Need help selecting resort

[JCMom]

My husband and I are planning a trip with our two kids (7 and 2 1/2) in late January. Our last trip to WDW was when our son was 2 1/2. We stayed at AKL for only 3 nights. This time we are planning a full week. AKL isn't in our budget this round and I'm not sure it's worth even a moderate resort with two small kids. We spent so little time in our room last go around, but I did enjoy the restaurants at AKL after a long day. This time though we hope to enjoy free time at pool, etc. (which we didn't do last time with short trip). So my question is in twofold - is it worth an upgrade and if we decide on a economy resort - is one better than the other (leaning towards All Star Sports because son is a huge sports fan)?

Appreciate the responses - I'm sure this has been asked thousands of times.

 

[Blairnicol]

I stayed at a All Star Sports for the 1st time last year after growing up staying at DVC and Deluxe. I don't think I will ever go back, but I don't have kids. There are just so. many. tour. groups. A nice middle ground for you might be Art of Animation, it terms of theming and room size. Check out this article for some comparisons:

http://www.disneytouristblog.com/value-moderate-resort-comparison-disney-world/

 

[jcldtrek]

For me, I've stayed at moderate (Port Orleans Riverside) once and loved it. It was quiet , grounds were amazing and rooms nice size. Also stayed at Deluxe resorts too (Wildress Lodge and Polynesian) Rooms are great and Theming is amazing. Now for the last 3 trips we stayed at the Value Resorts, Pop Century and All Stars music and Movies and gonna be at Pop again coming up in 3 weeks. I will say for the amount of time you spend in the room , which for me is just to sleep , the values are the way to go. I might think of the moderate again too but never would I stay again at a deluxe resort. Its just so expensive and for just to sleep, it's not worth it for us. Especially when theres like a 200 on up price difference per day between deluxe and value. I also personally think for the kids , that the value resorts are better cause of the big pool area and the theming. Rooms are smaller in values but if only for sleeping , it's good enough.

 

[JasonDeyoung]

For me moderates are perfect, I am not at the resort enough to justify spending what a deluxe charges though they are all great. I do love going back to the resort for breaks and afternoons at the pool so that is a big factor for me and some days I just enjoy relaxing with a drink. They are a bit more quieter than the values which is another pro for me. I did just stay at Pop and it was exactly what I expected. I wasn't going to be in the room except to sleep so I didn't need anything more than a shower and bed. The values like mentioned above do tend to be busier and more hectic with tour groups and teams and kids etc as I think mods are more of an older less kids and no groups and deluxe are more adult and older as well. I've never been to any of the All Star resorts so I can't really comment on it but I have heard many comments that are pretty much down the same line. If you were to upgrade I would suggest French Quarter or Riverside. Worth the upgrade, defiantly. Enjoy your trip wherever you end up!

 

[Plowboy]

As others have opined, it comes down to $$'s, how much time you spend at the resort, etc. We've stayed at Pop the last several trips as we spent almost all day in the parks and used the room just to shower and sleep. If the resort is more a destination itself (i.e. you stay there all day using the resort amenities) you may wish to go moderate or deluxe. In the end, it's all about what you want. I will say Pop has served us well and we prefer it to the All Stars.

 

[ParentsOf4]

My husband and I are planning a trip with our two kids (7 and 2 1/2) in late January. Our last trip to WDW was when our son was 2 1/2. We stayed at AKL for only 3 nights. This time we are planning a full week. AKL isn't in our budget this round and I'm not sure it's worth even a moderate resort with two small kids. We spent so little time in our room last go around, but I did enjoy the restaurants at AKL after a long day. This time though we hope to enjoy free time at pool, etc. (which we didn't do last time with short trip). So my question is in twofold - is it worth an upgrade and if we decide on a economy resort - is one better than the other (leaning towards All Star Sports because son is a huge sports fan)?

Appreciate the responses - I'm sure this has been asked thousands of times.

Young children tend to enjoy the oversized displays and bright colors of the Value Resorts. Which is 'best' is a matter of taste, although Art of Animation (AOA) in the newest. If you go with a Value Resort, I suggest looking at online photos of all 5 and going with the one whose theming appeals the most to your family.

Right now, Disney is offering a discount at the Value Resorts, with an average rate as low as $100/night for a week in late January.

As an alternative, you could consider renting DVC points from a place such as the DVC Rental Store if that's within your budget.

It's often possible to get last-minute DVC reservations through them for Disney's Sarasota Springs Resort (SSR). A Studio (basically a hotel room with one bed and one sleeper sofa) costs 90 points for a week in late January. If you can get points at $12/point, then it works out to $154/night. At $10/point, it works out to $129/night.

Direct from Disney, these SSR rooms currently are $221/night in late January. You'd have to be patient though. I just looked at the DVC Rental Store's website and they are offering discounted points only through the end of December.

An offsite alternative is Wyndham Bonnet Creek (WBC), which is located next to Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort (CBR). Often you can find a 2-bedroom condo for $100/night on eBay. This includes 3 rooms; 2 bedrooms and a combined kitchen/living room. Also 2 bathrooms. Although this is essentially on WDW property, this works best if you have your own car since their bus transportation to the parks is limited, running only once every hour.

Hope this helps!

 

[BrerJon]

I'd also suggest checking out the Downtown Disney hotels. Although not Disney owned, they're still on-property and for the same price as a Value Disney resort you can get Moderate and above level accomodation, so that can be a nice halfway-house sometimes.

 

[cbettua]

For that age I would stay at Art of Animation. Also, in January you may not be using the pool as it can be chilly outside and even though they say the pools are heated, they are still cold in the summer >_<

 

[JillC LI]

I will say Pop has served us well and we prefer it to the All Stars.

