Best Resort for Rainy days?

[Minnie Rose]

Hi,
this is my first poll, I hope I do it correctly.
We live in Florida and have an annual pass, so instead of taking long or medium vacations, we spend 1 or 2 nights in one of the Disney Resorts, several times a year, when I need my Disney fix. We tried several resorts, and we have our favorites, so far.
We are planning on spending 1 night arriving on June 9 and I had originally booked OKW because I was curious, never been there. Then I called and changed it because I saw that FW Cabins were available with the Annual pass discount and I always wanted to stay there. We visited before but just for restaurants, pony rides, etc.
I was so thrilled that I would finally get to sleep there, even for only 1 hight.
Now the problem: checking the forecast, it seems that on that day is going to rain. FW doesn't look like the place you want to be when it rains, especially when you only have 1 day to enjoy.
Do you see my dilemma? Should I change resort again? Which resort do you think is the best if it's a rainy day and you can't or don't want to leave the resort? And why? We can't really afford the monorail resorts, but I'll include them in the poll anyway. ( but I am not allowed to make the list longer than 12)
Sorry for making this story so long, and thank you for all your inputs!!

 

[Mousemommy1]

I voted WL. We haven't stayed there yet, but will next month. I think that in a rainstorm at WL, you still have everything in one building, so not having to run around in the rain to go fill your mug, visit a gift shop etc...

Plus, there are so many activities in the resort, such as a Hidden Mickey Hunt, cookie baking, etc....that you would be kept entertained.

 

[danceintherain]

I voted for the Wilderness Lodge too, partially because if it doesn't rain, you can walk over to Fort Wilderness if you so choose. I would definitely go Deluxe, because everything tends to be in a single building. The Moderate resorts all have a walk outside from your room to the main building.

 

[Sue M]

I voted for AKL because they have inside activities (for adults) depending on the day- culinary tours, Cultural Exchange, evening Night viewing with night scopes. But any Deluxe under 1 roof, WL, BC, BW, or CR would be good too. Although BW has no inside dining, you would have to go outside. The rest have inside dining.

 

[andyman8]

I voted for Disney's Contemporary Resort. I really like this resort. The nice thing about it is that it is all in one building. You must book a Tower - Bay Lake View room, though. To get to the bus stops, you just go down to the lobby via the elevator and exit out a side door and BAM! it's right there. To hop on the monorail, you take an elevator on the Grand Canyon Concourse and BAM! it's there.

Not to mention, the concourse is an attraction in itself. The shops are cool. You'll find Bay View Gifts, Fantasia, and The Market. There is also one of the best Disney QS restaurants: Contempo Cafe. For a drink and views of MK, the Outer Rim Lounge is need. Although I can't stand this restaurant, many consider Chef Mickey's a must-do. It is also on the concourse. There is also a giant arcade on the concourse. In the lobby, there is The Wave...of American Flavors restaurant and a coffee bar called Contemporary Grounds.

High atop the hotel is California Grill. This, on the other hand, is my favorite WDW restaurant. You can see the fireworks from here. Again, you are never going outside to do any of this. There is also a fitness center on one of the levels of the resort.

The only time you will have to go outside is to visit the pool, The Lost Bar, marina, Sammy Duval Water Sports Center, and the boat dock where you can get boats to MK along with FW and WL.

Oh, the rooms are, also, the second largest on property after the cabins, so I vote Contemporary!

P.S. Grand Floridian still my and my wife's favorite resort, though.

 

[Minnie Rose]

Thank you, what great suggestions!
If the forecast stays the same and I decide to change resort, I was thinking WL, AKL or YC because of the under 1 roof situation.
All your ideas about taking the boat to FW from WL sound really good.
I have to say too that the previous poster made sound CR really tempting, described so well. If only I could swing the price difference! I have been fascinated by seeing the monorail passing directly thru the hotel since I was seven! (MANY years ago). Question: when you say that you have to book a tower room, do you mean Bay Lake Tower, the dvc one? I'm not clear on that sorry.
I like all your suggestions. I too, was thinking no value or moderate for this mini trip because of the "openness".

