What Would You Do?

[Colleen27]

Excellent suggestions!
I suppose to could have my TA check on CBR, but we've stayed there before, and I like to try somewhere new every time we go. Also, a quick check has only a Pirate room available with a discount. Usually the AFS availability is about the same as that for the other discounts Disney offers. It looks like it would actually be about $100 more expensive than our preferred room at CSR. Such a shame, because I think DS and DH would really love to stay in a Pirate themed room.
I didn't want preferred at CSR, I'd rather be closer to the pool, but it was all that was available.
DH looked up photos of CSR and was particularly impressed with the pool, so I think we'll be perfectly happy there.

The pirate rooms are overrated, IMO. What they really are is bait to get people booking rooms in a remote part of the resort that otherwise most guests would be trying to avoid. The decor makes for a great first impression, but to get that decor you are paying preferred-room prices to be in the buildings that are furthest from the main pool, food court, and other resort amenities. The main pool and splash pad area is really cool and CBR itself is beautiful, but it is a resort best enjoyed in a preferred room if at all possible. Even standard rooms are better than the pirate rooms, though, because at least with a standard room you have a chance at a good location.

 

[dimimi]

I didn't read everything...however, I would choose the least expensive hotel and enjoy my trip. We stayed at POP one trip and loved it! Have fun!

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

We're active duty and could easily go for $2000 and even $2900. How many nights are you staying in the hotel?

Are you willing to consider off site? I really think a condo would be a great bet for y'all. The kids get separate rooms and you save the money so you can have a car. By the time you wait for busses and ride to a further hotel, it is not shorter than driving back to a condo for a break. That perk of staying on site to be close for breaks only seems to work for deluxe hotels.

Does airfare eat up a large chunk of your budget?

ETA: You should be able to save on baggage fees. Most airlines will kindly waive the fees if you explain that you are traveling before he deploys.

 

[LovesTimone]

Excellent suggestions!
I suppose to could have my TA check on CBR, but we've stayed there before, and I like to try somewhere new every time we go. Also, a quick check has only a Pirate room available with a discount. Usually the AFS availability is about the same as that for the other discounts Disney offers. It looks like it would actually be about $100 more expensive than our preferred room at CSR. Such a shame, because I think DS and DH would really love to stay in a Pirate themed room.
I didn't want preferred at CSR, I'd rather be closer to the pool, but it was all that was available.
DH looked up photos of CSR and was particularly impressed with the pool, so I think we'll be perfectly happy there.

ETA: We've already paid to check two bags for our flights. My estimate is that we'll only need about 1 1/2 bags for clothes, so half a bag will be whatever little extras I can squeeze in. I like to limit the amount of stuff I carry onto the plane. DH will probably have a backpack with a change of clothes for all of us, and maybe our swimsuits, and DS will have a backpack with activities for the plane.
I'm definitely planning on looking into Grocery delivery, especially water delivery.

I just talked to a friend that was at CSR last weekend, and she said that one of the quite pools was closed completely and looked as if it was going through some major refurb., and that the main pool the slide was closed for one of the day that they were at the pool. Also she thought that the food court did not offer what she called a kid friendly selections, she said they really had nothing that was very interesting. She said she was disappointed with aspect of the resort,

As another suggestion, I would look at free dinning and staying at a moderate, this way you get 1 TS, 1 QS, 1 Snack, per person per day. This way you get the extra table services that you are looking for. DH and I went for a few days back in March, and I had already booked at POFQ made ADR's, and when FD came out, I ran the numbers on and switched to CBR with FD, which we came out around 100.00 dollars ahead. In saying that there have been times when I have ran the numbers and FD is not the way to go.

On the pirate room, they are super cool. We peeked into one and my DH was like we gotta stay here our little DGS gets old enough.

Really no matter what you decide have a wonderful trip, and make sure to post a trip report.

 

[danceintherain]

The pirate rooms are overrated, IMO. What they really are is bait to get people booking rooms in a remote part of the resort that otherwise most guests would be trying to avoid. The decor makes for a great first impression, but to get that decor you are paying preferred-room prices to be in the buildings that are furthest from the main pool, food court, and other resort amenities. The main pool and splash pad area is really cool and CBR itself is beautiful, but it is a resort best enjoyed in a preferred room if at all possible. Even standard rooms are better than the pirate rooms, though, because at least with a standard room you have a chance at a good location.

I feel the same way about the pirate rooms. That said, we've stayed at CBR before in a non-preferred room and loved it.

I didn't read everything...however, I would choose the least expensive hotel and enjoy my trip. We stayed at POP one trip and loved it! Have fun!

We switched to CSR. DH is actually starting to get excited about the trip because of it.

We're active duty and could easily go for $2000 and even $2900. How many nights are you staying in the hotel?

Are you willing to consider off site? I really think a condo would be a great bet for y'all. The kids get separate rooms and you save the money so you can have a car. By the time you wait for busses and ride to a further hotel, it is not shorter than driving back to a condo for a break. That perk of staying on site to be close for breaks only seems to work for deluxe hotels.

Does airfare eat up a large chunk of your budget?

ETA: You should be able to save on baggage fees. Most airlines will kindly waive the fees if you explain that you are traveling before he deploys.

