Best Resort for Leisurely Vacation?

[mrsap]

Just something to consider is booking a Club Level room at any of those resorts. Our Disney trips always seem to be of a more relaxing vibe when we have the lounge to hang out in for food/drinks.

I second that statement and suggestion.

 

[VH103428]

We did a 10 day split stay last year and it was amazing. We rented points and stayed 2 nights at Wilderness Lodge, 3 nights at OKW, and then 5 nights at Polynesian.
The days we moved we called Bell Services and they transferred our luggage for us and headed to the parks. At each resort we had a "Resort Day" to just relax and enjoy the resorts.

 

[Tigger's ally]

If you liked TPV at CR then you might try BLT MK view for your days at MK area. I agree with others that a split stay makes sense. We are weirdo Disers as we are not fans of AKL (just didn't like the resort either time we stayed there, once on points and once at Jambo in room only). We can go there and view the animals anytime we like, just prefer not to stay there. We also don't mind the busses at all. We have fun with them. In your case, we would probably split a BLT and a Riv vacation. The Riv has the easy skyliner to HS and Epcot/boardwalk with the best rooms over there. Just us though.

 

[peabody58]

Since money is not a big issue, I'd echo a previous poster by saying do two shorter trips.
1. Get AP's for both of you. Do 2 (maybe 3) trips in one year span.
2. Rent DVC Points at the resort of your desire. Highly recommend getting a 1 BR.
BLT Lake View and Boardwalk Garden View would be my recommendations.

This will allow you to not feel pressured to do everything and burn yourself out. You will find a slower pace can be more enjoyable. You will have the anticipation of coming back to enjoy WDW again. Heck, you may even decide to buy into DVC (resale of course).

Either way, enjoy the trip.

 

[Disneypapa]

If you truly intend to go for 12-14 days, definitely do a split stay, so you can enjoy two different resorts. I suggest Old Key West, Polynesian, but those are personal favorites.

 

[AllisonLB1994]

I like Old Key West for the size of the rooms (including balconies) and how remote it is. You can have a water or golf course view.

 

[Spazz2k]

If you want relaxing, which to me means chill, not crazy loud...not crazy hustle, but slow and easy. Grand Floridian is super chill IMO...can be snobby...but very relaxed. Contemporary is cool, but very loud as soon as you open your tower room door...love the hotel, but it is not for relaxing...Poly currently again IMO is kinda stressful just getting a drink, or food or housekeeping...will probably change by 2023.

If split stay...then I go to Old Key West or Saratoga. Again they are both so laid back and relaxing.

How come nobody every recommends All-Stars for relaxation?

Also they may have a new relaxation hotel by 2023..who knows!!! You have a long time to plan and research...so by the time your vacation comes you will need relaxation!!

 

[mrsap]

If you want relaxing, which to me means chill, not crazy loud...not crazy hustle, but slow and easy. Grand Floridian is super chill IMO...can be snobby...but very relaxed. Contemporary is cool, but very loud as soon as you open your tower room door...love the hotel, but it is not for relaxing...Poly currently again IMO is kinda stressful just getting a drink, or food or housekeeping...will probably change by 2023.

If split stay...then I go to Old Key West or Saratoga. Again they are both so laid back and relaxing.

How come nobody every recommends All-Stars for relaxation?

Also they may have a new relaxation hotel by 2023..who knows!!! You have a long time to plan and research...so by the time your vacation comes you will need relaxation!!

 

[Spazz2k]

very....we enjoy it..but....

 

[mrsap]

very....we enjoy it..but....

Join the club!!

 

[Blondie58]

My favorite resort is the Grand Floridian and DH favorite is the Contemporary. (Concierge floors are nice if you are looking for r and r and resort time.) We split stay every visit. I love being able to walk from the transportation center to the Grand and now you can walk from the transportation center to the Contemporary. You have great pool areas (even if you do not swim), plenty of pool options, you are on the monorail, have a great spa at the Grand, a nice beach areas, pristine laundry facilities for long stays at both. From both resorts you can walk to the Magic Kingdom and you are a short boat ride to Wilderness Lodge.

 

[kwdw]

If money is truly not a concern - I would suggest a one bedroom DVC stay. For a long stay like that, have two rooms, full kitchen and washer/dryer in room, a balcony looking at something, and a couple dining options at the resort is a plus to me. I personally hate moving during a stay, but with that long of a stay, I think one resort change might be okay.

I'd pick a Kidani Village one bedroom, savanna view. Here's why: Two bathrooms (not all DVC 1 bdrms have this, only some). We both often like to shower at the end of a long park day - and when we just want that to happen as quickly as possible to fall asleep, its nice to have two showers. Washer and dryer in the room. No way I can pack for two weeks of clothes and I don't have to go anywhere outside of my room to do laundry. No hauling it to a laundry room. Full kitchen. For a two week couples trip, we are going to eat in the room frequently for breakfast and we both loving things like eggs and pancakes. Plus, plenty of storage for food snacks, making a couple dinners, etc. And single room resort rooms can smell like food after several days, IMO. When we have down-time as a couple, sometimes one wants to nap and one wants to read/play video games. We can do this in separate rooms in a one bedroom. When we have longer trips, we are most likely to rope drop, then find ourselves back at the resort on several days by 3-5 pm. We sit on the balcony, maybe with a bit of wine and cheese, and watch the animals on the savanna. We can spend hours animal watching - it's like another whole thing to do. It's a really quiet resort. We actually like that it has limited dining - though we love Sanaa. And we walk over to Boma and Jiko, also favorites for us. We've done some resort activities there that were fun. Partner has used the gym. We both love that pool, though you said that wasn't important to you. We find it a great location to quickly drive out to 192 if we need anything. Note, for a stay that long, you can guarantee we have a rental car.

Now - if you like to go to a lounge for a drink or plan to buy every meal - this would not be the place for you.

Time wise - I do recommend early March more than February. The sun is out longer during the day and the weather is often that perfect not cold/not hot. But between the third week of Feb and the second week of March - it's hard to predict in advance in a given year when the weather will be better.

For 14-16 days - I definitely agree with the 10 day with parkhopper ticket (assuming you aren't going multiple times and now we should talk about when to buy an annual pass). Gives you the freedom to basically have plenty of park time, not feel bad about being at the parks just a few hours some days. And you have more freedom to just go to a park quickly for a meal, even though you are really touring another park primarily that day.

That is also long enough to do things outside of WDW on a day or two and still have a relaxing time. We've spent the day at Cocoa Beach, gone to Kennedy Space Center, visited a couple of Florida State Parks, been to a nice botanical garden in Orlando, and dined out at some nice restaurants not on WDW property a few times over the years, for example.

It's also long enough to consider booking a special tour Disney offers - based on your interests.

Have a blast planning!