WWYD? Family Trip Planning

[AllyReggie]

We did two TS a day without a problem. And 2 character meals, she preferred fur characters (which worked well because we did Ohana and Garden Grill breakfast)

My daughter is a napper and as long as the stroller was reclined, she'd nap in the stroller. Actually she napped through our entire lunch at Tiffins....

ETA: We almost did DxDDP but it didn't totally make sense for us as we'd have a gazillion snack credits unused.

Yeah the only reason it makes sense for us is we plan to "snack around the world" for IFWF and try as many delicious treats and things as possible... we might need to be rolled out of Epcot on a cart! LOL

 

[AllyReggie]

You may already be aware but they are renovating the Values. I'm not up and up on exactly where they are at with them but I know POP was the first started on the Values.

.
.
.
.

All that being said it's totally understandable to stay where you've stayed before and to stay at a place that held such memories for you. There is obviously a line of saving money and the place being comfortable for you and in your style so I truly understand the desire to not really stay at All-Stars. I would have suggested splitting up but your subsequent comments made it clear it's not an option for you. Sounds like it was a misunderstanding of accommodations when the packages were initially presented (and I'm not saying that it was on your end). Looks like it's all going to work out in the end. Hope you have a fun, good food filled trip with your family

I am actually REALLY excited that the All Stars are being renovated (they haven't finished Movies yet, once it is done they will move on to music and finally Sports). When my daughter is older we will DEFINITELY be staying there, as that is where we stayed when I was a kid, I don't really think I'll want to spend $$ on a fancy room when I have to start paying for Winifred's trip (right now she is almost free save the flight).
The All Stars are PERFECT for a family, and they are beyond adorable as far as design and colorful decor. With the modernization they will be fantastic! I guess I am spoiled from staying at a Deluxe Villa but I just don't want to spend "Disney money" on a subpar (to me) room. I'll pay the extra ~$800 bucks to stay in something a little bit nicer while I wait for Winifred to grow up and need a ticket... and a dining plan... and a bed... and... and...

 

[danikoski]

Is the free dining available for All Star Movies. They have some of their rooms renovated and they have 2 queen beds. Just a thought.

 

[AllyReggie]

Is the free dining available for All Star Movies. They have some of their rooms renovated and they have 2 queen beds. Just a thought.

It was early in the promotion, but now we are about 11 days from the promotion being over and only the dregs are left... Barely anything qualifies now. Oh well!

 

[danikoski]

It was early in the promotion, but now we are about 11 days from the promotion being over and only the dregs are left... Barely anything qualifies now. Oh well!

You might want to try calling. Sometimes what is available online isn't necessarily what's available. Also split the dates. So look for 4 days, then the next 3 days or such. Sometimes it's about Disney's room algorithm. If you find something like that, you can call guest services and they can book it for you.

 

[sponica]

Also view this as an important lesson in trip planning with your parents, if someone has champagne tastes on a beer budget, DON'T BOOK A VALUE.

(Don't get me wrong, I like values for trips when I just need a bed and a shower, but park hours aren't long enough on my recent trips to book that level)

 

[AllyReggie]

Also view this as an important lesson in trip planning with your parents, if someone has champagne tastes on a beer budget, DON'T BOOK A VALUE.

(Don't get me wrong, I like values for trips when I just need a bed and a shower, but park hours aren't long enough on my recent trips to book that level)

Yep... HUGE lesson learned. My mother seemed pretty adamant that she wanted to spend as little as possible to stay in the Disney bubble... so Value it was, but I knew in the back of my mind that she'd never be happy with it, and that my dad would complain about the crowded room layout... but I had shown them POP, CSR, PORRIV, SSR and event some of the Boardwalk/Beach Club rooms and all the price points and they still wanted to go cheap... since they were pinching pennies I didn't question it but... in hindsight it is a good lesson, if you know your party really make sure they understand just how different the rooms are and what they gain between the levels or you might be scrambling to find a compromise!

