Resort/Package Dilemma

[H20Babie]

Here's the deal ... DS (8) and I will have 3 nights/4 days max at the World.

We can stay at AS Sports (only value we haven't stayed at yet, and DS likes the sports theme) with 4 day park hoppers and QS DDP for $1174.

Or, I can upgrade to a mod (CBR, DS loves Epcot and DHS) with 4 day park hoppers, and with the in-room fridge, bring some breakfast groceries and cut out the QS DDP for $1282.

Now, unfortunately, we'll be checking in the Saturday of Easter weekend (can't help it, I'm a teacher) and it will be a whirlwind, although we're planning to come back to the resort and make use of the pools from time to time.

Which would you pick?

 

[corey154]

that's a tough one! Being that you're going spring break I'd prob go with the upgrade to CBR, otherwise I'd go with the value. i'd just be worried about the allstars during spring break being full of wild kids....that's just me though.

 

[H20Babie]

that's a tough one! Being that you're going spring break I'd prob go with the upgrade to CBR, otherwise I'd go with the value. i'd just be worried about the allstars during spring break being full of wild kids....that's just me though.

That's kind of my view on it. It will be hectic enough in the parks; I'd like to come "home" to some peace and quiet. Lol.

Also, any ideas on how to get from St. Pete to WDW, other than renting a car for a day?

 

[Monty]

See my "math" notes in your "Should I get APs" thread...



It really pays to do all the math before you go. If you're likely to go again before Easter 2011, you'll likely save a lot by getting APs for the two of you. :shrug:

 

[LarryStoken]

The value resorts are noisy and jammed packed during the spring break season. The pool will be a circus.

If you want more serenity, nicer accommodations, and an excellent quiet pool I would recommend the Wilderness Lodge. It is the most economical of the deluxe resorts and is well within the price range of most budgets.

 

[H20Babie]

See my "math" notes in your "Should I get APs" thread...



It really pays to do all the math before you go. If you're likely to go again before Easter 2011, you'll likely save a lot by getting APs for the two of you. :shrug:

You just want me to go in August ... :lol: This spring break trip just lucked out ... we weren't supposed to go back until 2012!

The value resorts are noisy and jammed packed during the spring break season. The pool will be a circus.

If you want more serenity, nicer accommodations, and an excellent quiet pool I would recommend the Wilderness Lodge. It is the most economical of the deluxe resorts and is well within the price range of most budgets.

Agreed. But the WL is out of my budget for this trip and is not up our alley theme-wise. I agree it's beautiful, but coming from Canada and owning a cabin not quite unlike WL, we look for more "unique" themed resorts.

 

[corey154]

That's kind of my view on it. It will be hectic enough in the parks; I'd like to come "home" to some peace and quiet. Lol.

I hear ya!! And CBR has some quiet pools that usually are pretty quiet.


Also, any ideas on how to get from St. Pete to WDW, other than renting a car for a day?

I'm not really sure about this one. Maybe (and I have no idea, this is just an idea) you can see how much it'd be to get transportation from the airport in tampa. i know you'll already be there but i'd think they have a shuttle that runs between the airport and disney.

 

[LarryStoken]

You just want me to go in August ... :lol: This spring break trip just lucked out ... we weren't supposed to go back until 2012!



Agreed. But the WL is out of my budget for this trip and is not up our alley theme-wise. I agree it's beautiful, but coming from Canada and owning a cabin not quite unlike WL, we look for more "unique" themed resorts.

Yeah, I could see how this would not appeal to a Canadian. The Polynesian might be a better fit.

 

[Monty]

You just want me to go in August ... :lol: This spring break trip just lucked out ... we weren't supposed to go back until 2012!

Whilst I might have ulterior motives :lookaroun, the advice still rings true. If the math works out, APs can still save you more.

For example: A trip staying 4 nights. If the AP discount will save you $130/night between room and tickets, it's worth getting an AP instead. In this scenario, only you need the AP.

So, a four-day hopper costs $295.01, if you get an AP for $520.79 the room discount only has to be $56.45/night to break even. A 30% discount at a Moderate will be around that.

 

[wdwwdeagle]

Here's the deal ... DS (8) and I will have 3 nights/4 days max at the World.

We can stay at AS Sports (only value we haven't stayed at yet, and DS likes the sports theme) with 4 day park hoppers and QS DDP for $1174.

