AoA LM or Disney's Carribbean Beach Resort?

[Sunlover317]

With the 20% VISA discount, we can stay at Carribbean Beach resort for $1269 and a LM standard room for $1221. I have a 5 year old boy who is thrilled with the theming of AoA so we have it booked with no discount since LM room isn't included in the offer.

What would you do if you have stayed at one or both? I have never stayed onsite. I'm interested in quick bus service, nice rooms with a nice pool, and something that my 5 yo boy would feel excited about.

And one last question.. if you do stay away from AoA, can you tour the grounds?

 

[jcarwash]

I think you will have a similar experience at both. Caribbean is a moderate but still has double beds, just as LM does. Other moderate resorts now have rooms with two queen beds instead of two doubles.

The discount does make CBR a good deal, since the price difference is now incremental and you'd be able to stay at a resort with a higher price point. But AoA is brand new and it's really well done.

The room size at CBR is larger, but if it's a party of three (?) then you'll be fine in the smaller LM rooms I think.

At AoA the pools are really nice and a 5 year old will love them. They don't have extra water features like slides, which CBR does have.

And yes, anyone can visit AoA if you are not staying there. I made a special visit to see AoA last month following my cruise.

 

[cleophus12]

I'm sort of in the same boat you are in that we have booked a LM room with no discount. Have been to WDW many times and stayed almost everywhere, so we were planning on something different this time and really looking forward to it. However, the new discount makes me rethink whether we should do this or take advantage of the cheaper rates to stay somewhere else. We have stayed at CBR and really like it. It is very spread out, and if you have issue with bus service, it is probably not your place. There are about 4-5 stops just within the resort itself. That said, we would stay again. The atmosphere is very "tropical" and we liked everything about it. We did get a preferred room so we wouldn't have to walk quite so far for food/drinks.

 

[NHBelle]

We personally do not care for CBR....it's way too big and spread out and there is not enough theming to make it really stand out. I don't think your 5 year old is going to care about the decor there....however I would imagine that the colors, theming, giant pool & characters etc at AOA will certainly catch his attention!!!!!!

 

[mm1971]

With the 20% VISA discount, we can stay at Carribbean Beach resort for $1269 and a LM standard room for $1221. I have a 5 year old boy who is thrilled with the theming of AoA so we have it booked with no discount since LM room isn't included in the offer.

What would you do if you have stayed at one or both? I have never stayed onsite. I'm interested in quick bus service, nice rooms with a nice pool, and something that my 5 yo boy would feel excited about.

And one last question.. if you do stay away from AoA, can you tour the grounds?

We have stayed at the CBR and it is really spread out. If you get a preferred room or close to the Main pool it is OK, if not it can be a loonnggg walk to get there for the food court and swimming. You do have the quiet pools, but no theming. I think with a 5 year old I would go with LM room at AoA. The buses will most likely be similar as well.

Did you look into POFQ? or POR? These at least have the queen beds and may make it worth switching.

 

[Mickfarland4]

haha! I could've written this!! CBR jumped on my radar after I realized with the spring discount it was only $2500 w/ DDP for 3 of us(ds2 still free) and ASMo was $2400! Prior to this I wanted to stay at AoA because DS loves Cars and I love the resort but, I can't afford the suites! I really don't want to stay there and have to answer why we aren't staying in the Cars area to a 5 yo!! But, I still think that if the suites were on sale(which I believe rarely happens) this would be my #1 choice because I think the theming can't be beat! Good luck in your decision!

 

[bubbapeanut]

I would choose Caribbean beach. The theme pool there is amazing!!! There is a pirate ship splash area too, my five year old son loved it.

I have a friend who is cast member at AOA and she said that while the resort is amazing, that it is actually quicker to walk to POP's food court and busses than it is to AOA's main building from the little mermaid rooms at AOA. So if you we're worried about Caribbean beach being spread out, you may have the same problem at AOA. She worked the desk and actually says they get lots of complaints about it.

 

[Sunlover317]

Thanks, everyone! Glad to know I'm in good company. I did look at POR and it's pricier. I think we are staying where we are. My guy loves CARS and even though we are in the LM section, he's going to go crazy when he sees the theming.

 

[mickeynut1]

I would choose Caribbean beach. The theme pool there is amazing!!!

I agree. I think your little one would love the pirate pool.

 

[jcarwash]

Thanks, everyone! Glad to know I'm in good company. I did look at POR and it's pricier. I think we are staying where we are. My guy loves CARS and even though we are in the LM section, he's going to go crazy when he sees the theming.

The room rates for CBR and POR are the same for the summer, so without knowing more details I wonder why it was pricier. Was the standard room type at POR not available for your dates?