 

[sponica]

Yep... HUGE lesson learned. My mother seemed pretty adamant that she wanted to spend as little as possible to stay in the Disney bubble... so Value it was, but I knew in the back of my mind that she'd never be happy with it, and that my dad would complain about the crowded room layout... but I had shown them POP, CSR, PORRIV, SSR and event some of the Boardwalk/Beach Club rooms and all the price points and they still wanted to go cheap... since they were pinching pennies I didn't question it but... in hindsight it is a good lesson, if you know your party really make sure they understand just how different the rooms are and what they gain between the levels or you might be scrambling to find a compromise!

I'm having this same conversation right now with my mom and step-dad. Mom wants to be in the disney bubble but not a fan of prices....but she also realizes that her needs from a hotel will not be fulfilled by a value, or even a moderate.

Hopefully CSR will tick off all the right boxes for your mom.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I am actually REALLY excited that the All Stars are being renovated (they haven't finished Movies yet, once it is done they will move on to music and finally Sports). When my daughter is older we will DEFINITELY be staying there, as that is where we stayed when I was a kid, I don't really think I'll want to spend $$ on a fancy room when I have to start paying for Winifred's trip (right now she is almost free save the flight).
The All Stars are PERFECT for a family, and they are beyond adorable as far as design and colorful decor. With the modernization they will be fantastic! I guess I am spoiled from staying at a Deluxe Villa but I just don't want to spend "Disney money" on a subpar (to me) room. I'll pay the extra ~$800 bucks to stay in something a little bit nicer while I wait for Winifred to grow up and need a ticket... and a dining plan... and a bed... and... and...

lol I hear ya!

I don't mind the refurbs though the decor is not quite to my liking but it def. breaths fresh air into the Values and I think the murphy bed, even with losing the table (since it's part of the murphy bed), is a nice flexibility in the room layout.

There's something to be said for getting used to a certain type of accommodations. Nothing wrong with that. And of course stages in one's life changes things too. It'll be nice to take advantage while you can with your daughter being at that age where they don't add that extra cost

 

[Lilsia]

I am so glad you understand!

Here is where we are at:

2 rooms (8days/7Nights) @ All Star Sports w/ Free Dining (upgraded to Deluxe): $3220 each (with Travel Insurance)

Saratoga Springs 2 Bedroom Villa is $9191 total or $4595.5 each (with travel Insurance) An Additional $1375.50

POFQ doesn't have any FD left or Fun In the Sun Room Discounts so, for a comparable 2 rooms its $4814 each. An Additional $1594

That is what I am most worried about regarding Coronado. I wonder if anyone has stayed in there mid September and knows if there are lots of conventions at that time. The smoking is a very real threat to us... we are not good with cigarette smoke and would likely be severely hampered by it. I wonder if that comes mostly from conventioneers? Or is Coronado a smoking hotel?

I have been going to WDW for over 20 years and have stayed several times at CBR(among several other resorts) and I have also stayed at the values. The values are by far the worst for smoking. Their designated smoking area is on the pathway to the main building where the food and gift shop/lobby is. The conventions are not really an issue, IMO. We have never been affected by them. And the smoking there is also much better then at the values just by design of the smoking areas.

 

[LuvMyEAR]

Since your Mom is completely on board with wanting to NOT stay in the value resort, and if both parents can grin and bear the price increase, seems like you will land on a nicer resort. We spent a single night in AllStar resort and it is definitely just a motel, albeit with nicer theming. It was 2017, before any upgrades to the rooms, but it was clean and fresh and didn't feel too "worn". Had two rooms, and none of the adults particularly liked the experience.

That said, we are used to rental properties where we have more space than we need and love every inch of it!

We also booked a family suite in AoA, Cars section. The room was really cute, and the 2 bathrooms awesome. But we still found it cramped enough that my DH and I left it to our DD and her family and spent the night back in our rental house. Yes, we had doubled booked that single night just to experience being on site.

You will be spending a lot of time in restaurants but you seems to know this and it is part of your enjoyment. Good for you! You know what works and what you want out of your trip.

I hope you will keep us updated on your final choice, as well as how the trip goes. It sounds wonderful.

