Port Orleans or Art of Animation?

[BookWormMama]

Hello. I'm new to registering, although I've been lurking. I am planning my family's first ever trip to Walt Disney World in May of 2015. I had originally planned on us staying at Port Orleans Riverside. Then I read that the family suites at Art of Animation are better for kids/families. My kids will be 12, 8 and 4.

 

[Melany502]

I can't speak for AoA, but we just back from POR with my 7,6, and 3 yo and we all loved it. I'm glad I saved the money from AoA because we were only in the room when getting ready in the am and to go to sleep. The Murphy bed worked out great.

 

[Melany502]

We will be going back to POR in May 2015 too

 

[tndisney5]

We stayed at POR last visit and loved it. It is a beautiful resort. Was too cool to swim, but the pool looked like lots of fun. Love the General Store and restaurants and the ferry boat to Downtown Disney.

We will be staying at AoA in a few days. This will be our first stay there. It looks very amazing theme wise. The other plus here is that you won't be cramped. The rooms are family suites vs POR two beds with a small pull out/murphy system. The cheaper route would be POR. However if you kids will still be into Cars, Nemo, or Lion King they might really like AoA.

 

[mom2cgj]

POR would be cheaper, but if cost is not a huge factor, I would recommend AoA. We stayed there last Jan, and LOVED it! We were in a LK suite. Plenty of room for the 5 of us, and the theming was fantastic. My kids absolutely loved it and have requested we go back. We are planning a Cars suite next time, since even my daughter thought it was the coolest section.

 

[maplevale]

We are staying at both next week (5 nights at POR and 1 at AoA). I LOVE POR but we want to try out AoA (we are just in a Little Mermaid room) so see what we think.

POR has a totally distinct feel - you do not feel like you are in Disney at all (which our family really liked after a day in the park). It is a resort I could see wanting to spend extra days at to enjoy the resort.

In theory I like the thought of suites but they are$$$

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

Our family of 5 has done both AoA Nemo and POR.

H says we will never stay anywhere except POR again.

We are total park people and are only in the room to sleep. So while the extra space --and bathroom!!!-- at AoA was nice, it wasn't worth almost twice the price.

POR was also more my taste theme-wise. It's a beautiful resort. AoA is very..... bright... haha. Plus, POR has a slide in their pool, which our girls loved, and it had a hot tub.

We also enjoyed having a better food court, onsite TS restaurant, and the boat to DTD was convienent.

So, for us, POR is the clear winner.

 

[BookWormMama]

Thank you for the replies! I'm not overly concerned with the price difference. I thought that POR looked so beautiful, and like my husband and I would really enjoy it. I just wasn't sure about the kids. The trip really is for them, and I think that they would love the theming of the suites. POR seems like a better resort though.... See why I can't decide?

 

[maxiesmom]

Are you kids into swimming? At POR they will have a pool with a slide, while the pool at AoA doesn't have a slide. Also at POR there will be a hot tub for mom and dad. No hot tub at AoA.

 

[BookWormMama]

I decided to compare both resorts on the Disney site, and show my kids. To my surprise, they unanimously chose POR! So, I guess that's the one

 

[SmallWorld71]

Thank you for the replies! I'm not overly concerned with the price difference. I thought that POR looked so beautiful, and like my husband and I would really enjoy it. I just wasn't sure about the kids. The trip really is for them, and I think that they would love the theming of the suites. POR seems like a better resort though.... See why I can't decide?

Speaking from personal experience, the adults are the ones who worry about resorts. It is much more important to pick a resort that makes the adults happy. Don't worry about the kids - they will love whatever resort you pick! ALL Disney resorts have things that the kids will love.

Yes, AoA is visually appealing, but POR has a great pool slide, a boat to DTD, and fishing at the fishin' hole for example. Not to mention YeeHaw Bob!

I say, pick what YOU like and then join the thread for that resort to help you focus on all the great things there.

