What would you do?

[Lori77]

Help! I need some advice! I am currently booked for POP May 2-7th (DH Birthday) with the free ticket upgrade. My son turns three in March, so now we have to pay a ticket for him. This discount saved us about $300.

I called because I thought I had a code attached to my name (which I am really not sure I did), but I did get an offer for 40% off. The discount does not fall into the trip dates above, but we could put off our trip until October. I received AKL for 165.00 a nite, or I could choose CR for $219.00 per nite, or GF for $265.00 per nite. I was ecstatic!!!! I held the AKL, but am seriously contemplating changing it to CR for monorail access. This is serious savings!

My question is that I am not sure which one to do, I calculated to do both and just buy an AP, but really, we cannot afford it. I am so happy to get those great 40% rates and I do not really want to pass them up! The last four times, we have stayed at a value resort. My DH said it doesn't matter to him where we stay, but I know if he had a taste of the monorail, he would change his mind!!!

Another tough thought is that if we postponed our trip until October, it is a long time to wait!

I need your help!!!

Thanks in advance!

 

[TJA]

Congrats on your code. I think the 40% offer is the best deal around.

I voted for CR October. However, I'd vote for any deluxe in October, really. The main reason I chose CR is because of the ability to walk back and forth to MK, the monorail, and Chef Mickeys. Is that quote for a tower MK view? If so, that is an awesome view and with a 3 year old child, you can all sit on your balcony and watch Wishes and the water parade every night. Or, if your child is sleeping, you adults can still enjoy the show right from your balcony.

Another option is Poly. That is a great resort, great restaurants, great pool, excellent transportation to parks.

I think with a 3 year old and stroller, it's very convenient to have monorail access. However, another option is the Epcot resorts. The Beach Club is our favorite resort in Disney and you can walk to both Epcot and MGM/HS. If you're inside Epcot, you can catch the monorail over to MK. And the pool at BC is awesome and has a large sandy bottom pool with mounds of sand to play in.

Also, in October, the Food & Wine Festival is happening in Epcot, so if you are staying at BC, you can walk there each night to enjoy the Festival. When our girls were age 3ish, they'd fall asleep in the stroller and DH and I would enjoy some food and wine tasting while the girls enjoyed resting. It was the best of both worlds!

 

[Lori77]

I did not check on the Epcot Resorts. I will have to do that.

The CR is the Garden Wing, not Tower. I was hoping to get upgraded upon check-in with some pixie dust!

My son loves Disney and he would be happy anywhere, but he loves the monorail, so I thought he would be really excited by staying there.

Too many choices!!!

 

[G8r4evr]

The waiting is tough, but I would vote for a deluxe in October. You may never see rates that low again, so I would take advantage if at all possible. Are they both garden views? My first vote would be GF and then CR. =)

 

[vbarry]

I voted for GF but I would check the Epcot resorts. We used to always stay in the MK area but then we tried the Epcot area and it is hard to beat!!

We love to walk to Epcot and boat over to MGM. There are several restaurants in the area and there is always something to see on the Boardwalk.

Whatever you chooose...have a good time!! I would definately push the date back to October for the savings. The wait is VERY hard but all the more fun planning!

 

[Frankiesmom]

I voted for the GF;you also have monorail access with that hotel and your 3 year old will get a kick out of it! The monorail is so convenient with the little ones! And I doubt you'll see that kind of rate for the GF again! LOL

 

[jbeck72]

looks like i am not going in may....

 

[Lori77]

Have faith- if you really want to go in May, then we can...... you just have to believe!!!!! Then maybe we can go again in October (with a ton of pixie dust hope!)

 

[Lori77]

Please vote! I need more ideas from folks on what to do!!!

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

I voted Pop in May. Although it may not as upscale as the other resorts, the memories we had at pop for my DH’s birthday last August were priceless. We surprised him with a party at Crystal Palace and even had him a cake special ordered. It was the best!!

