Which would you choose

[Nanseev]

We're taking a family trip from June 14-16. We're driving up on Sunday (our AP's are blocked out that day), spending a relaxing day in the area letting the kids swim and get a good night's sleep, then up early on Monday, and hitting the parks on Monday/Tuesday for our last two days our AP's are good before the summer blockout.

Long story, but our budget for this trip is now very limited.

Originally, my plan was to go to dinner Sunday night at Goofy's Kitchen to get the kids "ready" for Disney (kind of a DIS experience without the parks!). I had also wanted HoJo's (for the kiddie pool area), but it was sold out...so I found a fantastic rate at the Ayres Hotel (at the 55 and Katella)...figured they had a regular pool for the kids to swim and it was a nicer hotel for mom and dad, and it included breakfast! Since we have parking in our pass, we'd drive the 5-10 mins to Disney...no big deal.

Well, a room opened at HoJo's, so I scooped it up. The problem, however, is that the room total is probably about $75 more to stay at the HoJo!! And that doesn't even take into consideration the full breakfast that was included at Ayres.

In my head, I'm saying that I should stay at HoJo (for the kids 3 and 5), and forget the character meal...that would about equal each other out. But then part of me doesn't know if it's worth it, considering we have a rez at a really nice hotel with breakfast, that I'll end up spending probably an additional $50-$75 on for the two days if I stay at Hojo. If I wasn't planning on an actual swim day, I know I'd just stick with the Ayres. But that was a huge reason why I decided to go up on Sunday, rather than waking up early and driving up Monday morning.

So...if money was tight, what would you choose? The character meal with no water park, or water park w/no character meal?

Also...I'm a waitress at night, so there is a possibility that I may end up with some extra money...can I reserve the character meal w/out paying for it in advance? Anyone know their cancellation policy?

thanks, everyone....for whatever reason, this has been a tough one for me to decide, and hubby looks at me like I have two heads! LOL! I came to the experts to help me reason!

 

[mikayla73]

When we did the character meal at Goofy's Kitchen, we didn't have to pay up front when we made the PS. I made the PS and then we paid when we went to eat. It was about a year ago, so unless something has changed, you shouldn't have to pay for it when you make the PS.

Have you done character meals before or would this be the first time? If it was the first time, I'd rather do the character meal. Although the thought of staying within walking distance just about beats that out.

 

[mechurchlady]

Stay at Hojo's and pay the $75. You can do Plaza In for example and get a full meal per person for $15 or so. Skip the character breakfasts as we did not have those when I was a kid and they are not necessary. Ifyou want a full meal there are local cheap restaurants.

Since you do not have parking on your AP then you would save the money on parking. Your AP should get you some discounts also. The main question since you have a car is what do you gain by going to Hojo's? For many it is the kid friendly pool, no parking fees, and proximity to the parks.

Minnie's breakfast is in the park and last time with AP discount was like $23.

For me I stay at Motel 6 if I can find one as I am going super cheap and only need a clean room and bathroom.

 

[bumbershoot]

No you don't pay for character meals in advance.

HoJo allows you to cancel something like 4 or 5 days away from your stay, so I'd hang on to the reservation. Just today I noticed that they put up the days of our stay *next week* on their Entertainment Rate list . You can have a booked stay changed over to that if the dates show up on the list.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I say stay at Ayers. From reading your post above, you could use a little magic yourself. The kids will enjoy just being on a vacation and you and hubby will get a little extra enjoyment from a nicer place. I call in the "ahhhh," effect. Something special for you - as well as the kids.

You get breakfast with your hotel. You don't have to do the character bfast if you decide you don't want to and you can take the extra money and use spend it on an unplanned souvenir... or just know you have a little extra cushion budget-wise and not have to stress over hoping for those extra tips.

That's my 2 cents, for whatever it's worth.

- Dreams

P.S. You can't make a "wrong" choice on this one. It's sort of like an apple or a banana. Neither is wrong, it's just a question of which one.

 

[mechurchlady]

After my nap and some relaxation I researched the Ayres Hotel. Trip Advisor had one complaint about pillow being to big. wow, that is all I could find bad about the hotel and they are a small chain. I think that based on that site and other research that you would be fine at Ayres and would have the pool for the kids and full meals for the kids.

There are other things you could do that evening. Kids do not need the Goofy's Kitchen but they do need that family time even if it is pizza and in room movies. There are other options for that night. Not sure what though.

Ayres is my choice. Hojo's is very popular and highly recommended but why follow the herd. Be adventurous and try something different.

 

[farmgirljen]

We will be there the same time you are going- I think I would go with the ayers too- seriously- a pool is a pool, and maybe there will be less kids at the ayers than the hojo- which means more pool for your kids. We do not travel much, and this will be our first trip to DL, so anything that we o, my son is excited about!

 

[PinkBudgie]

My co worker's daughter loves DLR like I do. She has an AP and goes with her friend's family alot. The dad goes on business and they always stay at the Ayres. I've never been, but thinking we should try it sometime. They seem to like it.

 

[Nanseev]

Dreams, you're so right! It is sort of like choosing an apple vs. banana! I'm going to keep both rez's for now..we'll see what the next few weeks bring in my decision-making. I seriously need professional help in the decision making area!!!! LOL!

 

[teatime]

save the money, go wioth Ayers, they have a pool right? and a free breakfast thats a plus. you can save the extra 75.00 from the hojo's and do the breakfast at goofys to!! no brainer. hojo's is nice but so is ayers and the extra 75.00 plus breakfast is just icing on the cake!!

 

[labattblue]

. Skip the character breakfasts as we did not have those when I was a kid and they are not necessary.

So because they did not have them when you were a child, families that are visiting DLR now should not go to a character breakfast because they are not "necessary"? Nothing about vacation including the trip itself is "necessary".

I don't think you should be so quick to dismiss what people should or shouldn't include during their trip to DLR.

 

[Tasscrapper]

I'd do Ayres too for the same reasons as teatime. Have you thought about taking the kids to the Disney outlet and letting them pick a souvineer on Sunday? That way they would already have someting special and be something different to help fill the time on Sunday if you get bored at the hotel.

Also, I don't know if this would be something you would be interested in but there is a McDonalds on Ball that has a big playland. I took my kids there on our last trip. It rained three of the days we were there and one of my sons was having a hard time with all the walking. When we saw the Micky D's, it was raining at the time, we stopped and ate dinner and the kids had a blast playing. It was a really nice decompression time for them to just do something that was a little bit more normal to them.

 

[LuLusApple]

I am all for saving money on a hotel and getting a Disney experience(character meal) vs.a hotel experience(hotel pool)
When my kids were little a pool was special just because it wasn't at home and being at a hotel was a special place to sleep. Didnt matter to them if it had a view or the cost of the place.
But as PP's have said too, keep your hojo ressie till the last minute cause the entertainment rate might pop up