Need Advice...what would you do?

[CRSNDSNY]

We originally planned to do a 7-night Disney Cruise next April. We even bought our airfare from Delta for the trip. But in looking at our budget we decided that we couldn't make something as big as a 7-nighter happen BUT we could do WDW for about half the cost of the cruise.

Here's my dilemma...Amelia (our DD) will be almost 2 by the end of our trip and we've already had two great trips with her (at 5mo we stayed 1BR BWV; at 1yo we stayed in a 2BR SSR & FWcabin). I'm sure some of you see where I'm going with this...

The trip would be 8 nights April 13th checkin, April 21st checkout. This includes 3 weekend nights -- 1 or 2 of which are in EASTER season (read: HIGH POINTS). I wish I could change our airfare and come in later, but the tickets are already much higher than we originally paid for...so it wouldn't be cost effective.

We have two options available to us:

We could do the entire length of stay in a Studio. Pros of course would be lesser points needed, not having to move and being able to use Magical Express (saving $$$), having the DDP for the entire length of stay. Cons would be not having the extra space for when Amelia is sleeping/napping, no full kitchen or washer/dryer, and separate space for Mommy and Daddy to be alone while the princess is asleep. I have these bad thoughts of us laying on our bed croutched over a nightlight reading while she's asleep in the pack and play at 8pm!!!

Second scenario would be 2-3 nights at Swalphin OR FWcabin and then moving to a 1BR for the rest of the stay. Cons would be -- Do I really want to have to move?; No Magical Express on our way there so we'd have to do a car rental, no DDP for the first 2 days. Although, with the full kitchen we may not want the DDP and save $$$ there. BUT in return, we'd get the 1BR amenities that we've been SO SPOILED WITH!

I've thought about adding the 1BR nights cash but that would be AT LEAST $300 a night...we are trying to do this inexpensively remember. UGH! What to do? What to do? LOL

[Leftcoaster]

I was just checking on Allears to be sure and the FW cabins were not excluded from using Magical Express. So, if you stayed a couple of nights there, you would still be able to use Magical Express to and from your trip.

If you did a studio the whole stay, maybe you could put the pack n play near the closet / vanity area. That way, you could possibly have a light on near the bed and it will still be dark where the pack n play is.

[crazywig]

i'd do option number 2.

in june 04 we did a studio with our ds who was just 2, and my 15yr old niece (insta-babysitter). i wouldn't do it again, especially now that i have two of my own. on that trip we either all went to bed at the same time, or he stayed up late. he also slept on the pullout w/niece and he'd do a bedhopping thing half the night.

that said, we still do 2 nights in a hotel before DVC (1 or 2br). but two nights i can hack, any longer and there aren't enough :margarita to save my sanity :hahahaha:

[lllovell]

I know this sounds silly, but we often just use the balcony as our "let the kids go to sleep while we have time to ourselves" area. That said, there is no watching tv in the room for us during vacation if we are all in one bedroom. The kids wont go to sleep if the tv is on, even when they are dead tired.

It is quite the toss up (be thankful you are dealing with one child's sleeping patterns for now lol if you have more, it really can get bad! Try getting a 5 year old to sleep while the 3 year old is totally crashed and the 3 month old is wanting to talk! That is what happened to me over and over again on our trip last Christmas. In April, I would get PJ to sleep and feed the boys and whamo, within 20 minutes of getting them settled, she was up. What happened to mommy's nap time dang it! lol)

If you stayed in a FW Cabin I think you would have the best time. Disney will help you move your stuff (including your perishable items) and you will have that kitchen space the entire time. A one bedroom is so much bigger for the rest of your stay and your issues with Amelia's sleeping getting disturbed are taken away.

If you had to stay in a studio to get to go, then obviously that would be the ticket :) Since you have other options, can use ME both ways at a FW CAbin (if I read Lefty's post correctly) and would have more space, I say go with the one move. You will unpack sparingly as you can for the first couple of days. A few hours packing and unpacking again will be well worth everyone being comfy and getting naps/good sleep!

Laura

[jaysue]

How about go with FW Cabin at the front end and then a 1BR on the back end - this way you would get your ME and have the DDP for the FW portion of your stay but not for the BWV portion of your stay?

Cheers
jaysue

[CRSNDSNY]

All very good advice. I looked into rack rates at FW and it's nearly $350/night for those two nights and even a cash studio at VWL would run over $300/night.

It's those two nights that are killing us! Maybe I should just grin and pay it. :headache:

Here's somethign else I could do. For less than the price we're paying for two nights (assuming the above), I could switch our airfare to early May (rates are same as what we paid and we'd only pay a $50/person change fee) and stay in a 1BR for a full 7 nights without having to pay cash for a room. Does this make sense?

[TW1]

I like the new scenario (switching the plane ressies).