We actually ended up with a really good price for airfare, which is most of the reason CSR became affordable at all. We only paid $613.60 for three of us, including bags. Every other airline was going to be closer to $800.

We've never had trouble taking a break before using Disney transport (and DH has required one every day for our entire marriage). Usually we go to the parks in the morning, and only return at night if we have something specific we want to be doing. For this trip, I actually picture us just spending mornings in one park, then hopping over to MK to play the SOTMK game. I don't really want to stay off-site. I did look at AFVC, but decided it wasn't what I wanted. Part of it is that our days are likely numbered for staying in a single room on the Disney property, so I'd like to take advantage of it for as long as possible, even if it does cost a bit extra.

I just talked to a friend that was at CSR last weekend, and she said that one of the quite pools was closed completely and looked as if it was going through some major refurb., and that the main pool the slide was closed for one of the day that they were at the pool. Also she thought that the food court did not offer what she called a kid friendly selections, she said they really had nothing that was very interesting. She said she was disappointed with aspect of the resort,

As another suggestion, I would look at free dinning and staying at a moderate, this way you get 1 TS, 1 QS, 1 Snack, per person per day. This way you get the extra table services that you are looking for. DH and I went for a few days back in March, and I had already booked at POFQ made ADR's, and when FD came out, I ran the numbers on and switched to CBR with FD, which we came out around 100.00 dollars ahead. In saying that there have been times when I have ran the numbers and FD is not the way to go.

On the pirate room, they are super cool. We peeked into one and my DH was like we gotta stay here our little DGS gets old enough.

Really no matter what you decide have a wonderful trip, and make sure to post a trip report.

The pools don't tend to make a huge difference for us. We usually only actually get in once our entire trips. It does look like the Casitas (the preferred area) pool will be down for refurbishment, but all the other pools will be open. DS doesn't particularly like water slides, so if it happens to be closed, it won't have a huge negative impact.

The booking window for Free Dining for our dates expired a few weeks ago. We just decided to take the trip last week.

I did just notice that there's availability in a Standard room with the Late Summer offer for a little bit less than what we're paying for a Preferred room with the military discount. So I think I'll probably switch to that.

 

[hsmamato2]

sounds to me like you;d be happier at a mod, since you plan to spend time at resort,and in your room.... a 'down' day can be so nice at a disney resort! with kids that young, a relaxing breakfast, time playing at the pool and playground, naps, maybe a leisurely afternoon at DtD just enjoying the views.... I love doing that! I don't like a lot of TS with really young kids,WAY too much sitting and waiting IMHO- the all ears site has full menus for all of WDW, there are lots of lovely cs places to enjoy all over the place! I recommend the smallest stroller you can bring for bus traveling, but it shouldn't be difficult, I actually don't mind the buses on our trips at all.

 

[Accident]

Normally my recommendation would be strip down what you can avoid to have the money for what you want to do. This situation as a family trip before a deployment with resort family time I think will be important though.

It sounds like in the past you were all table service meals and similar, the best advice I can give is i've always had a great time with my family with quick service and there is some interesting options where you don't have to plan your day around a sit down reservation. It'll help save some money, you'll have some more flexibility in where you eat based on where you happen to be when hungry. Hopefully it'll offset the costs to ensure your must do sit downs, moderate resort, etc can happen.

I'd love to know what you end up doing and please thank your DH for his service for us.

 

[daisyduck123]

I'd definitely choose the moderate & NO rental car.

Oh...and an idea for a 3rd TS meal...you can have a nice sit down meal at Via Napoli for under $40: Order water to drink and get a large pizza for your family. They also take the TIW card if you have one.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Moderate and no rental car.

I would definitely try to find money to have a few more TS meals but having more QS meals wouldn't bother me. Some lower cost TS meals would be Plaza, Beaches and Cream, Kona, Trail's End, Via Napoli. We have those on our list since we are paying OOP this trip.

Have fun!

 

[leahgoogle]

I'm in the minority, but I would definitely not want to give up a rental car. We love the freedom of being able to drive to the parks. That being said, you have to go with your preferences. If DH would like break-time every day, a bigger room is a plus

 

[dylans mommy]

I am probably the odd ball one here but I would say stay at pop and skip the car. I would use the extra money to surprise your DH with a date night and use in room daycare. When DH deploys we will be going after he comes back. We stay at the pop do the dinning plan and get a 7 day hopper usually from ticket and sales on post.

Sense DH will be gone for so long I am going to be using the extra money I have came up with to have the kids go to the beach club child care and have a date night with DH.

I am not a huge advocate of credit cards but I agree with the poster above. You want to be able to make as many memories and not worry about money before he leaves. If it's possible to get the card I would. Plus that's an additional $200 spending money once you spend $500 ( I think) Between Partial BAS, seperation, hazard pay and tax free you will have plenty to pay it off

 

[cheerky]

Getravelop has some really nice 1, 2 and 3 bedroom properties available in September for $349 a week... Plenty of $$$ left over for car rental and table service meals.

Thank you for your service and sacrifice you make as a military family. Have a wonderful time!

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

Your replies tell all, you don't care about the rental car....