Resort Selection - DVC/Deluxe Family goes....Mod? Value? Help!

[LiloH]

I need some help from the experts! Me and my Disney loving family (DH, DS5, DD3) are taking a last minute trip to The World in October. We are DVC members and often stay in villa accommodations. When we opt to pay cash instead we will stay somewhere like the Poly or GF.

Since this trip wasn't really planned for, I'd like to try and keep costs down. We have annual passes and SW points to cover tickets and flights so our only real out of pocket costs are meals and lodging.

A few days ago I booked a standard view room at AKL (using the 30% off rate) for the four nights but find myself wondering if we could be just as happy in a moderate or value resort and save ourselves several hundred dollars. I looked into Pop, Arts of Animation, Coronado and the Port Orleans resorts but am not really sure which would be best for our needs and find a ton of conflicting information on the web.

Based on our requirements (see below) what resort do you think would be best for us? Any help/suggestions/insights would be very helpful and appreciated!

- My kids really love pools- especially elaborate ones. DS loves water slides in particular.
- DH and I would like to be able to sleep in the same bed and the kids won't sleep together. We could try DD in a crib but it's a gamble as to whether or not she will accept that scenario and insist on being in a bed.
- We don't mind walking a bit to get to stuff - in fact, we love to walk on our vacations!
- We will spend most of our time in MK with DHS being second. Limited or no time in Epcot or AK.
- We can't rent DVC points as no resorts have availability for our dates.
- We were not planning on renting a car, but don't mind bus rides. Buses that are less crowded and stop less frequently as definitely preferred.

Thanks in advance Disney resort experts!!

 

[jimandami]

If your son really likes slides, I wouldn't do a value because they don't have them. We are a deluxe/DVC family as well, but have been happy with stays at both CSR and POFQ, you just have to know what to expect (outside walkways, larger/spread out resorts). The problem, as I see it, is your bed situation. Even with your AKL room, you don't have 3 beds (unless you booked bunk beds?). The only moderate with a chance for an extra bed is POR, and you would have to request Alligator Bayou, but it isn't guaranteed. Having said that, I do think POR is a good choice for you, if you are willing to accept that you might only have 2 queens.

ETA: I think I was incorrect before...if you book a preferred room at POR, you will be in AB and this have a Murphy bed.

 

[brat4278]

I love AK resort, def one of my faves. But aside from the amazing views and great architecture, it's sooooooo far from everything. The 30 minute bus ride everywhere really wore us down last time we stayed there. Same problem with coronado springs as it is almost all the way out by the value resorts.
Personally, I love Port Orleans, and when i have to come out of pocket, it is my #1 choice by far. There are a ton of activities for the kids (even more so than are at some of the deluxe resort) and the atmosphere is a little more relaxed. Plus, you aren't stuck with a bus if you are going to DTD, you can take a boat, which is a more fun means of getting around.
Stay riverside if you can but def check out french quarter. Not sure about french quarter, but i know for a fact the pool at riverside has a slide!
Just my 2 pennies! Have fun!

 

[jimandami]

I love AK resort, def one of my faves. But aside from the amazing views and great architecture, it's sooooooo far from everything. The 30 minute bus ride everywhere really wore us down last time we stayed there. Same problem with coronado springs as it is almost all the way out by the value resorts.
Personally, I love Port Orleans, and when i have to come out of pocket, it is my #1 choice by far. There are a ton of activities for the kids (even more so than are at some of the deluxe resort) and the atmosphere is a little more relaxed. Plus, you aren't stuck with a bus if you are going to DTD, you can take a boat, which is a more fun means of getting around.
Stay riverside if you can but def check out french quarter. Not sure about french quarter, but i know for a fact the pool at riverside has a slide!
Just my 2 pennies! Have fun!

The pool at FQ has a very cool water slide!

 

[Shaden]

I'd say go with either CSR which has possibly the best pool IMO at all of WDW ... But, you would only have 2 queens.

