Worthwile to save 1000$??

[Marionnette]

Does POR have a slide? I thought the slide was at POFQ?

We are biased / huge fans of POFQ but really dislike POR and CS for moderates. POFQ has a reasonable size, great pool with slide, easy single bus stop that doesn't usually share (and if it does - it's the first stop!), shorter boat ride to DTD, and a nice bar if you want to grab a hurricane.

We are staying at a value for 1 night for the first time this month before moving into our DVC a at BLT. Even though they are smaller, I would prefer a value over all mods except POFQ a I think. More color, more value, etc.

I would save the money for more activities an do a split stay if your DBF joins you for some of the time.

Yes, POR has a pool slide. You can check out a lot of little details about both of the sister resorts here.

OP - $1,000 is a big chunk of change that could be spent elsewhere. But it sounds as if you're going to want to stay at POR at some point, so why not now? It certainly won't get cheaper to stay there in the future. And as you pointed out, it won't be comfortable to stay in a Value Resort if your bf comes along. Of course, once discounts are announced you might find that it is a much more attractive deal to stay at POR. And you can change your resorts no matter which one you originally book. You have plenty of time to decide.

 

[HeatherC]

I am going to suggest something completely different and recommend you check out Bonnet Creek Resort. It is onsite...next to the Caribbean Beach Resort, but not Disney owned.

I think your son would literally flip over there pool area there. There are a couple lazy rivers, slides, a pirate ship pool, free mini golf course, kids activities, etc.

You could also save a TON of money. As an example, we are renting a THREE BEDROOM villa with full kitchen washer and dryer and two full bathrooms for $124 a night including all taxes for ten nights over April school vacation. You can even watch the fireworks from your balcony at night.

You could get a one or two bedroom for even less money.

If your boyfriend comes with you, it would be nice to have separate bedrooms with a couple tv's and living room. You could put the little guy to bed in his own room!

It also has a couple pool bar/restaurant areas and is connected to the Wyndham Grand hotel which has a few more restaurants including sit down ones.

You can check out videos on youtube of it to see what itlooks like.

The location, amenities and price literally can't be beat. We think itis nicer than any of the Disney Resorts, yet you are still "onsite" and in the middle of everything.

Have fun with all your planning!

 

[cel_disney]

I am going to suggest something completely different and recommend you check out Bonnet Creek Resort. It is onsite...next to the Caribbean Beach Resort, but not Disney owned. I think your son would literally flip over there pool area there. There are a couple lazy rivers, slides, a pirate ship pool, free mini golf course, kids activities, etc. You could also save a TON of money. As an example, we are renting a THREE BEDROOM villa with full kitchen washer and dryer and two full bathrooms for $124 a night including all taxes for ten nights over April school vacation. You can even watch the fireworks from your balcony at night. You could get a one or two bedroom for even less money. If your boyfriend comes with you, it would be nice to have separate bedrooms with a couple tv's and living room. You could put the little guy to bed in his own room! It also has a couple pool bar/restaurant areas and is connected to the Wyndham Grand hotel which has a few more restaurants including sit down ones. You can check out videos on youtube of it to see what itlooks like. The location, amenities and price literally can't be beat. We think itis nicer than any of the Disney Resorts, yet you are still "onsite" and in the middle of everything. Have fun with all your planning!

But you are not considered 'onsite' for purpose of FP at 60 days, or DDP if there is a free dining offer or bus transportation...

 

[manning]

I am going to suggest something completely different and recommend you check out Bonnet Creek Resort. It is onsite...next to the Caribbean Beach Resort, but not Disney owned.

I think your son would literally flip over there pool area there. There are a couple lazy rivers, slides, a pirate ship pool, free mini golf course, kids activities, etc.

You could also save a TON of money. As an example, we are renting a THREE BEDROOM villa with full kitchen washer and dryer and two full bathrooms for $124 a night including all taxes for ten nights over April school vacation. You can even watch the fireworks from your balcony at night.

You could get a one or two bedroom for even less money.

If your boyfriend comes with you, it would be nice to have separate bedrooms with a couple tv's and living room. You could put the little guy to bed in his own room!

It also has a couple pool bar/restaurant areas and is connected to the Wyndham Grand hotel which has a few more restaurants including sit down ones.

You can check out videos on youtube of it to see what itlooks like.

The location, amenities and price literally can't be beat. We think itis nicer than any of the Disney Resorts, yet you are still "onsite" and in the middle of everything.

Have fun with all your planning!

How do you get info on bonnet creek?

 

[HeatherC]

I am not surehow far out you can book FP for ossite like Bonnet Creek. BUT...early December is historically a slower period at Disney. So FP may not be as much a concern then. In addition, I don't think there will be any free dining that time either.