'
Us too (we preferred Pop to AS Movies). Better location, better bussing. We have also stayed at CBR (a mod) too twice when free dining was in effect, and the pool there was great as was the caribbean theming.

 

[MissingDisney]

When the kids were younger we were a value fam for the reasons already listed above...colors, theming, etc. Favorite was Pop. Now we love POFQ after trying a few mods and it's perfect for us. More room, less chaotic, busses are easy, mod pools have slides, etc. Just a better experience and vacation for us. Plus we like the bigger rooms.

You know what your kids will like. Not all kids love the "in your face" look of the values. To some, it can be overwhelming.

Have fun!

 

[4disneylovers]

I have stayed at all of the values except All Star Music. With children in your age range I would stay at a value. My favorite was AoA but that is because it was a splurge trip for us and we stayed in a suite. With your family size you would not need a suite and I believe AoA tends to be more expensive plus I have read countless times that the Mermaid buildings are a long walk from the front. So with all of that said, my children's favorite taking out the suite at AoA was Pop.

 

[englanddg]

My husband and I are planning a trip with our two kids (7 and 2 1/2) in late January. Our last trip to WDW was when our son was 2 1/2. We stayed at AKL for only 3 nights. This time we are planning a full week. AKL isn't in our budget this round and I'm not sure it's worth even a moderate resort with two small kids. We spent so little time in our room last go around, but I did enjoy the restaurants at AKL after a long day. This time though we hope to enjoy free time at pool, etc. (which we didn't do last time with short trip). So my question is in twofold - is it worth an upgrade and if we decide on a economy resort - is one better than the other (leaning towards All Star Sports because son is a huge sports fan)?

Appreciate the responses - I'm sure this has been asked thousands of times.

Pop or AoA if you are going for a value.

CBR, PORS or POFQ if you are going for a moderate.

I've done CBR with connecting rooms (group of 4, two kids) and that worked extremely well. It gets a bum rap, but it's still one of my favorite of the moderates (I'd rather stay there than PORS...)

 

[DisneyFreak23]

My husband and I are planning a trip with our two kids (7 and 2 1/2) in late January. Our last trip to WDW was when our son was 2 1/2. We stayed at AKL for only 3 nights. This time we are planning a full week. AKL isn't in our budget this round and I'm not sure it's worth even a moderate resort with two small kids. We spent so little time in our room last go around, but I did enjoy the restaurants at AKL after a long day. This time though we hope to enjoy free time at pool, etc. (which we didn't do last time with short trip). So my question is in twofold - is it worth an upgrade and if we decide on a economy resort - is one better than the other (leaning towards All Star Sports because son is a huge sports fan)?

Appreciate the responses - I'm sure this has been asked thousands of times.

We have stayed at All Star Music a couple of times and love it. We recently stayed in the Cars suite at AOA and were blown away. I highly recommend that, especially for your son!

 

[kbelle]

My husband and I are planning a trip with our two kids (7 and 2 1/2) in late January. Our last trip to WDW was when our son was 2 1/2. We stayed at AKL for only 3 nights. This time we are planning a full week. AKL isn't in our budget this round and I'm not sure it's worth even a moderate resort with two small kids. We spent so little time in our room last go around, but I did enjoy the restaurants at AKL after a long day. This time though we hope to enjoy free time at pool, etc. (which we didn't do last time with short trip). So my question is in twofold - is it worth an upgrade and if we decide on a economy resort - is one better than the other (leaning towards All Star Sports because son is a huge sports fan)?

Appreciate the responses - I'm sure this has been asked thousands of times.

I like the value resorts- we've stayed at the All Star Sports many times. The difference in cost between a value property and moderate is significant. The last time I checked it was almost $500. I use the savings to pay for meals. We spend so much time at the parks we are only in the hotel to sleep, eat or swim.

 

[epcotisbest]

Having stayed at all levels, onsite we liked Pop Century best at the value level. It is a lovely, fun, well-themed resort. Small rooms, but clean and functional. The theming, while not on the same level as AoA, is still fun.
Offsite, for the price of Pop, you can find much nicer digs.

 

[Matt_Black]

Having stayed at all levels, onsite we liked Pop Century best at the value level. It is a lovely, fun, well-themed resort. Small rooms, but clean and functional. The theming, while not on the same level as AoA, is still fun.
Offsite, for the price of Pop, you can find much nicer digs.

Also, if you prefer the eats at AoA over Pop, then it's a brisk walk or short drive over there. The lake between the two resorts and the bridge connecting them is a lovely, quiet spot.

 

[epcotisbest]

Also, if you prefer the eats at AoA over Pop, then it's a brisk walk or short drive over there. The lake between the two resorts and the bridge connecting them is a lovely, quiet spot.

So true, and it is nice to just walk around AoA seeing all the different themed areas. Lots of good photo ops spots as well.

 

[pug]

My husband and I are planning a trip with our two kids (7 and 2 1/2) in late January. Our last trip to WDW was when our son was 2 1/2. We stayed at AKL for only 3 nights. This time we are planning a full week. AKL isn't in our budget this round and I'm not sure it's worth even a moderate resort with two small kids. We spent so little time in our room last go around, but I did enjoy the restaurants at AKL after a long day. This time though we hope to enjoy free time at pool, etc. (which we didn't do last time with short trip). So my question is in twofold - is it worth an upgrade and if we decide on a economy resort - is one better than the other (leaning towards All Star Sports because son is a huge sports fan)?

Appreciate the responses - I'm sure this has been asked thousands of times.

Stay at art of animation there have a great pool and great rooms and a food place!

 

[wm49rs]

Stay at art of animation there have a great pool and great rooms and a food place!

Not sure why the bump, but the OP hasn't been back since starting this thread....

 

[pug]

What do you mean bump?