Which Deluxe??...and AAA or NO AAA

[jac2071]

Hi DIS'ers. Newbie here, so please excuse a question that has been asked tons before. Like so many others, we are having hard time with pulling final trigger....

Scoop: Me, wife, kids 7 & 9. Going mid- Oct. Four nights (Wed-leave Sun).

HELP!! Poly, CR, or spend $178 more on GF?? This board has been great with knowledge. By the way, we want to be in a monorail resort.
Pros:
Poly- great reviews, location (TTC), theme, pool
CR- location, "fair" reviews
GF- service, location, newer, pool, etc.
They each seem great, I know we won't go wrong, I just need a push.

Lastly, looks like AAA will save us around $150-$180 for the trip depending on resort. I hear that you have to then always deal with AAA TA, etc. My question is whether it is worth it?? Does the convienience of dealing with Disney directly outway the savings? And does a AAA ressie make it less likely for changes or upgrades, etc?? Other benefits to either??

Thanks in advance.

-JC

 

[hockey mom]

My vote is for Poly. Your kids will love that pool. You can phone disney yourself and book your own room with a AAA discount if you didn't want to use a AAA rep.

 

[jac2071]

I wanted to use AAA because that way I can use them (discount) and also do the dining plan. Once I add dining, Disney CRO won't give me the aaa discount.

 

[4greatboys]

I would stay at the Poly as well. We stayed there june 2004 and really liked the resort. We also stayed at CR--Im sure the rooms are nicer now they are being rehabed but on our stay the rooms wasnt in very good shape, Never stayed at the GF, Im not sure I would pay over what I would pay to stay at the Poly.

 

[Tine731]

I have used the AAA discount for my last 3 stays and have never used AAA travel. I call disney's reservations line and ask the CM if a AAA discount is available. They say yes every time. The last time I was upgraded form a standard view to a pool view.

 

[Tjaleks]

When you called and asked about an AAA discount did you have to give them your AAA number or do you have to show proof upon arrival???

 

[edingerc]

On the con side of things:
CR: Pre-rennovation rooms make my eyes bleed. The colors are too garish and furniture too old. Rennovated rooms look VERY NICE
Poly: None. Even pre-rennovation rooms are nice, but the post rooms are WOW. Still my favorite resort on the property.
GF: Sorry, it's just too snooty. It needs a lot more trees to drive the heat away. Rooms are way too small for the cost, although the decour is very pretty. The pool doesn't seem to fit the theme or any theme. It REALLY needs a hedge maze to complete its theme.
Monorail Resorts: All three share the same buses. These are the most expensive rooms at WDW and they have to share buses....... hmmmmmm

Looking at those ages, I think I have a suggestion that may fit you better: WL
pros: WL has what I consider to be the second best lobby in WDW (AKL is number 1, GF doesn't even come close). It's close to MK, just a boat-ride away. Bunk beds: a great way to stop all the fighting. Whispering Pines: a restaurant that's got more energy than the rowdiest 7-year old. The cost that straddles the deluxe and moderate level.
Cons: Not on the Monorail

Or how about AKL:
Pros: The lobby, WOW! A never-ending show, right outside your window, courtesy of the animals. No bus sharing at all. Exotic resaurants. The single, most exclusive tour of all of the resorts (the Sunrise Safari, requiring Concierge in AKL, 1 hour on the Savanah away from the normal areas and a wonderful buffet)*.
Cons: A distance away from MK

* There is another safari that is also Concierge-level safari tour, but that's for all the other resort concierge guests and there is no buffet afterwards.

 

[whacked]

I booked a package through AAA. I still can call CRO and talk to them with various questions. Since mine is a Grand Gathering, I even get connected to the Grand Gathering people.

The CRO cast member also stated if the free dining comes out for the period I'm there to call and they'll add the code to my existing reservation. No need to go through AAA for that.

CRO appears to still be helpful even if you book through AAA.

 

[Tine731]

When you called and asked about an AAA discount did you have to give them your AAA number or do you have to show proof upon arrival???

No, they did not ask for my AAA #. In fact the 1st time I called I did not belong to AAA. I knew how much it would cost to join AAA for the year but was not sure if the savings was going to be worth joining. I called Disney, asked for the discount and they said I would have to show proof at check-in. The discount was worth joining so after I made my res. (w/ AAA discount) I went on line and joined AAA and have been a member ever since. I just show my card at check-in.

 

[Tjaleks]

Thanks

That is the exact reason I wanted to know. I am not a member, but would be willing to join if it was worth the savings.

 

[tclowe]

JC:

I would book the POLY for your family. The rooms are bigger, they have the volcano pool, nice sandy beach for the kids to play building sandcastle and making new friends, and you can eat at O'hana's for breakfast or dinner.

If you already have AAA membership, definitely book with AAA. A discount is money in your pocket. Plus, if you buy a package (with Disney tickets) through them, I think you get AAA diamond parking pass as well as AAA special viewing area for Magic Kingdom. Also a few Dis members have mentioned that they were able to keep their room discount when they added on the Disney Dining Plan (vs. you have to book at rack rate with Disney dining plan if you book through Disney direct).