need CB friends' advice--can I go from deluxe to moderate?

[Rock'n Robin]

I have been pricing out options for our summer 20th anniversary trip. We will not be going yearly for a while (haven't been for 2 years now) so we will be there a week. I have noticed that we could stay at POR for a lot less than the deluxes--we have 3 kids so those are our options--it costs $1000 less than the nearest deluxe I priced out (poly GV). But the pictures on Deb's site of the alligator bayou rooms look pretty dingy, and the trundle doesn't look very comfortable, even for my DS who will be 8. Should we try to "downsize"--have any of you done it and not regretted it? Or should we enjoy our anniversary and stay at a deluxe?
Robin M.

 

[Tiggeroo]

I love POFQ. I've stayed there several times. It is a mod that feels alot more upscale. I'd rather be there longer then in a deluxe.

 

[drakethib]

We have stayed @ RIverside several times and it is great.

 

[monarchsfan16]

We have family friends that have stayed at both POR and at least one of the deluxes. They prefer POR. They're a family of 5.

 

[luv2nascar]

$1,000 bucks is a lot to save. How much are you in the room anyways. We sleep, shower, change etc. We are too exhausted when in the room to even care. I think you could be just as happy in moderate. and think of all the money you saved - you could buy your family a great souvineer to remember the trip.

 

[helenabear]

I've visited and stayed at all levels of rooms (only haven't stayed over night in the value resorts) and really there isn't that much of a difference to me between a moderate and a deluxe in feel (what I consider theming). The rooms are very nice and while you are more likely to get a "not as good view" in a moderate, the room itself are really nice to me. I love POR and it quickly became my favorite moderate out there. My favorite Deluxe (stand alone, w/o DVC) is the Polynesian and I feel a similar peacefulness at POR as I do at the POlynesian. I've never been disappointed in the mods in general, even after being in Deluxes and the Villas.

 

[ADisneygirl]

I haven't stayed at POR, but with 5 that is the only mod with a trundle bed option. We usually prefer the deluxes, and stay at them whenever possible, but I have been to POFQ and CBR. We liked POFQ, but a big difference we noticed was the bed size. Forget about the room being a little smaller -- the full size beds were noticably shorter and narrower. (We are average size people) I guess we were tired enough to sleep anyhow!

Saving $1000 is considerable and worth thinking about. I suggest going for it and trying POR. At least you'll know for next time if its worth it.

 

[monkeyboy]

I personaly could never downgrade

 

[Caradana]

Here's the kicker: my bet is that your kids will love the foodcourt, and they'll tell you that they liked the mod as much as the deluxe. I took JP to the Caribbean Beach Resort a few years ago. He has spent two weeks of every December at the Grand Floridian every year since he was born, and yet, I have never seen a 25-year-old male so happy in Disney as when he was on the beach @ CBR, in a hammock, holding biscuits and gravy from the foodcourt.

Have you thought about splitting the difference and getting 2 rooms @ PO? You'd still save money over the deluxes, and you would have a LOT more space.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

We stayed at the Contemporary and the Poly. Then at Port Orleans Riverside. I loved Port Orleans. Since then we have starting staying at the values: ASSports, ASMovies, and Pop next week. I think it is worth saving the money myself. My kids loved the trundle at POR.

 

[aprilgail2]

I love the Poly but my second choice is POR.....just be aware that the 5th bed is a trundle and it is small..its fine for a child up to about 8 I would guess but after that the bed is a little small...it pulls out from under the other bed and just stays down there on the floor....its like a mattress in a box on the floor...not like the 5th persons bed in the poly. Other than that POR is the best IMO....I don't like POFQ but I LOVE riverside!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

POR is great, nice rooms, beautiful grounds. I make it a point to visit there almost every time I am at the World, even if I am staying elsewhere. A great choice, IMO. If you click on the resort link in my signature, you will see LOTS of pictures from that resort. Enjoy.

 

[jajuan]

I agree with most of the above posters. I honestly think if I won a trip to WDW and had a choice of any resort, that would be it. We have been 8 times and 7/8 were at POR. This time, we did two days at All Star Sports and one at Saratoga Springs. On this short trip we were NEVER in our room, but I would prefer and will go back to POR.

 

[Pooh67_68]

Our favorite resort is POFQ than POR and since you need a room for 5 I would go POR. If you think the trundle will be uncomfortable, maybe get an extra blanket to thinkin the mattress a little.

 

[tar heel]

Our first WDW trip with our entire family was at the poly, and we thought it was great. Our second trip began with two nights at the YC, then we moved to POR for six nights. We LOVED the YC -- thought we had died and gone heaven. I was very worried about the move to POR, but we loved it. The grounds reminded me of the poly and the food court was a big plus. We've stayed there two times since. I would be willing to stay there now, but with two of my three boys being man-sized, dh just doesn't think it would work. The last time we stayed there, my boys were 16, 12 and 6.

We followed up our three stays at POR with a couple years at just the YC. The last time we went we really needed to spend less since we had begun paying college tuition, but we still had APs. With the extra adult fee, the best price I could get at the YC was about $250. I could get two value rooms with the AP for about$120 or two moderates for $160. We spent six nights at All Stars and two at CSR. My family loved CSR -- it is the most deluxe of the moderates -- and I would recommend you stay there if you decide to do two moderate rooms. As for the value, they've not quit complaining yet . . .

 

[tar heel]

Another thought . . .

What about the teacher discount at Swan/Dolphin? You would still have the killer location and a deluxe resort.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Tar Heel I had thought of that...but at this point my kids cannot share a bed like they used to. I talked to a teacher pal who goes there often and he says his 3 kids rotate just taking a comforter off the bed and sleeping on the floor. I don't think there is room for a rollaway. Plus, I have been considering the meal plan (2 of my "kids" are adults by Disney standards and I think food costs will be way up from my last trip when all 3 were consdiered children) and I can't get that at S/D, if I remember right.
I have not called AAA yet, but according to mousesavers I could save 15% on the room by going through there. I know the base price of the tickets and the meal plan, so I can figure out the room rate after that.
I really appreciate the advice so far.
One question....the reader comments on deb's site said there were some bus issues--a lot of rooms at PO and busses fill up quickly--any comments on that?
Robin M.

 

[Evil Princess]

I've stayed at Riverside MANY times, and I've also been to Boardwalk, a couple of the All Stars, and Pop Century. I found the busses at Riverside to be amazing, never waited more than 5 minutes for a bus.

Boardwalk had the worst bus system ever, since there were so many resorts on one loop. It's a shame too, it really made us wish we stayed at POR!

 

[tar heel]

The bus system at POR was fine when we stayed there, but it's been a few years.

The Dolphin does offer rollaways, but they charge you $25 a night. If you decide to go that direction, maybe you could bring a sleeping bag.

 

[slo]

I'm going to throw another option out to you for saving money on a hotel.

The Royal Plaza Hotel in Downtown Disney is a beautiful hotel with transportation still provided. We have stayed there before and when my kids are older we will be staying there again. (Currently we stay at either Contemporary or The Poly because of the convience of the monorails with 2 young girls).

The bathroom we had at The Royal Plaza was the best bathroom I have ever had at a hotel anywhere. It had a huge whirlpool tube and a seperate shower - it was amazing!!! They also have a great restaurant there with a good breakfast buffet - but if you walk across the street to The Best Western, their breakfast buffet is a little better (We stayed there too and it wasn't as great).

Anyway, take a look at this hotel just for curiousity sake and see what you think. Good luck in making your decision!!!