Family of 5, 1 room at Beach Club or 2 rooms at Pop?

[momofmikey]

Hi. We'll be making our annual trip at the end of August. We have 3 kids, 17, 15 and 10. We've stayed at most of the available 5 family resorts over the years. We stayed at Beach Club last year and loved it. We have the free dining bounceback booked at the Beach for this year. We are thinking of switching things up and getting 2 rooms at the Pop. We stayed there when the kids were little and really enjoyed it. We would save $800 staying there but only get the Quick Service plan. To upgrade to the regular plan would bring us to the same cost as the Beach. I know it's Value vs. Deluxe, but it is 2 rooms and 2 bathrooms which is intriguing, plus we haven't been there in a while, so would be different than last year. I will say that we are not huge pool people... Stormalong Bay is great, but we are definitely more at the parks. I also know that the Gondola construction is going on, but not sure what impact that has on resort. Curious people's opinions. Thanks!

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

Hi. We'll be making our annual trip at the end of August. We have 3 kids, 17, 15 and 10. We've stayed at most of the available 5 family resorts over the years. We stayed at Beach Club last year and loved it. We have the free dining bounceback booked at the Beach for this year. We are thinking of switching things up and getting 2 rooms at the Pop. We stayed there when the kids were little and really enjoyed it. We would save $800 staying there but only get the Quick Service plan. To upgrade to the regular plan would bring us to the same cost as the Beach. I know it's Value vs. Deluxe, but it is 2 rooms and 2 bathrooms which is intriguing, plus we haven't been there in a while, so would be different than last year. I will say that we are not huge pool people... Stormalong Bay is great, but we are definitely more at the parks. I also know that the Gondola construction is going on, but not sure what impact that has on resort. Curious people's opinions. Thanks!

We have stayed at both and really like both resorts, so a win-win either way IMO. But, if I was faced with this decision, I would go with Beach Club. My kids are 18 and 16 and love the vibe at BC. They like being able to use the amazing pool, grab ice cream at Beaches and Cream or Ample Hills, walk the Boardwalk area... Epcot is our favourite park too, so the ability to walk in / out so easily makes a difference. Kids like to be able to go into Epcot and shop/grab a meal or snack and we love the TS restaurants at Epcot. The boat to DHS is a plus as well (you can walk too, but we go in August so prefer the boat as a bit too hot for us to walk to DHS). We like to go to ESPN as well as we are sports fans. I totally see the value of 2 bathrooms at POP, but I still would pick BC every time if money wasn't too much of an issue. When we are trying to save money or doing a more commando trip, we pick POP, but if we are going to try to enjoy our resort as part of our vacation, we pick Beach Club.
Good luck deciding

 

[Disneylovingmomof2]

If two of them are cool with sleeping together then BC. You’ll be able to walk to HS and toy story land will be open by then.

 

[toonaspie]

I guess it don't matter. Just keep in mind that there will be less space in both POP rooms since the addition of the queen beds. Also less guarantee of connecting rooms.

 

[OneinThree]

For a shorter stay, I'd consider the 1 room option. Anything more than 3 days, give me those 2 bathrooms! I might be jaded though, as I have to travel with my wife, 2 teenage girls, and the 3 other kids, lol.

 

[Disneylover99]

I think it depends on how you want to eat on your trip. If you want table service, stick with the BC. If you're happy with quick service and don't want to be tied down to ADR's, pick Pop.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I stayed Pop in July and am just back from Beach Club. I love both, but my tween adored Stormalong Bay. For our family, having that pool was huge. It was also super nice to walk to Epcot and HS. This was the first trip (and we’ve had many) when she said Epcot was possibly her favorite park. I think that was partially because it was so convenient and we had a nice afternoon break back at the pool.

Now, if you don’t plan on afternoon breaks and you won’t use the pool, then Pop may be better for the two bathrooms. Pop has the better bus service. Beach shares with Yacht and service was not bad, but we had to wait over forty minutes once for a bus to MK and only about 1/3 of us waiting actually got on because Yacht Club had filled up the bus.

Beach club beds were super comfy, but someone in your family will get the pull out. I don’t know about its comfort.

It is nice to have a balcony. We watched HS fireworks one night from ours. I also love the beach area. We watched HS fireworks from the beach one night. That was really fun.

Quick service at Pop has more options. Beach was fine for our needs, but there aren’t a lot of choices. If you plan on eating a the resort often, you might prefer Pop.

Either way, I hope you have a great vacation.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Personally, there is no way I would go from BC to Pop at the same cost just for the extra space. We stayed at AoA one year for extra space and had an incredibly loud and uncomfortable stay. I would always pick a deluxe over a value particularly if the cost is the same.

 

[LG1230]

Beach club

 

[DisneyArkie]

I would choose BC. I must admit we are deluxe snobs though. We are not rich, but we are frugal with our money throughout the year so we CAN go to Disney each year or every other and we will not stay anywhere but deluxe. TBH I wish we would have never stayed in one. We started out deluxe and did a moderate once, but will not do that again. So pretty much every time we have ever been we have stayed deluxe minus the one moderate trip.

 

[Sue M]

I’d pick BC. In Aug for me a mid day pool break is a must. We leave during the hottest part of the day to cool down at the pool.
We stayed at Pop for 10 days last Dec, and it was just ok. Not BC.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Id honestly pick BC. Without a doubt. The convenience of having a resort near HS & Epcot is a big deal. Also, the pool is pretty amazing.

 

[vinotinto]

I think the biggest issue is going from 1 room to 2 rooms on a bounceback. I don't know if you can add a room (I think you needed to book 2 rooms originally). So, you would only get QS on one of the rooms, so BC is a better deal.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I also know that the Gondola construction is going on, but not sure what impact that has on resort.

The gondola construction hasn't impacted the Beach Club at all. The construction area is next to the International Gateway and walled off so you can't see it.

I would not stay at a value resort for the same amount of money as the Beach Club, even if it meant another bathroom. The only way I would do it is if it saved me money.

 

[happymommy]

I'm in the minority. I won't share a room with all 4 of us, so no way would do it with 3 kids. I want my own room and bathroom, so I'd do 2 rooms no matter what.

I've had the QSDP before, and it's still too much food to me. With the extra $800 you could pay out of pocket for a couple TS meals, and still be ahead cost wise.

I'd want my own bathroom and more beds. No way am I sharing a toilet and shower with 5 folks, trying to get ready in the morning or wanting to go to sleep at night. I don't stay up as late as my oldest son, so he'd surely wake me up coming in and getting ready for bed at night. That's no vacation.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I’d not go value instead of deluxe, but we like to spend time at the resort.

So in this case I’d say BC.

However, also maybe compare SSR or OKW villas in price so you can get the best of both worlds. Even check point rental and paying for the DDp if you prefer to have it...I don’t do the ddp anymore.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I would rent points for two studios. No way would i give up BC for Pop.

 

[Nohal]

I could be wrong but i don't think you can make any changes to a bounceback reservation. You would need to make a new reservation and I don't think you will get the free dining promotion.

 

[Disneylover99]

I could be wrong but i don't think you can make any changes to a bounceback reservation. You would need to make a new reservation and I don't think you will get the free dining promotion.

Yes, you can make changes to a fd bounceback if there is still availability under that promotion. It's best to call the fd bb number from the brochure.

 

[Nohal]

Yes, you can make changes to a fd bounceback if there is still availability under that promotion. It's best to call the fd bb number from the brochure.

Good to know. A few years ago I had FD BB at ASSp and wanted to upgrade to the DDP and the CM I spoke with was going to charge me the full price for the dining plan. Figured it was meant for me to have QS so I left it alone.