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**MarkTwain** · 10-22-2009, 12:59 AM

Re: Best Disney Resort to stay at?

May I recommend the Port Orleans resorts? If you're looking to stay on-property on a budget, then Port Orleans Riverside is a great choice, although Port Orleans French Quarter is nice too. The degree to which they immerse you thematically is comparable to the deluxe hotels, but for not too much more expensive than Pop Century or the All-Stars.

Port Orleans Riverside
Port Orleans French Quarter

I myself prefer Riverside, with its water-wheels and old plantation homes-as-hotel rooms, but I'm head-over-heels in love with the Old American South. French Quarter has a more urban street setting and the elegant iron-wrought railings that New Orleans made famous. Both are great hotels.

Good luck!

**Mr. Bungle** · 10-22-2009, 04:20 AM

Re: Best Disney Resort to stay at?

I always stay in the Value class like the All-Stars(Music, Movies, Sports) or the Pop Century. My favorite is the Pop Century. I like its theme (pop culture through the last century) and all of this class have a nice main building with store, cafeteria, and arcade. If location matters, Pop Century is near Disney's Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Wide World of Sports. The All-Stars are near Disney's Animal Kingdom.

My family spends most of the days out in the parks or out at night, so we don't need fancy rooms. We used to stay at the Contemporary Resort. Also we rent a car to get around the property. Free parking everywhere due to staying on-property is a plus.

**RooBear** · 10-22-2009, 04:25 AM

Re: Best Disney Resort to stay at?

I'd listen to Bungle's post. We tend towards the value resorts, it just works for us. Once, when we had a slight group, we stayed at the AllStar Music's suites. It was actually kind nice. That might be an option.

Peace,
Roo

**Mr. Bungle** · 10-22-2009, 04:29 AM

Re: Best Disney Resort to stay at?

I am staying in a suite at the All-Star Music next week, it'll be my first time trying one!

**Mouse princess** · 10-22-2009, 04:31 AM

Re: Best Disney Resort to stay at?

If you are looking for value, than the Value resorts are your best bet. I have stayed at Moderate and Values, and honestly I don't mind the Values. I have a hard time paying extra for hotels when I can get a cheaper rate hotel. I am cheap that way :lol: I have stayed at Pop, All-Star Movies and Sports. My next trip I will be staying at All-Star Music. Out of all of them, my favorite was All-Star Movies. Most would tell you Pop Century, but it is just a matter of opinion. I only really had issues at AllStarts Sports and would not recommend that one- way too noisy, not as helpful, was not crazy about the theming.
You get free parking at the parks when you stay on property and they also have the bus service.

**WDWDN** · 10-22-2009, 04:41 AM

Re: Best Disney Resort to stay at?

When trying to save money but yet have a quality experience we always stay at Pop Century. As I once said, at night it resembles a "mini-vegas" with all the action going on, and I mean that in a good way.

they have a great arcade, wonderful food court, and three different themed pools for guests. They do not share a bus with another resort so that is an added perk.

My advice is give that resort a try.

**GraceysGirl** · 10-22-2009, 07:37 AM

Re: Best Disney Resort to stay at?

It depends on if you want to stay on or off property. I really like the Regal Sun if your staying off property. I prefer to stay on property. Pop Century was where I stayed last and it was awesome. We rarely had to wait long for a bus and you can't beat the Disney service. The food court at Pop is really good. We were surprised by how good the food was there. There are also tons of pools and lots of stuff to do. You really can't beat staying at a Value hotel.

**MarkTwain** · 10-22-2009, 07:46 AM

Re: Best Disney Resort to stay at?

... I guess I'm in the minority, here. :lol:

**Mouse princess** · 10-22-2009, 07:56 AM

Re: Best Disney Resort to stay at?

The Port Orleans is a great hotel.

I have stayed there before and would consider staying there again. But it is more $$ than the values. When someone says to me they are looking for inexpensive resort- I think values. It is not that much more than the values - but for my upcoming trip it was approx $30 more a night. For me- 4 nights- thats $120 that I could spend elsewhere.