Or, I can upgrade to a mod (CBR, DS loves Epcot and DHS)
Which would you pick?

My advice would be to ask your son what he prefers: Sports theme hotel, or being closer to the parks he likes. I'd go with whatever he's more excited about. Also, factor in what you'll spend on food for lunch & dinner.

He might like having a bunch a of kids to play with at the pool at the resort, or he may be happier not having to fight for space to play at the pool. In my own home, we have one who would go with ASSports and plenty of food and other kids, and one who would go with CBR, less food, and fewer kids.

 

[H20Babie]

My advice would be to ask your son what he prefers: Sports theme hotel, or being closer to the parks he likes. I'd go with whatever he's more excited about. Also, factor in what you'll spend on food for lunch & dinner.

He might like having a bunch a of kids to play with at the pool at the resort, or he may be happier not having to fight for space to play at the pool. In my own home, we have one who would go with ASSports and plenty of food and other kids, and one who would go with CBR, less food, and fewer kids.

When I asked where he wanted to stay this time, he said the whatever resort was closest to HS and Epcot. Since the BC&YC and Boardwalk are way out of my budget, CBR seemed the closest. I'm not that big an eater, and can easily split an adult sized QS meal with my son, who tends to snack more than eat ... lol.

 

[DisneyCanuck]

We've looked at the value vs. moderate question ourselves. 3 years ago we almost booked our trip @ POR Riverside. We liked the theme, atmosphere and, being Canucks, the fact that we could do a bit of fishing. We looked at the amount of time we would be in the room, what we would be using it for and the extra sq footage and weighed it against the extra $$. In the end we went with value - POP. We're staying at POP again this year - we liked it and the bus service to and fro the parks was good. We're really not ones for sitting around the pool so that really is not a deciding factor for us. As far as meals are concerned - in the 10 days we spent in the world 3 years ago, we ate in the resort twice.

We're in Disney for the parks not the hotels.

 

[H20Babie]

We've looked at the value vs. moderate question ourselves. 3 years ago we almost booked our trip @ POR Riverside. We liked the theme, atmosphere and, being Canucks, the fact that we could do a bit of fishing. We looked at the amount of time we would be in the room, what we would be using it for and the extra sq footage and weighed it against the extra $$. In the end we went with value - POP. We're staying at POP again this year - we liked it and the bus service to and fro the parks was good. We're really not ones for sitting around the pool so that really is not a deciding factor for us. As far as meals are concerned - in the 10 days we spent in the world 3 years ago, we ate in the resort twice.

We're in Disney for the parks not the hotels.

I've stayed at every level, from value to deluxe. I really like the moderates for the little extras ... like the peacefulness at night and hot tubs! (without paying more for the deluxe). Part of our vacation is relaxing and taking in the little things. I've stayed value many times before, and while I don't mind them, they're just not our cup of tea, especially Pop. BTW, POR is our favourite moderate!

 

[gettingsmaller]

It seems like budget is an issue here... how do you plan to eat lunch and/or dinner? Cutting out the DDP doesn't mean that you cut out the expense of eating--you just 'move' it and perhaps make it more flexible.

If I were going, I'd be going for the parks. If I just wanted to go stay in a hotel, I'd do it nearer to home in a hotel that would likely have better amenities for the same price.

I say go for the value + DDP.

Better yet (from a budget standpoint), if you feel that the DDP is not warranted, why not go to a value and pay for your own dining? (I must admit, I've never tried running numbers for QS dining...) Something like $5/day will get you a little fridge, won't it? (another detail I'm not completely sure of...)

That being said, the cheapest place our family of 5 can stay is POR, and I prefer it over the value that I stayed at in 1998 (think it was ASM). HOWEVER, if I could save money and stay in a value, I'd do it. I plan to see my room for about 30 minutes a day--value will do just fine.

Getting to the other point about closeness to parks... is that really going to be an issue? For the most part, it's not like you're going to just take a stroll over to the park, anyway, right? Few resorts have that sort of location, and I don't think any of the mods or values do... So, maybe it means a few extra minutes on the bus if you're further away?

Of course, there is always the idea of the AP, but that takes more number crunching than I am willing to invest time in...

