Your advice please........

[crazyme5kids]

Hi! I am trying to plan a trip for next summer to Disney, and I am having a heck of a time trying to figure out which direction to go. So here is what I need help with.
I am hoping to stay for about 16 nights. I will stay with 3 of my children (ages at that time 5, 8, 14). My older son (he'll be 17) will probably join us the 2nd week of our stay. My husband might be there for all, part or none of the trip. It is too hard for him to plan because of his job.

I want to stay at several resorts, each being located close to each one of the parks. I will always need two rooms (connected). I just don't know which resorts to stay at! The only resort I know is a definate will be AKL. So can you all help me? If it were you, where would you stay, how long in each resort and what room type?

By the way my kids love to swim, the closer to the pool the better. I am torn about staying concierge, it just doesn't seem that important to me, except at AKL. My main concern is the room and ease of transportation.

One last thing. Because of the unknown factor regarding my husband coming, if I book a package and find he can't go , or can only get to part of the trip, can I just cancel him out of part or all of the trip? Could I just roll the portion of money I pay for him into a spending account?

Sorry this is so long, I'm just feeling overwhelmed by the decisions. One thing I do know, I will use a travel agent once I have a better idea of where I want to stay. Thanks ahead of time for your feedback!

 

[buzz2400]

All of Disney resorts are terrific to stay at. If money is no object then you would probably want to stay at the moderates. You need to look at each resort and decide. Alot of people also like Pop Century. One thing to keep in mind is that in the summer it is very hot and you get very tired easily so you might not want to change resorts too many times. It might just be better to stay at just two. Also about your husband, make your reservations without him and if he does decide to go, you can always buy park tickets at the resort. Another website that you can check out about the resorts is wdwig.com.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Thanks for your reply. Money isn't really too much of an issue, at least not yet lol. The heat isn't much of an issue either, we were down there in 2003 for two weeks in Aug. so I know what to expect. It really isn't much worse than here, the humidity anyway. My goal is to stay at 3 resorts, all with easy access to whatever park it is at. I'm not sure if I will drive down or fly yet.

The value resorts don't appeal to me, although I'd like to go see them because they look neat on the outside (hey, I'm a sucker for oversized colorful things!) I'm really trying to figure out which deluxe and mods. I know I'd rather not deal with buses, so I need resorts with boat or monorail transportation.

At this point the only resort I know we will stay at is AKL. I think 4 nights there will be enough to take in what the resort offers. We probably will only spend a day in Animal Kingdom anyway.

I'm kind of thinking about staying at the Swan/Dolphin for the Epcot area. It's the Magic Kingdom area that is stumping me.

Does anyone know how it would work if I make reservations for things like Hoop-Dee-Doo and Cirque, then need to cancel one seat or ticket because my husband can't go? Would we be able to get a refund?

 

[k_k_100]

I would look at renting a 2 br. unit from a DVC member - Look at BCV's, BWV's & VWL. It would be hard to beat the space w/ the # of people that may or may not come

 

[Redbudlover]

If money is not a problem and you want a really nice room and good transportation, your best bet for MK area is to stay at the Polynesian. The theming is wonderful!!! GF is better but so expensive and very formal.... The rooms at POLY are bigger than any other deluxe resort. You can take the monorail to MK and to Epcot - and to the other MK resorts - and for everyone who says you can walk to Epcot from BCR - well yes but only through the International Gateway - not to Future World. It takes 18 minutes to walk to the middle of Epcot from there. If you stay at an MK resort: POLY, GF or Contemporary, you can monorail there in same time and ride for half the time instead of walking the whole way! Plus those resorts are the only ones where you have direct transporation to other resorts - the others at MK. So at the Poly you can watch the fireworks from the beach, watch the Electrical Water Parade from your room and eat at any of the deluxe resort restaurants with easy transporation. To go any where else there is a bus or you can walk to TTC for transport! You just cannot beat the transportation, the beauty of the resorts, the service, or the restaurants.

My second resort would be BCR - it is gorgeous, beautiful, has the WDW best pool, is easy walking to Epcot and a boat ride to MGM and has a plethora of great restaurants, not to mention nite life right on the boardwalk. Terrific!

I loved staying at the AK - but probably won't again - transportation is just too difficult. It is the furthest away from everything. Plus the rooms are the smallest of all the deluxes and they are dark. the pool is OK , but nothing to rave about. However I love the animals. And I love both restaurants! Your teenager would probaly not be thrilled - give him his time where he can have some fun at night!

Anyway - those would be my choices - and are! I am going to POLY in 10 days! would have gone to BCR, but waited too long and it is sold out. But now I am thrilled it worked out this way!!!

 

[DisneyMomJen]

We usually split our stay between a Magic Kingdom Resrt and than an Epcot Resort. My absolute favorite place to stay is the Grand Floridian. It is beautiful, on the monorail, has live music in the lobby - either a piano player or an orchestra. We did try the Polynesian Concierge last summer and would recommend this also (2nd to the Floridian).

When we stay by Epcot, we usually stay at the Beach Club. Another place I love to stay at. The pool area is amazing and you can walk to Epcot and take a boat to MGM. You can rent points from a DVC member to rent a two bedroom villa which is even better than having 2 rooms since you also have a living room and kitchen with these.

 

[Houston_Disney_Fan]

Regarding a refund on Cirque tickets, I had booked a trip in May and was not able to go due to emergency surgery on my DH. The ticket had been paid for and was not refundable, but they gave me a gift certificate good for another ticket within a year's time. I have planned another trip, leaving in 2 weeks, but the group I'm going with isn't interested in Cirque. I sold the gift certificate on e-bay for $66, nearly what I'd paid for it. Putting that money toward a Segway tour instead!

 

[crazyme5kids]

Thanks! You all are giving me great advice and helping me tremendously ! The monorail resorts are sounding better and better as far as access to Epcot goes. Which resort has the best access to MGM? If I do go for 16 nights, I think a split of 4 (AKL)/6/6 would be about right, don't you think?

Houston_ Disney_Fan, thanks for the Cirque info. At least I know there is an option other than losing the money.

If I rent a DVC can I pay a fee for daily housekeeping? I just did a two week cottage rental this summer, while it was nice, I just didn't feel like I was on vacation having to vacuum and clean the bathroom lol!

 

[honeymo78]

For HDDR there is a 48 hr cancellation policy - so go ahead and book that as if he is going and if he's not, just cancel at least 48hrs in advance. If DH doesn't go, can I go instead?? I'd love to spend 16nights at WDW.

 

[crazyme5kids]

LOL honeymo78! Tell you what, If my husband doesn't go you can have first dibs on his Hoop-Dee-Doo seat, free of course!