Originally Posted By Goofyernmost Well after much deliberation and internal wrestling I decided to go to WDW in March. I had been looking longingly at that special offer for a while but just couldn't bring myself to commit. As some of you know I took my entire family to the "world" last February and I was seriously thinking about trying to get my savings account hemorrhaging to stop by not making the trek this year. What put me over the edge was the constant snow storm hits that we have taken for the past week. I hate winter, I hate snow and it was just flaunting itself at me so far this year. After a particularly nasty day trying to get buses to run on time last Friday, I glanced at my birth certificate and said...what the H am I waiting for. Just do it. That night I went online and booked a 7 night stay at Pop Century. This will be another milestone for me. I have been going to WDW somewhat regularly since 1983 and this will be the first time that I have actually stayed onsite. I'm hoping that staying onsite will be all that you folks have made it out to be. I am going solo this year and I am anxious to see how I fit in with this particular resort. I plan to drive down this year so I will have wheels available and I may even play a little golf. Whatever, as long as there is no snow within my sight.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey Goofy, I believe you will enjoy staying onsite. I stayed offsite for my first ten trips or so, but once I stayed onsite for the first time (back in 1995, I think) I can't imagine staying offsite again. I've only had one issue with Disney resorts in 15+ trips (lack of housekeeping at POR four years ago), but I still wouldn't stay offsite again. Staying onsite is far too convenient for me. Besides that, I feel the real world is so far away when I stay onsite. I'm sure some negative posts are coming my way now, but oh well. Such is life.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost Thanks Nicki, I agree that you do seem to have a target on your back, but I, for one, have never known why. That was just a statement, not an invitation to debate the pros and cons of flaming Nikki. Anyway, I am looking forward to going for many reasons, to get out of winter (my favorite Vermont winter scene is the one I see in my rear view mirror heading south) and trying out the resorts at a reasonable rate.
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 Enjoy your trip and I feel that os all the value resorts Pop is the best. It is the newest and you don't have to share the bus with any other resort. So have fun on your solo trip...
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Goofy, I so hear you. It is only December ( surely not hard core winter for my neck of the woods except this year) - and DW and I are sick of the winter already. 45 below zero wind chillsSunday night - only -10 wind chills last night for the BEars game. Have used a whole tank of gas in my snowlblower already and it's not even Christmas. We did not go to WDW last year for the first time in 22 years -- for the same reasons as you - watching the $$. However when we got home Sunday night from visiting relatives and had to navigate the snowstorm( #5 or so already)- and the 10-15 below zero actual temps - DW said, get online- book June as soon as my youngest is out of high school for the summer. So we did -- So I totally understand your mindset right now
Originally Posted By barboy Yes, there is no worthy substitute to staying on property. I'm at the point where I would rather stay at the All Stars way before a luxury suite at the Ritz/Embassy Suites/Or **any** hotel in Orlando even if those rooms were the same price as the 'Values'. Theoretically if those fancy stays were free then I'd think about it. My WDW vacation would be empty and incomplete if I were off property. I am not so dogmatic when it comes to the other 4 destinations mostly because I don't associate the other 4 as 'vacation' spots being they are not vast in scope nor remotely located.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Goofy, I believe you will enjoy staying onsite. I stayed offsite for my first ten trips or so, but once I stayed onsite for the first time (back in 1995, I think) I can't imagine staying offsite again. I've only had one issue with Disney resorts in 15+ trips (lack of housekeeping at POR four years ago), but I still wouldn't stay offsite again. Staying onsite is far too convenient for me. Besides that, I feel the real world is so far away when I stay onsite. I'm sure some negative posts are coming my way now, but oh well. Such is life. << I agree with you Nikki. Although I know I could find more value for less mony off-site, I just can't bring myself to do so. Staying at the WL is a complete escape from the real world for me.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> This will be another milestone for me. I have been going to WDW somewhat regularly since 1983 and this will be the first time that I have actually stayed onsite. I'm hoping that staying onsite will be all that you folks have made it out to be. I am going solo this year and I am anxious to see how I fit in with this particular resort. << You will be hooked unless something drasticly wrong happens.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> 45 below zero wind chillsSunday night - only -10 wind chills last night for the BEars game. Have used a whole tank of gas in my snowlblower already and it's not even Christmas. << I got cold sitting in my den just watching that game. I really don't know how you folks take the retched winter like you are getting this year. I bet the players are looking forward to playing down here next Sunday.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey ^^^^^^Agreed, MPierce! It was a "frigid" 34 degrees here yesterday and I thought I was going to freeze to death. I cannot even imagine how cold -5 degrees is.
Originally Posted By MPierce If it ever gets to be -5 in the Big Easy we are all going to be in trouble!
Originally Posted By fkurucz <Agreed, MPierce! It was a "frigid" 34 degrees here yesterday and I thought I was going to freeze to death. I cannot even imagine how cold -5 degrees is.>> This got me to thinking about how poorly insulated homes are in the warmer climates. My brother has a brand new house in North Carolina, about the same a size as ours in Colorado. Yet his heating bill is twice as high as ours (both are nat gas). Part of his problem, I think, is that his house is built on a slab, while we have an insulated basement. Another time, during one of our many DL trips to SoCal (this one was in November) we swung by to visit some friends in San Diego. The temp outside was in the mid 50's and their furnace was constantly kicking in, and this was during daytime! When its that balmy out here our furnace takes a nice long nap.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <f it ever gets to be -5 in the Big Easy we are all going to be in trouble! >> No kidding. For one thing, your infrastructure was not designed to handle temperatures that low. Just imagine all the frozen and burst water pipes! For starters every single outdoor water tap would freeze and burst. A lot of the water infrastructure is not buried deep enough and would freeze as well. I also imagine that the typical house is under insulated and under furnaced. I also doubt that NO has anything resembling a snow plow, so your roads would be untransitable. It wouldn't be pretty.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< This got me to thinking about how poorly insulated homes are in the warmer climates. >>> I've wondered about that. I'm sure someone's done a cost/benefit analysis as to what the break-even point would be, if any, for stricter building standards in mild climates as far as energy savings go.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Goofy, you're from Vermont? Driving the other afternoon, it was 8 out, but the sun was blaring down on my car, it felt sooooo good. Didn't even need the heater.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad Goofyernmost.....Once you stay on world, you never go back. You can't get that feeling of total immersion from off world. Enjoy! My parents stayed at POP. It was fine. The best thing is it is so centrally located so it is close to everything ,which means a shorter bus ride.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey We stayed at POP on our last two trips and really enjoyed it. It's a very nice resort for the price.
Originally Posted By sun-n-fun I agree Nikki, the only way we stay off prop is if we have more than 10 days in WDW. Then we'll stay off prop for about 4, spening all day everyday in the parks. Then we'll move on prop, and slow it down, relaxing more in a resort. If we have only a week it has to be on prop - I guess I've been spoiled to that Looking forward to a week at POR in feb. (I'm thinking honeymoon at Dixie Landings 1993)We did take advantage of the special and since there is no way DH can get another day off of work, we are paying for 4 and getting 2 nights free, instead of 3
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 ^^^Now if you can just find someone who will be arriving the day you leave, they can have your free night?
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>Goofy, you're from Vermont?<<< That would be a correct statement. It's a great place in the late spring, summer and fall, but winter is awful. It's not as bad as the mid-west, but bad enough. I have never been a big fan of winter and as I have aged, it has gotten worse. I hate cold air and snow. My hope is to semi-retire in the next couple of years and spend winters in the south and come back up here for the rest of the year. I haven't put it all to paper yet but I will be soon. Why do you ask?
