families, can you help with resort decision?

[jeast]

We are booked in a FW cabin with free dining. We decided on the cabins because we have DD2 and DS5 and felt like we needed a separate bedroom so we can put them to bed and unwind. Also thought the campground would be nice.

Now we're reconsidering the values with the free dining. It would save us $1000.00!!!!! That's a LOT of money. However, we don't get time to go on vacation very often and don't want the extra savings if we are all miserable. I'm so torn. Can I get some opinions from people who have stayed at values with small children?

Thanks!!

 

[wdwhooked]

Hi, hope this helps, our family of 4 with, DS13 , DD9 have been to WDW many times and have usually stayed in the value resorts, such as ALSM. We stayed in these due to value and we did have small children at the time, the food court is great and the pools are large. The Kids like the ALSM the best due to the Disney Icons everywhere, the rooms are the same size as a value in the “real world”(Days Inn) , we are now going to AKL this year for the first time due to the fact the kids can enjoy the resort and have more to do at there age . I would suggest Deluxe when they are older for this reason and Value when they are younger due to food court and things seem to be closer like the bus stops and pool. You can pay more for a preferred room and stay right next to pool,bus and food area, hope this helps ,

 

[jeast]

How is it trying to get them to nap/sleep in such close quarters? What do you do to get away from them for a while and have an adult conversation, or do you?

Actually, I'm not so sure an adult conversation is worth $1000.00.

 

[soccer mom]

We are a family of six who used the cabins twice when our kids were young and thought they were great! Mine tended to nap in strollers in the parks so that wasn't an issue, but we did come back earlier so they could be in bed by 8-9 pm most nights. I thought having the two rooms was abolutely perfect. Even as they got a little older (maybe 8-12) they were great because we didn't have to go to bed the same time they did. The kitchen is a plus because the little ones never eat enough to make it worth paying big bucks for breakfast. So we would just have cereal or bagels. With your dining package for lunch and dinners, you would be all set. Now that our kids are teens (and older!), we get two connecting rooms. With older kids it is great to have the two bathrooms!

Have you gotten a price on two connecting rooms at a value? That might even work out cheaper than a cabin. But I have to say we loved the cabins and the campgrounds. It is so layed back and relaxing with lots to do.

 

[HopperFan]

and I am just throwing out random thoughts.

My sis has 3 young ones, first stayed YC and from then on went cabins. Was great for them, they have big adult space needs. You didn't say how long you are staying and that certainly can make a difference in just one room. The cabins are great for the space, deck and peacefulness. The value will have alittle more energy and less privacy inside and outside the room.

The advantage to the cabins for us on a long trip was the ability to use the kitchen, which we did and saved lots, but you have the dining plan. I would not pay $1000 more just for the space. But we always enjoyed being out of our room except for the couple hours in the afternoon for nap. At night we were asleep not long after the kids.

At value - transportation and food and pools etc are merely steps from your room. At the cabins everything is a distance. You will have to walk a distance to internal bus to get to the internal services, or to the boat/external bus to get everywhere else. Now if you have a car you can drive from your cabin to parks, but inside the campground you will have to bus. No car travel.

It is a campground and has no real theme, even the pools are just pools. It was fine for us in the winter, we weren't swimming. But your kids may just LOVE the value, especially the movie resort. To me it has the Disney thing going all around..........we loved the cabins for the space & kitchen (decor inside nice).........but there was no "magic" for us. When we go to Disney we want that magic

Depends on the most important priority for your family ! I know my sis would vote the cabins, because that is the most important thing for them. For me, I would vote the value.........but have you priced out the moderates ? Much more peaceful and more amenities than value......

You have space & quiet & two rooms for sleeping for $1000 VS less space, but theme and convenience and $1000 in your pocket.

 

[diathoney]

We stayed at the FW cabin on our first trip as a family to WDW. I wanted the kids to have a bedroom for naps and a kitchen for food since they were both picky. I didn't care for the transportation at FW - you have to take a bus everywhere. If you stay, request to be close to the pool and a bus stop.

Our next trip and several after we stayed at the CR. We requested NGW, ground floor, close to the food court. CR gives you 2 queen beds and a twin (day bed). The ground floor means you have a patio to sit on while the kids nap or to have a conversation. The NGW has a nice play ground that my kids loved. I could sit on the patio and watch them play in the evenings. Close to the food court makes it easy to refill mugs and grab a bite. Chek Mickey's is a great restaurant for little ones. The CR has the fridges in all the rooms for breakfast cereal, etc. The best part was that I could put the kids in the stroller and walk to/from MK. With the kids in PJs we'd walk out and watch the electric boat parade or the MK fireworks, then into bed. It was perfect for us.

 

[jeast]

We have pretty much decided on the value. We don't have a lot of money and can spend the $1000.00 on doing other things as a family during the year. We also think the kids will enjoy ASmo.

Also, transportation is easier. We were considering adding a golf cart to the FW campground after hearing some horror stories about the busses with small children. So in actuality, we are saving closer to 1200 for our five night stay.

These posts have helped our decision a lot. It was so nice to hear how other people experienced the values. Thank you.

 

[mrsg00fy]

I think you made an excellent choice. The biggest money saver using the ymp code is the value resorts. I haven't tried them, but I did book AS Musuc using the plan for us and out two sons 6 and 9.

Your kids are young, however, so you need to weigh what they eat versus what you are getting with the plan. WoOuld it make economical sense to get 1 AP, not get dining and get the FW cabin at the discounted rate. You can easily have a great breakfast in the cabin and then eat your other meals in the parks.I'm not sure what the price difference is, but if space is that important to you, at least try the analysis.

BTW - we have stayed in the cabins before and loved them.

 

[jeast]

We could get the fl resident rates for the cabin but after pricing out food costs, the free dining was a better deal. Even so, it was getting to be a really expensive vacation for us.

After figuring out how much time we would really be spending in the resort after parks, pool time, and travel time, we figured we wouldn't have that much time to enjoy the campground and I couldn't justify the added expense. We'll still have a great time and DS5 will LOVE the toy story buildings.

 

[BurkeTribe]

The ASM resort was plenty fine when we stayed there with our 4YO and 2YO, but it was only about 40-60% full, so that (occupancy during stay) is something to consider IMO. Summer or busy seasons may be much rougher crowding-wise than when we stayed (September -- no waits ). If you do choose a value resort, I would suggest requesting a ground floor room facing one of the big statues, if your kids are young enough to enjoy that.

 

[Princess Mommy]

I think you made a great choice as well, saving the $1000 can be put into another trip!