Upgrade with new deals?

[francism]

So I booked our upcoming July vacation back in October and we are booked to stay at the Caribbean Beach Resort for 7 nights. I was waiting and hoping for a free dining pin or some special offers to be released but it doesn't look like that's going to happen now with the discounts only applying to Deluxe Resorts or Deluxe Villas.

There are 5 of us going, 4 adults and one child and I have us booked in two rooms at the moment with the plus dining plan. But looking at the deluxe rooms with the deals, it looks like we could stay at the Polynesian or Grand Floridian for the same price although we would all be in one room (two queen beds and a sleeper). I could also book us at one of the Animal Kingdom Lodges but it would be a 1BR.

What to do? This is our first family vacation to Disney World and I'm determined to make the best decisions possible but I don't know what the best deal is! I'd love to stay at a Monorail resort but I also don't know if we want to all be tripping over each other for the entire week (if the rooms are too small). Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Edit: The price differences here between 2 rooms at the CBR and 1 BR AK Lodge or 1 BR Polynesian/Grand Floridian is +/- $100. I just want to make the right call.

 

[Sue M]

Too bad you missed the free dining discount. It was open to the public. I booked it in October? I don't understand why you didn't book with it

As for moving to Deluxe resort instead of 2 rooms at CBR, I guess it would depend on who the 4 adults are, and how much togetherness you want.
You will have more room and 2 bathrooms at CBR.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I would book room at the Poly or GF anyday over two rooms at CBR.

For one thing the ease in transportation is amazing! You have the monorail to MK and the monorail to EPCOT. You can also take the boat over to MK.

Polynesian rooms are really big. GF rooms are a good sized (smaller than the Poly) but they have two sinks. Both resorts have really nice on-site restaurants and great pools.

I would definitely take advantage of this offer.

 

[francism]

I don't know why I didn't get free dining back in October, I don't recall any deals being offered at the time but this is our first trip to Disney and it's only more recently that I've been tuned into the deals and trying to get everything right. I booked through Disney at the time so if I missed out on any deals it was probably my fault for not taking advantage of them.

In the end, I decided to jump at the opportunity to move us into the AK Lodge. It's at Jambo House and actually ended up being cheaper than the two rooms at the CBR. I made sure everyone was involved in the decision and I think it will work out quite nicely. Staying at a Deluxe Villa and all being together (versus risking being in non adjacent rooms at the CBR) should only make this vacation that much more magical.

 

[SnackyStacky]

The deluxe resorts are wonderful!

But in my honest opinion, with 4 adults, I would keep the two rooms at Caribbean Beach or MAYBE switch to a 1 bedroom at Animal Kingdom Villas - and even that would be a bit iffy for me.

It's the limit of 1 bathroom (which would be off the master bedroom - whoever took the master bedroom would have the other people coming and going to use the bathroom) and having to sleep on a hideaway bed that would make me question it.

I definitely wouldn't take a single room at a deluxe. That's just not enough space for 4 adults, in my opinion.

Don't worry about what you choose. You'll have a great trip no matter where you stay!

 

[Amy&Dan]

The deluxe resorts are wonderful!

But in my honest opinion, with 4 adults, I would keep the two rooms at Caribbean Beach or MAYBE switch to a 1 bedroom at Animal Kingdom Villas - and even that would be a bit iffy for me.

It's the limit of 1 bathroom (which would be off the master bedroom - whoever took the master bedroom would have the other people coming and going to use the bathroom) and having to sleep on a hideaway bed that would make me question it.

I definitely wouldn't take a single room at a deluxe. That's just not enough space for 4 adults, in my opinion.

Don't worry about what you choose. You'll have a great trip no matter where you stay!

I agree. I have stayed at the Poly, its lovely but five in one room there would not be my choice.

I realize many people will swear up and down nothing on the planet beats the monorail however, the monorail is still public transportation and it only takes you directly to two of the four parks. Everywhere else you bus and you share those busses with other resorts. I never base my resort stays on transporation, in that I have learned from staying at all levels, in all areas of WDW resorts, it evens out in the end.

The one bedroom would be very nice, as long as its one that has the two bathrooms. I know the one bedrooms at BLT have that feature, and I assume the ones at AKV do too since they are also new (DVC finally got a clue to put two baths in those one bedroom units). Other one bedrooms have only one bathroom and as Snacky says, the pullout sofa/chairs. Having a full kitchen, washer and dryer and be guanrateed a balcony (not all Poly rooms have balconies) and the pool at Jambo looks amazing and it has a hot tub (no hot tub at the Poly). Also, you will be all together, it can be dicey to get two connecting rooms with that many adults since they'll give priority to families with fewer adults and more kids to be connected.

CBR is a lovely resort, as is the Poly but for your scenario I have a hard time justfying going down to one room. If you can get the one bedroom with the two baths, I can vouch for that. We had a one bedroom with two baths at the Villas at the Grand Californian in Disneyland with five people and it worked out perfectly. Kids on the pullouts with a nearby bath, dh and in the master with our own bath.

ETA: Somehow I missed your above post when I first posted, glad to see you got the one bedroom, I think you'll be very happy with that. You sort of got the best of both worlds in that you are all in one "room" but with more space and more bathrooms. Have a great trip!

 

[sjs314]

I don't know why I didn't get free dining back in October, I don't recall any deals being offered at the time but this is our first trip to Disney and it's only more recently that I've been tuned into the deals and trying to get everything right. I booked through Disney at the time so if I missed out on any deals it was probably my fault for not taking advantage of them.

In the end, I decided to jump at the opportunity to move us into the AK Lodge. It's at Jambo House and actually ended up being cheaper than the two rooms at the CBR. I made sure everyone was involved in the decision and I think it will work out quite nicely. Staying at a Deluxe Villa and all being together (versus risking being in non adjacent rooms at the CBR) should only make this vacation that much more magical.

I think you made an excellent choice, AKL is one beautiful resort, Mara the QS place is good and Boma's is to die for .....yummy, plus you have access to both pools, Jambo House and Kidani, a wonderful play area for the youngster and all the animals......Congratulations