Skip next year and...

[usacanada2008]

Save up to stay at Poly for 2 weeks OR moderate next year and 6 days? I just feel we will enjoy the parks even more if we don't feel rushed. But, I don't know how I will make it next summers without our annual trip.....

 

[Loftin716]

I read this somewhere "Unless you are staying for 3 months you will not be able to do it all!" I feel this is somewhat true. We stayed 6 days and it was wonderful. No, we didn't get to do it all, but we did enough. We were ready to head home. However, we are ready to go back! I honestly think I would feel rushed either way so I would rather take the shorter trips. Our next trip is scheduled for summer 2014, about 15 months since our last one. The plus side to this for me is that the new Snow White Roller Coaster will be up! New things to see!!

 

[TokyoSunrise]

We always say we are going to skip a year to make the next trip bigger and better. Hasn't happened yet. Can't seem to stay away. So we continue to go every year for 7 nights. The pace is relaxed and we try new restaurants. good luck with your decision!

 

[Princess Roo]

My kids are tired by the end of a week on vacation - even if it's a slower-paced vacation like the beach staying in a house. I think they would be a disaster at 2 weeks in a hotel room. But I don't know how old your kids are, nor their temperaments.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

i would rather go one week each year, rather than skip a year. What about doing Poly for just one week? Two weeks would be so expensive. We stayed 1 week for our Poly wedding and loved it. We are always ready to go back home by the weeks end.

 

[Julie711]

We always say we are going to skip a year to make the next trip bigger and better. Hasn't happened yet. Can't seem to stay away. So we continue to go every year for 7 nights. The pace is relaxed and we try new restaurants. good luck with your decision!

Lol, same here! We said this past year we were going to go every other year, well just got back 4 weeks ago & have our dates picked out for next October, lol
We have been going 1-2x per year for the last 4 years!! We can't seem to stay away either!

 

[usacanada2008]

We always say we are going to skip a year to make the next trip bigger and better. Hasn't happened yet. Can't seem to stay away. So we continue to go every year for 7 nights. The pace is relaxed and we try new restaurants. good luck with your decision!

I know, I'm already dying to go back and we just went this past June. I don't think I would be able to skip a whole year! Do the deluxe ever have deals?

 

[ready123go]

I know, I'm already dying to go back and we just went this past June. I don't think I would be able to skip a whole year! Do the deluxe ever have deals?

Yes. Right now they are 30%-35% off for spring, depending on your dates. I'm sure they must have summer discounts, as well.

Alternatively, you could wait until they build the Poly DVC, then rent points to stay there.

 

[usacanada2008]

Yes. Right now they are 30%-35% off for spring, depending on your dates. I'm sure they must have summer discounts, as well.

Alternatively, you could wait until they build the Poly DVC, then rent points to stay there.

I've never rented before? Is that cheaper? Can you still get the dining plan?

 

[happymommy]

I've never rented before? Is that cheaper? Can you still get the dining plan?

It is cheaper than paying Disney rack rates, and you may add the dining plan when you check in.

For us, now that my kids are older, we prefer space so we tend to stay nearby in a two bedroom condo. It makes for a more relaxing vacation.

Last August we stayed for 15 nights, and it was a lot of fun. We got "getaways" from Interval International, so the condo was less than $1,000 total. Our rental car was less than $250 for the whole time. We only did counter service (we've done so many table service meals at Disney already and it just worked out that way) so our trip was super cheap (considering...). Late August is a very slow time, so we enjoyed the lack of crowds as well!

I'd love to go back for two weeks again! I loved having the condo, so I could relax with my coffee in the morning while doing up some laundry - in a hotel room I could handle a day or two but then feel too confined. I'd also rather eat a simple meal having our own kitchen than having to eat out every meal - I'm not a huge eater anyway (did the dining plan once and it was a lot of food to me).

We took a year off once - I really missed it! We always find something new to see and do.

The Poly is expensive - have you considered any less expensive resorts?

 

[ready123go]

I've never rented before? Is that cheaper? Can you still get the dining plan?

It can be. We go in Feb. and have rented points for the last 3-5 yrs. You can still get the dining plan and DME. You would just purchase the dining plan and schedule DME through the owner of the points or the broker you're renting through. I don't know if you can add the dining plan when you check in or not. Never tried it that way.

We tried the DDP and DxDDP and I agree with happymommy - too much food for us. We ate so much it actually hurt! lol We now use TiW for the meal discounts.

