days, enjoy the parks and save the money. That $1700 could pay for another trip!

 

[roxiepenguin]

I said the same exact thing 2 years and 7 trips ago...

Lol!! Also said by my DH even just this last June after a quick 1-day Disneyland visit (since we did WDW twice last year for a total of 24 days, and a quick Disneyland day in Oct '17.)

...annnnd we're headed back to WDW in two weeks.

 

[Emcg]

I would save the money. I'm sure the Lodge is beautiful but you sound like you really don't want to put out the extra money. Buy souvenirs or have some table service meals. Keep a day open with no park visits planned and go resort hopping. Check out all the resorts you would like to visit and then the next time you go you will know how much you need to save to stay there. We stayed at Animal Lodge, Savannah View when it first opened and it was fantastic. Similar to Wilderness Lodge but you have animals to look at from your balcony. Enjoy your visit.