POR RR Dilemma

[DJFan88]

Just how bad is a RR for 17 and 14 yr. old boys?

This is all I can find for the Visa only week for the FreeQS at POR.

 

[Traver Freeman]

The rooms don't look too bad to me. Just looking at pictures. Certainly not as girly as Little Mermaid themed rooms. However, in any case, unless you plan on spending a lot of time in your room, your room is basically just a place to sleep and nothing else.

That being said, the DIS has a good point when they tell you to check regular room discounts compared to Free Dining. You may actually save more more on a room discount as the free dining rooms often cost you more to get the room.

Example. I got free dining on the last trip we took while staying at CBR.

A regular room is $217/night, which is what we wanted to stay in. But the free dining was only on the Pirate Rooms, which are $278/night. We switched to Pirate rooms. Basically, we paid an extra $61/night or $420 for our whole trip. The free dining saved us $1,000 in food, so our net savings was $600 or roughly there about.

Now, had we not gotten free dining, we might have spent far less on food, so let's just say we would have only spent $700 on food without free dining, that's now a savings of only $300. There might have been a room discount out there that would have saved us more than $300, I don't know cause I didn't check. We didn't get that tip until long after our trip when we started listening to the DIS.

Just something to do think about. Especially if you aren't wild about the room you'd have to be in.

 

[stinkpickle]

The royal rooms aren't bad at all. Your boys probably won't mind.

 

[Traver Freeman]

Not to mention, when we went, free dining was for the full plan, not just QS. So that's even less money. I'd be leaning towards the room only discount.

 

[DJFan88]

The rooms don't look too bad to me. Just looking at pictures. Certainly not as girly as Little Mermaid themed rooms. However, in any case, unless you plan on spending a lot of time in your room, your room is basically just a place to sleep and nothing else.

That being said, the DIS has a good point when they tell you to check regular room discounts compared to Free Dining. You may actually save more more on a room discount as the free dining rooms often cost you more to get the room.

Example. I got free dining on the last trip we took while staying at CBR.

A regular room is $217/night, which is what we wanted to stay in. But the free dining was only on the Pirate Rooms, which are $278/night. We switched to Pirate rooms. Basically, we paid an extra $61/night or $420 for our whole trip. The free dining saved us $1,000 in food, so our net savings was $600 or roughly there about.

Now, had we not gotten free dining, we might have spent far less on food, so let's just say we would have only spent $700 on food without free dining, that's now a savings of only $300. There might have been a room discount out there that would have saved us more than $300, I don't know cause I didn't check. We didn't get that tip until long after our trip when we started listening to the DIS.

Just something to do think about. Especially if you aren't wild about the room you'd have to be in.

True points.

Currently have a GV room there with the UOC discount. It may work out better financially for us however with the QS. We are not necessarily sold on the regular dining plan as the boys would rather go off on their own sometimes and eat QS whenever wherever. I wouldn't upgrade it for sure.
Am also going back and forth between the regular DP free at Saratoga for $700 more.
Basically it would be about $80 a day more to get the QS, which I believe for us is about 2 QS meals at an estimation of $10 a meal per person per meal, which could actually be higher and not likely too much less. This is how we would most likely eat anyway. So the benefit I guess is the 2 snacks each per day and the mugs which we use frequently.

 

[Traver Freeman]

an estimation of $10 a meal per person per meal

The average QS menu item is around $13. That doesn't include drink. If you get a cup of water, it obviously won't cost you anything. Not sure if that adjusts your calculations at all. It is pretty minor, but it adds up.

 

[bumbershoot]

ROYAL rooms have deep jewel tones and pictures of princesses (and unless they are gone, silhouettes of princes, so the males aren't left out either). What's there to not like for guys?

 

[DJFan88]

The average QS menu item is around $13. That doesn't include drink. If you get a cup of water, it obviously won't cost you anything. Not sure if that adjusts your calculations at all. It is pretty minor, but it adds up.

Yeah, I think financially it makes sense, the UOC was okay, but just as the Dining offer was lessened, so was the RO offer. I just don't know about the rooms.
Also still thinking on that SSR.
Its true you just sleep there, but weve been many times and we are not at that point of go go go anymore.
Ugghh.
Will of course keep looking to see if anything opens up.

 

[DJFan88]

ROYAL rooms have deep jewel tones and pictures of princesses (and unless they are gone, silhouettes of princes, so the males aren't left out either). What's there to not like for guys?

Ok, so that is better, didn't realize it had some male theming too.

