SO confused, please help!!??

[mara61]

I believe somewhere on the boards is a link for researching renting points. I found it very easy to do and cost wise for us to stay at AKL in a Savanah view deluxe studio it was much cheaper. Yes we could have stayed at POFQ which we do really like, but this might be our last trip for a few years and AKL is home for us. We love it so much. So just as an idea...

We are staying 8 nights Oct. 18-26 in a DVC deluxe studio at AKL (I think it's at Kidani but am not sure yet).

our cost with renting points $1742
if we had booked the same through Disney it would have been $4272 and to book a traditional Sav. view with Disney non DVC it would have been $3807. Even with say a 30% , the traditional Sav. view would cost $2665 and the DVC room would have cost $2990.

If a discount does come out, the last few have had a lower discount for POFQ (we can't stand CB and while we have enjoyed Coronado, it's just too spread out and we did not like the busing there). So a garden view at POFQ for the same dates, while at a resort we like would have cost $1724 without a discount. With say a 25% discount it would be $1307. so for $400 more we are staying were we love not just were we like a lot .

 

[jenjersnap]

Honestly, I have NO idea what longhouse I should pick? I know nothing about the longhouses, I have yet to get that far..lol..picking the resort has taken me months, so now, its on to where's the best place to stay in the resort.

If you have any suggestions, that to would be greatly appreciated

I want to have a real balcony, and possibly close to the pool and restaurants. We don't mind a few mins walk either. I would also prefer to stay on a higher floor vs the ground floor.

Thanks again for all your help!

Google "tikiman polynesian" . He is the guru of the Poly and has a comprehensive map and analysis of every longhouse, including balconies (many longhouses do not have balconies on the second floor) and views. With your criteria, Rapa Nui wouldn't be your preferred longhouse as it is relatively far from GCH and the main pool.

 

[flinkerfrosch]

Google "tikiman polynesian" . He is the guru of the Poly and has a comprehensive map and analysis of every longhouse, including balconies (many longhouses do not have balconies on the second floor) and views. With your criteria, Rapa Nui wouldn't be your preferred longhouse as it is relatively far from GCH and the main pool.

Awesome, thank-you!!!

Also, since you're so informative...I literally just realized that if I get the room discount at AKL it would be for standard room only. This is fine, but I really wanted pool view or I was even considering savanna view. If I got the room only discount, and took the standard room, can I pay the difference to upgrade to the room to what I really wanted?
I've also been thinking of booking through a TA cause this is my 1st time, and I could use all the help that's out there..lol

 

[flinkerfrosch]

That is a great price on airfare, sigh..So you must be closer to New York. I flew southwest many years ago to CA and had a good flight. Alas, the best flights out of Detroit are through Delta and Spirit. We have driven the last two years, but for various reasons I'm hoping to fly this year. If we have to drive, we drive but $800-$900 would be cheaper than driving for us. My husband does not get paid time off so we have to take that into consideration.

It was a great price, yes, that's why we jumped on it Would have cost us the same if not more to drive from where we live. We live appx 24hrs from Orlando (Toronto area) its about a 2 1/2 hour drive to Buffalo.
My husband doesn't get paid time off either, sucks eh!?
I hope you find a cheap flight! Look everyday, especially in the very early mornings.
Good-luck!!

 

[flinkerfrosch]

I believe somewhere on the boards is a link for researching renting points. I found it very easy to do and cost wise for us to stay at AKL in a Savanah view deluxe studio it was much cheaper. Yes we could have stayed at POFQ which we do really like, but this might be our last trip for a few years and AKL is home for us. We love it so much. So just as an idea...

We are staying 8 nights Oct. 18-26 in a DVC deluxe studio at AKL (I think it's at Kidani but am not sure yet).

our cost with renting points $1742
if we had booked the same through Disney it would have been $4272 and to book a traditional Sav. view with Disney non DVC it would have been $3807. Even with say a 30% , the traditional Sav. view would cost $2665 and the DVC room would have cost $2990.

If a discount does come out, the last few have had a lower discount for POFQ (we can't stand CB and while we have enjoyed Coronado, it's just too spread out and we did not like the busing there). So a garden view at POFQ for the same dates, while at a resort we like would have cost $1724 without a discount. With say a 25% discount it would be $1307. so for $400 more we are staying were we love not just were we like a lot .

WOW!!!! I can't believe the price, so amazing!!

Yes, for 9 nights at AKL with 5 day park passes, no park hopper and still deciding on the Water park option, it cost us almost $4400, and that's not even with the DP added yet for the 4 of us. This is why a room discount would really benefit us or even free dining.
I'm even thinking of upgrading to a savanna view since I've decided we will do the split stay with the Poly, so for 4 nights its not too bad to upgrade, but still WAY more then renting points. Had I known of this sooner I would have looked into it!
Honestly, I didn't even look at any Disney sites when we decided on the weeks we would take our holidays. We just booked them off work, and then I started doing my research. If I could rewind, I would go mid-end of Sept, and I would have looked into renting points.
But, what's done is done, and we are still going at a great time, and we are also doing the MNSSHP which will be a blast!!
At least I know the ins and outs for the next trip (which won't be for at least 2 yrs)

I can't believe how much I've learned!

Our 1st resort we were going to stay off site at Sheraton Vistana Villages then we decided to stay on disney property at POR, then I was going back and forth with POR and CBR, then weeks later WL then weeks later AKL..I've been all over the flippin map!
So, now I've ended up with AKL and the Poly..LOL
I've doubled my original budget, but hey, I figured it we are going to do it, do it right!!!

 

[mickeynut1]

Honestly, I have NO idea what longhouse I should pick? I know nothing about the longhouses, I have yet to get that far..lol..picking the resort has taken me months, so now, its on to where's the best place to stay in the resort.

If you have any suggestions, that to would be greatly appreciated

I want to have a real balcony, and possibly close to the pool and restaurants. We don't mind a few mins walk either. I would also prefer to stay on a higher floor vs the ground floor.

Thanks again for all your help!

I don't think there are any bad locations at the Poly, but with that said, we stayed in Samoa and loved it. There are no balconies on the 2nd floor so you would have to request 3rd floor balcony, but we thought it was conveniently located as it was just steps from the GCH, volcano pool, the beach, and Captain Cooks .

Thank-you, Thank-you!!

 

[flinkerfrosch]

I don't think there are any bad locations at the Poly, but with that said, we stayed in Samoa and loved it. There are no balconies on the 2nd floor so you would have to request 3rd floor balcony, but we thought it was conveniently located as it was just steps from the GCH, volcano pool, the beach, and Captain Cooks .

Great, thank-you!!!!