Aventura vs Sapphire Falls Need Advice Please

[Dawn Peterson]

We loved Aventura last visit. Small footprint, everything was close, bus was easy and convenient, robot was adorable, food court was great. However we used Sapphire Falls pool. Is it worth it to upgrade to Sapphire Falls for an additional $30 per night? I have heard I may have been closer to the pool by staying at Aventura than some of the rooms at Sapphire Falls. Though the quicker to walk to the parks may be a nice addition as well. Need some advice.

 

[mamapenguin]

You can pool hop to Sapphire. The SB at Aventura is better than New Dutch Trading Co. we stayed at Sapphire for Spring Break and I walked over to Aventura for their Starbucks. The walk isn’t that much further, it’s your call. I do like the Sapphire pool and slide.

 

[wdwrule]

Yeah I’d say whatever is in your budget. We’ve stayed at both but prefer SF over Aventura for decor and feel. However, we’ve grown to really like Aventura due to their cheaper rates and still have many amenities and be in the ‘bubble’. If you request close to walkway at SF they always try their best to accommodate. Better yet, close to walkway and lobby level is our sweet spot.

As PP mentioned when we stay at SF, we often find ourselves at Aventura for Starbucks and their counter service. Love their oatmeal bowls! There’s definitely pros and cons to both. As you mentioned you can easily pool hop to SF for their pool and fun pool slide (DD and I did this just last month). Aventura has the nice small footprint as well. It depends what’s important to you and your budget. I will add that DD and I got a deluxe queen room at Aventura recently that was amazing with tons of space and floor to ceiling, whole wall of windows which was amazing! Very reasonable AP rate for that room. In fact, we’re booked in that room again next month.

Sorry this is probably not that helpful but both are great. $30 could pay for a meal… or 2 Perfect Margaritas from Margaritaville Totally depends on your budget and what’s most important to you. Either one will be super!

 

[Skywalker3]

SF and Dockside are now the only 2 resorts we haven't tried, and SF always seems to be a lot more than the other options. If it was just $30, I'd probably go for that. But we've had 2 great stays at Aventura, and that may become our go-to moderate hotel, if we're not doing premiere. They are so, so close to each other, so easy to go back/forth. If I see a good AP rate come up for SF for Oct, I hope to stay there.

 

[Nabas]

We loved Aventura last visit. Small footprint, everything was close, bus was easy and convenient, robot was adorable, food court was great. However we used Sapphire Falls pool. Is it worth it to upgrade to Sapphire Falls for an additional $30 per night? I have heard I may have been closer to the pool by staying at Aventura than some of the rooms at Sapphire Falls. Though the quicker to walk to the parks may be a nice addition as well. Need some advice.

We prefer Sapphire Falls for the pool.

You can pool hop, but it's just so much easier to visit the pool at the hotel you're staying at.

We really ended up enjoying the Cabana Bay pools too, more than we expected.

Maybe consider Cabana Bay to save a few bucks?

 

[Dawn Peterson]

We prefer Sapphire Falls for the pool.

You can pool hop, but it's just so much easier to visit the pool at the hotel you're staying at.

We really ended up enjoying the Cabana Bay pools too, more than we expected.

Maybe consider Cabana Bay to save a few bucks?

You mentioned Cabana Bay. I have always looked at it but backed out when I see the size of that place. How big does it feel? We have done Portofino and that can be a walk between wings and to pools until you find the short cuts.

Speaking of pools, are both pools always open now? Last fall they only opened one during the week and then the other on the weekend. Maybe that was a covid thing or a lack of employees thing? We usually go during the week for low crowds.

 

[Nabas]

You mentioned Cabana Bay. I have always looked at it but backed out when I see the size of that place. How big does it feel? We have done Portofino and that can be a walk between wings and to pools until you find the short cuts.

Speaking of pools, are both pools always open now? Last fall they only opened one during the week and then the other on the weekend. Maybe that was a covid thing or a lack of employees thing? We usually go during the week for low crowds.

Cabana Bay is big. 2200 rooms vs the 917 rooms of Sapphire Falls. (Portofino is 750 room.)

Disney’s All Stars have 1920 rooms.

Our last Cabana Bay stay was in May. Both pools were open although one pool did not open until noon. (The larger one opened at 10 am.)

 

[Dawn Peterson]

Cabana Bay is big. 2200 rooms vs the 917 rooms of Sapphire Falls. (Portofino is 750 room.)

Disney’s All Stars have 1920 rooms.

Our last Cabana Bay stay was in May. Both pools were open although one pool did not open until noon. (The larger one opened at 10 am.)

Wow. Cabana Bay looks fun but that sounds insanely big. Thanks!

 

[Monykalyn]

Cabana Bay really isnt that bad unless you stay in a VB room in the towers. We've stayed all over the place there and it's not any worse than far buildings of POP for example. And unlike POP you can walk inside (in AC!) all the way to bus stop, or if you prefer shorter distance cut through pool areas. The space in family suites at CB can't be beat. And the pools. And the food court is really good.

I've stayed waaay at one end of tower at SF and had longer walk there than any time at CB
Sapphire Falls is my home way from home though-booked there again this fall!

 

[Dawn Peterson]

Cabana Bay really isnt that bad unless you stay in a VB room in the towers. We've stayed all over the place there and it's not any worse than far buildings of POP for example. And unlike POP you can walk inside (in AC!) all the way to bus stop, or if you prefer shorter distance cut through pool areas. The space in family suites at CB can't be beat. And the pools. And the food court is really good.

I've stayed waaay at one end of tower at SF and had longer walk there than any time at CB
Sapphire Falls is my home way from home though-booked there again this fall!

I was able to get the AP rate for a standard room at SF for $179 which was $10 less than the Family Suites at CB and $20 more than Aventura. They all seemed like good options. I was looking at Interior Entry Family suites which someone said were all near the towers. So I was probably going to be doing some walking. One day we will get to try CB and then I can round out staying at all the Loews hotels.

 

[lisam70]

I was able to get the AP rate for a standard room at SF for $179 which was $10 less than the Family Suites at CB and $20 more than Aventura. They all seemed like good options. I was looking at Interior Entry Family suites which someone said were all near the towers. So I was probably going to be doing some walking. One day we will get to try CB and then I can round out staying at all the Loews hotels.

The exterior entry suites are closer to the lobby area and I prefer them to the interior ones because the window is in the living room area instead of in the bedroom for interior since I like to sleep in dark room. I've also heard the interior rooms are noisier.

 

[Dawn Peterson]

The exterior entry suites are closer to the lobby area and I prefer them to the interior ones because the window is in the living room area instead of in the bedroom for interior since I like to sleep in dark room. I've also heard the interior rooms are noisier.

Thanks for the info. i can sleep with light but noise will get me every time.

 

[tony67]

For me its always a tough choice between these two - Aventura is usually 20-30 less per night and I really enjoy it.
Depending on how many nights that can be a few hundred dollars so covers a lot of expenses.
I really like the food court - it just closes too early.

SF has a much nicer theme - Aventura is more like a typical Marriott.

The busses from Aventura in the AM are quite good - going back can be more crowded as it shares with CB.
I usually get the boat back to SF - and then walk to Aventura - or just walk to Aventura from City Walk.

Staying at Sf feels more convenient when you visit Strong Water - but Aventura is just across the parking lot.

The pools at SF are much nicer as well as the pool bar.

For my upcoming stay I've booked both and just need to decide which to keep.