 

[andyman8]

I have to say too that the previous poster made sound CR really tempting, described so well. If only I could swing the price difference! I have been fascinated by seeing the monorail passing directly thru the hotel since I was seven! (MANY years ago). Question: when you say that you have to book a tower room, do you mean Bay Lake Tower, the dvc one? I'm not clear on that sorry.

Thanks! Although it is a significant price difference, I'd go for it. I'd look under the special offers section for FL Resident discounts.

Sorry, I may have been a bit unclear. When online, go you are going to select Disney's Contemporary Resort not Bay Lake Tower (the DVC). When you get to that page you will see under Accommodations "Garden Wing - Garden View" you are going to look two "levels" down on the list to "Tower - Bay Lake View." The difference is that the Garden Wing is actually outside the tower, while the "Tower" room is inside the A-Frame Tower. Although more expensive, it is worth every dime! If you have some extra money, I would HIGHLY recommend going down to the "next level" on the list: Tower - Magic Kingdom View.

That being said, you are really paying for two thing with the Contemporary: location and the A-Frame Tower. I would stay two nights and do a day (or two) at MK with a MK view in the tower.

I really would do Contemporary!

 

[lborne]

I voted for Disney's Contemporary Resort. I really like this resort. The nice thing about it is that it is all in one building. You must book a Tower - Bay Lake View room, though. To get to the bus stops, you just go down to the lobby via the elevator and exit out a side door and BAM! it's right there. To hop on the monorail, you take an elevator on the Grand Canyon Concourse and BAM! it's there.

Not to mention, the concourse is an attraction in itself. The shops are cool. You'll find Bay View Gifts, Fantasia, and The Market. There is also one of the best Disney QS restaurants: Contempo Cafe. For a drink and views of MK, the Outer Rim Lounge is need. Although I can't stand this restaurant, many consider Chef Mickey's a must-do. It is also on the concourse. There is also a giant arcade on the concourse. In the lobby, there is The Wave...of American Flavors restaurant and a coffee bar called Contemporary Grounds.

High atop the hotel is California Grill. This, on the other hand, is my favorite WDW restaurant. You can see the fireworks from here. Again, you are never going outside to do any of this. There is also a fitness center on one of the levels of the resort.

The only time you will have to go outside is to visit the pool, The Lost Bar, marina, Sammy Duval Water Sports Center, and the boat dock where you can get boats to MK along with FW and WL.

Oh, the rooms are, also, the second largest on property after the cabins, so I vote Contemporary!

P.S. Grand Floridian still my and my wife's favorite resort, though.

I agree, although AKL would be a close second. You can't use the marina if it is raining (actually, lightning, but they go hand in hand in the summer).

But the best part for me and the kids is that we can sit for hours and watch the monorails go by. Also, the kids and I like to explore every floor and look down into the lobby area and the Contemp is much higher than the other resorts. Little things like that keep me and my boys happy. My wife? She's over at the Grand Floridian getting a massage.

 

[Minnie Rose]

Thanks! Although it is a significant price difference, I'd go for it. I'd look under the special offers section for FL Resident discounts.

Sorry, I may have been a bit unclear. When online, go you are going to select Disney's Contemporary Resort not Bay Lake Tower (the DVC). When you get to that page you will see under Accommodations "Garden Wing - Garden View" you are going to look two "levels" down on the list to "Tower - Bay Lake View." The difference is that the Garden Wing is actually outside the tower, while the "Tower" room is inside the A-Frame Tower. Although more expensive, it is worth every dime! If you have some extra money, I would HIGHLY recommend going down to the "next level" on the list: Tower - Magic Kingdom View.

That being said, you are really paying for two thing with the Contemporary: location and the A-Frame Tower. I would stay two nights and do a day (or two) at MK with a MK view in the tower.

I really would do Contemporary!

No problem I understand now: the "tower" is the main A frame building.
Thanks for the explanation! I will strongly consider CR in my finalists.
Am I correct that CR doesn't have a kids club? I know there is one at the Poly and GF.

 

[fla4fun]

Am I correct that CR doesn't have a kids club? I know there is one at the Poly and GF.

They used to have one, but they don't anymore.