Value or Moderate for first-timer? (long!)

[Laralyn]

I'm a big Disney park fan, going back to when I was a kid. I get really excited about the trips and enjoy planning them and counting down until we leave. I used to go to WDW once a year with my ex-husband, and in fact the only thing I miss about that marriage is having a fellow park fan around. ;-)

I haven't been to WDW in over five years (since before AK opened) and I just made reservations at POP for Nov. 12-19 for myself and my boyfriend. I'm really excited!

My boyfriend, on the other hand, is just indulging me in going. He'd never been to a Disney park before he started dating me. I'm a video game designer and I worked on a movie-licensed Disney game, so we got to go to Disneyland while in LA for the premiere of the movie. It was a summer weekend and DL was hot and packed. He hated it because he hates crowds, he hates getting pushed around, he hates waiting, and he hates having screaming kids all around him.

I told him that wasn't how I enjoyed Disney either, so when we moved to LA a couple years later, we went to DL a couple times during the week in the cooler season. He enjoyed it, but was done after the first day and didn't understand why I would want to go back again 6 months later.

So that's the setup. I know he'll have fun once he gets to WDW, and that he can't envision how different it is from DL. What I'm debating is the hotel reservation. We're on a small budget, because I wanted to have more time to explore the parks and also to relax and not feel rushed. I got POP for $55 a night.

On trips with my ex, I stayed at FWL, BC, and Contemporary. I've never stayed in a moderate resort or a Value resort, so I don't know what they're like.

I know it's the right time of year to go (and besides, I don't think I could wait any longer!) in terms of crowds. But I worry about the noise and the kids, and how comfortable the room will be for hanging out in the evenings. The parks close around 7 when we're there, so we'll end up back at our resort for 2-3 hours a night. If he feels crowded and the room has no where to sit and watch TV, he can't sleep because he hears noise from the neighboring rooms, he has to wait for a bus, and he's surrounded by kids everywhere, he may not enjoy the time as much. And I need him to fall in love with Disney so I get to go every year!

On the other hand, he doesn't really care about how nice a hotel room is as long as it's clean, there's a comfy spot for watching TV before going to sleep, the shower has water pressure, the temp is good, it's quiet, and the bed is comfy. We're both pop culture fans who enjoy the 50's and 60's.

I can try for a room at a Moderate for $30 more a night, or a total of $210 more. $210 won't break us, but it we would really feel it. Is it worth trying to change the reservation, or will he enjoy POP?

 

[mm6mm6]

Wow!

I sure hope he comes around to enjoying WDW as much as you do, or at least he begins to enjoy you, enjoying WDW!

We have stayed at both the CBR and the CSR.

I enjoyed both equally.

As a guy, I prefer the wide open, resort style space that the moderates deliver.

Pop Century will probably be just fine. A friend just came back with his family and he loved it.

But going on your boyfriend's lack of all out positive desire for all things Disney, I would lean toward the CBR.

The seven pools cuts down on the chance that a pool will be crowded.

The design of the resort makes it feels less "hotel--ey" and more "resort--ey" if that makes sense.

Might I suggest you go to a park one day by yourself (depending on how many days you'll be there) and let him do something he enjoys by himself? Perhaps he's a golfer or he'd like to relax by the pool with a cool drink or maybe he'd like to drive somewhere else in Orlando.

Which would let you explore the park (AK for example!) you enjoy or know the least about.

When the two of you hook up at night again, sometimes absence makes the heart grow fonder. Maybe he will realize you actually had a good time without him and he might find he missed you and would probably have liked to share in your amazement at all things Disney.

There are plenty of guys who just don't get Disney. I'm not one of them though. But I understand how some guys don't get it, specially without kids. I think letting them golf by themselves or whatever it is they like to do gives them some "away" time to re-think their vacation.

A guy at work golfed and when he met up with his wife and kids at the room, he really felt he missed out by not going to the park. She told him all the fun things they did without him. He raved about the Mickey's at the golf course and how well Disney did the course.

Then he did everything else with them.

And if, at the end of the vacation, he still doesn't get Disney...just advertised for a guy in the LA area who likes Disney!!!!

Good luck!

-Steve

 

[Karebear]

First off let me say that you have picked a great week to go--I have been that week twice (99 and 2002) and there are very few crowds! Weather can be cold--99 was great and 2002 was kinda cold (50s and 60s during the day). I understand your situation because my husband is not a Disney fan either--I usually go with my mom or girl friends. If it were me, I would pick CSR. I have stayed there a couple of times and I loved it. It doesn't have a hectic feel to it and there are not loads of kids running around. I think that it has a romantic feel to it and would entice your boyfriend into liking WDW more than Pop would--but that is just my opinion. Hope you have a good trip!

 

[minniesfriend]

Based on your previous resorts stays, I think you would be happier at a moderate. We have stayed an many resorts (GF, Cont, AKL, BW, S/D, POFQ, OKW, CS, FW Cabin, ASMovies and AS Sports. Between the moderates and AS, I feel like the service all the way from the front desk to the buses is better. Many groups take field trips to WDW and stay at AS resorts. Large groups of kids can be pretty rowdy! Nighttime walks around moonlit lagoons can be romantic. I also feel like there is more privacy at the moderates.

 

[sherry8253]

I would go with a moderate - Have you thought about CSR?

 

[Laralyn]

Thanks for all the advice! I'm having my travel agent look into available moderates. Which would you recommend between CBR and CSR?

He also said he would prefer to drive--and it's a 19 hour drive! Ugh. So now I'm trying to find cheaper airfare or rental car rates... or a teleporter. That's what I need. ;-)