Resort Selection Help!

[Sharka8]

I have been to Disney World many, many times but will be staying on property for the first time. I have stayed at the Best Western in Disney Springs a few times. I will be traveling with my husband and 3.5 year old son. We are currently booked for the first week of September in a standard room at Coronado Springs with the free dining plan. Like others I have looked at reviews after booking and had second thoughts so I have questions!

1. Is it worth the extra $400 for a preferred room?
2. Should we switch to a pirate room at Caribbean for an extra $400?
3. Is six days at Port Orleans Riverside in a garden view room for the same price a better idea?
4. Is six days at Saratoga in a studio for an extra $250 a better idea?
5. Is six days at Boardwalk Inn in a standard view room for an extra $400 a better idea?

Any help is appreciated!

 

[VAfamily1998]

I have been to Disney World many, many times but will be staying on property for the first time. I have stayed at the Best Western in Disney Springs a few times. I will be traveling with my husband and 3.5 year old son. We are currently booked for the first week of September in a standard room at Coronado Springs with the free dining plan. Like others I have looked at reviews after booking and had second thoughts so I have questions!

1. Is it worth the extra $400 for a preferred room?
2. Should we switch to a pirate room at Caribbean for an extra $400?
3. Is six days at Port Orleans Riverside in a garden view room for the same price a better idea?
4. Is six days at Saratoga in a studio for an extra $250 a better idea?
5. Is six days at Boardwalk Inn in a standard view room for an extra $400 a better idea?

Any help is appreciated!

1. In my opinion, no. But I enjoy walking. Some people have mobility issues or just don't like walking, and maybe to them it is worth it.
2. No! Caribbean will be undergoing massive construction over the next year and a half. I would not stay there under any circumstances, personally.
3. I love POR...I like Coronado springs better...but I'm not sure how much construction will impact stays there in September...because of that, I would choose POR over Coronado right now.
4. IMO, no. I don't get the appeal of the DVC studios over a regular room.
5. YES! $400 isn't that much over the course of a week, and Boardwalk is in such an excellent location. I love the theme of BWI as well--it's my favorite resort on property.

 

[VAfamily1998]

Just to add on to my above post regarding the Saratoga Springs studio: You would be getting a room with one queen bed and a sleeper sofa. Are you (and your child) ok with him sleeping on a sleeper sofa each night? Personally, I find it a pain to have to pull out a bed each night, and I avoid it when ever possible.

 

[wdwthanksgiving]

POR is great - wonderful landscaping, decent food court, watercraft to Disney Springs, pleasant rooms, walk around the lake and go to POFQ, good bus service, very nice large pool and 5 quiet pools and overall, not so huge you are walking for a long time to get to your room....
now, that said...if you had the extra $400 for Boardwalk, that would be so nice to walk to Epcot and to HS or take the watercraft...it is a lovely hotel right on the boardwalk so you can walk around the lake and enjoy whatever entertainment is going on (or just sit and enjoy the view)...
So - if the money is okay, Boardwalk would be my first choice because of location...otherwise, POR will be a wonderful alternative!
Let us know what you decide!

 

[ncc1701]

One plus POR has is that you can use the pool at POFQ. The slide there is geared more to younger children and they have a new children's splash pool area. Based on the construction going on at CBR I would avoid that resort. If Disney Springs is in your plans POR has a boat to go there in addition to the buses . During the day the ride is shared with POFQ but by 5:00 they each have their own boats.
For additional info on POR checkout www.portorleans.org

 

[Disneypapa]

Boardwalk is very conveniently located and would be a great choice for accommodations in my opinion and worth a few hundred dollars more.

 

[megs1313]

1. Is it worth the extra $400 for a preferred room?
IMO, No.

2. Should we switch to a pirate room at Caribbean for an extra $400?
NO

3. Is six days at Port Orleans Riverside in a garden view room for the same price a better idea?
Is this less days? I couldn't tell in your OP how many days you have booked at CSR. POR is my favorite mod, so if it's the same amount of days, absolutely.

4. Is six days at Saratoga in a studio for an extra $250 a better idea?
Not if you have POR as an option.

5. Is six days at Boardwalk Inn in a standard view room for an extra $400 a better idea?
BWI is a big upgrade from your other options (IMO) for a lot of reasons. do you have PH tickets? Do you plan to eat quick service at your resort regularly? how much swimming do you plan to do? For me, this would be a choice between BWI or POR. If the $400 wasn't going to mean cutting back in other areas, I'd upgrade to BWI. Having said that, CSR for 7 or more days vs. POR/BWI for 6 days, isn't really apples to apples.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

With construction, I wouldn't stay at either CSR or CBR right now. I would switch to POR or upgrade to BWI.

