First Timer Resort Advice Needed

[spellhex]

Okay, the title is a lie. I've visited the World once back in 2001 when I was 9, but that hardly counts, right?

Anyways, I'm planning a trip for this summer and don't even know where to start. As background, I'm a Disneyland vet - was an AP for two years, have gone more times than I can count, and know which hotels to stay at. I've even planned/booked a trip on a Tuesday and flew down that Saturday!

My friend and I (both mid-20s girls who are eying the whole "drink around the world" thing at Epcot) want to visit in the summer when I can get time off at work. Which can either be as early as May, or late as September - I won't know until about mid-April (the beauty of working for a sports team is that you never know when you can take a vacation). Probably more in the August/September range, though.

We're looking at a week or so (fly in on a Sunday and fly back on a Saturday type of deal), and because we hail from the uber expensive SF Bay Area, we'd prefer to keep it fairly inexpensive (~$150/night or so). But we're also not afraid to spend a little more money if it maximizes our time in the parks - being Disneyland vets, we're used to the whole "15 minute walk from your hotel to the park" thing. So probably looking at a Value or Moderate resort.

Anyways, which resorts give the best bang for you buck while also typifying a Walt Disney World experience? So used to either paying mucho dinero for one of the three Disney hotels, or $160/night for a Harbor motel.

 

[megs1313]

bang for your buck: Port Orleans Riverside or Port Orleans French Quarter

 

[spellhex]

I've been looking at both the Port Orleans resorts and really like the theming. Any preference as to which one/what are some cool features that they have?

 

[megs1313]

I've been looking at both the Port Orleans resorts and really like the theming. Any preference as to which one/what are some cool features that they have?

I prefer the theming of POR, but YMMV. The only other major difference between the two, for me, is the size of each.

POR Pros:
-theming
-pool
-grounds
-yehaa bob
-magic bars

POR Cons:
-large/spread out resort
-lots of bus stops

POFQ Pros:
-beignets!
-compact resort

POFQ Cons:
-no table service restaurant

*both resorts have boats to Disney Springs
*these are sister resorts, so you *can* pool hop between them and enjoy amenities at either

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I agree with either POFQ and POR. Beautiful resorts with boat service to DS. If you are trying to save money, just book whichever is cheapest! They share resort amenities, so you aren't losing out by choosing one over the other.

 

[AllieBoo]

We prefer POFQ over POR. We like that POFQ is a smaller resort with only one bus stop.

 

[Indio]

If you're wanting to keep it around the $150 mark, you'll need to stay at one of the value resorts. Pop Century is our go to. We love it. Art of Animation is a little more expensive but its a great resort also - really good food court. The All-Star resorts are good too - cheapest of the realm. The pools are good at all of the values - big pools but no slides. If you plan to spend most of your time in the parks, I'd go with one of these. No need to spend the extra money if you just plan to sleep.

 

[Ensusieasm]

Okay, the title is a lie. I've visited the World once back in 2001 when I was 9, but that hardly counts, right?

Anyways, I'm planning a trip for this summer and don't even know where to start. As background, I'm a Disneyland vet - was an AP for two years, have gone more times than I can count, and know which hotels to stay at. I've even planned/booked a trip on a Tuesday and flew down that Saturday!

My friend and I (both mid-20s girls who are eying the whole "drink around the world" thing at Epcot) want to visit in the summer when I can get time off at work. Which can either be as early as May, or late as September - I won't know until about mid-April (the beauty of working for a sports team is that you never know when you can take a vacation). Probably more in the August/September range, though.

We're looking at a week or so (fly in on a Sunday and fly back on a Saturday type of deal), and because we hail from the uber expensive SF Bay Area, we'd prefer to keep it fairly inexpensive (~$150/night or so). But we're also not afraid to spend a little more money if it maximizes our time in the parks - being Disneyland vets, we're used to the whole "15 minute walk from your hotel to the park" thing. So probably looking at a Value or Moderate resort.

Anyways, which resorts give the best bang for you buck while also typifying a Walt Disney World experience? So used to either paying mucho dinero for one of the three Disney hotels, or $160/night for a Harbor motel.

I would usually say Port Orleans Riverside, and so I'm going to still mention it.
However, it is now pet dog friendly, so if it's okay with you to hear barking in the room next door where a dog can be left alone for up to seven hours, or to have a room with lingering doggy odors, then POR is the way to go.

 

[sponica]

Okay, the title is a lie. I've visited the World once back in 2001 when I was 9, but that hardly counts, right?

Anyways, I'm planning a trip for this summer and don't even know where to start. As background, I'm a Disneyland vet - was an AP for two years, have gone more times than I can count, and know which hotels to stay at. I've even planned/booked a trip on a Tuesday and flew down that Saturday!

My friend and I (both mid-20s girls who are eying the whole "drink around the world" thing at Epcot) want to visit in the summer when I can get time off at work. Which can either be as early as May, or late as September - I won't know until about mid-April (the beauty of working for a sports team is that you never know when you can take a vacation). Probably more in the August/September range, though.