Bonnet Creek does have a shuttle that is pricey...a per person charge per day. BUT..for $100 you can rent a compact car at the airport and have much more freedom coming and going. Parking is $15 a day Disney, but when you compare it to how much you can save on the room, it is still MUCH less money. And no waiting for Disney buses that often go to more than one resort is PRICELESS....especially when traveling with tired little children.

You can check out the Bonnet Creek threads on the Orlando Hotels and Attractions forum board.

We rent through an owner on myresortnetwork.com. But you can use vacationupgrades.com, Farrels vacations, 5starreorts.net, etc..
They are all legitimate and you will find tons of info on the other board.

Good luck!!

 

[Jenn55]

Tell your son that while you will ultimately decide on the resort, you would like his input. Show him pictures of both resorts. I would consider a split stay if you'll be there for 9 days. We've done them for 5 day trips. It's fun and a great way to stay at more WDW resorts. Easy too, call bell services if you want them to get your luggage or bring it to bell services and ask them to bring your bags to the new resort. Also, if you do a split, I'd suggest doing AK last because you sometimes miss the deluxe amenities when going from deluxe to mod.

I didn't want to tell him we were going until a few months before just incase issues came up financially, I didn't want to get his hopes up. I won't be surprising him with it as a gift like I did before, but I also don't want to tell him too early.

I did look at it financially, and it was cheaper to do AKL first, which also concerns me

 

[Jenn55]

So I'm guessing you've checked out the videos and pictures of both rooms. I didn't realize how small the ones at pop were until I saw pictures. Do you have a blow up mattress that someone could sleep on? Also I'd compare food courts to what the 2 or 3 of you might like best. I think the bussing is better at pop.it feels like they come more often than at por. Don't know if that is true or not. Also sometimes por shares the bus with POFQ with por being the second stop so it may be standing room only if you have one of the later stops at por.

I did check out videos and pictures of both. If the bf comes we can't do POP cause of the double beds. I've heard the buses can be an issue at POR and they could stop at POFQ first.

 

[Jenn55]

I am not surehow far out you can book FP for ossite like Bonnet Creek. BUT...early December is historically a slower period at Disney. So FP may not be as much a concern then. In addition, I don't think there will be any free dining that time either. Bonnet Creek does have a shuttle that is pricey...a per person charge per day. BUT..for $100 you can rent a compact car at the airport and have much more freedom coming and going. Parking is $15 a day Disney, but when you compare it to how much you can save on the room, it is still MUCH less money. And no waiting for Disney buses that often go to more than one resort is PRICELESS....especially when traveling with tired little children. You can check out the Bonnet Creek threads on the Orlando Hotels and Attractions forum board. We rent through an owner on myresortnetwork.com. But you can use vacationupgrades.com, Farrels vacations, 5starreorts.net, etc.. They are all legitimate and you will find tons of info on the other board. Good luck!!

I appreciate the info and the option, however for the fact of FP, it's not something that works for us. I want to try and get FP for A&E. I don't drive, so I'll be relying on disney transportation, which I have no problem doing. And I may be going with the dinning plan this year and I want to be able to have that option.

Again thanx tho for giving another option

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

9 days at Pop Century would drive me insane. I can do 3 days there tops.

It would totally be worth it to spend the extra money to stay at POR for me. It's my favorite moderate resort.

The pool at POR has a slide, there is a hot tub at POR - POP doesn't have either of those things.
and the food court at POR is nicer, the store is bigger and the grounds are much more peaceful than at POP.

 

[SUSIEQ]

9 days at Pop Century would drive me insane. I can do 3 days there tops.

That literally made me LOL!
It's so true!

 

[Jenn55]

I think what I might do is a split stay if it's just the son and I, if my bf comes probably do a full stay at POR, especially with the bed situation.

 

[KKB]

You may really kick yourself if you have your heart set on POR and your son hates it. There is just nothing POP about POR.
That is a lot of money to spend and to look at a sad face.

Would any kid HATE ANY of the resorts at Disney--or even staying off site??!! My kiddos are thrilled to go--we chose on site for the bus & the DDP but they would be just as happy at the Hampton.

We LOVE AKL--but have done POP for both trips. It all came down to $--AKL isn't THAT much better, imo. Is POR $1K better than POP? No way, not imo. ESPECIALLY for just 2 of you in a room. Now that our kiddos are teens, we realize we need bigger than double beds...me & a kid was fine in a double (I would imagine you & DS in a double would work if you BF went)--but now that they are all bigger than me, not so much...

