Looking for suggestions...

[parith1114]

Hi all, my family is planning a pre Christmas trip this year. We are thinking 9 days right after Thanksgiving. I have my fingers crossed for free dinning. Trying to decide which resort, the kids are getting bigger and I want to make sure we'll have enough room. We are thinking either the new family suites at AoA or two rooms at either POR or CSR. Tell me your pick, and why, please. My kids love pool time, but we'll probably open or close at least one park a day. I don't think we are interested in off property, I understand why it appeals to some, but we love being immersed in Disney. Unfortunately, I don't think it's in the budget to rent DVC points or to book a DVC property. Thanks for all your input!

 

[disneydee6]

Personally, I think two mod rooms at CSR would be best!

 

[Kallie724]

This was posted earlier about FD hope this helps your planning

Hello again my friends, for the second consecutive year I´m bringin the Free Dining offer news for this fall, and the best it´s that only in 10 days it will be out
OK after all the negative comments about the credibility of my previous year announce and after the release in the exact day that I have predicted I hope that all of you are more confident this year.


These are the dates of the new offer that will be released in July 12

9/30 to 10/4

10/19 to 11/1

11/9 to 11/15

11/23 to 11/29

12/10 to 12/13

ONLY TO CLARIFY YOUR CHECK IN DATE MUST BE IN ONE OF THESE TIME FRAMES AND YOU WILL GET FD FOR YOUR ENTIRE STAY UP TO 14 DAYS OK?

All resorts will be included except the LM rooms at AOA.-

Like the last promotion quick service for values and standar dining plan for moderates and the luxes

Hope that these dates work well with your plans and knowing that this announce will bring happiness for a lot of families I send all of you a lot of Pixie dust.....

 

[heidijanesmith]

I would choose two rooms over the AoA suites for our family, as my kids are teens and the theme does not appeal to them.

I would pick CSR on theme and pool. My BF said the CSR pool was their families favorite by far, but she did not like the food court (adding 10% automatic gratutity) and the distance from their room to the lobby.

My DS stayed at POR and loved how small the resort was, easy to get around. She loved the theme and said the food court was awesome. Her kids thought the pool was small and borring (teens).

I think each resort and pros and cons, but overall I like to pick our resort based on theme, room size, pool and location.

 

[parith1114]

This was posted earlier about FD hope this helps your planning

Hello again my friends, for the second consecutive year I´m bringin the Free Dining offer news for this fall, and the best it´s that only in 10 days it will be out
OK after all the negative comments about the credibility of my previous year announce and after the release in the exact day that I have predicted I hope that all of you are more confident this year.


These are the dates of the new offer that will be released in July 12

9/30 to 10/4

10/19 to 11/1

11/9 to 11/15

11/23 to 11/29

12/10 to 12/13

ONLY TO CLARIFY YOUR CHECK IN DATE MUST BE IN ONE OF THESE TIME FRAMES AND YOU WILL GET FD FOR YOUR ENTIRE STAY UP TO 14 DAYS OK?

All resorts will be included except the LM rooms at AOA.-

Like the last promotion quick service for values and standar dining plan for moderates and the luxes

Hope that these dates work well with your plans and knowing that this announce will bring happiness for a lot of families I send all of you a lot of Pixie dust.....

Thanks, I saw this too...and I am sooooooo excited. It's perfect for the dates we've chosen!

 

[parith1114]

I would choose two rooms over the AoA suites for our family, as my kids are teens and the theme does not appeal to them.

I would pick CSR on theme and pool. My BF said the CSR pool was their families favorite by far, but she did not like the food court (adding 10% automatic gratutity) and the distance from their room to the lobby.

My DS stayed at POR and loved how small the resort was, easy to get around. She loved the theme and said the food court was awesome. Her kids thought the pool was small and borring (teens).

I think each resort and pros and cons, but overall I like to pick our resort based on theme, room size, pool and location.

I think CSR looks neat, but what is this about 10% gratuity? Does that happen on the dinning plan as well?

We have stayed at POR in the AB section once before and throughly enjoyed it, but I have to agree that the pool area is a little small and boring.

 

[parith1114]

Still wondering about the 10% tip at CSR? Anyone???

 

[sndral]

We have gone in late Nov or early Dec for the last 3 years - 2 of those years it was too cold to comfortably swim, in 2010 it was really really cold. Last year was fine and I saw lots of people in the pool - so, the pool would be less important than other considerations for me, given my experience w/ Dec. weather.
I have not stayed @ either resort, although I did once stay @ POFQ - loved the boat to DTD, which POR shares. If you do get 2 rooms the magic word to use to request them is 'connecting' in Disney speak 'adjoining' simply means nearby, 'connecting' means side by side with a door that can be opened between them in the shared wall.
I have found in crunching numbers, that free dinning is often less of a savings than room discounts when you start booking multiple rooms. But, the moderates would give you the regular dinning plan w/ free dinning, I assume AOA would be quick service only for free dinning.

 

[joeyrose]

This was posted earlier about FD hope this helps your planning

Hello again my friends, for the second consecutive year I´m bringin the Free Dining offer news for this fall, and the best it´s that only in 10 days it will be out
OK after all the negative comments about the credibility of my previous year announce and after the release in the exact day that I have predicted I hope that all of you are more confident this year.


These are the dates of the new offer that will be released in July 12

9/30 to 10/4

10/19 to 11/1

11/9 to 11/15

11/23 to 11/29

12/10 to 12/13

ONLY TO CLARIFY YOUR CHECK IN DATE MUST BE IN ONE OF THESE TIME FRAMES AND YOU WILL GET FD FOR YOUR ENTIRE STAY UP TO 14 DAYS OK?

All resorts will be included except the LM rooms at AOA.-

Like the last promotion quick service for values and standar dining plan for moderates and the luxes

Hope that these dates work well with your plans and knowing that this announce will bring happiness for a lot of families I send all of you a lot of Pixie dust.....

great info, thanks!

 

[heidijanesmith]

I think CSR looks neat, but what is this about 10% gratuity? Does that happen on the dinning plan as well?

We have stayed at POR in the AB section once before and throughly enjoyed it, but I have to agree that the pool area is a little small and boring.

I do not know anyone staying this year, but I found this online from 2011

"The restaurant opens at 7am to 11am for breakfast and 11am to 11pm for lunch and dinner. A 10% service gratuity is added to your bill. Pepper Market does not accept the DVC (Disney Vacation Club) nor Tables in Wonderland discounts. It is on the Disney Dining plan list. Always check for the Chef’s specials before making your final choice!"

My BF did say that one time they disputed the 10% automatic gratuity and it was taken off their bill by a CM.