secret porthole room or cat 9 on deck 2?

[debtman7]

Hi,

Any advice on which would be better? I'm down to deciding between a category 9 on deck 2, or a secret porthole room on deck 5. The cost difference is only $100 (which isn't that great a savings on a $3,000 cruise so that's not a deciding factor. I'm more curious about the advantages/disadvantages of deck 5 vs deck 9. I am thinking the secret porthole room might be a better choice because it will be closer to everything and also won't be underneath or near anything noisy, with luck.

 

[aliwas]

We really enjoyed our SPR 5520 last June, the obstuction is minimal and was never a problem. We were close to the stairs and elevator and never had a problem getting anywhere. Not sure about Deck 2, but would definately recommend Deck 5.

 

[tam012864]

Oh I have that room on our June 12th cruise!!! We cant wait!!!!

 

[disneygatorfan]

Do you have kids?? If you do, and they are planning to go to the kids clubs.. I would stick with the SPH on deck 5.

 

[poohssmum]

We stayed on deck 2 on our cruise in November of 04. It was ok, but we were under Rockin' Bar D and were bothered a little bit by the noise. Nothing to ruin our cruise, but worth mentioning.

One of the things to keep in mind for deck 2 is the distance to activities. I like to use the stairs to combat some of the additional calories, and it was a looooong walk up from our room on deck 2 to the pools on deck 9. One time I made our whole group walk the stairs and even the kids were pooped by the time we got to the pool

I've right now got a Cat 9 on Deck 2 (in the back of the ship under Parrot Cay) booked for November 5, 2005, but just noticed that room 5020 is available. I think I'm going to be calling my TA The cost difference doesn't bother me ... it's being right close to the clubs and in the middle of the ship ... no excuse not to walk if it's only a couple of flights

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

We have that room (5520) for our 10-15-05 cruise...I have also stayed in 5020 and we love deck 5. Close to the kids clubs!

If you get get one.....keep it!

 

[RebeccaLovesDisney]

We stayed in SPH cabin 5020 on our last cruise and loved the location! There was very little view obstruction. If you have kids, it's very convenient having a room on the same deck as the clubs. And I always felt that we were close to everything. The SPH's on deck 5 are really more like Cat 8's without the added expense.

For those of you considering changing to an available SPH cabin, I would suggest that you decide soon. Those cabins don't stay available for long!

 

[indymom1]

We have only cruised before in a Cat 6 balcony but when planning this trip we found out that 5020 was available and jumped at the chance to have it based upon the reviews on this board. We can't wait for July 2006 and our cruise to get here.

 

[cruzin'gain]

We're in 5020 on the Magic on 7/9 and very excited. Based on what I read here on the boards, I was glad we got it. I will have 1 DS in the Lab. Looks like a great location on the ship, we can do the stairs to get everywhere!

 

[Hygiene99]

I would pick Secret porthole room over cat 9 ..

When we had a cat 9 on deck 2 found the room location to be noisy ..
some sort of machinery going most of the night ....

Like deck five better....

 

[JanDave]

Hi: We last cruised on the Magic 9/18/04, and we were in SPH 5520 and loved the staterooom as well as the location. Easy access to all decks and elevators are not as busy as mid-ship. In 2001, we were on the Magic in a Cat. 9 on Deck 2. Ocean view was great, however, I much prefer deck 5. Whichever deck you choose, enjoy!

Jan

 

[inkkognito]

I would definitely go with the SPR if it was one of the non-adjoining ones. I love deck 5, and you can't beat the bargain, not to mention no risk of overhead noise from a nightclub. But the adjoiners have plenty of noise risk on their own, so that would offset a lot of the benefits.
Barb

 

[kdicey]

I have a adjioner on 2/05/05. I hope my neighbors aren't too loud.

 

[RKB]

The secret porthole rooms ending in "20" are the non-adjoiners.

 

[kdicey]

I am in 5022

 

[PalatkaCruisers]

We had one of the SPH Room (5024) on our 10 day Christmas cruise and it was great considering it was considered a Cat 10. This room had more of a limited view then 5020 or 5022. We ended up having to relocate due to a mechanical problem (sewage gas coming from plumbing). They moved us to a Cat 8 room on the otherside of deck 5. All we had to do was pack and Disney moved us while on shore. They were very accomadating! I'm sure they made repairs as soon as we relocated. As for Deck 2, our tablemates had to move rooms because the noise was so load from the lounge above, it kept their young son up at night. Go for deck 5!!

 

[georgina]

We have only cruised before in a Cat 6 balcony but when planning this trip we found out that 5020 was available and jumped at the chance to have it based upon the reviews on this board. We can't wait for July 2006 and our cruise to get here.

We have 5022 and 5024 for our July 2006 cruise (4 night 7/2/2006). I wouldn't have known about them either if not for this board. It seems so far away though!

 

[DVC Mary]

We had a Cat. 8 on deck last summer and loved the location. It's much quieter & less crowded b/c there simply aren't as many cabins on deck 5. We were lucky enough to book a SPH for 2006, but that's b/c I called 1st thing the a.m. that 2006 opened up. My friend called two hours later & the SPHs were sold out. Be careful to snap them up quick.

Thanks again to the wonderful people on these boards. I wouldn't have known the rumors of when 2006 was opening up if not for these boards.

DIS rocks!

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I would choose the SPH room. I have been in 5020 3 times, and my parents have been in that room 4 times. I love the location and the view is hardly blocked.