Which would you do? CSR or AKL?

[Disney8704]

I really hate myself right now. I can never seem to make up my mind. Right now we have 40 days until DH and I go to Disney. We will be there from Aug 5 - 17th and right now we have AKL - Savannah View booked and paid for in full. My money saving senses are starting to kick in and telling me to go and stay at CSR. I looked at disneyworld.com and they do have rooms available for my dates either King Size Bed or upgrade to water view for $0 more. Im guessing both king size bed and water view rooms cost the same, and provided that there are AAA rooms left, we would get about $1400 back. That $1400 would go for food and whatever. So instead of saving between now and August for food, we would have just enough money to pay for food put together what we have already saved up for food as well and have money left over for whatever, either for bills or spending money for Disney.

However, I've had my heart set on AKL for 5 years now. My heart tells me to just stay with AKL. I mean I feel that DH and I deserve a very nice, go all out anniversary trip since 3 out of 4 anniversaries were ruined with either DH working or him being deployed. Put on top of that 2 deployments in 2 years in a row, plus him missing last thanksgiving and christmas. And with us having to postpone this trip for 5 yrs now, making it 5 yrs since we actually went to Disney and went on vacation.

Everything is paid for. We just have to save up $600 more for food between now and August, which wont be hard to do at all, and the whole thing is completely paid for. I have no idea when we will go back to disney again. So this might be our last trip for a few years.

What do you all think we should? Budget and stay at CSR or go all out and just keep AKL?

 

[KatMark]

I chose stay at CSR. First, it is my favorite resort and the closest to a deluxe feel for a moderate. But I am money conscious as well. We have two boys in college so a trip itself is tight on the purse strings. My DH did offer me the Poly or AKL this year because we are going for our 25th wedding anniversary, but I just couldn't justify the difference in cost for a moderate to choose a deluxe.

In the end, you need to do what will make you and your husband the happiest. My DH and I are happy with the CSR obviously as we are staying for the seventh time.

 

[Buzz2001]

CSR!! Check out my CSR website below for pics and info.

 

[CarolA]

I rarely vote for spending money on Disney Deluxe hotels. The only time I think it's worth it is Savannah View at AKL. It's a truly unique experience!. Looking out your balcony and seeing animals is just too cool!

IMHO it sounds like you will spend the whole time at CSR thinking " I wanted to be at AKL"

(Not to mention that my four stays at CSR have all had issues LOL!)

 

[gatorfreud]

I really did love CSR, but I would go ahead and stay with AKL! If you have been dremaing of it for so long, and it's paid for, just do it! You only live once, and it's not like it's putting you into some crazy kind of debt. We visited AKL last week on our trip, and the Savannah view looked really cool. We saw the baby giraffe jumping around and it seemed so nice to hang out on the balcony and relax. If you didn't care one way or the other and haven't been dreaming of AKL, I would stay at CSR since it is an awesome resort. But go ahead and splurge and do AKL, it sounds like you deserve it!!

Kim

 

[karylrocks]

Stay with AKL! You will love the Savannah view. Watch the boards over the next day or two for room discounts for August and you might be able to call and have it applied to your reservation (if it is offered for Savannah view).

Also, your trip is long enough that you could easily split your stay between the two and still save money toward your food. Start with CSR and spend the last few nights at AKL. It is very easy to move (we are changing rooms 3times on our trip) especially with just the two of you (we have 7).

 

[Disney8704]

Thats my biggest fear!! I already can feel it now I get to CSR and be like this is nice but I wish I was at AKL!

Also I have decided that if we do decide on CSR, then I will cancel the 3 Boma ADRs we have (2 breakfast, one of them is ON our anniversary and 1 dinner) and Jiko. I dont think I could handle switiching resorts and then dining there. It would be to much on me I think Bad enough I have Ohana breakfast ADR and I've been wanting to stay at the Poly for awhile now to. But I think I can manage 1 ADR for Ohana.

I rarely vote for spending money on Disney Deluxe hotels. The only time I think it's worth it is Savannah View at AKL. It's a truly unique experience!. Looking out your balcony and seeing animals is just too cool!

IMHO it sounds like you will spend the whole time at CSR thinking " I wanted to be at AKL"

(Not to mention that my four stays at CSR have all had issues LOL!)

 

[Disney8704]

Oh believe me I am and have been watching the official august 2008 code thread like a hawk. The moment someone posts on that thread I instantly go and read what they have to say just in case! My only thing is Im REALLY hoping I can apply the code. Cuz if I can we will get back around $650!!! Then I would DEF. not have any 2nd thoughts. But I dont know if Im gonna be able to apply the code. I already have a AAA discount on it. I can only hope my AAA TA can over ride that discount and put the GC code on. But the only way thats gonna happen is if Disney can put that code on my reservation. Being theres no savannah view rooms left for my dates its not like they can cancel my current reservation and rebook it since theres no rooms left.

