Help me choose a deluxe resort

TsLoveMickey · Jul 27, 2015

Hi, wondering if I can get some input on these options that are available for my dates/budget. We are looking at early December of this year. I heard WL is the best for Christmas decorations, but not sure I want to deal with the construction, and we just stayed at VWL in April. So here's what I have on the table:

-- one bedroom standard view at AKV for five nights
-- standard view at AKL for five or six nights
-- BW standard view five nights
-- Poly standard view five nights
-- split stay, two nights at GF standard view and three nights AKL standard view

Thanks!

TsLoveMickey · Jul 27, 2015

We are a family of four (5 yr old and 1 yr old kids). Celebrating 10th wedding anniversary. Wondering what the condition of these rooms is like, worth the splurge? Thanks.

got15 · Jul 27, 2015

Split stay!! The GF is the best!!

kyleandconnorsmom · Jul 27, 2015

I would always do more nights if you can, so if staying at AKL means you can do 6 nights, I would go with that. We just stayed there last month and we loved it. There is so much to do there, our room was in great shape, we had great luck with transportation, and the resort is absolutely beautiful. If you end up doing 5 nights, I'd probably do Poly. I've never stayed there, but it's next on my to-do list.

Aurora0427 · Jul 28, 2015

TsLoveMickey said:
Hi, wondering if I can get some input on these options that are available for my dates/budget. We are looking at early December of this year. I heard WL is the best for Christmas decorations, but not sure I want to deal with the construction, and we just stayed at VWL in April. So here's what I have on the table:

-- one bedroom standard view at AKV for five nights
-- standard view at AKL for five or six nights
-- BW standard view five nights
-- Poly standard view five nights
-- split stay, two nights at GF standard view and three nights AKL standard view

Thanks!

I'd do the split stay. We stayed at the GF for Christmas last year and it was incredible. We felt totally immersed in the holidays. They even have the individual buildings decorated with trees, holiday music, and that Christmas smell. The lobby is fabulous, with a live band playing Christmas carols, the gingerbread house, the decorations.... Truly breathtaking. Plus you can see Cinderella castle lit up at night! I've heard AKL is beautiful at Christmas too!

We didn't feel like the Poly was very "Christmassy" so for the holidays it would be my last choice.

GF rooms were refurbished in 2014. A hard goods refurb, so new everything.

Aurora0427 · Jul 28, 2015

If you do this split stay, I'd start at AKL and finish at the GF.

TsLoveMickey · Jul 28, 2015

This is great feedback -- exactly what I was looking for! Thanks!

Do you think a split stay would be too cumbersome with two small kids? Or is it worth the trouble to stay at GF for a couple nights? We'd be using the resort pack n play and renting a stroller that we'd take with us, so we won't have too much gear that needs to be moved.

Aurora0427 · Jul 28, 2015

TsLoveMickey said:
This is great feedback -- exactly what I was looking for! Thanks!

Do you think a split stay would be too cumbersome with two small kids? Or is it worth the trouble to stay at GF for a couple nights? We'd be using the resort pack n play and renting a stroller that we'd take with us, so we won't have too much gear that needs to be moved.

Disney will move your luggage for you and you can head to the parks, or you take a cab and move it yourself. I think given that it's your 10th anniversary and the holidays, two nights at the Grand is worth it. Just make sure you build in some time to actually enjoy the resort. The official GF thread has really great posters and tons of info, so I'd check out that thread.

Babsy · Jul 28, 2015

I am a huge fan of split stays!! I try to do one every trip! However, for a 5 day trip, with two small kids in particular, I would stay put. You need a minimum of three nights per resort to do it justice, IMO. Out of your options, I would choose 5 nights at the Poly. The nice thing about standard view at the Poly right now is that standard rooms won't look toward the east pool and the construction that may still be happening there during your visit. If the construction is a deal breaker for you, then I would choose the BW standard view. The BW standard rooms are really nice and quiet, some with partial views of the Epcot fireworks. AKL is my third choice with pool view (if possible, not much more than SV) for 5 or 6 nights.

Aurora0427 · Jul 28, 2015

Babsy said:
I am a huge fan of split stays!! I try to do one every trip! However, for a 5 day trip, with two small kids in particular, I would stay put. You need a minimum of three nights per resort to do it justice, IMO. Out of your options, I would choose 5 nights at the Poly. The nice thing about standard view at the Poly right now is that standard rooms won't look toward the east pool and the construction that may still be happening there during your visit. If the construction is a deal breaker for you, then I would choose the BW standard view. The BW standard rooms are really nice and quiet, some with partial views of the Epcot fireworks. AKL is my third choice with pool view (if possible, not much more than SV) for 5 or 6 nights.

