First time staying on property... Help!

[celina14]

Hi everyone! We are planning a November 2016 trip for my daughter's 5th birthday!! It will be myself, DH, DD5 & DS2. We've never stayed on property before so I'd appreciate some help
In choosing which resort. Our budget limits us to moderate or value resorts but the only value I'm really considering is Art of Animation (DH isn't too keen on this, he'd rather a mod). Which resort would be best with the 2 little ones? Which is easiest in terms of transportation to and from the parks? Thanks!!

 

[FantasiaMagic]

I'd appreciate some help
In choosing which resort.

For convenience to the parks your best would be a deluxe, but as they are very pricey, there are many other great places to stay in Disney.

But I love AoA! I stayed there this past Spring with my 5 friends in the Finding Nemo room. (If you want to see some pictures of our room you can look at my TR below!)
I don't know if you would want a suite or not. We found the room to be great. With the master bedroom & bath, kitchenette, and second bathroom it was just wonderful.
The resort itself is just great. Awesome theming, good food court, We also found the busses to be very reliable.

As for moderates, I have never stayed but always loved POR and POFQ. Such beautiful resorts. POR also has Royal rooms, which may be something your daughters would enjoy. They also have boats to DTD (or DisneySprings).

Good luck deciding!

 

[minnie mum]

AoA is cute, with over the top Disney icons everywhere you turn BUT the Little Mermaid rooms are a Loooooong way from the main building and bus stop and the suites, while closer, are more expensive than a standard mod.

We've stayed at all of the mods multiple times and I don't think you'd go wrong with any of them, but for your family I think POFQ would suit you best. It's small, with only one bus stop and no room is very far from the main building.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

It is a little pricier than a moderate, even though it is in the moderate category, but the FW cabins would be a nice choice -- they are easy access to the MK via their own boats, which makes it nice for back and forth afternoon naps, and there is so much to do just at the Fort that you could have a couple of resort days which the kids would love. I think the cabins run around 300 per night with a discount.

Tom

 

[RustManFan]

Your kids are the perfect ages to consider staying at CBR! We loved it there and only moved to POR when the kids were older and we only really appreciate the non-Disney atmosphere of the resort.

 

[cantoine]

Hi everyone! We are planning a November 2016 trip for my daughter's 5th birthday!! It will be myself, DH, DD5 & DS2. We've never stayed on property before so I'd appreciate some help
In choosing which resort. Our budget limits us to moderate or value resorts but the only value I'm really considering is Art of Animation (DH isn't too keen on this, he'd rather a mod). Which resort would be best with the 2 little ones? Which is easiest in terms of transportation to and from the parks? Thanks!!

For my daughters 5th birthday we stayed at port Orleans river side in the princess room! It was simply beautiful! They are usually included in the fall discount promotions or the free dining. We have stayed at POR 3 times in the past and each time it is truly an amazing trip! The resort has so many activities for the family to do and the food is very good. It also is one of the few resorts that has a sister resort POFQ which is out absolute fav. And you can use the amenities at FQ such as the dragon slide pool without breaking the pool hopping rules! The resort architecture, food options at both FQ and POR are amazing and the CM's are friendly and go above and beyond! There is a boat to downtown and carriage rides, surrey bike rentals and transportation to the parks is quick and easy.

We stayed at AOA last summer. And we're very disappointed. We stayed in a nemo suit and where we loved the room the resort just wasn't what we were hoping for. Over crowded, rude people, and lack of towels and life jackets at the pool. My husband said never again. He had to go to the front desk soakin wet to get the family towels because no one informed us that we had to get towels before we went to the pool because so many people were stealing them they don't leave them out at the pool. Bell services was so busy they couldn't help us with ou luggage and we couldn't do the checkin for our flight at the resort! Lugging 12 bags through an airport with 4 kids 2 toddlers was not fun at all. After that experience he said he will never stay at a value again!

No matter what resort you choose for your family know it's Disney and she will have a blast no matter what! I will also be there in November 2016 celebrating our daughters 5th and have already begun the planning! We are going back and fourth between POR and CB! Heads up cinderellas castle does a great birthday package reasonably priced that gets her a cake and balloon and tiara at your meal if you are planning on eating there! You will make her birthday a memorable one for sure! good luck

 

[ellie05]

AoA is the only value we would consider returning, but as mention before LM rooms are far away. We didn't use Disney transportation that trip so I can't comment on that. I would suggest you rent DVC points and stay at the poly studio. The monorail makes it way easier for transportation. We never stayed at the poly(theme doesn't appeal to us), but with kids I can see a huge advantage. You will need to rent points and make that reservation as soon as possible if you want to get that room.