Stay with AKL! You will love the Savannah view. Watch the boards over the next day or two for room discounts for August and you might be able to call and have it applied to your reservation (if it is offered for Savannah view).

Also, your trip is long enough that you could easily split your stay between the two and still save money toward your food. Start with CSR and spend the last few nights at AKL. It is very easy to move (we are changing rooms 3times on our trip) especially with just the two of you (we have 7).

 

[Toot Sweet]

If you have wanted to stay at AKL for a while now, you should go ahead and do it! Don't "settle" for another resort if you have the means to stay at the one you really want to. Staying at the resort of your dreams will make your trip that much more special. Especially since you don't get to go on a regular basis. Make this trip count!

 

[Disney8704]

Oh yea and as for split stays, no go. We really dont wanna have to switch resorts during our trip. We just wanna get to 1 resort and and thats it. Now next time we go to Disney, Im considering doing a split stay cuz we will drive down so we can also go to Universal Studios for the new Harry Potter world. And doing a split stay when you have a car with you seems a lot easier and a lot less hassle then having to deal with Disney transportation and having to worry about our luggage making sure everything gets there OK and nothing goes missing. Yes I am a huge worry wort like that! Which is why we arent on the DDP. Yeah my luck I would always be so constantly worried about our credits making sure that we arent over charged I probably wouldnt enjoy myself.

 

[kaysmommie]

Well I have to say our family decided on CSR for our trip to save a few $$$ because deluxe might not be in the budget for us. If you have already paid for AKL then just go there since you have been wanting to stay there and probably won'y go again for a while. If you can easily save up for your dining then stay deluxe. It sounds like you will be wishing for AKL if you stay at CSR. So my vote is AKL.

 

[shellybaxter]

I would never give up a savannah view room at AKL for CSR. Not much I would give it up for - the Cinderella Suite maybe, but not CSR

 

[Northern_Julie]

I started out at CSR but I kept thinking about AKL. I haven't been in 10 year and dont know when I will get back.

I made my Boma reservations (both meals) and Jiko. My mother traveling with me then asked are we staying at ALK. *huge sigh* It all came out. All the reasons I wanted AK. The enclosed walls (we are arriving late), the animals (even though we are going standard knowing there are lookouts), the food I crave (I don't have any exotic restraunts where I live), the double bathroom..... she then informed me I should change it.

I know it is more but I feel more comfortable with my decision and havent thought of changing back. I am hoping there is a code so I can save but if not I plan to enjoy the resort.

 

[Nicole786]

You know I am in the boat with you on this one! Obviously we chose the split stay, and you are against that, but the more I look at CSR, the more I love it and think about just switching the entire stay over there! Sure would be easier! The AP discount was available at CSR, so I would have to say it will be available for the general public! My vote is for CSR since that is what i'm leaning towards doing, but I know hard it is to make this decision!

 

[CarolA]

I would consider cutting some of your meals first.

You have THREE Boma? I like it, but it's not that great, dump a few.

I think there could be some savings there.

 

[Disney8704]

Nicooooooolllllleeeeeee!! I swear you change your mind every 2 seconds dont you!! You've already have successfully confused some people on your plans. Now your confusing me!

Tonight I showed Steve the glass slipper you can get at CRT for $65 (trying to hint at him I want it for my anniversary gift ) and he just said thats cool, its nice and then walked away! UGH, I want it really bad. Its soooooooooo pretty. Maybe I just need to buy it, inscribe something myself, get it at CRT and be like thanks hunny I love it!

You know I am in the boat with you on this one! Obviously we chose the split stay, and you are against that, but the more I look at CSR, the more I love it and think about just switching the entire stay over there! Sure would be easier! The AP discount was available at CSR, so I would have to say it will be available for the general public! My vote is for CSR since that is what i'm leaning towards doing, but I know hard it is to make this decision!

 

[EnnEss]

All hotel prices just go up, especially at Disney. Savanahh view is amazing, a truly unique experience. I think anyone that goes to Disney frequently or semi frequently and doesn't do this at least once is really missing out. If you dont go to AKL you could go another time, and probably pay more, or just do it now!!

DO IT NOW

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

I voted for AKL. It's a special trip and you have your heart set on it. Go and enjoy! We have stayed at CSR and we enjoyed our stay, but I'd choose AKL over CSR (even though I have never stayed at AKL). You'll always be wondering what you're missing if you don't. You can always go to CSR another time.

 

[Disney8704]

Hmm interesting point. So in other words, spend now...save later

All hotel prices just go up, especially at Disney. Savanahh view is amazing, a truly unique experience. I think anyone that goes to Disney frequently or semi frequently and doesn't do this at least once is really missing out. If you dont go to AKL you could go another time, and probably pay more, or just do it now!!

DO IT NOW

 

[bosox57]

I'd go with CSR!