POR room for 5 vs 2 rooms at Sports

[Sandysbuddy]

We currently have a standard room booked at POR but cannot get any discounts for our week (11/30-12/7). There is a military discount available at AS Sports for that week. We would need two rooms since there are 5 of us and it would save us roughly $200. We have stayed at POP once for an adults only trip but never at the All Stars.

I'm not sure if I want to change for $200?? When is the food court remodel supposed to be finished? Will the Pop Warner groups be coming in at the end of the week and staying at Sports? What would you do?

Thanks!

 

[indigoxtreme]

For the hassle of All Stars and the extra room and amenities at Port Orleans I would not change to All STars for that little amount if you think about it, it is only 28 dollars a day and the resort at Port Orleans is worth that not to speak of the boat to Down town disney. Queen Size beds too

 

[Babsy]

I would go with 2 rooms at ASSp over one room at POR. The 2 bathrooms and extra space are worth it, IMHO.

THere really isn't a big deal of difference in mods and values and you are saving money while getting 2 rooms?!!?

Seems like a good idea to me.

 

[Day-Day]

How old are the kids? We switched over to getting 2 rooms at the All Stars when the kids got a little older. This last trip we went with 2 rooms at POR (adult age "kids" now).

I don't see as big a difference between the moderates and basic deluxes like Wilderness Lodge; I see a big jump in amenities from value to moderate. We definitely prefer POR over the All Stars (quiet pools, ceiling fan, better food court, nicer grounds area, covered bus stop wait areas, boat to Downtown Disney, better main pool, etc.).

I know I'm contradicting myself but we went over to the All Stars when we were comparing one room at POR vs two rooms at the All Stars (with "older" kids). The two rooms gave us more total space and most importantly, two bathrooms. We spent a little more for the two rooms than what it would have cost for one a POR.

You asked some very good questions that I thought about when I first started reading your post; food court status and special groups schedule like Pop Warner.

 

[Sandysbuddy]

How old are the kids? We switched over to getting 2 rooms at the All Stars when the kids got a little older. This last trip we went with 2 rooms at POR (adult age "kids" now).

I don't see as big a difference between the moderates and basic deluxes like Wilderness Lodge; I see a big jump in amenities from value to moderate. We definitely prefer POR over the All Stars (quiet pools, ceiling fan, better food court, nicer grounds area, covered bus stop wait areas, boat to Downtown Disney, better main pool, etc.).

I know I'm contradicting myself but we went over to the All Stars when we were comparing one room at POR vs two rooms at the All Stars (with "older" kids). The two rooms gave us more total space and most importantly, two bathrooms. We spent a little more for the two rooms than what it would have cost for one a POR.

You asked some very good questions that I thought about when I first started reading your post; food court status and special groups schedule like Pop Warner.

Our kids will be 12, 9 and 7 when we visit so still pretty young. From what I have read today it looks like the food court will not be finished but I have yet to find the actual projected dates listed anywhere.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Our kids will be 12, 9 and 7 when we visit so still pretty young. From what I have read today it looks like the food court will not be finished but I have yet to find the actual projected dates listed anywhere.

With kids that age I think you will be pretty crowded in one room at POR. From what I've read the trundle bed will really only, comfortably, fit a small child.

If the food court is an issue look into one of the other value resorts.

 

[JennyDrake]

With kids that age I think you will be pretty crowded in one room at POR. From what I've read the trundle bed will really only, comfortably, fit a small child.

If the food court is an issue look into one of the other value resorts.

Ditto. I don't know if your discount would cover other value resorts, but if so, I would say to go that route.

I don't know PW dates, but they DO stay at AS Sports every year (+ another value + a moderate). Here is a previous post of mine about PW:

I have been at WDW during PW at least 7 times, and most of them in the same (value) resort. Please note that I am Childless by Choice and cannot be considered "Kid Friendly." I have NEVER had an issue with PW kids!!! I find them polite, respectful and often pleasantly friendly.

In contrast, I was at WDW this April during Cheer Spirit week and I found the cheerleaders incredibly self absorbed, unaware of others, UNsupervised and often rude. Give me Pop Warner any day!

 

[dancin Disney style]

Ditto. I don't know if your discount would cover other value resorts, but if so, I would say to go that route.

I don't know PW dates, but they DO stay at AS Sports every year (+ another value + a moderate). Here is a previous post of mine about PW:

I have been at WDW during PW at least 7 times, and most of them in the same (value) resort. Please note that I am Childless by Choice and cannot be considered "Kid Friendly." I have NEVER had an issue with PW kids!!! I find them polite, respectful and often pleasantly friendly.

In contrast, I was at WDW this April during Cheer Spirit week and I found the cheerleaders incredibly self absorbed, unaware of others, UNsupervised and often rude. Give me Pop Warner any day!

LOL.....I've been there with the Cheerleaders and didn't find the kids to be all that bad. It was the adults with them that were horrible.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

If you have never stayed at POR in one if the Alligator Bayou room (sleeps 5) check out the website www.portorleans.org. It has been remodeled & they have a Murphy bed now that pulls down which is alot better than a trundle & the beds are queen beds. The food court is amazing & besides the large pool there are several quiet pools sprinkled around the resort. We had no issues with the bathrooms & it was 4 adults.

