resort choice questions

[jdfmommy]

Hi. I've read the FAQ and learned a TON! (Thanks, btw) I still have some questions though and I thought I'd start with resorts

I'm thinking about planning a trip during this September's free dining promotion for myself, my husband and our 2 yo son. DH has CP and walks with a significant gait, using a rollator most of the time at home. He hates riding but even he realized when he went to WDW almost 20 years ago that it was just too much walking. With me pushing DS in the stroller, ECV is definitely the way to go.

We will have our car, but I don't know how well our Honda CRV will accommodate an ECV and a stroller, so - at least goiing to the parks - my plan is to use Disney transportation. (Maybe drive and use the rollator if we go places like dinner shows or Boardwalk or DTD?)

Sorry this is so long! Anyway, as much as I think a monorail resort would be awesome, I don't think the budget will allow for it. I'm trying to decide between a moderate - most likely POFQ. With the smaller size we could probably leave the ECV in the room for quick meals and pool time. Or maybe go value at Pop Century. We can request a room close to the activities bldg, right?

So overwhelmed! Can you help?!?

Thanks

-Jennifer

 

[katrina1122]

I've done POFQ with an ecv 2x now. It's perfect. Just one bus stop and easy to get to and you can take your ecv on the boat right to dtd. I did pop pre ecv days. It's a much busier place and huge in comparison. You could still do it with an ecv, but I'd pick pofq for the smaller compact size. The farthest room at pofq can be considered a fairly close room at pop.

Also, I wouldn't do the rollator at dtd, it's a big place with stairs everywhere so you ahve to look for the ramps, etc.

 

[ttintagel]

Seconding POFQ for the short distances between everything. We asked for, and got, a room in building 3 near bell services and the main building, but even if we'd been placed elsewhere we would have been fine.

We were able to fit an ECV in a standard room at Pop Century, and two in a standard room at POFQ.

 

[Bete]

I vote POP as long as you get a preferred room near the activities building. You will pay a slight up charge for a preferred room like $15/night. The preferred location will put you close to transportation, too. You have to pay the same up charge at a moderate, too for a preferred location.

Your 2 year old will really like POP over a moderate resort. You will save over a moderate. If you want a table service meal you will have an up charge for your dining plan; since, you only get quick service meals included for free dining at a value.
Some go out of pocket for a few table service meals instead of doing the up charge on table service meals. You do have to factor a waiting time for a table service meal even if you have a reservation. There's more of a time commitment doing a table service meal. With free dining happening you could have about an hour or more per each table meal. Will your 2 year old handle it everyday?

If you really want to a lot of character meals or table service dining then you need to do the math because a moderate will give you a table service meal each day but you will pay more per night for the room.

Keep in mind the portable travel scooters break down into about 5 pieces. You can put some of the pieces in the back seat of a car. You might be able to place the scooter inside the trunk and then the stroller on top of it depending how big of a car you have.

I don't think you will go wrong with either resort. You just need to do the math and compare based on how you want to do the trip with meals.

 

[expeditioneverestgrl]

Maybe Art of Animation?? It's a moderate resort and its near every park except Magic Kingdom! There are a lot of Disney Characters that your son might like!! Port Orleans would be my second choice!! Have fun!

 

[jdfmommy]

Thanks! Quick responses are awesome!!

Sigh, I hate having to actually make decisions. Is it a lot more time on busses from Pop compared to POFQ? It's so much easier when one choice is just clearly the best option!

Well, I guess I just need to present the options to DH and convince him it's actually something we really need to do. We'd talked about waiting until DS was 6 or so, so he'll actually remember it, but he loves Mickey so much; I think it makes sense to take him now. Not to mention that we'll have to pay for him once he turns 3!

 

[jdfmommy]

Maybe Art of Animation?? It's a moderate resort and its near every park except Magic Kingdom! There are a lot of Disney Characters that your son might like!!

I was considering AofA, but the prices were coming in higher than PO; I think because it was only offering suites.

When I priced Pop, it came in about $255 less than POFQ, including upgrade to Preferred Room and to std Dining Plan... so, not a trip/no trip savings, but that could be a lot of souvenirs, right?

 

[WheeledTraveler]

If your DH is within the weight limit to rent a Pride Go-Go scooter (or Go-Go Elite, I can't remember which the rental companies have), you'll have no problem fitting it into the back of a CRV, even with a stroller. You will have to break it down, and maybe put one part in the back seat, but it means that you will have a choice between WDW transportation and using your car. You might also be able to transport one of the slightly larger scooters that break down for transport. I'd talk to the rental company you're thinking of using and see what they say.

 

[Bete]

Thanks! Quick responses are awesome!!

Sigh, I hate having to actually make decisions. Is it a lot more time on busses from Pop compared to POFQ? It's so much easier when one choice is just clearly the best option!

Well, I guess I just need to present the options to DH and convince him it's actually something we really need to do. We'd talked about waiting until DS was 6 or so, so he'll actually remember it, but he loves Mickey so much; I think it makes sense to take him now. Not to mention that we'll have to pay for him once he turns 3!

