Totally Bummed

[melifeld]

Okay, so we have a reservation at AKL for our July trip. We are 46 days from leaving for our vacation and we have just had something happen that will cost us a good deal of money. So now, in order to save some money elsewhere, we have decided to change our WDW resort to a mod. We have stayed in mods before and always had a great time, but I am just disappointed. I was really looking forward to AKL. We were hoping for CSR, but it has no availability for our dates, so it looks like we'll be going with POR.

I need my DIS friends to help me count my blessings so I'll feel better and start getting excited about our trip to POR and change the resort in my signature. I'll start here:

1. DS, who will be turning 6 on this trip, has no idea we are even going to WDW. The whole trip is a surprise for him for his birthday. I am grateful that he doesn't know about it, so he won't know the difference from a resort perspective.

2. I am grateful that we still get to go on vacation at all. The situation could have been a lot worse.

 

[Sue M]

I love POR! We go back and forth, some stays are deluxe, and some are at POR. Our fav moderate. Love the mansions, Bob Jackson's show, the boat to DTD, food court. Sometimes we go to eat there, love the make your own pasta, even if we aren't staying there. Then take the boat to DTD!
When was the last time you were there? Rooms have been completely refurbed.

Maybe book a meal at AKL, and arrive an hour or so early so you can walk around and enjoy the savana look outs.

 

[Dsnyfireman]

Sorry to hear but you are still going and the memories will be great! We don't spend a lot of time at resort so we stay at values and still have a great time! You know some of my best memories are from times we had to make a change at the last minute. You find that fun just finds a way sometimes. You can still go and spend time there if you want for the day. Hope your family has a great time and the trip goes well!

 

[melifeld]

Thanks Sue!

Yes, they have a good food court at POR!

We were there almost 3 years ago. We have never seen Bob Jackson's show, so we will have to see it this time. And we do have a reservation at Boma that we are going to keep.

And thanks for the words of encouragement Dsnyfireman!

 

[tekoa]

I have stayed at both resorts and can honestly say that I prefer POR over
AKL. A trip to Boma and viewing the animals would be just the perfect alternative to staying there.

 

[andy117]

Your son could stay in an All star and he wouldn't care at all. The room/resort is for you.

 

[melifeld]

I have stayed at both resorts and can honestly say that I prefer POR over
AKL. A trip to Boma and viewing the animals would be just the perfect alternative to staying there.

Thanks!

 

[aVASTGrl]

Don't be bummed, you'll still be at Disney!! POFQ is my fav mod of choice, so I think you'll really like POR...two resorts in one!

 

[melifeld]

Your son could stay in an All star and he wouldn't care at all. The room/resort is for you.

This is true. Just being at WDW for his birthday will make him happy.

 

[melifeld]

Don't be bummed, you'll still be at Disney!! POFQ is my fav mod of choice, so I think you'll really like POR...two resorts in one!

That is another thing! We can use both themed pools. That is a good one.

 

[Bellabully]

Another positive, boat to DTD instead of the buses. We stayed at POFQ when my DD was 7 and she LOVED the boat ride!! It was like an adventure every time, so I bet your DS will enjoy it if he likes boats. Hope you have a magical time.

 

[kandb]

We are staying at POR in Sept. We have stayed there before and I know it is a beautiful, relaxing resort but sometimes I wish we were staying in a deluxe resort. We have the money to stay in a deluxe, but to be honest with you, it is sooooo much extra money and I cannot justify spending it. Look at the bright side, you are going to disney, you are staying onsite and you are staying at a great resort.

 

[HMANSION LOVER]

Okay, so we have a reservation at AKL for our July trip. We are 46 days from leaving for our vacation and we have just had something happen that will cost us a good deal of money. So now, in order to save some money elsewhere, we have decided to change our WDW resort to a mod. We have stayed in mods before and always had a great time, but I am just disappointed. I was really looking forward to AKL. We were hoping for CSR, but it has no availability for our dates, so it looks like we'll be going with POR.

I need my DIS friends to help me count my blessings so I'll feel better and start getting excited about our trip to POR and change the resort in my signature. I'll start here:

1. DS, who will be turning 6 on this trip, has no idea we are even going to WDW. The whole trip is a surprise for him for his birthday. I am grateful that he doesn't know about it, so he won't know the difference from a resort perspective.

2. I am grateful that we still get to go on vacation at all. The situation could have been a lot worse.

You can get a lot done towards saving money elsewhere even though your a double digit midget. This is what I have done in the past to save money and maybe you can do the same. Considering your short on time it will have to be considered future savings to be applied to a trip already enjoyed. Let me start off by saying I live in NY and there is mandatory car insurance and a deposit on bottles and cans, that being said,

1.) I changed car insurance from Geico to 21st century, saved $1200.00 a year.

