Family of 5 - POR or Music Suites

[princesskimberella]

We are planning our next Disney vacation and this time we are going with my brother and his family!!! Anywho... we are huge fans of POR, I love the grounds and it is jsut so peaceful and quiet for the most part after a long day at the parks. This year we had a room in AB and with the 3 kids it was pretty cramped and I can only imagine in another year with them being older how tight it may be. So we are considering the Family Suites at the All Star Music, but I have not always heard good things about the value resorts. But if we stay in the suites we would be with family. Oh and I m not worring about the busses ( we plan on renting a car ) so the waits are not a factor.
Or if anyone has any other suggestion for a family of 5 that would be great !!!

 

[cmonroe]

Princess,

We are used to staying at Deluxes (we're not rich, we just saved a lot). However, for our previous past trip for our grand gatherings we could not afford to stay in the deluxe and my brother who has 4 children wanted to stay in a suite. We all stayed at ASMu. They had a suite, and we found it to be nice. Parents had their own bedroom, two bathrooms, a kitchen. We didn't like the bus wait times, etc. but overall, the hotel was nice. As you had stated, you will be renting a car, so transporation won't be a problem for you.
He has a DS 15, DD 11, DS 8, and DS 6. They all fit with comfort. I suppose this is subjective, but I just thought I'd add his experience.

 

[SereneOne]

I am in my hotel room at POR Alligator Bayou, building 36 that I have been at since Saturday morning and will leave Sunday afternoon and it is GREAT! We are having a fantastic vacation! Hotel is clean, quiet and comfortable. We have ate at Coral Reef, Boma, Liberty Tree Tavern, Akershus Princess Dinner and tonight at Whispering Canyon Cafe...it has just been spectacular! The CMs have been wonderful-kind, helpful and enthusiastic! A few rude guests, but Disney itself, has been INCREDIBLE. I will always stay on-site here on out! (Been to Disney many times, have family that lives in Palm Coast, Daytona and Ormond Beach, etc. We used to stay with them when I was a kid and as an adult we stayed off property.)

My parents are staying at ALL STAR MUSIC...not a suite, but great renovations! They really like it, loud the first night, but again, clean, peaceful and safe.

Have a great time!

 

[SnowyWhite]

Have you considered the cabins at Fort Wilderness Campground? They sleep six. There is a bedroom with a double bed and bunks, the living room has a fold-down Murphy bed. There is one bath and a FULL kitchen (which can save on meals & time in the morning for breakfast so you can get to the parks sooner!) Groceries can be delivered from gardengrocer.com with a $12 delivery fee. You can rent a golf cart for $50/day or $315 per week.

 

[LISAMWDW]

Have you considered the cabins at Fort Wilderness Campground? They sleep six. There is a bedroom with a double bed and bunks, the living room has a fold-down Murphy bed. There is one bath and a FULL kitchen (which can save on meals & time in the morning for breakfast so you can get to the parks sooner!) Groceries can be delivered from gardengrocer.com with a $12 delivery fee. You can rent a golf cart for $50/day or $315 per week.

You took the words out of my mouth! Just what I was going to say!

 

[minnie61650]

Family Suites at All Star Music vs. POR

The Family Suites run about $30 more than a standard room at POR-AB.

Comparisons:


The Family Suites has 2 seperate sleeping areas.
POR has 1.

The Family Suites are 520 square feet.
POR is 314 square feet.

The Family Suites has 2 bathrooms.
POR has 1 bathroom.

The Family Suites have 2 dressing areas with a privacy curtain.
POR has 1 dressing area with a privacy area.

The Family Suites have 2 sinks( 1 each next to the bathrooms), 2 closets, 2 safes, & 2 hair dryers.
POR has 2 sinks ( a double) .1 closet,1 safe, and 1 hair dryer.

The Family Suites have a kitchette with a nice storage area,lots of counter space, a microwave , paper plates & bowls, plastic ware, can opener, Paper towels, fridge,& coffeee pot.
POR has a fridge &a coffee pot.

