Pick our resort!

[ThePylon]

Hey folks

Can't decide between a few options this August.

We're newbies, and may not be able to go again anytime soon, so want to make the most of our stay. We're thinking about a 5-night at a resort, taking advantage of the dining plan being offered. However we'd like some help with choosing a resort.

We are Dad and Mom and 2 girls 12 and 9. Big fans of Once Upon a Time, but not crazy about everything Disney necessarily (ie don't own any movies, but will watch them if they come up; kids don't own any Disney paraphernalia).

We're Canadians, and will drive down; quick 2-day drive there, possibly a more leisurely drive back to see some of the eastern US.

We're limited to under $3000US for budget, which gives us some options:

1) Coronado Springs (appealing as it has a big pool to cool off in during the afternoon heat)
2) Caribbean Beach Resort (love beaches, been to the Caribbean a few times)
3) Port Orleans Riverside (hear it is a great value and good for families)
4) Art of Animation (family suite) which is a bit over our budget (seems most "Disney" to me)
5) All-Star Sports (cheaper but wife and kids wouldn't necessarily be fans of theme)

A concern I have is I want the experience to be Disney. Though the kids are still pretty young, they don't need to be inundated, but I'd like to be engrossed in the experience.

So, Disney experts, which one(s) would you recommend?

 

[TillyDe]

POR for so many reasons. I love taking the boat ride to Downtown Disney (Disney Springs).

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

Of the options listed I'd pick POR or CBR -- POR get the egde, though.

 

[Juliet25]

Is there any reason the other Value resorts are off the table? I'd go with any of them for the Disney experience, especially AS-Movies. Of the others, you can't go wrong with PO-R. It's beautiful. But since this is your first trip and staying on-site will be a new experience, I'd save your money for other things and go with a Value room.

 

[ThePylon]

Is there any reason the other Value resorts are off the table? I'd go with any of them for the Disney experience, especially AS-Movies. Of the others, you can't go wrong with PO-R. It's beautiful. But since this is your first trip and staying on-site will be a new experience, I'd save your money for other things and go with a Value room.

For the times we're looking at with the dining plan, they aren't available. Otherwise they'd be options for sure.

 

[tina.tina]

Is there any reason the other Value resorts are off the table? I'd go with any of them for the Disney experience, especially AS-Movies. Of the others, you can't go wrong with PO-R. It's beautiful. But since this is your first trip and staying on-site will be a new experience, I'd save your money for other things and go with a Value room.

I agree with this. I love Pop. You could do a Little Mermaid (not a suite) room at AoA, too.

Oops! I must have posted while you were posting, OP.

 

[HopperFan]

Well the values can be in your face Disney. The moderates are well themed in a way you'd expect from a company that themes, but don't scream Disney.

- All-Star Sports is very sporty and it's more about teams with pennants and banners. My DD loves sports but I will still avoid it with girls.
- Art of Animation is incredibly imagineering, love it, but agree suites are a bit pricey and you'd still have to upgrade if you want the regular DDP.
- Caribbean Beach just went through major room rehab so they are new, I still don't know that I'm ready to go back - it doesn't wow me and it's too big.
- Coronado Springs is our favorite moderate, it's the deluxe of the moderates and your kids will love the big slide at the pool. Highly themed pool area and truly relaxing for adults.
- Port Orleans Riverside is our second favorite, southern charm, beautiful mansions on the river. Boat to Downtown Disney huge plus. If you can budget the Royal rooms are perfect for the princesses. Pool is nice but always crowded and we end up giving up finding lounges. In August I would expect it to be quite crowded. You can also use the POFQ pool but your girls are kinda old for it.

One you didn't mention, and maybe it's sold out, is POP Century. We love it there (as you can see below). The plus here is while there are Disney characters it is mostly focused on the decades and what was cool. It is also across the bridge for AoA which has a great food court. Just a thought.

 

[SleepingUgly]

Just something to think about, considering the number of people in / ages of your group ... the Value resorts have full-size beds only, with the exception of suites. (Someone, please correct me if I'm wrong!) Thus, if you chose All-Star Sports, you would have smaller beds, whereas with your other options, you'd get at least two queen beds, and you'd actually get even more in the AoA Family Suite. Another thing to consider is ... at the value resorts, if you partake in the Free Dining package (which you said you are interested in), you would get the quick-serve meal plan included, whereas with the moderates, you'd get the regular dining plan included. The regular dining plan includes table-service meals, so if you are planning to do character meals, you'd want to go with that plan. But you can upgrade (for a fee) to the regular dining plan even if you choose to stay at a Value resort.

HTH!

 

[Juliet25]

For the times we're looking at with the dining plan, they aren't available. Otherwise they'd be options for sure.

OK, makes sense. In that case I'd definitely go with POR. My family just stayed there last October. The kids enjoyed it, but it's not very immersive as far as Disney theming is concerned. Personally, I prefer that sort of subtlety (though that's not to say the Values aren't fun--just not my thing).

 

[Madteaparty001]

Never been to a value and probably never will be, I'm a very light sleeper and I hear the walls are thin. Coronado springs is nice but very adult in theme, POR has beautiful grounds and the Royal rooms are usually a big hit with young girls. Are you trying to get free dinning? Otherwise you might want to try renting DVC and staying at a deluxe and paying oop for your meals, it would be cheaper.