The other option is POR where you will get 2 queens and a pull down murphy bed ... which from what I have read, its good for people even up to 5 feet and over, and kids apparently love, have even fought over

POR is VERY nice as well, has a cool pool, lots of quiet pools, and a slide !

We love the look of the Deluxes, but have very much enjoyed our stay at Mods, and just can't justify the difference in prices between them. We LOVE our time at the mods, so why pay more ?

That being said, as long as FP+ works out ... we are planning on buying DVC as well

 

[LiloH]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! It sounds like our best bet is to go Port Orleans-Riverside. I did some pricing out on that quickly and had a couple of questions.

1. Is there any sort of room type that more likely would result in us getting a room that has the pull-down bed thing? Or, a request that I could do at check-in time?
2. It looks like the price difference between POR and AKL for our dates is only $253. (AKL is discounted and POR is not.) Does that difference in price make it worth it to switch to the moderate or would you stay at AKL instead?

 

[jimandami]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! It sounds like our best bet is to go Port Orleans-Riverside. I did some pricing out on that quickly and had a couple of questions.

1. Is there any sort of room type that more likely would result in us getting a room that has the pull-down bed thing? Or, a request that I could do at check-in time?
2. It looks like the price difference between POR and AKL for our dates is only $253. (AKL is discounted and POR is not.) Does that difference in price make it worth it to switch to the moderate or would you stay at AKL instead?

I think it really depends on the how you feel about the bed situation. I have stayed at both resorts and really enjoyed them both, but truthfully, AKL is a much nicer resort, IMHO and yes, for that price I would do AKL (if you can be happy with just 2 beds). As far as the first question, I think you have to book a preferred room for it to be guaranteed (only rooms in Alligator Bayou have the pull down), but you can also just request it on your reservation and hope for the best.

 

[Traceylee]

For that difference in price, I would stay at AKL. It's such a great place. My kids love the pool. And walking around the resort viewing the animals is a bonus.

I love it there.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[elaw]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! It sounds like our best bet is to go Port Orleans-Riverside. I did some pricing out on that quickly and had a couple of questions.

1. Is there any sort of room type that more likely would result in us getting a room that has the pull-down bed thing? Or, a request that I could do at check-in time?
2. It looks like the price difference between POR and AKL for our dates is only $253. (AKL is discounted and POR is not.) Does that difference in price make it worth it to switch to the moderate or would you stay at AKL instead?

Although POR is our favorite Mod, I'd go for AKL if difference is only $253.

 

[spiceycat]

might call again and make sure they did not include any extra in POR.

POFQ is the only moderate that I know of that does NOT include the discounts.

POR generally does

 

[JVig]

What if you went with AKL and brought an air mattress?

 

[LiloH]

You guys are fueling my deluxe bias by reinforcing my feeling that for $253 AKL is a better deal!

I am leaning towards sticking with that for now and re-evaluating if/when the AP discounts for October come out. If I can edge the price of POR lower I may go that route. Or, if I can get guaranteed bunk beds at AKL I think I will definitely be sold!

 

[Shaden]

You guys are fueling my deluxe bias by reinforcing my feeling that for $253 AKL is a better deal!

I am leaning towards sticking with that for now and re-evaluating if/when the AP discounts for October come out. If I can edge the price of POR lower I may go that route. Or, if I can get guaranteed bunk beds at AKL I think I will definitely be sold!

I would hope that POR would get AP discount, 25 or 30% off room, which would be a nice savings.

If you request, or book via preferred room, Alligator Bayou rooms, you will get one with a fold down bed. There are significantly more AB rooms then Mansions room, so if you request, I would suggest you will get that request granted.

 

[shana398]

What about Wilderness Lodge? Can you get the 30 percent off there? If so, they have bunk bed rooms AND you are just a boat ride away from MK. They have a good pool too.

 

[LiloH]

What about Wilderness Lodge? Can you get the 30 percent off there? If so, they have bunk bed rooms AND you are just a boat ride away from MK. They have a good pool too.

WL was my original first choice but there were no discounted rooms left for our dates. I love the pool and general ambiance there. I always feel like I'm in a totally different place when I head back to the resort. It's lovely.