Just returned. Don’t take advice on this issue from anyone who hasn’t been there recently. Your ability to select lightning lines asap is critical for kids your age, who will have strong ride preferences and the ability to enjoy coasters, shows, parades, characters—basically everything.

That means staying on-site or a longer trip with more park days so LL’s can be spread out. LL booking and paying for single rider lines is the difference between hours of waiting and a relaxing trip. Don’t overbook ADRs (restaurants) because they schedule LLs around them.

**get to the parks very early with mid-morning lightning lanes. Rope drop anything you couldn’t get. Then as you use each lightning lane, immediately book the next one. It’s a pain but you won’t wait in lines and can experience so much.

Stay at Pop or AoA, pick no more than three parks and build in rest days. Changing days once you’re there is a PITA because you lose your lightning lanes.

As you select LLs, have park maps open in front of you to avoid excessive backtracking.

I anticipate the challenge with that length of stay and ages may be finding a way to fit in both early morning rope drop at MK and fireworks/starlight parade evening stuff—both are amazing and the reason many pros recommend two MK days for first trip.

If you go that route it may be worth springing for the studio at boulder ridge. It has a fabulous third bed, great design and a boat to MK—with lots of peace and quiet and an almost private quiet pool by your door.

HS and Pandora in AK are also incredible at night but, again, it’s hard to do rope drop AND evening for more than a day.

Do you know if your kids like coasters ?

Anonymous wrote:More good info, thank you! So it is 30 min extra for on property guests per day and then additional time on Mondays and Wednesdays?

We would go Sunday through Thursday so that would align well (going over spring break next year, not during FL's public school spring break). Thinking three park days and then a down day for pools and rest. It will be just me and the kids so rest will be good for all of us! We do not need a suite so a standard room works well.

Only the deluxe resorts and villas get the extra hours on Mondays and Wednesdays. Port Orleans and Art of Animation will NOT get you this benefit.

More good info, thank you! So it is 30 min extra for on property guests per day and then additional time on Mondays and Wednesdays?

We would go Sunday through Thursday so that would align well (going over spring break next year, not during FL's public school spring break). Thinking three park days and then a down day for pools and rest. It will be just me and the kids so rest will be good for all of us! We do not need a suite so a standard room works well.

I've only stayed at Art of Animation but it was worth it for the skyliner and the food court. Do not underestimate the convenience of a food court when you're exhausted from park hopping and just want a quick meal. And the food was actually good!

AoA also has kitchenettes in the rooms, which we used for making sandwiches to take to the parks. It's a great way to save $ too. I think Pop Century is similar and it's next door.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another rec for Art of Animation. The skyline was like a bonus ride

I would do Pop Century over Art
Of Animation unless you need the suite. The Art of Animation Suites are at least $500 a night (can’t say for sure) while Pop Century is sub $200 for a standard hotel room. You still have access to the skyliner, but you don’t get the big theming.

Port Orleans French Quarter for a moderate (much smaller footprint than Port Orleans Riverside.)

If you’re going to splurge for a deluxe, Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge have a bigger wow factor for kids (though the pool for Beach Club is great.)

Finally, Swan and Dolphin are Marriott properties with on site deluxe benefits. The only negative is they don’t use Disney transportation, but you can access it through other means.

Sometimes The Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation are a good deal. Take a look at those too.

The Art of Animation suite was worth it for us because of the second bathroom. It allowed us to get ready twice as fast and having a separate sleeping area meant we all slept well (and got away from each other as needed)

Also, regarding the value hotels on property, be careful of high school / college event schedules. Those places can be like dorms. They're basically motels.

I usually stay off property and rent a car. When it comes to Orlando, I prefer the cheaper hotels like the Residence Inns and Courtyards, because I need the hotel only for somewhere to sleep and drop my purchases. Because there is so, so much to do in Orlando I'm rarely in the hotel, no matter what hotel it is. Last year I did stay in Wilderness on a passholder discount, and I love the hotel (note that service at these places is like Sheraton level) but it still wasn't worth it to me even at $300 a night.

Let me say it generally IS worth it if you have very young children, because of being able to walk to the parks in some cases, but otherwise, basically never makes the cut for me.

Anonymous wrote:We stayed at the DoubleTree which is "within" the property and a 'partner' hotel. We had a rental car so that worked well, but I don't think I would've wanted to rely on the shuttle that the hotel provides.

Loved having a huge 1 bedroom suite room with a separate sitting area for everyone to have some space. And mom and dad sleeping in a separate room from kids All for a very reasonable price of about $225/night (but we were able to use Hilton points so only paid for 4 nights). To get the equivalent of that on property would've been like $600/night (or more). And you DO get the early entry with the partner hotels.

