5 and a little tired of POR

[kidzmom3]

Hi we are 5 and a little tired of POR. But, I like being in a moderate (especially the price). So I am looking for opinions. Have you stayed in a value after only staying in moderate. Did you like it? How was the bus rides (in comparison)? Did the size of the resorts bother you? FW Cabin is about $650 more. Did you like it there? Does it feels less Disney? What about paying for a deluxe? Is it worth the $1000-1500 more? Let me know. Thanks

 

[Buzz2001]

CSR has suites. They are a bit more than two regular rooms but hold 6 people. Just throwing out another mod option.

 

[LoveMyLAP-BAND]

CSR is a great resort and the pool is awesome. Here are some other choices with price comparison. The prices I have listed are the "starts at" price (meaning weekday during value season). Depending on when you travel, the cost may be higher, but at least you can compare here.

FW cabins $255
CSR junior suite $340
Two rooms at CSR $298
ASM suite $184
Two rooms at a value $164 (or $188 for preferrred view)
Contemporary $270

As for the values, I HIGHLY recommend a preferrred view because it is close to the bus stop.

 

[spiceycat]

stayed in all the classes and loved them all.

Loved Pop Century!
Liked the All stars

Pop doesn't share with anyone - so they are faster. The fastest bus service I have had at any of the WDW resorts including the moderates and deluxes. that say it could appear longer - so take a stop watch (on most watches these days) - and time it yourself.

the all stars can share - it is kinda of hard to predict when they will be sharing.

Pop is definitely smaller than POR, Polyn, GF, AK, CSR, CBR - the Pop could easily fit its entire resort (at least for now) in any of these resorts.

the problem is the people - 2,880 rooms vs 847 rooms at the Polyn - in less space.

so at breakfast you will feel crowded and that is the majority problem at any of the value. - too many people in a tight space.

the value resort feels more DIsney to me, especially Pop Century and all star movies.

 

[G8r4evr]

If I had 5, Id go for the ASM Suite =)

 

[coastermom]

We are 5 and just returned from the ASMU family suite. We paid $240 a night for the week we were there from the end of july till the begining of Aug. We were concerned about the all stars because we also were at the POR for a few visits. I must say I was very happy at the ASMU . We had daily entertainment at the pool ,we had no problems with bus sharing the only time we really waited for a bus was leaving MK at night . From all the other parks it was not as crowded as coming back from MK. The food court was pretty good the food was actually reasonable for disney and tastey too . I am picky with my rooms and these rooms were clean , the housekeeping was good and we never had any problems. The only thing we experienced that was slightly annoying was one night I believe it was thursday a large family reunion showed up and there were a lot of teenagers with them they got a little out of control by the pool that night . The lifeguard came right over and told them to knock it off or leave. It was very nice to see the LG do this and it seemed to work they calmed down. That could be my only complaint about the ASMU . We will return to the suites in a few years again next year is a big family wedding and a sweet 16 at the HRH in universal so no MICKEY next year but maybe the year after .
Any questions on the suite just ask i was just there and like I said it is well worth it .

 

[simonkodousek]

If you don't want to spend as much as a deluxe, I highly recommend the ASMu family suites. We had 5 people on our last WDW trip and were cramped in 1 room at the Poly.

 

[tinawv]

We mostly stay in the mods, but on our trip in 2005 we got 2 rooms at Pop Century. We really enjoyed our stay at Pop Century, and having 2 bathrooms and 2 tvs was a big plus. The only amenties I really missed was not having a hot tub, but I managed to survive without one. We spent very little time in our rooms, but even if we did I would have been perfectly happy.

 

[minnie61650]

Just an FYI


For comparison, the price of a Family Suite is $9-11 more then 2 Standard Rooms, or $13-15 less the 2 Preferred Rooms, depending on season.

Also a fridge is included in AS Suite.

Fridges cost $10 a night to rent when staying at a value . Don't forget the Queen size bed,a coffee pot and microwave are also in Family Suites.


DH and I stayed in a Family Suite at All Star Music ( a value resort) last Sept. (2006)

We really enjoyed the Queen size bed, the kitchenette with the microwave, having a sofa and cushioned chair to sit on and relax after a day at the parks before retiring for the evening.

I thought the pullouts very comfortable.

They are designed so the back cushion and seat cushion of the pullout support the pullout. There is no metal bar to hurt the sleepers back.

Info thread--Pullouts in Family Suites at ASMU with photos of how the pullout is supported.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18100990#post18100990

Here is the layout of the Family Suites:

Here is my review of the Suites:

www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=17640774&postcount=7

For more photos and info please see this info thread:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1392879

Have fun at Disney wherever you choose to stay!





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[minnie61650]

Here is a list of differences between the All Stars and Pop resorts.

