What is best Disney Resort to stay at?

I tend to always stay on Disney property and have stayed in a handful of different resorts, both "moderate" and "deluxe". I've never stayed in the value resorts because, frankly, they look nice but aren't anything better than a Disney-fied Hotel 6 or some other cheap place.

But as far as the "deluxe" level resorts are concerned, I have stayed in the Polynesian Resort (in the Magic Kingdom area) twice, and the Wilderness Lodge (also in Magic Kingdom area) twice, and in the Boardwalk Villas (in the Epcot/Hollywood Studios vicinity) just once.

The favorite for my wife and I is the Polynesian. Not only is it a beautiful resort and located near our favorite of the Disney World theme parks, but it also has the monorail right there at hotel. It's one of 3 deluxe resorts that lies on the monorail line. It has a gorgeous lobby, a true tropical atmosphere to it, and some very good restaurants (notably 'Ohana and the quick-service Capt. Cook's).

Second favorite, so far, is the Wilderness Lodge. Nestled away within the trees surrounding Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon, the Wilderness Lodge has captured the spirit and feel of the Pacific Northwest log cabins. It has a monsterously large lobby, is impeccably decorated, and also has some great eating places (Whispering Canyon Cafe and the quick-service Roaring Forks). It's not on the monorail line, but you can take a ferry to the Magic Kingdom, or a bus to it or to any other place on Disney property.

Third favorite of the deluxe places was the Boardwalk Villas. While it's certainly a beautiful and fun area to stay in, it was too far from the Magic Kingdom for our tastes. We had 8 people staying in a 2-bedroom villa and we had a great time. There was plenty of room, we had a good view of the pool area, and you could see over into Epcot from the Boardwalk. The area was just like you'd imagine a boardwalk to be. The wooden-planked walkways, restaurants and general stores from one end to the other. You could take a motor launch across the lagoon to the Yacht & Beach Club or to Epcot or to Disney's Hollywood Studios, or you could take a bus, or you could walk the distinct paths to each park as well.

For the "moderate" level resort, we chose the Caribbean Beach Resort (which we stayed at in January 09). We were very much less than impressed. Although kept clean and beautiful on the outside, the rooms were your basic run-of-the-mill Holiday Inn type rooms, with access to them from the outside rather than going into a building, down a corridor and to your room from there. That made some in our party feel less secure. The beds were too small, the bathroom was ridiculously small, and the decor seemed like a half-hearted effort at best. The walk to the main food court/shopping area was quite far. Some in our party also had encountered some rude employees in the various food court locations.

- The verdict? Basically, if you can afford a stay in the deluxe resorts, go for it. I'd definitely choose the Polynesian again. (The Grand Floridian looks very nice, but it's not my taste. I can't wait to try a stay in the Contemporary in a tower room overlooking the Magic Kingdom sometime.)

Hi!

I have stayed at the Wilderness Lodge, The Pop Century, All Star Movies and the Disney Institute which is now Coronado Springs. Is money a factor? If it is not, I absolutely love the Wilderness Lodge, it is my absolute favorite. It is modeled after the great lodges of the national parks (Yosemite, Yellowstone). The pool is my favorite. The water starts in the lobby and trickles down to the main swimming area which has a water slide and all types of other fun stuff. If price is a factor, I would stay at the Pop Century. It is the largest of the properties and has the most rooms. The good thing about that is that it also has the most buses going to and from the resort. I have heard that the Contemporary Resort is also fun, but it is OLD. The good thing though is that the monorail goes through the resort so it is very easy to go to Epcot and the Magic Kingdom. The Coronado Springs Resort I hear is now much nicer than the Disney Institute was. It was nice to have the kitchen in the room though, that brought down costs but I don't know if that is still the case.

My husband and I are going on our honeymoon the first week of May. We are staying at the Pop Century because I couldn't justify spending more money when you mostly just rest at the hotel, however, the pools are nothing special. We did pay a few extra dollars a night to have a room closer to the pools and the main lobby/cafeteria area.

Good luck and happy planning!

Best Disney Resort

Best for each person would be defined by what you are looking for. I have stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter, Caribbean Beach and Animal Kingdom Lodge. I have visited others but can't formulate an accurate opinion by a walk through.

