Why is picking a resort so hard???

[Momtomouselover]

I sure have lots of things I could be doing but instead I'm spending hours/days looking at the different resorts!! My husband things I have lost it.

I planned an initially small last minute trip for January. I booked at the AKL thinking we would spend time at the resort and see the animals plus more time at the AK than usual. However, I found out about the pool rehab and was worried about construction so I switched to the WL with bunk beds. Next, over the holidays I mentioned to my MIL "why don't you come with us" and lo' behold she took me up on the offer. My MIL is great so that is ok but now it poses a problem with the bunk beds (before it was a mom and son trip). So, I tried to change to regular beds but the CM's keep saying they either don't have an AP discount queen bedroom (regardless of view) with that code or that there are NO rooms available over that weekend. Weird since you can see/book them online but with much higher weekend rates even with an AP discount or I could pay a bit more and just get the public discount rate... So, frustrating ...

Now, since I'm in a holding pattern waiting for a different room to open at the WL I started looking at the Poly. I like the Poly but not certain it is best for January with tropical theming and no hot tub, however, it does offer the best monorail access and a third bed so we could all have our own. Love that!! but then I look at pictures of the GF and I LOVED staying there one time and our excellent view of the fireworks, plus a hot tub, and easy access to MK but then that brings me back to expense!!! Ugh! Help me out of my misery. I should be thankful I get to go (which I am) but why am I stressing over a resort?? I want to make this special for the three of us but surely they all would be??! Losing it, lol, someone make this decision for me

 

[Magic2000]

DD & I had planned a trip for Nov and I had booked AKL with a pool view bunk bed room. DD has always wanted a bunk bed and she was so excited. Well, about a month before we left, I asked my mom to come with us. We kept the bunk bed room and had no problems at all. My DD asked my mom if she wanted to sleep with her on the top bunk (mom declined), and DD wanted her to sleep in the bottom bunk then. My mom said the bottom bunk was very comfortable and she had no complaints! We all loved the Lodge and our view was of the pool & hot tub!!!

In fact, we liked it so much, we're going back to AKL in May/June! Can't wait!!!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Have you not thought about the Contemporary. It's also on the Resort Monorail line and it's the closest resort to the Magic Kingdom, plus it's the only one with a walkway that goes there. They also have a hot tub and if cost is a consideration they are the least expensive of the Monorail Resorts.

 

[Momtomouselover]

Good to know about the bunk beds at AKL...I might just stick with the bunk beds (especially if I get tired of checking and/or calling DW!).

I have considered the CR but the rates I'm getting right now aren't that good. I think it is because of the class of room that is available. This makes the Poly more affordable than CR. Decision, decisions...not my strong suit!

On the positive side at least I'm making decisions about a vacation so can't complain.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Why is picking a resort so hard???

TOO MANY CHOICES,
Fortunately that is a "good" problem to have IMHO.
Have a great trip wherever you choose...........

Personally,. I say pick your Priority...
Is it room size?
Location to a specific park?
Eating establishments?
Transportation worries/concerns/issues?
Financial?
Best pool?
That may help to cut down your list............

 

[PinkRhombus]

I go through different phases where one amenity or another will suddenly seem more appealing that what the one I previously liked.

 

[fla4fun]

Take a deep breath and think about what you are trying to accomplish on this vacation. What do you need out of your resort to make it a great trip? As far as the bunk bed situation - I'm a little over 5'7" and I've slept comfortably on the lower bunk. You do have to watch your head a bit getting in and out, but otherwise, it was very comfortable.

Once you've given some thought to which parks you will be spending your time in, and how much time you will be spending in them, then make a list of the amenities you will realistically use at your resort choice. Will you be swimming (hopefully it will be warmer than it has been this week!), or renting boats, or renting bikes, or do you want lush grounds to take a stroll through? Do you need a balcony, 24 hour room service, a spa or a business center? Don't think about which amenity sounds the best - think about which one you might miss the most if you don't have it.

For example, I've stayed at AKL, and the reason I don't stay there very often is that I found I prefer a resort with some kind of waterfront - whether it's Bay Lake or the smaller waterfronts at CSR or CBR, or even the canal by PO. I missed the water so much! I hadn't thought about that when I booked AKL - but if I'd taken the time to think about how much time I spend sitting where I can observe the water at other resorts, I probably wouldn't have booked there. I didn't have a horrible trip - but AKL is near the bottom of my resort choices for that reason. I'm not saying it's a bad resort - it's just a bad resort choice for me. There may be some aspect of staying at a Disney resort that really makes it feel like a Disney vacation - make sure your choice has that element available.