 

[DizzDoll]

I vote for CR in October - we stayed in both the tower (MK view -faaaabulous!) as well as the south wing (beautiful bay view - neat to watch the summer storms roll in). Your 3-year old would really enjoy the ducks pecking on your sliding glass door (provided you're on the ground floor) looking for hand-outs!! My teens saved some popcorn every night to feed them in the morning. And we had a HERD of 'em. Plus, the easy walk back and forth to the MK - watching the monorails pass overhead - is another clincher.

 

[LBKMAMA]

I voted for CR in Oct.....

monorail with a 3 year would be key for us. we did this last year with our DD 4 and two other boys and it was really nice.

There are also so many great restaurants and character meals at the monorail resorts that he would love. My boys 6 &8 also did the Pirate cruise out of Yacht club and loved that one morning.

If you find a way to swing the AP's go 2x (How much fun!), but if you really can't I'd wait and enjoy the deluxe!

A

 

[ADisneyQueen]

From someone who is going to POP in March- I voted to go to CR in Oct. I would put off my trip right now if I could stay there in Oct. for that rate. Of course, I would be there alone b/c kids and DH could not miss school or work!

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

I voted for the CR in October as well. I think it'd be a fun time to go and you could even go to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. Good luck!

 

[parrothead928]

I would not stay at the POP. I would forgo the POP and stay at a Moderate, such as the Coronado or Caribbean Beach. Here are my reasons...some may agree, some may not...
First two times we came to Disney as adults with a child, she was three, we stayed off property. That was a mess!!!! We swore, NEVER again!!! Then, we got a great deal to stay on on property at on of the All-Stars. The rate was ridiculously low...$39 or $59 a night...this was 8 years ago and we are Florida residents and Passholders. Anyway, we had a great room, right by the pool, food court and bus stop. We this is where the story really begins. Normally, when you stay at a value resort, you will find that the bus stops are the farthest away from the park entrances. Now in the morning, this is not a big deal, but when you have a tired child, and droves of people going to the same place, all vying for a seat, even 10 extra feet to walk is too much. Which brings me the next point and deciding factor on NOT staying at a Value!!! Disney is EXPENSIVE and every family would like to stretch their money, however, most, but not all, guests staying at the Value resorts seem to be so intent on staying on budget, that they appear to be stressed out the entire time. Parents are yelling at the kids, the kids are screaming and are crying, and NO ONE is smiling!!!! For our first stay on property, we wanted it to be Magical!!! Disney did all that they could to make it that way, however, everyone around me was so miserable that we could not wait to get out of that style resort!!!! I understand that not everyone can afford to pay $200 a night, but if this a once-year trip, and you have been saving all year long, spend the extra money so that you can stay in a nicer resort and enjoy the down time that the resort offers.
Animal Kingdom, Grand Floridian, Polynesian and Yacht Club are wonderful!!!! And all of the moderates are great, especially Coronado Springs; it has a Deluxe resort feel to it!!!!
Have a great trip and remember to RELAX while you are here!!!!

 

[spiceycat]

you want the monrail - CR - besides when the monrail and ferry plus the buses are back up with an hour wait.

you can walk back to your hotel....

glad you got a good rate. waiting until oct when you though May is a long wait - but hey you get to save more money for the trip!!!

 

[spiceycat]

oh forgot - one night (if you can afford) get a baby sitter (kid's club) and you and your husband go visit Epcot for the food/wine festavial.

really worth doing!!! and with monrail - you can definitely have a drink or two or three. Now if you don't drink wine or alcohol in any form - go anyway the food is worth it.

but it can be pretty boring to your 3 year old - so definitely save for a baby sitter that night.

 

[Pirate at Heart]

Stay deluxe at CR!! October is a great time to go. The waiting is tough, but you won't be sorry!

 

[mom2aredhead]

Another vote for Oct at AKL. It's my favorite resort and my favorite time of year to be there. The Halloween party is great - you're son will probably love it. It is a long time to wait, but just think of all the planning and changing, and re-planning and ADR booking, cancelling and re-booking you could do between now and then.