 

[ThePylon]

Never been to a value and probably never will be, I'm a very light sleeper and I hear the walls are thin. Coronado springs is nice but very adult in theme, POR has beautiful grounds and the Royal rooms are usually a big hit with young girls. Are you trying to get free dinning? Otherwise you might want to try renting DVC and staying at a deluxe and paying oop for your meals, it would be cheaper.

Sorry renting a dvc? What's that?

 

[moesy4]

DVC is Disney Vacation Club...basically all the deluxe resorts are also sold by Disney as timeshares in rooms that also have a small kitchenette. When members won't use their points, they can "rent" them to others to use...basically giving you a deluxe stay for much less than you would get online. There are some stipulations (most importantly, they are non refundable) but can give you a lot of bang for your buck.

 

[Mikeb1892]

We stayed at POFQ with our DS5 at the time and he loved it there. We are going back down in June and renting DVC points, staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge (I would recommend either David's or DVC Rental Store). Of your resort choices, I would recommend POR simply for the fact that you can take the boat to DTD. You will be surrounded with Disney during your trip, but it won't be in your face 100% of the time. This being your first trip, and based on you saying you don't own any Disney movies (I didn't know this was possible!), I think this will be the best "starter" resort for you.

Have a great trip and good luck with the drive. We are driving from NE PA but we are breaking it up over 3 days both down and back.

 

[andiraye]

Just something to think about, considering the number of people in / ages of your group ... the Value resorts have full-size beds only, with the exception of suites. (Someone, please correct me if I'm wrong!) Thus, if you chose All-Star Sports, you would have smaller beds, whereas with your other options, you'd get at least two queen beds, and you'd actually get even more in the AoA Family Suite. Another thing to consider is ... at the value resorts, if you partake in the Free Dining package (which you said you are interested in), you would get the quick-serve meal plan included, whereas with the moderates, you'd get the regular dining plan included. The regular dining plan includes table-service meals, so if you are planning to do character meals, you'd want to go with that plan. But you can upgrade (for a fee) to the regular dining plan even if you choose to stay at a Value resort.

HTH!

I agree with both points above. Queens versus double beds and regular dining plan were the deciding factors that pushed us to a mod last year. You can't roll a cot into the hotel room like you can at non Disney hotels so four people are sleeping in two full beds. Also, the mods have mini refrigerators in them but you have to pay an extra fee for fridges at the values. With fridges, in terms of staying on budget, you can do cereal and milk in the room for breakfast and store fruit and other healthy snacks, and save your snack credits for the fun stuff (or use them for breakfast). I priced out staying at a value, plus DDP upgrade, plus fridge (which for us with a 3yo at the time was a necessity) and it was barely any savings versus a mod. Better beds, better pools areas and the decision to stay at a mod was made for us.

 

[Madteaparty001]

Sorry renting a dvc? What's that?

Exactly what moesy4 said. It costs a certain amount of 'points' to stay at a deluxe through DVC and you pay per point. Dvcrentalstore and Dvcrequest are charging $14.50 a point, Dvc-rental is still charging $14.

An example stay is August 16-22. Standard room at Animal Kingdom lodge would be 80 points, or $1160 at $14.50 a point. Bay Lake Tower (Contemporary resort) for a standard room is 104 points, or $1508 at $14.50 a point. Renting DVC points is non refundable, if you go this route you may want to buy travel insurance. Some of the sites let you make payments and others require the entire cost upfront. Any taxes or fees are included in the per point price.

Any DVC room that is 1 bedroom or bigger includes a full kitchen, but it's normally cheaper to rent 2 studios then 1 bedroom. Check out a points calculator on any of these sites and you can get an idea if this is a good choice for you.

 

[Thing 1]

We are huge fans of CSR. Our little one has loved it since preschool age. I'm not a fan of the values; beds, rooms too small. CSR is beautiful, the pool is cool, the buses are the best we have had anywhere on property, including deluxe, and we like the "food Court" there. We will spring for the preferred rooms there.

 

[5stljayhawks]

I have stayed at Cor and AOA. Def would do AOA as its more disney, funner and more busy. Food court is way better and COR is primarily a convention hotel. It is good for that, but family disney fun... skip it and go other places.

AIA- I had 2 and 3 K < 9,7,5, or so. It does come with extra bathroom and bedroom, then sleeper couch and murphy bed/kitchen table. Its a lot of space for the money. then there is a kitchenette - you could make pit stop and breakfast items

Have you looked at the Fort Wilderness cabins?

 

[tinkerbesh]

Just a few quick notes-

The values do NOT charge you for a fridge. They are in all rooms for free now.

Wish you could get in at POP - I think you'd enjoy that a lot. But my vote went to POR.

Hope you have a magical trip!

 

[cefcdana]

My personal first choice would be Art of Animation but it is a bit pricey for a value. We stayed at Port Orleans Riverside when we went and loved it. It was so peaceful. We only went with that because we had to bc of finances and we are a family of 5. I wasn't really looking forward to it because online it didn't look very great to me, but we had a wonderful time and I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again. It was nice to not have it all "Disney" when we got back to the room. But I know I would have loved it at AoA as well...you just really can't go all that wrong at Disney! As a side note, we were never able to ride the boat from POR to DTD because the lines were always SO long to board the boat (and we went at the beginning of Sept when the crowd calendars were mostly 1s and 2s!) so be aware of that as you are planning.

 

[maxiesmom]

I voted POR. I love the theming of POR, and it has a great laid back feel. The pool area is wonderful, and the food court is one of my favorites. Plus, you may get lucky and end up with a room with a small pull down bed, which could come in handy if the kids fight sharing a bed.