Which "splurge" would you choose?

[ruadisneyfan2]

WL is one of our favorites! Dh loves it enough I can easily talk him into a WDW trip just by mentioning/showing pictures of WL.

 

[*pixie*dust*]

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.

OP, I really like WL, but I would never call it fancy, it is entry level on the deluxe scale-- I am only saying that so you or your bestie wont be disappointed. IT's awesome, but not fancy. Also, if a pool is important to either of you, I would look to stay elsewhere since they are doing work on the pool during your whole stay...

 

[Drinehart811]

OP, I really like WL, but I would never call it fancy, it is entry level on the deluxe scale-- I am only saying that so you or your bestie wont be disappointed. IT's awesome, but not fancy. Also, if a pool is important to either of you, I would look to stay elsewhere since they are doing work on the pool during your whole stay...

OP here, yeah as I said, I DID look for other options when I heard about the pool but nothing was available at around the same price range or at a moderate due pt free dining. WL is already stretching our budget so we can't go higher. We talked about changing dates but didn't want to since we had gotten all our HTG ADRs. We couldn't go earlier and didn't want to push the wait to get there any longer.

Also, for two singles WL is pretty fancy for us

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

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?

Cancel any "extras". With DxDP you will be eating all the time as it is, and too full to really enjoy the different offerings at F&W. His first trip, F&W, MNNSHP, DXDP, and staying at WL ----sounds like a wonderful trip. (And very deluxe!) Remember, you already have a lot crammed in there. Don't overcrowd or plan too many things so you can enjoy your time. Planning too much just leads to frustrations, disappointments, and meltdowns.

Edit to add: You will still be able to use the VWL pool, although it may be rather crowded. Have a wonderful trip. Just don't try to fit too much into it.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

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 go with Wilderness Lodge.

There's no comparison between the two.

Nicer everything at a deluxe.

 

[Kae]

WL hands down.

Kae

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

I didn't read the responses, but I would vote for option #2. Stay at Music and splurge on the extras! We usually stay "value" and find it quite adequate for our needs

Plus, youre young and fun, you wont be spending a lot of time in the room anyways

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I didn't read the responses, but I would vote for option #2. Stay at Music and splurge on the extras! We usually stay "value" and find it quite adequate for our needs

Plus, youre young and fun, you wont be spending a lot of time in the room anyways

I was thinking just the opposite. They aren't sharing a room with kids!
Go for something romantic!

 

[MSSANDRA]

I was going to say compromise and do CSR but as that is not a choice, I choose WL. It's a nice resort and we like it there. We have had fun trips at values too, but we really are not crazy about staying there longer than a week-end. I agree for a first trip and Deluxe DDP, you will not need to add any extra....It sounds like a wonderful trip.

 

[Agent7]

It sounds like you've made your decision but I just wanted to chime in and say that, for me, I don't notice a huge difference between value and deluxe in the quality of sheets and mattresses. I generally hate all hotel bedding and mattresses though, regardless of "quality" of hotel. I mainly judge my accommodations on how clean the room is and mousekeeping does an acceptable job at both. Clean bedding, clean floors, and clean bathroom makes me a happy camper.

I agree with the others about the Deluxe Dining Plan. I've had it and you are constantly eating. We were so sick of eating. I know we couldn't have done any Food and Wine extras.

Personally if I had the Deluxe Dining Plan I would book very few (if any) F&W special events regardless of hotel level. If I stayed Deluxe or not would depend. My favorite hotel is a Moderate (Port Orleans Riverside) and I pretty much only sleep in the room so often stay Value. In your case it would come down to the transportation for me. The All Stars are wayyyyyy up by Animal Kingdom and can have longer bus times and buses get crowded (I much prefer Pop which is near Epcot). At WL you will have to take a boat or bus to MK (I've noticed that the boat can be a bit slow at times) and a bus everywhere else but it is much more centrally located.

 

[Glenn]

Sometimes this idea works sometimes not. Check your dates on several websites like expedia and so on. They sometimes buy a block of rooms and have something available when disney has run out or only have a scattering of days. I've been lucky doing that twice. Also think about what park you might be spending the most time in. WL is great if MK will be thats where you will be spending lots of time. If Epcot will be number 1 a value, if it saves alot might be better considering travel.
Last skip all thoughs extras. There is so much to do iin the parks save all that money and start planning for another trip.

 

[jaredbeauvais]

WL All the way!!!

 

[mgsquared]

Well we're in a similar situation and chose value. At the end of the day we really won't spend much time in the resort at all! We will be out and about until the night!
Also with the WL pool closed- no point in paying all that money is there?
I mean sure, don't overdo it on events but don't throw away money on just a room either. The all stars have good reviews, as does pop, as do the moderates. And hey, if the buses get full- take a taxi. You're saving a bundle already.

 

[ericstac]

Go with Port Orleans.. we used to be deluxe or no deal but then tried PO on a whim and havent looked back. Totally worth the savings.. both PO's are great locations too, we prefer POR slightly more though.

 

[Angie789]

The pool area at WL will be undergoing some major construction and will not be accessible during your travel dates. I wouldn't choose a construction zone as my splurge, personally.

 

[Marionnette]

The pool area at WL will be undergoing some major construction and will not be accessible during your travel dates. I wouldn't choose a construction zone as my splurge, personally.

Excellent point! The noise and inconvenience can be a real game changer. I normally love staying at a deluxe resort, but the noise and inconvenience would deter me from choosing WL. This time, I'm voting for the value resort!

 

[momtosam]

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!

#1

 

[usd2bmd]

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!

It depends. Will you be spending a lot of time at the resort or not? If not then I would stay at the Value and spend them money on the parties.

 

[Drinehart811]

Thanks everyone for all the feedback! We decided to stick with the WL. I think for besties 1st trip we will want to do stuff at all the parks, so all the extras at F&W will probably just feel like cramming in too much stuff. We're already doing MNSSHP and the 3D dessert discovery so that should be plenty of extras I also think transportation will probably be easier, and we have a ton of ADRs around that area.

As far as the pool stitch we are not huge swimmers and will probably only use it once or twice so going to CR won't be too bad if the VWL pool is too crowded. Plus, it's FL...it may rain everyday!!! Who knows. I've never been in fall so we are gonna play it by ear, and just try to relax.

Again, thanks all.

 

[smokeyblue]

Since you already decided on accommodations I'll give you some unsolicited advice instead . I would drop down to the regular dining plan and save some money. We are big, big eaters and did the regular dining plan earlier this year. It was way too much food. I think this advice especially holds true during F&W. I think it would be hard to enjoy both a full compliment of Deluxe Dining Plan meals and F&W kiosks and special events. Whatever you do have a great time. We will be there at the same time!