Help Deciding Where to stay Value or other resort

[tcherjen]

I haven't booked yet, I can't till middle January. We are looking to go to Disney from March 13-18. It is a very expensive time to go, but I'm a teacher and it is one of the only do able times for breaks. Summer are very packed and I don't think the kids will wait that long. So a few things: We are Florida residents, so we may purchase the seasonal pass for our family. We went down for DD 16th birthday and stayed at POP Century.

My dh hated pop. It was so reasonable with the price, but he just didn't enjoy it. He wants to stay at a monerail resort, but I can not fathom paying that much money to stay there. Is there anyone that didn't like pop, but liked the other value resorts? I looked at Port Orleans Riverside, but a family of 5 can't get the Royal Room and the other rooms didn't seem as great. Any help is apprecitated.

 

[lthiesfeld07]

Hi!
Fellow teacher here! My spring break is March 24-31. I am heading down then!
I do not care for Pop either. I prefer All Star Music and Movies. I have stayed at Port Orleans-Riverside and loved it! I loved how quaint it was. If I had a choice to stay between All Stars and Riverside, I would choose Riverside. (I am traveling solo, so I can't justify spending the extra $$ for a mod)

I would love to stay at a monorail resort too! It depends on what kind of vacation you are taking. If you plan on spending time at the resort, a deluxe might be worth it!

 

[tcherjen]

I will have to look at the Movies Resort. Looking at the Riverside room, I don't think anyone would want to sleep on that small pull down bed. Plus I feel like my youngest would be disappointed she didn't get to stay in the Royal Room.

 

[MariDisney]

You may know this, but just in case. Because you are a family of 5 at a value resort you will either need a suite or 2 rooms.

 

[tcherjen]

You may know this, but just in case. Because you are a family of 5 at a value resort you will either need a suite or 2 rooms.

Yes, thank you so much!! I am still trying to decide if booking two value would be a good deal. I thought Pop was fun and cute, but DH didn't like it at all. I just can't justify paying so much for any other rooms. I wish the Royal rooms at POR were for a family of 5. DD 6 would of loved it.

 

[Caseheidi]

Just my experience, but most little kids don't seem really care about the room because they are more excited about the parks. All they have cared about was a place to sleep and going to the park. I remember reading somewhere here on the DIS that after discovering this, they decided the parks were for the kids, and got the room to please the adults. I really love this ideology and am adopting it in our family.

I love PO and find it a lovely place to relax with a family. Lots to do there.

 

[kdog_1981]

WL or BC are cheaper than monorail resorts. BC is walking distances from Epcot and HS. WL is a boat ride from MK. Great for families of 5.

 

[disneydreamkate]

I agree with the previous poster who said that young kids don't care all that much about the room they are staying in. That said, I love POR. Yes, you would be in the AB section, but the rooms have just been refurbished and the resort is beautiful, much more relaxing than a value, and you can escape the "in your face" Disney theming after a long day at the parks. They have the boat to DTD and we always found the bus service to be just fine. Another more expensive option is Fort Wilderness cabins. You would definitely have more room and a full kitchen. I personally did not care for the cabins and would not recommend them if you will be purchasing the DDP. Lots of people love them though. Also, AKL is a "cheaper" deluxe. Not sure if there standard rooms sleep 5 though. Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[minnie mum]

OP, I understand the dilemma that you are facing, but agree with the PP who said that kids really don't care that much about the resort room that they are in. As for your DH- sounds like mine. I told him that when he gets the salary that will permit him to indulge his champagne tastes, THEN he can indulge. Until then we stick to the resorts that are affordable. We limit our stays at deluxe resorts to the value seasons.

If it was the over-the-top theming and small rooms/double beds that he didn't like, then I'm not sure that he would like any of the other value resorts. You might want to look more closely at the family suites available at AsMu. The bedroom there has a queen bed. And the cost is pretty much the same as 2 value rooms.

