Beach Club or Port Orleans?

[have2getaway]

I'm looking at two different packages and the cost difference of the 2 resorts is $900 for the week. We are 2 adults and 3 kids, all age 7. Will we be okay with Port Orleans? Is staying at Beach Club worth $900 more? This is for a trip the second week in January. Our first choice was Wilderness Lodge Villas, but it was more than we wanted to spend.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

PO is really nice. In January, the pool is less of a factor, so paying premium for a pool you might not use may not be what you want to do. $900 isn't a rounding error. I think the main thing you give up is easy access to the Boardwalk, and the walk to Epcot and HS. But you get a boat to Disney Springs, and you get $900 more to spend.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

PO is lovely. With BC, you get a bigger room, more amenities (more restaurants, SAB, etc.) and walking distance to EP and DHS, plus walking to the Boardwalk and the other resorts in that area. It's really up to you whether that's worth an extra $900. For us, the answer would be yes as we typically end our days in EP WS or enjoying the restaurants at the EP resort hotels. My DS also loves going to Sandcastle Club. But every family is different!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I would go with BC if price isn't an issue. The rooms are bigger, especially with 3 kids. I would request a day bed. The pool is awesome!!! We've stayed at BC once but never at POR. POR is on my list for our next trip so I really don't think you can go wrong.

 

[caliope]

We've stayed at POR and it was very nice. However, the transportation situation started to wear on us after a while. We prefer easy and quick access to parks, even if it costs more. We've not stayed at BC yet but there seems to be so much to do in that area within walking distance, which is very appealing to us as a family.

 

[kricha06]

Why not do both? I'm doing a split stay in November!

 

[100acreHiker]

I haven't stayed at POR, but I can say that Beach Club is wonderful, the amenities are great, the slide and pool are a ton of fun, but nothing tops being able to walk into EPCOT in 5 minutes, or hop on a boat to Hollywood Studios. It made taking mid day breaks super easy. Not having to deal with all busses all the time is a bonus. Also, walking over to Boardwalk at night or catching Illuminations or the Star Wars Fireworks (if it's happening then) is another amazing bonus!

 

[goofyintoronto]

$900 more, that would be a tough one for me. I'd probably go with POR and save the $900 for other stuff. POR is a gorgeous resort! Rooms sleep 5, it has a pulldown murphy bed. I love the pool and the food court. I've never had issues with the buses. And since your going in January....it might be too chilly to swim. So you might not get to truly enjoy SAB/BC.

 

[ktlm]

We have stayed at both. We liked them both and would happily stay at either one again (we prefer YC to BC as I'm allergic to the scent they pipe into the BC lobby). If you were going during definite pool weather, I would say BC is definitely worth the increase because it has the best pool area on property. However, in January, you might have some days where it is warm enough to swim and you might not-- we have been in December several times and one trip the whole week was in the 80s and warm enough to swim, but every other trip we have had a mix of warm and cool days ranging from highs in the low 50s to highs in the 80s. Typically the warm days have always fallen on days that we had plans and had no time to go to the pool. In fact, I don't think we have ever gone to the pool on a December. On our October trips, we always have some pool time. Taking the pool out of the equation, the main thing with BC/YC is the fact that you can walk to both EPCOT and DHS, where at POR you have to take buses to the parks.

 

[MrsJamesPSullivan]

I'm not a POR fan so I've got to vote for BC. I don't like how spread out POR is mostly. I do like that BC is all under one roof, in January you may appreciate that too. I like only having to take a bus to two parks. With 3 small children you may appreciate that. You're also right there by YC, BW, Swan and Dolphin, mini golf. There is just so much more around there to do.

