Help me choose a resort, please!

[partyoffiveplease]

My immediate family of 5 - 2 adults, 2 teenage girls, 2 year old plus 1 teenage girl friend will be visiting along with my brother, his 5 year old daughter and my parents. So there will be a total of 8 adults and 2 children.

This is last minute trip and budget is kind of tight so I am trying to find the most comfortable place for all of us that has a good Disney feel but does not break the bank. This will be the first Disney trip for several and I really want it to FEEL like Disney.

I will need to get 2 rooms for my immediate family and budget wise Shades of Greens (military family) seems like the best. However, I cannot shake the feeling that I need that Disney feeling and I am worried we will not get it at SOG. I have looked at Pop Century and I think it looks within our budget but I still hate the idea of separate rooms. I am also considering cabins at Fort Wilderness. My concerns are travel within the resort, does it have a good "Disney" feel and how is the pool? This will be a mid July trip so a pool will be a necessity. What appeals to me about the cabins is the boat ride to the MK and the fact that you can park at the cabin so we can drive to other parks easily. I am driving myself and my family nuts trying to make a decision so I would love some opinions or other suggestions if anyone has the time.

 

[JennyDrake]

The cabins will limit you to one bathroom. With all of the people you have going, I would *strongly* encourage you to get multiple rooms at a value or rent a 2br DVC resort.

 

[FantasiaMagic]

My immediate family of 5 - 2 adults, 2 teenage girls, 2 year old plus 1 teenage girl friend will be visiting along with my brother, his 5 year old daughter and my parents. So there will be a total of 8 adults and 2 children.

This is last minute trip and budget is kind of tight so I am trying to find the most comfortable place for all of us that has a good Disney feel but does not break the bank. This will be the first Disney trip for several and I really want it to FEEL like Disney.

I will need to get 2 rooms for my immediate family and budget wise Shades of Greens (military family) seems like the best. However, I cannot shake the feeling that I need that Disney feeling and I am worried we will not get it at SOG. I have looked at Pop Century and I think it looks within our budget but I still hate the idea of separate rooms. I am also considering cabins at Fort Wilderness. My concerns are travel within the resort, does it have a good "Disney" feel and how is the pool? This will be a mid July trip so a pool will be a necessity. What appeals to me about the cabins is the boat ride to the MK and the fact that you can park at the cabin so we can drive to other parks easily. I am driving myself and my family nuts trying to make a decision so I would love some opinions or other suggestions if anyone has the time.

First of all, to the DIS!

I have stayed at SoG before. To me, it's ok, nothing special. It didn't have the Disney feel I always want, but it was clean and did it's purpose for our long weekend there. If it were me, I would stay at a Disney resort.

For POP, you can request connecting rooms, but this is not guaranteed.

I have never stayed in the cabins, but just know they only have one bathroom. The boat to MK is a plus though

What about getting a family suite at Art of Animation for your immediate family and your daughter's friend? The room fits up to 6, and had 2 bathrooms and a kitchenette. They are beautiful rooms, I will be staying there with 5 of my friends in a couple of weeks. This may a bit pricey, but it has great amenities and the theme of the resort is just incredible! Then your brother, niece, mom and dad can can a room together or can get separate standard Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation. I can promise you, if you stay here, you will definitely get that Disney feeling. In my opinion, I think this is a great option for your family, but its really up to you to decide what is best!

 

[partyoffiveplease]

Thank you for the responses, yes the concern of only one bathroom and 3 teenage girls is very REAL! I am not sure that I can use military discount on the Art of Animation suites. I believe it was limited to the rooms only. I will need to check on that again.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

Check in to renting DCV points to stay at a two or three bedroom Villa somewhere at a DVC resort. Two bedroom villas sleep 9 people and three BR sleep 12. If you split the cost between all involved you could mitigate the amount for each family. It might be more expensive, but it would put everyone in the same place. When you rent points you are somewhat limited in terms of how your reservation is handled but if your dates are firm it's worth looking into.

 

[tobikaye]

I love FW and the cabins, but if I have only ever stayed there with 4 people total. I think with 5-6 it would feel too tight, unless most of the people staying were small children. With 2 adults, 3 teenagers, and only 1 small child, I think the cabin would feel very small. I am fine with the one bathroom for 4 people, but with more than that, you are more likely to have issues with more than one person needing it at the same time.

As for the Disney feel at FW, it will appeal to some, but not all. It is Disney to me, without being in your face Disney, but I have stayed here 3 times.

