Booked ... Did we make the "right" choice?

[heresabe]

I happen to like the Pop rooms. And Riviera is easily reachable from Pop via the Skyliner.

 

[boomchip]

Well, we are pretty much set on forging ahead with changing to a 2 room setup. I do understand that requesting a connecting room is not a guarantee, but we are willing to take the risk for better comfortability over the longer trip.

 

[Heather07438]

Well, we are pretty much set on forging ahead with changing to a 2 room setup. I do understand that requesting a connecting room is not a guarantee, but we are willing to take the risk for better comfortability over the longer trip.

Have an awesome trip!

 

[boomchip]

Have an awesome trip!

Thank you!! We can't wait and it's sooooo far away!!

 

[Heather07438]

Thank you!! We can't wait and it's sooooo far away!!

The anticipation is half the fun well almost lol.

 

[hotblooded]

Well, we are pretty much set on forging ahead with changing to a 2 room setup. I do understand that requesting a connecting room is not a guarantee, but we are willing to take the risk for better comfortability over the longer trip.

I think you made the right call. In my opinion, Pop is just as nice as CBR in many ways, especially because of the skyliner.

 

[Timandalicia]

We are a family of five. As the kids get older we try to find configurations that work. Connecting rooms works the best. More room, can get some privacy as needed, double bathrooms!!!! That alone is worth it.

 

[ScottM5124]

I can't say whether you will be cramped of not since this will be my first trip to WDW and a Disney resort. We are booked a month or so before you at CBR. We did consider CSR but decided on CBR because of the access to the Skyliner and the Riviera. If space is what you want and you can reserve connecting rooms then go for it. If the amenities at CBR server you better then book there. At the end of the day you will be at WDW with friends and family so does it really matter if you have the perfect room? Ask yourself this, are you booking a Disney park vacation or a Disney resort (hotel room) vacation. How much time are your really going to spend sitting in your room relaxing? I hope you have a great vacation.

 

[saraheliz]

I'd do two rooms. We have a family of 5 and are trying to sort out where to stay for our next trip. After one overnight with just me and the kids (so 4 of the 5) I realized no way would we all be sane in one room with one bathroom for any amount of time. So, we'll do either two rooms and pray we can get the connecting or a 1 bedroom villa or if push comes to shove (depending on what's open, etc, since we don't want to stay at Kidani if there's still a bunch closed over there) a family suite at AoA. I'm sure some families can do it and still like each other by the end of the trip but I just don't see it happening for ours!

 

[WDWOswald]

Rent DVC points for a 1 bedroom at Saratoga Springs, or look for an eBay listing. A lot of times you can find it for the same or less than CBR. Trust me, stay for that many days in a small room will be a bummer.

 

[kat_lh]

We do 5 in a room (3 kids.) We spent one night at CBR on our last trip when my youngest was 4 and found it cramped. We prefer the Poly with two bathrooms.
We’ve rented DVC points twice and have had no issues and saved a ton of money.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

We are booked for a 9-night stay at CBR in May/June 2022. It is for 3 adults and 2 kids (ages 6 and 9), so we got the 5th sleeper option. I've only stayed at Pop and WL - both ends of the spectrum - 10+ years ago, well before any refurbishments, and at the time both of those were occupancy of 2. Will we be cramped at CBR? It seems like it is themed really nice so I don't think we'd dislike it for that reason. It just doesn't feel like it is that much above the Value level after sitting on the reservation for a few weeks now. I've heard having quick access to the Riviera dining options is a big plus of course.

So ... There's obviously a lot of time to change it up, but we were also looking at maybe getting two connecting/adjoining rooms at Pop instead so we'd have more room to lounge around or not have to fight (as much) over the bathrooms/showers. Having stayed there before I can conceptualize the accommodations working well. We just kind of feel like wanting to stay somewhere different from our last trips, even though they were so long ago. Thought about ASM because the suites look like a good option, but I've heard the pricing can be unreasonable at times comparing to other resorts. We also don't really like the suite options at AoA even with the recent refurbs. Access to the Skyliner would be great, so that kind of narrows the options down to CBR or Pop for us. Given it is a longer stay, I also tried to entertain the idea of having a split stay but that idea was shot down by my better half .

