Favorite resort for a one night stay before cruise?

[connie1042]

We are flying in, arriving the day before at 11am. We are going to use fly, snooze and cruise in Cocoa Beach, by the pier.

 

[Dug720]

I thought about it and decided to splurge. Value Studio at AKL Jambo House! I'll shoot for an early seating breakfast at Boma and then chill in the lobby before getting picked up!

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

We did a value for the first time before our last cruise thinking we are splurging on the cruise and attending MNSSHP - but next time if staying at WDW for a day only before the cruise I would skip the park and just stay at the deluxe like Wilderness Lodge or Poly. Enjoy the resort, eat at Ohana, take a spin on the monorail... etc.
We are not snooty people but turns out Value resorts are not for us. DS missed the slide. I missed the "grown up" atmosphere of any deluxe or moderate. The value was loud and colorful with just an ok pool. Go for a nice deluxe for one night if you can

 

[Dug720]

We did a value for the first time before our last cruise thinking we are splurging on the cruise and attending MNSSHP - but next time if staying at WDW for a day only before the cruise I would skip the park and just stay at the deluxe like Wilderness Lodge or Poly. Enjoy the resort, eat at Ohana, take a spin on the monorail... etc.
We are not snooty people but turns out Value resorts are not for us. DS missed the slide. I missed the "grown up" atmosphere of any deluxe or moderate. The value was loud and colorful with just an ok pool. Go for a nice deluxe for one night if you can

My biggest issue with the Values is the bed size. Doubles. Unless you're "lucky" enough to get a HA room which has a King. Of course then you sacrifice the tub for the water-room type thing. A big part of staying in a hotel for me is being able to take a bath since my NYC apartment only has a shower. It's a treat to be able to run a hot bath and just soak for a little while.. So an HA room just to get a king wouldn't do it for me.

The Mods and Deluxes have Queen and King in non-HA rooms - with the exception of the Pirate Rooms at CBR which are doubles.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

We are DVC so SSR for us then we have Disney Springs for shopping and dining before we go. If not enough points left then a value like All Stars.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

My biggest issue with the Values is the bed size. Doubles. Unless you're "lucky" enough to get a HA room which has a King. Of course then you sacrifice the tub for the water-room type thing. A big part of staying in a hotel for me is being able to take a bath since my NYC apartment only has a shower. It's a treat to be able to run a hot bath and just soak for a little while.. So an HA room just to get a king wouldn't do it for me.

The Mods and Deluxes have Queen and King in non-HA rooms - with the exception of the Pirate Rooms at CBR which are doubles.

Yes!
Beds were double, forgot about that.
I thought CBR pirate rooms got recently renovated? Did they leave the double beds? I know the rest of CBR got queen.

 

[Dug720]

Yes!
Beds were double, forgot about that.
I thought CBR pirate rooms got recently renovated? Did they leave the double beds? I know the rest of CBR got queen.

Pirate Rooms are still double because of the Pirate beds.

 

[Dug720]

We are DVC so SSR for us then we have Disney Springs for shopping and dining before we go. If not enough points left then a value like All Stars.

Just as a clarification for any newbies, you do not HAVE to be staying at SSR to go to Disney Springs. It's just the closest resort to Disney Springs.

I'm staying at AKL and fully intend to spend my afternoon and evening at Disney Springs. I looked at SSR, but it came down to I've stayed there before and the horse theme just doesn't do it for me - plus I love AKL (snd DAK), and I like that I can have a great breakfast at Boma on my embarkation day and not have to stress about getting between resorts. TBH the quick service place at SSR doesn't thrill me either.

But that's why it's great there are all these options for different tastes!!

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

Pirate Rooms are still double because of the Pirate beds.

Gotcha, they have those special headboards... well even more reason NOT to upgrade to those rooms... remote location and double beds and more $.

 

[Dug720]

Gotcha, they have those special headboards... well even more reason NOT to upgrade to those rooms... remote location and double beds and more $.

Agreed. I arrived once for Marathon Weekend and discovered on the way to the resort via DME that I'd been "upgraded" to a Pirate Room. I simply went to the online check-in desk (would have had to anyway as this was before you could just go to your room) and asked very nicely if they could please "downgrade" me to my booked category and give a family with a kid who would love it the pixie dust of a Pirate Room. Turns out I got upgraded from my reserved category into a corner king preferred room.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

Agreed. I arrived once for Marathon Weekend and discovered on the way to the resort via DME that I'd been "upgraded" to a Pirate Room. I simply went to the online check-in desk (would have had to anyway as this was before you could just go to your room) and asked very nicely if they could please "downgrade" me to my booked category and give a family with a kid who would love it the pixie dust of a Pirate Room. Turns out I got upgraded from my reserved category into a corner king preferred room.

Nice!
I would have downgraded in this instance as well.