 

[YesterDark]

We just booked a 5th sleeper at Riverside and it's going to be cramped. I had to convince my wife that it'll be fine, we'll just be inconvenienced in the morning. We're never in the room other than to shower/sleep anyway. Personally pick a nice resort you can walk around in and feel happy in when you're walking around to the bus etc. The alternatives were a few thousand more for our family size.

My own personal opinion is that I'm not sure I want to stay at a value resort unless it's a great deal. I've never been, but my only concern is that the "motel" feel might be Disney bubble bursting.

 

[sponica]

We just booked a 5th sleeper at Riverside and it's going to be cramped. I had to convince my wife that it'll be fine, we'll just be inconvenienced in the morning. We're never in the room other than to shower/sleep anyway. Personally pick a nice resort you can walk around in and feel happy in when you're walking around to the bus etc. The alternatives were a few thousand more for our family size.

My own personal opinion is that I'm not sure I want to stay at a value resort unless it's a great deal. I've never been, but my only concern is that the "motel" feel might be Disney bubble bursting.

I've only ever stayed at Pop and it was my first onsite stay, so I love that place. It's the only value I'd consider staying it...I love the over the top theme, I just can't justify staying there unless parks are open much later than 9 (I'm talking 11/midnight), and I haven't been a time of year where they've been open that late in a loooooooooooong time.

 

[AllyReggie]

We just booked a 5th sleeper at Riverside and it's going to be cramped. I had to convince my wife that it'll be fine, we'll just be inconvenienced in the morning. We're never in the room other than to shower/sleep anyway. Personally pick a nice resort you can walk around in and feel happy in when you're walking around to the bus etc. The alternatives were a few thousand more for our family size.

My own personal opinion is that I'm not sure I want to stay at a value resort unless it's a great deal. I've never been, but my only concern is that the "motel" feel might be Disney bubble bursting.

Yeah we talked about doing a 1 bedroom villa or sharing a suite or something but inevitably for our family the bathroom situation became a huge contention. My Dad was willing to pay, quote, "Every friggen dollar" to not share a bathroom with My husband, baby and I. I respect it. It would have saved us a ton of money, but the squish for my family would be too much like how we live right now... not very much vacation at all!

 

[marcyleecorgan]

OMG your trip looks like SO MUCH FOOD. There will not be much time for actual DISNEY with all that eating.

Plan at least 2 hours for each meal, which sucks up a lot of time that you could be in line for rides or doing anything else, really. Add in a small person who is going to need a break/feed/diaper change at least once an hour... with the washroom lines... plan at least 15 minutes for each potty break... Account for the fact that your parents are not spring chickens and can't sprint down Main Street (and you said, they'll leisurely wander...) and WDW is so massive....

Do you have any goals for the actual Disney part? Rides? A show? A Meet and Greet?
Disney is just SO EXPENSIVE to pay admission and then spend 90% of your time sitting down in a restaurant! From what I can see of your itinerary that's what it looks like you'll be doing - spending all your time getting from one meal to another.

 

[sponica]

OMG your trip looks like SO MUCH FOOD. There will not be much time for actual DISNEY with all that eating.

Plan at least 2 hours for each meal, which sucks up a lot of time that you could be in line for rides or doing anything else, really. Add in a small person who is going to need a break/feed/diaper change at least once an hour... with the washroom lines... plan at least 15 minutes for each potty break... Account for the fact that your parents are not spring chickens and can't sprint down Main Street (and you said, they'll leisurely wander...) and WDW is so massive....

Do you have any goals for the actual Disney part? Rides? A show? A Meet and Greet?
Disney is just SO EXPENSIVE to pay admission and then spend 90% of your time sitting down in a restaurant! From what I can see of your itinerary that's what it looks like you'll be doing - spending all your time getting from one meal to another.

My daughter was the same age as the OP's and we did two TS a day. I think we still got in a decent amount of Disney (or at least everything I cared for in 4 park days). We got to see a decent amount of characters. She hated basically every ride she went on and every show we saw except the country bears...once it became clear that rides were not in the cards this trip I just let her climb on all the park benches, it's all she wanted to do anyway. Yes I flew practically the entire eastern seaboard for her to climb on park benches...

