[CaraMia]

We are considering another visit to WDW. H and I have seasonal tickets that expired so we have to get tickets for us. DS's seasonal pass does not expire until November.

We are thinking of going for 3 nights....4 days...

First decision...best time to go? If we go before August 15th we will need to buy tickets for the three of us. The play 3 hopper passes will run us $438.79 (after the tax is added on). If we wait and go August 15th..we will buy new seasonal passes for h and I...that will be $469.50. So we are basically spending the same amount on tickets whether we go before Aug 15th or after .. although if we go after Aug 15th then obviously we wont need to buy tickets for trips between the fall of this year and summer of next year. Is there really a big difference in crowds between mid July and mid August?

Second decision....resort? We have about 2k set aside for vacation. We were going to go to Tennessee but that fell through. So we are trying to decide if we want to stay at the Poly that we normally cant afford to stay in, or should we stay at the POR as we always do and spend alot less (we wanted POFQ but they are sold out as of now) ? It is so ridiculous to me to spend over $400 a night... we also are considering Yacht Club (beach club was not available) and WL. We have stayed at AKL twice and although it is less than the others we are wanting to try a new resort.

So what would you pick??? I also want to mention that we would arrive on the 14th...the tickets arent good until the 15th so we would go poolside and do other things the first day. So a good pool is important this trip. No idea how the pool is at WL. Poly looks great...

Cant wait to hear your recommendations...

[Daisee]

1st decision.. wait and buy seasonal pass so you can use it again.

2nd decision... I would go with the least expensive resort from the ones you listed.. using the saved money toward food, or whatever else you may want while there.

WL pool is nice. They do have a slide. Poly's pool looks better to me though.

[mickeysgirlz]

I agree!

Get the passes . . . so you can go AGAIN!

Go with the mod resorts . . . they are really nice and then you can use the money you saved for a nice dinner out or a little splurge on something!

We stayed at CSR and the kids loved the pool and the slide . . . just ask to be put with the non convention guests . . . altho, I've stayed twice, and never had a problem. The grounds are great too, for a stroll!

[Monique]

I would definitely buy the season passes. It just gives you extra incentive to plan yet another trip to WDW!

As for the resort, I've always wanted to stay at the Polynesian but I haven't been able to convince myself to spend that kind of money quite yet. Like they've said above, go with the moderate and then use the extra money for either nice meals or souvenirs.

[gemdisney]

We were thinking about seasonal passes but we wont go again until they expire so we're stuck in the same place. What to do!?!?!?! If I thought there was a chance we would be going back again in that time, I would totally go with the season passes! But we live too far away & DH wont fly so with gas prices and money tight, I doubt it will happen for us. So my help, I guess, is what is hoestly best for you, only you can tell.
I have always wanted to stay at the Poly and WL too but I think I would choose the Poly first. Only b/c I know for sure when I have $ available I will buy VWL points and have it as 1 of my home resorts. Plus remember you can pool hop all except B&YC. But if your at Poly you have the monorail to hop to 2 other resort, knowing that ride isn't long, I stick with my Poly advise!
Hope the best for you!

[tonyksl]

Schools start locally the same time the seasonal passes become valid again. The crowds change quite a bit because of that. Basically, nobody from Florida with kids in school will be there.

[Soundgod]

As Tony says, Florida schools are pretty much heading back into session in mid August, although, if you've traveled around and gone to any of the other chains' parks (Six Flags, Cedar Fair) that they all cease 7 day operation in mid August and cut back to 3 day weekends (Friday, Saturday, Sunday).
This is a very good indication that parks everywhere see drops in guest numbers because schools are all going back into session and it seems the national trend is to start before Labor Day instead of waiting until the first week in September to begin their new year.
So yes, there are less visitors to WDW in mid August and the weather is equally hot and humid in either month.
We have full blown annual passes because we don't (I don't) like blackout periods. Blackout periods can make things a little harder to work around, as you can see.
Of course, you have to be able to justify the extra amount with extra days in WDW, and I'm beginning to wonder how much less I'll go as gas creeps up towards $5. Once it hit $3.50, I started cutting back.

[tonyksl]

That's another good point. As a seasonal passholder, the reason I get them is because I won't go when there is a crowd. So, the blackout days don't bother me at all. The travel expenses for me last month, at nearly $4 a gallon, was still only $60 total for a family of four to drive there and back, so, fuel hasn't played into our decision as much as it might affect others.

[Dana]

question #1 - go after the 15th and get the new passes...I hate wasting money.

question #2 - stay at a place you normally would....spend the money on something you have never done.

[bribren]

Im just the opposite on spending. Id do Poly or Yacht. I finally did beach club after hemming and hawing for years, always saying how Id love to stay here. It was worth the extra cash for the experience. As it is only 3 nights, why not? If it were 14 nights I could see the problem. I did a 4 night Dixie/3 night Poly and when we transfered to the Poly we really noticed the difference. Go for it!