Thanks to everyone for all your input!
Now out of all the resorts you have listed, I have only stayed at one of them but I LOVED IT. Marc & I stayed at Wilderness Lodge and we adored it. It is so close to MK and the other deluxe hotels so you have so many dining options. I know you said you thought the room was on the dark side and I thought that would be a problem but it's not depressing or anything. We enjoyed it. It wasn't too dark for us. I loved being able to take the boat to MK, it was so relaxing after a day at the parks. Plus you can request turn down service there and that always makes you feel more special.
Good to hear that someone was feeling the same about the WL rooms and that it was not a problem! Taking a boat really is wonderful. I enjoyed it a lot when we stayed at the Poly!
Hi Magdalene!
I had to laugh at your duvet comment and observation!
We have a duvet/comforter on our bed and luckily my DH loves it! Our winter duvet was of course made in Germany and is flannel and just heavenly. I got our summer one at IKEA not too long ago. I miss IKEA in Fuerth!
To be honest, there are always certain things that one does not understand about foreign cultures. The lack of duvets is one thing - as is the English sink which has seperate taps for hot and cold water!
This is what I am talking about:
You probably have not yet seen the new IKEA in Fürth? They moved to the other side of the street a few years ago and this is now one of the largest IKEAs I know!
From your list, I've only stayed at Coronado. I have to say that I really enjoyed it. Before the rehab, the style of the rooms did not appeal to me. The new design felt very fresh and more modern. I didn't find the walk to the main building to be very long at all (I live in the city and do not drive a car, so maybe I'm not your typical person) and the buses were great.
As far as cons, go, I found that I missed being within walking distance of a park (last trip I stayed at Dolphin and walked to EPCOT). And, housekeeping had some issues. The room was tidied, but needed a vacuum and the bathroom floor a really good scrub. I know she sort of cleaned the tub, because when I stepped into it, I got a foot full of cleaning powder!
Those issues aside, I would definitely stay there again.
Thank you very much for your comment, it was very helpful. Katharina and I live in a city, too. We actually share a car which mainly sits in its garage. Our main methods of transport are foot, bike and public transport. So I guess we would have a very similar perspective on the walking issue.
Unfortunately those resorts from which you can walk to a park are not really in our price range. But this is one of the things we really enjoy about the layout of DLRP: you can actually easily walk to both parks there from the hotels.
Oh boy. I'm going to be no help. I'm a deluxe girl all the way so I'd say AKL or WL. But honestly no matter what you pick will be fantastic! You can't really go wrong!
I guess I am bit of a deluxe girl myself...
Just thought I'd had some comments on POFQ, since it's my favorite. It does share buses with POR, but I've never had any problem with them while I was there. Since POFQ is the first bus stop we always had a seat, and many times the buses didn't even stop at POR.
It is wonderfully quiet, and even the pool area never got too loud. If your looking for some quiet moments near the pool, there are some peaceful nooks around where you can be out of the way. The table service is missed, but it's only a nice walk to POR for their restaurant or a nice boat ride over to DTD.
I absolutely love it there.
POFQ really sounds wonderful when you write about it, I know that you find it difficult not to stay there in December!
The more we look into it, the more it appeals to us. I am just not so sure about the AC units. I remember when I stayed at Riverside, I found them rather noisy. I really prefer the internal AC system AKL has.
It's been years since we've stayed, but we found this to be true when we were there, too!
POFQ really looks very peaceful!
Out of the resorts you've listed, AKL for a deluxe would be our choice (we plan to stay there next year); we've no desire to stay at the WL--we just don't like the log cabin/woodsy/pine tree theme (and the pool is very small). For a moderate our one and only choice is the Coronado (CSR); we've stayed seven times and were supposed to be there for stay eight in September until we had to cancel; the POFQ would be our second choice if the CSR is not available; we don't care for the CBR at all--the whole theme turns us off--especially the rooms and we don't like the food court at all.
Welcome! I am sorry that you had to cancel your trip! I guess you are right that besides buses, dining, housekeeping and such, it really comes down to which theme you really enjoy!
Hi Magdalene!! I'm signing on board to hear all about you and your sisters trip!!
I'm not a flier at all so anyone who has to get on a plane for 10 hours straight gets two thumbs up from me
I think you have chosen a great time of year, I went this last January and the weather was great, sunshine all the time, and even better the crowds were managable!
I'm like C I'm not going to be of any help mostly because I can't make any decisions myself LOL...I'm very wishy washy at times LOL!!! So I'm just going to sit back and see what you and your sisster decide~
Hi Jen, welcome to my PTR! I rather don't want to think about those 10 hours on the plane...