help with resort choice About This Page:

[Luv2golf]

Need a little help with deciding where to stay Dec. 2006 ( I don't have to explain to you other planaholics why I'm deciding so early, do I? )
We're thinking of splitting our week's stay between 2 resorts so that we can experience as much Holiday spirit as possible.
So far we've only decided on 1 resort for sure: WL We stayed there @ Christmas time 3 years ago and it.
Our other thoughts were:
BCV -could use a few points and stay in a studio a couple days. But we're staying there in March
CBR-never stayed there before
POR-we love this resort but haven't been there @ Christmas
AKL-would be really cool, but not sure I want to spend that much on going deluxe the whole week.
OKW-again, could use a few points for a studio

As you can see we're pretty undecided about the 2nd choice. I'd appreciate any thoughts or experiences you might have for us.
Thanks!

[AbbysMom]

I have only stayed at WL so I won't be much help. I was going to say by my reading and research POR! You are not the only planaholic either. We are going in Nov this year and I am trying to plan next Nov already! We have lots of family going next Nov so I am trying to come up with a few ideas!

Erica

[Luv2golf]

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We are going in Nov this year and I am trying to plan next Nov already!

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That's a sure sign of a planaholic!

[i_luv_dopey]

We're staying at POR this November, and it looks like a really good choice for a resort. It's also a moderate so you won't have to spend your money on 2 deluxe resorts.

[Colexis Mom]

We'll, I'd go for AKL! It's our favorite resort, and it's beautiful at Christmas

[daemonguy]

We loved the CBR last November. Great theme, extremely pervasive and spread out to promote privacy -- when desired.

[AzureHaven]

Having just gotten back from my first stay at CBR I cannot say enough great things about this resort. I do not know how much it is decorated for the holidays but I think the Caribbean theme would be a nice change from winter here at home. I would get a preferred room for sure. It is worth the extra $$.

[partypooh]

Well, I can let you know what it is like at POR as soon as I get back from my December trip, because we are going to stay there.

Jill

[Joy J]

If you want to save a bit of money by staying at a moderate and yet still try something new, how about POFQ? We just stayed there last August and it's a WONDERFUL resort. I can't say enough good things about it. Although it may be classed as a moderate resort, to me, other than the private balcony thing, it felt much more like a deluxe resort.

Joy

[RobDVC]

AKL and WL are great during the holidays.

[poohmaine]

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We'll, I'd go for AKL! It's our favorite resort, and it's beautiful at Christmas

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I agree! We were there last year for Christmas and it is lovely!

[debsta922]

I think all your choices are good... my vote would be AkL...

[Luv2golf]

Allright then!! Thanks to all of your repsonses I haven't narrowed it down, I've decided we need to stay longer to enjoy each one!
Since we'll be there until about the 22nd of December, crowds might become an issue. What would be your response to that in regards to transportation and size of resort? Do you feel AKL is just as "small" as WL? (compared to the other larger resorts). Is CBR and POR too big or do you notice the size when you are there? We've stayed at POFQ and POR but not during really busy times-how would you rate that?

I'm just trying to find something to help me narrow it down

[poohmaine]

We were at ALK from December 18 through December 27. The resort was full the day we got there (a zoo at check-in), got quiet a day later, and then really picked up again Christmas Eve. I did notice bigger crowds in the lobby areas, etc. but the resort service was not affected.

The AKL has it's own bus (no other resort shares it) and bus service was always prompt. I think the longest we waited was 10 minutes.

If you want to avoid the crowds, get up earlier. We are early birds, and I rarely met anyone in the lobby at 7:00 a.m. Lines for breakfast, etc. didn't really get busy until after 8:00. Boma was always crowded, though, so if you want to eat there make sure you make ressies ASAP.

There were several special evening events going on in the lobby the week leading up to Christmas: concerts, bell ringers, Santa, characters, choruses. You could stay right at the resort and get plenty of Christmas cheer.

The theme parks started getting busier the closer it got to Christmas Day. On the 22nd in MGM, we got a FastPass for TOT at 10 in the morning for 4:15 in the afternoon! But that was our only day with crowd levels so high we couldn't get to everything we wanted to do. It got very cold later in the week (temps in the 30s and 40s) and that kept the crowds away. For example, on Dec. 26th, the MK opened at 7:00 a.m. My daughter and I were the only ones from the AKL on the bus at 6:30 a.m. We had the MK to ourselves that morning. We went on several rides several times in a row because there was NO ONE there except the cast members. I am not kidding, I have photos of her in front of the castle with NO ONE else in sight. Too cold for the locals, cast members told us. It picked up after 11.

The AKL is lovely at Christmas. Have a wonderful trip, wherever you decide to stay!