So hard to choose where to stay

[jnoble82]

So I'm planning a trip to World in Dec. 2013. I'm between Art of Animation, Pop Century, and POFQ. Part of my trip crosses over with Pop Warner so I'm not sure how that experience will be at the values but its 500 dollars more for POFQ. I wish I could 3 times and stay at all 3! Any suggestions? Right now I'm leaning heavily towards AoA but if anyone has any advice I'd welcome it.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Without details of your travel style, ages of travelers (or adults kids etc) etc its hard but IMHO, and only in IMYHO ...I would avoid values especially if its during a time you KNOW is heavy with groups...hoards of teems etc etc.....do you like sit down meals and fast food style, do you like lots of options or limited, will you enjoy 1 pool shared by masses or quiet pools or atleast a smaller resort of less people and only one pool...do you like opportunities to travel by boat and bus or just bus ?? Are you all about parks and not to interested in spending time in the resort or even DTD for that matter..
The great thing about Disney is that there ARE so many options...
I think its really important to get a good "fit" with a resort because it can seriously make or break a vacation..
I think that if you let us know about your likes and dislikes you may get better help....wherever you choose, I hope you LOVE it!

 

[jnoble82]

Its likely just me (I just celebrated my 2nd 29th birthday) which is why the 500 dollar difference for POFQ is a bit off-putting. The Pop Warner kids come in near the end of my trip I think (planning Dec. 2nd-10th). I'm likely to be in the parks most of the time. I never got up so early because I wanted to as much as I did when I was at Disney. I was at the parks as much as I could be. We only left early the first day because I had a migraine (from traveling I think). Otherwise, I closed out a park pretty much ever day. I only used the pool once on my last trip and it was for about 10 minutes. Not because it was crowded but I was just tired and it was kind of cool out. DTD...based on my experience this past trip, I would go early in the week and not a Friday night! Yikes! Live and learn I guess! As for food, I don't eat a lot so mostly counter meals though there are a few sit down places I'd love to try. Via Napoli and the Sci-fi dine-in theater are 2 that I'm interested in trying. I haven't gotten a dining plan mostly because I can't justify the cost based on what I know I'll eat (pizza and fries. I don't need a desert or drink with every meal). If free dining pops up, well, no one turns down free food!

Sorry for the lack of info. I get too excited sometimes

 

[ArmyWife3-4]

Like a1tinkfans said, I'd avoid the values too, but that's totally personal preference. I'm not a fan of all the kids and families and craziness of values. POFQ is our favorite resort. We've been staying there since I was a kid, and we love the quite, quaint, fun atmosphere. Being the smallest of the Disney resorts, it's always so much calmer than the other resorts! You're always close to the bus, pool, and food court, and we love having the boat to DTD. I find that the DTD buses are the least reliable so the boat is a lifesaver! I can understand the difficult decision with the price different, but for me, I'd go for it!

 

[Sue M]

I since you're traveling solo, I'd go with where your budget dictates. ESP since you plan on being on the parks from open to close, and you won't be at your resort much, you won't be bothered by the Pop Warner groups except possibly crowded busses. Are they at AoA? Have fun planning.

 

[nkereina]

Keep in mind that in 2013, since Thanksgiving falls so late, Pop Warner will actually be the second full week of December based on historical data (12/7-12/14 presumably). This is what has happened every other year that Thanksgiving has fallen as late as it is 2013.

This year, the resorts are All Stars, CBR and CSR. It's almost always the All Stars, so I think all of your choices are safe. Only one I'd be concerned about is Pop. But, with AoA being new and POFQ being so small, I think either of those are safe bets.

 

[jnoble82]

Thanks everyone! I tried to make time to visit POFQ when I was there a couple weeks ago but I was enjoying the parks too much! I could do POFQ if I stuck to a plan/budget. Are there usually room discounts around those dates (the 35% off)? I know I mentioned dining earlier however I believe the moderates are 1 table and 1 counter and I'm not likely to dine at too many tables so I'd probably just forgo the dining plan. Right now there are no discounts but the people I'm booking through say the will apply any discounts when/if they arise. I'm sure if the kids invade the parks at the later dates I may not want to deal with them on the buses or at the hotel. Thanks again for your thoughts.

 

[JustBusiness]

A great way to save some money, and enjoy a nice resort with Disney atmosphere is Saratoga Springs Resort (SSR).

The cheapest way to get a stay there is to rent points from a DVD member. There is a subforum on this site that allows you to do just that. It's important to find someone that is reputable (look at there posts, and make sure you like what they're saying). Plan to spend about $10/point for far in advance points. So my 3 night SSR Studio stay is 44 points, no taxes, resort fees, etc. Just 44 x $10 for 3 nights = $146/night, and includes Magical Express.

To see how much your desired resort would cost (Boardwalk, Beach Club, Animal Kingdom, Contemporary, Saratoga Springs, and Old Key West all have DVC options). Also, they all have full kitchens, which, as a solo-traveler, might be nice for breakfast/leftovers, etc.

