Stay w/ favs or try new resorts?

[TWOOD]

Our trip in Dec. (7nts. & want to split stay) will be the last for a few years , so my question is: do we stay at our favorite tried & true resorts: POR & WL, or do we venture out & try something new, like maybe AKL & POLY? We've been to WDW in Dec. multiple times & stayed @ WL twice, CSR once, & POR twice. I love the GF's decor, but not crazy about the resort - prefer YC/BC, but not their holiday decor. Love BWI's holiday decor, but not their dining options... Do I sound crazy? Advice needed, please! What would you do - we've never stayed @ AKL & only 1 nt. @ POLY. In 2004, we've already stayed @: POR, VWL, BVW, POP, & CSR. Have AP's. Thanks!

 

[MEM]

I recently returned from AKL and loved it! Received a free upgrade to savanna view from parking lot view. Have always wanted to try the Polynesian but it is out of our price range. If you can afford it, I suggest you try those two.

 

[Simba's Mom]

What I've done, since you're willing to split your stay, is split new with something you know you love. That way if you don't like the first part (make that new), you know you have a resort you know you love to look forward to. And if you like the first resort, you have an excuse for another trip! That's why I'm going to BWV in January-spent the beginning of a trip there once to try it out, found I liked it, and am going back in January.

 

[dischick4778]

I would say try something new. Then when you do come back after a few years you can go back to your old favorite. But you never know, you may love AKL more than you think. That's what I am hoping for in Nov. for my first trip to AKL. Either way, have a great trip!

 

[musicmom3]

This is SO funny! I happen to be in this dilemma myself and thought I was the only one! Of course I should have known that there would be others here in my situation. Also, my mind has kind of been made up for me since there are no standard rooms available at the moment at my favorite resort, WL, during President's week. Now I am trying to choose among AKL, CBR and CSR. I love my Disney Deluxes, but that AKL rack rate is a real wet blanket!

 

[TWOOD]

I'm so torn - I REALLY want to try AKL, but then I read the savannah view post... Why is it so hard to choose? Would splitting between AKL & WL be too similar? As it stands POR & WL are what we have (my DD's favs), & I think they are pretty similar in theme (I'll request a newly renovated mansion, though) - I simply can't decide! Help!

 

[MAC3]

I agree with Simba's Mom! Try something new but you always know that you'll have your fave to rely on towards the end. Especially if it will be your last trip for a while. You want great memories to hold you over.

 

[wld]

We are always up for something new. You never know when you might fall in love with a new resort.

 

[joats]

If you are willing to do the split stay, stay one of your favorites and combine w/a new resort.

We strayed from WL last year for the whole trip and went to CSR for the first time and were very unhappy w/our decision. Major regret!

So this trip we're trying AKL - but only for 3 out of the 8 nights. Then it's back to WL for us (where we belong!).

 

[Pattymouse]

TWOOD...

The two resorts you mentioned are where we are staying during our Dec 04 trip. 2 nights AKL then 7 nights Poly LVC.

I have stayed at both but my hubby has not been to AKL. We have never tried Boma and are looking forward to it.

Never have stayed concierge (or any lagoon view for that matter)
and really looking forward to this. DH does not know. Suprise!

Have fun with your decision!

Pat

 

[dpic]

I'm a creature of habit. I find something I like, and I stick with it. Thought of trying the Poly this trip, but the more I thought about it the more I felt like I would miss WL way too much to have a good time.

If it were me, I'd stick with what you enjoy. If you try something different and you don't like it, you'll be bummed. If it's your last trip for a while, stay with an old friend instead of trying to make a new one.

 

[F1Julie]

I'd try something new. As much as I'm tempted to go back to resorts I've really liked, I make a point of staying somewhere different each time. I'll keep this up til I've stayed at all the resorts I want to try. I've enjoyed them all so far from the values to the deluxes. I must say though, that AKL is probably my favorite. The resort is like a vacation in and of itself.

 

[TWOOD]

Made my decision: BC 3nts & WL 4nts - talked to DD last night & decided to splurge on our favs, rather than try something new (AKL). We love POR, but we spent Christmas there last year & have never stayed @ an Epcot resort during the holiday season. Thanks for everyone's advice!

 

[Carrieberry]

I think you made the perfect choices! The WL can't be beat for decorations, and the BC can't be beat for location. Both are deluxes so service wise you can't go wrong either and since you already know you love Wl, you will be happy! For the record, the only two resorts we have stayed at that we did NOT care for were the Poly (concierge) and AKL (savannah view)! Our faves are BC, WL, PORFQ, POR, and believe it or not ASMo! We love the deluxes, but there was something sort of Hawaii 5-O ish about the Poly, and AKL was just too far from everything, too crowded, and too dark. Plus the only animals we had on our savannah were giraffes and they only came over by us to eat and then they were gone! It is a perfectly nice resort, just not our type of thing. On the other hand we LOVE WL and BC. That is a nice split because one is light and beachy and the other is woodsy- like having two seperate vacations! Have a wonderful trip!

 

[4greatboys]

We like to try new resorts.

 

[pinkminnie]

Try 'em all!! Variety is the spice of the life!!

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

There are four of us and we alternate our choices. (Been doing this since our 2DD's were born - 16&17)

We are able to visit 3-5 times annually so it is never too long between visits to our favorite resorts...we love the variety!

 

[#1Disfann]

First on site stay was POFQ, then POR (Dixie Landings, back then) for several trips. Last year we figured we would try something new and stayed at CBR. While it was OK, we are booked back at POR for our Sept. 05 trip. There is not a thing I would change about it! We just love it!!

 

[TWOOD]

Thanks for all the opinions! We've actually stayed at quite a few resorts: POP, POFQ, POR, CSR, VWL, BWV, YC, BC, BWI, DOLPHIN, POLY, WL, & GF in over 20 visits to the world. Out of all of them, there's no 1 resort that I just wouldn't return to. I tend to choose resorts based on 4 things: food choices, transportation options, location, & extra amenities like: mouse boats, walkway to Epcot, boat to DD, etc... This trip, we'll do Epcot & MGM while @ BC, with time to enjoy BC, & then do MK & AK while @ WL, with time for mouse boats, the campfire @ FW, & a day @ DD for Disney Quest & last minute holiday shopping!