Need help with choosing a backup resort

[Tara1988]

We are booked in a Little mermaid room at Art of Animation for early October. Me, dh, ds(6), ds(2), and dd(3months). If free dining is offered around that time, and those rooms are excluded, we might switch resorts to get the offer. We have done Pop century and liked it, but don't want to do the same resort twice. I don't think I would be comfortable at one of the all stars since I've heard they are a step down from pop. So that leaves us with the moderate resorts and possibly a few of the lower cost deluxe resorts. 2 questions. #1 at moderate resorts, is free dining generally the Disney dining plan or quick service? #2 which hotel would little boys love as much as AoA? (Pools with slides aren't a huge draw since they are young beginner swimmers)

 

[dansdad]

We are booked in a Little mermaid room at Art of Animation for early October. Me, dh, ds(6), ds(2), and dd(3months). If free dining is offered around that time, and those rooms are excluded, we might switch resorts to get the offer. We have done Pop century and liked it, but don't want to do the same resort twice. I don't think I would be comfortable at one of the all stars since I've heard they are a step down from pop.

I completely disagree with this.

So that leaves us with the moderate resorts and possibly a few of the lower cost deluxe resorts. 2 questions. #1 at moderate resorts, is free dining generally the Disney dining plan or quick service? #2 which hotel would little boys love as much as AoA? (Pools with slides aren't a huge draw since they are young beginner swimmers)

1. Moderates get the regular Dining Plan

2. I would suggest CBR. The Pirate Themed pool is great for boys. Not sure of their ages, but the splash area is fantastic too, but they have to be under 48". CBR is our favorite Moderate and our 2nd favorite resort in all of WDW, right behind the Boardwalk Inn.

 

[scrapquitler]

We are booked in a Little mermaid room at Art of Animation for early October. Me, dh, ds(6), ds(2), and dd(3months). If free dining is offered around that time, and those rooms are excluded, we might switch resorts to get the offer. We have done Pop century and liked it, but don't want to do the same resort twice. I don't think I would be comfortable at one of the all stars since I've heard they are a step down from pop. So that leaves us with the moderate resorts and possibly a few of the lower cost deluxe resorts. 2 questions. #1 at moderate resorts, is free dining generally the Disney dining plan or quick service? #2 which hotel would little boys love as much as AoA? (Pools with slides aren't a huge draw since they are young beginner swimmers)

I would disagree with that statement. I happen to like the themeing better at Pop, but the rooms are virtually identical.

 

[loves to dive]

Another one that disagrees about the all stars being a step down, to tell the truth I'm not a big fan of the values but I preferred ASSp to Pop. CBR has a cute pool and if you don't want to go deluxe check out Dolphin/Swan. It can be deluxe at moderate prices and the pool is cool.

 

[ellie05]

I also disagree with that statement All stars and pop are pretty much the same.

 

[Amanda999]

If you want to go value (only get free quick serve plan if free dining; mods get ddp), consider All Star Movies - for the theme. Look at pictures of the exterior - they have several movies' themes like 101 Dalmations, Fantasia, etc. My sons love it, and it seems to be a bit more of the preschool crowd vs. the other values (due to the theme), but that could have just been my luck when we visited (several times).

That said, I love Pop - its much more centrally located to the parks (except ASMo and All Stars are closer to AK than Pop is), and you can walk over to AoA to eat at its food court and see its evening movie if you don't like Pop's movie. And, you can't beat having the choice of either Pop's or AoA's bus when returning from a park (the waiting spots are next to each other at every park IIRC, so you just take the 1st to arrive - and walk over the bridge if you take AoA's bus).

 

[Sue M]

It's hard to say what kind of dining plan they will release, if at all with this new round of cut backs to service. They just released a dining plan not too long ago that was just one free CS a day. That's it. So I wouldn't count on free dining.

For an alternate resort I'd go with what ever theme and amenities you prefer. Kids that age will be happy at any Disney resort. Personally, I don't care for the theming of the All Stars and prefer Pop. For moderates my fav are the Port Orleans resorts. For your family with small children and a baby, I'd pick POFQ and request a room on ground floor or close to elevator for ease in getting in and out with stroller(s). The pool is cute with a serpent slide, and they just put in a new kids splash area.
The resort is small, and no place is really far away, I prefer bldg 4, close to bus stop and main buildings.They are either standard or garden view rooms. And with 3 children, you may be more comfy in a moderate. More space and 2 sinks. Having a boat to go to DTD is a nice perk.

 

[busymommy2pink]

I would choose a moderate based solely on the fact you get the regular dining plan.

That being said, we are deluxe people. We stayed Caribbean beach last trip, and while we won't do it again, just from personal preference, I think it would be perfect for you! The upgraded dining plan alone is worth the switch, but your kiddies would love the pool and slides and we did love the quiet pool in each "country" section. It was nice for a quick dip before bed or in the morning without the hike to main pool. There was decent food selection (better than deluxe frankly lol, but we also don't care for quick service). We had originally wanted Coronado springs, but missed the boat on it for free dining. Occasionally, standard rooms at animal kingdom lodge are only a few hundred dollars more in this situation, which I wouldn't flinch at spending! Enjoy your trip no matter what you plan on doing!

 

[JRennie]

POFQ has been excluded from many of the promos the last couple of years, just an FYI. Riverside hasn't been though and it's nice there

 

[mickeynut1]

I would suggest CBR. The Pirate Themed pool is great for boys. Not sure of their ages, but the splash area is fantastic too, but they have to be under 48". CBR is our favorite Moderate

 

[Tara1988]

POFQ has been excluded from many of the promos the last couple of years, just an FYI. Riverside hasn't been though and it's nice there

I do like the look of POR but I'm almost positive we will stay there on our next trip in a royal room for our daughter's 2nd or 3rd birthday. I don't want to stay at the same resort twice until we've been to all of them