Picking a resort shouldn't be this hard!

[mefordis]

A family member has a family of 5 and I am recommending a BWI Deluxe room for them.

 

[Lisann]

Would renting a 2 bdrm villa be an option? (not through Disney website). Is that something that would work financially? Or the cabins?

 

[thr33boys]

That seems strange. I think I'd still do a room at a deluxe rather than risking getting split up into two rooms in different areas, though. Once discounts come out maybe look at it again and see. I do know that while it's not guaranteed, Disney does make an effort to grant connecting room requests when there are children involved. Good luck with whatever you decide.

I guess that is what I'll have to weigh - risking getting split up, and make a firm commitment.

A family member has a family of 5 and I am recommending a BWI Deluxe room for them.

I got a very good quote on BWI, so if I were to pick a Deluxe, this would be my choice.....although, I'm not lovin' the look of that pool

Would renting a 2 bdrm villa be an option? (not through Disney website). Is that something that would work financially? Or the cabins?

I will be redeeming credit card points to offset the cost of the trip, renting points won't allow me to do this. Also, surprisingly, a 2 bedroom villa still does not offer 3 separate beds - 2 beds and a pull out. We've done the pull out the last 2 trips, and this time, I'd like to avoid that. I like the cabins, I don't think my DH will.

 

[thr33boys]

Here are my possibilities...(2A, 1 Disney Adult, 2C)

8 nights, all prices include 5 day base tickets + bonus wp or dq ticket.

POR 2 rooms - $3,894.83 or 1 room $2,683.07

CSR 2 rooms - $3,613.34

BWI 1 room - $3,812.99

 

[Ceryssa]

If you can get BWI for the same price as 2 rooms at POR, I'd pick that, hands down. I find that clown TERRIFYING, but for the option to stay in the Epcot area I'd do my best to get over my paralyzing fear of clowns lol. I do understand your reluctance to pay "more for less", but at least for me, you get so much more there. Walking distance to Epcot, boat ride to HS, fantastic dining options, proximity to the Boardwalk...it's not even a contest. I haven't stayed at POR so I can't comment on that, but I have stayed at CSR and while it was nice there's no chance I'd pick it again over an Epcot resort and I strongly suspect I'd feel the same way about POR.

 

[purplelover88]

Several years ago, we committed to staying at every Disney resort.

Every year, we have tried somewhere new and it has been a super fun process!!

Next year we will knock 2 more off the list (likely BWI and AKL) since we are going to do bookend resort stays to a Disney cruise.

Once we've gotten through them all (with the exception of FW Cabins, no interest), we will head back to our favorites.

This is something I also decided to do a couple of years ago. We have gone through the list rather quickly with the help of split stays and annual passes. Now we're actually getting to the ones we aren't that excited about and almost wish we could go back to our favorites but since we are so close I don't want to just throw it away and "waste a trip" on an old resort. Have you ever felt that way?

 

[sharadoc]

Depending on your budget, you have a few options;

Family Suites at All-Star Music are very nice and I think the layout is much nicer than AofA, although I haven't stayed at AofA, just from pics
Family Suites at Art of Animation
Cabins at Fort Wilderness - LOVE them
Suite at Coronado Springs (but cost about the same as a 1 BR at OKW or SSR)
One bedroom at Animal Kingdom, Old Key West and BLT have a sleeper chair so can sleep five
Regular Rooms at Deluxe Resorts, Contemporary is the biggest room and can fit five okay with the fifth on a sofabed
Deluxe Rooms at a Deluxe Resort are a two room "suite" no kitchen, but a bedroom and living room area

Good luck deciding.

 

[thr33boys]

If you can get BWI for the same price as 2 rooms at POR, I'd pick that, hands down. I find that clown TERRIFYING, but for the option to stay in the Epcot area I'd do my best to get over my paralyzing fear of clowns lol. I do understand your reluctance to pay "more for less", but at least for me, you get so much more there. Walking distance to Epcot, boat ride to HS, fantastic dining options, proximity to the Boardwalk...it's not even a contest. I haven't stayed at POR so I can't comment on that, but I have stayed at CSR and while it was nice there's no chance I'd pick it again over an Epcot resort and I strongly suspect I'd feel the same way about POR.

I don't have a fear of clowns, just that the pool doesn't look as great as some others. You've definitely have given me something to consider as I wasn't putting much value in BWI. Thanks...

 

[ajwolfe]

We stayed in POR last year as a family of 5 - my teenage niece joined us and honestly it wasn't that bad at all in terms of space. Granted we don't spend a lot of time in the room, but we never had an issue.
Also, my other sister's family joined us on the trip and booked later than us and we were still able to get adjoining rooms - so there is a chance that will work out for you!

 

[maxiesmom]

I'd rather not lose the queen size beds. Thanks for your thoughts on POR. I have a good price at POR and while I'm not ruling it out, now that I don't 'have' to stay there because there are 5 of us, I'm looking at CSR now too. CBR doesn't really appeal to me.

How about an All Star Family Suite? There is a queen bed in the bedroom, and then 3 fold outs in the living area. You would also get 2 bathrooms and a kitchenette.