 

[Melany502]

You will love it there!

 

[SmallWorld71]

I decided to compare both resorts on the Disney site, and show my kids. To my surprise, they unanimously chose POR! So, I guess that's the one

I think I was typing when you posted this.

 

[Scottishbrit]

Why not both? Ive always stayed at PO and am going in 57 days. Were staying at AK Lodge for 2 days, Art of Animation for 4, and PO for 4.

 

[MandiC]

We are going to POR, I think it depends on your kids ages and interests. I wanted to have the option for a restaurant at our resort. I've heard great things about the food at PO and my girls love that we will get to ride a boat to DTD. I don't plan on us being in our room all that much so room size was not much of a factor for us.

 

[teacup princess]

I've been to both. I loved them both but after one horrible vacation stuck in the cramped room at POR when illness took us out one by one, I really began to appreciate the value staying in a suite and having a separate bedroom and living area.

 

[tzeitel]

We did a split stay this past Oct - AoA for 3 nights and POR for 6. I wanted to stay at AoA but extended family was staying at POR. I had to settle for just 3 nights and when the rest of the family came to town we switched.

POR seems to be a favorite for many people, but not for me To me it is pretty boring and the buses are a nightmare (we have stayed there twice and both times it has been an issue). DD liked the POR slide but she loved the AoA Nemo pool. The AoA food court was much better than the one at POR. We did not really like Boatwrights - not to mention that even mid-week, at opening (with the restaurant pretty much empty) if you do not have an ADR they will turn you away. I was a seating hostess at WDW and we would never turn people away at opening or if we had empty tables unless it was for a big party. This has happened to us on both trips

 

[mm1971]

Thank you for the replies! I'm not overly concerned with the price difference. I thought that POR looked so beautiful, and like my husband and I would really enjoy it. I just wasn't sure about the kids. The trip really is for them, and I think that they would love the theming of the suites. POR seems like a better resort though.... See why I can't decide?

I decided to compare both resorts on the Disney site, and show my kids. To my surprise, they unanimously chose POR! So, I guess that's the one

I was reading through and about to suggest POR. They have so much more a the resort. You have the marina with boats, bikes, surrey bikes, and the free boat to DTD. You get the pool with slide and the grounds are really nice. The food court is good and having a sit down restaurant at the resort is nice.

I will say that we stayed POR on our last trip in August and this is the most I have ever heard the kids talk about how much fun they had at the resort and pool. They still laugh about the music playing int he food court. You'll see. I think it is the overall better choice, even with one bathroom and a little less space. Use the extra $$ you save to take a horse and carriage ride around the grounds. Leaves from the marina in the evenings, or rent a pontoon boat and cruise the waterways. It's great to have memories of family time outside the parks.

Have a great time. We are headed to POFQ in August.

 

[Kpskyman]

POR is my favorite resort. It is quiet and shaded, and gives you a feeling of relaxation. It really depends on what you expect from your resort. Are you planning on spending a lot of time there, or is it just a place to sleep, change clothes and hold your stuff while you visit the parks ? When we visit, we always schedule a no park day midway through our vacation, as my DD's are 7 and 3 and need a day out of the parks to relax and reenergize. At POR we swim, fish, take a horse drawn carriage ride, and just take a leisure stroll of the grounds. We also try to stay away from the mansions, as it is a further walk to the main lobby. The last time we went we requested a room near the lobby and on the first floor when we reserved, since we had a stroller, and the accommodated us with no problem. The boat ride to DTD is very nice too. I have never stayed at AoA and I am sure it is a great place also, as I have never had a bad stay at a resort. So whichever you choose I am sure your vacation will be magical.

 

[Missdisney00]

We stayed at POR last trip in April and absolutely loved it we thought it was so nice we loved their food court and the grounds in general. We have visited AoA although we didn't stay over night and we thought it looked very neat with all the bright colors we think both are great resorts and think you be happy no matter where you stay