Are you sure they're not using rooms facing the construction? People were posting photos on another site with views of construction from their rooms, although it could've been other Poly construction- not the pool.

LisaCM614 · Jul 28, 2015

TsLoveMickey said:
Hi, wondering if I can get some input on these options that are available for my dates/budget. We are looking at early December of this year. I heard WL is the best for Christmas decorations, but not sure I want to deal with the construction, and we just stayed at VWL in April. So here's what I have on the table:

-- one bedroom standard view at AKV for five nights
-- standard view at AKL for five or six nights
-- BW standard view five nights
-- Poly standard view five nights
-- split stay, two nights at GF standard view and three nights AKL standard view

Thanks!

While I agree with the other folks that an anniversary stay at the GF at Christmas time sounds absolutely lovely - the 3 nights at AKL with a stroller or two does not sound very appealing to me. As someone who has travelled with multiple small children my choices tend to lean towards where it is easiest for us to get around. Depending on your park plans I'd pick Boardwalk or Polynesian. The Polynesian means you can easily roll the stroller onto the monorail and the Boardwalk means you can walk into Epcot and walk or boat over to DHS. The Friendship Boat allows you to just roll the stroller on as well. Makes life so much easier with sleeping littles! At the Poly you'll be very close to the GF to tour and see the Gingerbread house. The Boardwalk is very pretty at Christmas and you can easily take a stroll over to Y/B to look at their decor as well.

Sarah22 · Jul 28, 2015

Do the split stay. Then you can experience the best of 2 worlds!! We are doing a split stay in September between poly and GF. So excited!!

toodycat · Jul 28, 2015

You've picked my two favorite resorts with your split stay option. GF and AKL are two totally different, but very wonderful and special resorts. I would definitely choose that option, but end at the GF, so you can watch Wishes from the GF dock on your final night.

buzznina · Jul 28, 2015

For split stays it depends on how much stuff you pack and if you like unpacking everything and settling in your room. Yes WDW will move your luggage for you BUT you still have to take the time to pack everything back up. We drive all the time so we take A LOT of stuff and it was a pain for us to re-pack. Even with that said, I always pick more days than less

sharadoc · Jul 28, 2015

For me, split stays are very stressful and not worth the effort for less than 4 days at each resort. Is this your first time at WDW? If so, then you need to relax, take your time and get to know it. Spending a day moving from one resort to another is wasting precious time. I vote Poly. You'll have the monorail, the ability to go out to the beach for Wishes and the Electrical Water Pageant, and a beautiful resort.

TsLoveMickey · Jul 28, 2015

We just did five nights in April, and a long weekend in Sept 2013, so I feel like this would be a slower-paced trip.

Maybe three nights at AKL and three nights at GF...

Lalalyn · Jul 28, 2015

I vote against a split stay as well. We almost did one last year, but I was worried what would happen to our rest time on the day of the split. We always go back to the hotel in the afternoons to rest. And you never know when you will get to check into the second hotel. Plus, with kids you have so . . much . . stuff. It'll take time one morning to pack up and all of that. Go for convenience for all five nights -- Poly for five! We stayed there on our last visit and it was so convenient for us and we have three kids -- a five year old and twin two year olds.

Babsy · Jul 28, 2015

Aurora0427 said:
Are you sure they're not using rooms facing the construction? People were posting photos on another site with views of construction from their rooms, although it could've been other Poly construction- not the pool.

I expect that they ARE using rooms facing construction. However, those are currently garden view rooms, not standard view rooms. Unless they change the category of the rooms, standard view would face away from the construction (toward parking lot or monorail).

Babsy · Jul 28, 2015

TsLoveMickey said:
We just did five nights in April, and a long weekend in Sept 2013, so I feel like this would be a slower-paced trip.

Maybe three nights at AKL and three nights at GF...

OK, with this extra day, I would go this way. Three days each will do it. I agree with others to do GF last.

Enjoy!

Aurora0427 · Jul 28, 2015

Babsy said:
I expect that they ARE using rooms facing construction. However, those are currently garden view rooms, not standard view rooms. Unless they change the category of the rooms, standard view would face away from the construction (toward parking lot or monorail).

Got it. DUH! Thank you! Cannot wait for all of the construction to be finished!

Help me choose a deluxe resort

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