Where to stay...

[wendywoo]

I earned a $10,000 vacation to anywhere of my choice. I have finally decided on Disney for sure! My husband and kids have never been and this is pretty much once in a life time for us! So I wanna get the best deal and the biggest wow I can!
Our dates have to be September 20th through the 30th... want to use the whole time!
Kids are 12, 11 and 3 (yeah we have a surprise child lol)
What is everyone's favorites... I keep coming back to the Caribbean Beach Resort for the pool mainly and it sleeps 5.
Would love to everyone else's suggestions!!

 

[Sue M]

Sorry but CBR doesn't sleep 5. The only moderate to sleep 5 is Port Orleans.
I would stay at a deluxe, ESP with 5. You won a great trip, wow! I'd look at Poly, or Contemporaty if you want to be in the MK area. Monorail resorts are great.
They also have the largest rooms.

Or Beach Club in Epcot area, easy walk to Epcot, and 20 min walk to Hollywood Studios, or boat ride.

You'll have a much more enjoyable stay if you're not cramped into a small room.

These resorts have 2 queens & daybed, and more spacious. Also closer to the parks.

If you are meaning this Sept, WDW released discounts recently. Either free dining or room discount.
Look on WDW web site under Specials. I'd book ASAP as these specials are limited. Have your package priced both ways. Free dining or room discount to see which suits you best.

 

[mhconley]

With $10k to spend I would definitely do one of the deluxe's on the monorail - CR, GF or Poly - and CL, too. Sounds like a great trip - Have fun!

Martin

 

[friend2Figment]

We have stayed at CBR and my kids love the pool but Beach Club's is better for the older kids. Large Water slide. Beach Club also sleeps 5. Can't beat the location to Epcot.

If I could take a $10,000 trip with nothing out of my pockets it would be Beach Club hands down. Check on the discounts that just came out.

 

[wendywoo]

Sorry I ment the Beach Club Resort... keep getting them all confused lol! I did price it out and it seems as the discount is better than free dinning for us!.

 

[Sue M]

I'd price out how much it would be to add on DDP to your room discount vs free dining, or how much Club Level would be. If you can do it for your $10,000

We have no problem helping you spend your vacay gift

 

[wendywoo]

I'd price out how much it would be to add on DDP to your room discount vs free dining, or how much Club Level would be. If you can do it for your $10,000

We have no problem helping you spend your vacay gift

What is DDP? I think the discount room works better for us and YES on Club Level as it was only $450 more... is it worth it? What are the real perks to club level besides the "snack room"?

 

[Sue M]

What is DDP? I think the discount room works better for us and YES on Club Level as it was only $450 more... is it worth it? What are the real perks to club level besides the "snack room"?

Sorry, DDP is Disney Dining Plan. We stayed in a GV (garden view) CL room at BC last Aug and loved it. You have use of their Itinerary Planning who will make any reservations for you, either dining or tours,etc. and the snack room is great. Nice continental breakfast, snacks during the day, cooler always stocked with milk, pop. Etc. dinner time food included salad, 2 hot appie items, very good I might add, plus cheese, crackers, dips, veggies, beer and wine, you could easily make a meal of it. Then there's dessert time! A selection of desserts, and cordials, brandy, etc.
We had the dining plan, and regretted it with all the food in the CL.
This Aug we are staying CL at AKL without DDP. We made a few lunch time dining reservations. And that's it.

For us CL is def worth it, if we can get a good discount.

 

[wendywoo]

Sorry, DDP is Disney Dining Plan. We stayed in a GV (garden view) CL room at BC last Aug and loved it. You have use of their Itinerary Planning who will make any reservations for you, either dining or tours,etc. and the snack room is great. Nice continental breakfast, snacks during the day, cooler always stocked with milk, pop. Etc. dinner time food included salad, 2 hot appie items, very good I might add, plus cheese, crackers, dips, veggies, beer and wine, you could easily make a meal of it. Then there's dessert time! A selection of desserts, and cordials, brandy, etc.
We had the dining plan, and regretted it with all the food in the CL.
This Aug we are staying CL at AKL without DDP. We made a few lunch time dining reservations. And that's it.

For us CL is def worth it, if we can get a good discount.

Thank you!!! My DH and DS are eaters so I figured CL since you never know when the hunger urge will strike with boys lol!! I plan on doing the dinning plan for sure! Just now hoping I can figure out the best places to eat to please everyone!

 

[Sue M]

I believe there's a thread with menus on Dis, and all ears.net has menus too.

Some of our favs are:
Captains grille
Cape May
Boma
Kona
Ohana
1900 park fare
Saana
LeCellier
Tutto
Teppan Edo
Whispering Canyon is fun for the kids

 

[wendywoo]

I believe there's a thread with menus on Dis, and all ears.net has menus too.

Some of our favs are:
Captains grille
Cape May
Boma
Kona
Ohana
1900 park fare
Saana
LeCellier
Tutto
Teppan Edo
Whispering Canyon is fun for the kids

Thank you for the link!

