Unexpected overtime $$$ - would you upgrade?

[bizeemom4]

DH unexpectedly got offered A LOT of o/t thru the next 3 weeks - probably $3,000 worth.

We are booked on the Free dining program at the All Stars. I also have an AP rate booked for the same time at the Yacht Club. I haven't been able to decide which way I want to go so I kept them both.

Would you take the money & pay RACK rate (gulp) at the Yacht Club for the free dining package or use the money for great souvies and activities like Cirque, Illuminations cruise, etc. I was thinking of booking one room with the free dining (& putting 5 people on that room ressie) and one at the AP rate (since we need 2 rooms).

My DH & I have no problem staying at the AStars but the kids want Yacht Club. I'd love to surprise them and upgrade to the YC but the rationale side of me thinks that's too much money to blow. What do you think?

 

[ntburns22]

If the kids would be surprised with the upgrade I would go for it. It is all about the magic of Disney right?

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

You could always do a different surprise...a cruise or stay an extra day (if possible) and do the water parks. Then just not tell them. I'd rather have more money to blow. I always wonder where all my money went if I don't have something to show for it.

 

[reedycreek]

i was going to stay at CSR last trip, but worked extra overtime and decided to stay at POLY instead, it was defintely worth it.

 

[lllovell]

I think the frugal side of me would say take extra money and try to do something special on this trip that you have skipped in the past due to money concerns.

If your family spends a good bit of time at the hotel, then I can see that upgrade being the most valuable to you, but if you are like my family and tend to spend some time there but mostly you are out doing things, then I don't see the point in spending the extra on a room.

For the difference in price of rack rates at ASM and YC, you could probably pay for a hotel room for some other trip to WDW or maybe a nice long weekend for you all elsewhere. I would stretch the money into something else before paying that much more for a hotel room only.

 

[mrsswat]

UPGRADE!! The pool is fantastic, the boardwalk is wonderful!! The kids will think they had the vacation of all vacations. The resort will seem like another park to them!! Go for it!!

 

[BostonRob]

Are you kidding? As far as I can tell, your question should be:

Do I keep my AP rate at the YC and pay for meals or do I pay rack rate at the YC and take the free dining?

Seriously, the allstars will always be there. If you have the money now and you're willing to spend the money now, spend it! Enjoy!

 

[Beachangel]

$3000 is all extra? Not allocated to your vacation at all???? If its pure gravy, it will pay for the upgrade and your extras. Plus your DH may enjoy relaxing and sipping a cocktail at the YC after all that hard work.

 

[F1Julie]

I didn't vote either way since I would stay at the All Stars and then use the $3000 for another trip. Or go for a moderate and use the cash for another trip.

 

[c.hack]

I was just thinking the exact same thing. I may be getting some extra OT a few months before our trip. I would definitely do something I could not normally afford, like an upgrade.

Yes, yes, yes! Go for it!!!

 

[Laurajean1014]

I would definitely upgrade to YC. I would not spend all the $3000 on it, though. What is the difference in price per night?

YC is so close to WS and MGM that it's a no-brainer to stay there. With SAB right there, you maybe able to forego a waterpark (possibly). If it is about $50 or so a night - do it.

Let us know what the cost factor really is....

 

[robinb]

I voted "Upgrade", but I would upgrade to a moderate. It appears (from your signature photo) that you have 4 kids and you would have to upgrade TWO rooms. Yikes! I've heard that CSR has the best moderate pool, but you just stayed there. So ... maybe CBR in a preferred view room close to the OPR?

I think your kids would love Stormalong Bay, but I bet you would have a huge headache keeping track of 4 kids in the pool. It's really big and parts of it are very deep. Go to a waterpark instead.

ETA: Another option would be to keep 2 nights at the Yacht Club at your AP rates and end up there with your other nights at the All Stars or CBR. You can use your meal credits until midnight on when you check out of your first resort and then you'd only have one-two days of meals to pay for.

 

[BostonRob]

I would definitely upgrade to YC. I would not spend all the $3000 on it, though. What is the difference in price per night?

YC is so close to WS and MGM that it's a no-brainer to stay there. With SAB right there, you maybe able to forego a waterpark (possibly). If it is about $50 or so a night - do it.

Let us know what the cost factor really is....

Well she's talking about paying rack rates to get the free dining. If she's talking regular season, then All Stars are $99/night, YC is $334/night. She seems to think she can get one room at rack rate and one at AP rate at YC, which has an AP rate of $224. So she's looking at $198 per night vs $558 per night, or a difference of $360 per night. She doesn't say how long the stay is, but if it is 7 nights, the difference is $2520. And worth every penney of it, IMHO, if you have it to spend.

 

[HopperFan]

But by spending the money on other things, I would bank it for another trip or better yet a cruise. Since you've been to YC/BC it's not like it was something new for you. Why not save it to do something new......

Have you considered maybe upgrading to moderate only, say CSR with a great pool & slide to make the kids happier, but giving you some extra cash for something later.

 

[Disney5Mom]

Upgrade to AP rate ar YC.Just purchase food as you go!

 

[BostonRob]

Upgrade to AP rate ar YC.Just purchase food as you go!

I was going to suggest that myself, but with kids 9 and under, the meal plan is a no-brainer. It costs what, $10 per day for the little ones (and it looks like probably 3 of her kids are under 9)? If she wasn't getting it for free, she should buy it herself.

 

[bizeemom4]

The only mods that are available are Coronado (BTDT) and Caribbean Beach.

SO...I'm going with the majority and doing Yacht Club. Sigh. I feel guilty because DH and DD didn't get to try it when I stayed there with just the boys last month. So now I can purge the guilt....and it only cost me $3000. I have to pay off the package in August but the AP room can wait until arrival in October so that makes it even easier. My balance was $2200 or so for 2 preferred Music rooms for 10 nights. Now it's around $5000. I didn't crunch the numbers exactly. Denial IS a river in WDW, right?!

We were planning to do Typhoon Lagoon & MNSSHP. I'll cut those. That saves a few hundred $$. I think what we'll save in free food for the 10 days is worth paying rack in order to have the best vacation ever.

edited to add - I already purchased our plane tickets. $701 for SIX roundtrip nonstops on Southwest. The food is paid for too with the dining plan.

I am NOT telling the kids. They'll find out at the airport when I put on the luggage tags that say YC instead of All Stars.

Thanks guys!

 

[Blondie]

I voted upgrade! We love the Epcot resort area and prefer deluxe accommodations over value any old day!

Have a great vacation!

 

[imatoad]

I'd upgrade. I know that if I stayed at moderate or value, I could stay longer, or spend more on the other stuff, but I love the Poly, and I would rather be frugal in other areas so I can stay there. The resort is very important to me. Not that there's anything wrong with moderate of values, I just like the Poly, a lot.

 

[BrinxFam]

If it were my family, we would stick with the current plan and use the $3000 to book a 2007 Disney cruise as soon as the rates come out!