The Unofficial Guide to MRYPPNS' WDW Vacation: TR link is up!

[TarzansKat]

I'm with you in that between POR and CSR, I'd probably pick CSR for the queen beds. Although a boat to Downtown Disney is nice, it doesn't beat having more room when the kiddos climb into bed with you.

I've never stayed at OKW, and I didn't know they were refurbing rooms! I really like the look of those, so I'm not much help in choosing between the two.

 

[brookelizabeth]

We posted at the same time!

POR looks so beautiful! I love seeing all the pictures from that resort. We are planning to go to the YeeHaa Bob show, so I hope to squeeze in some resort exploring time there too. We've done CSR and those queen sized beds are very nice - and very comfy. The rooms are beautiful. We really enjoyed our stay there too, it's a gorgeous resort.

I hadn't looked up the pics for the refurb at OKW, wow - it looks awesome! They have a nice pool there and that boat ride to DTD is so great and relaxing. Those rooms are HUGE too, lots of room for the kids! If we had extra points I would volunteer to rent to you!!

 

[MRYPPNS]

I'm with you in that between POR and CSR, I'd probably pick CSR for the queen beds. Although a boat to Downtown Disney is nice, it doesn't beat having more room when the kiddos climb into bed with you.

I've never stayed at OKW, and I didn't know they were refurbing rooms! I really like the look of those, so I'm not much help in choosing between the two.

It's really funny what a make-over of a room can do for a resort. I never wanted to stay CSR before they re-did the decor of the rooms.

Can you say UGLY???

I don't totally love the decor of the new OKW rooms, but new(ish) carpet goes a long way when you have little kids that will be sitting on the floor.

 

[TarzansKat]

Heidi, I feel the same way. I never liked the look of CSR before.

And truthfully, I prefer the Contemporary now that it's been refurbed, it just looks fresher.

 

[MRYPPNS]

We posted at the same time!

POR looks so beautiful! I love seeing all the pictures from that resort. We are planning to go to the YeeHaa Bob show, so I hope to squeeze in some resort exploring time there too. We've done CSR and those queen sized beds are very nice - and very comfy. The rooms are beautiful. We really enjoyed our stay there too, it's a gorgeous resort.

I hadn't looked up the pics for the refurb at OKW, wow - it looks awesome! They have a nice pool there and that boat ride to DTD is so great and relaxing. Those rooms are HUGE too, lots of room for the kids! If we had extra points I would volunteer to rent to you!!

I think the thing that is keeping me away from POR is that right now it has nothing special going for it. But if the Haunted Mansion room rumor was true then I'd be all over POR!

Check this out!

 

[Lady Lallie]

POR doesn't have queen beds? I thought they did, I know the beds at POR were bigger than the Pop beds when we switched over on our last trip.

The thing that I don't like about CSR is the transportation but you will have your own car. The rooms are simply gorgeous after the refurb, I love the way they look.

I really hope that rumors is true, I read about that a few months ago. I'm all about sleeping in my very own doom buggy.

 

[Flossbolna]

I stayed at POR on my first trip and liked it a lot! I think they have a very fun pool, to me it looks more like a special pool than the big one at CSR, even though it is smaller. Also, POR has the boat to DTD as well!

But I can understand the allure of the queen size beds! CSR is also a resort which for me as a European looks very exotic and therefore has a great appeal. I don't like the fact that all the nicer looking areas are pretty far away from the main building. And if you are not on the dining plan, the Pepper Market is pretty expensive.

 

[MRYPPNS]

POR doesn't have queen beds? I thought they did, I know the beds at POR were bigger than the Pop beds when we switched over on our last trip.

The thing that I don't like about CSR is the transportation but you will have your own car. The rooms are simply gorgeous after the refurb, I love the way they look.

I really hope that rumors is true, I read about that a few months ago. I'm all about sleeping in my very own doom buggy.

According to both UG and AllEar, POR has double beds. Of course a double bed is not a deal breaker but it means that we would each sleep with a kid instead of DH and I sharing a bed.

Because we'll have a car I sort of want to make sure at I get one of the "big" resorts off my list...that's why CSR and OWK are high on the list for this trip.

I would love to stay in one of those "royal" rooms with Danica....I wonder if there would be a pillow to rest our tiaras on at night.

I stayed at POR on my first trip and liked it a lot! I think they have a very fun pool, to me it looks more like a special pool than the big one at CSR, even though it is smaller. Also, POR has the boat to DTD as well!