There's no wrong way to do Disney @AllyReggie so whatever floats your boat!

 

[YesterDark]

OMG your trip looks like SO MUCH FOOD. There will not be much time for actual DISNEY with all that eating.

Plan at least 2 hours for each meal, which sucks up a lot of time that you could be in line for rides or doing anything else, really. Add in a small person who is going to need a break/feed/diaper change at least once an hour... with the washroom lines... plan at least 15 minutes for each potty break... Account for the fact that your parents are not spring chickens and can't sprint down Main Street (and you said, they'll leisurely wander...) and WDW is so massive....

Do you have any goals for the actual Disney part? Rides? A show? A Meet and Greet?
Disney is just SO EXPENSIVE to pay admission and then spend 90% of your time sitting down in a restaurant! From what I can see of your itinerary that's what it looks like you'll be doing - spending all your time getting from one meal to another.

That's an incredible amount of hyperbole. Yikes.

 

[AllyReggie]

OMG your trip looks like SO MUCH FOOD. There will not be much time for actual DISNEY with all that eating.

Plan at least 2 hours for each meal, which sucks up a lot of time that you could be in line for rides or doing anything else, really. Add in a small person who is going to need a break/feed/diaper change at least once an hour... with the washroom lines... plan at least 15 minutes for each potty break... Account for the fact that your parents are not spring chickens and can't sprint down Main Street (and you said, they'll leisurely wander...) and WDW is so massive....

Do you have any goals for the actual Disney part? Rides? A show? A Meet and Greet?
Disney is just SO EXPENSIVE to pay admission and then spend 90% of your time sitting down in a restaurant! From what I can see of your itinerary that's what it looks like you'll be doing - spending all your time getting from one meal to another.

This is gonna sound like a TON of snark but... just because you don't consider these meals "Disney" doesn't mean I don't.

90% of the places we will be eating are meals and experiences we just can't get anywhere BUT Disney... Where else can you eat a Steak served by Canadians, then walk over to Japan for some shaved ice? How often do you get to walk around "Asia & Africa" with delicious BBQ only available in Animal Kingdom? When was the last time you got to eat Breakfast with Winnie the Pooh, Donald Duck, Rapunzel or Ariel or Snow white or whoever.

The way I Disney is not really... up for argument here. We know the pace we want to go, and when we go we have never had a problem. My husband and I did the same month with the same plan back in 2016 and we did every.single.ride. and we did all.the.food. at a leisurely pace. It wasn't stressful and it wasn't hard. We had fun.

Sometimes you have to open your mind to what is possible, for us, this is more than feasible... it is fun!

 

[AllyReggie]

That's an incredible amount of hyperbole. Yikes.

I was going to say...

I guess I should be grateful that my 1 year old is low enough maintenance that she doesn't really need a break/diaper change/feed every hour.... I mean, she is walking/eating adult food and in the processes of potty training so... maybe I just hit the baby jackpot!

 

[LuvMyEAR]

Amen! It is all about the pace and experience that you and your family want on any particular trip. Our touring style has developed and evolved from our first extremely budget-conscious visit in 1994, with our DDs (17 and 19 at the time) and a few just us trips, before moving on to a trip that included an 8-month old grandson, then a 4-generation adventure, and now through awesome times with teenaged boys. We have packed snacks, and sandwiches, and worked our way up to a nice meal or two, and a dessert party.

I would love to do a couple 2-hour meals a day, just soaking up the lovely dining atmospheres that Disney so creatively provides. I doubt that will ever be in my budget, but I can dream! And maybe live a little vicariously when reading your plans.

Had to laugh at your father's observation about the need for an extra bathroom. That man is smart. My DD would love him. I had given her the choice between AoA of a Wilderness cabin for our first Disney night ever...she immediately ruled out the cabin on that basis. I loved the cabin idea, but conceded that she had a very valid point. Even more so because there would be no zipping down a hall to use a "public" resort restroom if someone was caught short, like you could in a hotel-style resort.