WWYD - Pin Code! Update - Made our Decision!!

[Minniemouse07]

We received an email today w/ a pin code. I didn't want to get my hopes up because we got one a couple of months ago that specifically said that it was for value resorts during our time frame...and there was nothing available for our trip (4 nights in late July at Pop...me and dd for her 7th bday).

This pin code was for a moderate at $154/night and at the bottom it said, "Ask about other Resorts and room types, including Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts at varying rates."

My TA checked and we can save $45 on our stay at Pop and I had her check out POFQ...there is only a $170 difference.

I have been VERY concerned about buses in mid summer and just booked a rental car (usually use DME during our off season trips) for... $176.50 including taxes, etc.

SO... we could stay at POFQ w/o the car for the same price as Pop w/ a car (actually for $6.50 cheaper!).

Dd seems to be more interested in POFQ. We were at POR in December and she saw the pool and resort in person during her pirate cruise which piqued her interest.

I emailed the TA back and asked her to check WL too... just for kicks. We are going to be at MK for the majority of our trip so that might work out even better if it is affordable (and I've ALWAYS wanted to stay there!).

WWYD? Which do you think would be better/worse? Sharing buses w/ POR or driving back and forth to/from Pop Century?

Arghhhh!

ETA - I heard back from the TA late last night and we can get WL COURTYARD view for only $271 more than POFQ.

I had pretty much made the decision to go w/ POFQ last night and now I have WL dangling in front of my for only $271 more.

Dd are going to be there for 4 nights and 5 FILLED days. We arrive early on day one and leave late on day five. Three of our five days we will be at MK.

Now I'm envisioning spending afternoons at the WL pool instead of at MK during the heat of the mid-afternoon July sun.

So WWYD now... WL for $271 more or save the $$ and go to POFQ?

 

[rie'smom]

Because of it being summer and because of the bus situation, I would keep your reservation at Pop. It is absolutely miserable to have to wait for a bus in the heat.
UNLESS you can get WL for a great price since you'll spend most of your time at the MK.

 

[Em&Bec'sMom]

We had also received an email with a PIN code (back in January) that specifically was for moderates, but had that little "other rooms, other rates" disclaimer. We were able to use it for WL at the same discount %, although we did have to get a courtyard view (more $) b/c no standard view rooms were available. We would have never stayed at a deluxe w/o the code, so I say, if the code works, splurge!

 

[Minniemouse07]

:bump:

Added more info and yet another decision to my original post!

 

[bell.of.the.ball]

Because of it being summer and because of the bus situation, I would keep your reservation at Pop. It is absolutely miserable to have to wait for a bus in the heat.
UNLESS you can get WL for a great price since you'll spend most of your time at the MK.

When leaving MK I rather wait for a bus then wait for a boat or a monorail to go to the parking lot, and wait for the tram to get to the right parking lot, and then walk to the end of the lot on that black top and get into a firehot car. We will be staying at POFQ in July (driving down) and will be using the buses

 

[HM]

Yes, go for WL....

 

[TSNCS]

I would stay at WL. I just came back from there, and it was wonderful. You can take the boat to MK, or the monorail to the contemporary then boat to WL. I didn't really use the bus that much. We also had rented a car, and we drove to DHS, but rode the monorail to epcot, boat to MK. We took the bus to AK, though. I just loved WL, can't say enough about it.

 

[MD DisneyFreaks]

I really like WL, but I'd save the $$ and stick with POFQ. You could spend your money elsewhere and upgrade your dining choices or something...or you could bank the $$ and start saving for your next trip!!

 

[TJA]

It's hard to know what that extra $271 means to your family, but if it were me, I'd go with WL being that you'll be at MK for 3 out of your 5 days there. You will get to MK a lot quicker from WL than from your other resort options. And having the ability to boat to MK is wonderful if your child is still young enough for a stroller (you can roll the strollers right on the boat). Also, if you have a meal at Chef M's planned, the boat ride between WL and CR is awesome! It literally takes about 3 minutes to boat between those 2 resorts! We loved it.

 

[Minniemouse07]

Thanks for your thoughts.

We were already planning to do the Deluxe DDP and dd is signed up for the kid's pirate cruise at GF and we may or may not be doing the Family Magic Tour. If we do upgrade to WL we probably won't.

This is a trip for dd's 7th birthday so I've already pulled out all the stops (lots of great character meals..including breakfast at the Castle, etc). It will be just the two of us... we are leaving the boys (dh and ds) at home.

Dh and I are still discussing it.

 

[cheerforchelsea]

I would have to say WL (especially for only $271 more)....I can't speak for the Family Magic Tour - but I did do the Key to the Kingdon tour - It was ok but I could have saved that $$ and been just as well off.

