I'll never decide...

[constantstar]

Would you do a split stay at Port Orleans Royal Room for 4 nights and Wilderness Lodge for 2 ...OR... a full stay in a Cars suite at Art of Animation?

We're a family of 4 with a son turning 3 during the trip and our daughter will be 5. I'm not sure we'd need all the room in the suite. But, it's coming out the same price as the stay at POR & WL. I've already changed my trip a dozen times and I'm sure my TA is over me.

 

[jaceraden]

I'm not a huge fan of moving during such a small length of trip. Especially with young kiddoes. So, I'd probably stay in a Cars suite. Also, I'm not sure how a split stay would work with your kiddo turning 3 midway. Unless you timed the switch correctly, you might be charged for the new 3 year old since split stays are separate reservations. Of course the real issue with being 3 comes in with tickets and dining plan so maybe this is a non issue for you...

 

[Juliet25]

Agree with poster above. Take the suite. You'll love all the extra space and not having to switch resorts. We do split stays every once in a while, but usually it's 2-3 nights at one resort before switching to 6-7 nights at another. For six nights I would not switch.

 

[constantstar]

I'm not a huge fan of moving during such a small length of trip. Especially with young kiddoes. So, I'd probably stay in a Cars suite. Also, I'm not sure how a split stay would work with your kiddo turning 3 midway. Unless you timed the switch correctly, you might be charged for the new 3 year old since split stays are separate reservations. Of course the real issue with being 3 comes in with tickets and dining plan so maybe this is a non issue for you...

I didn't even think about that! The tickets are tied to the first reservation so I think we'd be good. But, I'd hate to chance it.

Agree with poster above. Take the suite. You'll love all the extra space and not having to switch resorts. We do split stays every once in a while, but usually it's 2-3 nights at one resort before switching to 6-7 nights at another. For six nights I would not switch.

Do you think it would be too much room? Last month we stayed moderate and it wasn't bad. I just wish moderate theming was more kid friendly.

 

[DisLaw]

Having just done a split stay with teens I would stay in one place for a 6 night trip. Even my older girls thought it was hard to switch. It's just nicer to get settled once and enjoy. But they are creatures of habit

Me if I was alone would switch every night to check different places out!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Do your kids like Cars? If they enjoy Cars this might be a good age to book a Cars Suite, when they get the most out of the theming.

 

[constantstar]

Me if I was alone would switch every night to check different places out!

Me too! I want to try them all!

Do your kids like Cars? If they enjoy Cars this might be a good age to book a Cars Suite, when they get the most out of the theming.

They love Cars. It's one of the only movies they'll watch.


Maybe switching is too much. So, I guess our question now is royal room or Cars suite.

 

[addiln]

I think I would want the extra room in case the kiddos want a nap or something. This way you still have the extra space. Also doing a split stay for that short of a time with them may be more work then it is worth. I always go for the extra space.

 

[Shanti]

POR/WL. The theming of WL in particular is unforgettable, and it has very nice restaurants.

 

[Ensusieasm]

Would you do a split stay at Port Orleans Royal Room for 4 nights and Wilderness Lodge for 2 ...OR... a full stay in a Cars suite at Art of Animation?

We're a family of 4 with a son turning 3 during the trip and our daughter will be 5. I'm not sure we'd need all the room in the suite. But, it's coming out the same price as the stay at POR & WL. I've already changed my trip a dozen times and I'm sure my TA is over me.

I stayed in a cars suite one night. There is one bed in a small separate bedroom, and a kitchen table that turns into a bed and a sofa that looks like a vinyl bench seat from a car that pulls out into a full bed. What I think is that you would be more comfortable with two queen beds at POR. When my kids were that little they might have had a little problem in a strange place by themselves in the next room on a "sofa" bed. The theming is pretty cool for kids at AoA though. So if you think your kids wouldn't mind being in a separate room in a suite, then only you can say. One more thing I do have to mention... That cars suite was the ugliest hotel room I have ever seen.

 

[Chrelaine]

Without question, I would go with the suite for me and my family. I like to unpack and be settled for my trip, not have to pack it up to move. Just my opinion. Only you can decide for your family.

