A few questions about AllStar, POR/POFQ, and Split stays

[parkbr]

Hi,

We are finally going back to WDW - but this time, with my FIL and MIL.
It's their first time staying on site and we've been only been to CBR.

On the days that we're arriving, I see some availabilities for AllStar Sports, AllStar Music, and POR and POFQ. (we're on a budget).
We have 6-day park pass + water park and other, and we will be staying for 12 nights (last day, we have to leave at 8AM). So I think 9 days will be heavily park & water park focused.

Which one do you recommend? The price difference is about $100 a night btw value and moderate, and we need 2 rooms, so that will be $200 / night. Since we spend all day at the park when we do the park days, I am okay staying in Value, but not sure if in-laws wants to come back and rest during the day. If they do, would AllStar too far for this? Or should I book POFQ or POR?

And if POFQ or POR, which one is preferred - with 8 year old girl and in-laws (in their early 60's, but FIL needs a cane from time to time.)?

I hear the AllStar Music is renovated - is that a recent renovation?

We really want to do POP century or CBR because of the Skyliner (my daughter can be on this all day long!) but there is no availability currently.

Also, if we do split stay, do they still move our luggage btw the resorts?

Any other advice will be really helpful!
Thank you.

 

[browneyedgirl1683]

I really liked POFQ. The resort is so compact, so it's easy to walk around. The pool is large enough to be exciting but not so huge that I was worried about chasing after my 7.5 year old, and the grounds are so pleasant. POFQ also has elevators in their buildings, so you don't have to worry about stairs all the time. POR is also lovely, and has a fantastic pool and playground, but it's a huge property. If it was between the two, I would go POFQ.

Also POFQ has beignets.

What's great about the POR resorts is that you can use both properties. I overheard families doing resort days where they explored one resort in the morning, and then the other in the late afternoon. I think you can take the Sassagoula boats to and from both, in addition to Disney Springs.

 

[Sunshine11]

I would choose FQ if it's in the budget. Nice small footprint, plus you can use the amenities at Riverside and a great boat to Disney Springs. Oh and one bus stop.

 

[midwestdee]

I believe POR only has an elevator in one of their buildings. POFQ has elevators in all buildings. This would be a big consideration for your in-laws. It’s too bad Pop Century isn’t showing availability- we stayed there in 2019 with our DD family - preferred room near main building.

 

[Disneylover99]

If you can swing the price difference, I think POFQ is the way to go, and you don’t need to worry about paying more for pool or river view. Standard rooms are great.

 

[Miffy]

Another vote for POFQ here. If you can afford it, I think this is by far the best choice of all the resorts you've listed.

POFQ is quiet, not spread out (like POR is), has a good QS restaurant, shares bus service with POR only sometimes and never early in the day, has elevators in all the buildings, and has a terrific pool and splash pad area.

The All Stars can be incredibly noisy--both from the grounds and in room-to-room noise. The walls there are paper-thin. Pop can be chaotic.

As a bonus, there's a boat that goes from POFQ to DS.

 

[riversend22]

Add me to the group that says POFQ. I haven't stayed there, (have stayed at POR), but with your group, I think the small footprint that POFQ offers would be perfect for your in-laws. I also love that you can easily use the amenities of POR and explore that resort if you desire. Both are beautiful properties! Having a short and scenic boat ride to DS also makes this group of resorts a win for me.

 

[sponica]

I think POFQ/POR even though they are exclusively bus to the parks are actually in a decent location for this. Animal Kingdom Lodge might be the longest haul, but I don't think it's insanely long.

I'd give the hedge to POFQ due to its small footprint. I've stayed in both, and while I prefer the Bayou rooms in Riverside, I would not rule out another POFQ stay. My 20 month old walked the entire way from the bus stop to our room, the rooms were that close.

 

[Eastern]

Since you are going for 12 days, I would consider a split stay to save money. Do AllStar first half and POFQ the second. Even though you are park-focused, by the second half you will be tired and may want to spend more time exploring the resort grounds. You would save $1200 and get to try out 2 resorts.

Disney will move your luggage but we usually call for a Lyft and have them move us. If there is a lot of luggage just send 1 or 2 people in the Lyft and meet the others at the park. If your room isn't ready at the new resort, at least you know you can go to bell services and find it; it is not en route somewhere.

 

[parkbr]

Thank you all for your responses.
We have decided to do split stays - but actually more split stays than we wanted, as we really want to stay at POP and ASMo and they both had odd availabilities which divides us to 4 split stays - ASSp - PoP - POFQ - ASMo. I think it's too much, but hopefully it works!

 

[browneyedgirl1683]

I think that's an awesome trip! I'm crazy and love packing and planning. I would buy packing cubes and designate one for each hotel, and pack toothbrushes and other multiuse items in a day bag.

It's normal to visit different parks on a trip, so why not different hotels?

 

[parkbr]

I think that's an awesome trip! I'm crazy and love packing and planning. I would buy packing cubes and designate one for each hotel, and pack toothbrushes and other multiuse items in a day bag.

It's normal to visit different parks on a trip, so why not different hotels?

Thank you!
BTW, what is a day bag?

 

[RNRMOM]

Thank you all for your responses.
We have decided to do split stays - but actually more split stays than we wanted, as we really want to stay at POP and ASMo and they both had odd availabilities which divides us to 4 split stays - ASSp - PoP - POFQ - ASMo. I think it's too much, but hopefully it works!

I really do hope that in the end you're able to find those Pop/CBR nights! I know how disappointing it is when you have your heart set on one resort (I have never been able to book a stay at Bay Lake Tower) and it just doesn't work out.

Just keep checking and playing around with the nights and I'm sure something will pop up (pun intended). I like split stays for long trips and I think all of the resorts you listed are fine, especially when you have different travel parties with different budgets. I think I'm the only weirdo who really liked All Star Sports and the management team over there was amazing (this was 5 years ago so I don't know if it's changed much but they were all very nice).

Riverside was fine but very spread out like all of the moderates. If I had to choose between a moderate and value I would just save the extra money and go value or go big and stay deluxe, but that's just how I convince myself it's worth the extra Disney dollars.

 

[browneyedgirl1683]

Thank you!
BTW, what is a day bag?

Oh just a bag we schlep and check that we keep things like medication so we don't have to dig through a suitcase.