AoA Nemo Suites vs Boardwalk

[kelgod09]

Looking for advice:
Currently 2 Nemo family suites booked for end of July trip- each room for 2 adults and 2 kids 10 & 12 yoa. LOVED the theming (especially for the kids but for me also!), extra bedroom & 2 bathrooms per suite.
AP discounts are out, Nemo suites not eligble
BUT, can get 2 standard rooms at Boardwalk for $1100 (!!!) cheaper.
What should I do?

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm not sure how many are in your group...if it's two sets of adults and kids, then the Nemo suites are probably better. The 2 rooms at BW will get you 2 beds per room, and a bathroom. Many families 'make do' with a regular room vs a suite. You'll have less room, but...you can walk to two parks!!! The boardwalk area is fun at night. Having all those nearby resorts to explore and eat at is great.
And you can probably do a ton with that extra $1100!!!

 

[kelgod09]

Yes, 2 adults and 2 kids in each room. Would definitely be a little tighter.
Could do a ton with $1100 and thinking being close to 2 parks would be worth the trade, but have never stayed at either. Wondering if kids (who are not really 'little' anymore) would mind giving up the Nemo theme for a more adult-oriented, less themed (but nicer?) hotel.

 

[goofy4tink]

My dd, now 21, has always loved BW. We own DVC there, and whenever we stay elsewhere, her comment has always been 'Well, at least we're at WDW. We're not at BW, but we're at WDW!' Of course, she did love AoA when we were there a few years ago!! But, it wasn't 'home' the way BW is.

The pool area at BW is a ton of fun. No, the theming isn't over the top, in your face like at AoA. And there are no food courts. I love AoA....loved staying in the LM area...and no, the walk didn't bother me. I would almost always opt for AoA but for a difference of over a thousand dollars, I'm not sure all the over the top theming would make it worth it to me!!!

If you think you are going to need food courts and more theming, then AoA may be worth the cost.

 

[Babsy]

Able to get the BWI for $1100 cheaper than a value resort!?!!? I wouldn't be asking opinions! I would definitely go with the BWI! Sure, a little smaller, but everyone will have a real bed! You will have a balcony! And the size difference isn't that much. (only about 100 sq ft) BWI is a fantastic luxury resort! Your kids will love the great pool, slide and activities on the Boardwalk! So much nicer to walk or take the boat to DHS and Epcot! After illuminations you just walk back to your room!

BONUS: You can do so much with an extra $1100.00!!

 

[kelgod09]

Plan was to eat a couple quick breakfasts in the room during the week, utilizing fridge and micro in family suites (making grocery trip at beginning of week). But could use some of the $ saved if there are decent choices in or close to Boardwalk- anybody know how feasible this would be?

 

[dansdad]

I would switch to BW in a heartbeat, or faster if that was physically possible. Then again, I would switch even without the $1100 savings. Being able to walk to Epcot, walk or boat to DHS and walk out my resort and onto the Boardwalk is awesome!

 

[LaurEm378]

I'd probably go for Boardwalk with a price difference that big. I love AoA and I get why you'd be sad to not stay there, but you'll have much nicer outdoor areas to explore at BW. The Boardwalk, the whole Y&BC complex a few minutes away, and nothing beats strolling into Epcot through the International Gateway.

The $1100 saved would more than pay for the breakfasts you can't make (no microwave, only mini fridge in a BW room). There's definitely a lack of quick service at the Epcot resorts, but Boardwalk Bakery has breakfast sandwiches and bagels and muffins, etc. There's a full food court at the Dolphin, that's probably a 10-15 minute walk away but it's open 24 hours.

You could use some of the savings for cool extras like boat rentals around the lake, or surrey bike rides. The kids would probably love that stuff. Happy planning!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I've stayed at both and, to me, this is a no-brainer. BWI in a HEARTBEAT! It is beautifully themed, tons of fun, pool slide, walking distance to two parks, evening entertainment, TONS of food options. It's a deluxe resort with deluxe amenities. My DS is 7 and HE would rather stay at BWI than AoA. SWITCH NOW!

 

[bluezy]

Are the other AoA suites eligible for the AP discount? Personally, the separate bedroom, 2 bathrooms, 2 TV's (unlike my husband, the kids aren't fond of watching CNN every waking minute in the room), and the kitchenette are worth some extra money to me -- but I'm not sure they're worth $1100. Square footage wise, you're looking at about 370 in a BWI standard room and 565 in a suite at AoA. That's a big difference. We like having a little more space and particularly two completely separate sleeping areas so we don't all have to have the same bed time.

Personally, I'd compare a discounted suite at AoA (if there are any) to the BWI room before making a decision. The first time we stayed at AoA we really wanted a Nemo suite and had one booked but when discounts came out they weren't available with the discount. We had to switch to a Cars suite to get the discount (we ended up switching to Lion King at check-in because I didn't like the location of the Cars suite) and we were perfectly happy in the LK suite. We got a summer PIN code for our travel this year (15-30% off the room and free parkhopper on our ticket). We could have stayed at BWI for about $200 less for the week than our suite at AoA. It was a no-brainer for us -- the extra space and 2nd bathroom alone are worth $200 -- we'll be staying in a Lion King suite because once again, the Nemo suites weren't available with a discount.

 

[FantasiaMagic]

I recently stayed at AoA in a Nemo suite this past spring. My friends and I absolutely loved it. There were 6 of us in the room and we had just enough space and did not feel cramped at all. The 2 bathrooms and the kitchenette were very helpful as well.
I would definitely recommend it to anyone.
That being said, BWI is in such a wonderful area, right near EPCOT and HS, and it is a deluxe. Yes you would have less space, but I think everything else you would be getting by staying at that resort would be worth it. $1100 is a lot of money.

