Advice please, choosing a resort!

[4EverFigment]

Hi all. In the fall, I'm going to (hopefully) get the chance to take my best friend of twenty-three years and her husband on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. I'm hoping to take them to WDW for five days and then on the three-night cruise. My nine year old son will come too, so there will be 3 adults and one kid.

I am considering the Polynesian in the deluxe category, and have looked at the Coronado in the moderates. I've stayed in the value All Star Movies, and All Star Sports previously and while I wouldn't have a problem staying there again, I really want to give my friends a very special experience.

This trip will be booked on relatively short notice, as I won't be able to make the reservations until they get their passports, but we're looking at later October with the Oct 23rd sailing. I'm confident that I'll be able to get accomodations at shorter notice but I do understand I'll need to be very flexible.

With the understanding that I'm paying for the whole trip and will have to make some trade offs, what do you all suggest for which resort to choose? We're going to take advantage of EMH's to avoid crowds as much as we can and that makes the Poly look really good as it's on the monorail line. But, if we stay at a moderate, that's more money to spend on maybe going to Discovery Cove.

With my experience with the parks, I know I can guide us through HS and AK efficiently so staying close to them isn't a priority. (By the way it's weird for me to type HS and not MGM!)

The only absolute I have is, we're staying on-site, and we need three double beds.

Thanks in advance for all your great advice!!

 

[mmmears]

For a once-in-a-lifetime trip, I would choose the Poly (or CR or GF) if price is ok with you. It really feels magical when you stay in the MK area on the monorail! Plus, you would save time getting to/from the parks.

 

[Disney Doll]

I don't think there's any resort that has 3 double beds in one room, so you'd be lookig at booking 2 rooms.
Personally, I think CSR is a beautiful resort, can be very romantic (for your friends if they want a nice evening stroll).

 

[KatMark]

I would choose the Coronado (but then again, it is my favorite resort at Disney with Poly second). The Coronado is the closest to a deluxe out of all of the moderates in my opinion...with a spa, salon, fitness center, largest hot tub, etc. It also has a great pool/slide for your 9 year old son, as well as the quiet pools for the adults. The resort is beautiful during the day and breathtaking at night. You can't go wrong with either, but you could save the money staying at Coronado for that something extra on the cruise as you mentioned.




****Hopefully getting out the broom tomorrow for the sweep of the White Sox!

 

[Shmily1]

I know your BFF will be so excited no matter where you are staying, but I have a few options that sound like they may work great for your group.

First, BC is right beside Epcot and is an awesome deluxe resort. The rooms have two queen beds and a daybed (which would probably work great for your DS). The daybeds are pretty big considering my DS17, who is 6'2" slept on one for a week and loved it!!! The good points about BC is the closeness to Epcot and HS, SAB, Cape May Cafe breakfast (yum!!!), and the many other restaurants and activities (boat and surry rentals) that are really close by.

If you were going to pick a moderate resort, I would pick POR. POR is a very relaxing resort and you have the option of staying in the mansions (4 to a room) or the AB section (5 to a room). POR has many activities such as fishing, Ole Man's Island pool area, boat rentals, surry rentals, boat ride to DTD, as well as a food court and Boatwrights restaurant (which has banana stuffed french toast for breakfast!!). DH said this is his favorite resort at WDW and he will be glad to go whenever we are going to be staying there!!! He loves to stay by the river in the mansions section. We enjoyed POR more than CS and POFQ.

No matter what you choose, they will love it!!!

 

[spaceace510]

If you really want to make it once in a lifetime i would really do a monorail resort, CR, GF, or POLY. And then if they love MK an MK view room @ CR would be one of the most magical things ever

 

[ms mouse]

I would stay at a moderate and have two rooms (and more importantly two bathrooms). We love POFQ

 

[JeanneLB]

In response to your question about on property or a pool house, it has been our experience in the past when our married children and grandkids come, we always rent a pool house. We really love being together, eating in sometimes and saving some money (especially breakfast), swimming in the large private pool, and being able to do our laundry is a godsent!!! But this year, my husband and I are coming by ourseves (1st time) and we are staying on property 1st week in sept. at Port Orleans Riverside for our 36 anniversary! I have never stayed on property before, and we are really excited! But I also love staying in those grand houses with my whole family. They probably wouldn't be able to go otherwise. We usually go every other year and always stay in a pool house. Do your homework, though. All houses are not the same. I find Vacation Rentals By Owners (VRBO) one of the best web sites to search for rentals. Make sure your as close to Disney as possible so you can make use of your pool in the afternoons. We just stayed in a house in Acadia Estates last fall. It was 5 minutes to Disney!! and wonderful. It had it's own club house with a ginormous pool !!!! Sweeet So, what ever decision you make, good luck!!! and please email me with any questions about off property houses and I will try to help!!!! Jeanne Baker

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Don't forget, if you have AAA ask about AAA rates when you call CRO to inquire about dates and availability

Remember EMH can mean a much busier park that day -- we now visit a park the day after EMH when the crowds are at another park! We do enjoy EMH mornings, esp at MK and the Studios, but we leave when the park gets busy

Sounds like a wonderful and very special trip. I did the ame thing with dear friends several yrs ago - we stayed at the Poly (which has 2 queens and a daybed - some buildings have larger rooms too), did the Hoop-Dee-Doo and enjoyed some other special things as well. It truly was the trip of a lifetime and we have treasured memories as I am sure you will.

Have fun planning!!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

And then if they love MK an MK view room @ CR would be one of the most magical things ever

I agree 100% with this.