 

[Traver Freeman]

Yeah, I think financially it makes sense, the UOC was okay, but just as the Dining offer was lessened, so was the RO offer. I just don't know about the rooms.
Also still thinking on that SSR.
Its true you just sleep there, but weve been many times and we are not at that point of go go go anymore.
Ugghh.
Will of course keep looking to see if anything opens up.

Certainly understand not wanting to "go go" all the time. We are looking at coming back to the resort in the afternoon for a nap. Even with naps, though, I don't really see us sitting the room awake with nothing to do and dwelling on specifically what our room looks like.

I think the choice in resort is primary, room view secondary, and the actual room style tertiary in priority. So I would lean more towards a garden view or river view room personally. You can get those views in the royal rooms, I just was meaning whether it's a royal room or regular room doesn't make much difference to me, but what the view would be. Looking at a parking lot is boring.

 

[DJFan88]

Yes we love POR, its a garden view RR they have only for that deal. I have a regular garden view with the UOC. Wanted poolview, but wasn't available yet. Weve stayed in both mansions and AB, so that part doesn't matter, as this is mansions.
I mean we do chill in the room, but with the tv, etc., guess its irrelevant like you say, just wondering what the vibe was, esp, if anyone had teen boys.

 

[rosiebean]

My sons, tweens, want to stay in RRs because they look 'fancy' (they have expensive taste) compared to other mod rooms. My college aged nieces and nephews stayed there a few years ago, and got a big kick out of the rooms. I love them.

I think kids of any age would enjoy the fireworks on the headboard (though the older kids might get some of the jokes adults me about the fireworks/bed). The room is a little over the top, in my opinion...but kids with a sense of humor will probably get more of a kick out of these rooms than others.

 

[adisneyaunt]

We got a free upgrade to the RR and though I really thought that the touches were cute.. they were not located in a great location within POR, which is quite large. I'd not choose the room based on what he cost and the location. It is far from central/main area.
We now will only stay Preferred while at POR. The locations of those buildings are Excellent.
If however the goal is to get the "free" dine, RR it's doable.
I second others that say the free dine deal versus a room discount should be fully investigated... especially that they further UPcharged to require Hoppers and Then DOWN graded the dine ...to QS.
Enjoy ur visit wherever you stay.

 

[rosiebean]

We got a free upgrade to the RR and though I really thought that the touches were cute.. they were not located in a great location within POR, which is quite large. I'd not choose the room based on what he cost and the location. It is far from central/main area.

This is not the case for all GV RRs. Some are indeed in excellent locations (just as good as preferred, in my experience). Close the pool(s), boat launch, dining, and buses. But getting a garden view room in one of those locations vs toward the back of the RR mansions depends on luck, even when faxing/calling in requests.

 

[DJFan88]

We got a free upgrade to the RR and though I really thought that the touches were cute.. they were not located in a great location within POR, which is quite large. I'd not choose the room based on what he cost and the location. It is far from central/main area.
We now will only stay Preferred while at POR. The locations of those buildings are Excellent.
If however the goal is to get the "free" dine, RR it's doable.
I second others that say the free dine deal versus a room discount should be fully investigated... especially that they further UPcharged to require Hoppers and Then DOWN graded the dine ...to QS.
Enjoy ur visit wherever you stay.

We've stayed here before, so location is not an issue. We've stayed on back side of magnolia and we've stayed preferred. I'm probably in the minority, but I don't mind or think the resort is that large. I really want pool view, but so far they are not available. I currently have a UOC for a garden view.
I did cost comparison and we come out ahead basically by our drinks and everyone's snacks. We always buy park hoppers anyway, so I do that irregardless, and eat mostly quick service. I only want 2 TS this time, but we are doing a split stay and eating them then.

My sons, tweens, want to stay in RRs because they look 'fancy' (they have expensive taste) compared to other mod rooms. My college aged nieces and nephews stayed there a few years ago, and got a big kick out of the rooms. I love them.

I think kids of any age would enjoy the fireworks on the headboard (though the older kids might get some of the jokes adults me about the fireworks/bed). The room is a little over the top, in my opinion...but kids with a sense of humor will probably get more of a kick out of these rooms than others.

I thought the headboards looked cool too and the ornate colors. It was the princess paintings on the wall that were scaring me, lol.

 

[Alicatt]

We did not find it overly girly. Fancy but not too feminine. The touches are cute. Like the genie's "flying" carpet is represented, etc.