The preferred rooms are $10 more. Surfs up is the preferred buildings. Personally I like the tochdown buildings. Certain parts are just as close, if not closer than the surfs up building. But, Sports is not that spread out. We have stayed in Homerun hotel, it was quiet (eventhough we were facing the small pool). The walk was not bad to the food court. We definately limited our trips for refills, but if your just going for meals, it's not bad. The walk to the bus stop was a shorter walk, if we walked along the parking lot instead of through the resort. Imo, the preferred rooms are not worth the extra $10.