Whoo-hoo!! I've just come into a large amount of $$-should we do HDD AND Luau?

[HeatherPage]

Okay it wasn't like we stumbled into an inheritence or anything, but we just got a consolidation loan for home improvements, payoff bills etc. and we will have enough left over to make what was already going to be a great vacation - an awesome vacation. I was wondering if we should do the Hoop-Dee-Do and the Luau on the same trip (I've done both a looongg time ago but HDD most recent - about 15 years ago). Husband has never done either. Will be there from Sunday through Saturday end of September. Any opinions?

 

[Meriweather]

Good for you!
Sure....do both

 

[TXMommy]

A lot of people have said in another thread that they prefer HDD over the Luau - I've never done HDD and I hear it is great; I have done the Luau and thought it was lots of fun and we're taking our kids to it this November! How lucky for you to get the extra $$! I would sure do both, and a few character meals, too!!

 

[patsal]

Congrats! I have done both, but not on the same trip. If I were in your position I'd do them both on one vacation, especially if you don't know when/if you will return to WDW. Enjoy!

 

[ReneeDisney]

I have done them both and the Hoop Dee Doo is definitly worth the money and the food is better than the LUAU. Don't get me wrong they are great experiences, but we had much more fun at the Hoop Dee Doo. ENJOY whatever you do---

 

[HeatherPage]

Thanks everyone! Next question is will my by then 11 month old like it or should we leave him with grandparents?

 

[DeeP]

My DD went to HDD and the Luau for the first time when she was 11 months old and she loved the HDD, the Luau did not seem to impress her. She is now a young adult and still loves the HDD and is not too crazy about the Luau.

 

[chell]

Heather - If you are interested in doing both and since you have the money I say go for it!!!

Looks like we will be there at the same time! I'll be on the look-out for another green ribbon.

 

[pollyanna]

To heck with the home improvements....go all the way and stay Concierge...it's just money!

 

[HeatherPage]

Ha-Ha! Well we own DVC so we're already staying at BCV (in a two bedroom no less!). Maybe I should clarify we'll have about $1,000 extra but hey to us that's a lot of money (sad isn't it). Thanks for the opinions everyone!

 

[NancyIL]

If you truly don't need the $1000 for bill paying or home improvements, I say use the money to pay down your loan. Financing a vacation with a loan isn't a financially prudent idea.

 

[travelitis]

I absolutely agree with Nancy, as that extra $1000 isn't found money, it's debt. Pay down the loan!! Why don't you read what the Unofficial Guide says about both HDD and the Luau, and then you might not feel like you're missing out. I thought I wanted to do HDD until we had the room in the budget to do it, but on 2nd look I think there's better use for that money. Get out of debt and then pay cash for your next Disney vacation. Have a great vacation.

 

[Disney-Kim]

We have done HDD 3 times and we are doing it again in 3 weeks... .....and we did the Luau for the 1st time in May during our honeymoon.
I would not do the Luau again. It was nice but just not as fun as the HDD. We were also staying at the Polynesian and this made the Luau even easier to attend.

Hoop de Doo is my vote. It is a LOT of fun and good food.

ps....don't let other's judgements of how you spend your money change your mind. Go for it and have a great time.

 

[pinky]

I agree with pay down the debt posters. As a DVC member you will come home on a regular basis so save some of the Magic for your upcoming visits.

We usually go President's week and that's our youngest DD's birthday so we did the Luau several times for her b-day. We actually preferred the Minnie & Mickey one which they don't do anymore. We went once after that - with so-so food and no Minnie & Mickey we stopped going.

We did do HDD once. All we heard was how great it was. Unfortunately that once was enough for us - just our opinion.

PS - We lived in Asheboro (South of Greensboro) until moving to MI in '95. We really do miss it!!!

 

[HeatherPage]

I guess some people misunderstood the reason for my question. I was asking if the two dinner shows were worth going to in one trip for their meal/entertainment value, not what should I do with the money aside from our vacation. I appreciate all the sentiments about getting out of debt, but about $600 of that money was already set aside for the vacation before we consolidated so we're only using about an extra $400 that will be from the consolidation - that is where the entire $1,000 consists of. The extra $400 will be put back with about two extra typing jobs at do at home for extra money which doesn't include my usual 40 hour work week as a legal secretary and husband's usual 50+ hours a week. We've not had a vacation in two years since buying a new house and having a baby and since we only live once, we're going to enjoy it, whether it be one, two or four dinner shows. But thanks for your concerns.

 

[TXMommy]

Good for you!! I would use the X-tra money for the trip, too! Have a GREAT time! I'd love to hear what you think of the Luau when you get back!

 

[travelitis]

OK, well with that in mind, I still wouldn't head for the Luau. My splurge dining would be in WS of Epcot or California Grill. I'd save a luau for a Hawaiian vacation. Why don't you reserve it for late in the trip so you can cancel without penalty if you change your mind?

 

[antkim]

Good for you!We did the same thing recentely and we will have one heck of a vacation in december!It boggles my mind when you simply asked a question about restaurants you got financial advice-and I'm sure the advice came with only good intentions!
I say do both!What the heck,right?YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE BILLS!This is the advice my 90 year old grandmother gives me!She says"you only live once-treat each day as if it were your last"-I'm sure others say that but my grandmother MEANS it!
Have fun,
Kim
P.S.Who am I not to take grannies advice!haha

 

[RweTHEREyet]

You could treat me to dinner Sunday night, too.