 

[tinkerbella16]

That is a tough one, since I love both. Being a POR lover and having stayed there each year since 2007, I have to admit that we just stayed at the Beach Club two weeks ago and it was one of our best trips, mainly because of the resort. So much so, my next 2 trips are booked there. I thought I was going to miss POR, but that wasn't the case but I actually did miss that awesome food court. The one thing BC lacks, IMO is a really good QS. The options are just slim, but there are other places near and around the BC with other options too. Everything else about the resort, we loved. You are going in January, so I am not sure how much you'd use the pool... but that was another thing we loved. Stormalong Bay is the best pool we've ever experienced. We used it every afternoon of our trip. We really loved the rooms, and having the extra space, and mousekeeping was great. Our rooms were so close to the lobby and Marketplace (literally steps away on the ground floor), so I did not miss the long walks like we've had at POR. The transportation was far better than I've ever experienced at POR. I am so used to being packed in like sardines on the buses at POR and waiting in lines at the south depot. There was none of that this trip. We never had to stand, even with YC being picked up first. The bus stops were always empty and so were the buses. We loved walking to Epcot and the boat to DHS was really nice.

POR is great. I love the grounds, and the food court is one of the best. The royal rooms are my favorite. The boat to DS is nice and relaxing. YeeHaw Bob is a lot of fun at the River Roost Lounge. I honestly don't think you can go wrong at either resort. I just feel like BC has some more to offer. $900 is a good difference, and saving that for other things would probably be great. If I had to choose between the two, it would have to be Beach Club.

 

[have2getaway]

Thanks all for the feedback. Is it easier to take the bus to Magic Kingdom from BC or go to Epcot and take the monorail?

 

[mickey2minnie1]

The kids probably won't know any differently. IMHO the BC would be more convenient and less stressful. Even if it is cool the pool is heated. Now if it goes down for refurb, not worth it. It seems that kids all love pools no mater how nice/not nice the hotel, lol.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Thanks all for the feedback. Is it easier to take the bus to Magic Kingdom from BC or go to Epcot and take the monorail?

You have to walk all the way through Epcot, so you both need Park Hopper tickets, and can't do it until after Epcot open, or after Epcot close.

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

I toyed between BC and POR and went with POR. The difference was over 1K, I figured I could put that money towards our next Disney trip. For us that's a lot of money that I couldn't justify. We don't take midday breaks and having Epcot close by is great but the reality is my kids (7 and 10) arent' going for the food so too many sitdowns isn't always the best. I'd rather take another vacation sooner because I spent less this last trip. We haven't stayed at either but have done the other 2 mods (CBR and CSR) with very few complaints.

 

[maciemouse]

Both are great resorts. Port Orleans is a big resort but it is very well themed. To me, there is nothing quick about getting on a boat to go to a park from Epcot. Also, the times we stayed at Beach Club we shared a bus with Yacht club. So either way you look at it, you are taking a bus to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom which ever resort you choose. I would not walk all the way thru Epcot to get on a monorail to MK. That is a lot of walking since the monorail is in the front of the park. The pool at Beach club is great. But it is decent at POR too. Beach clubs room is a little nicer in decor. POR decor is more "fun". You won't go wrong with either. As far as quick service at the resort, POR has more to offer. Beach Club is pretty limited but you can walk to Epcot and use a quick service there.

 

[maciemouse]

Just wanted to say one more thing...if it were spring or summer, I would choose beach club hands down. But in January I would stay at POR. Pools are heated at both and they both also have hot tubs. Ye-hah Bob at POR is so fun. My kids loved him. My family just wouldn't use the pool or beach in January.

 

[tinkerbella16]

Thanks all for the feedback. Is it easier to take the bus to Magic Kingdom from BC or go to Epcot and take the monorail?

We always took the bus and it was always quick. We never waited long. Even with the bus picking up YC first, it wasn't ever full and we never had to stand. I think the bus is better than walking all the way from the back of Epcot to the front to use the monorail.

 

[BigAlsGal]

Have stayed at both. I'd pick PoR hands down. BC was ok. Room was bigger but negligible. No food court. Just a quick place with snacks. Walk from BC to Epcot seemed like an eternity in the scorching sun. The pool was amazing though. Worth $900 more? No way.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

I've stayed at both too & would choose POR over BC any day. BC was our worst stay on property EVER and we have stayed at all levels of resorts. Never have any issues with the buses at POR & love the boat to DS. We always stay in a preferred room at POR so we are close to everything.