Aventura vs Dockside - Mardi Gras trip

[wmoon]

Have just booked flights with a friend for a 7 night stay in February.

First holiday without our kids or partners.

Trying to decide on either Aventura which I believe the standard rooms are booked out by a conference for part of our week so only deluxe or accessible rooms ( can anyone book those? )left, or just a standard room in Dockside.

There’s about a $500 difference between deluxe at Aventura and standard and Dockside, that would fill a lot of blinky cups.

I’ve stayed at both although only the 2bed at Dockside and with my family. I feel it’s a heart, Aventura vs head, Dockside decision. It also started as a bit of a budget trip as we are both over for HHN with our families.

Any thoughts? Thanks for any advice.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Anyone can book the accessible rooms. It's just bad form to book accessible room you don't need when the equivalent room type for non-accessible room type is available. Like if you walk into a restroom, and the 2 non-accessible stalls are in use... you can use the accessible stall at that point and not feel bad about it.

I suspect you have APs? I would book whatever you're comfortable with, then recheck as AP rates come out & possibly rebook at AP rate (possibly a split stay?). If Aventura standard rooms are sold out for stay more/save more rates already for your dates, it's unlikely that an AP rate will cover your whole dates, but it might do a nice drop for a split stay. Or make Dockside even more appealing pricewise.

 

[wdwfan51]

Between Dockside and Aventura I would go with Aventura. Dockside is great but at Aventura you can pool hop to Sapphire Falls and it gives you the option of using Sapphire Falls’ boat to the parks or an easy walk (it’s a bit of a walk but Feb weather shouldn’t be too hot, so it should be fine)
With that said if Aventura only has deluxe rooms have you tried across the street from them at Cabana Bay? Also a great choice.
If you don’t mind taking a bus to the park Dockside/Surfside will be your cheapest choose.
Have a great trip.
Any of the hotels onsite. will be a good choice.

 

[wmoon]

Anyone can book the accessible rooms. It's just bad form to book accessible room you don't need when the equivalent room type for non-accessible room type is available. Like if you walk into a restroom, and the 2 non-accessible stalls are in use... you can use the accessible stall at that point and not feel bad about it.

I suspect you have APs? I would book whatever you're comfortable with, then recheck as AP rates come out & possibly rebook at AP rate (possibly a split stay?). If Aventura standard rooms are sold out for stay more/save more rates already for your dates, it's unlikely that an AP rate will cover your whole dates, but it might do a nice drop for a split stay. Or make Dockside even more appealing pricewise.

That’s what I thought with the accessible rooms so would feel more comfortable with the deluxe room.

Yep we have annual passes so that’s a good shout. The rates I’ve found are cheaper through a UK company I’ve used before than direct but there is no fee to cancel so can keep an out.

Just to decide if we secure Aventura now with the likelihood it would be easier to change to Dockside than vice versa.

Don’t think the conference crowd would really bother us.

Thank you.

Between Dockside and Aventura I would go with Aventura. Dockside is great but at Aventura you can pool hop to Sapphire Falls and it gives you the option of using Sapphire Falls’ boat to the parks or an easy walk (it’s a bit of a walk but Feb weather shouldn’t be too hot, so it should be fine)
With that said if Aventura only has deluxe rooms have you tried across the street from them at Cabana Bay? Also a great choice.
If you don’t mind taking a bus to the park Dockside/Surfside will be your cheapest choose.
Have a great trip.
Any of the hotels onsite. will be a good choice.

I’m not sure we’d take advantage of the pool hopping but the location would definitely suit us better I think.

Not a fan of Cabana Bay, shame as it looked good but felt grubby and tired when we stayed.

Thanks. It’s quite exciting planning an adult only trip for once.

 

[wdwfan51]

Aventura has the advantage of a rooftop bar too. We aren’t big drinkers but we did go up to check it out and it seemed nice. Would be nice to have a bite to eat and a drink there while enjoying the views. We also really enjoyed the small footprint of the building. So easy to get around. No long halls. Everything is close by. Plus we liked the Urban Pantry (food court) a bit better than Surfside/Docksides.

 

[wabbott]

Have not stayed at Dockside, but have stayed @ Adventura earlier this year. We thought that the boat access would be more convenient than the bus ride. However, looking at a map, the walk from Adventura to the boat dock located at Saphire Falls is about the same distance as the walk from the bus stops to the parks entrances at CityWalk.

Via bus, you disembark and go up an escalator to a corridor with a moving sidewalk, then into the CityWalk area. Via the launches, you will recall you have to climb a set of stairs to get to CityWalk

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Via bus, you disembark and go up an escalator to a corridor with a moving sidewalk, then into the CityWalk area.

But more importantly, you have to go through the main security hub.

 

[wabbott]

But more importantly, you have to go through the main security hub.

Correct. If you go via launch, you are scanned when you board.

 

[wdwfan51]

Aventura seems more adult oriented. Definitely less families with children staying there if that’s what you are looking for. My husband says the hotel reminds him of the Woody Allen movie “Sleeper”. (A bit weird). There is even a small robot wheeling around making deliveries or engaging with people. It will tell you corny jokes if prompted. Enjoy yourselves with whichever you pick.

 

[wdwfan51]

You could also do a few days at Aventura and then transfer to Dockside for the rest of your stay to save some $$$. You would get the best of both then.

 

[wmoon]

Thank you both so much for helping out with the decision.

Spoken to my friend and we’ve just booked the deluxe room at Aventura for the week.

There was too many advantages staying here: compact hotel, rooftop bar, food court, being next door to Sapphire with the boats, Amatista breakfast, strongwater and being able to walk to the parks.

Sure we would have enjoyed Dockside but I might have had a bit of regret.

 

[tony67]

Thank you both so much for helping out with the decision.

Spoken to my friend and we’ve just booked the deluxe room at Aventura for the week.

There was too many advantages staying here: compact hotel, rooftop bar, food court, being next door to Sapphire with the boats, Amatista breakfast, strongwater and being able to walk to the parks.

Sure we would have enjoyed Dockside but I might have had a bit of regret.

Its always a tough choice.

Dockside is $50 a night cheaper that is quite a bit for a long stay - especially on a solo trip.
Dockside is really big so it can be a long walk back to your room - and its a long walk back to the lobby if you need something.
It can be packed with tour groups. Always a lot of high school bands, cheerleaders etc..
The elevators can be packed.
Still I really like Dockside.

Aventura has a lot of pluses - its very nice to be able to bus, walk or take the boat.
Its smaller\taller so going back and forth to the lobby is not a problem.
Easy access to Strongwater and RP.
The food court at Aventura is much nicer.
You have access to the pools at SF and RP.
I find the rooftop bar to be very disappointing - the lobby bar is usually better - Ill give it a try again on my next stay - maybe they have fixed it.