 

[Sue M]

Thank you for the link!

Your welcome.

 

[MMS1125]

i'd stay at the Poly or Beach Club!! The volcano pool at the Poly is nice plus the ease of the monorail and boat make it great with a small child.

SAB at the BC is the best pool on property I think. The Poly room is a little bigger although with 10k you could probably pay OOP for a 1br Villa for a little more room

The 1BR AKL villa at Kidani has 2 bathrooms you could splurge and get a savannah view but you give up the ease of transportation to MK, DHS, and Epcot...

I wish I had your problem though haha...what a great opportunity to make your trip magical!

 

[shannonstar]

I consulted my 9 year old on this, so here is what he says

Beach Club (I say Club Level)

Restaurants:
Tusker House Breakfast
Crystal Palace Breakfast
Kona Cafe
Beaches & Cream
Mama Melrose
Raglan Road
T-Rex Restaurant
Boma
HDDR - Hoop de Doo

Tours/Special Events/Misc:
MNSSHP
Pirates n Pals Fireworks Cruise
Wishes Dessert Party
Disney Quest

These are his favorite things.

My husband chimed in that you might like California Grill and the fireworks view from there. Also dinner at Ohana. He seconded a lot of my sons choices.

For my thoughts:
Get P/H tickets for convenience

 

[madelyn]

Coming from a family with 3 kids of similar ages to the OP (13, 10 and 5) I would be most comfortable in either two rooms or a villa. The DVC (Disney Vacation Club) villas are also nice because you get a full kitchen and washer/dryer. I know doing laundry and cooking aren't ideal things to do on vacation but with a family of 3 kids w/ that length of stay, a washer/dryer comes in handy. But unfortunately there are no discounts on the villa units (other than possibly Old Key West and Saratoga Springs). A 1 bedroom standard view villa at Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village prices out at $5675 w/ tax for your dates. This is for room only (doesn't include tickets or meal plan). The Savannah view (view of animals from your balcony) prices out at $6498 w/tax, room only. Kidani village is nice because you will also get 2 full bathrooms. The master bath has a jacuzzi tub. Adding 10 day park hoppers and the regular dining plan bumps the total up to about $10,500 though. That goes over the $10K mark and that is w/out transportation costs. Will you have to fly your family of 5 and for what approximate cost? Changing to standard view villa and the tickets to non-hopper/8 day tickets will drop the package price to $9,337. Or a quote for the Polynesian/Garden View Club level is $9075 w/ 8 day park hoppers and the regular dining plan. That Beach Club Std View Club level w/ 8 day park hoppers and the regular dining plan prices out well at $7924. This gives plenty of the room in the budget for transportation and misc expenses. All in 1 room might not be too bad since you have access to the club lounge as well. An Old Key West 1 bedroom Villa w/ 8 day park hoppers and the dining plan prices out at $7482. Compare the size of the unit:942 sq feet for an Old Key West 1 bedroom vs. 381 sq feet in 1 room at the Beach Club. The Old Key West 1 bedroom villa will have a king sized bed in the separate bedroom and a sofa sleeper and sleeper chiar in the living room. TV in both the bedroom and the living room, full kitchen, washer/dryer, jacuzzi tub. Not 2 full bathrooms but you will have the bathtub, a separate shower and two sink areas. But you won't be able to walk to parks like you could at the Beach Club but can take a boat to the Downtown Disney area.

 

[GovieMom]

Coming from a family with 3 kids of similar ages to the OP (13, 10 and 5) I would be most comfortable in either two rooms or a villa. The DVC (Disney Vacation Club) villas are also nice because you get a full kitchen and washer/dryer. I know doing laundry and cooking aren't ideal things to do on vacation but with a family of 3 kids w/ that length of stay, a washer/dryer comes in handy.

 

[wendywoo]

Thank you everyone... tons of great information!! Getting so much more exciting talking about it!
Thought about doing a villa... really love the pool at the Beach Club though lol
Our airfare is right around $900 round trip so that leaves $9000 for transfer to and from Sanford (that is where we have to fly into). BC seems to be right at $8300 for 10 days with CL and DDP... hoppers too.
Now what about the water parks... I am better off adding them to the package or just getting our travel agent (have to go through them) to get us tickets? I know we would all do them maybe 1 time a piece??
Any great shows or little excursions we need to do or see?

 

[minnie mum]

If you're going to be staying at BC, I think I might hang off on getting water park tickets in advance. You may find that SAB is all the kids really want. You can always get single day tickets later if you want them.

 

[wendywoo]

If you're going to be staying at BC, I think I might hang off on getting water park tickets in advance. You may find that SAB is all the kids really want. You can always get single day tickets later if you want them.

my only thing is my trip is no cash so wanna make sure I have everything booked and paid for in advance

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

With hoppers I think it only about $22 to add waterparks and more option.