We're looking at a week or so (fly in on a Sunday and fly back on a Saturday type of deal), and because we hail from the uber expensive SF Bay Area, we'd prefer to keep it fairly inexpensive (~$150/night or so). But we're also not afraid to spend a little more money if it maximizes our time in the parks - being Disneyland vets, we're used to the whole "15 minute walk from your hotel to the park" thing. So probably looking at a Value or Moderate resort.

Anyways, which resorts give the best bang for you buck while also typifying a Walt Disney World experience? So used to either paying mucho dinero for one of the three Disney hotels, or $160/night for a Harbor motel.

Best bang for the buck would probably be the Port Orleans hotels, but they are above the 150/night. If you're set on that price point, look at Pop Century. Downside is no table service restaurant and the only bar is a pool bar. If you're just looking for a bed to sleep in though, I've stayed there in my 20s and loved it (just spring for preferred because it's kind of a big place). Downside is that it's far(ish) from just about everything.

If Caribbean beach is done with their construction, it might be worth looking at. But people have vastly different opinions on CBR, I feel like it's either OMG I LOVED IT or NEVER EVER GO THERE. There doesn't seem to be a middle ground.

 

[sndral]

Unlike DL, you're better off planning @ least 4 months in advance to get ADRs for popular dinning spots and you certainly want to have your plans in place before 60 days out so you can use that 60 day FP+ head start which you get for staying on site particularly for the new and wildly popular FOP @ AK.
Follow the discount threads here on the DIS to get info. on when discounts are announced to avoid paying rack rate for WDW hotels - where you end up staying may in part be driven by which WDW resort has the best discount available for your stay. Airfare from SFO is better after school is back in session - so Sept. might be a good bet.
The one thing I tell friends/co-workers who are DL vets planning their first WDW trip is that WDW is much more spread out - no matter where you stay you'll be far from something. POFQ/POR are very nice 'moderate' resorts with a tranquil boat ride to/from Disney Springs, if you stay there consider a meal @ Raglan Road, the Irish pub in DS. Unlike DL @ WDW you'll have lots of dinning options - Epcot alone has great counter service choices in each country.
I haven't stayed at any of the value resorts - but the newest, AOA looks really cool and POP seems very popular here on the DIS, but if I were a mid twenty something on my first trip that will be very park focused I'd be ok w/ staying at any of the value resorts if that's what fit my budget best.
Good luck, how exciting, I'm sure you'll have a blast wherever you stay and whenever you go

 

[Shellyred8]

From the perspective that you are used to walking everywhere, I would recommend looking at the resorts in the Epcot area. Yes, they are more expensive. However, I think being able to walk to EPCOT and HS is a big benefit, especially if you plan to "drink around the world" at EPCOT. At the end of the day, you just have to walk back to your resort. No trying to make your way to the front of the park and then wait for the bus.

The Moderate resorts are nice places to stay, but you have to take a bus everywhere (to and from).

From a crowd perspective, I would recommend going towards the end of August or beginning of September. If you are OK with the heat and humidity, the crowd levels are quite tolerable at this time.

Have a great trip!!

 

[sponica]

From a crowd perspective, I would recommend going towards the end of August or beginning of September. If you are OK with the heat and humidity, the crowd levels are quite tolerable at this time.

Have a great trip!!

The crowds are definitely more tolerable, and as long as you're expecting heat and humidity, you should be fine.

 

[KenHutch]

Except for your price I would say FQ, we have stayed at POR twice and POFQ twice. FQ easily wins everything is compact and easy to reach the theming is first rate. And if you have to have a sit down meal outside of the parks the walk to POR is pleasant and very short or take the boat.

 

[spellhex]

Thanks for the advice, everyone! We'll definitely look into Port Orleans and Pop Century - it'll probably depend on the airfare we can get out of OAK or SJC, but our budget should be around $150-200.

Being from California, I'm a little apprehensive about the concept of "humidity"... but if it's cheaper and there's A/C everywhere I could probably deal haha.

Forgive me if this is an obvious question, but is table service dining a huge thing at WDW? The only time I've made reservations was for Blue Bayou and Club 33, and those are once every five trips kind of things. Will there be a lot of counter service options? We're very much used to going with the flow/winging it all.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

POR Pros:
-theming
-pool
-grounds
-yehaa bob
-magic bars

Hi, I've been there, but not sure what you mean by magic bars?

Table service dining at WDW does need to be booked six months ahead if you want to be sure to get in to the more popular restaurants. People book them farther ahead than is typical for California. Yes, there are a lot of counter service options, so you could stick with those if you don't like planning so far ahead. You might also be able to wander in to some of the less busy table service restaurants, or sit at the bar and order off the regular menu, for restaurants that have a bar.

