Our second trip?

[MinnieMommy07]

IF we have time and money we will be heading out next May. We LOVED ASMovies and have only good memories. I'm wondering if we should keep it that way and move on to another resort for more great memories (and pics) or go back to what we loved?

I'm thinking that it will be another short trip. Maybe 4 park days with one day to relax in between. MK and hopefully Epcot if we can actually get ourselves away from MK! And I really want to go to DTD for some reason. .

I am thinking about these:

ASMovies again: honestly it was such a great place. Very comforting and memorable. Very clean and well maintained.

AOA: I REALLY want to try this, but don't think we'll have the money for a suite and I really love being near the main lobby. Little Mermaid section seems far.... I don't really want to stay at POP either...

POR: I LOVE the new Princess rooms here and I'll probably make it to DTD becuz of the boatride. Hubby doesn't like it... He says it's "too rustic, dirty (because of the "nature" falling all over the place), not in yo' face DISNEY." And he doesn't understand why I want to go to DTD.... Neither do I really.

 

[elaw]

POR: I LOVE the new Princess rooms here and I'll probably make it to DTD becuz of the boatride. Hubby doesn't like it... He says it's "too rustic, dirty (because of the "nature" falling all over the place), not in yo' face DISNEY." And he doesn't understand why I want to go to DTD.... Neither do I really.

The mansions sections (where the princess rooms are) are a lot less rustic than the Aligator Bayou section. Nature doesnt "fall" all over the place over there.

 

[MinnieMommy07]

Very pretty! How is the walk to the main lobby?

 

[elaw]

Very pretty! How is the walk to the main lobby?

Along the mansions section it's very open (see Pics) ... the AB section is very tree covered. As far as distance goes ... we were in oak manor last year and it was very close to the lobby (5 minute walk at the most)

 

[Sue M]

POR is our fav moderate resort, love the mansion section. But if I had a choice because of budget I'd stay in a value and go for a longer stay.

 

[Mariep26]

You have very similar taste to mine!! We stayed at ASMo and loved it!! We chose AoA for our next trip because we needed the extra space (my mom is coming on the trip). Although I admit we probably would have stayed there regardless because my kids LOVE Cars. After that our next trip for March is likely to be in POR although in an AB room because we need the murphy bed for my stepson. POR looks beautiful. I am of the mindset that I want to check out as many different resorts as possible. We did love ASMo but I really want to experience as many resorts as possible while my kids are young. In your situation, I would probably opt for AoA.. it is new and very themed, which is right up our alley! Let us know what you decide!

 

[danceintherain]

Even the rooms in the AB section are rehabbing less rustic. Port Orleans is next on our list of Moderates to stay at, but I haven't decided between French Quarter & Riverside. It will probably depend on which we can get the best deal at. Just so you know, the other resorts still "feel" Disney even without the in your face theming. Granted, I haven't stayed in a Value yet. The princess rooms at POR are the most Disney themed of all the moderates.

I think it's worth trying new things, but I want to stay at all the resorts at some point.

I'm not a huge fan of Downtown Disney. We don't buy a lot of souvenirs as it is, so there's no real draw there. It's nice to see, but I didn't make it there until I had been to Disney a few times. I think if we were staying at Port Orleans, we would like the option of taking the boat over for more dining options, but even so we probably wouldn't go more than once in a trip.

I take it from your statements above that you've only ever gone to the Magic Kingdom?
If that's the case, I would not set aside Downtown Disney time over the other parks. Most of what you can get at Downtown Disney, you can get elsewhere on the property, and the stuff that you can't isn't really Disney specific anyways.
I LOVE shopping, but I don't like to go shopping on vacation, especially not at Disney. It's nice to wander through the shops occasionally, but we don't really set aside time to shop.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

The grounds of POR are gorgeous! I would choose it over the values any day.

 

[kerplop]

We went to DTD to eat, see a couple of the shops, and that's about it! I love the idea of POR, but at the end of the day I don't want to schlep to the mansions and AB...I dunno. Don't really like it since it seems dark and dirty (I'm sure it's not really!). So I would go with Movies again if you liked it that much.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

We went to DTD to eat, see a couple of the shops, and that's about it! I love the idea of POR, but at the end of the day I don't want to schlep to the mansions and AB...I dunno. Don't really like it since it seems dark and dirty (I'm sure it's not really!). So I would go with Movies again if you liked it that much.

Hi, Did you mean the rooms seemed dark and dirty or the grounds? Not sure what your room was like, or if it was mousekeeping issues, but the grounds were always clean and beautiful in our experiences there.

Thanks for the pics, elaw. Nice memories at POR. Stayed there twice. We always like trying new resorts though and making new memories at each. We have a hit list and are knocking them out one by one.