 

[mickeymom22]

Oh my goodness! What a wonderful decision to make!

We do a lot of split stays! My goal is to stay at all the resorts! Pros: You get to enjoy two resorts! The royal rooms are super! The boats to Disney Springs from POR are really fun and a great way to travel to Disney Springs. The food court there is yummy. The main bus stop has a monitor to tell you when the buses are arriving. WL would be great on your MK days! I have heard the theming there is amazing! I so want to stay there on our next trip! Cons: Having to get settled again.

For our split stays, I pack separate bags for each resort. They will transport your luggage for you so it really isn't too big of a hassle!

AoA: We just recently did a split stay between here and POR royal room! We were in the Little Mermaid section. The theming is great here! The food court never felt crowded. It was yummy food too. The main pool is a lot of fun. When my kiddos were that little, I am not sure they would have been okay with us sleeping in another room..If they are okay with it, it is great to have the extra room.

Have a magical time!

 

[constantstar]

I stayed in a cars suite one night. There is one bed in a small separate bedroom, and a kitchen table that turns into a bed and a sofa that looks like a vinyl bench seat from a car that pulls out into a full bed. What I think is that you would be more comfortable with two queen beds at POR. When my kids were that little they might have had a little problem in a strange place by themselves in the next room on a "sofa" bed. The theming is pretty cool for kids at AoA though. So if you think your kids wouldn't mind being in a separate room in a suite, then only you can say. One more thing I do have to mention... That cars suite was the ugliest hotel room I have ever seen.

Lol, the part about it being ugly cracked me up. When I first started planning, I was thinking Pop standard or AoA Little Mermaid room. I showed both resorts to my husband and he said, "so, tacky or tacky?".

 

[Ensusieasm]

Lol, the part about it being ugly cracked me up. When I first started planning, I was thinking Pop standard or AoA Little Mermaid room. I showed both resorts to my husband and he said, "so, tacky or tacky?".

Ha Ha! The little mermaid room looks cute to me, but it's not a suite. I was supposed to get the little mermaid room but they "upgraded" me to a family suite. I didn't need a suite because I was solo for the night because of flying a day early because of a blizzard forecast. I was happy to get out of there in the morning, and join my friends for a week at Saratoga Springs. I did stay in a Royal a Room at POR and it was very charming. Your little ones would enjoy pushing the button to light up the headboard fireworks.

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

I would do AoA. I think young kids would enjoy the theming. I have never done a split stay because it seems like a lot of work, though I know it is not for many people and that many people love them. In any case, I would not want to move resorts with two kids in tow. POR and WL are beautiful resorts, and my DD really enjoyed a royal room last year, so I can't say that's a bad idea, but I just like the AoA plan for the space and the theming.

 

[HopperFan]

Have done the splits and I always wonder why I did that to us. Now the most I do is a night or two before or after a reservation .. if I have booked a condo week.

I think I would just stay put. AoA is cute and screams Disney. One of the best imagineered hotels and I LOVE the Cars section. You really feel like you are in the movie. I like those suites because they are less cartoony that the others. If you think your kids will settle and sleep out in the big room alone then I think you are fine. If you truly don't think you need all that space, then I would book POR Royal Room. Just got back from our second stay in one and I love them. The kids will love the Royal decor and the fireworks. We're all adults and we love it.

 

[constantstar]

Oh my goodness! What a wonderful decision to make!

We do a lot of split stays! My goal is to stay at all the resorts! Pros: You get to enjoy two resorts! The royal rooms are super! The boats to Disney Springs from POR are really fun and a great way to travel to Disney Springs. The food court there is yummy. The main bus stop has a monitor to tell you when the buses are arriving. WL would be great on your MK days! I have heard the theming there is amazing! I so want to stay there on our next trip! Cons: Having to get settled again.

For our split stays, I pack separate bags for each resort. They will transport your luggage for you so it really isn't too big of a hassle!

AoA: We just recently did a split stay between here and POR royal room! We were in the Little Mermaid section. The theming is great here! The food court never felt crowded. It was yummy food too. The main pool is a lot of fun. When my kiddos were that little, I am not sure they would have been okay with us sleeping in another room..If they are okay with it, it is great to have the extra room.

