Which "splurge" would you choose?

[Drinehart811]

I am torn between 2 options and I was hoping for some opinions from some DISers!
The basics:
I am going to wdw from 9/27-10/5. This will be my 1st trip for both MNSSHP and F&W, 5th trip total. Will just be me and BFF (his first trip EVER!)

The options:
1: stay at WL (never been deluxe before) and do a demo or 2 at F&W plus the 3d dessert discovery.
2: Stay at AS music and add Party for the senses and the VIP F&W package, plus have extra spending $$.

I know I will have a great time either way but I just don't know which "splurge" (deluxe resort vs F&W extras) would be best. Any thoughts or recommendations would be much appreciated!

 

[Neesy228]

I am torn between 2 options and I was hoping for some opinions from some DISers! The basics: I am going to wdw from 9/27-10/5. This will be my 1st trip for both MNSSHP and F&W, 5th trip total. Will just be me and BFF (his first trip EVER!) The options: 1: stay at WL (never been deluxe before) and do a demo or 2 at F&W plus the 3d dessert discovery. 2: Stay at AS music and add Party for the senses and the VIP F&W package, plus have extra spending $$. I know I will have a great time either way but I just don't know which "splurge" (deluxe resort vs F&W extras) would be best. Any thoughts or recommendations would be much appreciated!

I would stay at a value and use the money savings to make some great memories! Chances are you will not remember much about where you slept at night, but you will remember your fun activities.

My only caveat to that line of thinking is if you're planning on spending a lot of time at the resort, then I *may* consider a nicer hotel but even then I'd be hard pressed to change my mind.

Have you considered a moderate and a few of the splurges you mentioned as a middle of the road option?

Have a great trip!

 

[stsomewhere]

I would do the cheaper resort. since it is BF first trip, You will be spending most of your time at the parks. Save the money.

 

[pooh17]

I would do the deluxe hotel without a doubt. You will get plenty out of the F&W fest and there is no comparison with the hotels. If I had stayed at a value on the first trip with DH, there would never have been a 2nd trip.

 

[Happyjen27]

My splurge would be accommodations, for certain.

 

[Nicoleinwi]

I agree with Neesy, I'd do a moderate resort.

Nice middle of the road resort. In future trips you could easily downgrade to a value or you could upgrade to a deluxe.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

I'd splurge on the deluxe resort without a second thought.

But if you're in the camp of not caring about where you sleep it may be different.

For me, if my "it's just a place to sleep" isn't a place where I can actually sleep, I won't have a good trip. I've never stayed at a value but the difference between the bed/bedding at the moderates and deluxe is quite a leap.

 

[eliza61]

No question,
WL. LOL. If this is his first trip you may never get him to go to a value after staying at the WL!!!

 

[ready2cmickeymouse]

I don't know if the resort pool is important to you or not. The Wilderness Lodge pool will be closed at that time. I had a reservation at Wilderness Lodge and changed it to Port Orleans French Quarter. Hope you have a great vacation no matter where you decide to stay.

 

[mickey2000]

Over many years I have been to ALL the resorts except BLT ! I now go to POP as its now only a room to sleep at. If I ever did return to a resort it would be the Beach Club with sand bottom pool
After tis stay in a few weeks I'll have 352 nights ! LOL LOL

 

[marmalade]

I would choose WL in a hearbeat!! We've stayed in values many times and we would again, but if those were my 2 options I would pick WL hands down.

 

[MissVeronica]

I would do Wilderness Lodge. The convenience in being able to get to the parks and staying at a much nicer hotel would be worth it to me.

 

[patsal]

I would do the deluxe hotel without a doubt. You will get plenty out of the F&W fest and there is no comparison with the hotels. If I had stayed at a value on the first trip with DH, there would never have been a 2nd trip.

Besides those events at F&W may already be sold out. There is enough to do for a first timer I think those extrasmay add over load frustration then add crappy bus service to it and it ends up a recipe for disaster! As pp stated I never would have gotten DH to go back if I did the value and overloaded with experiences.

 

[crisi]

I wouldn't go to Disney if I didn't do a Deluxe resort (we go DVC, which is a compromise over Deluxe), so no doubt I'd take the resort over the add ons. A first timer will have plenty to do without events, and a first timer at F&W will find plenty to do without events.

 

[msmama]

I like the idea of splitting it down the middle and doing a moderate with maybe one extra.

Port Orleans French Quarter, I think, is a nice resort for a first timer. It's small which I like about it, but still has enough "fun" stuff that my son likes it. To be honest, it's the only Mod I'd ever stay in again.

I wouldn't over do it with extras for a first trip. There's plenty of stuff to do without bogging yourself down with stuff in the middle of the day.

 

[Drinehart811]

Hey! OP here . The reason the choice is value vs deluxe is due to the time we are going. Unfortunately there is not really anything available (with any discounts) at a moderate. This makes the cost difference between CBR (where only pirate room water view is available) and WL negligible. Right now I have WL booked w/FD, I tried to get a quote for renting DVC points and nothing was available for a studio. Right now my frustration is when we are at the hotel we'll have to take the boat to FW or CR to use the pool. However, we are total eaters so the FD makes a lot of sense for us (we are doing DxDP).

It seems like there is a huge difference at the bedding at value vs mod vs deluxe. Are we talking the quality of the mattresses or just the sheets and such?

 

[eeyoresmom]

Definitely WL and less or even NO extras. I agree that there is enough to do at Disney without adding on extras for MANY trips. OP, have you priced AKL? It is usually comporable to WL and no pool issues.

 

[Drinehart811]

Definitely WL and less or even NO extras. I agree that there is enough to do at Disney without adding on extras for MANY trips. OP, have you priced AKL? It is usually comporable to WL and no pool issues.

Yeah, FD = no availability anywhere else. I tried that immediately after they announced the pool maintanence. I decided to stay put since there was absolutely nothing else in the price range or at a moderate. This is also when I got a quote for DVC.

 

[ZehnJahren]

I'd do WL for sure!

 

[Drinehart811]

Thanks for the input all! I think I'm staying at WL. I don't need all that extra stuff at F&W, and bestie is a "sucker for a fancy hotel" in his words.