Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.
Now maybe you were like, “Where is Kristen B with her money reports? Is she not going to Disney anymore? All she posts about these days is lettuce.”
And while it is true that I have a high lettuce content in many of my posts, the rest of it is malarky! I am still going to Disney and thus, still saving for Disney.
With the exception of the Teacup, my family’s birthdays all fall within two weeks of each other. So every summer we have Birthday Season! And Birthday Season consumes us all, for eight weeks. As we approach the final birthday of Birthday Season (the Frying Pan), I can finally raise my head above water and be like, “Oh, yeah, money, go in this account.”
So that’s where I’ve been. Why does wrapping presents seem to take longer the older they get?
Now let’s talk about my Disney Trip. Are you sick of debating hotels with me? No? Then have I got a post for you!
It is looking like we are definitely moving dates to June. There are a million reasons but the biggest one right now is that I think we’re going to try and do a longer trip. Like many of you, we are feeling the rumpus fatigue hard. We haven’t been on a vacation since, I don’t know, before the baby was born? We were supposed to be in Atlanta for Spring Break 2019 and then my Grandma passed away and plans got diverted so I could attend the funeral. We were supposed to be in New York for Spring Break 2020, but then the rumpus happened. We don’t get to do a lot of winter trips because of Mr. B’s job. So actually sitting down and doing the math, it has been years.
And because it has been LITERAL years, we’re going to add an extra night. I know, I know, we’re living on the edge. So we rebels are thinking we want to do seven nights: four park days, two travel days, and two pool days. Now a few posts ago I was like, “I don’t know if we can do the Summer AND stay at Beach and or Yacht Club.” Because prices are high for Beach and or Yacht in the summer. Duh. They have that amaaaaazing pool.
And you all were like, “Beach and or Yacht is your dream! Don’t give up!” But was Beach and or Yacht really my dream? If it were just about me, I wanted to do the Grand Floridian. That’s my dream. But we have a little fish who only wants to swim all day and the pool seemed less than exciting at the Grand Floridian. The kids splash zone looks terrific, but the slide seems tame? Btw, feel free to tell me I’m wrong in the comments. I would love to hear how the pools at Grand Floridian are next level.
So I adjusted my dream: I just want a deluxe. Because this is the last time we’ll have the Teacup get in free and the Glass Slipper will be under 9. And we went Yacht and or Beach because we had heard about the pool. The pool with the lazy river and the slides and the sanded bottoms. People go crazy about this pool.
Except that then the opinions started to trickle in that the pool at Yacht and or Beach might not be for us. The slides are very far away from rest of the pool complex. The lazy river was very deep, especially for younger kids. Families where kids outnumber adults or with little little ones might have a difficult time navigating what is essentially a mini water park. So now we’re really torn. We’re spending that money for the pool and if the pool doesn’t fly, what will become of us? Btw, feel free to tell me I’m wrong in the comments. I would love to hear if the pools at Yacht and or Beach are fantastic for pre-schoolers and a family where kids outnumber the parents.
Now that we’re rocking those summer days, Grand Floridian is definitely off the table, on account of the $700 a night price tag. (Unless, of course one, of you wants to bankroll me. I’m a terrible investment but I’m fun at parties!) Which leads us to…Wilderness Lodge? It’s a deluxe. It’s close to the Magic Kingdom. How are the pools? Crowded? How is the slide? Impressive? Meh? It’s about $100 less a night than Yachts & Beaches, so that’s nice. I briefly flirted with the idea of Polynesian…at $75 more a night it is a stretch. But is it a stretch that’s dream level worth it? Gimme all your knowledge about the Pools at the Poly. I’m always open to a new dream.
2021 Family Trip
Goal: $8000
After Last Deposit: $5858.12
Total Deposit: $325.55
$300, Assorted Birthday Monies
$20, Amazon Giftcard from Beta App Testing
$5.55, Rakuten Paypal Deposit
Still Need: $5532.57
Ok, shoot it to me straight: Yacht and or Beach, the Polynesian, or Wilderness Lodge? Or, should I just scrap it all and save myself some money and stay at my beloved Coronado Springs? Let me know down below!
Kristen B. is wife to the best Prince around, mama to the spunkiest little princesses, and lover of all things Disney. She started her savings journey five years ago and is now dedicated to making her family’s wishes come true one coupon at a time. She is so excited to take her love of saving to the next level and share her journey with you! Click here to catch up on Kristen’s Savings and join in on your own savings adventure!
Tanya says
Done both Beach and Poly. Like both pools equally. I prefer Poly because it’s on the monorail loop. Done Coronado but not the pool. Our favorite pool is at POR.
Jessica says
I have a 3 and 6 yo who loved the pool at the beach club.. if you count sitting on a sand bank and scooping sand the into the water “the pool”. I just sat in the shallow water while watching them. The slide was crazy far. At the poly everything is so my closer and not crowded that I was fine sitting in the close end of the pool and letting them go on the splash pad and slide by themselves