 

[Disneylover99]

1. No
2. No
3. Yes
4. No
5. No

 

[Sharka8]

Thanks for all the replies! I've got some stuff to consider!

To clarify, we have 7 days at CSR and it would be 7 at CBR. POR, SSR & BWI are 6 days.

 

[Pkltm]

If you are willing to spend the extra 400, why can't you do 7 nights At POR.

POR would be my first choice followed by BW

 

[baler31]

You said you have free dining, was it the quick service plan they offered in the recent offer for moderates ? If so I would upgrade to BWI as the dining plan would be table service then. The resort upgrade and dining upgrade would be more than worth it for us.

 

[Sharka8]

If you are willing to spend the extra 400, why can't you do 7 nights At POR.

POR would be my first choice followed by BW

POR is not on the free dining plan. So once I add another day (that day being Friday) and dining, it is the same as 6 days at BWI.

 

[Sharka8]

You said you have free dining, was it the quick service plan they offered in the recent offer for moderates ? If so I would upgrade to BWI as the dining plan would be table service then. The resort upgrade and dining upgrade would be more than worth it for us.

I upgraded us from the quick service to dining.

 

[rosiebean]

I'd stay at POR or BWI for six nights over seven at CBR or CSR given construction, especially as you've been to WDW before. But I'm a person who loves downtime at resorts, and both POR and BWI are excellent resorts. Only you can tell if $400 at BWI is worth it for you...but my family would find it worth it simply due to easy access to Epcot and DH and the entertainment around the Boardwalk area.

 

[Nancyg56]

I have been to Disney World many, many times but will be staying on property for the first time. I have stayed at the Best Western in Disney Springs a few times. I will be traveling with my husband and 3.5 year old son. We are currently booked for the first week of September in a standard room at Coronado Springs with the free dining plan. Like others I have looked at reviews after booking and had second thoughts so I have questions!

1. Is it worth the extra $400 for a preferred room?
2. Should we switch to a pirate room at Caribbean for an extra $400?
3. Is six days at Port Orleans Riverside in a garden view room for the same price a better idea?
4. Is six days at Saratoga in a studio for an extra $250 a better idea?
5. Is six days at Boardwalk Inn in a standard view room for an extra $400 a better idea?

Any help is appreciated!

Is Free dining included at BWI for your dates? Honestly if I had a choice I would choose BWI. The deluxe resort is in a great area so you have so much more within walking distance. The boardwalk at night is pretty darn sweet, with plenty to do and see. Food, treats, and entertainment.

I would NOT stay at CBR for any savings at this time The construction will be a disruption.

CSR is nice, but I have no idea how the constructuionwill impact your family. FOr a forst time onsite I woudl avoid that one as well.

WIth a little one, I would choose POFQ over POR given a choice. If POFQ is off the table, POR is lovely.

I woudl not choose to pay more for SSR, no.

 

[Sharka8]

Thank you for all the replies! I have narrowed it down to 7 days at POR or POFQ or 6 days at BWI. I'm leaning towards 6 at BWI because of the proximity to some of the parks and getting to see fireworks from the resort. With a 3.5 year old that will be tired, I think it is worth it!

 

[kelliejason]

I loved this resort, so it’s all about what you want. Since it is a conference center, it’s not too Disney’d up.

1. No. Just request Cabanas. We had rooms in 8A. Its best in my opinion for the pool & Main Lobby. I don’t mind walking.

2. Not in my opinion. I like the furnishings in the standard rooms. Plus CBR will be going under construction.

3. If it’s in the Alligator Bayou section, definitely not. I’ve stayed there and it is too rustic in comparison. Also stayed in the Princess Room in Magnolia Bend. Nice and my DD loved it, but it just wasn’t as nice. Coronado was better for me.

4. Haven’t stayed there.

5. Haven’t stayed there. Would love to though. Was going to a couple of years ago, but getting 2 rooms at Coronado was better for us. Proximity to Epcot is nice and so is the Boardwalk itself.

 

[doubtingthomas6]

BWI hands down no question. you will love it.

 

[buzznina]

The PO resorts are our family favorite Mods, but for just a bit more (great deal may I add) we would stay at BWI. But, if you are going to spend most of your time at the parks then I always vote to save $$$$.