They haven't released the points chart for Poly. They just announced the build a couple of weeks ago, so it will be some time before you can rent there.

For our two week holiday stay at Christmastime we rent at Bonnet Creek. Last 2 yrs we have had a two bedroom, full kitchen and washer/dryer.

 

[North of Mouse]

If you rent points through owners you must make any changes through them before your trip (adding dining, etc.) You can't wait and add them when checking in.

 

[ready123go]

It is cheaper than paying Disney rack rates, and you may add the dining plan when you check in.

For us, now that my kids are older, we prefer space so we tend to stay nearby in a two bedroom condo. It makes for a more relaxing vacation.

Last August we stayed for 15 nights, and it was a lot of fun. We got "getaways" from Interval International, so the condo was less than $1,000 total. Our rental car was less than $250 for the whole time. We only did counter service (we've done so many table service meals at Disney already and it just worked out that way) so our trip was super cheap (considering...). Late August is a very slow time, so we enjoyed the lack of crowds as well!

I'd love to go back for two weeks again! I loved having the condo, so I could relax with my coffee in the morning while doing up some laundry - in a hotel room I could handle a day or two but then feel too confined. I'd also rather eat a simple meal having our own kitchen than having to eat out every meal - I'm not a huge eater anyway (did the dining plan once and it was a lot of food to me).

We took a year off once - I really missed it! We always find something new to see and do.

The Poly is expensive - have you considered any less expensive resorts?

Happymommy -

Totally agree with you on the difference between a hotel room and a condo/resort.

Interested in Interval International Getaways - do you have to be a member to take advantage? What is your typical lead time for renting? i.e. - What time of year would I look at them for an April stay? How likely is it I could score a two week Christmas stay?

Thx!

 

[Nancyg56]

I would not skip a year so that i could stay in a Deluxe. Now, I love the Poly, but I am not an All or nothing person, so I think I would price a moderate for a full week, factor in travel expenses, multiply it by two and see how it compares to two weeks at the Poly. I would also compare one week vs two at the Poly, add in travel expenses and see what the difference is.

There is not a "right"way to vacation, but while I like deluxe stays, I prefer to go more often, and compromise my accommodations. I also tend to choose longer trips by a few days and downsize my accommodations, rather than skip a year.

 

[happymommy]

Happymommy -

Totally agree with you on the difference between a hotel room and a condo/resort.

Interested in Interval International Getaways - do you have to be a member to take advantage? What is your typical lead time for renting? i.e. - What time of year would I look at them for an April stay? How likely is it I could score a two week Christmas stay?

Thx!

You have to have a membership (roughly $100 a year or so) and to do so, own a timeshare that trades with them (we own at Marriott's Ko Olina on Oahu). The better deals are usually during slow times, but we have gotten spring break more than once, for about $300 a week at Grande Vista as well as Marriott's Harbor Lake (2 bedroom condos). They're a weekly getaway, and fully prepaid. If you have a friend that has II, they can get a guest certificate so book it for you and put it in your name. Christmas would be unlikely, since it's the busiest time of the year in Orlando. Still you never know - renting from an owner through redweek (only $15 a year and anyone can join) last minute is also a great option and more likely to find something during a holiday (but you may pay more, still less than booking through a resort directly).

I've been looking for our March spring break, but it's too soon to find any great deals so far. We get a discount as owners, so for now I have Marriott's Sabal Palms booked through Marriott directly at $200 a night (35% off).

One difference is that booking through Marriott, you are treated like a hotel guest with daily maid service. Booking through II you're treated like an owner, so no maid service (except after the first week - and I actually told the maid I didn't need service after the first week - with a washer/dryer, I just did up our towels and even I think sheets once too, and I keep the place really clean). They all have free parking at the Marriott timeshares in Orlando too.

I would definitely stay two weeks there again - it's so close to Disney (3 miles or so) so we took our days slow - sometimes just drove over to the mini golf by the Swan and Dolphin, played a round, walked around the Boardwalk, maybe over to Epcot for an hour or two, and were done. I grilled dinners sometimes, which was relaxing, healthy, and cheap! The kids would rather hang out and eat in the condo than go to a restaurant.

 

[DawnM]

I am probably the wrong one to answer this for you, but to me Disney is about the PARKS and not the bed I sleep in. How much time will you actually enjoy the room?

I would MUCH rather go every year than stay in a fancier room that I won't be in much time anyway.

Dawn