Long Disney Stay

[sm4987]

We stayed at Disney World this past summer for 10 nights. We had a blast. While we were there, we brought annual passes so that we could go back again this summer (2003). We stayed at the CBR. The rooms were lovely and big (bigger than I have heard that is normal for the mods) This time we are staying for 14 nights. I have 2 kids, 4 and 7, and with that high expense we would like to stay in the mods or the value. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? I would love to switch hotels just for a change of pace. Our current reservation is at POR waterview room. Any suggestions you have would be great.

 

[Magic2000]

We've stayed at the All Star Movies twice and we really enjoyed our stays there! We've stayed at deluxes, mods, and value, and all were really fine.

Our room at the Movies (Love Bug & Dalmations) was very quiet, and a short walk to food court/bus stop. I wouldn't hesitate to stay here! Your kids will probably love the theming!

 

[soccer mom]

Either of the PO resorts would be good,especially if you can get yourself located to make both resorts convenient. Being sister resorts you are allowed to use pool at either. Bob the piano player, two themed pools, boat to downtown disney, two food courts, Boatwright's restaurant are all great reasons to give them a try. Our personal favorite is POFQ because of the size. You're not far from bus, pool, foodcourt no matter where you're room is. POR is our second favorite moderate as long as we're close to the food court.

 

[Laura]

I've stayed at CSR, and I think that would be a nice switch. The theme is so different from PO and the buildings are very nice-looking. It's laid out much like CBR (I've stayed there too), and the Dig Site pool area is lots of fun. The kids would like it, I think. The food court is hit-or-miss depending on the person you talk to, though I liked it. But the buses are great and the resort is rather centrally located. The ride to MK is longest.

I haven't stayed at any value resorts, so no advice for you about those. Resorts on Hotel Plaza are nice and some can be had for a good deal. Just a thought.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Have you considered a home-away-from-home resort for the last few days? With 2 kids, I'm thinking of the savings and convenience of the free laundry (which you might want to do at some point)-free laundry room if you rent a studio, free washer/dryer in your room if you have a 1-BR. Also, you could make your own breakfast and sit on the balcony.

 

[Janet2k]

I spent three & a half weeks at WDW over the Christmas/New Year's holidays. It was an incredible vacation and my family was joined by my parents (for two weeks) and my sister's family (for one week). We even resort hopped around. Please check out my old thread here on the Dis to see what kind of resort hopping we did -- I have an itinerary posted towards the middle of the first page of that thread (you have been warned!): Click here for my old thread.

If you have any further questions regarding how I felt about spending such a nice amount of time in WDW, please feel free to ask me. It really was a wonderful vacation, and one that I wouldn't have changed for the world. I hope your vacation is just as magical.

 

[Janet2k]

By the way, I just came back from WDW. I stayed for the first time at the Port Orleans -- French Quarter Resort and the Beach Club Villas. I fell in love with both resorts. Since you have the Riverside booked, I think you will really enjoy it. I will definitely stay at Port Orleans again in the future. Don't forget to check out Bob Jackson's show in the lounge over there. He is incredible. I had my young daughter with me when I attended the show, and she was up on stage at any chance that Bob gave the children (which was a few times). His show was a hoot. I even conga'ed through the lounge with the other crazy show attendees.

 

[Ocean]

I've visited Coronado Springs, but I've never actually stayed there. The pool looks great though, and CSR is next on my list of moderates. If you enjoyed CBR the first time, you might enjoy spending part of your stay there again. Some people really enjoy changing hotels during long stays. Since you're going to be enjoying a two week vacation, depending on your tastes, you might decide that splitting your stay between two or even three hotels might be fun. Since all of the Disney resorts have their own unique theming, it would almost be like going on a different leg of your trip each time you change hotels. Of course I've never traveled with kids, so I have no idea how much trouble it is to move their stuff around.

 

[Janet2k]

Sm4987, I don't know where my manners are -- welcome to the Dis! This is a great website and I hope you make yourself right at home. I thought I would mention that the "search" feature here is very powerful, so if you have some questions that you need quick answers to, just search the boards. You'll find all sorts of wonderful info that has been posted by your fellow Dis'ers.

 

[sm4987]

All of your post have been most helpful. Janet thank you also. Three weeks. That's my husbands dream vacation. I was wondering about some of the other things that you did while you were there. I am planning the carriage ride, some breakfasts and dinners, but I was wondering about some other special things to do since the time is going to be so long. We are talking about extending the vacation beyond the two weeks. I am reallly considering the resort hopping thing. I rebooked at the CBR and we are now looking at WL, BW, or the AKL. I don't know anything about the resorts except for the WL. Again, anything that you have to add would be wonderful!

 

[dreamflight99]

Welcome to the DIS! Congratulations on your upcoming extended stay at WDW. For the past 12 years, we have traveled from California to WDW and stayed anywhere between 3-7 weeks on property each time (They were slowly extended over the years!).

This past summer, we were there for more than 7 weeks total. This included 4 eves @ Disney's Vero Beach Resort, a 7-night Western Carribean Cruise, A night at the Peabody Hotel, Three eves at the Portofino Bay Hotel and more than 5 weeks at the Dolphin. We stayed in suites in each one (Villa in VB), with Club Level services. Of course, years ago we would "mix-up" the stay with various other resorts...including the mods. We have never stayed at the values.

We have reserved our summer 2003 vacation, and the stay is "currently" at 48 days total! We're taking another Disney Cruise (Eastern), and extending the time at the Portofino & DVB (plus adding 4 eves in a 14th floor suite @ the CR). We LOVE WDW...and have no problem spending this amount of time at the WORLD each summer.

Very wise of you to purchase the AP's. We also buy the PAP's (we love DISNEY QUEST, included in the PAP). I would suggest the POR, (Old Dixie Landings) for a moderate resort stay. Birnbaum's describes this as a "Deluxe accomodations at a Moderate Price." We have stayed in OAK MANOR, for 2 weeks (years ago), and thoroughly enjoyed it! We had a corner room (seemed to offer a bit more space with two windows) on the second floor over looking the river/garden. In fact, our DD was much younger, and she "preferred" this resort to the Deluxes! (LOL) She loved the fishing hole, pool, food court, sassagoula express to the Downtown Disney Village Market place, pizza delivery and the arcade. The grounds are meticulous, and we even saw fireworks from the walkway outside our door. She used to put her plush animal "grotto" under the blinds in the window. Everyone walking past would stop and comment (young/old alike). It looked like a store window, with the characters all dancing together!

Wherever you decide to stay, I'm sure you'll have a lovely time. We meet Europeans each summer, who are on "Holiday" for a month or more at WDW. Seems the Europeans always take extended vacations. Since we fly from CALI...it would not be conducive (worth all the time and effort ~IOO) to make the trip to Orlando...unless it was extended for more than three weeks. I'm amazed at how quickly the time flies...and am always thankful for the many extra days we share in the WORLD. Many posters on the DIS visit WDW many times each year, accumulating lengthy stays over time. We are only able to travel "once" per year, so we make it last!

We also rent a vehicle, leave property (Sea World, FAO, Busch gardens, Disney's CELEBRATION!, etc.) and do whatever we wish while there. If you need/desire any pointers...feel free to pm me. Enjoy your plans and DREAM about the nice, long stay you and your family will share in the midst of the MAGIC!