 

[ClemsonTigger]

I've been down around Easter week the past few years, and while you have to work at it a little, it can be managed decently. I would definitely replace AS Sports with POR. It will give you a much quieter environment and easier travel. Multiple pools to choose will not be overly crowded.

If you are at your park of choice at opening, you will be able to enjoy a few hours of normalcy before they get packed. More people take advantage of the extra evening hours and sleep in.

We may very well be down the week before Easter ourselves this year.

 

[gettingsmaller]

One more thing...
A possible "compromise" (depending on how you look at it):
Do value + Dining Plus (the one with 1 TS and 1 QS).

I have found that having a table service meal really allows for some time to recharge and hit the parks again. It would cost you about $1228 (+tips), I think.

That would allow for you to maybe have a more quiet break during the day (depending on where you eat, I suppose), and/or would provide for you to schedule a character meal (or 2) to enjoy with your son.

Of course, you do "lose" 1 snack and the refillable mug compared to the QS plan... (since I spend very little time at my resort, the whole refillable mug thing is a little useless for me, personally).

Okay... one MORE thing: you know your touring style/plans better than any of us, but I just can't fathom having only 2 days + 2 partial days and choosing to spend precious park time going back to my hotel to swim. For that matter--to avoid the time lost in transfer--I'd likely save my park hopper money and just plan on one park a day, BUT I understand that some people DO like to go and have a swim and go back to a different park, etc..

 

[H20Babie]

I've been down around Easter week the past few years, and while you have to work at it a little, it can be managed decently. I would definitely replace AS Sports with POR. It will give you a much quieter environment and easier travel. Multiple pools to choose will not be overly crowded.

If you are at your park of choice at opening, you will be able to enjoy a few hours of normalcy before they get packed. More people take advantage of the extra evening hours and sleep in.

We may very well be down the week before Easter ourselves this year.

I've been down over the last week of March before and it was always fine. Just a little planning ... sometimes I don't even know why people complain about crowds ... it's Disney! Lol.

And I guess I'll really have to keep my eyes peeled for the "tigger" again!

One more thing...
A possible "compromise" (depending on how you look at it):
Do value + Dining Plus (the one with 1 TS and 1 QS).

I have found that having a table service meal really allows for some time to recharge and hit the parks again. It would cost you about $1228 (+tips), I think.

That would allow for you to maybe have a more quiet break during the day (depending on where you eat, I suppose), and/or would provide for you to schedule a character meal (or 2) to enjoy with your son.

Of course, you do "lose" 1 snack and the refillable mug compared to the QS plan... (since I spend very little time at my resort, the whole refillable mug thing is a little useless for me, personally).

Okay... one MORE thing: you know your touring style/plans better than any of us, but I just can't fathom having only 2 days + 2 partial days and choosing to spend precious park time going back to my hotel to swim. For that matter--to avoid the time lost in transfer--I'd likely save my park hopper money and just plan on one park a day, BUT I understand that some people DO like to go and have a swim and go back to a different park, etc..

We'll have 4 full days and 3 nights. We're coming over from four-five days on St. Pete Beach (less than 2 hours away from Orlando), and our flight back home doesn't leave until 8:30 pm.

I've done the regular DDP twice now and found it was too much food and I didn't like planning my days arounds sitdown meals. We ended up cashing in TS creds for CS meals and cashing in CS creds for snacks and stuffing a bag full of candy and such just to bring back home. Since DS is now 8, there aren't even any real character meals he likes anymore, except maybe Ohana ... they're all for the younger set or for girls.

Our touring style is to go to the park with EMH in the am, head off around 1 .. swim, relax .. and then head back around 5 and stay as late as we can at the park that had EMH the day before. You can get tonnes done, even during spring break. And with it being spring break, regular hours at MK were until midnight some nights, and 11 pm at Epcot and DHS. We've both been to the World more than enough times to know what we like and what we don't in terms of rides, attractions and shows, so if we do something that's not on "must do" list, it's icing!

I'm pretty sure we're going with CBR with the room rehabs earlier this year and the new pirate pool

 

[NewfieFan]

After reading everything you wrote... I think you should go with CBR! Eat on the fly and have a great time!:wave:

 

[gettingsmaller]

Yeah... then you really might want to look into MontyMon's suggestion about AP... don't know how the numbers work out, but it could be worth it if you're staying in a moderate...