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

That probably is my biggest fear! That he won't enjoy it if I pick POR instead of POP... but again if the bf comes I need to pick a moderate in order to be able to comfortably sleep. He died really love the two we previously stayed at but they were very disney-fied..

A bf can come and go, he can suck it up a few days the son is having forever memories. If it's a big deal to the bf, let him upgrade for the $1,000. I think your trying to make it a better resort to please the bf when really he will enjoy the POP. It sounds. Like your not sure he even wants to come or can get the time off?

There are tons of Dad's enjoying the POP and other values because that makes their kids trip so much better.

 

[Jenn55]

Would any kid HATE ANY of the resorts at Disney--or even staying off site??!! My kiddos are thrilled to go--we chose on site for the bus & the DDP but they would be just as happy at the Hampton. We LOVE AKL--but have done POP for both trips. It all came down to $--AKL isn't THAT much better, imo. Is POR $1K better than POP? No way, not imo. ESPECIALLY for just 2 of you in a room. Now that our kiddos are teens, we realize we need bigger than double beds...me & a kid was fine in a double (I would imagine you & DS in a double would work if you BF went)--but now that they are all bigger than me, not so much...

The main reason I'd stay at AKL, well the only reason would be to get a savannah view room. Personally for me, I wouldn't go down with my boyfriend and son for a 12 night trip and want to sleep in the same bed as my son, knowing the bf is 2 feet away. I'm not saying anything intimate would happen with my bf especially with a kid so close by, but if he's gonna go with us I rather have us in a comfortable bed together then him in one and me and DS in another

 

[Jenn55]

A bf can come and go, he can suck it up a few days the son is having forever memories. If it's a big deal to the bf, let him upgrade for the $1,000. I think your trying to make it a better resort to please the bf when really he will enjoy the POP. It sounds. Like your not sure he even wants to come or can get the time off?

He does want to come, the issue were having is were both parents, he has his daughter every other weekend and it would mean getting permission from his daughters mother to move around weekends as we would leave on a Sunday, and have a full weekend there and come back in a Friday. I've asked him to bring her with us, but the ex refuses to allow it.

I understand that bfs come and go, but we have been together for a decent amount of years and are living together. Tbh it's more of a big deal to me to have the bigger beds, then I think it is for him

 

[stsomewhere]

The value resorts are going to be crazy during that time....

he 2014 Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer & Dance Championships will take place from Saturday, December 6th through Saturday, December 13th at ESPN Wide World of Sports™ Complex.


ETA: My daughter loves to stay at POR. She has to get an order or two of beignets everyday.

 

[MichaelaF]

I really doubt your son will be disappointed at POR....He's at Disney! He'll have a lot of fun. (And if he is bummed, he will get over it quickly. Also - you are paying for it, not him! You get to make the decisions, until he decides to take YOU when he is old enough! )

One other idea for you, if you are set on POR but worried about whether your son will like it....do you think he could like a Royal Guest Room? He might think it's too princess-heavy, but I actually think it's really not. It's nicely "Disney" without being tacky, and the cool headboards have fireworks he might appreciate!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

My kids would personally love any resort because were at Disney!!!

I pick where I would like as the final result. I need queen beds to sleep. I can't do double beds. And my kids do prefer a pool slide so that plays a part.

I really like AoA little mermaid rooms and I know dd would LOVE it but I can't swing the double beds and I think they'd be disappointed with the pool. Maybe if we ever do a mother daughter trip we would try it.

I would go with POR. I think your son will love it and if hour SO goes it'll all work out.

 

[Jenn55]

My kids would personally love any resort because were at Disney!!! I pick where I would like as the final result. I need queen beds to sleep. I can't do double beds. And my kids do prefer a pool slide so that plays a part. I really like AoA little mermaid rooms and I know dd would LOVE it but I can't swing the double beds and I think they'd be disappointed with the pool. Maybe if we ever do a mother daughter trip we would try it. I would go with POR. I think your son will love it and if hour SO goes it'll all work out.

We have a king at home.. For the two of us.. I highly doubt we can survive in a double for over a week.. I think I'm gonna stick with our original POR choice! 1000$ is a lot, but over a year to pay for it, it doesn't work out to be that much extra

 

[Carina]

I know you've already decided, but if it were me....

It would kill me to spend $1000 more for better beds, I would be thinking too much about how that $1000 would be a nice chunk towards my NEXT holiday. (of course I stayed off site for that very reason)

Anyways in your situation I would've brought along a blow up mattress for my son on the floor, or slept in my sons bed, and given my boyfriend the whole double to himself.

It's not like a little somethin' somethin' would be going on if you and BF were in the same bed anyways, you have a kid 4 feet away.

$1000 is a heck of a lot of money.