What would you do ?

[tink15823]

Okay so we have enough put away to pay for our trip in one cash payment if we stay at All - Star Music family suites or Port Orleans . Or we can book pay for all but 1000 when the prices drop and stay at Polynesian or Contemporary . We are leaning toward monorail line and it would not take away from our household budget and I could pay the other 1000 in Sept of this year . We are not planing on going until Sept 2012 . We have never had this hard of a time before because our budget only allowed for Value and we were traveling in large parties of 12 to 28 people. I guess what I am just wondering can I validate the extra cost is it worth it ?

 

[jjsmom]

It really depends on your expectations and your family's needs. Nothing beats the convenience of a monorail resort. We've only been able to afford it once. You have to weigh "is it worth it" keeping in mind that $1000 can go a long way towards ANOTHER WDW vacation.
Since it's September, it shouldn't be too crowded so I'm not sure the convenience is worth the money.
How much time do you spend in your room or on the resort grounds? If you're a "park commando" family all you really need is good bed and bath.On the other hand, if this a slower WDW trip then you would enjoy the ambience of the more expensive resorts.
Good luck! I wish I was making the same decision!

 

[Disneychix]

With your family of 5 I would go with the suites or maybe look into Ft Wilderness cabins. I would choose space over all sleeping in one hotel room. Ft Wilderness will get you a boat to MK which is nice.

 

[Marionnette]

Okay so we have enough put away to pay for our trip in one cash payment if we stay at All - Star Music family suites or Port Orleans . Or we can book pay for all but 1000 when the prices drop and stay at Polynesian or Contemporary . We are leaning toward monorail line and it would not take away from our household budget and I could pay the other 1000 in Sept of this year . We are not planing on going until Sept 2012 . We have never had this hard of a time before because our budget only allowed for Value and we were traveling in large parties of 12 to 28 people. I guess what I am just wondering can I validate the extra cost is it worth it ?

No one can answer that for you. Some people are going to place a higher value on dining, tours, longer stays, return trips, new carpet for the house, etc. That $1K can be spent so many other ways.

You're going to get people who tell you to stay in a value for longer. Someone is going to tell you to rent DVC points. Someone else is going to let you know what an awesome house you can rent just outside of Disney property. Some people will straddle the fence and tell you to do a split stay.

Some people hate Disney and they'll tell you stay home.

Personally, if I could afford it and knew that there would be no other chance to stay at a monorail resort, then I'd jump on the opportunity.

 

[Donnainnj]

Okay so we have enough put away to pay for our trip in one cash payment if we stay at All - Star Music family suites or Port Orleans . Or we can book pay for all but 1000 when the prices drop and stay at Polynesian or Contemporary . We are leaning toward monorail line and it would not take away from our household budget and I could pay the other 1000 in Sept of this year . We are not planing on going until Sept 2012 . We have never had this hard of a time before because our budget only allowed for Value and we were traveling in large parties of 12 to 28 people. I guess what I am just wondering can I validate the extra cost is it worth it ?

I prefer the two bathrooms in the suite, plus a little privacy for the adults.
Donna

 

[tink15823]

Thank you everyone for your input . It would be so easy if the cars resort were open we would stay there and we are park commandos so that is a great point and we have always LOVED All Star movies we feel at home there. Do both bathrooms in the suites have shower both bathrooms are a plus too. I have never been on the fence before planing a trip and it is driving me NUTS

 

[disneyofcourse]

Have you considered renting points from a DVC member for your vacation? You might get the deluxe feel and maybe get a resort on the monorail with more space for almost the same amount of money. Now I'm not exactly sure how many points you would need to rent but take a look at what you can get. They have a rental board in the DVC section. I believe its between $10-13 per point.

 

[robinb]

It really depends on your expectations and your family's needs. Nothing beats the convenience of a monorail resort.

Meh. I think the whole "monorail resort" thing is overrated.

OP, it sounds like your budget is somewhat strained at the Deluxe Level. I would book POR and let your kids fight over who gets the trundle bed and save some cash for extras.

 

[momof1princess]

personally, i would book a value and use the money for something else. we are park commandos and only use our room to shower and sleep. a deluxe would be wasted on us.

 

[cam&phoebsmom]

are you considering the price of food at all?

September is typically a free dining month. I think that a Value gets you free counter service meal plan while a moderate or deluxe will get you the regular dining plan to include a table service.

Could you book POR now and then upgrade if a deal comes out or you get a PIN?

 

[Colleen27]

Thank you everyone for your input . It would be so easy if the cars resort were open we would stay there and we are park commandos so that is a great point and we have always LOVED All Star movies we feel at home there. Do both bathrooms in the suites have shower both bathrooms are a plus too. I have never been on the fence before planing a trip and it is driving me NUTS

The new resort should be open, at least in part, by Sept '12. The first phase is supposed to open next May. It is anyone's guess as to which theme will open first (my guess is Nemo because it is closest to the main building and home to the feature pool, followed by Cars & Lion King, with Little Mermaid coming last).

The All Star suites have two full bathrooms, and the Art of Animation suites are supposed to have the same.

ETA: Personally, I think the extra space is worth more than being on the monorail. A single hotel room is pretty close quarters for my family, with 3 kids, only one of whom is a teen. At the Poly or the Contemporary two of the kids will have to share a bed. How will they feel about that? The one bathroom thing might also be a hassle with a teen girl. Being on the monorail is a great perk with younger kids or if you're planning midday breaks, but with older kids I think it gets to be less of a big deal.

 

[cglaura]

Whenever I'm in a dilemma like this, I try to think of that thousand in other terms...for example, for me:

1 year & 8 months of internet

6.5 months of groceries

1 year of car insurance

2.5 years of phone bill

$1000 more in my retirement fund for trekking the globe in my golden years

It all comes down to what you want now, what you could do later, what is good for your personal situation. If it is a dream of your family to stay on a monorail resort then go for it! If it is just a matter of convenience or cool factor, and you think you'd have just as good a trip at the value suite or POR (I'd choose the suite, for the extra bath...) then save the money.