 

[nkereina]

Thanks everyone! I tried to make time to visit POFQ when I was there a couple weeks ago but I was enjoying the parks too much! I could do POFQ if I stuck to a plan/budget. Are there usually room discounts around those dates (the 35% off)? I know I mentioned dining earlier however I believe the moderates are 1 table and 1 counter and I'm not likely to dine at too many tables so I'd probably just forgo the dining plan. Right now there are no discounts but the people I'm booking through say the will apply any discounts when/if they arise. I'm sure if the kids invade the parks at the later dates I may not want to deal with them on the buses or at the hotel. Thanks again for your thoughts.

Pop Warner week is blacked out for discounts. However, there is usually free dining for the week after Thanksgiving. So, if your arrival date is before Pop Warner arrives, you could get that discount for the duration of your stay. But if your arrival date is mid-Pop Warner week, you may be out of luck for discounts.

 

[jnoble82]

Pop Warner week is blacked out for discounts. However, there is usually free dining for the week after Thanksgiving. So, if your arrival date is before Pop Warner arrives, you could get that discount for the duration of your stay. But if your arrival date is mid-Pop Warner week, you may be out of luck for discounts.

That's what I thought. I'm arriving the 2nd which from what I've heard is before Pop Warner but I leave during Pop Warner. I may do free dining even if its table service because than I won't have to pay for food but I'm not sure. Can I use a TS credit for a CS meal? I'd only have to make ONE ADR a day so its not so bad. Do singles have an easier time making those and how easy is walking up to some of the restaurants as a single person? (obviously not during any special shows because I'm sure they will fill up). Honestly, 35% off or free dining will probably end up costing me about the same because with 35% off I'd pay out of pocket for meals so I guess it doesn't matter.

 

[nkereina]

That's what I thought. I'm arriving the 2nd which from what I've heard is before Pop Warner but I leave during Pop Warner. I may do free dining even if its table service because than I won't have to pay for food but I'm not sure. Can I use a TS credit for a CS meal? I'd only have to make ONE ADR a day so its not so bad. Do singles have an easier time making those and how easy is walking up to some of the restaurants as a single person? (obviously not during any special shows because I'm sure they will fill up). Honestly, 35% off or free dining will probably end up costing me about the same because with 35% off I'd pay out of pocket for meals so I guess it doesn't matter.

If you stay at a value resort, the free dining offered is usually the QS plan. If you stay at a mod, it's the regular plan. So if you stay AoA, you'd get QS plan which means you wouldn't have any TS credits at all.

As far as using the TS credit for a QS credit, I think the official answer is no but I know there's been some CMs who can convert credits into QS ones, etc. I don't know the details, though.

If it's free and the only discount offered, you may as well take it. But if a room discount comes out, then you'd be better off taking the room discount because when you do the free dining promo, you are paying full rack rate for the room. You may end up saving more on the room than paying for food, especially if you're not into TS meals. But if free dining is the only discount offered, may as well take it.

I can't speak to how singles do as far as walk ups and ADR availability but I do know that TS restaurants are significantly busier when free dining is offered.

 

[jnoble82]

If you stay at a value resort, the free dining offered is usually the QS plan. If you stay at a mod, it's the regular plan. So if you stay AoA, you'd get QS plan which means you wouldn't have any TS credits at all.

As far as using the TS credit for a QS credit, I think the official answer is no but I know there's been some CMs who can convert credits into QS ones, etc. I don't know the details, though.

If it's free and the only discount offered, you may as well take it. But if a room discount comes out, then you'd be better off taking the room discount because when you do the free dining promo, you are paying full rack rate for the room. You may end up saving more on the room than paying for food, especially if you're not into TS meals. But if free dining is the only discount offered, may as well take it.

I can't speak to how singles do as far as walk ups and ADR availability but I do know that TS restaurants are significantly busier when free dining is offered.

thanks so much for the info! I'll just see what crops up over the next few months. Hopefully by summer discounts are announced and I can see what I'd be saving. I think I'm leaning towards POFQ now honestly (I can never seem to make up my mind!). I was looking at photos and the resort map and it looks amazing! I like how 'quaint' it feels and I've always been fascinated by New Orleans.

I think if I do end up getting a dining plan or its an option, I will contact disney about using TS for CS (if I stay at POFQ). If its free, its not like I'm losing money though honestly we ate 3 times a day the last 2 days of my last trip because we had so many credits (QS. we had 17 credits with 3 days left! clearly the Deluxe plan will never be anything I get ) so I'm not too worried about not having enough to eat.

 

[gwfarell]

Turning 29 twice is a great reason to splurge. And without kids, it's definitely the way to go.

 

[jnoble82]

Turning 29 twice is a great reason to splurge. And without kids, it's definitely the way to go.

It definitely was amazing! I wore a pin that said "Its my 30th". I loved hearing people say "You don't look it!" I highly recommend that if you can do it, celebrate a birthday in Disney. While this next trip will be a month after my birthday, I'm still "treating" myself for my birthday since I will likely not go back for a few years. Maybe. We'll see. I kind of enjoy the break from work!