2.) religiously recycle every beverage can and bottle we use approx. $325.00 a year

3.) I used to buy the newspaper everyday ($1.25 weekdays $2.75 Sunday) total cost $534.25 a year. I stopped buying the paper and got my news from TV and internet. total savings per year $534.25

4.) Every day on the way to work I stopped to buy a cup of coffee $1.75. total cost per year $446.25. I started making my coffee at home and bringing it with me in a to go cup approx $0.35 a cup. New total cost per year $89.25 total savings per year $357.00

5.) we all have loose change jar approx. $85.00 per year

6.) changed home phone service from Verizon $509.76 a year to a voice over internet protocal provider $20.00 a year and one time $50.00 equipment and sign up fee total savings for year $439.76

Added all up it is $2,856.01. Considering I made these changes 20 months ago when we decided to plan a trip to DLR we have $4760.00 in our vacation account.

We are flying into San Diego from NY
spending 2 days in SD doing zoo and surrounding area
taking AMTRAK to Anaheim
Staying 1 night at PPH and 2 nights DLH with four day parkhoppers
AMTRAK back to SD for Mission Beach and Sea world

Total for all $5675.00

All we have to come up with out of pocket is $815.00

Part of planning a great trip is finding new and inventive ways to save for the trip

 

[teentoddlermom]

THe room rate difference between a standard aKL and many of the moderates is sometimes not very much. AKL is the least expensive deluxe. POFQ is the most expensive standard moderate.
If you are really needing to cut back costs, you should drop down to a value. You'll still be in Disney!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

When we were kids, we stayed at the Polynesian, Grand Floridian and Dixie Landings (now POR/POFQ). I honestly don't remember preferring one resort over another, other than always wanting to stay at the Contemporary because we thought it was cool that the monorail went through it.

Kids like being at Disney. I'm sure you will have a great trip.

 

[Disneytwinsmom]

POR is a great resort! Love the grounds and the pools. You wont be disappointed!

 

[melifeld]

1.) I changed car insurance from Geico to 21st century, saved $1200.00 a year.

2.) religiously recycle every beverage can and bottle we use approx. $325.00 a year

3.) I used to buy the newspaper everyday ($1.25 weekdays $2.75 Sunday) total cost $534.25 a year. I stopped buying the paper and got my news from TV and internet. total savings per year $534.25

4.) Every day on the way to work I stopped to buy a cup of coffee $1.75. total cost per year $446.25. I started making my coffee at home and bringing it with me in a to go cup approx $0.35 a cup. New total cost per year $89.25 total savings per year $357.00

5.) we all have loose change jar approx. $85.00 per year

6.) changed home phone service from Verizon $509.76 a year to a voice over internet protocal provider $20.00 a year and one time $50.00 equipment and sign up fee total savings for year $439.76


Part of planning a great trip is finding new and inventive ways to save for the trip

Wow! Did you really save that much on car insurance? Was the coverage the same? How is 21st Century's service?

Unfortunately, the rest of your suggestions we are either already doing (change jar, phone service, news) or do not apply to us (recycling deposits, and we don't drink coffee). But I will definitely be looking into changing insurance companies.

 

[belias21]

If your heart is set on AKL, you may be able to rent DVC points for your stay. Assuming you're looking at a studio room, the cost is actually less then POR. I don't know the length of your stay, but I did some quick math as an example...

For 6 nights, POR garden view was $1390.
A Standard view studio at AKL is 98 pts for the same stay/dates. Assuming $13/pt (which is pretty common out there), you're looking at $1274.

Availability might be a challenge this close your trip dates, but you could get lucky.

Regardless, like others have said... we should all count our blessings that we're able to go to WDW at all! Enjoy your trip!!

 

[melifeld]

THe room rate difference between a standard aKL and many of the moderates is sometimes not very much. AKL is the least expensive deluxe. POFQ is the most expensive standard moderate.
If you are really needing to cut back costs, you should drop down to a value. You'll still be in Disney!

Thanks. We were not in a standard room at AKL, so the switch saved us quite a bit. We actually discussed going to a value instead, and we probably would have if we were going during a cooler time of year when we would spend the entire day in parks. But going in July, we plan to spend a good deal of time at the pool and wanted a good one. We decided it was worth the price difference value to moderate for the pool. We then decided on POR over CBR so we would have access to the pool at POFQ also.

And yes! We will be in Disney!

 

[melifeld]

If your heart is set on AKL, you may be able to rent DVC points for your stay. Assuming you're looking at a studio room, the cost is actually less then POR. I don't know the length of your stay, but I did some quick math as an example...

For 6 nights, POR garden view was $1390.
A Standard view studio at AKL is 98 pts for the same stay/dates. Assuming $13/pt (which is pretty common out there), you're looking at $1274.

Availability might be a challenge this close your trip dates, but you could get lucky.

Regardless, like others have said... we should all count our blessings that we're able to go to WDW at all! Enjoy your trip!!

I did check out this possibility, but it would have cost us more than POR for the dates we are staying. I never got past that, so didn't check for availability. I do have my eye out for last minute deals from DVC Dave, but I know that July is a busy time, so I am not holding my breath!