Best of luck with your decision.

 

[jcjen519]

We are not interested in staying at the value resorts so keep that in mind. I can see the advantage of having two bathrooms but the bed situation in those suites is not appealing to me. isn't it a sofa bed, a bed that folds out over the table and then a regular bed? I'd prefer the two queens and (usually) daybed at bwi. We like to stay on the monorail or in the epcot area so we have easy access to some parks.

Have you priced out the deluxe rooms at BWI? i'm sure they're quite a bit more then the standard but they give you club level access and additional living space (thought not an extra bathroom). you may still find you are saving money over AOA. We are using an AP discount on the deluxe rooms at bwi this summer so i know its offered sometimes.

 

[happymommy]

Have you looked into the Swan (recently renovated) or Dolphin?
I just stayed at the BWI, and honestly, there is NO WAY I'd do 2 adults and 2 older kids there in one room. Our room (standard view) overlooked the area where the boat launch was. It was a very noisy room, and I honestly (although I've stayed there before) won't be back. It was too noisy to be worth $300 a night (including tax) for me and my DD.
I think though, that you are comparing apples and oranges. A deluxe resort and a value (albeit a suite).
There are so many options, but if it were the same price no way I'd do one room. I guess I'd do AOA or 2 rooms elsewhere, but I'm done with BWI.

 

[fla4fun]

I stayed in a Cars suite in January, and I would normally have been at one of the Epcot resorts. I missed being able to walk to Epcot and DHS, although I didn't have any issues with the bus transportation at all. Having the option to walk just makes it more convenient. There were three of us in the suite, and having two bathrooms made getting ready so much easier than only having one, plus I really prefer a glass door shower to one with a curtain. I liked having the kitchenette in the suite as opposed to just a dorm fridge and coffee maker at BWI.

So my answer to you is to weigh the pros and cons and decide which room will give you the vacation experience you are looking for. If I could have gotten BWI for the same or less money than AoA I probably would have switched to BWI. But for my stay, I had the opposite financial incentive. Although I was happy to save some money and have the space, I was happy to book my September trip back at BW. I haven't really had a bad stay at any Disney resort.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I have slept on that Murphy bed on 2 trips (one Nemo, one LK) for 6 nights each. It was very comfortable. I will be honest, one room was located by the elevator, and because that bed is near the front door, I could hear some guests talking, who returned back late from the parks. Did not bother me much, though.

I would get a discounted suite room at Art of A, if it was possible. Maybe not Nemo, but I had LK and it was fine. This Oct I booked Cars, because I love the way that section is themed. I know this sounds weird, but I give my son the bedroom, he goes to sleep earlier than I do. Then I have the room with kitchen to move around in, and I can even take a late shower in that 2nd bathroom without disturbing him.

Either choice has its pros and cons, I have stayed in the BW area often, and at BCV 4+ times (and we own DVC points at BCV). I just wanted to give the other POV.

 

[bluezy]

I have slept on that Murphy bed on 2 trips (one Nemo, one LK) for 6 nights each. It was very comfortable. I will be honest, one room was located by the elevator, and because that bed is near the front door, I could hear some guests talking, who returned back late from the parks. Did not bother me much, though.

I would get a discounted suite room at Art of A, if it was possible. Maybe not Nemo, but I had LK and it was fine. This Oct I booked Cars, because I love the way that section is themed. I know this sounds weird, but I give my son the bedroom, he goes to sleep earlier than I do. Then I have the room with kitchen to move around in, and I can even take a late shower in that 2nd bathroom without disturbing him.

Either choice has its pros and cons, I have stayed in the BW area often, and at BCV 4+ times (and we own DVC points at BCV). I just wanted to give the other POV.

My 25yo son slept on that bed when we were there in 2013 and he said it was the most comfortable hotel bed he's ever slept on. And my 14yo son slept on the sofa bed and he said that was really comfortable, too. They are not "your grandma's" murphy and sofa beds -- and they're much better than the ones in the All Star Family suites. I actually found the queen bed in the bedroom to be way too firm for me. My hips and back were sore after 2 nights. I got some extra blankets from mousekeeping and put them under the bottom sheet to create my own "pillow top" mattress. That made it much more comfortable for me.

 

[AriesAriel]

Plan was to eat a couple quick breakfasts in the room during the week, utilizing fridge and micro in family suites (making grocery trip at beginning of week). But could use some of the $ saved if there are decent choices in or close to Boardwalk- anybody know how feasible this would be?

Boardwalk Villas have a little fridge & microwave. Does the Inn side not?

Also, Boardwalk Bakery is a yummy place to have breakfast!

 

[tcherjen]

I adore AOA. We stayed in the Nemo suite this spring break. I have to say I like the LK one better. I love how much room we have in the suite. We had two teens, an 8 year old, dh and myself. We were not tripping over each other and I love the microwave in the room. I really like it.

 

[kelgod09]

Thank you to all for your help! We took everyone's input and weighed all the pros and cons to each and took a vote- to my surprise, BWI won out and we changed our reservation. Everyone was happier with the closer distance to 2 parks and the deluxe accommodations and said the Nemo theme and extra room was no big deal, as we won't be there very much. So everyone's happy and I saved an extra $1100! Woo hoo!!!
Thanks again!

 

[LisaCM614]

Hope you love the BWI! We sure do. It is absolutely lovely.