Have a magical time!

I want to stay at all the resorts, too! Which is helped with both trips as POR I've been to but not AoA or WL. I thought about Little Mermaid rooms but the posts about the long walk to transportation had me worried. I do have the trip ending with 2 MK days while staying at WL. The day we check in is a Christmas party day and my plan is to sleep late, pack the car, and go check in a WL. Then we'll have lunch at Whispering Canyon before heading to the park. The next day we'll go to MK early and head to Fort Wilderness for dinner and the Chip & Dale campfire. Since we're driving, I can pack separate suitcases and I always pack daily outfits in giant ziplocks anyway. I feel that *could* go smoothly but I know that with a toddler in tow, nothing is easy. However, it would be just as easy, and lovely, to stay put and just take buses to & from MK those last two days.

 

[constantstar]

Have done the splits and I always wonder why I did that to us. Now the most I do is a night or two before or after a reservation .. if I have booked a condo week.

I think I would just stay put. AoA is cute and screams Disney. One of the best imagineered hotels and I LOVE the Cars section. You really feel like you are in the movie. I like those suites because they are less cartoony that the others. If you think your kids will settle and sleep out in the big room alone then I think you are fine. If you truly don't think you need all that space, then I would book POR Royal Room. Just got back from our second stay in one and I love them. The kids will love the Royal decor and the fireworks. We're all adults and we love it.

Yea, I'm leaning towards staying put and doing the Royal room. We'll still visit Whispering Canyon so get to see the lodge. I talked to my husband last night and he doesn't even want to do the royal rooms - he's thinking cheapest moderate room on property. He's no fun!

 

[mickeymom22]

I want to stay at all the resorts, too! Which is helped with both trips as POR I've been to but not AoA or WL. I thought about Little Mermaid rooms but the posts about the long walk to transportation had me worried. I do have the trip ending with 2 MK days while staying at WL. The day we check in is a Christmas party day and my plan is to sleep late, pack the car, and go check in a WL. Then we'll have lunch at Whispering Canyon before heading to the park. The next day we'll go to MK early and head to Fort Wilderness for dinner and the Chip & Dale campfire. Since we're driving, I can pack separate suitcases and I always pack daily outfits in giant ziplocks anyway. I feel that *could* go smoothly but I know that with a toddler in tow, nothing is easy. However, it would be just as easy, and lovely, to stay put and just take buses to & from MK those last two days.

When we stayed in the Little Mermaid section of AoA, we requested and got a room in the Ursula building. My husband teases my daughter that Ursula is his favorite princess! ;-) The walk wasn't that bad. We would walk through the Lion King section. The characters are so much fun and there is a little cave play area on the way. We saw many families walking this way with little ones. Looking for the characters and playing in the Simba's cave was a great way to make the walk for those little ones not seem so long! We have stayed at POR more than any other resort, and I have to be honest. I was not too thrilled with it, until our last stay in a royal room. They are really pretty and I am a sucker for those fireworks over the bed!

It sounds like you have it all planned really well! I think either way you go, it is going to be a super trip! Another fun thing you could do at Fort Wilderness is let the little ones ride a pony.

Have a great trip!

 

[constantstar]

When we stayed in the Little Mermaid section of AoA, we requested and got a room in the Ursula building. My husband teases my daughter that Ursula is his favorite princess! ;-) The walk wasn't that bad. We would walk through the Lion King section. The characters are so much fun and there is a little cave play area on the way. We saw many families walking this way with little ones. Looking for the characters and playing in the Simba's cave was a great way to make the walk for those little ones not seem so long! We have stayed at POR more than any other resort, and I have to be honest. I was not too thrilled with it, until our last stay in a royal room. They are really pretty and I am a sucker for those fireworks over the bed!

It sounds like you have it all planned really well! I think either way you go, it is going to be a super trip! Another fun thing you could do at Fort Wilderness is let the little ones ride a pony.

Have a great trip!

ooo since you've been in both of resorts with the my favorite decor - which did you like more? Were the POR rooms noticeably bigger or nicer? How were the walks to buses and such? That's the largest complaint I hear for both resorts is the walk.