Splurge or Still Splurge (seeing how its Disney)?

[tabbytrekker]

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[Tigger's ally]

Ever think of just not stayin Club level. I think Club level is a perk that is overpriced IMO. That way you would still be at the deluxe level, just not paying the extra for club.

 

[monorailsilver]

I was thinking the same thing, nix the CL. I am sure that will save a huge chunk of change.

 

[tabbytrekker]

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[tabbytrekker]

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[wergoin2camouse]

Having stayed CL at AK ... It is awesome, but it's $150.00 a day (extra approx)! Now... U could stay standard and only upgrade on the day you book the safari (thus giving you two actual days at the CL lounge . There's $1000.00 -$1500.00 savings minimum!

 

[tsme]

If the perks of AKL are really important to you, keep it at CL. But don't go to Poly, stay at a mod. instead. That would free up some money.

 

[kimysbug]

Dump poly

Stay AKL standard view, switch sunrise safari to wilymina safari

Save tons if money and don't loose money or safari

 

[scullyh]

I agree with the lose the Club Level - but consider your first night club level at AKL so you can get your safari, then cruise, then just stay in a regular sahvana room for the rest? might save some money and still give you some perks??

 

[bilzer]

Move down to standard view. I doubt the safari is worth all the extra money to stay CL for 9 days. I have stayed standard view at AKL and savannah. Next time we stay there it will standard. Just didn't feel we saw enough animals to make savannah worth the money.

 

[bilzer]

I agree with the lose the Club Level - but consider your first night club level at AKL so you can get your safari, then cruise, then just stay in a regular sahvana room for the rest? might save some money and still give you some perks??

This is the best plan by far if the safari is offered on that day. It's usually only offered 2 days per week and you must be staying CL on that night to get it, so be careful.

 

[tabbytrekker]

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[NormaG]

I'd say if you have your heart set on these particular reservations, keep them but realize that you'll just have to not buy all the extras while at the parks.
We're currently planning our next vacation right now and really love the deluxe resorts but want a full 14 days at WDW so we've decided to stay at a moderate this time. This option gives two more full days at about $2000.00 less!

 

[mousefan73]

Why the one night Poly? I am assuming this is the arrival say, where you two fly in and next day head out to the Port? I'd just do a value or better yet somewhere near the port ( not sure how DME works then).

 

[Aliceacc]

December

1-Night: Polynesian Resort - Club Level Garden Room
4-Nights: Disney Dream cruise
9-Nights: Animal Kingdom Lodge - Club Level Savannah Room

We (*cough*me*cough*) are starting to worry about money.
Plus saving money for grown up things like a house and a car and bills. Boring stuff.

So Disney was supposed to be the epic magical dream vacation - thus pretending we can live in luxury.

But after our outwest trip, I started to think maybe it just isn't our style.

I proposed the idea of staying at Fort Wilderness in a cabin. I love Fort Wilderness especially riding a golf cart around. Plus Fort Wilderness is just amazing with all the sites decorated for Christmas!

But now we don't know what to do.

My worrying about money got him worrying about money (and he is the one paying for the bulk of the trip), to the point where we were considering Caribbean Beach Resort (or maybe even Pop) because then we'd have a ton of extra spending money while at Disney (which is what he cares about, he wants money to buy more things).

Neither one of us really wants to bug my AAA travel agent again with yet another change. She is so amazing and patient! But we are tempted just to save a little bit a money.

So we are kind of stuck on what to do.

Values (thankfully) seem to have been crossed off the list - he doesn't want to do them either.

Caribbean Beach is a possibility, except I don't really want to stay there for a non-solo trip. But other than Fort Wilderness, it would be the best moderate in my opinion (especially since we are doing the cruise... kind of fits...)

Which leaves our top two options, keeping Animal Kingdom Lodge (which neither of us has ever done - and I was really looking forward to since I love animals so much) the way it is or moving to Fort Wilderness (my favorite - and likely more our style).

Any advice?

Or suggestions?

Better places to stay?



Thanks for your help!!!

OK, first things first:
Do NOT be afraid to "bug" your travel agent with a change. Don't end up paying thousands of dollars more than you want to simply out of fear of asking him or her to make the change. If you're talking about possibly getting married and needing a down payment on a house, those thousands of dollars you save could make a huge difference.

Next: others have mentioned dropping CL-- that seems to make a lot of sense.

Also, as to Carribbean Beach: I've never stayed there; my family of 5 won't fit. But my brother in law does all the time. He's a lawyer, and in a financial position where he could easily afford to stay Deluxe if he chose. Still, he CHOOSES to go there. So, based on that alone, I would certainly reccommend that you consider it. (Fort Wilderness is absolutely not my style. Great for others, but really not something that I would consider in a Disney trip.)

You're going on a two week vacation. That's a LOT of money if you go Deluxe, Club Level all the way. If you have other financial needs coming up, I would really, really consider cutting back a bit.

 

[tabbytrekker]

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[dpswift]

Glad things are working out for you. I was going to suggest looking at staying by the Port but that may not make sense because you are coming in separately. It would be easiest to stay onsite. You would get to the hotel for free and then plan on using Disney transportation to Port. This would not be cheapest, but easy.

 

[toodycat]

Glad things are working out for you. I was going to suggest looking at staying by the Port but that may not make sense because you are coming in separately. It would be easiest to stay onsite. You would get to the hotel for free and then plan on using Disney transportation to Port. This would not be cheapest, but easy.

I would recommend staying at the Residence Inn in Cape Canaveral. It's very nice and not terribly pricey. Breakfast is included. They can arrange transfers to the port for you. We used Pay What You Want Cocoa Beach Taxi (321-783-1299) who also picked us up from the port and took us to the airport on the way back.

I wouldn't stay at WDW since you are not going to have time to go the parks together anyway. Also, taking Disney's bus from WDW to the port will run you over $140 for two. You have to pay for it whether you fly in and go straight to the port that day or travel from WDW to the port.

We've stayed AKL Club level and done the Sunrise Safari. It is pretty awesome, but I believe the AKL experience is awesome no matter what type of room you have. Food at CL is only OK, though.