Are preferred rooms worth it?

[Whistle]

I am looking for your opinions if the preferred rooms are worth it when staying on site. I was looking at the value resorts or Port Orleans Riverside. Thanks!

We have never stayed on site before (went last summer off site for 10 days)

I would like to go this summer, but am trying to get the best price. Money is tight- don't know about park hopper or water parks too (we didn't do either last year), but thought about it.

Please help!

 

[woodkins]

I am looking for your opinions if the preferred rooms are worth it when staying on site. I was looking at the value resorts or Port Orleans Riverside. Thanks!

We have never stayed on site before (went last summer off site for 10 days)

I would like to go this summer, but am trying to get the best price. Money is tight- don't know about park hopper or water parks too (we didn't do either last year), but thought about it.

Please help!

I personally don't like the preferred rooms especially at the values. My reasoning is that the preferred sections are typically near the pool and food courts which make your rooms louder and in a higher level of pedestrian traffic. I would rather walk a tiny bit further to have more peace and quiet. I will say we did Blizzard Beach for the first time in September & LOVED it. If you are going in the summer that might be a great way to spend a day. I would see if it is cheaper to do Water parks and more onto your tix or just buy a 1 day pass to the water park.

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

just a thought for the future. Instead of buying park tix that expire, look into getting a 10 day non expiring ticket, You will find it is cheaper than buying 2 / 5 day park tickets. We have the 10 day non expiring water park and more and managed to get 3 trips out of our tickets and we still have water park tickets left. AND I too agree that preferred rooms are nearer to higher pedestrian traffic. hth.

 

[pigletto]

I ditto the above poster on the preferred room at the Values. I had one at Pop and found I woke up alot from noise (however I am a light sleeper).

I am in the same boat as you for the add ons to the tickets. We had park hoppers last time, and maybe used them 3 times in 10 days.
I think if I were going at a very busy time I would absolutely want them so I could move around according to crowds. But for our Late August September trip I am going to try to go without them.
As for the Water Parks.. I am just not a waterpark gal. My Hubby loves them though. So he and my son spent one day at the water parks and just purchased 2 one day tickets and my dd and I spent an extra mommy/daughter day in Epcot. It was cheaper than upgrading all of our tickets.

 

[Whistle]

Yes, this information is very helpful and is exactly what I am looking for! It would be me and my 2 boys (ages 9 and 12).

I do not like water parks much but will go to humor them! Typhoon Lagoon sounded like fun with the swimming with the sharks - that would be up their alley. We did Discovery Cove last year which was INCREDIBLE!

I am even looking into annual passes and trying a late summer this year and then a possible early summer next year. I am thinking if I got one day of water park tix that would be cheaper then a premium pass.

Also, can the GAD passes be used for a waterpark?

Also, if we got the passes, and my son turns 10, what price would he be? He would be 9 when we purchased it and the first travel time, but would turn 10 in August.

Thank you everyone- soooo helpful!

 

[nena]

We got a preferred room at Pop last summer and LOVED it!! We were close enough to the pool, food court and bus area. It worked very well for us because I have problems w/ my feet and who else isnt tired after a long day and just wants to get to their room. Plus DH could wake up in the morning head over to the food court get some coffee and be back in the rook quickly.

Last year our room was so far away from everything!! It was a task getting to and from the food court. We did find a closer route to the bus area, but it was just too far.

I am also a very light sleeper and I never heard any noise from the hotel, just the sweet sound of fireworks!!

 

[quentina]

Yes, this information is very helpful and is exactly what I am looking for! It would be me and my 2 boys (ages 9 and 12).

I do not like water parks much but will go to humor them! Typhoon Lagoon sounded like fun with the swimming with the sharks - that would be up their alley. We did Discovery Cove last year which was INCREDIBLE!

I am even looking into annual passes and trying a late summer this year and then a possible early summer next year. I am thinking if I got one day of water park tix that would be cheaper then a premium pass.

Also, can the GAD passes be used for a waterpark?

Also, if we got the passes, and my son turns 10, what price would he be? He would be 9 when we purchased it and the first travel time, but would turn 10 in August.

Thank you everyone- soooo helpful!

No charge for growing up....buy at 9, next visit they will upgrade for free.

 

[Jitzy]

I haven't booked a preferred room at Port Orleans, but I have booked them at the Values.

