Best conceirge level resort

[JimB.]

After staying @ AKL, CR & Poly, I have decided that, although they are all very nice, each in their own way due to different location, theming, etc., etc. I don't think that ANY of them are worth the extra $$$$.

 

[Tess]

Polynesian. . .

As you can see, you'll get quite a few differing opinions, but this is definitely our favorite of them all.

 

[mikoiv]

I would choose Beach Club first, Poly real close second especially with MK direct view.

 

[jfoofj]

Truthfully, I would LOVE to stay in each and every resort. My mom is the one with the picky preferences and thinks the older resorts are dated. She likes CL for the amenities, and I have always wanted to try it so we figured we would this trip. Frankly, I would be happy anywhere on property except maybe the All Stars but that is because of the bus issues I always hear about from them. I sent her some links w/ pictures of the different resorts and the rooms and now she likes the Poly, but still doesn't like the Contemporary. Someday I hope to have stayed in each and everyone so I can make my opinions first hand!

As for my stepson, I would take him in a heartbeat, but no, he won't be coming on this trip. His mom refuses to let us take him out of school (which is why we just went in August instead of December this year as we had previously booked). I completely understand and respect her reasoning, but I am ok with taking my son out of school for family vacations. My stepson is going with his mom, stepdad, and a bunch of extended family during the school's April vacation week this spring, which is why I am going with my mom and son in late April/early May (we are aiming for lower crowds). I want the two trips timed close together so they both are getting a Disney trip in the same time frame. I know we won't always be able to may things even or fair when the kids go between different houses, but my son was heartbroken that my stepson was going again in the spring and he wasn't. I told him someday he would go with his dad, but they have very little babies at his dad's house and his dad said no Disney till the youngest is 5 and that is 4 years away. My stepson is aware of the trip and his take on it is that both he and my son are taking trips with their moms/nanas in April and he is ok with it.

Thanks again for all the info!

 

[Dicecatt]

Here are my thoughts on the club levels we've stayed:

BWI...just okay. Not bowled over. Our reception welcome was less than enthusiastic and put a damper on our stay, unfortunately. More "adult", anyway.

Beach Club...staying there in October, so far the concierge is EXCELLENT.

Yacht Club...very good, even sent us treats to recognize our anniversary (chocolate covered strawberries! Not an impressive lounge, view of the parking lot.

Contemporary...stayed 14th Floor Club, was absolutely amazingly wonderful. Don't know about the 12th floor though.

Wilderness Lodge...very happy, nice staff, loved looking down into the lobby while snacking.

Poly...our favorite, have stayed club level twice there. Love the staff, the food is the best we've ever tried anywhere, the location can't be beat (resort and club level building), the view is wonderful from the lounge. Hands down my favorite club level. Well, okay, unless you are two adults having a romantic weekend on the 14th floor of the Contemporary! But for travelers with kids, the Poly would be my choice.

 

[johnsonet]

I have stayed at every Deluxe at WDW except the YC and enjoyed every one. My favorites are AKL, Polynesian and GF. I just got back from a split stay between the 3 of them, all club level. All 3 CLs are great

Having said that, based on what you've said about your mom's taste/personality, I would say stay at the GF, whether club level or not. It's the "fanciest" and it is so convenient to dining, shopping, MK and different recreational activities. She'll undoubtedly be very happy there and so will you and your son.

Also, BWI CL is very nice, so you might consider that if club level is a must but GF is out of the budget.

Good luck.

 

[heazer]

All of them are nice, and you can find someone having an off day no matter where you stay. Everyone has great things to say about the staff on the concierge levels.

The experience that stands out the most in my mind was at the GF. We were staying there in a turret concierge room, and it was two nights free from the wedding department. We were never treated poorly, even though we hadn't "paid" for the luxury of the concierge level.

The GF lobby is great for people watching from upstairs. The live music drifts up so you can enjoy it from the lounge.

We needed a place to gather our immediate families the evening after our wedding and the GF concierge staff was more than nice about helping us out. They helped us find an off-site pizza delivery place, and when I asked about using the lower level lounge for us to gather at and eat since it was empty, they even left us drinks, cups, ice, plates, napkins, etc. They didn't treat our group of 15 like interlopers even though they weren't even staying at the GF, let alone the concierge level.

 

[livie1205]

Truthfully, I would LOVE to stay in each and every resort. My mom is the one with the picky preferences and thinks the older resorts are dated. She likes CL for the amenities, and I have always wanted to try it so we figured we would this trip. Frankly, I would be happy anywhere on property except maybe the All Stars but that is because of the bus issues I always hear about from them. I sent her some links w/ pictures of the different resorts and the rooms and now she likes the Poly, but still doesn't like the Contemporary. Someday I hope to have stayed in each and everyone so I can make my opinions first hand!

