Art of Animation Family Suites as an Alternative to Moderates?
By Dave Shute
FAMILY SUITES AT ART OF ANIMATION INSTEAD OF A MODERATE?
With Art of Animation Family Suites scheduled to open at the end of May 2012, it’s interesting to speculate about who might reserve them.
Larger families looking for value pricing, and not wanting to bet on connecting rooms, are the natural target.
But they also will provide a great alternative for some families who would otherwise be aimed at one room at a moderate resort, but are willing to spend a little more for a lot more space and flexibility.
A FAMILY SUITE VERSUS A ROOM AT A MODERATE
Depending on the time of the year, an Art of Animation Family Suite will cost between 50% more and twice as much more than a room at a moderate.
(The chart shows the second half of 2012, when both options will be available. It graphs several resort options as a percent of moderate costs, so moderates are always 100%.)
During the times it is 50% more, a family suite is an interesting option.
Compared to a moderate, for the 50% higher price, you get
- 65% more square feet
- Twice as many private sleeping spaces
- Twice as many bathrooms
- 3 beds instead of two, (or two and a trundle in some part of Port Orleans Riverside)
- A microwave
- A dining table
- Capacity for 6, instead of capacity for 4 (or 5 at some parts of Riverside)
What you don’t get is what distinguishes most moderates from values: lovelier grounds, more fun and interesting pools, waterfront play options, and, at most moderates, sit-down restaurants.
On the other hand, the values have more kid-appeal than any moderate, and are much more compact than any moderate but Port Orleans French Quarter.
For me this is pretty clear…were I aimed at moderate, but could afford the 50% price premium, I’d take Art of Animation in a minute. I can’t think of any circumstance when the extra room, the additional privacy from two sleeping spaces, and the two baths wouldn’t be a winning proposition…
MORE ON WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD
- For where to stay, see this
- For your next best choices, in order, see this
- For picking your resort based on appeal to kids, see this
- For picking your resort based on convenience, see this
- For where not to stay, see this
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- For what you get in each resort price category, see this
- For Walt Disney World resort price seasons, see this
- For resort reviews, see this
- For the value resorts, see this
- For the moderate resorts, see this
- For the deluxe resorts, see this
- For suites at the deluxe resorts, see this
- For the Disney Vacation Club (“DVC”) Resorts, see this
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- For a (geeky) overview of comparative room size, see this
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- Military/DOD families should look at this
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- Families seeking the most comfortable place to stay should see this
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