Cant believe mod was cheaper than value with promo

[nanay2jdr]

I already booked AoA and now found out I save 1300 if I transfer to Port Orleans. Its because of the higher discount of 30% instead of 15%. I guess its worth saving money over visual hotel for 3DD. What do you guys think?

 

[nanay2jdr]

I am not sure if the savings is worth more than the magical experience well have at AoA resort. Its our first trip and kids are ages 3, 11, & 13. Read threads that its not ideal for first trips. Which resort be more easier for transporation since our preschooler and my son with Aspergers are not so good with waiting.

 

[WizardLarz]

1. Stay Port Orleans and Visit AoA. Plus if this is her 1st visit and you Plan to do more in the Future. Doing AoA when she is older and might remember it and apreciate it more will be a better deal. Plus after the New Resort thing wears off, maybe the price will shift to be more in line with the other Values.

2. Do a split stay with just 1 or 2 days at AoA at the End.

 

[nanay2jdr]

Never thought of those options. Those are better options. Is transportion convenience different from the two?

 

[amandals2007]

Never thought of those options. Those are better options. Is transportion convenience different from the two?

this last trip (DEC 2012) my parents and i stayed at POFQ and my aunt uncle and cousins stayed at AoA. We always stay at FQ and love the bussing, smallest resort so never a crazy bus ride and when we do share a bus with Riverside we are first on and first off. My family at AoA hated the busing. Long waits cuz the resort is so huge, and also long walks to and from the bus stop. They stayed in Ariel rooms, and no way could they be any closer. I love FQ and would reccommend it to anyone

 

[Mom2six]

You'll have a great vacation no matter which resort you stay at!

We haven't stayed at POR yet, but we stayed at POFQ and AoA. We enjoyed both resorts. Both have pros and cons. Our favorite thing abotu POR/POFQ is the boat to DTD. At AoA the theming is so over the top and you really feel immersed in the whole Disney feeling there. It was the first resort we stayed at, and we all loved it. To me, it feels more "Disney" then the POFQ or THV did. However, we also loved our stays at the other resorts - for different reasons. You'll have a great time!

POR definitely is a more subtle type of theming, but it is a lovely resort and does have the boat to DTD. There is also a pool slide for your 11 year old.

If you stay at AoA will it be a standard room or a suite? A suite has more space than the a standard room at POR. However, if it is a standard room vs a standard room - POR will be bigger and have queen size beds rather than the double beds in the Little Mermaid rooms at AoA. The suites (we had a Finding Nemo suite) are great because there is a separate bedroom and two bathrooms! That made it so easy to get ready to go, and to have a few minutes of adult time after the kids were sleeping.

It all really depends what you are looking for in the resort. Does the money matter as much as the theming? Is theming or transportation more important? What kind of room do you prefer? Do you prefer a highly themed pool with splash and play area, or a pool slide? Will you go to DTD and do you have boat fanatic (my son is going through a boat phase).

We did AoA for our first Disney resort (we had stayed at SoG first), and loved it! We want to try out other resorts though, which is why we stayed POFQ last December, and plan onn staying at POR next September.

 

[nanay2jdr]

Thanks for the clear comparison. We are now leaning towards POR. Transportation and savings outweighs theming, separate rooms and larger space. Thanks for helping us decide.

 

[nanay2jdr]

Just found a Undercover Tourist Video on Youtube for POR and it seems really nice with great amnenities.

 

[mm1971]

Save the $$ and use it for other special treats. POR is very nice, has a sit down restaurant and the boat to DTD is very convenient. EPCOT is a few minutes away and the theming is very nice. It is not cartoony like AOA or the values, but you can always go visit the others. Bigger beds and double sinks to make getting out in the morning easier. We usually stay at either POR or POFQ. The kids like FQ better.

We are planning a trip back in August and will be staying at PO. Hoping for a room discount or PIN to be offered. Would be OK with free dining, but the discount would be better since we don't eat all the food.

 

[mm1971]

I already booked AoA and now found out I save 1300 if I transfer to Port Orleans. Its because of the higher discount of 30% instead of 15%. I guess its worth saving money over visual hotel for 3DD. What do you guys think?

Did you book a suite at AoA. That could be the difference. If I remember the suite is almost as expensive as a Mod and with the discount structure, that makes sense. I would stay at POFQ. Queen beds, small resort so not too busy, easy buses and bot to DTD. Not even a comparison in our opinion.

