Which Resorts Would You Choose?

[bstarprincess37]

Hi Everyone,

My sister and I are planning for an 8 day trip this July and could use some help/suggestions for what disney resort to stay at. I am pretty much leaning towards booking a split stay for us but am confused what might be the best for us. We are both in our late 20's and it will be just the two of us.

She has not been since we were very little so it will be like a first trip for her. We will spend 4 days in the park and get the DDP. Any suggestions? I think most of the Deluxes are out of the budget, but we could do AKL or VWL for some of the time. We are both pretty fit so we may be okay with walking, but I am a bit concerned about some of the larger resorts and walking/waiting for buses in the heat

Here are the options I am looking at so far...Which would you choose?

4 nights at Pop/All Star Preferred and 3 nights AKL

4 nights at Pop/All Star Preferred and 3 nights VWL

7 nights at one of the Moderates (leaning towards CBR or POR)

OR save some money for spending on souveniers and do

3 nights Pop/All Star and 4 nights at CBR or POR.


I know...I have lots of options, but I think that is why I am so confused...can anyone help me out??? TIA

 

[pamkat1820]

I'm not into the split stay. I have kids and like to settle in and unpack. So I would opt for the 7 days at the moderate. POR has a great pool. The lounge at night is a lot of fun with bob. Really pretty and a great food court.

AKL is great!!! I loved it there you can not go wrong. Waking up to the animals outside every morning! But I'm not a value girl sorry. I need a queen bed. Can't do it. So my choice would be the moderate!

Have a great trip

 

[greengeen]

I vote for .... 4 nights at Pop and 3 nights AKL.

You will never regret going deluxe. Split stays are not hard, unless you travel with tons of stuff.

 

[melissafox18]

My sister and I did 7 nights at All Star Music and wouldn't do it again. DH and did POP last year and liked it quite a bit. I didn't feel like we walked that much around that resort.

I personally would not want to do a split stay just due to the fact that I would have to pack my stuff and move.

Our last trip we walked through a handful of other resorts to check things out.

That being said, I'd do 7 days at a moderate. POR is one of the biggest resorts and I've read that sometimes it shares a bus with POFQ. My boss said his family only stays at POFQ when they stay at moderate resorts. I'd be between POFQ and CSR (depending on what conventions are going on).

 

[spiceycat]

you will be there for 7 night but only during 4 days at the parks.
think might make that 5 days at least.

would probably go with Pop and VWL. at pop go to all the parks except the mk - save that for vwl.

you can rent a reservation from a DVC member and get a DVC studio for about the same as a moderate - either from a DVC member or a broker.

in that case would go with BWV and BLT - BWV go to studios, ak

blt go to mk and epcot

 

[Aliceacc]

I would take 7 nights at a moderate over a split stay.

I played with the idea of a split stay, but simply do not want to pack up a whole room in the middle of my vacation.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I would do 3 @ Pop and 4 @ POR. We love both resorts. And we love split stays. We do it all the time! So easy to do. Esp since concierge transfers your luggage for you.

 

[cmac22]

Many years ago, I decided that before my kids grew up, we would stay at all the resorts to experience the World. To do this, we have always split our stays on our one week trips. My advice is to stay 4 nights at All Star or Pop Century & then 3 nights at a Moderate or Deluxe. Pace yourself and take advantage of EMH at the parks! Have fun & enjoy!

 

[Sue M]

I would do 7 nights at POR. We love the mansion section. Either Acadian House or Magnolia Terrace are great locations.
And I'd get a 7 day park hopper. I don't think it's that much more then 4 day tix.
Wdw is huge, and 4 days is just grazing the surface. Especially if she hasn't been for a long time. I would do 2 days MK, 2 days Epcot, and a day each for DHS & AK. Then the last day you can park hop and revisit your Favs.

 

[bstarprincess37]

Wow...lots of great replies. Lots for me to think about. Thanks

As for adding days, my sister's husbands is active military so she qualifies for the military tickets and will be purchasing those, which from my understanding are just for 4 day park hoppers.. so hopefully we will get in as much as we can on those 4 days

I am still leaning towards a split stay just because I can't make up my mind and haven't experienced any of the deluxe resorts yet. If we had to travel with kids I probably wouldn't try it. Port Orleans Riverside sounds nice but I am afraid of the walk if we don't go preferred...Anyone stayed at AKL? Do you do a lot of walking there?

 

[o0quirkygirl0o]

I wouldn't stay at any of the All-Star resorts. I spent a few nights there back in 2009 and it was simply too loud and crowded for me. I felt constantly inundated by swarms of people. I like to take things a bit slower and quieter. And, their bus system is a nightmare. While we were there all the All-Stars were sharing buses and the ride time was insanely long and crowded.

As for moderates, CBR is HUGE. It's way bigger than POR. It also has more dated rooms. The rooms in POR were all very recently renovated. Also, POR has queen beds while CBR only has double beds. That said, I have stayed in CBR and enjoyed my experience. I haven't stayed in POR, yet, but I am staying there in October for my honeymoon.

I would second the idea of adding more days to your park hopper. It really doesn't cost that much more and 4 days is simply not enough time to do the parks. An added perk to having a bunch of park hopper days is that you can go back to your room in the afternoon, to get out of the sun/crowds and refresh.

That's my two cents. Whatever you pick, I'm sure you will enjoy the trip.

 

[HeartWDW]

If I were you, I'd do (4) days in a value and (3) at AKL, especially since you may not get the chance for a while with the whole family to stay at a Deluxe. Also, split stays are just fine. You won't have kids with you and your staying at both places for at least for (3) days. It won't be a problem.

Animal Kingdom Lodge is separated in to two parts, Jambo House and Kidani Village. I've stayed at Jambo House in a room w/ two queen beds and a 1 bedroom villa at Kidani. They are both really nice for different reasons. Jambo is the original part of AKL. So, the wonderful lobby and Boma Buffet are located there. I found I enjoyed Kidani more because it seemed as though the animals were so active in the lobby viewing area. I mean several giraffes running past, the works! And since we couldn't afford a safari view, the lobby view was important. Really, there is no where else in the world that you could get the kind of theme and decor that Disney creates at AKL or WL. Yes, you can find great luxuries elsewhere. I'm a personal fan of the Ritz Carlton. But zebras running past your window and lace curtains with the characters from the Lion King? No where else! Have fun

 

[disneymom0811]

I stayed in Caribbean beach resort in 2010- personally, not a fan, you literally had to walk a mile to the pool/ food area or needed a car to get the front area. It was such an inconvenience. For me, I have only stayed at all-stars, I like them, it is crowded and fast-paced, however i have always traveled with family, lots of younger cousins, if its just adults going, this probably wouldn't be ideal for you. Animal kingdom lodge looks amazing. Happy travels