Surprise for Anniversary

[goofymom]

I am planning our next visit to WDW in September. We plan on staying a couple weeks so I have booked an off site condo due to cost and need for kitchen/laundry facilities. However, our anniversary falls during our vacation and I have decided to surprise my husband with a stay at a Disney resort for three nights toward the end of our vacation. I checked mousesaver.com and found a discount code good for the time we are going for the moderate and deluxe resorts (per night-$89 moderate, $129.00 deluxe) The three I am considering is Coronado Springs, Port Orleans and (as a bigger splurge) Wilderness Lodge. Which one would you suggest? We will be traveling with our almost 4 year son. I have been to Wilderness Lodge to eat and loved the atmosphere but haven't had the opportunity to visit the others. I don't plan on letting my husband know we are staying until the day we check in. I would love to take him there as if we are going to eat in a restaurant in the resort and then spring the surprise on him. Any suggestions on choice of resort and how to surprise him would be most appreciated.

 

[leeocean]

The Wilderness Lodge is my favorite Disney Resort. It's off the beaten track a little - yet so close to Magic Kingdom. I love the atmosphere. The nighttime jacuzzi is also very romantic with the resort waterfall and the trees all lit up. It's a very intimate resort. As for the Port Orleans, stay at Riverside. That side is more adult than the French Quarter and it's very well themed. There are alot more people at PO and Coronado, unlike the intimate setting at the Wilderness Lodge. Coronado is a great resort, big like Port Orleans. But it is far away from everything. As for the surprise, I don't know I'm not big on surprises. But good luck.

 

[DisneyPhD]

PO Riverside (always DL in my heart) is romantic and fun for a 4 year old too. The food court is very good, pool nice and a good play ground for the children.

CS has a great pool, is often full of conventioners and that can sometimes take away from the magic of staying on Disney (depending on the convention.) The pool is great, hot tub wonderful and a nice small pool for children. Nice theming, but personally I like DL better. Also many complants about the food court. It is not as good for a 4 year old.


I have never stayed at WL, but just bought DVC VWL and should be there next visit. I hear the rooms can be small. It is close to MK, but you have to take boat there.

Have a nice aniversery. Ours is in August, so we most likely will never be at WDW for it!!!!

Once you stay at Disney, you won't want to go back. Consider looking into DVC, the comforts of a condo, with all the Disney magic!!!!!

 

[DisneyDadMark]

All three resorts are nice. It probably depends on two factors.

1) Do you want the higher level of amenities offered at WL? Do you want to be just a boat ride away from the Magic Kingdom? Is a resort with fewer rooms (and therefore fewer people) something you are looking for? Or would you prefer to save a hundred bucks or so (based on your discount rates plus taxes) for a nice meal somewhere?

2) Which theme do you prefer? Would you rather wake up in an old National Parks lodge, a southwestern lakeside resort, a Southern plantation estate -- either the manor house (PO Riverside/Magnolia Terrace) or the backwoods (PO Riverside/Alligator Bayou), or New Orleans (PO French Quarter)? Which theme pool tickles your fancy the most?

Personally, I stay at Disney's Old Key West resort as my DVC home resort virtually every trip. All the comforts of a condo with all the benefits of a Disney resort.

As far as the surprise, how about pulling up and having lunch. During lunch, excuse yourself to go to the restroom. Go to registration and check in. During desert, say. "You know, this is really a nice place. We ought to stay here some time." (Bonus points if your husband says this first!) Follow up by saying "Why don't we do it now?" Hand him the room key and wish him a happy anniversary!

I may come up with another idea later, but that's my first stab.

Congratulations on your anniversary, and enjoy your trip!

 

[goofymom]

Thanks so much for your info. Sounds like it is between PO Riverside and WL. Decisions..Decisions...I was thinking maybe WL because of the proximity to MK via boat. We plan on spreading out visits to the park over the two weeks so it will be more relaxing and I thought I would save MK till the last when we stay on site. I will have to weigh the cost of one verses the other to decide if WL is worth the extra $.