Should we change to FW Cabins?

[1mama2three]

We're planning on visiting WDW from Jan. 18-27, and we currently have a reservation for POR booked (1 room). There are 6 of us (2 adults, 4 kids- 1 in a crib). When crunching the numbers, it looks like to stay in the FW cabins would cost us about $900 more ($1300 vs. $2200).

I know POR has a boat to DTD and FW has a boat to MK. Both are large resorts...meaning lots of walking. We will be using a double stoller for the 2 little ones, and the older ones are 7 and 5. We'll have our own vehicle, and we're willing to drive to the parks if need be, but we prefer using Disney transportation.

Anyway is the extra money worth spending? I can't decide. We've never stayed at either place so any thoughts would be MUCH appreciated.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

I'm pretty sure maximum capacity, per fire code, for POR is 5, even if 1 is a baby in the crib. It is based on square footage, not where everyone is sleeping.

Tom

 

[MMS1125]

I would change personally. That's really crowded for POR plus there's no separate space if the little ones are asleep for everybody else to hang out.

I'd also consider AoA suite for the price. It should be cheaper than the cabin but more $$ than POR. Plus you get a separate sleeping area and 2 bathrooms

 

[MMS1125]

I'm pretty sure maximum capacity, per fire code, for POR is 5, even if 1 is a baby in the crib. It is based on square footage, not where everyone is sleeping.

Tom

it's 5 + infant. They base it on width of hallways and such along with room sizes I think. They count on the infant being carried so not essentially taking up space during an evacuation

 

[1mama2three]

I would change personally. That's really crowded for POR plus there's no separate space if the little ones are asleep for everybody else to hang out.

I'd also consider AoA suite for the price. It should be cheaper than the cabin but more $$ than POR. Plus you get a separate sleeping area and 2 bathrooms

I hadn't thought of the AOA suites. I'll look into that. Thanks for the input, and for clarifying the maximum occ. on POR. I was about 98% sure it was 5+ an infant, but it never hurts to be reassured.

 

[1mama2three]

Well, quoting it with the room-only offer, the AOA suites are $100 more (total for the trip) than the FW cabins. The cabins would be $2200 for the stay, and the AOA suite would be $2300. Decisions, decisions...

 

[Marthasor]

I would change personally. That's really crowded for POR plus there's no separate space if the little ones are asleep for everybody else to hang out.

I'd also consider AoA suite for the price. It should be cheaper than the cabin but more $$ than POR. Plus you get a separate sleeping area and 2 bathrooms

I have to agree with the AoA suite suggestion. I have never stayed at FW cabins, but I have heard, unless you are in a specific section, you really need a golf cart to get around the resort. The cart will add to your expenses and I don't now if you will fit your whole family in one.

At AoA you will only have bus transportation, but I found it to be very good. You will also have close access to great pools, the food court, transportation from any of the suite sections. Looks like, with the winter room-only offer you could get a suite for $2379 for your stay.

 

[ann0d1]

We LOVE the cabins. You don't neccessarily need a golf cart, but it does come in handy. Our cabin last time was very close to a bus stop, so you could request that. We don't ever want to stay anywhere where else. It is really an awesome experience!

 

[1mama2three]

We LOVE the cabins. You don't neccessarily need a golf cart, but it does come in handy. Our cabin last time was very close to a bus stop, so you could request that. We don't ever want to stay anywhere where else. It is really an awesome experience!

Did you find that there was a LONG wait time to take a boat to the MK?

 

[ann0d1]

We took the boat twice and there was no longer than a 20 minute wait one time from WDW back to the fort. It is all in timing, with how long you have to wait. They run them constantly, a couple of times we got there and didn't even have to wait. Just luck.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

I love the cabins! The bedroom has a double bed, set of bunks & tv. The living area has a double murphy bed, tv and full kitchen. We enjoyed using the deck and grill. You can park your car right in the driveway, outside your cabin. You don't need a golfcart, (even though they are fun) request a cabin close to bus stop. We never waited very long for the boat to MK. I find the cabins very relaxing after a busy day in the parks.

 

[1mama2three]

I love the cabins! The bedroom has a double bed, set of bunks & tv. The living area has a double murphy bed, tv and full kitchen. We enjoyed using the deck and grill. You can park your car right in the driveway, outside your cabin. You don't need a golfcart, (even though they are fun) request a cabin close to bus stop. We never waited very long for the boat to MK. I find the cabins very relaxing after a busy day in the parks.

