Resort options for family of 5 - thoughts?

[Disneylovingmomof2]

I haven’t stayed at AOA but I’d check out their suites because people seem to like them.
I’ve stayed at POR and didn’t love it. It’s so spread out so you’ll either be taking turns to grab coffee in the morning or dragging a stroller everywhere when you’re walking around the property.

 

[Dug720]

I vote against two rooms. There is no guarantee they will be connecting, or even adjoining, and you and the other adult may find yourselves in split rooms.

Excellent point!

And yes, in hotel-speak connecting and adjoining mean 2 different things.

When you are talking hotel rooms:
- If you want to request a door in between the rooms so you can go from one to the other without having to go outside, that is connecting.
- If you are ok with being next door or diagonal or around the corner or across the hall from each other (if you're in a hotel with interior corridors), that is adjoining.

IOW, all connecting rooms are adjoining, but not all adjoining rooms are connecting.

I used to work in the reservations department of a hotel and we would always try our best to clarify if someone said "adjoining" if they meant they wanted that inner door or if they were ok without it. And inevitably some would fall through or not really listen and insist that yes adjoining was what they wanted - or better yet show up to check in and request adjoining rooms (and again not listen when the front desk asked for clarification) - be given adjoining rooms that did not connect and then go back and scream at the front desk manager that they had not been given what they asked for. (We heard the explosions regularly.)

It seems like the same thing when you're not in or haven't been in the hotel business, but this is a case where the word you use does matter.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I would choose CBR. We stayed there twice when the kids were younger (DS was 9 and 11 and DD was 3 and 5) They loved the pool area. A pool slide is a must for my kids so a value has been out.

CBR has changed a lot since we’ve been there so I bet it’s even better. Especially with the skyliner. I’ve heard great things about Sebastians too.

 

[lanejudy]

I would choose CBR for the Skyliner and the pool. It is likely to be less expensive than a Family Suite at a value. And as others noted, you cannot book 2 connecting (or adjoining) rooms so you run the risk of being separated.

 

[DeeSee]

OP, I dis-recommend renting DVC points. Why? Because if another situation like this pandemic happens, you will have paid for something nonrefundable.

I hear you and I agree. As nice as it sounds to have the deluxe experience at a more affordable price, we are not even entertaining the idea.

- If you want to request a door in between the rooms so you can go from one to the other without having to go outside, that is connecting.
- If you are ok with being next door or diagonal or around the corner or across the hall from each other (if you're in a hotel with interior corridors), that is adjoining.
IOW, all connecting rooms are adjoining, but not all adjoining rooms are connecting.

Yes, I definitely mean connecting. Thanks for that. Adjoining wouldn't be the end of the world for us either, if it was the only option. But I understand that, although rare, families could be split up and that would suck.

Thanks for the input, everyone. I definitely think ASMu family suites is the most attractive, from a room perspective. But I'm also very drawn to the convenience of the Skyliner! I'm really intimidated by the size of CBR and the multiple bus stops sounds a bit like a nightmare. POR seems lovely enough, but I feel pretty meh about the theming for a stay with kids...
A split stay might be something we will consider. Maybe a few days at one of the moderates and a few days in a family suite. You've given me lots to think about.

 

[Ksquared]

I hear you and I agree. As nice as it sounds to have the deluxe experience at a more affordable price, we are not even entertaining the idea.


Yes, I definitely mean connecting. Thanks for that. Adjoining wouldn't be the end of the world for us either, if it was the only option. But I understand that, although rare, families could be split up and that would suck.

Thanks for the input, everyone. I definitely think ASMu family suites is the most attractive, from a room perspective. But I'm also very drawn to the convenience of the Skyliner! I'm really intimidated by the size of CBR and the multiple bus stops sounds a bit like a nightmare. POR seems lovely enough, but I feel pretty meh about the theming for a stay with kids...
A split stay might be something we will consider. Maybe a few days at one of the moderates and a few days in a family suite. You've given me lots to think about.

I think you are on the right track with the suites but I think that with a 10 day trip, you can definitely do a split stay. Maybe 6 in the suites and 4 at the CBR. Best of both worlds!