Where to stay? All Star Movies or Port Orleans?

[JAN ENOS]

We will be going to Disney World the end of February for 5 days.
We have had the All star Movie Resort and the Port Orleans priced
for us. It will be about 500.00 more to stay at Port Orleans.
There are 7 of us in two rooms with three little girls. Do you feel
it will be worth the extra money? I am talking convenience and
any other advantages you can think of. I don't mind spending the extra if it will make it a more enjoyable trip. Please
advise?
Thanks
Jan

 

[Simba's Mom]

I vote to definitely spend the extra money and stay at PO (is it R or FQ?) Last year I was "displaced" when POR closed and I chose AS. I was really looking forward to trying it, but the whole time I was there, I kept feeling like it was so cheaply built and the rooms seemed so much smaller (and I was solo, can't imagine more than 1 in a room). However, this was Music, and I walked over to Movies which did seem a lot nicer. However, PO resorts are so much more nicely themed I think it's well worth the extra money.

 

[wdwrich]

We have stayed at Port Orleans Riverside twice (October 2001 and October 2002) after staying at the Polynesian for our previous 4 trips. We haven't stayed at the All-Stars, but have visited in the past. I would heartily recommend the Port Orleans. It has a deluxe feel without the deluxe price, and Riverside always seems quiet and tranquil- a welcome respite after the parks. The food court is excellent, and there is a table-service restaurant as well- something that's not available at the All-Stars.

Rich

 

[CamColt]

We have stayed at both and I would choose ASMO in a heartbeat...and it has nothing to do with the money. Dont get me wrong, we really enjoyed our stays at POR, but to me it was just a hotel. When at ASMO I feel like Im at DISNEY!!!!! The theming cant be beat. My kids much prefer, Buzz, Woody, and the Mighty Ducks over nice landscaping & water. As for convenience, since neither one is on the monorail, you are pretty much going to be taking buses to all the parks. We found bus service to be great at ASMO, good at POR. POR is huge and really spread out. Going anywhere was such a hike, whereas everything at ASMO is close by. Food Courts at both were the same. We never used the sit down restuarant or the water slide at POR so we dont miss those when at ASMO. The only thing I prefer at POR than ASMO is Bob the piano player in the lounge...and with young kids, thats not top priority.

 

[Minnie's Pal]

ALL STAR!!!! I have stayed at Dixie Landings (Riverside now) and just got back from All Star Music and would definitely chose All Star over the other. It really depends on what you are looking for. I am a kid at heart and thought that All Stars really gave you the Disney feel. All the oversized stuff, etc. And from what they told me when I checked in, I was saved ALOT of money and only forfeiting 5 sq ft of room space.
If you are looking for a more quiet, "romantic" setting (with seated service restuarants, bed and breakfast type setting) go for Port Orleans. If you are looking for loud colors, fun themes, etc, go for All Stars and save your money for the parks.

 

[Pigsty333]

Stay at POR. We have done both and hands down it is POR. We are going back in Feb (13-23) andmy kids, now 9 and 10 both unanimously agreed any other hotel, but All Star.

We stayed at All Star two years ago for the xmas holiday and we had a dreadful time. There were too many teams staying in the hotels due to basketball, cheerleading competitions. They ran amok, were rude, cursed people out and neither their chaperones or disney staff did anything about it. We complained to the front desk, the manager, etc., and were told that they were aware of the fact and they had posted extra security but there was nothing they could do.

This time we are going for the extra $$ and staying at AKL Deluxe Savanna View.

 

[Magic2000]

I would also vote for All Star Movies for the kids!!!

We've stayed at PO French Quarter twice and we really enjoyed our stay. The resort is not that big and the kids really enjoyed the slide.

We've stayed at the All Star Movies twice now, and my little girl LOVES it! I thought the room size was fine for our family. The hotel is also not that big - we've been in Love Bug and 101 Dalmations - both were very quiet and close to the food court/bus stop. I also found that the All Stars have some of the best bus transportation on property!!

 

[arizonacolbys]

We have stayed at the All Star Movies for the last 2 years & we Loved it!!! The huge icons from 101 Dalmatians & Toy Story are great. Kids always love them.

The rooms were similar to any other hotel room we have stayed in - nothing real fancy, but definitely clean & quiet. The food court was great - we enjoyed being able to get quick bites for breakfast or during a day-time break from the parks. I would definitely recommend getting their refillable mugs, too.

Bus service was always very speedy - never waited more than 5/10 minutes for any busses. The All-Stars have their own busses which are sometimes much more efficient than the other resorts.

The pools are great with Disney characters included - Movies has Sorceror Mickey shooting water, Music - 3 Caballeros (I believe), and Sports - (maybe Goofy?). I don't believe any of the other hotels at WDW have the Disney characters incorporated into their hotels/pools in the same way. This is definitely why this hotel is one of our favorites.

Hope this Helps!

 

[hallie]

If you plan on spending a lot of time at the resort I'd go with the POR.

If your going to go *commando style* and just use the room to crash at go with the ASMo.

 

[eeyore0062]

If the money is no issue, definitely go with PO-FQ. It is very nice, the kids will love the pool (mine still raves about the serpent slide), the playground, and the boat shuttle between there and PO-R. We like it because it isn't as spread out, the bus stop is not as far, it is more convenient to most of the parks, the food court is great, and the resort is quiet... especially compared with some of the AS resorts. Also, with that many people, you will be more comfortable with a bit more room in your rooms, and two more sinks.

No doubt, I would definitely choose PO-FQ!

 

[The_Disney_God]

I would go with PO, simply because it is a very very peaceful resort, good foodcourt, good giftshop, and the boat to and from Downtown Disney.

Plus all that jazz..............