For our part - hands down - Animal Kingdom Lodge. Savannah view is worth the $ to wake up, sit on you balcony and watch the animals. The fencing is amazing - you barely realize it's there, you half expect a giraffe to walk up to you. The quick service restaurant is very good, the pool is zero entry and wonderful, Boma is the best breakfast anywhere on property and Jiko is a wonderful experience restaurant. The gift shop features african specialty. The moment you enter the lobby (on the third floor actually in the rear) you are taken to another country. It's beautiful. There is a fire pit area and viewing areas just to the rear where you can walk out in a rock image. The rooms are a bit dark - but it is part of the theme with your mosquito netting at the head of your bed. We are staying at CBR again this year - but if budget were no issue we would be back at AKL. Bus service is better than most as AKL does not share with other resorts. Biggest down side is that your room can be a nice walk from the lobby - but again many resorts are this way, at least here on a rainy day you are inside.

Can you tell - I really like the place?

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RE:

What is best Disney Resort to stay at?

If you have stayed on Disney property, what resorts do you think are the best? Or if you have visited, which do you remember the most? Tell me everything!

The Only Two I Have Ever Stayed At Were The Saratoga Springs And The Disney Institute Before It Closed. I Suggest The Saratoga Springs Though. It Was A Great Resort.

Well which Disney park are you asking about? At Disneyland park I have stayed at all 3. I didn't care for the Grand Californian. I felt it was to "adult" for my son who was 3 at the time. The Disneyland Hotel is nice, if you stay in the main tower. The other towers are just terrible. The weather stripping on the windows is non-existent, and we were there in the winter. So half of the room was freezing. We both liked the Paradise Pier resort. My son was 4, and said he loved it.

Now at DisneyWorld we stayed at the Contemporary Resort when we went for his bday last december. I didn't care for it. It is so noisy because its just open. The doors to the rooms are not down hallways, so you hear everything from the fourth floor where Chef's Mickey's is. One morning, I know I felt the monorail going through also. We are going back in August and staying at the Animal Kingdom lodge this time around.

i think the beach and yacht clubs are the best. They have a sand bottomed pool in that's huge, a nice water slide with the whole pirate ship theme, a real beach right next to a lake, also really good ice cream you can eat right by the pool as well as French fries and burgers and chicken. Also they have bike riding along the broad walk, and on the other side of the broad walk where the broad walk hotel is they have lots of nice night time activities such as magic shows and games ETC. The bike riding is really hard and when we did it we could not pedal up the entire bridge without help, but those are memories you dont forget. Also during the summer every friday they have movies by the beach in which they get lots of beach chairs, a huge projector screen, and once the sun sets at about 9 they start the movie. Its really nice, and its not too warm. It was actually cold when we were therr becuase of tropcial storm fay keeping temperatures in the upper 60s at our entire stay. Its was so humid during that storm my camera momenterally shut down, but during floridas normal weather it would probably be about 75 degrees along the beach at that time.

Also they have new villas built within the last 5 or 6 years and the hotel is walking distance from epcot. Or you can take a boat to disney hollywood studios (formerly called mgm studios).

The best place to be though is the concerge level at the beach club. They have breakfast (never woke up early enough for that), lunch, and dinner. The food is all included and its right next to the elevator so you can take it as you go, or you can get one of i think 12 hot beverages which came in handy when we went. all you have to do is push 1 button and it delivers any drink available in about 3 seconds.

I have only stayed at All Star Music and the Contemporary, but have visit the Polynesian, Grand Floridian and Animal Kingdom Lodge.

If money wasn't an issue I would love to stay at either Animal Kingdom Lodge or The Polynesian. Grand Fl was too stuffy for me, and the Contemporary was just OK. Nothing about it really justified the price difference. However we just spend way too much time in the parks to justify spending a lot of $$ on a room. I would rather put that money toward more days, souvenirs or good food.

On our next trip we will probably stay at one of the moderates, as we qualify for the 40% military special. If we don't' stay at a mod, we will stay at Shades of Green, which is the military hotel on WDW property.

Shades of Green, Grand Floridian, Polynesian Resort