I agree with everyone that is saying a good alternative is POR our favorite moderate, again I can't comment on transportation.

 

[celina14]

Maybe we'll see you there cantione! Thank for the info on the resort and CRT! We ate at CRT last time we were there but my daughter was only 2 so I think she'd love a birthday meal there. I'm definitely going to try and book that on her bday when the time comes.

 

[celina14]

AoA is the only value we would consider returning, but as mention before LM rooms are far away. We didn't use Disney transportation that trip so I can't comment on that. I would suggest you rent DVC points and stay at the poly studio. The monorail makes it way easier for transportation. We never stayed at the poly(theme doesn't appeal to us), but with kids I can see a huge advantage. You will need to rent points and make that reservation as soon as possible if you want to get that room.

I agree with everyone that is saying a good alternative is POR our favorite moderate, again I can't comment on transportation.

I honestly have no idea where to begin to look into renting points but I'll definitely research it. Ideally I'd love to stay at the Poly due to the convenience of the monorail but it is not in our budget but maybe with renting points it would be. Thanks!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I honestly have no idea where to begin to look into renting points but I'll definitely research it. Ideally I'd love to stay at the Poly due to the convenience of the monorail but it is not in our budget but maybe with renting points it would be. Thanks!

I;ve found that with points, a studio is more expensive than a Moderate, but hella cheaper than the Poly normally.

 

[cantoine]

Maybe we'll see you there cantione! Thank for the info on the resort and CRT! We ate at CRT last time we were there but my daughter was only 2 so I think she'd love a birthday meal there. I'm definitely going to try and book that on her bday when the time comes.

My pleasure! I took my daughter who is now 7 to BBB in downtown, spurlged for the big package (only on their 5th) and then took her right next store for her photos which were included in the package! The we got on the bus to go back to POR and the driver of the bus flipped a switch on the bus and the announcer came on and said " ladies and gentlemen please stand we have a Disney princess riding with us today" I was in tears at all the people who started to cheer for her. Then we took some beautiful photos of our own at POR in their gardens and by the mansion buildings! They turned out beautiful. We went to MK and did her dinner and they really did it up for her. A balloon on our table, with confetti, and they brought out her tiara on a pillow and her dad got to crown her princess of the day, then we had a glass slipper engraved for her and hey brought that out, and then the cake was so beautiful and delicious! It was a wonderful day filled with so many memories! We ended the evening with a carriage ride at riverside through the FQ. Perfect birthday for any princess!!!! My other daughter wants nothing to do with princesses she is all about talking like a pirate! So CB it is

 

[celina14]

My pleasure! I took my daughter who is now 7 to BBB in downtown, spurlged for the big package (only on their 5th) and then took her right next store for her photos which were included in the package! The we got on the bus to go back to POR and the driver of the bus flipped a switch on the bus and the announcer came on and said " ladies and gentlemen please stand we have a Disney princess riding with us today" I was in tears at all the people who started to cheer for her. Then we took some beautiful photos of our own at POR in their gardens and by the mansion buildings! They turned out beautiful. We went to MK and did her dinner and they really did it up for her. A balloon on our table, with confetti, and they brought out her tiara on a pillow and her dad got to crown her princess of the day, then we had a glass slipper engraved for her and hey brought that out, and then the cake was so beautiful and delicious! It was a wonderful day filled with so many memories! We ended the evening with a carriage ride at riverside through the FQ. Perfect birthday for any princess!!!! My other daughter wants nothing to do with princesses she is all about talking like a pirate! So CB it is

That is so awesome! I'm sure it was all so magical for your daughter. My daughter is all about the princesses so she'd love that. She's dying to go back to Disney so I can't wait for this trip!

 

[SA mom]

We stayed at French Quarter for our daughters' 7th birthday. They loved it. Our kids also loved Coronado Springs, but a lot of the rooms are sort of far from food.

Food for thought: the Swan and Dolphin are run by Starwood (Sheraton and Westin). You can get their Starwood AmEx card and accumulate points. With the signing bonus, you would probably have enough points for half of your stay. While not technically Disney, you do have access to extra magic hours, Disney transportation to the parks (not Magical Express, though), and the Epcot view rooms at night are pretty magical. With the money you save on lodging, you can throw in some really neat experiences. We do this, we haven't paid for lodging since 2008.