Would you say that two average-sized adults could share the double murphy bed or should each of us plan on splitting a bed with a kid?

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

Would you say that two average-sized adults could share the double murphy bed or should each of us plan on splitting a bed with a kid?

Its the same size as a regular double bed. Just pulls down out of the wall.

 

[maxiesmom]

Have you thought about staying in a Family Suite at the All Star Music? I looks to cost about the same as a Fort Wilderness Cabin.

You would get a second space to relax in if someone needed a nap. You would be close to the main building and bus stop, as all Family Suites are in the preferred buildings at ASMu. You would get a queen sized bed for you and your hubby in a bedroom with a door, and you would get a second full bathroom.

I did the legal 6 thing at POR and as much as I love POR, I wouldn't do it again. It was just too tight in that room for that many people, plus having only one bathroom was not fun either. I would go with a Family Suite over 6 in a room at POR any time!

 

[1mama2three]

Have you thought about staying in a Family Suite at the All Star Music? I looks to cost about the same as a Fort Wilderness Cabin.

You would get a second space to relax in if someone needed a nap. You would be close to the main building and bus stop, as all Family Suites are in the preferred buildings at ASMu. You would get a queen sized bed for you and your hubby in a bedroom with a door, and you would get a second full bathroom.

I did the legal 6 thing at POR and as much as I love POR, I wouldn't do it again. It was just too tight in that room for that many people, plus having only one bathroom was not fun either. I would go with a Family Suite over 6 in a room at POR any time!

Yeah, feeling like this is what I'm worried about. It would mean lights out for EVERYONE the minute we get back to the resort, and sometimes DH and I like to chat for a little bit once we get the kids to bed.

I had considered the All-Star Family Suites, but I thought the Cabins might be a nice change since we've only really stayed at POP. Plus, we wouldn't have to make the special trip over for the Campfire. Nonetheless, I'm going to have a chat with DH tonight and bring up some of these thoughts/suggestions.

 

[MMS1125]

I'm surprised the cabins are cheaper than AoA. I guess the bigger discount for the moderate is making up the difference than a smaller one at a value.

What are you doing for food and tickets?

 

[MMS1125]

All Star Music Suite is a bit cheaper it's 1765 for your dates. That gives parents a bedroom with a queen bed and bathroom. Then in the living room there's a double pull out sofa, a twin pull out chair, and a jr size pull out ottoman and a second bathroom. With a pack n play everybody will have their own sleeping area so that would be nice.

The benefit of the cabin over a suite is you get a full kitchen. You lose a bathroom though so pick whichever is more important to your family. For the price difference in the ASMu suite and POR though I'd def go with ASMu. Up to you and your dh to decide of the extra difference for the cabin is beneficial for your family

have a great trip no matter where you stay

 

[1mama2three]

I'm surprised the cabins are cheaper than AoA. I guess the bigger discount for the moderate is making up the difference than a smaller one at a value.

What are you doing for food and tickets?

The last two trips we've had the dining plan, and I think we're kind of "dined out." If we got free dining, I wouldn't complain, but it felt like on those previous trips we spent more time rushing around to make ADRs and eating. We're going to try something different this time. Our first trip to Disney with the family, we ate off-site a few times and ordered in some pizza and then suplemented with CS meals. That worked well and I think we spent less time eating doing it that way. So, we originally planned to eat off-site and do mostly CS (with maybe 1-2 character breakfasts). But, you bring up a good point about having a full kitchen.

 

[MMS1125]

We've done ddp and oop for food before and really it just depends on your eating style. I agree about the rushing to ADRs and stuff it can get annoying especially with little kids. My kids are older and we enjoy a sit down dinner each night so the plan works for us but I can definitely see how it doesn't work for some people.

 

[LisaTC]

I'd say FW if you can swing the $$. I love going over there to HDDR. We have a car as well, but always take the bus to MK and then boat to FW. Having that access to MK and the monorail is really handy, if you ask me. We left POR on the bus to MK, took the boat to FW and were there in 30 minutes. Granted that was probably optimal, but still even our return boat to bus back was really efficient.

Now, at the values, if they offer FD, it is counter service, which may work better for your family since the sit downs were cumbersome time-wise for you. The suite at ASMu does look like it would be nice; but, if you don't get FD, then having the kitchen at the cabins would be so handy, so I still lean toward that way, I guess. I'd like to stay there and we only have DD and thought POR got crowded! LOL