Two Rooms at POR or AOA Suite?

[2mickeys1minnie]

Ugghh I'm doubting my reservation. We are currently booked 8 nights at AOA in a Cars Family Suite. This will be our first stay at a value. We normally stay DVC or moderate. We are a family of 5 with two teenage boys (15 & 13) and a little girl (9). We are traveling with friends who are staying at Saratoga Springs. Our boys will be meeting up to go the parks together. The price for two rooms at POR is a few hundred more than the suite at AOA. I'm worried there won't be much to do for the boys at AOA even though my DD is so excited to stay there. Would you switch for a few hundred $ more? Help me decide Opinions wanted! TIA

 

[kddisney502]

I'm wondering what you're going to do for the sleeping arrangements in the AoA? The 2 smaller beds are doubles. Is that going to be a problem with 2 of the kids sharing (especially since you have teenagers)? You'd get 4 queens at POR, that might be more comfortable.

 

[TT4Dis]

My party of 11 stayed in 3 Little Mermaid rooms at AoA in March. My only other onsite stay was at CR so I was nervous about value. I loved the Contemporary so much I was very apprehensive about downgrading but we had to go value.

Art of Animation was beautiful and clean and we had a great stay. We didn't use the pool but the 11yr boy in our group spent quite a few hours in the arcade at the resort. We were satisfied with the food court. It was pretty crowded but we were there over spring break. It was also our first experience with Disney buses and, like the food court, it was crowded, but it was spring break and I didn't think the waits were terrible.

The rooms were clean, the beds were comfortable and we would definitely stay at AoA again. I am planning a trip for Sept 2014 and have looked at 2 rooms at POFQ but I am worried that it won't feel Disney enough. My nieces and nephews liked the movie icons outside AoA buildings and I liked the theming. If we can't afford deluxe next year, we will most likely end up at AoA.

 

[2mickeys1minnie]

I'm wondering what you're going to do for the sleeping arrangements in the AoA? The 2 smaller beds are doubles. Is that going to be a problem with 2 of the kids sharing (especially since you have teenagers)? You'd get 4 queens at POR, that might be more comfortable.

You are absolutely right.....we are bringing an air mattress because the boys won't sleep together in a double bed and my little one wants the table bed. This is what has me leaning towards POR. I've stayed there before and the only drawback was the longggg walk to the food court in the am for coffee and back from the buses. We were in a far building.

 

[Hopefully]

You are absolutely right.....we are bringing an air mattress because the boys won't sleep together in a double bed and my little one wants the table bed. This is what has me leaning towards POR. I've stayed there before and the only drawback was the longggg walk to the food court in the am for coffee and back from the buses. We were in a far building.

What about POFQ? Everything is really close and I love the themeing.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

You are absolutely right.....we are bringing an air mattress because the boys won't sleep together in a double bed and my little one wants the table bed. This is what has me leaning towards POR. I've stayed there before and the only drawback was the longggg walk to the food court in the am for coffee and back from the buses. We were in a far building.

Ask for a room close to food court but not preferred in AB if you want to have a shorter distance to everything. We paid for preferred & stayed in buildings 14 & 18 our trips in April. Even some of the mansions are close to everything by the bridge past ole man island at POR.

 

[rosiegmendez]

We've stayed at both resorts on the same trip and we prefer POR.

If you have teens then definitely go POR. My husband and I noted while at AoA that teenagers were looking pretty bored around all the pixar theming. Younger kids LOVE AOA but overall we preferred POR. AOA is definitely a value (and chaotic) and the amenities were very motel like (but with cool pixar theming). POR's amenities were definitely an upgrade.

We stayed in room 1621. Still close enough to food court, pool, bus stop (across the parking lot) but without having to pay the preferred rates. Just request building 16 and hopefully they accomodate.

 

[puakinikini]

We are a family of 6 and I am in the middle of debating the AOA vs POR/POFQ - It is not an easy decision.

One thing I was wondering is whether there is a fridge in the room at POR/POFQ?

 

[alicia080979]

We have stayed at POFQ twice and are staying again in November. It is our favorite resort. We stayed at AOA Lion King Suites last November and while it was something new for us, I am in no rush to stay there again. With teens, I think you will like POR/POFQ much better. We love taking the boat to DTD and your friends at SSR could easily hop on a boat and meet you as well. We found the food at both POR (haven't stayed but have eaten there and used the pools) and POFQ much better than AOA and much less hectic. You will lose the tiny kitchenette but will have 4 sinks, 2 fridges and 4 queen size beds. The teenagers (and everyone else) may also enjoy Yeehaw Bob, the boat & bike rentals, hopping on the boat to use the pools at the other resort, etc. If you stay at POR, like others said, just request a room closer. At POFQ we always request building 2 on the bottom floor but of course everything is a quick walk there.

 

[kddisney502]

We are a family of 6 and I am in the middle of debating the AOA vs POR/POFQ - It is not an easy decision.

One thing I was wondering is whether there is a fridge in the room at POR/POFQ?

Yep there's a fridge at both resorts. In fact all of the resorts have fridges in the rooms.

 

[nkereina]

My choice would be two rooms at POR but I'd be concerned because connecting rooms are not guaranteed. If there are two adults over 18 in your party, Disney can and will split you up if need be. Check the fine print of the reservation if you doubt this.

Have you looked into renting DVC points? You can usually get a villa for at or near moderate pricing. If you have any interest in staying at SSR, you could probably still get in there as its one of the easier resorts to rent points at.

 

[kandb]

I think spending all that money to stay at AOA and then have someone having to sleep on a blow up mattress the whole week is money not well spent. POR is great, request a room close to lobby and the times we requested connecting rooms it was always given to us.

 

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

We are having the same dilemma, and our 3 kids are around those same ages. The only way they can all sleep separate is if we get a family suite at AsMu or maybe a cabin at FW. I'm not really feeling Asmu and have no desire to sleep on a full with dh at FW. I've thought about renting points, but the lack of refund scares me away..choices, choices!

 

[2mickeys1minnie]

My choice would be two rooms at POR but I'd be concerned because connecting rooms are not guaranteed. If there are two adults over 18 in your party, Disney can and will split you up if need be. Check the fine print of the reservation if you doubt this.

Have you looked into renting DVC points? You can usually get a villa for at or near moderate pricing. If you have any interest in staying at SSR, you could probably still get in there as its one of the easier resorts to rent points at.

I did look at renting but from what I've seen it's about $14 pp to rent and that would cost me well over 3k!!. We'd also lose the second bathroom unless I got a 2 br at SSR which would cost even more.

 

[nkereina]

I did look at renting but from what I've seen it's about $14 pp to rent and that would cost me well over 3k!!. We'd also lose the second bathroom unless I got a 2 br at SSR which would cost even more.

The price does vary depending on the season you are traveling. A little over 3K for a family of 5 at a deluxe resort is still a great deal, however. But I do see where it would be a problem losing the 2nd bathroom.