 

[Disneyhenry]

If you go the ed of Aug there is a very good chance they will offer free dining ( never happens at DLR) that will save you money.
You will probably need to stay at a value resort, don't let that scare you they are still nice and a lot of fun. And the free dining at the value resort is usually 2 quick service meals a day, you can pay for the upgrade to 1 QS and 1 sit down restaurant and in 2018 the sit down includes alcohol yeay!

As previous ones said, at WDW you have to make your dining reservations 6 months out and your fast passes are 60 days prior, it is very important that you read your booklet that you receive a few weeks after you put your $200 deposit down, your dates will all be in there
Even with me knowing all this I missed my dining reservation window due to my aunt passing away when it opened. I was super busy planning a funeral ( we bury our loved ones within 3 days of them passing) a week later and we couldn't get Sci-fi reservations! Our fav place too!

Have fun!

 

[maramarrie]

Bang for your buck: AKL or Coronado are good options as well. AKL is usually far cheaper than other deluxe resorts, and the "only" downside is the distance from parks other than AK. It's an amazing resort, far undervalued in my opinion. Walking resorts are at Epcot and will cost an arm and a leg like the DL properties. The walk is a little longer, too...more like Harbor hotels. Value resorts will be in the price range of the Harbor hotels. I haven't stayed in any of them because we're usually looking for queen beds, but the theming looks really fun to me (especially Movies and AoA).

If you want to "drink around the world" look during the dates of the Food & Wine Festival in the fall. You'll have many more options and fun variety with snack size foods and tasting sized drink portions as well. You can "try everything." When we go during F&W we don't even bother with TS reservations. We LOVE F&W fest: snack size portions, eat as we go, try this and that, really good flavors.

If you want to stress about ADRs, go for it. Planing 6 months out will get you exactly what you want, when you want it (if you know already where you'll be and when). That said, probably 50% of our WDW vacations were planned in under 2 months, so ADRs are always last minute. Still, I've rarely had trouble getting a reservation that I wanted. I might have to be flexible on time or day and build my day around that. In fact, I've done it enough now that I can see there are ADRs opening up all the time, and I almost never book in advance. I will wait until a day or two before, look at what's available and where we will be, and book. Same day works too: I've been hungry in Magic Kingdom, looked for dinner available within the hour in either MK or a monorail hotel, hopped on the monorail to Polynesian, and had a nice meal. If we can't find something we're in the mood for same-day, we eat quick service and live with it. There are a lot of good quick service options, too. However, DH and I agree, there seem to be more "fresh" options in DL/CA than there are in WDW. Many of our all-time favorite Disney restaurants/recipes are in DL/CA. Many QS locations at WDW will have various fried food options, but there are a few stand-outs that offer flavors other than the burgers/chicken & fries.

 

[Ensusieasm]

Thanks for the advice, everyone! We'll definitely look into Port Orleans and Pop Century - it'll probably depend on the airfare we can get out of OAK or SJC, but our budget should be around $150-200.

Being from California, I'm a little apprehensive about the concept of "humidity"... but if it's cheaper and there's A/C everywhere I could probably deal haha.

Forgive me if this is an obvious question, but is table service dining a huge thing at WDW? The only time I've made reservations was for Blue Bayou and Club 33, and those are once every five trips kind of things. Will there be a lot of counter service options? We're very much used to going with the flow/winging it all.

There are many good quick service restaurants in all the parks and resorts, so you won't go hungry even without any table service reservations. Enjoy!

 

[NH-to-FL]

Being from California, I'm a little apprehensive about the concept of "humidity"... but if it's cheaper and there's A/C everywhere I could probably deal haha.

You are right to be apprehensive. The humidity is oppressive. Especially if you are not used to it. DW and I spent 5 years in the south bay area and became quite spoiled by California summers. One advantage of an early September visit is that the crowds are lower so you can focus your "stress" energy on the heat. Do not underestimate the impact of the mid day Florida sun walking through the parks with temps in the mid 90's and dew points in the mid 70's. Consider planning mid day breaks and doing the parks early in the morning and in the evening. Better to plan for a more relaxed pace and be pleasantly surprised if you can do more.

Forgive me if this is an obvious question, but is table service dining a huge thing at WDW? The only time I've made reservations was for Blue Bayou and Club 33, and those are once every five trips kind of things. Will there be a lot of counter service options? We're very much used to going with the flow/winging it all.

There are plenty of counter service options. Some are good, others not so much. There is a thread running in the Restaurants forum right now on the topic:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/new-to-counter-service-do-tell-you-favorites-please.3642214

If you end up traveling in early September you will probably have the food and wine festival running in Epcot which offers even more possibilities to 'wing it'. In my opinion, for a first WDW visit, there is no need to invest time and money in sit down table service meals unless you really want to.
Wishing you a visit!

 

[megs1313]

Hi, I've been there, but not sure what you mean by magic bars?

magic bars are in the dessert case at riverside mill food court and they are MAGIC!