 

[maxiesmom]

Tough choice. I think it all hinges on how much togetherness your family can take. I would say that if you spend a lot of time hanging out at the resort, pick POR. It has a much nicer pool area and a great food court. Plus you can rent bikes and boats for fun.

If you are in the parks almost all of the time, go for 2 rooms at a value. But remember that Disney does not guarantee you will get connecting rooms. If you end up with rooms that don't connect the adults will have to split up. There is only a small chance that that will happen, but it does happen on occasion.

 

[SillyFamily]

If the food court is a big deal for you I would go to POR, but we never eat there so i would say go for more space. The deco and pools are great at AS and if the kids are too noisy u can usually ask to move.
Have you checked out shades of green? It tends to have larger rooms and its only for military.

 

[kmb584]

Our kids will be 12, 9 and 7 when we visit so still pretty young. From what I have read today it looks like the food court will not be finished but I have yet to find the actual projected dates listed anywhere.

I'm not a fan of the values (I find the resort too large and rooms too small) but with the ages of your children I'd go for 2 rooms at ASSp over POR any day! POR is a great resort but I don't see the 5 of you fitting comfortably in 1 room. With 2 connecting rooms at ASSp, you'll have 4 double beds, 2 full bathrooms, 2 vanity areas, 2 TV's and a heck of a lot more space to spread out.

 

[kmb584]

In contrast, I was at WDW this April during Cheer Spirit week and I found the cheerleaders incredibly self absorbed, unaware of others, UNsupervised and often rude. Give me Pop Warner any day![/I]

Totally off topic but I was there for Cheer Spirit week in April and agree with you 1000%! I couldn't believe the "holier than thou" attitudes some of the girls had. I even made the comment that I'd take PW and BTG at the same time over the CS groups.

 

[dancin Disney style]

If you have never stayed at POR in one if the Alligator Bayou room (sleeps 5) check out the website www.portorleans.org. It has been remodeled & they have a Murphy bed now that pulls down which is alot better than a trundle & the beds are queen beds. The food court is amazing & besides the large pool there are several quiet pools sprinkled around the resort. We had no issues with the bathrooms & it was 4 adults.

I just looked at the pics on this site of the murphy bed....only a small child will fit on at. It doesn't appear to be much bigger than the old trundles but it does look like it's more comfortable and easier to use.

 

[Sandysbuddy]

We have stayed at POR and while it was crowded in the room, we really enjoyed the resort. Right now the only value with a military discount available is Sports and the food court refurb worries me. I may keep checking for availability at one of the other values. I think I would prefer POP if we go with a value.

We have looked at Shades of Green but I am not sure about their bus transportation schedule. Also, I have wondered how FP+ will work there if by chance it is in effect by the time we go. I may need to check into it more though. Their rooms are bigger and that would be nice!

Thanks for all of the input.

 

[LilyWDW]

If you are in the parks almost all of the time, go for 2 rooms at a value. But remember that Disney does not guarantee you will get connecting rooms. If you end up with rooms that don't connect the adults will have to split up. There is only a small chance that that will happen, but it does happen on occasion.

Yes, please keep in mind that connecting or adjoining rooms are only a request, no matter what a CM says or what your paperwork says. If that would be a make or break issue then you should stick with 1 room at POR. If you and the other adult are willing to split up if needed, then go with the 2 rooms.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Our kids will be 12, 9 and 7 when we visit so still pretty young. From what I have read today it looks like the food court will not be finished but I have yet to find the actual projected dates listed anywhere.

The dates are 8/5 - 12/20

 

[pooh4evr]

We have 3 girls 12, 10, & 6. The last couple of big trips we have done Asmufs and it has been great. Last summer we stayed at PoR for a few nights, and LOVED it. But have decided for our next trip to go with 2 rooms at Pop it is cheaper and we will have plenty of room for everybody to sleep comfortably too. While I would love to do PoR again it is more for 1 room and I am not sure we can handle 9 nights in 1 room with 1 bathroom.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I like Sports, have stayed there 2x, but the food court and arcade (they will have the grab and go food in the arcade) both being out of commission would be deal breakers for me. We usually eat at the food court several times per trip and even though we are not huge arcade people, if it rains when you've schedule pool/ resort time then there isn't really anything else to do at the resort.

So, in this case I would stick with POR. When we stayed there, the kids were 11, 8 and 4 and we had plenty of room. We also stayed 5 in a room at Universal's Hard Rock when the kids were 14, 11 and 7. While technically bigger, the set up of the room actually gave us less space to work with than POR and we were still fine.

I am fanatical about keeping the room tidy though. ie Dirty clothes go in the suitcase not on the floor and stuff like that. With that many people sharing one space you have to stay organized and on top of the clutter or it will take over.

We also don't spend a ton of time in the room and have always just gone to bed all at the same time. (The adults are usually more tired than the kids at the end of the day.)

 

[Sandysbuddy]

Thanks Backstage Gal for the refurb dates! And thanks maxiesmom and LilyWDW for pointing out that connecting rooms are not guaranteed. The CM on the phone told me that they were and I would not have known otherwise. It would be a deal breaker if we had to split up!

With the food court being under refurb and no guarantee of connecting rooms, we are going to either stick with POR or switch to Shades of Green.

Thanks so much for your opinions! It really helps when you are considering a resort you have never stayed at before!