Which disney world value resort would be best? We have a 14 year old girl and a 4 year old boy?

Question

Music, movies, sports or pop century? Is it worth it to stay at a Disney resort instead of somewhere else?

Answer 1

It does kind of depend on what their interest air. I'm not sure if your son is interested in sports and if so if your daughter likes it. I like playing/watching sports, but didn't really enjoy sports all that much. I just felt it needed updated a little more, it is the oldest of the values. The music is a nice resort as well and appeals to most ages. If it were me, I would choose Movies or Pop Century. Movies is the most popular of the All Stars and sells out a lot, Pop Century is the newest and has better transportation, in my opinion. But I think both resorts would appeal to both of your children. The huge icons at the resorts are a big hit for the little tikes and getting to see your favorite character the size of a building is pretty amazing, especially when you are 4. I think your son would enjoy pop as well, but if he could look out his window and see Buzz Lightyear, I think he would be amazed, my sister absolutely loved them. The biggest difference is the theme and which one works best for you, but I would choose between Movies and Pop if it were me.

I really feel that the Disney resorts are worth staying at. They are not the fanciest hotels, but you can expect the best hotel for less than $100 a night. Compared to the offsite resorts in the area for around that price, I think the value resorts at Disney are a much better choice, but that is just my opinion. I always stay at Disney because it works the best for me and I have found it to be the most convenient.

Staying onsite also gives you a ton of benefits that you can't get offsite. Here are a few of the reasons I would and do stay onsite:

1). Better transportation- Especially if you are travelling with younger kids or older adults that need to rest in the middle of the day. Many offsite hotels, if they offer a shuttle (if they don't that is an additional cost you will have to pay) only run in the morning and in evening. You usually need to schedule the shuttle, etc. It can also be a long ride and take away a good portion of your time at the park. Onsite transportation is fast and easy, and it runs all day. Depending on where you would stay you have different transportation options, all resorts offer buses, some of them offer boat transportation and three offer a monorail for transportation.

2). You can take advantage of the Disney dining plan. This plan can save you 40% off of your food and you get to eat at the nicer restaurants that you may not eat at otherwise. It is a great deal.

3). I'm not sure when you are going, but Disney offers promotions for just about every date of the year. Unless you are going in the next few weeks, you should still be able to get a promotion for your dates. Currently they are offering free ticket upgrades, but they often offer free dining, especially during value season. So if you add up the saving there, you will more than likely be spending less, or possibly a little more than an offsite hotel, but you get all of the extra benefits and probably a lot more included.

4) The Disney touch- When you stay at Disney you know you are going to be staying at a nice place. I've gone past some of hotels that offer lower rates, and in some cases the same rates as Disney's hotels, and I think I would be afraid to go inside. Most of them aren't very clean, they can be a few miles away, etc. Also, you get the Disney service. If there is a problem, Disney will go above and beyond to try and fix the problem and do everything they can to make up for it. Even in cases where it isn't even their problem, they try their best to compensate in some way.

5). You can charge purchases to a room card so you don't have to bring your credit cards and cash with you everywhere you go.

6). Parking is free at your resort and you will also get free parking for the theme parks and some of the other places on property.

7). You packages can be delivered to your room. I know this doesn't sound like much now. But when you are in the parks, it is hot, you've been there all day, your tired and you have a ton of purchases to carry around, put on the bus, take back to the room (especially if you have kids that have purchases and/or diaper bags, strollers, etc.) it is nice to be able to make your purchase and then let Disney deliver it to your room.

8). Disney also offers Magical Express. Now, this isn't the best service and it does have some room for improvement, but it is also free. So that is another $100 or so dollars that you can save just for your transfer to and from the airport.

These are just a few of the benefits. I think that if you actually figure out your costs, everything that is included, etc. you will probably find that an offsite hotel actually ends up being more and you don't get all of the benefits. Most people think they are saving a ton of money by staying offsite, but they don't figure in the costs for everything else, or consider other benefits. After everything is said and done, I can almost guarentee you can save money by staying onsite, and you know you have a good room and things like that.

Unless I am in Orlando for business, or have to attend a convention, meeting, etc. I always stay onsite, I even stay onsite when I am just there for business because I like the Disney hotels that much.


If you need any ideas or need some more help, please e-mail me. I go to Disney several times a year and I love to help.

Answer 2

My favorites are the Pop and the All Star Movies.

Pop Century is themed with all the decades of the 1900's. It is the newest value resort, so it the nicest.

The Movies is (obviously) themed with Disney movies. You have a couple of giant dalmations, and Herbie the love bug, among other things. It is also really nice.

Other that that, there's not much difference between them.

I suggest booking the preferred locatoin hotels for the extra 20 dollars. It is so much easier ot get ot your room from the buses. And it really makes a difference at the end to the day! : )

Ya'll will have so much fun. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Well what are their interests? I think Pop Century is a great (and newer) resort which can be enjoyed by all. However, if your kids are really into sports, you may consider that theme. I enjoy Music the best. Their Calypso Pool is the most fun!

Staying on site definitely has its perks.

*Free Transportation from the airport to your Disney resort and back
* You can take advantage of the Disney Dining Plan, which saves you about 40% off each person in meals
* You can take advantage of free transportation to anywhere on Disney property
* you can take advantage of free package deliver to your hotel from any Disney shop
*And of course, you have the whole "Disney experience" 24/7.

However, there are perks to staying off-site as well. For one, you'll save a ton of money. I recommend the Lake Suites and the Best Western Lakeside in Kissimmee. The Lake Suites are condo style rooms, so you have plenty of space! And they come with a full kitchen so you can really save money on meals! They also offer a complimentary shuttle service to and from the Disney parks, which leaves every 30 minutes.

The Best Western does not have a kitchen, but it is a nice resort and rooms can be as cheap as $59 a night. They are located 3 minutes from the DAK and Blizzard Beach fwy entrance and offer complimentary shuttle service.

It just depends on your budget and taste! Please let me know if you have any other questions! You can contact me directly at [e-mail]

If you would like help planning for your next trip or if you would just like to read up on some fun tips and ideas that are updated monthly, visit my Disney Vacation Services My space page, at:

http://www.myspace.com/disneymickeyvacation

Have a great time!

Answer 4

I would suggest Pop Century or All-Star Movies. Both are interesting, but I prefer Pop Century. There are some awesome sights there, like a 4-story tall Big Wheel or a GIANT Mickey Mouse telephone!

I have stayed on property and off, and I have to say that NOTHING compares to staying on property.
--You can take advantage of Magical Express which transports you from Orlando International Airport to your resort.
--You can use the Disney Transportation System to travel to ANY of the Disney Parks or Resorts and Downtown Disney.
--You get Extra Magic Hours- on certain days one park will be open one hour early or stay open up to 3 hours later for resort guests.
--You can have puchases delivered to your resort-you don't have to carry around all those bags with your great souveniers in them.
--And my personal favorite reason for staying on Disney property-You don't have to deal with the traffic!

Hope you have a great vacation!!!

Answer 5

Yeah those resorts are great but one that really caught my eyes was when i went to Orlando last year and the hotel we went to was called French quarter port Orleans. At night u can see the fireworks at magic kingdom and Epcot and also walking around the resort is fun as hell well since I'm a kid it was really fun for me it was so quite and the pool and dinning was amazing. i believe the hotel is a 4 star hotel room service is great to and u only have to pay $185 a night which is not bad.

Answer 6

Go with All Star Sports and pay extra to stay in the surfing themed building. It's the closest blg to the lobby so less walking and it's a cute theme.
Have a great holiday!