Last time we booked a preferred room at ASM, they had overbooked, so BIG TIP TIME, the front desk moved our room to the BACK of the resort across the side street from ASMU. We were just across from the main building at ASMU, next to the food court and the bus stop. It was preferred for free, but not next to any pools!

 

[fakereadhed]

I love the rooms facing away from the pool in the non- preferred section of the same building. It can be a little noisier, but if you want closer at no extra cost you can't beat it.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

On our very first Disney trip as a family ( I also went a lot as a kid) we were 'upgraded' to a preferred room in ASMovies - one of the Toy Story buildings. At the time we were excited because dd loves TS. I kept asking dh how it was an upgrade the building / room didn't seem like anything special. Now I know that certain buildings for the AS are 'preferred' because they're closer to the pool, food court etc.

I would never pay for a preferred building - we're just fine walking and as others have mentioned pool noise etc isn't desirable (to us at least).

 

[eyor44]

I love the rooms facing away from the pool in the non- preferred section of the same building. It can be a little noisier, but if you want closer at no extra cost you can't beat it.

These are the rooms I like also. But be aware that at POP (at least they used to) the preferred buildings are the ones on each side of the pool. At first I was a little upset that we were on the back side of the building, until I realized that the pool stayed open until 12:00am and it was full every night. Then are room on the back side of the building was a real blessing. Close to everything except for the noise.

 

[squirrel]

You can upgrade the Give a Day Get a Day ticket to an AP or add more days, but you can't use it for a water park.

 

[Kay1]

I strongly prefer the regular rooms. They tend to be quieter and I don't mind a little extra walking. It's good for me and no big deal. Also, the walks are pleasant with pretty landscaping and lots to look at.

 

[cmrules]

I've never bothered with an upgrade, not worth it to us personally. But we don't mind a little walk.

 

[DisneyShannon]

We stayed at the all star movies two years ago, I loved the price but we was in the mighty ducks area and had to walk/drive to the lobby of the hotel. we had a room on the 3rd floor and was way on the other end of the elevator This year we are staying at the all star music. I requested the ground floor because I travel with my dad and he can not handle the stairs.That being said all star movies was our first time on site. I loved it. I hope to never stay off property again

 

[aubriee]

Port Orleans does not have preferred rooms per se. You can pay more for a Waterview or a King bed, but not a preferred location. The King rooms and water view rooms are scattered all over the resort. The waterview rooms may be a view of a quiet pool or a glimpse of the river. Definitely not worth paying extra for. The only moderate that you can pay for a preferred location is CBR.

As far as the values, the only one I'd pay for a preferred room is AS Music. Simply because of the way it is built straight back (instead of around the main building), you could get stuck a long ways out from the food court and buses. At Pop none of the rooms are really that far from anything.

 

[n2mm]

No the preferred rooms are not worth the extra price. We stay at Pop alot and have been in every location. I've never paid for a preferred room, but have been upgraded to them often. The only resort where a preferred room would be nice is at the A/S Music resort and that's because of the layout. At Pop it's not necessary. We stayed at POR and still never find the walk bad and we were pretty far away (the last mansion before the bayou).

 

[rdevine10]

Personally we dont like the preferred locations at values either. The non-preferred are quieter, IMO!

And that being said, one time at Pop I think we had the room farthest from the lobby in the 1980's section and even then it only took 5 min to walk to the lobby! Not worth the $!

 

[jessica52877]

We don't pay for preferred. I am cheap and prefer to save the money. No issues with the extra walk. We have stayed in the Roger Rabbit building facing the pool bottom floor and it was a little noisier if I was awake. But once I went to sleep I didn't hear anything.

We stayed at the all star movies two years ago, I loved the price but we was in the mighty ducks area and had to walk/drive to the lobby of the hotel. we had a room on the 3rd floor and was way on the other end of the elevator This year we are staying at the all star music. I requested the ground floor because I travel with my dad and he can not handle the stairs.That being said all star movies was our first time on site. I loved it. I hope to never stay off property again

We stayed in the Mighty Ducks 2 Christmas' ago. I found it much quicker to walk over the ASMu food court. There was a crosswalk and saw a few others also doing it so must be somewhat common.

 

[eliza61]

They only time I'll upgrade a view is if I'm in a deluxe. If I can sit on my balcony at the end of the night then a view may be important to me. any other time, not worth the money.