Staying on-site? Value resorts?

[ChiTownGrl]

Hi all, I'm planning our first family trip to WDW in April 2005(Spring Break) for 4-5 days. Me, DH, DD (4), DS (1). I would like to stay on Disney property. Two questions: are there real advantages to staying on WDW property? how are the value properties & which would you recommend?

Thanks!

 

[goofy4tink]

Isn't planning a trip to WDW wonderful?? I would recommend the AllStars to anyone with kids. When you stay on-site you are totally submerged in Disney magic 24/7. It's nice to just hop on a Disney bus and go back to your Disney room. Yes, there are people that say they love having a car and being able to just get in the car and leave. They hate waiting in those bus lines. But, to be honest...we have never really waited an overly long time for a bus.

We love the theming of the Disney resorts. We have stayed in AllStarMusic. THe food court offerings were good, they weren't horribly crowded if you tried to avoid the busier times. The pools are fun. No slides but that's not a huge deal breaker especially if this is your first trip to WDW. You'll be in the parks for most of the day!!

With kids this age, I would suggest AllStarMovies. Great movie theming. THe bus service isn't all that bad. Yes, the lines can get long but they do move along quickly. Have fun planning and I hope you have a wonderful first experience!

 

[eeyore0062]

i find there are great advantages to staying onsite. Starting with Transportation. The bus service is very reliable, and will drop you off at the parks near the main entrance, instead of having to park, walk to a tram and then ride it to the main entrance. Also, Early Entry Mornings can't be beat especially during a more crowded or hot time of the year. Plus, you don't have to leave the magic when you go back to spend the night!

Hi all, I'm planning our first family trip to WDW in April 2005(Spring Break) for 4-5 days. Me, DH, DD (4), DS (1). I would like to stay on Disney property. Two questions: are there real advantages to staying on WDW property? how are the value properties & which would you recommend?

Thanks!

 

[disneyjunkie]

I'd pick Pop Century. It just opened last December. PC has it's own buses to and from the parks. It's very close to MGM. Has a great food court. Depending on what building you're in, you'll be able to see some of the fireworks.

By staying on site you'll be able to take advantage of the new Extra Magic Hours. You can have your packages delivered to the resort instead of carrying them around the parks with you.

When's your trip?

 

[ChiTownGrl]

disneyjunkie,

I'm planning for 4/11-4/15/2005...but I may have to push it to the mid-late June. I hear it's a madhouse then!

 

[mjmcca]

We stayed at POP twice inthe last few months. Once in August during the first Hurricane and then again in late October early November. My kids loved it. They are 4 and 2and a half.

 

[MsMulan]

I'd pick Pop Century. It just opened last December. PC has it's own buses to and from the parks. It's very close to MGM. Has a great food court. Depending on what building you're in, you'll be able to see some of the fireworks.

By staying on site you'll be able to take advantage of the new Extra Magic Hours. You can have your packages delivered to the resort instead of carrying them around the parks with you.

When's your trip?

can you view the fireworks?

 

[mjmcca]

I ahve seen people post that they could see illuminations from the upper floors of the fifties building.

 

[msr709]

I've stayed multiple times at the AS, and my favorite is ASMo. Its perfect for your children. Its definitely a family friendly resort. Its can get very noisy but with children, its normal, right? We went this past Sept. with a 4 yo, 5yo and 7yo and they couldn't have been happier. The pools are very simple compared to the moderates and deluxe but most kids in that age group couldn't care less as long as there is water! The food courts are large and there is a good variety and very reasonable for a "resort". You do get a lot of value and you're still onsite which gives you advantage of the use of Disney Transportation to be able take the breaks you need with small children. We never waited for more than 5 minutes for a bus, but we were there in slow season (just as Hurricane Frances came by) but the staff was very friendly and efficient and the rooms while not the most luxurious were clean and ready when we arrived at 10AM! We stayed at the Toy Story Building and the kids just loved it. I've got so many pics of them on and around the giant ICONS. Every day the kids would discover something new on our way out to the parks, if it weren't that Frances came calling the day before were going to leave, I could say it was a wonderful and almost perfect stay. HTH

 

[mjatgoofy]

There are many advantages to staying on site like the previous responses have said. The transportation is convenient and Extra Magic hour is also a plus. We never get a car and rely on Quick silver Towncar service for getting to the airport and back. They will stop at a local grocery store for a 30 min. shopping trip to get snacks, drinks etc.. (other towncar services also offer this).

I would also give a vote to staying at Pop Century. We have stayed at All Star Movies, Music and Pop in the past and found Pop to be our favorite. Our 2 DS (5&3) loved the theming of the resorts but Pop was their favorite. They also played on the big computer keyboard every time we walked to and from our room in the 80's building. We found the food to be good. Having transportation travel from pop to the parks and no other resort was a big plus.

Have fun planning and check out the Pop century far out thread for more information.

 

[floridagirrl2]

DH and I recently stayed at the POP, and we absolutely loved it. Everything was sparkling clean and wonderfully themed. The food court was great for breakfast (the only meal we ate there). We find it extremely convenient to have a place to eat at the hotel, and it was relatively inexpensive. There are several pools, an arcade, and even 2 lounges (one near the food court, one a pool bar) that serve adult beverages.

The complex is gated and felt very safe. To me, one of the best features of staying onsite is the free bus transportation. It's very relaxing to know we can just hop a bus to anywhere we want to go, and that we don't have to drive back to the hotel at night when we are tired! Plus if you do decide to drive, parking is free (normally it costs $8.00 at the WDW parks).