The Family Suites -Sleeps up to 6 (plus one child under age 3 in a Pak-n-Play crib)
POR-Sleeps up to 5 (plus one child under age 3 in a Pak-n-Play crib)

The Family Suites--Queen bed, full-size pullout sofa, convertible ottoman & chair sleepers (4 separate sleepers) & 2 TVs.
POR has 2 double beds and a trundle bed&1 TV.

The Family Suites -Studio amenities and separate sleeping areas giving more privacy than a standard room.
POR is a standard room.

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Here is the layout of POR:

POR room lay out

Family Suite layout
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Here are some photos of the POR room with the trundle bed from Allearsnet:

the trundle bed

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Here are some photos from the DIS resort website:

** NOTE there is a wall mounted hair dryer next to the bathroom sink.
Look at 8th and 10th phots down and you will see it.

For more info about the All Star Resorts Please visit the FAQ thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1072409





Have fun at Disney wherever you choose to stay!

 

[LISAMWDW]

Thanks for the great post Minnie 61650!

The suite looks really nice! I would seriously consider it for my family of 5 but I just did NOT enjoy my value experience at the Pop so I would be very nervous about it but the suite looks great! It's the rest of the property scares me.

 

[spiceycat]

The suite looks really nice! I would seriously consider it for my family of 5 but I just did NOT enjoy my value experience at the Pop so I would be very nervous about it but the suite looks great! It's the rest of the property scares me.

what happened at Pop? most of my stays at Pop or any value have been very nice.

to the OP, a value resort is not a moderate - no slide, hot tub (whirlpool).

that say - value is better for kids - each and every pool has a lifeguard - even the quiet ones.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

I would not be concerned staying at a value. Our family loves All Star Movies. In fact we stayed at CBR twice and had terrible bus service, the busses for ASMov have always been great for us. Sometimes at park closing the bus queues can be pretty ridiculous for the values, we did decide to take a cab once, to avoid a crazy long line at MGM Studios one night, but that is the exception not the rule.

The ASMov has always been clean, and well maintained. The pools are nice and the food court has a nice selection. Don't get me wrong it is a value, the pools are not elaborately themed and there are no recreational opportunities and no table service restaurant.

I say go for the suites, you might be surprised how much you like it. If transportation is a big concern, DO NOT stay at Fort Wilderness. The bus system is crazy over there and time consuming.

 

[goinback]

I would not be concerned staying at a value. Our family loves All Star Movies. In fact we stayed at CBR twice and had terrible bus service, the busses for ASMov have always been great for us. Sometimes at park closing the bus queues can be pretty ridiculous for the values, we did decide to take a cab once, to avoid a crazy long line at MGM Studios one night, but that is the exception not the rule.

The ASMov has always been clean, and well maintained. The pools are nice and the food court has a nice selection. Don't get me wrong it is a value, the pools are not elaborately themed and there are no recreational opportunities and no table service restaurant.

I say go for the suites, you might be surprised how much you like it. If transportation is a big concern, DO NOT stay at Fort Wilderness. The bus system is crazy over there and time consuming.

I have a friend who just returned from staying in a cabin at FW on Sun. She said the cabins were great, but the internal bus system was a mess and took forever!

 

[simonkodousek]

I would go with the Family Suites at ASMu. I would be MUCH more comfortable in there with 5 people, than in one room at the POR...

 

[goinback]

I am trying to decide between POR and the Family Suites as well . We are hoping to go Jan of 09. We have stayed at POR before, and we really liked it. We have stayed at ASMO and POP and liked those as well, but POR was def. nicer. The family suites are looking more and more attractive, as we have 3 kids, ages 13, 10, and 7. It would be very nice to have a master bedroom for me & DH! The trundle bed at POR is small, and my DS would have to sleep in it (10yo) because my 2 other children are girls and would share the bed. With the Family Suites, each of my 3 would have their own bed! Not to mention, my DH would be very happy to have privacy for....sleeping !