Best resort for kids when Caribbean is under renovation

[kappa]

What is the best resort during Spring Break in March 2018? Traveling with a 2 and 6 year old. Was going to do Caribbean. Already went to the other moderates so looking at the Value Resorts at this point... Going back and forth on Pop Century, Art of Animation (more expensive though, and can't afford dining), and the All Star Movie. Give me your best advice! So sad, Caribbean is not an option because we have never been there, but might do dining now...

 

[piglet1979]

We have stayed at All Stars Music. It was fine nothing special. The biggest down fall was finding our building when driving. We only had to do this twice on the trip. Once when we got there (we drive down) and once when we went to Wal-mart for something. Walking through the resort from the front it was easy to find. With all 3 All Stars in close proximity made it hard.

The pool is very basic but with your kids being younger I think it would be fine.

 

[hllb]

I loved Art of Animation, though I've never been to any other values. Is it that much more expensive than the other values for a mermaid room? I thought it was just the suites that were pricey. If it's too expensive though, people speak highly of POP, especially if you get a renovated room.

 

[pattyw]

I'd go with POP. It's our favorite value and the rooms are being renovated.

 

[AngiTN]

So you are going to skip CBR and stay at a Value resort just because CBR is under construction? I'm not sure I understand why. We stayed there and it was fine, with a child. She loved our stay there

 

[buzznina]

I still would not rule out CBR.
Our DDs liked ASMO a LOT better than POP, they have nothing in common with the 50's thru 80's icons but loved all the Disney movie icons. I think parents prefer POP

 

[Wild4Walt]

AoA and Pop will also have some work being done with the gondola system so depending on you're reasons are for not staying at CBR may apply here too.

Based on the ages of your kids, I'd recommend All Star Movies. The pools are a lot of fun and the giant characters scattered around the resort make for cute photo ops.

 

[kappa]

Thank you all for the responses! I’m going to respond all in one message if that’s ok

So, now I’m undecided between movies and POP? Final thoughts between those 2?

We have had 2 different travel agents tell us to stay away from Caribbean after requesting it. Apparently there isn’t any hot food court and the renovations are so extensive, one person told me they shouldn’t even be open. We have already stayed at all the other moderates and have never done a value. We use to always stay at Shades of Green so that spoiled us before kids.

Carribean is the only moderate we haven’t stayed at. Little mermaid is about 50 more per night and currently booked for the nights we requested unfortunately. It’s also not part of the 15% discount being offered. It’s closer in price to the moderates than the values for the week we were going and if we stay at a value, we *might* do the meal plan.

AoA and Pop will also have some work being done with the gondola system so depending on you're reasons are for not staying at CBR may apply here too.

Based on the ages of your kids, I'd recommend All Star Movies. The pools are a lot of fun and the giant characters scattered around the resort make for cute photo ops.

 

[kappa]

Also, to add: we will probably do one day at the hotel to break the trip up. Other than that, we will be at the parks when we aren’t sleeping My girls are 2 and 6. Turning 3 and 7 the week we go on vacation.

Thank you all for the responses! I’m going to respond all in one message if that’s ok

So, now I’m undecided between movies and POP? Final thoughts between those 2?

We have had 2 different travel agents tell us to stay away from Caribbean after requesting it. Apparently there isn’t any hot food court and the renovations are so extensive, one person told me they shouldn’t even be open. We have already stayed at all the other moderates and have never done a value. We use to always stay at Shades of Green so that spoiled us before kids.

Carribean is the only moderate we haven’t stayed at. Little mermaid is about 50 more per night and currently booked for the nights we requested unfortunately. It’s also not part of the 15% discount being offered. It’s closer in price to the moderates than the values for the week we were going and if we stay at a value, we *might* do the meal plan.

 

[sbd78]

If AoA appeals to you but you don't want to pay AoA prices, Pop might be a good option. It's a quick walk over to AoA to check out all the icons/Radiator Springs, etc. and you can eat in the food court there.

 

[maxiesmom]

If the pool is a focus I would stay with a moderate. The pool areas are much nicer, with slides. You don't get them at value resorts, nor do you get hot tubs.

