Where to stay, where to stay...

[lisalonglash]

we have FINALLY decided to stay in a hotel on-site for our vacation next October (2008). There will be 11 of us (number may go up, probably won't go down) - 7 adults and 4 children (age ranges from 9yo - 4yo). One of my sisters-in-law and I have been put "in charge" of trip planning

So, based on your experience, what resort do we choose, keeping the following "family requirements" in mind:

~ cheap, cheap, cheap LOL
~ 3 rooms very close together (4 each in 2 rooms, 3 in 1 room)
~ good access to park buses
~ decent access to a pool/splashpad
~ extremely close proximity to a smoking area for mother-in-law
~ decent access to cafeteria area
~ whatever else I forgot LOL

Thank you so much for your input and advice - much appreciated

 

[Mr. Pig]

Some comments:

~ cheap, cheap, cheap LOL
This means a value (POP,All-Stars) or Mod (POR/POFQ/CSR/CBR) Some will say that the moderates are not that much of a step up from values for the extra money.
~ 3 rooms very close together (4 each in 2 rooms, 3 in 1 room)
You can request connecting/adjacent rooms but these are only requests. This goes for all onsite resorts. Sometimes you will not get them but generally you should at least be close to each other.
~ good access to park buses
Bus travel is a debated topic on the boards. Some think it is just fine and some hate the waits. Personally I don't think it is bad at all. POP has just one stop, the others make multiple stops at either their own resort or at others (like All-Stars). All resorts have buses running all the time - busier at opening and closing time but there are more buses running then.
~ decent access to a pool/splashpad
Again, all values and moderates have lots of pools. The moderates have slides, the values do not. I think POP is the only one with a small splashpad.
~ extremely close proximity to a smoking area for mother-in-law
I can't report on the new resort smoking policy -all I know is that all resort rooms are non-smoking except in designated areas. You could request rooms close to this.
~ decent access to cafeteria area
All the values and moderates have good food courts (IMO) I think POP's is good
~ whatever else I forgot LOL

You can see a lot of pictures and info on allearsnet.com and wdwinfo.com.

From your descriptions Pop Century might be the one for you. It is one of the values, a good food court, pools (but no slides) and spashpad. It is big and the decor may be a little garish for some. You will get a lot of advice from others on this board. Everyone has their favorites and none of them are really right or wrong.

 

[goinback]

I agree with PP. POP sounds like the one for you.

 

[lisalonglash]

Thanks to all who have answered - much appreciated! Please keep that advice and experience-sharing coming