But I can understand the allure of the queen size beds! CSR is also a resort which for me as a European looks very exotic and therefore has a great appeal. I don't like the fact that all the nicer looking areas are pretty far away from the main building. And if you are not on the dining plan, the Pepper Market is pretty expensive.

No dinning plan for us but you are right about Pepper Market being expensive....good food but overpriced. I have no real plans to eat there if CSR is our resort but it does make for a great back-up if we miss one of our ADRs.

Do you or LL have any good pictures of the POR pool showing spray fountains or a little kids pool? I've read that they have them but can't seem to find any good pictures of that pool area!

 

[Flossbolna]

Do you or LL have any good pictures of the POR pool showing spray fountains or a little kids pool? I've read that they have them but can't seem to find any good pictures of that pool area!

Sorry, my 2004 trip was the first trip with a digital camera and pre-DIS (even though I was a regular lurker on radp), so I took only 50 pictures or so of five days at WDW!

But, here a lots of pool pictures, and one shows the kiddie pool: http://www.portorleans.org/gallery-POR-Island.php

 

[MRYPPNS]

Sorry, my 2004 trip was the first trip with a digital camera and pre-DIS (even though I was a regular lurker on radp), so I took only 50 pictures or so of five days at WDW!

But, here a lots of pool pictures, and one shows the kiddie pool: http://www.portorleans.org/gallery-POR-Island.php

Thanks for the link! POR has a great playground for the kids!

 

[jenjolt]

I too must add my name to those who didn't realize the beds at POR were doubles...hmmmm!

OKW is a resort on my stay list, of course so is the Poly!! I hope you're able to find a killer deal on points!!!!

I want to stay in an Haunted Mansion room WOOT WOOT! I will be all over that like white on rice!

 

[mousescrapper]

Part Three
Accommodations

I’d love any insight that anyone has on those resorts because I hate feeling “homeless” on my resort choice!

UG stuff: I love Love LOVE the resort room diagrams in the UG. I’m a very visual person so those diagrams really help me “see” what the rooms are like and how my family might “fit” into one.[/SIZE]

we stayed CSR in 09...remember I really liked it. and we stayed at POR in 05 and really liked that too...so I agree it's a hard choice. if DTD is a high priority and you don't want to be driving there...then the boat from POR would be a plus, CSR doesn't really have a great playground but it would be nice for your age crew the pool was wonderful, huge and not crowded. we went several times. if you think you'd eat several times at the food court at your resort...The Pepper Market has good stuff and nice selection (same ol kid things though) but I think the pricing is not very budget friendly if you are not on DDP which I assume you won't be...


I love the room diagrams too

It's really funny what a make-over of a room can do for a resort. I never wanted to stay CSR before they re-did the decor of the rooms.

Can you say UGLY???

Ok that is what our rooms looked liked last yr...our building wasn't refurbed yet...it was BLAH...but the decor, fountains, overal theming of CSR was so nice and peaceful and very pretty day and night.

According to both UG and AllEar, POR has double beds. Of course a double bed is not a deal breaker but it means that we would each sleep with a kid instead of DH and I sharing a bed.

would you consider having Liam sleep on the "trundle"...Rachel at 2 1/2 did we just rolled up the comforter and shoved in between her and the bed so she didn roll under the partial space there. It worked great. Matt and I shared one double and the twins then 6 shared the other it was plenty of space for our then 5

No dinning plan for us but you are right about Pepper Market being expensive....good food but overpriced. I have no real plans to eat there if CSR is our resort but it does make for a great back-up if we miss one of our ADRs.

ok whoops didn't realize someone esle adressed the PM food pricing too

Good luck w/ your resort choice....

 

[Native NYer]

Great resort choices!
I would lean towards CSR too. Queen beds are definitely better than double beds.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Well, you know I agree with you about making sure you choose the right resort. LOL!

I liked our stay at POR, but I think I liked CSR better -- if we end up going this summer, CSR is where we are leaning. I really love the grounds and the pool area, and the new rooms are just gorgeous. I also have to say I really like the refurbed rooms at Old Key West as well!

Good luck on your resort decision! It is the biggest decision of the trip, in my opinion.

 

[TarzansKat]

I think the thing that is keeping me away from POR is that right now it has nothing special going for it. But if the Haunted Mansion room rumor was true then I'd be all over POR!

Check this out!

WOW! I love those concept drawings!

 

[If U Had Wings]

I had no idea that they had renovated the rooms at CSR. They look really beautiful now. That's been on my list for awhile now, but I think I'm dangerously being seduced by the deluxes. I think it would be a great choice if you can't get the deal you want on OKW.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Wow - the CSR rooms are so much nicer now!