 

[Luv2Roam]

We stayed at WL one year in late August and LOVED it. First, it is a great resort. Also, the location to being so close to MK and the monorails and boats was very convenient. Since it was so hot, we would hit the parks in the morning, return to WL in the afternoon, and go back when it was cooler out.
In our afternoon breaks, DH relaxed in the pool and hot tub. I kicked back and read with a cup of tea and snack.
Made a much more relaxing vacation.
We also had courtyard and was just very happy overall with the room and resort.

 

[Dancemom03]

Count me in for WL too!
It isn't that much difference in price but a huge difference in resorts - and the way you'll be treated at each. As a TA, I know for fact that it's not only atmosphere, it's staff and customer service that makes vacations magical. WL wins that draw for me hands down.

Had more than one bad experience at POR and another at POFQ - wouldn't stay there again if they paid us. Oddly enough, DH and the girls are our true hotel snobs, not me, and they take pleasure in pointing out all the flaws found in their less-than-favorite rooms.
We all love BC/YC but next in line is WL at DD7's request. We also like CSR, or even ASMovies if we're not staying deluxe.

 

[Anc96]

I actually had a bad experience at the WL.. however, the staff was very good making up for it.
It's not my fav resort.. but it really is beautiful. What the other poster said about the difference in treatment was right. Being at a deluxe is much different than being at a value or mod.
The boat is SOOOO nice! Your dd would love it. And WC is so much fun for kids.

If you're looking to pull out all the stops... then stay at WL if you can comfortably afford it.

 

[savannahjean85]

bummed we got this but we don't have play room to change our dates which our trip ends when the pin begins

 

[Minniemouse07]

I just sent an email off to our TA to switch us to the Wilderness Lodge!

I'm super concerned about crowd levels, the buses and adding that to the proximity to MK... I just couldn't pass it up for the discount the pin code gave us.

Now I'm off to research WL in about 1/10th the time I took to research Pop Century!

 

[Luv2Roam]

If it were a longer trip, or a lot of $ difference, I would say forget it. But I think you will be happy you switched.
Have a great trip!

 

[adisneynut]

Thanks for your thoughts.

We were already planning to do the Deluxe DDP and dd is signed up for the kid's pirate cruise at GF and we may or may not be doing the Family Magic Tour. If we do upgrade to WL we probably won't.

This is a trip for dd's 7th birthday so I've already pulled out all the stops (lots of great character meals..including breakfast at the Castle, etc). It will be just the two of us... we are leaving the boys (dh and ds) at home.

Dh and I are still discussing it.

We have stayed at Wl serveral times out of 14 visits and loved it. I think that you will be very happy there. Also the ducks swim in the pool sometimes and are usually in the small water area before and after the waterfalls.

We also did the DDP this Jan and it is really a lot of eating and we lost alot of time at the resturants. We wish we had just booked the regular plan and saved the extra$$$. Hot weather can dull your appetite as well. However since it is just the 2 of you then you might be okay. We had 4 adutls(2 were 15 teenage gals who didn't each much).

Whatever you decide have a great time.

 

[Minniemouse07]

We have stayed at Wl serveral times out of 14 visits and loved it. I think that you will be very happy there. Also the ducks swim in the pool sometimes and are usually in the small water area before and after the waterfalls.

We also did the DDP this Jan and it is really a lot of eating and we lost alot of time at the resturants. We wish we had just booked the regular plan and saved the extra$$$. Hot weather can dull your appetite as well. However since it is just the 2 of you then you might be okay. We had 4 adutls(2 were 15 teenage gals who didn't each much).

Whatever you decide have a great time.

We are definitely going to WL...I contacted our TA last week!

We did a family trip (me, dh, dd and ds) in December using the DDP and it worked out great for us. Ds is 2yo so we maxed out ALL our snack credits and then some feeding him as well as paying out of pocket for 2 TS and 2 CS meals for all of us and a 3 or 4 of each for ds to eat (he's a human vacuum cleaner).

During our December trip we didn't eat at any two credit meals. Since our trip in July is special for dd's birthday (and just the two of us)... I priced out the two credit meals (2) we wanted to do along w/ the rest of our dining and compared OOP, DDP and Deluxe DDP... we definitely come out ahead w/ the deluxe plan.

I planned our schedule carefully and will not do any more than 2 TS meals any day...breakfast and dinner.

Here is what it looks like:

Day 1
Dinner Chef Mickey's

Day 2
Dinner 1900 Park Fare

Day 3
Breakfast Tusker House
Dinner Hollywood Brown Derby

Day 4 (dd's bday)
Breakfast Cinderella's Royal Table
Dinner Tony's Town Square

Day 5
Lunch Akershus

This leaves us with three additional meal credits for each of us to do w/ what we wish and eight snack credits! I think we should do okay.