currently in PO riverside want to upgrade

[uktivo]

Hi all.
We leave in 23 days.. can't wait.

Wife, two children 9/7, and myself are staying for two weeks in the POR in a Royal room. I would like to surprise my wife and upgrade our hotel.
Ideally I would like to move to a deluxe hotel. She likes the look of the yacht and beach club.. but I'd like some opinions please.

Criteria I'd like to achieve with the move.
1. More space, if we could have a separate space for the kids to sleep that would be great.
2. Don't want posh and feel the need to dress up (I do this all year long, so need to dress down and relax)
3. Wow factor..

Please, any help would be most welcome.

 

[wilma-bride]

In order to achieve criteria no. 1 you would need to go for a 1-bed villa at any of the DVC resorts.

As far as criteria no. 2 goes, the only hotel I have ever felt out of place in regular park clothes was the Grand Floridian. Not that everyone there was dressed up but I just felt the grandeur of it warranted being dressed in something other than shorts and t-shirt.

Criteria no. 3 is very subjective but, in my opinion, somewhere like Animal Kingdom Lodge or Wilderness Lodge has the 'wow' factor, in terms of the sheer size and impressiveness of the lobby area. No other WDW hotel that I've stayed at has made me literally stand there, mouth agape like the Wilderness Lodge has. The Wilderness Lodge also has bunk bed rooms, which might be cool for your kids.

 

[crabbie1]

Hmmm. Have u looked on wdw sight to see what is available for your dates? It may be quite difficult to get somewhere now. Who have u booked with? You will get numerous replys but to be honest it is a personal opinion from us all. Depending on budget and if you want a separate sitting area I think there is only old key west and SSR that offer this as the others with villas are disney vacation club resorts though I could be wrong.
My personal choice would be wilderness lodge or animal kingdom lodge savannah view especially if the children love animals. Nothing better than waking up with a cuppa looking at zebras etc.

 

[uktivo]

Have to say, yes you are right in terms of availability. Just taken a look and there are no one bedroom rooms available.

I will take a look at the animal Kingdom option, thanks. Keep posting suggestions please. I will update you on the decision.

PS. In terms of budget. I'm pretty flexible but currently of room, quick service plan and tickets cost us 3600 pounds. I would move this to 5/6k pounds for the right options

 

[PJB71]

I'm sorry I have nice advise to offer regarding the hotels (we always stay off site in a villa)

But if you can't upgrade your room but are still thinking of a "big" surprise and have some spare money than have you every thought of a Disney Cruise sometimes they can be really reasonable, definitely worth a look IMO

 

[scoobydooby]

If your kids like to swim I would say this is a no brainier. Go for the Beach Club. The pool complex is fab. When we stay here we struggle to get the kids into the theme parks!!!! You'd still all be in the same room though but they can have a bed each with the pull out couch. The food options here are vast (Yacht and Beach Club and Boardwalk and Epcot) all on your doorstep.

If it's space you're after an Art of Animation suite would give it to you but that's certainly not deluxe.

For what it's worth I really like POR and even though I've stayed at Deluxes, this is still the most beautiful resort in terms of the grounds IMO.

 

[london75]

I'm sorry I have nice advise to offer regarding the hotels (we always stay off site in a villa) But if you can't upgrade your room but are still thinking of a "big" surprise and have some spare money than have you every thought of a Disney Cruise sometimes they can be really reasonable, definitely worth a look IMO

I second the cruise suggestion, far better use of 1500

 

[queendisney]

firstly I am a huge fan of POR but I couldn't cope in a Royal room for two weeks...just far too over the top with the very busy decoration, it would drive me potty and I think I'd have a problem relaxing in them.

POR is my most fav resort of them all, yes even of the delux resorts...but my next fav is the Wilderness Lodge. It really does have a wow factor IMO. I like my resorts to have lots of trees, greenery etc...and find most of the other resorts are just concrete. WL has a fabulous lobby and it sort of feels Christmassy in there.

 

[pickers1982]

Love the beach club fir the location and pool and not posh at all but fir wow i d say akl

 

[chmurf]

For the wow factor, AKL savannah view (just isn't worth it for a "parking view" compared to a POR room) or WL ... both are spectacular.

For the pool with a sandy bottom, closeness to EPCOT and DHS, and boardwalk, BC without a doubt.
Not as much "wow" than AKL and WL, but you just won't want to ever leave that beach and that swimming pool area

If you can afford a stay at a Deluxe, then go for it, YOLO as they say (you only live once)

If you're more "budget-conscious" POR will always be a very relaxed, quiet and wonderful resort.
But like Queendisney, I'd probably rather shoot myself in the foot than stay for 2 weeks in a Royal Guest Room ... I find those rooms even more "in your face" than Value resorts.

 

[Elise79]

Personally, I would call whoever you are booked through and find out what is available and the cost to help you make a short list.

We did not like the pool at Y&B. I would choose the CR as my first choice for a deluxe or OKW for a DVC.

Not a fan of AKL, Poly or GF. WL is nice as is BWI. These are personal taste decisions though

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

If you don't want to go for the full DVC style upgrade, you could look at availability of the bunk bed rooms at either AKL or WL. These will give you a little more space / separation from the kids but also the upgrade to a Deluxe.

 

[uktivo]

Thanks all. Sorry for delayed reply but I just got back from China. Anyway. We leave in 14 days. In the end, we stayed in the rooms we had booked and I upgraded our flights to biz class both ways.

Can't wait..
Thanks again.