Where Would You Stay on Cash?

[kes601]

Not 100% DVC, but.....

So, we are out of points -- can't even borrow but decided we wanted to add a trip at the end of July when it will be hot as hades. There are some really good discounts on the cash side of WDW, including the Disney+ one. Currently looking at 6 nights. We can do All Star Sports for $665, Saratoga Springs (standard studio) for $1664, or POR Riverside for around $1100. I think we ruled out POR Riverside (if it was POFQ it'd be another story).

With SSR we would be able to do Extended Evening at EP and MK. Obviously with All Star Sports that isn't an option, but we would probably end up paying for After Hours at HS and EP, which would add about $570 to our total, so still under the total of SSR by a few hundred dollars.

For me EP Extended Evening and EP After Hours there is no comparison. We've never had luck at EE there, but have done AH twice and loved it. We have also never truly experienced MK EE because it usually starts later than we would like. HS AH has been good for us in the past, but if one ride goes down then that can cause issues.

So, SSR comes to $1665 (no AH) and Sports comes to $1234 (paying for AH). Would you just pay for SSR and do the "free" EE instead of saving $400 and doing Sports w/AH?

 

[Brian Noble]

Sports+AH would be better for maximizing the parks.
SSR would be better for resort days (better pools, etc.)

Sports also has the advantage that I've never stayed there, and it might be neat to try something new.

 

[kes601]

Sports+AH would be better for maximizing the parks.
SSR would be better for resort days (better pools, etc.)

Sports also has the advantage that I've never stayed there, and it might be neat to try something new.

Yep, that's basically where we landed on the pros / cons. We stayed at ASMovies once several years ago for a long weekend. It was fine, nothing special, but we had a cheerleading group there so it was loud. Left a bad taste in my mind.

We also own at SSR so literally can stay there whenever we want.....which is also a con.

 

[Brian Noble]

Go with Sports. It's an adventure.

Also: when I take an "extra' trip, I have to remind myself that it is extra, so I can keep trying to pick the less-expensive alternative.

 

[kes601]

Go with Sports. It's an adventure.

Also: when I take an "extra' trip, I have to remind myself that it is extra, so I can keep trying to pick the less-expensive alternative.

Yep, working on doing that "extra" thinking as well. We started with Contemporary last night......so to get it down to SSR was a good first step. Convincing myself AS-Sports bus service won't be the end of me is the last step

 

[Brian Noble]

"It's An Adventure!"

 

[Canchaser143]

Yep, working on doing that "extra" thinking as well. We started with Contemporary last night......so to get it down to SSR was a good first step. Convincing myself AS-Sports bus service won't be the end of me is the last step

I believe Sports is the first stop for the All Stars Buses so there is that!

 

[Sandisw]

The current deals are strong for sure! It is sparking people to book trips!! I’d say it sounds like All Stars would work.

If you find that the buses become an issue, you have saved so much you can use Lyft!!

 

[Disdreaming479]

SSR is so quiet, I would pick it over the all stars. With high temps, you might be in your room more. My resting hours would be longer in july.

 

[sethschroeder]

What about Swolphin?

Its hard for me to not stay where I can get to a park without taking the bus. If I had to choose I would likely lean towards POR (never stayed but looks really nicely themed) and SSR (like that you could hit DS fairly easily to get around to the different restaurants).

 

[bwang123]

We can do All Star Sports for $665

We are in the same situation as you for our May trip. It's a shorter stay so we are leaning for the least expensive option. There are Epcot after hours that we would sadly miss though.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Not on your list but I loved Pop when we stayed. Room was small but we weren't in it much. I used TP to request a room and we were a 45 second walk to the skyliner. Was pretty great.

 

[kes601]

Not on your list but I loved Pop when we stayed. Room was small but we weren't in it much. I used TP to request a room and we were a 45 second walk to the skyliner. Was pretty great.

We loved Pop pre-DVC, but coming in about $60 more per night that AS-Sports for the same room / resort layout made us not really consider it -- plus the skyliner in the summer is so hit or miss because of storms (and then the heat).....

 

[VGCgroupie]

We loved Pop pre-DVC, but coming in about $60 more per night that AS-Sports for the same room / resort layout made us not really consider it -- plus the skyliner in the summer is so hit or miss because of storms (and then the heat).....

I keep mentioning RIV to my husband and he keeps saying how the skyliner broke down when we were there. I guess I was so high on pixie dust that I do not remember that happening and still always forget that it can happen.

 

[kes601]

What about Swolphin?

Its hard for me to not stay where I can get to a park without taking the bus. If I had to choose I would likely lean towards POR (never stayed but looks really nicely themed) and SSR (like that you could hit DS fairly easily to get around to the different restaurants).

I checked Swolphin first, prices were not what I remembered even with an AP rate.

 

[VGCgroupie]

We loved Pop pre-DVC, but coming in about $60 more per night that AS-Sports for the same room / resort layout made us not really consider it -- plus the skyliner in the summer is so hit or miss because of storms (and then the heat).....

Also $60 more per night is alot. I can see why you passed it up.

 

[kes601]

I keep mentioning RIV to my husband and he keeps saying how the skyliner broke down when we were there. I guess I was so high on pixie dust that I do not remember that happening and still always forget that it can happen.

We stayed at RIV on our first long summer DVC trip (split w/BLT and BWV). I think we were there for 5 nights and 4 of those it was not running. We enjoyed the resort so much we really didn't care, but it would be a bummer this trip since the purpose of the trip will be the parks.

 

[Tumnus]

Pre-DVC, we were always looking at Art of Animation, Swan, or Dolphin. Not sure that's helpful but all three are great! I...would not go back to all star sports at this phase in my life.

 

[robinb]

"It's An Adventure!"

I can't love this enough! I would go with the All Stars and save a few bucks.

 

[kes601]

Thanks for everybody's feedback. We have decided to go with All Star Sports.