I reread your post a few times and given that you've stayed at POP before and liked it, I would recommend POP again only because there is the 3rd ADULT. ( I'm assuming a grandparent or another family member.)
Some may recommend AoA, but IMHO, I'm not sleeping on anything other than a real bed and wouldn't expect any other adult to sleep on anything other than a real bed either.

 

[Dug720]

anything other than a real bed

I see the "real bed" argument with any resort with the murphy beds. The beds that pull from the wall at Pop and AoA (and the re-done All-Stars as well as the newer/more newly redone Studios and Villas) and fold over a table or couch ARE real beds. The mattresses are regular queen mattresses just like on the as you call it "real" bed.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

I see the "real bed" argument with any resort with the murphy beds. The beds that pull from the wall at Pop and AoA (and the re-done All-Stars as well as the newer/more newly redone Studios and Villas) and fold over a table or couch ARE real beds. The mattresses are regular queen mattresses just like on the as you call it "real" bed.

I agree, the fold down beds at POP are real beds!! I slept on it and it was fine.

 

[glocon]

At Pop, the fold down bed was the exact same bed as the stationary one when we stayed there. Quite comfortable. I agree you should get two rooms for space, comfort and a second bathrom.

 

[boomchip]

I reread your post a few times and given that you've stayed at POP before and liked it, I would recommend POP again only because there is the 3rd ADULT. ( I'm assuming a grandparent or another family member.)
Some may recommend AoA, but IMHO, I'm not sleeping on anything other than a real bed and wouldn't expect any other adult to sleep on anything other than a real bed either.

We are not thrilled with AoA, the pricing, the theming, it just seems like a rip off and right over the bridge is our first home and with a 2-room setup it will be way less expensive.

I can't say whether you will be cramped of not since this will be my first trip to WDW and a Disney resort. We are booked a month or so before you at CBR. We did consider CSR but decided on CBR because of the access to the Skyliner and the Riviera. If space is what you want and you can reserve connecting rooms then go for it. If the amenities at CBR server you better then book there. At the end of the day you will be at WDW with friends and family so does it really matter if you have the perfect room? Ask yourself this, are you booking a Disney park vacation or a Disney resort (hotel room) vacation. How much time are your really going to spend sitting in your room relaxing? I hope you have a great vacation.

I keep going back to that theory too, "we'll never have the perfect room" .. but at the end of the day (no pun intended) we want to be as comfortable as possible. Maybe I will look into the DVC option at Saratoga Springs, too, as mentioned above.

 

[boomchip]

Rent DVC points for a 1 bedroom at Saratoga Springs, or look for an eBay listing. A lot of times you can find it for the same or less than CBR. Trust me, stay for that many days in a small room will be a bummer.

Well now you've gone and done it - another wrench in the planning to find out more about this. Checking Disney's site, it seems that the 1 bed options at Saratoga Springs is good for '4 adults' so won't we be lacking a bed or decent sleeping arrangements for our 5th? (When the full party is 3 adults and 2 kids ages 6 and 9)

EDIT: Found a video that shows the 1 bed floor plan, it seems very spacious and recently refurbished with a bed to make it possible for 5.

 

[Dug720]

Well now you've gone and done it - another wrench in the planning to find out more about this. Checking Disney's site, it seems that the 1 bed options at Saratoga Springs is good for '4 adults' so won't we be lacking a bed or decent sleeping arrangements for our 5th? (When the full party is 3 adults and 2 kids ages 6 and 9)

EDIT: Found a video that shows the 1 bed floor plan, it seems very spacious and recently refurbished with a bed to make it possible for 5.

To guarantee a refurbished room, you'd need to book preferred. As I understand it, they've finished with preferred but not yet finished standard. The new ones have a king, a murphy queen (again, it's a "real" mattress, not some fake like a lot of people seem to think those murphy beds have) and the twin fold down which the one of the kids could sleep on and the other with grandma.

 

[hotblooded]

I rented points once several years ago, but I’ll probably never do it again post-Covid. There are too many unknowns. And besides, you’d be giving up Skyliner access. What’s deluxe about that?

 

[Pooh2]

Definitely go for the two rooms for that long of a stay.
The two bathrooms may make or break your trip!