Choosing a Disney resort

AKLRULZ · Post by **AKLRULZ** » Oct Mon 10, 2005 7:21 am

So what is the most important factor in determining where you stay onsite - theme? Pools? Dining options? Location?

For use it's typically theme that draws us in first - one of the reasons we love AKL (and WL) so much!

Post by **spaulo** » Oct Mon 10, 2005 11:53 am

Well, here's the process my girlfriend and I went through...

Background... I've stayed at the BoardWalk, the Dolphin, the Beach Club and the Port Orleans Riverside... she's been once, stayed offsite like 15 years ago.

We first looked at price range to try to figure out which group of resorts we could stay at ... basically, the Non-Lodge Deluxes, the Lodge Deluxes/Moderates, or the Values... We figured we could stay at the middle group.

Our next decision-maker was theme. We compared the AK Lodge, the Wilderness Lodge, Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, and both Port Orleans resorts... She wanted to stay with me someplace I'd never been, so POR was out. We decided that if we were going to stay at AK Lodge, we really wanted Savannah view, and couldn't afford it this trip.

So two down, four to go... Of the last four, we really liked the theming at Coronado Springs and Port Orleans French Quarter, so we eliminated WL and CBR on theme... the final deciding factor?

The bus system from POR last year went I went, also stopped at POFQ and, I believe, one other resort (I want to say Old Key West?)... whereas Coronado Springs has a dedicated bus line. Sold.

So in summation, our thought process was Price, then Theme, then Location (transportation situation, technically). We're not big pool people, and dining options seem a little silly because we'll rarely be at the resort for meal times, and besides, you can go anywhere on property to eat!

If price is no object, our choice hands-down would be the Polynesian... we're both in love with the theme, and the location, on the monorail, is darn near impossible to beat on property (though the BW/YC/BC/S/D area between Epcot and Studios is great too).

swarlock · Post by **swarlock** » Oct Mon 10, 2005 8:23 pm

When mom and I stayed on the grounds at Disney World we went by the least amount of money we could spend staying in one for three days. We were in The Pop Century hotel and stayed in the 80's suite.

I originally wanted to stay at The Contemporary Hotel but it was too expensive.
I'll be working towards that goal at a future date.

Post by **js3901** » Oct Tue 11, 2005 12:09 am

I've never had the pleasure of staying on property before. So, in choosing the resort for our next trip, the plan is for on-site hotel. major factor in choosing which resort to stay at is price. We don't really care about dining options so much, as it's not much to travel from one restaurant to another. we won't even consider themeing as we plan to eventually stay at every hotel on property. location isn't a factor either, as transportation goes everywhere...

mjs805 · Post by **mjs805** » Oct Fri 14, 2005 6:43 pm

We are Vacation Club members, so our choices are limited. Our home resort is the Beach Club and that is where we stay most often. The big deciding factor for us is the pool. My sons spend hours in Stormalong Bay. I sometimes have to drag them out at 10PM, because we have an early day planned in the morning.

If we were not Vacation Club members, we would stay at the Polynesian. It is where my family stayed when I was a kid and it will always be my favorite because of location and theming. Being on the Monorail line is the best!

Mike

QuickGold · Post by **QuickGold** » Oct Mon 17, 2005 10:06 am

For me, the deciding factor is what make's the world go 'round - Money

MouseMan · Post by **MouseMan** » Oct Mon 17, 2005 10:50 am

Yeah, money plays a big part in our decisions. But length of time staying and number of people in the party drive our decisions too. Last time we would have stayed at an AS resort, but we had 5 in our group. AS only allows 4 per room so we went with the NO Riverside where we could have 5 instead of getting 2 AS rooms. This year we have 4 free flights with frequent flyer miles!!!! So we are off to the Wilderness Resort!!!

bigboodah71 · Post by **bigboodah71** » Oct Thu 20, 2005 1:10 am

Money versus Location for me. Prefer Monorail hotels, but slow times of the year I will stay at a Value resort and stay twice as long

also the Swan and Dolphin get my business next time because of the wicked discount for Nurses!!!!

gorilla · Post by **gorilla** » Nov Thu 17, 2005 1:04 pm

mjs805 wrote:We are Vacation Club members, so our choices are limited. ...
Mike

I don't understand this? We are DVC members. You can stay at so many places its crazy. What makes you think you are limited?