 

[kappa]

If AoA appeals to you but you don't want to pay AoA prices, Pop might be a good option. It's a quick walk over to AoA to check out all the icons/Radiator Springs, etc. and you can eat in the food court there.

AoA definitely appeals but is booked for some of the days we want to go. Plus, if my choice is AoA no dining plan or Pop/Movies with a dining plan for total trip budget, I thought the dining plan might be more advantageous... but I'm open to all advice! I am an overplanner!! If we had been able to stay at Caribbean, we were going to just do Oop for food, but dining really takes away my budget stress while I am there even if it isn't budget friendly.

 

[kappa]

If the pool is a focus I would stay with a moderate. The pool areas are much nicer, with slides. You don't get them at value resorts, nor do you get hot tubs.

My girls love to swim, but are terrified of slides, so a kiddie area would be the best option. We stayed at coronado last time, and the scenery didn't appeal to my then almost 4 year old. Those slides would still scare her now. I believe AoA would appeal to them most, but it's booked =( and since we won't be on site much, I don't know that the hotel matters *all* that much. I am apprehensive about a value resort though. Are they clean? I read somewhere that someone compared them to a Motel 6? Is that really accurate?

 

[AngiTN]

Of course the Value resorts are clean. All Disney resorts are clean.
They are as much like a Motel 6 as a Mod are, they both have outside entry to the rooms.
When you say they are terrified of slides, do you mean they can't even when if they see them? Or just can't go on them? Because it's real easy to just not go on them but harder to avoid seeing them at the main pools.
But you can avoid seeing them at the Value resorts, since they don't have slides.

 

[kappa]

Not terrified of seeing one=) Ha! I should have read my response more carefully. They just won't use them (in a pool setting), so it wouldn't be a factor in us choosing a certain type of pool.

And I REALLY appreciate the Value response. I can't IMAGINE Disney being anything but clean and friendly, but when I read the comparison to motel 6 on a reputable Disney planning site, it made me a bit nervous. Motel 6 is NOT what I would want to be compared to if I was a hotel owner... I'm not sure about the rules on linking to outside sites or mentioning the name of said website, so I will refrain. It's a great site though!!!

 

[sbd78]

The room itself will be smaller in a value vs. a moderate and as others said, no slide or hot tub at the pool. And no sit down restaurant, only a food court. Still Disney quality though, and I definitely think a Disney value is MUCH better than a Motel 6! Some people think the Disney theming is over the top at the values with the giant icons, but the over the top theming is perfect for young kids. (And many adults love it too!)

ETA, I'm actually kind of sad my family has outgrown the values. The only way for us to stay in them now is to book 2 rooms or pay family suite prices which are on par with deluxe prices!

 

[sbd78]

Also, I personally would choose a less expensive resort with the dining plan over a more expensive resort without every time. I know people have mixed feelings on it, but I like it when staying on site. I think it adds to the immersive experience and I like having my meals prepaid.

 

[AngiTN]

Also, I personally would choose a less expensive resort with the dining plan over a more expensive resort without every time. I know people have mixed feelings on it, but I like it when staying on site. I think it adds to the immersive experience and I like having my meals prepaid.

I do understand the mindset of having it all prepaid but when trying to be as budget friendly as possible, it's worth noting that often paying for a dining plan is not it. Rare do you save any money to purchase a dining plan over just paying for your meals as you go.

 

[kappa]

I am currently in this dilemma. The ONE time we did dining (it was free), everyone was happier. I'm budget conscious and I know that dining isn't usually the best value, but I also tend to stress out on prices inside the park, so I wonder if it would be best for the family morale to do the dining with Value resort since Carribean isn't a great option. So sad about that =(

 

[sbd78]

I do understand the mindset of having it all prepaid but when trying to be as budget friendly as possible, it's worth noting that often paying for a dining plan is not it. Rare do you save any money to purchase a dining plan over just paying for your meals as you go.

Yeah, I get that and people should definitely do the math. In my case, with youngish kids who like to do a lot of character meals, I find it is a good value for us. That might change as the kids get older.

I also don't like to stress about prices on vacation, and prepaying makes it easier to splurge without stressing.