 

[bizeemom4]

I hate POR. The transportation is horrible - so many bus stops and the room decor and pool facilities are so boring. I loved AOA! I would switch to a LM room and stay at AOA.

 

[Texas Crude]

If you want more theming, get the royal room at POR

 

[Meekogsd]

mod at 30% off? I thought they were 20%

 

[jpessa]

You're really not comparing apples to apples. You have a Suite in AoA comparing it to a Standard room at POR. Don't get me wrong, I love POR but will be doing a Standard room at AoA this time for the theming for DD3, Ariel is her favorite. A Standard room at AoA will still be cheaper than a Standard room at POR, even with the discount. Difference will be theming, and double beds at AoA vs. queen beds at POR.
As all PPs said, depends on what you want! But if you think POR will save you money, you're not looking at the same options for both hotels.

 

[siskaren]

mod at 30% off? I thought they were 20%

The OP is referencing the spring discount which is no longer available.

 

[bocaj1431]

I am not sure if the savings is worth more than the magical experience well have at AoA resort. Its our first trip and kids are ages 3, 11, & 13. Read threads that its not ideal for first trips. Which resort be more easier for transporation since our preschooler and my son with Aspergers are not so good with waiting.

I highly recommend you rent a car, if possible. I have a son with High Functioning Autism and the best decision I ever made was to rent the car. It is already difficult for them dealing with sensory overload, heat, crowds, waiting in lines for everything in the parks, and their anxiety. Add to that the waits for disney transportation, or trying to get somewhere on time and having to hurry them, can push them in to melt down territory.

Having a rental meant getting places quicker so not rushing. Going directly to location instead of stopping at other locations on the way to disney, as Disney transportation often can have other stops prior to final destination. Being in air conditioning!!! Not having to deal with crowd of people in close proximity on bus. Not having to sit next to a crying child the whole ride back to hotel. (My son can not handle that sound)

Although driving means not being dropped off at gates, there is a tram running constantly in each parking lot. Just hop on and your there in minutes. We actually have fun riding them.

Have a great time.

 

[nanay2jdr]

I highly recommend you rent a car, if possible. I have a son with High Functioning Autism and the best decision I ever made was to rent the car. It is already difficult for them dealing with sensory overload, heat, crowds, waiting in lines for everything in the parks, and their anxiety. Add to that the waits for disney transportation, or trying to get somewhere on time and having to hurry them, can push them in to melt down territory.

Having a rental meant getting places quicker so not rushing. Going directly to location instead of stopping at other locations on the way to disney, as Disney transportation often can have other stops prior to final destination. Being in air conditioning!!! Not having to deal with crowd of people in close proximity on bus. Not having to sit next to a crying child the whole ride back to hotel. (My son can not handle that sound)

Although driving means not being dropped off at gates, there is a tram running constantly in each parking lot. Just hop on and your there in minutes. We actually have fun riding them.

Have a great time.

Thank you for this insight. I will definitely discuss this with DH.

 

[ready4mouse]

I would switch to POR in a heartbeat! It is truly our favorite resort...such a peaceful, tranquil break from the resorts. It's also my kids (7,10,14) hands down favorite place to stay. Saving $1300...that's just fantastic!- especially since you won't really be giving "anything up" staying at such a great resort!

 

[nanay2jdr]

I would switch to POR in a heartbeat! It is truly our favorite resort...such a peaceful, tranquil break from the resorts. It's also my kids (7,10,14) hands down favorite place to stay. Saving $1300...that's just fantastic!- especially since you won't really be giving "anything up" staying at such a great resort!

Thanks for reassuring my decision. Just paid in full last week when we were at 45 days countdown. 39 days to go.

 

[smallblackstars]

When I booked in December we came across something similar. Usually I go with my family (parents + sister and my aunt & uncle) who both have DVC with home resort of the Boardwalk but as my little sister started university my parents and aunt & uncle are now doing a 7 night cruise followed by a 3 week Boardwalk stay every year so I managed to convince my DH to book us our first family holiday. We decided to go for AoA and had it priced up for 2 weeks but when it came to booking they had an offer on which meant we could upgrade our package to POFQ, stay a week longer and we got free dining because we upgraded to a moderate resort and it was costing £200 extra for all of that! When we booked our flights the change in dates made them £400 cheaper than what we had been looking at for the 2 weeks so all in we 'saved' £200. I think if you can commit to a deal there and then when you see it you can actually still get amazing deals (not just Disney)