Mickeymac · Post by **Mickeymac** » Nov Thu 17, 2005 2:30 pm

We stay at whereever we haven't before, and whatever is available with the discounts we qualify for. Each resort is wonderful for so many reasons, I wish we could stay at all of them each time we go.

Esmeralda · Post by **Esmeralda** » Nov Sun 20, 2005 8:49 pm

For my family, one of the main factors is how close the hotel is to the Magic Kingdom. We like to avoid the difficult journey back to the hotel. First the boat or monorail, then the tram, then the car (if you drove) and the car ride back to the resort. I don't know how the buses work, but I much prefer taking a nice little boat right back to the Polynesian Resort. Room size is also important to fit us all in. The theming of all the hotels is marvelous and I do adore the tropical paradise of the Polynesian, especially in the middle of a cold Minnesota winter.

DanWilliams919 · Post by **DanWilliams919** » Dec Fri 02, 2005 1:01 am

I've had the opportunity to stay at several of the Downtown Disney Hotels (Wyndham, Best Western, Hotel Royal Plaza, and the Grosvenor) as well as two Disney-owned hotels: Carribean Beach and Coronodo Springs. Aside from a little disappointment with The Grosvenor's age showing, the service at the Downtown Disney area hotels is on par with that of the Disney-owned hotels.

There IS something special about being at a Disney hotel though and I'm anxious to stay at one of the hotels served by the monorail. Contemporary I understand offers exceptional views of Magic Kingdom fireworks.

I will say that on our last trip (Grosvenor) we noticed the attraction-side bus pick-up lines for the Disney-owned hotels was MUCH <<MUCH>> shorter than those for the Downtown Disney hotels -- time of day was not a factor. So if waiting for transport back to your hotel is an issue, consider staying at one of the Disney-owned hotels.

Price is almost always the determining factor and I always consider the fact that I'm at DisneyWorld to be in the parks. My time in the hotel room is to shower, change clothes, sleep, and put the feet up for awhile... then hit the parks again.

Don't miss Illuminations @ Epcot or Cirque Du Soleil's La Nouba @ Downtown Disney. And another thing, if you're planning to have a sit-down meal in the parks, plan ahead and make reservations. The reservations center can handle this for you prior to arrival, or see Guest Services at each park can when you arrive.

packwingfn · Post by **packwingfn** » Dec Sat 10, 2005 12:12 am

My decision is the Location of the Park, I love Dixie Landings (PORT) because it isn't too far from most things in the park.

I also love the atmosphere, I love Port Orleans because of the Atmosphere

bayouminnie · Post by **bayouminnie** » Dec Mon 12, 2005 7:33 am

We chose based on "kids or no kids". If we are taking our children (teens), then we chose somewhere where there's lots to do and transportation is easy and quick. We love Ft. Wilderness for its' transportation: buses at the loops and boats to Magic Kingdom on WDW grounds, and within FW you have the golf carts, bikes, canoes, walking, skating, etc. There's also so much to do on property. Kids also enjoy CB, AK, and POP. When it's my husband and me we chose more quiet spots like CB, POR, OKW. OF course the FWR also has the cabins tucked away that are quiet and wonderful! Theme is really important too, but price factors in too. I'd love to stay at the CR, but it's a bit pricey.

cranbiz · Post by **cranbiz** » Dec Wed 14, 2005 8:09 pm

Unfortunately, money is usually the deciding factor for most people, including me.

I have only stayed onsite 3 times, 1 at ASMu, one at CBR and 1 at AKL. AKL was just a fabulous resort, we stayed there last December as what will most likely be the last "full family" trip. WE got an email code and was able to upgrade from POP to AKL.

My wife and I stayed at CBR in June for our 25th anniversary, I got an AP rate there and it was also a great resort, we had a king room in Aruba, just a short walk to Olde Port Royal. We had a great time and would stay there again.

Stayed at ASMu Dec of 03, It was good, a good value, but noisy. If that was all I could afford onsite, it's fine. Besides, who spends a lot of time in the room.

We usually just stay in my FL house which is about 45 minutes from WDW. Don't get EMH's and have to drive home after a long day, but I own it, can get FL resident AP's and can visit often. (well as much as I have vacation time available)