ASmu family suite vs. connecting rooms

[canadaman]

My family of five is soon looking to book for this coming july. We like the idea of the family suites at ASmu but the prices are a little high. I think it would be cheaper to get 2 connecting rooms. That way it saves money and opens up the other values as options as well.

I don't know how much we would use the kitchenette but i am sure the fridge could come in useful.

I am looking at some thoughts on these two choices.

 

[ccudmore]

We booked a family suite at AsMu in October and loved it. We're a family of 5 and last time we'd booked a regular room at the Beach Club that had a pull out bed but found it was too cramped. The family suite was great. We didn't use the kitchenette much but when we did it was really handy. The fridge was used a lot. The separate bedroom was great as was the 2 bathrooms - but you get that with either option.

However from what I found the best you can do is request connecting rooms. There's no guarantee you'll get them, let along a guarantee you'll be in the sam building. If you're going in July it'll be busy season especially at the Value resorts so I don't know if that will have an impact on things.

The other great thing about the family suites is that they're only in the buildings closest to the main building and the guitar pool, so you don't have to walk far for anything. We were in the Calypso building and it was a very short walk to the restaurants, buses and parking.

For the slight difference (at least it wasn't much of a difference for us) between the two options, I'd recommend the family suites.

 

[YukiPhnx]

How old are your kids? If one or more of them is a teen, then connecting rooms would probably be better. It gives them the privacy they would probably want.

If you have young children, it would be best to stay together in a suite.

About getting a fridge, you can just sign up for the fridge swap on one of the boards here (I can't remember which one right now).

 

[canadaman]

How old are your kids? If one or more of them is a teen, then connecting rooms would probably be better. It gives them the privacy they would probably want.

If you have young children, it would be best to stay together in a suite.

About getting a fridge, you can just sign up for the fridge swap on one of the boards here (I can't remember which one right now).

The kids will be 10, 8, and 6.

Another option I have looked at is staying at POR and having a room with the trundle bed. This option is cheaper then either of the other 2. Does anytone have any experiences with the trundle beds?

 

[Marcy Mouse]

The kids will be 10, 8, and 6.

Another option I have looked at is staying at POR and having a room with the trundle bed. This option is cheaper then either of the other 2. Does anytone have any experiences with the trundle beds?

I vote for the trundle - it is a little tight but I bet the kids will love the resort. The water slide will be a lot of fun. Plus I feel the the resort has a more laid back feel!

 

[ccudmore]

POR was actually our first choice (over the suite) but there was no availability the week we wanted.

Another benefit of POR is that you can go see YeeHaw Bob at night.

 

[canadaman]

What about the atmosphere at POR compared to the values for kids. POR looks a lot more adult oriented compared to the glitz and glamor of the values. I Know POR has a slide at the pool and more activities then the values but i would be worried they would miss the larger then life characters of the values.

Does anyone have experience with how your kids liked POR as compared to one of the values?

 

[Diamondintheruff]

We've stayed at both POR with the trundle and the family suite over the years. My kids are now 8,10, and 12 and for out next trip I would choose a family suite. They were 5, 7 and 9 when we stayed in the suite and 6, 8 and 10 when we stayed at POR. Here's my two cents why but ultimately you decide what works for your family.

Family Suites Pro
-fridge
-my youngest was five and still needed a "quiet time" in the afternoon so the separate bedroom was perfect.
-extra space in room plus for luggage as well as some physical seperation from each other.
-two bathrooms
-two televisions
-closed off bedroom
-pull outs were comfy
-three separate pull outs so no one HAD to sleep with another person.
-close to main building
-kids loved the activities going on at the main pool.

Family Suites Con
-more money
-often booked way in advance
-No water slide at resort
-Can be noisy at night since close to main pool
-kids fought over who got the "big" pull out to themselves
-bus stop NOT covered

POR Pro
-loved the waterslide and main pool
-Cheaper
-enjoyed the boat system when heading downtown
-Bus stop was covered (rained a lot that trip)
-Can have quieter rooms as they have trundles throughout the resort.
-meet many other three children families at the bus stops.

POR Con
-Can't watch TV from trundle bed
-One TV
-very crowded for luggage and people and we had extremely rainy wet weather so we spent a lot of time in that room. Together. FIVE rainy days in a row in fact.
-two kids HAD to share a bed
-One bathroom
-Our room happened to be VERY far from main pool and main building but close to a bus stop
-Rarely used my refillable cup cause it was NOT hot and the food court was too far.
-The bus route that goes around the resort and sometimes to POFQ took extra time
-Had to leave our stroller outside room when trundle bed was pulled out.

 

[YukiPhnx]

There are also more pros when you compare the suite to Pop. You get about the same kind of space, there's only one bus stop instead of sharing it with the other Allstars, and it's cheaper!

With your children at the age, it seems ok to have connecting rooms. You can leave the connecting doors open so you can always keep an eye on them and they'll definitely love that extra space. Many of the buildings are pretty close to the main building, despite what it may look like on a resort map.