**azolivas** · 10-22-2009, 09:01 AM

Re: Best Disney Resort to stay at?

another vote for the Port Orleans Riverside! My family of 5 just stayed there last week for 7 nights and we LOVED it!!!!

**PAC-Man87** · 10-22-2009, 09:10 AM

Re: Best Disney Resort to stay at?

If you can afford it The Bleach Club or The Bleach Club Villas are the best resort in my point of view. 1st off the pool is the biggest in the whole resort it is more like a mini-water park. 2nd if you stay at the villas or the hotel itself you have to stop in the gift shop everyday and try the best gelato in all of Disney World. 3rdly The best thing about is that it is walking distance from Epcot the best park by far (in my opinion) and Disney's Hollywood Studios is just a boat ride away. Oh and lastly the sand beach is awesome.

**OogieBoogie** · 10-22-2009, 09:36 AM

Re: Best Disney Resort to stay at?

My wife and I had problems with the Pop Century when we were there in April.

First off we requested a king size bed 3 months in advance. When we got there they said that there weren't any available, but some guy who came in off the street after us (and happened to get the front desk clerk next to us) was told that the only thing they had available was a room with a king sized bed. When we asked why it was being offered to him and denied to us when we had requested it months ago, Pop Century's reply was that it was only available for 1 night and since we were going to be there a week they didn't want to inconvience us by moving us around a lot. When we asked 'Shouldn't that have been our decision?' they didn't have an answer for us.

Second our luggage was sent on a later flight then the one we had taken. We told the desk clerk when we checked in that it would be arriving tomorrow morning (it was 11pm when we checked in), and that we would come down when we woke up tomorrow to get it. At 6am EST (3AM for us since we were still on West Coast time) there was a knock at the door. It turned out to be one of the baggage handlers who had decided to bring our luggage to us. Apaprently the night shift didn't bother to tell anyone our request.

Third the beds were awful. They were clearly several years old and broken down. We finally got the room with the king sized bed on our third night (over in the 1950's wing) and when you sat on it, you sank all the way down to the box spring.

Fourth, the 2 rooms that we had (the other room was in the '80's wing) both had wallpaper peeling off the wall. A minor thing, but it surprised me how much the rooms needed some TLC.

Finally on our last day we were waiting for the Magical Express Bus to take us back to the airport. But the bus that showed up had a logo on it for the Disney Cruise Line. We asked an employee if that was the Magical Express Bus and he said that no, it was for guests going to the cruise line. Just before the Cruise Line bus pulled off, we asked the bus driver when the Magical Express was going to be showing up and he replied that this WAS the Magical Express Bus. Had we listened to the first guy, we wouldn't have made our flight.

On the plus side, we did enjoy all the amenities that the hotel had to offer. The pools were fun (if a bit shallow), the cafeteria had some good food and good options (my wife fell in love with the cupcakes), the game room and the gift shop were both good, and we found the accessability to the buses to be great. I think next time though, we go we're going to try staying at the campgrounds. Has anyone ever stayed there?

**Mouse princess** · 10-22-2009, 09:55 AM

Re: Best Disney Resort to stay at?

Oogie- my sister had the same issue with the mattress at Pop- they were horrible. The first night they called the front desk and complained. They sent a new mattress- which was equally as bad. I did not have an issue at Pop- my mattresses where always fine.

I had issues at the All Star Sports - the same luggage issue happened. The luggage was arriving later, and we requested that they hold it until the AM and we would pick it up. 3AM I get a knock on my door with the luggage. So much for communication. We also had issues with the room requests. We had requested a connecting room, and they told us they could not accomidate. But the room right next door to me that connected to my room was available. I was told it was for a person who would be checking in the next day. My question back was why can't they stay at the room the next door down, that my sister was staying in. No answer. Than the noise level was unbearable and I was not even by the pool - which I would expect it to be louder. I had to complain again and than they relocated us, to connecting rooms. I obviously was not the only one to complain about the noise becuase when we came home from the parks there was posts saying that it must be kept quiet after 11PM. I also requested ahead of time for a fridge for medication, which I was told would be in the room when I checked in because I needed it for insulin. It was not there. I had to call 2xs asking for it, all the while keeping the insulin in a bucket of ice. i will not stay at the Sports again.