Tough call on where to stay... Do the DVC studios have kitchenettes? That would be a big plus if you can find a good deal.

You're right about parking when staying off-site. I think it's $14/day now... four 8 days that would cost us over $100 without my AP. I definitely factored the savings in when I was trying to convince DH that I should upgrade to an AP last year. And as much as I'd like to see you stay at Vistana, I have to agree that the Disney transportation options will be good for you guys.

 

[MRYPPNS]

I too must add my name to those who didn't realize the beds at POR were doubles...hmmmm!

OKW is a resort on my stay list, of course so is the Poly!! I hope you're able to find a killer deal on points!!!!

I want to stay in an Haunted Mansion room WOOT WOOT! I will be all over that like white on rice!

I think we'll have to work our way up to the Poly! We always seem to visit every trip thou

Wouldn't those Haunted Mansion rooms be awesome? Just as long as they didn't come with a huge price tag. But they would be worth it even for a few days.

we stayed CSR in 09...remember I really liked it. and we stayed at POR in 05 and really liked that too...so I agree it's a hard choice. if DTD is a high priority and you don't want to be driving there...then the boat from POR would be a plus, CSR doesn't really have a great playground but it would be nice for your age crew the pool was wonderful, huge and not crowded. we went several times. if you think you'd eat several times at the food court at your resort...The Pepper Market has good stuff and nice selection (same ol kid things though) but I think the pricing is not very budget friendly if you are not on DDP which I assume you won't be...


I love the room diagrams too




Ok that is what our rooms looked liked last yr...our building wasn't refurbed yet...it was BLAH...but the decor, fountains, overal theming of CSR was so nice and peaceful and very pretty day and night.



Good luck w/ your resort choice....

How is it that I have no recollection of you staying at CSR in 2009???? Going to DTD by boat is more John's idea than mine.

 

[MRYPPNS]

Great resort choices!
I would lean towards CSR too. Queen beds are definitely better than double beds.

Are you staying there for your covention this fall?

Well, you know I agree with you about making sure you choose the right resort. LOL!

I liked our stay at POR, but I think I liked CSR better -- if we end up going this summer, CSR is where we are leaning. I really love the grounds and the pool area, and the new rooms are just gorgeous. I also have to say I really like the refurbed rooms at Old Key West as well!

Good luck on your resort decision! It is the biggest decision of the trip, in my opinion.

I really like the refurbed one-bedrooms at OKW but I doubt I could swing that about of $$ this trip. And it will be at least Janurary before I could book OWK on rented points because you have to wait that close before your dates to really get the cheap points. But with being Room-only ressies it's not that big a deal.....other than the fact that I feel homeless!

WOW! I love those concept drawings!

Sweet huh? Have you seen the photos of the Pirates suite at one of the Disneyland hotels?

I had no idea that they had renovated the rooms at CSR. They look really beautiful now. That's been on my list for awhile now, but I think I'm dangerously being seduced by the deluxes. I think it would be a great choice if you can't get the deal you want on OKW.

I have a feeling that the first time we do "DELUXE" it's going to be Kidani Village Savannah view...but I want the kids to be a bit older for that so they can really take it all in.

Wow - the CSR rooms are so much nicer now!

Tough call on where to stay... Do the DVC studios have kitchenettes? That would be a big plus if you can find a good deal.

You're right about parking when staying off-site. I think it's $14/day now... four 8 days that would cost us over $100 without my AP. I definitely factored the savings in when I was trying to convince DH that I should upgrade to an AP last year. And as much as I'd like to see you stay at Vistana, I have to agree that the Disney transportation options will be good for you guys.

Yes the studio has a little kitchenette which would be good for the kids. Plus the one really big con for me with CSR is that the rooms have a desk and one chair...not a table with two chairs, which I like to breakfast eating in the morning.

*****Amy and her family will be a Disney the same week as us....and on the top of my off-site resort list was the same resort that they will be staying at....Sheraton Vistana.

 

[eandesmom]

Have you looked at the FW cabins at all?

They aren't for everyone but it's a TON more space than any of the other mods but not as pricey as the deluxes. And the kids would have their own beds (or Danica in one of the bunks and LIam . Just a thought. Still double beds but more beds in total plus a kitchen, dining table, couch...

We really enjoyed them. A very different experience than a traditional resort.

I'm trying to figure out what to do on my park ticket for may. I have a one day pass that I'll be upgrading. The may trip is only 5 days. Considering upgrading it to the full meal deal non expiring but then not sure how that would work for a future trip when it's not enough days for that trip....but it would give me all those extra water park days which would be cool.

Not sure what to do.