Or, you could go my brother's route and put the pack-n-play in the bathroom! I think they had the kids fall asleep in the bed first, then plunked her down in the bathroom for a few hours every night! Never tried that one, but it would save points!

[CRSNDSNY]

All VERY good ideas. I can't thank you enough!

Talked to DH and our overall thought was that with her being so young and napping during the day, we decided to spend a little more $$$ to do 2 nights at the Swan and then the remainder of the time in a 1BR. I got a teacher rate of $189/night -- in comparison to the other prices I looked at, this is a better deal.

I also spoke with him about switching our plane ressies, but decided not to because we'll be celebrating Amelia's bday on this trip. We went last year during the beginning of May and with my work schedule, it was a bad time for me to leave. I can't do that again if I could avoid it. We don't want to go later in May because of my work schedule.

We'll have to get a car for the first part of the trip, but that's ok. We'll go with the agency that has the dropoff at the Dolphin or with Alamo. Having a car, we'll be able to do our own grocery shopping and not have to use a grocery delivery service. Both good things IMO.

I really appreciate everyone giving me their advice. :teacher: It helped me sort this out.

:cool:

[Leftcoaster]

I like the new scenario too. I think it would work out best for you in all aspects.

You will have the space you want, you won't have to move, and the expenses will work out perfectly too.

Have you thought about putting the pack n play on the balcony? :scary:

[lllovell]

LEFTY!!! Shame shame. lol

Glad you got it worked out Melody!

We have put the pack n play in the closet before (in the open doorway) just to have more room.

[CRSNDSNY]

LOL -- The balcony! :holymoly: Shame on you! LOL

Laura, we thought about putting the pack and play in the closet/vanity area, but we got paranoid. What if it didn't work for us...we'd be stuck like that for 8 nights. Yeah, I'm an obsessive, overplanning control freak. I need to pop one of these :chillpill more often.

Now my new dilemma....do I renew my AP to get the DDE or stick with the MYW pass and DDP? LOL....:headbange

[Colorado Belle]

Call me cheapskate, or maybe I just had a kid who would sleep thorugh anything....but I'd take the studio and pack a compression rod in my suitcase, and block off either the vanity area for her 'bedroom' or (so you can use the bathroom if needs be, the area near the exit door. Not sure if the baby needs dark in order to sleep or if she is just sensitive to sounds, but I think pinning the bedspread or extra sheet to a compression rod at ceiling level might provide the privacy you feel you need.

Whatever you decide, the important thing is to have fun and STOP WORRYING! Kids are very adaptable; its usually the 'rents that have trouble!

[Leftcoaster]

LOL -- The balcony! :holymoly: Shame on you! LOL

Laura, we thought about putting the pack and play in the closet/vanity area, but we got paranoid. What if it didn't work for us...we'd be stuck like that for 8 nights. Yeah, I'm an obsessive, overplanning control freak. I need to pop one of these :chillpill more often.

Now my new dilemma....do I renew my AP to get the DDE or stick with the MYW pass and DDP? LOL....:headbange


Well, if you think the baby will sleep well in the vanity area with a "curtain" or osmething up there, then that would be a good option.
With the points you'd save, you would be able to buy an AP and have an excuse to come back. ;)


So, ummmm, the balcony idea isn't a good one?
::Scribbles this down on a note pad::

[CRSNDSNY]

:hahahaha: Yeah, put a big 'ol asterisk next to that notation!

I think we'll stick with this scenario for this trip, but on our next WDW visit, she'll be 3 and that's when we'll begin to try and conserve points by staying in a studio.

I hate the thought of having to move, but that is not overpowered by the thought of a disastrous 8 nights. She is sensitive to sound and light and without proper sleep is really unbearable!

[dianeschlicht]

All very good advice. I looked into rack rates at FW and it's nearly $350/night for those two nights and even a cash studio at VWL would run over $300/night.

It's those two nights that are killing us! Maybe I should just grin and pay it. :headache:

Here's somethign else I could do. For less than the price we're paying for two nights (assuming the above), I could switch our airfare to early May (rates are same as what we paid and we'd only pay a $50/person change fee) and stay in a 1BR for a full 7 nights without having to pay cash for a room. Does this make sense?
This is what I would choose! Gets you there during Flower festival too!

[Lisa]

I think you are making a wise choice. Having two rooms with kids is really a great thing. Everyone gets the sleep they need to enjoy the vacation! Also, as you know, that kitchen and Washer/Dryer are the greatest with kids.

[CRSNDSNY]

YEAH!

I'm going to call and make some of my reservation today.

F&G starts on April 13th so we'll get to be there for some of it (AGAIN)!!! It'll be our third F&G Festival! :bluebloun


Edited to add: YEAH! Got my first few nights in a 1BR at BCV. BCV was DH's pick this time. He thought Amelia would have a blast in the sand bottom pool.