Disney doesn't really have any bad resorts - but some may be more appealing to your family than others.

 

[danceintherain]

It's because they're all so different.
Even the Value resorts are all different enough that its difficult to choose between them, even though you don't have to deal with cost differences.
The Moderates are a little more difficult to choose from.
Once you get up to the Deluxes it's nearly impossible to choose. (at least for me)
Of course if you're dealing with larger group sizes, your choices become more limited, but even there you have at least half a dozen places you have to choose between.

Personally, if I was in your situation, and had the money to do it, I would switch to the Poly. The bunk beds may be fine, but everybody's different. The Poly is pretty much my dream resort. I would have pushed staying there on my Honeymoon, but you have to pay for a suite to get a King Sized Bed and that was a bit out of my price range. (we went with AKL instead and loved it) I love the theming, the pool, and the monorail.

By the way, there's very little chance that availability under any discount will suddenly appear in a different room type that you can't find availability in now. When people cancel rooms, even if they were using a discount, the rooms usually get put back into the rack rate availability, not re-released to be used with a discount. I suppose it may happen, but I wouldn't count on it.

 

[mickey2minnie1]

The Poly beach has the best view of the fireworks over the castle IMHO. The restaurants are great and your son should just loooove the volcano pool if he does get to swim.

 

[Momtomouselover]

Thank you guys for your comments, suggestions and just empathy!

Anyways, after much thought I decided to go with the Poly. The suggestions to think about my priorities and what I would really use hit home. I really wanted that day bed so we could all sleep in our own bed. Seriously, you should try sleeping with my son it is not an easy task for he never stops moving (and well sleeping with my MIL might be odd). Next on the list was easy access to MK and then EPCOT, followed by viewing the fireworks from the resort, then the coffee and food options are more to my liking, etc, etc... so all in all I think it will be worth the extra $.

However, what I really, really want on top of the day bed though is a very CLEAN room! I guess that would be offensive to put in as a request though.

Thanks for the help deciding.

 

[Momtomouselover]

Take a deep breath and think about what you are trying to accomplish on this vacation. What do you need out of your resort to make it a great trip? As far as the bunk bed situation - I'm a little over 5'7" and I've slept comfortably on the lower bunk. You do have to watch your head a bit getting in and out, but otherwise, it was very comfortable.

Once you've given some thought to which parks you will be spending your time in, and how much time you will be spending in them, then make a list of the amenities you will realistically use at your resort choice. Will you be swimming (hopefully it will be warmer than it has been this week!), or renting boats, or renting bikes, or do you want lush grounds to take a stroll through? Do you need a balcony, 24 hour room service, a spa or a business center? Don't think about which amenity sounds the best - think about which one you might miss the most if you don't have it.

For example, I've stayed at AKL, and the reason I don't stay there very often is that I found I prefer a resort with some kind of waterfront - whether it's Bay Lake or the smaller waterfronts at CSR or CBR, or even the canal by PO. I missed the water so much! I hadn't thought about that when I booked AKL - but if I'd taken the time to think about how much time I spend sitting where I can observe the water at other resorts, I probably wouldn't have booked there. I didn't have a horrible trip - but AKL is near the bottom of my resort choices for that reason. I'm not saying it's a bad resort - it's just a bad resort choice for me. There may be some aspect of staying at a Disney resort that really makes it feel like a Disney vacation - make sure your choice has that element available.

Disney doesn't really have any bad resorts - but some may be more appealing to your family than others.

Interesting about the water realization. I never thought about it before but I really like resorts with some type of body of water nearby too. Maybe they should build a lake/waterfall at the AKL...that would be awesome! Hope to stay at the AKL one day. I think I would enjoy it for at least one trip.

 

[Sue M]

We switched resorts from WL (which we love) to Poly because my DD wanted to try a different resort, and Poly has been on our wish list. I thought of the lack of hot tub too, but I hear there is a warm area on the Volcano pool, and it's just such a beautiful resort. We leave in 9 days, woohoo.