Confused Dad in NC

[ncdisneydad73]

Should I book a package for late January when the packages become available next Wednesday or wait until they release FD closer to January? Also when have they released FD for this part of value season in the past?

Last question, we have stayed at Pop twice but want something different in possible a Moderate. My son is a Cars nut but feel AoA may be too much like Pop. Suggestions?

 

[hcompton]

You can go ahead and book a room or package on Wednesday, then if they come out with Free Dining, it's my understanding that you can always switch to the Free Dining Package as long as it falls within the appropriate dates once it's made available.

Last year, I believe they came out with the free dining packages around late July. I remember booking ours around mid-August last year for January 2012

 

[kerplop]

Like the PP said you can book now or you can wait, in the end it's really a preference. When FD comes out for January, if your dates fall under it, you can call and either add it or get a refund if you've purchased the dining plan already. Keep in mind though that not all rooms are available for all discounts, so you may have to be flexible about resorts/room types. Good luck!

 

[cwt580]

just remember FD or any promo is NOT a guarenteed thing every yr. everyone is used to getting something but i have relatives that work there for yrs. they have stated that disney is not having booking problems(filling rooms) at present. rumors are circulating that FD may only be the fall value season.....


also pricing expected to increase....normal

 

[ncdisneydad73]

Which moderate resort is best? We have only been to Pop.

 

[FilmProf]

Which moderate resort is best? We have only been to Pop.

My parents adore Caribbean Beach. I am partial to Coronado Springs.

 

[FilmProf]

My parents adore Caribbean Beach. I am partial to Coronado Springs.

I will say this about AoA, while the lobby is similar to Pop, I just stayed at the Cars area and the suites are AMAZING!!!

 

[mariamouse]

Which moderate resort is best? We have only been to Pop.

The most popular mods on the boards seem to be POR and POFQ. Of course, this does not necessarily mean that they are actually the "best," but they must be popular for a reason...

 

[BBQMommy]

Last two trips we stayed at Caribbean Beach Resort and Port Orleans French Quarter. If memory serves they are the largest and smallest of Disney properties. I liked the both, with each having positives. *For me* CBR was too big, I liked the size of POFQ. Theming for both was nice. If you are going for a tropical relaxed feel, CBR has it. POFQ has a different relaxed feel (and you can use snack credits for freshly made Beignets every day ...). I hope to try Coronado Springs and Port Orleans Riverside some day. I will return to POFQ.
Have a great trip --->

Caryn

 

[mickeynut1]

Should I book a package for late January when the packages become available next Wednesday or wait until they release FD closer to January? Also when have they released FD for this part of value season in the past?

Last question, we have stayed at Pop twice but want something different in possible a Moderate. My son is a Cars nut but feel AoA may be too much like Pop. Suggestions?

If you are going regardless of whether or not there is a discount, I would book now to make sure you get the resort/room type you want. If your trip is dependent on free dining or another discount, I would wait to see what (if anything) is released for that time frame. Disney releases discounts to fill rooms, so if a particular resort/room type is at or near capacity, there will be no need to offer a discount for that particular time/resort/room type. If you book now and free dining does come out for your dates, you may have to be flexible with your resort as there has to be availability at the resort you have booked in order to have free dining applied to your reservation. Having a reservation already in place does not guarantee that free dining (or any other discount) can be applied. HTH .

Which moderate resort is best? We have only been to Pop.

We've only stayed at one mod (CBR) and we loved it. The atmosphere was beautiful, the pool was great, the food court had a lot of variety, and the transportation was awesome. There are 4 or 5 internal bus stops, but other than that there is no sharing with any other resort and it only took about 10 minutes to get to any theme park, water park, or DTD .

 

[indigoxtreme]

We love POFQ and POR They are Sister resorts and a short 10 minute river walk between. The rooms have been refurbished. POFQ of course is NewOrleans themed and POR have Mansions and Alligator Bayou POR is larger but we have found rooms are not that far from the main building. All have queen beds now. Some of the rooms are Royal Rooms designed for the Princess and the Frog movie Tiana. POFQ nothing in this resorts is more than 5 to 7 minute walk. Here is a great site for more info that one of our own Disboards members has created Andrew Wiley

http://www.portorleans.org/

 

[disnut8]

Since you have only stayed at Pop Century, I just wanted to let you know, my one big issue with the moderates is the multiple bus stops. At Pop Century (and at Art of Animation), everyone boards the bus at the same place and your next stop (with a few exceptions like Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon) will be your destination.

Not sure if buses are an issue with you but wanted to point that out.

Personally, I would opt for Art of Animation since your son is a big Cars fan and their pool seems to be an awesome one.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Since you have only stayed at Pop Century, I just wanted to let you know, my one big issue with the moderates is the multiple bus stops. At Pop Century (and at Art of Animation), everyone boards the bus at the same place and your next stop (with a few exceptions like Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon) will be your destination.

Not sure if buses are an issue with you but wanted to point that out.

Personally, I would opt for Art of Animation since your son is a big Cars fan and their pool seems to be an awesome one.

POFQ only has one bus stop, if that makes a difference to anyone.