 

[scrappinginontario]

I think you're making a good choice to stay at AoA. I have a 4yo so can relate to your kiddo. We stayed at Pop last summer but she still talks about seeing the Nemo pool at AoA and the theming there. We walked across the bridge to enjoy the AoA food court a few times.

We also stayed at AoA in November and she talks about that room a lot even though we were only there one night. We have stayed at Pop about 1/2 a dozen times but it's AoA she always talks about. I know your 5yo will love it!!!

Last month friends were staying offsite and trying to decide if they should go to Disney 1 or 2 days. (SO not me who can go to Disney 10 days in a row! ) Anyway, they had planned a day at DHS but after visiting AoA the day they were at Downtown Disney, they didn't even end up going to the park since their son had 'met' all the cars at AoA so no longer needed to meet Lightening and Mater at DHS.

Have fun at AoA!!

 

[whodatdare]

We hated CBR. The bussing is not very good. Unless you're at a preferred room, you are a mile away from the main building and pool. Our mouse cleaning was not great. Employees smoking on the curb in front of the area. Wife sat on a urine flooded bench in the check in hall. Just wasn't a lot of fun.

My personal suggestion is this...

If you plan on spending lots of time in the parks, go with AOA.

If the pool and other activities are important to you, stay in CBR.

 

[Sunlover317]

The room rates for CBR and POR are the same for the summer, so without knowing more details I wonder why it was pricier. Was the standard room type at POR not available for your dates?

You are right. The standard room was not available for the whole stay. Moving up to preferred (and I priced pirate), it was a little more. Which do you like better? Is the price difference worth it. I can't remember now what it was.

 

[KELLY]

I would choose Caribbean beach. The theme pool there is amazing!!! There is a pirate ship splash area too, my five year old son loved it.

I have a friend who is cast member at AOA and she said that while the resort is amazing, that it is actually quicker to walk to POP's food court and busses than it is to AOA's main building from the little mermaid rooms at AOA. So if you we're worried about Caribbean beach being spread out, you may have the same problem at AOA. She worked the desk and actually says they get lots of complaints about it.

I have ran it and I disagree the LM rooms aren't that far away.

 

[squirrel4569]

I haven't stayed at CBR so I can't comment on that but we were at AoA LM in the Ariel building (furthest away) and didn't think the walk was long at all. We stayed at Pop previously in the 50s building and felt that was much longer. We never had that feeling like we were miles away from the food court/busses/etc. The themeing of that whole resort is simply amazing. You really do feel like you're in the movies when you are in each different area.

I'm hoping we can get a FD offer for the suites and upgrade for our trip. If not I know my girls will still love the LM rooms as long as we're not in the Ursula building.

 

[jcarwash]

You are right. The standard room was not available for the whole stay. Moving up to preferred (and I priced pirate), it was a little more. Which do you like better? Is the price difference worth it. I can't remember now what it was.

I think if LM AoA is still pricing out lower for you, I like that choice better. With the summer discount the standard rooms at the moderates could be comparable (potentially lower) to LM at full price. But anything pricing out higher isn't worth paying extra for. Your 5 year old will love AoA.

 

[Sunlover317]

I think you're making a good choice to stay at AoA. I have a 4yo so can relate to your kiddo. We stayed at Pop last summer but she still talks about seeing the Nemo pool at AoA and the theming there. We walked across the bridge to enjoy the AoA food court a few times.

We also stayed at AoA in November and she talks about that room a lot even though we were only there one night. We have stayed at Pop about 1/2 a dozen times but it's AoA she always talks about. I know your 5yo will love it!!!

Last month friends were staying offsite and trying to decide if they should go to Disney 1 or 2 days. (SO not me who can go to Disney 10 days in a row! ) Anyway, they had planned a day at DHS but after visiting AoA the day they were at Downtown Disney, they didn't even end up going to the park since their son had 'met' all the cars at AoA so no longer needed to meet Lightening and Mater at DHS.

Have fun at AoA!!

Thank you! He plays with his "Lightening McQueen cars" daily and loves to watch the movies & Mater's tall tales. He is so into cars. I wish we could stay in a cars suite. I think if it were just DH and I, we would probably stay at POR and pay a little more for the preferred room. Since I've gotten so many positive responses from everyone here, I think AoA was the right choice for my little guy. When he is a little older, we will check out the other resorts for sure.

 

[Sunlover317]

I think if LM AoA is still pricing out lower for you, I like that choice better. With the summer discount the standard rooms at the moderates could be comparable (potentially lower) to LM at full price. But anything pricing out higher isn't worth paying extra for. Your 5 year old will love AoA.

Thank you so much!