But I also had a similar luggage issue at PO- so it is not a problem limited to the values. We came in a late flight and requested that they hold the luggage because we were exhausted and wanted to sleep. But, alas that did not happen.

**SnorkletsMom** · 10-22-2009, 09:57 AM

Re: Best Disney Resort to stay at?

I've stayed at the Contemporary, the Wilderness Lodge, the Swan and the Buena Vista Palace. I guess none of them are the value resorts, but they all had pluses and minuses. I think it is mostly going to depend on what your family finds most important. If you won't be in the rooms much at all, then look at price first. If you want to really spend time at the hotel and its amenities, then go online and look at each hotel, or better yet, also request the vacation DVD. You can go online and order one and sit down and let the whole family watch. You can also get customized maps as part of the package.

**Mr. Bungle** · 10-22-2009, 09:58 AM

Re: Best Disney Resort to stay at?

Wow, those are some bad experiences!

A few years ago I had a similar luggage issue but I was able to pick my bag up in the morning, no late night/early morning wake up.

**Barbaraann** · 10-22-2009, 10:07 AM

Re: Best Disney Resort to stay at?

I just spent 6 nights at Pop Century and I really enjoyed it. There were three of us, and we had two connecting rooms. I loved it there. It is orgainized well, and you really don't have to walk very far to get to the main building where everything you may need is located, like food, guest services, buses, etc:

Our rooms were immaculate, and the beds were comfy, and my grandson's only complaint was no wi-fi.

I have stayed at all the moderate hotels, except Port Orleans French Quarter. I highly recommend Riverside. I understand that Coronado Springs has recently been remodeled, and I really enjoyed staying there as well. I did feel that there was way less walking at Port Orleans Riverside. Caribbean Beach was nice as well, but you do a lot more walking, to get around at that resort.

I planned my most recent trip during value season, so with my AAA discount, I only paid about $75 a room per night. I really felt that I got a bargain. I would definitely stay at Pop Century again.

If I ever decide to choose a moderate hotel, I really would like to stay at Port Orleans French Quarter.

**MarkTwain** · 10-22-2009, 11:29 AM

Re: Best Disney Resort to stay at?

Originally posted by Barbaraann View Post

I just spent 6 nights at Pop Century and I really enjoyed it. There were three of us, and we had two connecting rooms. I loved it there. It is orgainized well, and you really don't have to walk very far to get to the main building where everything you may need is located, like food, guest services, buses, etc:

Our rooms were immaculate, and the beds were comfy, and my grandson's only complaint was no wi-fi.

I have stayed at all the moderate hotels, except Port Orleans French Quarter. I highly recommend Riverside. I understand that Coronado Springs has recently been remodeled, and I really enjoyed staying there as well. I did feel that there was way less walking at Port Orleans Riverside. Caribbean Beach was nice as well, but you do a lot more walking, to get around at that resort.

I planned my most recent trip during value season, so with my AAA discount, I only paid about $75 a room per night. I really felt that I got a bargain. I would definitely stay at Pop Century again.

If I ever decide to choose a moderate hotel, I really would like to stay at Port Orleans French Quarter.

Yes, I'd have recommended Coronado Springs as well because it's absolutely beautiful, but some of the rooms are quite a long trek away from the lobby.

**disneymom2jhe** · 10-22-2009, 12:59 PM

Re: Best Disney Resort to stay at?

We love Port Orleans Riverside and Caribbean. I would definitely recommend either of those. Riverside has the great boat ride to Downtown Disney (nice change from the buses). Plus, the piano player at River Roost is really fun. On the other hand, we love the Caribbean though because of the new pool area and the rooms are now Nemo themed (one of my kids' favorite characters). I've never stayed at any of the values, but we have never had a problem with the moderates.

**DisneyIzz** · 10-22-2009, 10:48 PM

Re: Best Disney Resort to stay at?

I really appreciate all these reviews!

My family and I would probably lean more towards the cheaper end of the Moderate Class of resorts, especially after reading some reviews on the Value class, as well as the simple fact that my sister and I are teenagers and we love our big pool areas and extra features in resorts

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