As for my stepson, I would take him in a heartbeat, but no, he won't be coming on this trip. His mom refuses to let us take him out of school (which is why we just went in August instead of December this year as we had previously booked). I completely understand and respect her reasoning, but I am ok with taking my son out of school for family vacations. My stepson is going with his mom, stepdad, and a bunch of extended family during the school's April vacation week this spring, which is why I am going with my mom and son in late April/early May (we are aiming for lower crowds). I want the two trips timed close together so they both are getting a Disney trip in the same time frame. I know we won't always be able to may things even or fair when the kids go between different houses, but my son was heartbroken that my stepson was going again in the spring and he wasn't. I told him someday he would go with his dad, but they have very little babies at his dad's house and his dad said no Disney till the youngest is 5 and that is 4 years away. My stepson is aware of the trip and his take on it is that both he and my son are taking trips with their moms/nanas in April and he is ok with it.

Thanks again for all the info!

I feel your pain...we have been dealing with this for years but I try not to feel like I have to "make up" something to the kids when one of them goes with their other parent to do something ...we would be going broke with all the making up lol but you are taking him during the same time and that is a good time to doing it so it doesnt really seem like you are trying to make up for something....it is a PITA lol we have a your,mine and ours so it gets hectic around here and sometimes the other parents just dont want to give up the time...this year we planned a trip to wdw a week before christmas (because it is not our year to have them for christmas) and let them know the dates...well of course dss mom chimes in "well i dont know I would miss 2 of my days!" so we said ok then YOU tell him you dont want him to go (we gave her a week for her vacation already) .....so he WILL BE GOING lol she had no reason except to try to be a pain to not let him go so we put it on her...you will need alot of support dealing with this through the years...

 

[mf1973]

I would have to say the Poly. The dis podcast recently had a review of the Poly and they stayed in concierge....listen to that, it was very informative.

My family and I stayed in Poly Concierge in February. And it was an incredible experience. The concierge room is wonderful, roomy, floor to ceiling glass, superb view of Cinderella's castle. If you have small kids, 0 - 5 or so, its great because of the snacks, TV, area to move around etc.

You can pretty much make at lest two meals a day from concierge, which again is convenient when you have small children.

I think the Poly concierge is the only concierge (except maybe for GF) that has its own kitchen, so they don't need to 'import' food from the hotel restaurants. The food was overall, pretty good.

Breakfast, basic cold cereal, oatmeal, juices, fresh fruit, croissants, etc. Basic continental breakfast.

Lunch wasn't that great, chips, pretzels, soda, not too much. I can't remember lunch too much because that was the meal we usually had in the park. But I don't believe there is much of a lunch spread.

Dinner, we have chicken wings, sushi (california rolls), crudite, noodle bowls, pbj sandwichs. Really enough to make a small dinner out of.

Soda throughout the day. I think beer and wine at night as well.

If the difference is only $120/night or so, and you can afford it, I would defenitely stay there.

 

[nascargirl]

My vote is for the BWI. We usually stay 3x a year and have been staying CL since 2006. The cast members up in the Innkeepers Lounge are the best around. We have stayed CL at the BC but found the staff not to be very friendly. The staff at the BWI have become part of our family and we have become part of their family. I have another trip planned in 1 month with my new Disney buddy as my husband will be working. Then he and I will return to the BWI in January.

 

[jfoofj]

SO, my stepson's mom has changed her April vacation plans from a Disney trip to a cruise (not a Disney cruise, a Carnival one). This changes things a bit for us with the trip my mom and I planned to take my son on. I talked to my stepson's mom, and told her about how I was going to take my son to Disney late April, early May since stepson was going school vacation week with them... the best laid plans....

Anyhow, after us agreeing to change our dates a little so that only three days of school would be missed, my stepson's mom agreed to let us take my stepson with us. We are going to go for a shorter time period, and not stay CL to accomodate for the added expense of another person going on the trip, but I am so happy he can come now!

So, back to the drawing board. I am thinking Boardwalk Inn, standard room and who knows, maybe we will get upgraded to CL when we get there. I really want to stay in an Epcot resort this time. I am waiting till Southwest does their airfare till I book the trip, and I am seriously hoping for an AP discount too.... but I don't think they come out till January or so, so I will book a room once I get my airfare and hope for the best!