That said, we were there for a full week so we were less concerned about maximizing every possible moment like you might be if you're only going to be there for three days? I dunno. If I had an endless budget I would totally stay at the Grand Floridian or Contemporary or somewhere right on the monorail BUT for those of us whose budget is more like...the values or the moderates...I struggle to see the value proposition vs. staying at a place like the DoubleTree.

My experience.

It’s not a Disney property so you don’t get early entry or extended hours. Also can’t book LL until 3 days before. Better to stay at a value hotel on property so you get the perks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stayed at the Polynesian last year. Would not stay there again. Room was small and uncomfortable. It's priced like a luxury resort, but the experience and accommodations are more on par with a Great Wolf Lodge.

I thought the monorail transportation would be convenient, but the lines were so long and the other guests so pushy, it turned out to be quite a hassle. The only thing that really made it worth it for me was the extended hours at the parks, but not enough to do again.

I’ve also heard this about the deluxe resorts from a bunch of people. We know some pretty wealthy families who swear by Port Orleans as the right balance. GF and the Polynesian feel like a joke if you’re used to Four Seasons type places - might as well lean into it being a theme park and stay somewhere “normal.”

+100000. I’ve stayed at both Polynesian and Port Orleans. Disney deluxe properties aren’t true luxury properties. I liked Port Orleans better than the Poly and it was a fraction of the cost.

If you need a suite you’ll want to try Saratoga Springs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another rec for Art of Animation. The skyline was like a bonus ride

I would do Pop Century over Art
Of Animation unless you need the suite. The Art of Animation Suites are at least $500 a night (can’t say for sure) while Pop Century is sub $200 for a standard hotel room. You still have access to the skyliner, but you don’t get the big theming.

Port Orleans French Quarter for a moderate (much smaller footprint than Port Orleans Riverside.)

If you’re going to splurge for a deluxe, Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge have a bigger wow factor for kids (though the pool for Beach Club is great.)

Finally, Swan and Dolphin are Marriott properties with on site deluxe benefits. The only negative is they don’t use Disney transportation, but you can access it through other means.

Sometimes The Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation are a good deal. Take a look at those too.

Anonymous wrote:Thank you so much from the OP. All so helpful. I am leaning towards staying on site for wase of logistics but at a value property; it looks like Pop Century has skyliner access versus the lower rate ones that are shuttle only, so that may be an option.

I do like the ability to have extra time in the parks and had not realized you get earlier access to LL bookings. We want to see a lot but also do not have the mentality of doing everything.

All Disney properties give you 30 minutes extra in the morning and early LL booking. The deluxe resorts give you an extra 2 hours at one park on Mondays and Wednesdays. This includes the Swan/Dolphin, which is usually the cheapest of the options (especially if you have Marriott points.)

Anonymous wrote:Another rec for Art of Animation. The skyline was like a bonus ride

I would do Pop Century over Art
Of Animation unless you need the suite. The Art of Animation Suites are at least $500 a night (can’t say for sure) while Pop Century is sub $200 for a standard hotel room. You still have access to the skyliner, but you don’t get the big theming.

Port Orleans French Quarter for a moderate (much smaller footprint than Port Orleans Riverside.)

If you’re going to splurge for a deluxe, Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge have a bigger wow factor for kids (though the pool for Beach Club is great.)

Finally, Swan and Dolphin are Marriott properties with on site deluxe benefits. The only negative is they don’t use Disney transportation, but you can access it through other means.

Anonymous wrote:Thank you so much from the OP. All so helpful. I am leaning towards staying on site for wase of logistics but at a value property; it looks like Pop Century has skyliner access versus the lower rate ones that are shuttle only, so that may be an option.

I do like the ability to have extra time in the parks and had not realized you get earlier access to LL bookings. We want to see a lot but also do not have the mentality of doing everything.

We've stayed there several times when we go visit in laws and do a couple days at Disney. It's very basic but the rooms are fine and DS likes the pool. The skyliner is great as we do Epcot and Hollywood Studios primarily.

Pop Century is a great choice, op!

Fwiw you can use the skyliner and other Disney transportation to visit other Disney resorts.

Thank you so much from the OP. All so helpful. I am leaning towards staying on site for wase of logistics but at a value property; it looks like Pop Century has skyliner access versus the lower rate ones that are shuttle only, so that may be an option.

I do like the ability to have extra time in the parks and had not realized you get earlier access to LL bookings. We want to see a lot but also do not have the mentality of doing everything.