I really don't think on the transportation end there's much of a difference between a moderate or value. I like POP preferred because you get the bus stop by the activity building and that really helps with the stroller and ECV. You're the first stop and pick up point. You don't have anyone else on the bus when it gets there. With an ECV you are allowed pre-boarding privileges with the wheelchairs. At the moderates depending on your bus stop some people may already be boarded. This can be hard for ECV to get on a partially pre- loaded bus. Moderates do get a slightly better drop off and pick up point at the parks. If a resort is busier they usually have more buses to handle the crowds.

You do get a slightly larger room at a moderate compared to a value. Moderates give you a little better choice on eats because they will have more than a food court. I would still want the $245 savings for other stuff including tips, activities and souvenirs.

Either choice is fine for resorts. You have done the number crunching; so, you know what's involved in your decision.

 

[KPeveler]

I really don't think on the transportation end there's much of a difference between a moderate or value. I like POP preferred because you get the bus stop by the activity building and that really helps with the stroller and ECV. You're the first stop and pick up point. You don't have anyone else on the bus when it gets there. With an ECV you are allowed pre-boarding privileges with the wheelchairs. At the moderates depending on your bus stop some people may already be boarded. This can be hard for ECV to get on a partially pre- loaded bus. Moderates do get a slightly better drop off and pick up point at the parks. If a resort is busier they usually have more buses to handle the crowds.

You do get a slightly larger room at a moderate compared to a value. Moderates give you a little better choice on eats because they will have more than a food court. I would still want the $245 savings for other stuff including tips, activities and souvenirs.

Either choice is fine for resorts. You have done the number crunching; so, you know what's involved in your decision.

POFQ, at least to my knowledge, is the 1st bus stop too. And much quieter than POP from what I heard.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

When we stayed at POR in 2010, POFQ was the last pickup stop at the resort. We left people behind many times. Maybe that has changed, but I would call and check.

 

[wiigirl]

POFQ, at least to my knowledge, is the 1st bus stop too. And much quieter than POP from what I heard.

 

[4rkdz]

Have you considered staying at the Swan or Dolphin? We stayed at the Dolphin a couple years ago and loved it. The location between HS and Epcot on the Boardwalk was great. They offer several discounts, AAA, Nurses, Teachers, etc. It may be easier for you to board the boat to HS and Epcot than the busses from other resorts. I believe you can even take advantage of Extra Magic hours. It's worth a look.

 

[Michigan]

We have stayed at both and I would go for POFQ. At POP the room will be really really tight with an ECV and stroller. At POFQ I had one king room and the connecting double room. My father had an ECV and my youngest shared a room with him so her wheelchair was also in there and there was plenty of room.

The transportation is great because it is the first bus stop when it shares if Riverside going to the parks and the boat to downtown is right there.

 

[JennyDrake]

If you are set on a moderate, I would go with POFQ as ALL of the rooms are close to the main building and bus stops. If you consider a different moderate or a value, I would definitely, most definitely pay extra for a preferred room. Please let us know what you decide!

 

[MSSANDRA]

We like Moderates and the resort is for you, not the toddler. He will be happy anywhere. Moderates give you queen beds, a huge deal to us, and a little more room which may be important with an ECV in the room. I know little about POFQ but it sounds perfect for your family. We love CSR but if you do that one, I would do a preferred room. Buses are GREAT there. I think you will enjoy at least one TS a day. It may be a little hectic to get CS with you pushing the stroller. CMs will help, just ask. Two is a great age and you will have a blast.

 

[Schmeck]

Maybe Art of Animation?? It's a moderate resort and its near every park except Magic Kingdom! There are a lot of Disney Characters that your son might like!! Port Orleans would be my second choice!! Have fun!

Art of Animation is considered a value resort, as it does not have a table service restaurant, no hot tubs, small rooms (mermaid section is the same as every other value room in size and layout) and family suites. I don't think it has a pool slide either?

 

[stargazertechie]

POFQ is my favorite non-deluxe resort. I will say that when we were at POP with my dad in his ECV, it was CROWDED.

 

[Random Ninja]

Art of Animation is considered a value resort, as it does not have a table service restaurant, no hot tubs, small rooms (mermaid section is the same as every other value room in size and layout) and family suites. I don't think it has a pool slide either?

AoA is definately a value resort. The mermaid rooms are the only regular rooms and they are the farthest away from the buses/pool/dining. The Big Blue Pool has a splash pad but no slide.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

Can you remove one of the seats in the CRV? We folded a minivan seat and put the scooter there. I did not care for POFQ. We never got anywhere but the parking lot and bus pick up. There was no nice dining like the values, I couldn't even tell you how far the activities were, but I knew we had to ride the bus or drive to the main check in.
It did rain heavily all week too, so no walking about to really find he layout.

I like movies, nowhere is too far.i really like Dalmatian building. Love all the activity area for kids, gift shop, and food court.