Of course, if you'd like to save a bit of money, rather than go with a mod, you could try one of the other All Stars for a different experience. The thing about POR though, is that all the lush surroundings, imo, are so pretty and tranquil that it makes me really feel like I'm on vacation. Walking along the river was so nice it never seemed too far of a walk to/from the main lobby. Good luck with your decision, OP.

 

[CanadianPaco]

I chose AoA because of the atmosphere! How much fun does that place look like!! We stayed at POFQ and though a lovely resort, it was very subdued.

 

[MinnieMommy07]

Yeah it's definitely hard to choose. My biggest concern about staying at the same place would be not getting any new pictures. I loved being there it was really clean and compact and easy to do things quickly when needed. Other than that if we did stay Movies again... we'd have more time. I don't know it's just so hard to choose.

 

[buzznina]

I will be in the minority Our favorite resort is POR, but based on your post, it really does not seem like you spend much time at the resort, so why pay more $$ for something you are not going to benefit from. ASMO has just been refurbed, plus it sounds like it has been a while since you stayed at ASMO. In regards of photos, if you took pictures last time of your kid(s) next to the giant icons, it is great to take the same type of photos to really see how they have grown. Again, JMO
I will have to say I have never heard "Nature" referred to as dirty

 

[Sue M]

Dark & Dirty ? Wow! Nothing could be further from the truth

the grounds are beautiful, and the rooms are recently refurbed.

 

[tevisco4]

I voted for AoA. Our first trip in 2010 we stayed at ASMovies and we loved it as well. Now, in October we are trying Art of Animation. We are so excited!!!

 

[DisneyMom5]

IF we have time and money we will be heading out next May. We LOVED ASMovies and have only good memories. I'm wondering if we should keep it that way and move on to another resort for more great memories (and pics) or go back to what we loved?

I'm thinking that it will be another short trip. Maybe 4 park days with one day to relax in between. MK and hopefully Epcot if we can actually get ourselves away from MK! And I really want to go to DTD for some reason. .

I am thinking about these:

ASMovies again: honestly it was such a great place. Very comforting and memorable. Very clean and well maintained.

AOA: I REALLY want to try this, but don't think we'll have the money for a suite and I really love being near the main lobby. Little Mermaid section seems far.... I don't really want to stay at POP either...

POR: I LOVE the new Princess rooms here and I'll probably make it to DTD becuz of the boatride. Hubby doesn't like it... He says it's "too rustic, dirty (because of the "nature" falling all over the place), not in yo' face DISNEY." And he doesn't understand why I want to go to DTD.... Neither do I really.

I'm sort of a "stick with what you know and love" kind of girl. You'll be somewhere you love, and you can use the $$$ you didn't spend on a moderate on souvies or food or not spend it at all.
And DTD is fun, just don't go on a Sat. afternoon...we made that mistake!
Have a great trip!

 

[MinnieMommy07]

Sorry if it seemed unclear... we did actually spend alot of time at the resort- our first day we did MK from 9-3 and when we came back our daughter didn't wake up until about 8pm! So we decided that the next two days we'd just do the parks from about 5 to close. It was alot of fun just having the time to spend taking it slow and relaxing at the pool. We had a lot of fun getting lunch, going to the gift shop, walking around and doing stuff without a "line".

I think that's why I'd like to go to DTD. It's like a big gift shop and foodcourt... And you don't need to pay for a park ticket.

Also I think it was asked how long ago we were there... it was two months ago. I can't wait to go again!

As far as rustic and "dirty". I mean there is a lot of "dirt" and nature. Which may very well be far from the truth at times. The thing is everytime I try to dig up some pictures to show my family, they always show the grounds or the pool area with mulch, and leaves and like seed pods kicked all around the place. The grassy areas next to the walkways have a lot of bare spots of just dirt or mud instead of grass. I also see pictures where after it rains there is alot of mud puddles and again alot of debris spilled all over the walkways and pool area. The ground the chairs, tables, etc. will be covered in leaves and seed pods.

I know it's a beautiful place, and I know all Disney Resorts are clean. it's just hard to argue for it when it looks like that everytime you make a Google search for pics... it shows the "dirty" ones too....

 

[nkereina]

Just a heads up on DTD boats from POR... Even though the boat ride is nice, it's not any quicker to DTD. The boats do not run all that frequently during the day, they run more frequent at night. And it takes a good 25 mins down the river, after stopping at POFQ, to get there. It's not as quick and easily accessible as SSR would be to DTD. I do think DTD is worth a visit at least once per trip though. Tons of great dining options, most of which are now on DDP, and lots of different stores and a few non Disney stores as well. Different things than what are in the parks.