 

[Ceryssa]

I don't have a fear of clowns, just that the pool doesn't look as great as some others. You've definitely have given me something to consider as I wasn't putting much value in BWI. Thanks...

I actually think the pool area looks really fun. I mean it's no Storm Along Bay, but the theming is really cute--kind of like a carnival area with the elephants and the roller coaster slide, which I'm told is a lot of fun (obviously I haven't gotten near it to try it haha). But I don't think it's the resort's strong point, and I think CSR's pool is just as nice, with a great slide; I'm sure POR's is too.

 

[thr33boys]

I actually think the pool area looks really fun. I mean it's no Storm Along Bay, but the theming is really cute--kind of like a carnival area with the elephants and the roller coaster slide, which I'm told is a lot of fun (obviously I haven't gotten near it to try it haha). But I don't think it's the resort's strong point, and I think CSR's pool is just as nice, with a great slide; I'm sure POR's is too.

If you don't mind, can you please elaborate on what your attraction to BWI is? I understand part of it is location but what exactly is it about the resort, if you don't mine me asking? Thanks

 

[dansdad]

I don't have a fear of clowns, just that the pool doesn't look as great as some others. You've definitely have given me something to consider as I wasn't putting much value in BWI. Thanks...

Actually, our family things the pool at BWI is the best on property. It has the best slide, in our opinion. The theming is really cool and we like the layout as it was extremely easy to keep an eye on our son when he was younger.

 

[Mousemommy1]

This is something I also decided to do a couple of years ago. We have gone through the list rather quickly with the help of split stays and annual passes. Now we're actually getting to the ones we aren't that excited about and almost wish we could go back to our favorites but since we are so close I don't want to just throw it away and "waste a trip" on an old resort. Have you ever felt that way?

I definitely know what you mean! We keep wanting to go back to WL but want to keep powering through the list.

Next year our eyes are on BWI and AKL but now that we are a family of five, WL will not be a reasonably priced option so we feel like we may just want to repeat it sooner than later and certainly before our son turns 3 and we are officially a fam of five for resort purposes.

 

[Ceryssa]

If you don't mind, can you please elaborate on what your attraction to BWI is? I understand part of it is location but what exactly is it about the resort, if you don't mine me asking? Thanks

I haven't stayed there, only looked around the resort, so I can't give you firsthand experience. It's beautiful, of course, but that can be said of any Disney property. I just kind of like the theme of it--it just says old fashioned, whimsical fun to me. I like the laid-back look and feel of Belle Vue Lounge--it's someplace I'd be comfortable getting a drink while my kids are with me. I like the carousel in the lobby, the colors and the overall turn-of-the-century feel of the resort. I've never been to Jersey Shore so it's kind of like getting to see someplace I've never been (although from what I understand the real thing isn't anything like BWI, or at least not anymore. But still.) The Boardwalk itself is hugely appealing for me. We don't have an area near where I live with street performers like that, so it's a novelty we don't get at home. One of the best nights we spent was just hanging out on the Boardwalk. I'm not a big "nightlife" person as far as clubs and such, but if you were Jellyrolls is right nearby (which sounds immensely entertaining and I'd love to go one night for an adults' night) along with Atlantic Dance Hall (which doesn't appeal to me at all). We stayed at YC, so we had a lot of the same benefits as far as location goes, and I really enjoyed that but obviously I've already covered those perks. Obviously you could enjoy a lot of these things without actually staying there, but there's something so appealing of being able to just walk back to your room afterward. Anyway, hope that helps.

 

[Fantabulously Cherry]

We were originally booked into a King bed room in POR for our September trip. But in order to get free dining, we had to switch to a 2 queen Royal Room. I'm still trying to figure out how we are going to fit the Pack & Play in the room for our 2YO DD to sleep in.

 

[dansdad]

We were originally booked into a King bed room in POR for our September trip. But in order to get free dining, we had to switch to a 2 queen Royal Room. I'm still trying to figure out how we are going to fit the Pack & Play in the room for our 2YO DD to sleep in.

Check out the room about half way down this page http://www.portorleans.org/royal-rooms.php

It will fit nicely in the bathroom area under the shelf with hanging rail or in the area where a connecting door would be.

 

[Fantabulously Cherry]

Check out the room about half way down this page http://www.portorleans.org/royal-rooms.php

It will fit nicely in the bathroom area under the shelf with hanging rail or in the area where a connecting door would be.

Thanks! I'm sur we'll figure it out. I didn't realize there was that much room in the corner area. The pics I had seen made the room look tiny.

 

[mexi]

We are a family of 5 and are staying at the BWI for the 5th time next month. What we love about the resort is the relaxed feeling with the big porch where they have rocking chairs, the proximity to Epcot ( no bus at the end of the night is huge), closeness to HS and the other Epcot resorts, and the bakery and ice cream shop on the boardwalk.

I love the way they play the 20s music inside and outside. It's just beautiful. We like the bigger pool but really love the secluded feeling of the quiet pool in the courtyard. Most of the time we have it all to ourselves. So peaceful.

Good luck with your decision.