Pop is newer.
Pop was built in 2003.
All Star Movies was built in 1999.
All Star Sports and Music were built in 1994.

All Star Music is underwent a refurbishment of all of the rooms and was completed in June 2007.


All Star Sports is slated to be refurbished between June and Feb. of 2008.

Pop has a lake. The All Stars do not have a lake.

When staying at the All Stars you use any of the All Stars pools.
The 3 All Stars are within easy walking distance of each other.

The gift shops are separate from the food court at the All Stars.
The gift shop and food court are combined at Pop.

Pop has 2,880 guest rooms. 4 floors in each building.
Each of the All Stars has 1,960 rooms. 3 floors in each building.

Both Pop and the All Star rooms are 260 square feet.

The beds at the All Stars are movable.

the beds at Pop at bolted to the floor.

The far bed at an All Star is closer to wall. And the near bed is not as close to the doorway as it is at Pop

The far bed at Pop is pulled away from the wall more. The near bed is closer to door.
http://allearsnet.com/acc/asmv59.jpg
http://allearsnet.com/acc/popcent56.jpg

For most people that would not make a difference but since I need an ECV
the bed being so near the door at Pop makes it more difficult for me to back my EVC in.

 

[Koda]

We also have a family of 5, and had stayed at POR on 4 previous trips. Last October, we tried 2 connecting rooms at Pop. We had originally booked a Family suite at ASMu, but with the Disney Visa deal, got each room at Pop for about $60/night. (The suites were not discounted). I was a bit nervous, because I had read on these boards that connecting rooms are not guaranteed (even though that is what the CM making your reservation tells you over the phone!). For the savings, we decided to chance it, and luckily we got connecting rooms, no problem.

We loved having 2 bathrooms, and all of the extra space. Especially with 3 pre-teen girls! We really enjoyed Pop Century also. It was a little bright, but DH and I got used to it, and my DDs loved it! As far as the buses, we never waited more that 5-7 minutes for a bus. The night we saw Fantasmic at MGM (7:30 show), we were back in our room at Pop by 8:30. I thought the bus service at Pop was much better than at POR (with 3 internal stops, plus sometimes stopping at FQ as well).

I can't imagine going back to one room (and bathroom) in a moderate again. It was fine while my DDs were younger, and we definitely enjoyed POR. I think everyone in my family liked staying at a different resort on our last trip, though. It made the trip a little more exciting. For our upcoming Oct. 2007 trip, we are staying in 2 rooms at ASMu (still no discounts on the Family suites). We are all excited to check out a new place!

 

[minnie61650]

.... For our upcoming Oct. 2007 trip, we are staying in 2 rooms at ASMu (still no discounts on the Family suites). We are all excited to check out a new place!

Just an FYI

The family suites were discounted with a couple of the codes that came out
recently. So I am hoping they will offer more discounts.

Good luck!

 

[QueenGoblin]

There are more economical choices (as others have pointed out) but if you think you would like the campground atmosphere, the cabins at FW are really nice. There is a bedroom with a full sized bed and bunk beds and then a murphy bed in the living area. There is a full kitchen with appliances and dishes/utensils...so even though it costs a little more to stay there you can make some of that up by preparing some of your own meals. It does take a bit longer to get to and from the parks because you typically have to take the internal FW bus to the park bus stop or the boat launch. But it really does feel woodsy and people like to BBQ in the evenings. The pools are nothing special, but there is a petting zoo, trail rides, wagon rides, campfire programs, outdoor movie showings and you can watch the water parade from the "beach." We were a family of 5 growing up and we always stayed there. We also stayed there in 2005 with my DD and DH and my parents. It is my mom and dad's favorite resort.

 

[minnie61650]

There are more economical choices (as others have pointed out) but if you think you would like the campground atmosphere, the cabins at FW are really nice. There is a bedroom with a full sized bed and bunk beds and then a murphy bed in the living area. There is a full kitchen with appliances and dishes/utensils...so even though it costs a little more to stay there you can make some of that up by preparing some of your own meals. It does take a bit longer to get to and from the parks because you typically have to take the internal FW bus to the park bus stop or the boat launch. But it really does feel woodsy and people like to BBQ in the evenings. The pools are nothing special, but there is a petting zoo, trail rides, wagon rides, campfire programs, outdoor movie showings and you can watch the water parade from the "beach." We were a family of 5 growing up and we always stayed there. We also stayed there in 2005 with my DD and DH and my parents. It is my mom and dad's favorite resort.

Just an FYI
The petting zoo is closed.
They still had the pony rides in 2005.

 

[kidzmom3]

thanks everyone. I guess I am just nervous about the unknown. We have some more time to think about it. . . . all your info and opinions really helps. Sometimes it seems like if you are more than 4 people your options are less, but look at all the diff combos people have done.