The AB room is larger than the value rooms and your DH might enjoy the resort's theme more. I don't think your youngest would have a problem sleeping in the murphy bed.

 

[ChristineNic]

Look in the Swan/Dolphin. I think they can accomodate 5 to a room. They are niceer than a Disney Mod, but less expensive than a Disney Deluxe. They also offer a teacher discount.

 

[nessz79]

I agree with looking into the Swan/Dolphin. We are fellow teachers and we love the Swan/Dolphin. Walking distance to Epcot and HS and the rates are similar to a moderate for a lot more resort.

 

[jsw1114]

Our family of five has stayed at pop in 08 movies in 11 and POR in 12 I loved pop hated movies and enjoyed POR we did the bounce back and r going back to POR because my husband loved it I myself would go back to pop because I loved the in ur face Disney but POR is so quiet and it felt like we were in the woods it was peaceful my 12 year old loved the Murphy bed all three kids ended up taking turns sleeping on it. My only complain was a two adults and a 12 year old boy a 10 year old girl and 7 year old girl were just a little too cramped this year we r staying in two bayou rooms and taking grandma
I would love to stay deluxe but it's impossible for us to go stay as long as we do and have lots of play money

 

[MrRomance]

I guess I should say from the off that I have never stayed at a value resort. I have visited almost all of them to eat though, including Pop and AoA. Some people might call me a bit of an elitist and for some people the Value resorts are just what they are looking for, but for me, they are too "in your face" and "Disney". I can completely understand your DH feelings on Pop, because I couldn't stay there either. That's not to say there is anything "wrong" with them or that they're not OK for people who like the bright, loud resorts or who really only view the room as somewhere to sleep.

We have stayed at POR and CBR in the moderate category and you do notice a big jump in quality and facilities. I preferred CBR but POR is a very attractive resort. We were in the AB section and there were 2 double beds and a pull down bed which is suitable for younger kids.

The Monorail resorts are really pricey, but you're paying for the convenience and superior facilties. Our resort of choice is SSR which is deluxe but prices are closer to the moderates.

The ideal location would YC, BC or BW, because you can walk to EP and HS, but you can also pick up the monorail from EP. If money were no object, then obviously staying at CR, WL, Poly or GF is great, but the price is definitely a killer. You could consider renting DVC points, which works out a bit cheaper, especially for BC or BW.

 

[LovesTimone]

We tried a value once and never again. DH said never again and we only stay one night, before going to our home resort POFQ the next day.

YOu could go for a mod'- with 5 check out POR depending on the age of you kiddos this might work,
or
I would go for a family suite at AOA, more space and 2 bathrooms, might work better. Some friends just stayed there and they are a family of 5 and it worked out great.

 

[Marthasor]

I agree with looking into the Swan/Dolphin. We are fellow teachers and we love the Swan/Dolphin. Walking distance to Epcot and HS and the rates are similar to a moderate for a lot more resort.

I'm jumping on the Swan/Dolphin bandwagon. We take multiple trips to WDW each year and we wanted to take a last minute trip earlier this month. We always stay deluxe (except for one trip to AoA this past June - I will never stay value again). I had missed all the promos and the AAA discount wasn't very good, so I decided to look into Swan/Dolphin. We got an INCREDIBLE rate, probably cheaper than a mod for our timeframe and had a fantastic time. The rooms are big, the restaurants are fantastic, staff wonderful and we walked to EP and took the boat to HS just as we would have if we had stayed at BC/YC or BWI. I would definitely stay there again. We were in the Central Tower of the Dolphin on a high floor and saw the Fantasmic and Illuminations fireworks from our room every night.

I really think this would be a good compromise for your family - the amenities of a deluxe resort at more affordable prices. Highly recommend!

 

[tcherjen]

Thank for all the suggestions! I have looked at Swan and Dolphin and priced it with the teacher discount, but it is still higher than POR. I think we probably end up at POR. It looks like a fantastic resort.