 

[partyoffiveplease]

Check in to renting DCV points to stay at a two or three bedroom Villa somewhere at a DVC resort. Two bedroom villas sleep 9 people and three BR sleep 12. If you split the cost between all involved you could mitigate the amount for each family. It might be more expensive, but it would put everyone in the same place. When you rent points you are somewhat limited in terms of how your reservation is handled but if your dates are firm it's worth looking into.

I would love to do this but it seems very costly to me. I am a little intimidated by it too. I need to research it more as well. I feel like I am running out of time though! Thanks for suggestion

 

[partyoffiveplease]

Check in to renting DCV points to stay at a two or three bedroom Villa somewhere at a DVC resort. Two bedroom villas sleep 9 people and three BR sleep 12. If you split the cost between all involved you could mitigate the amount for each family. It might be more expensive, but it would put everyone in the same place. When you rent points you are somewhat limited in terms of how your reservation is handled but if your dates are firm it's worth looking into.

Which resort offers a 3 BR villa?

 

[ncdj2013]

I priced out 2 rooms v s a family suite and 2 rooms came out a little cheaper. You get better beds that way and 2 bathrooms but no kitchenette

 

[wdwjeffc37]

They call them Grand Villas. I think all of them except the new Poly DVC.

 

[deannaf87]

I think Little Mermaid rooms at AoA would be a good fit.

 

[Babsy]

Would you get your discount at the suites at ASMu? 2 suites there should fit everyone. Otherwise a suite and two preferred rooms might work out well. The suites are in the Jazz Inn and the preferred rooms are in Calypso buildings so you would be fairly close together either way. Take a look at the sleeping facilities and decide if everyone in your party would have something to sleep on that would be comfortable for them. Otherwise, rooms at Pop Century would be excellent value and would come with the added plus of easy access to AoA across thE bridge next door. Fun to walk around for photo ops and the food court.

 

[PirateD]

I can certainly understand your dilemma! We are hoping for a trip for 10 of us in December. We have been exploring options at FW cabins, A of A, Pop, ASMu, and a couple of Mods. Currently, we are leaning towards A of A and ASMu with ASMu in the lead because my parents and sister and her husband think they would prefer 2 rooms vs. a family suite and the Little Mermaid rooms are not usually included in free dining (fingers crossed we can get free dining for ASMu for our dates).

We have all stayed at ASMu before and really enjoyed it. It definitely felt Disney to us. My parents stayed at CBR one year and say that they actually prefer ASMu. A of A looks amazing but the suites at ASMu are less expensive, and we like the theming there. The food court has just been renovated and it looks great from the pictures I've seen! It might be a good option to look into.

 

[deannaf87]

Oh, with a military discount I'd choose a moderate (comes out to about same price as LM room, since they don't get discounts). POR?

 

[partyoffiveplease]

I think Little Mermaid rooms at AoA would be a good fit.

I cannot use military discount on the AoA little mermaid rooms but I can on the suites at AoA.

 

[partyoffiveplease]

It is a full time job trying to price all my options haha. I REALLY appreciate everyone's suggestions. I am still crunching numbers and I will be sure to let everyone know what route we go. I made the mistake of looking offsite last night and so now I am rethinking even staying onsite. We can get a MUCH larger suite for a MUCH better price. Ugh, decisions, decisions!!

 

[deannaf87]

It is a full time job trying to price all my options haha. I REALLY appreciate everyone's suggestions. I am still crunching numbers and I will be sure to let everyone know what route we go. I made the mistake of looking offsite last night and so now I am rethinking even staying onsite. We can get a MUCH larger suite for a MUCH better price. Ugh, decisions, decisions!!

Before looking offsite I would look at Shades of Green's family suites. Not "Disney" really, but a great location. You can walk to the Poly to get your Disney feel.

 

[partyoffiveplease]

Before looking offsite I would look at Shades of Green's family suites. Not "Disney" really, but a great location. You can walk to the Poly to get your Disney feel.

I tried that weeks ago but all the suites were booked. Thank you so much for the suggestion though!

 

[deannaf87]

Have you looked into regular rooms there? They are huge. Two queen beds plus a sofa sleeper.

 

[JennyDrake]

With all of the people in your party, I would cast a BIG vote for staying on site; if people want to keep vastly different schedules, go back to room for nap, get up early, stay let, have a headache, WDW transportation allows for great freedom and flexibility.