Looking for Thoughts on My Resort Dilemma

[allgiggles]

I agree with the others - your family should stay at AoA and let your friends stay wherever fits their budget. Pop Century is a quick walk over the bridge if that works better for them than a suite or LM room at AoA. We just recently did an extended family trip to Disney. Some of us stayed in the Nemo suites while some stayed at Pop Century. It worked out well. We usually met at one bus stop or the other in the morning. On the way back to the resort we usually took whichever bus arrived first. You would also have easy access to either food court to meet up for meals. If you're not planning on spending all of your time together anyway, I don't think it's going to be a big inconvenience to be at separate resorts.

 

[BigRedDad]

This is my $0.02 with plenty of advice all around plus what others have posted.

1. The only ones that are going to care what level resort and room you are in is you.
2. 4 in a room is no big deal because the kids will enjoy the room or seeing what is around the resort.
3. If room space is of a concern, look at DVC 1BR rentals. That gives a lot of space.
4. If possible, you could look off-site and get a TON of space for about 50% less than Disney prices.

 

[TXDisney]

Yid say do whatever makes financial sense for each family and if doesn't match meet in the park each day.

 

[slappy magoo]

This is my $0.02 with plenty of advice all around plus what others have posted.

1. The only ones that are going to care what level resort and room you are in is you.
2. 4 in a room is no big deal because the kids will enjoy the room or seeing what is around the resort.
3. If room space is of a concern, look at DVC 1BR rentals. That gives a lot of space.
4. If possible, you could look off-site and get a TON of space for about 50% less than Disney prices.

Just a note to the OP on Point 3 - if you're going to book a DVC villa through Disney direct, paying "cash" and want a 1BR Villa, that's all fine. If you were thinking about renting points from a DVC member or through a rental store, be wary. Here's why: When you book a 1BR Villa using DVC points, it often requires twice as many points (or close to twice as many) as renting a studio. But if you're paying "cash" for the room, it probably will not be twice as much money, more like 40-50% more. I'm a DVC member and a few years back I booked a trip using my own points in a 1BR, then thought about renting enough points to add an extra night. The cost of renting those points was more than paying cash for the room with the discount DVC members get for cash rentals.

If you're thinking about renting points, you'd be better off perhaps renting enough points for you and your friends to either stay together in a 2BR Villa OR, for fewer points, each of your families in a studio.

 

[BigRedDad]

My rentals of a 1BR unit at SSR and BWV were $1,200 and $1,250 for 7 nights. Cash through Disney would have been more than 2x that price. If cost is a concern and you still want to be in the middle of it all, you can get a 2BR Deluxe with TONS of space at Wyndham Bonnet Creek. 7-nights would run about $1,200 give or take. The cost of transportation would be ~$6 per person per day which will still save you all in the long run. Comes with full kitchens, more space than Disney can provide.