Biggest factors in choosing a resort?

[PixieT78]

Usually price then theming. But my price limit changes So we've done All Stars, which I likely wouldn't do again (though haven't seen the new rooms) and Pop which I enjoyed. Pop I'd definitely do the preferred pool view again as I do like to be close to the main building.

We've also done POFQ and CBR (pre-skyliner) and I'd definitely stay at POFQ again. I really liked that resort - it was a fun boat ride to DS, buses worked for the most part for the parks. And I have no issues using Uber/Lyft when it makes sense. ie) long line up for the bus - Uber instead. Evening from DS - Uber for sure.

This time will be AKL (renting points) and I could not be more excited about it. As it is a longer trip, I plan on enjoying the hotel (and my savannah view) quite a bit so makes it extra worth it. I'll use the same strategies with the ride sharing and busses - if it is a day where I'm trying to rope drop, I'll likely Uber. But if I'm coming back mid-day or going for the afternoon/evening where timing matters less, I'll use the busses.

 

[maltdizzy]

1. Deluxe
2. Location/convenience
3. Balcony

These days, it's always Poly or YC. We like the Poly because of room size, the boat to the MK, and walk-able to the Epcot monorail. We like the YC because very room has a balcony and walk-able to Epcot and HS. We drive instead of taking the buses (we hate the buses), so Poly usually wins out because we don't have to park at the TTC.

We've done some moderates in the past (CBR and POR/Royal Room), but I really don't like the hectic food court scene and distance.

 

[joviroxx]

Im a deluxe person, but not all of them.. I don't like large resorts where you have to walk outside to get to the main areas. I like a nice combination of sit down and quick service that works and the room service( i hopt it comes back). Transportation is important as well.
Wilderness Lodge is always my first choice. I love that I can go down to roaring forks with my slippers on, not worry about rain or anything else. The boat is great , the buses work and uber in a pinch. Its a great size and just feels comfortable.

We are looking at possibly heading to the Epcot resorts in Sept but I keep going back and forth. BWI, you need to go out to be able to get something to eat. Yacht CLub seems ok and Beach CLub seems great due to the close walk to Epcot. I love that idea, it just seems so loud loll. But I still haven't been able to pull the trigger and decide against the Lodge.

 

[joviroxx]

Im a deluxe person, but not all of them.. I don't like large resorts where you have to walk outside to get to the main areas. I like a nice combination of sit down and quick service that works and the room service( i hopt it comes back). Transportation is important as well.
Wilderness Lodge is always my first choice. I love that I can go down to roaring forks with my slippers on, not worry about rain or anything else. The boat is great , the buses work and uber in a pinch. Its a great size and just feels comfortable.

We are looking at possibly heading to the Epcot resorts in Sept but I keep going back and forth. BWI, you need to go out to be able to get something to eat. Yacht CLub seems ok and Beach CLub seems great due to the close walk to Epcot. I love that idea, it just seems so loud loll. But I still haven't been able to pull the trigger and decide against the Lodge.

Size is mostly why I stay away from values and moderates, along with the eating options

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

I'm curious because I know everyone has such different priorities and preferences when it comes to choosing a Disney resort. What factors weigh really heavily in your resort-choosing decisions?

I know for my family, it's mostly about location, ease of transportation to the parks, and maintaining the idea of the "bubble." I want to see as few roads/cars/parking lots as possible and I want to be able to use non-bus forms of transportation as much as possible.

I'd say location, cost/value, transportation options that also keep me off a bus, park perks like EEH/ETPE. Secondary factors would be space, theming, grab and go dining options, have we stayed before since we like to try some where new, landscape/grounds. Things that we like but don't really matter as much- pools and sit down dining options.

 

[kwdw]

I’m clearly an oddball here because, as long as it’s on-site, location never makes my list as a factor! Not important to me as I am really all over WDW during my stays and what is close to one park might be far to another. I find the buses are equally reliable at every resorts. Sure, yes, occasionally there is a long wait for a bus, but that has happened at all tiers of the resorts. I think the Friendship boats are painfully slow and I’ve been stuck on the monorails one too many times, so transportation options isn’t a factor either.

Price, theming, amenities at the resort I intend to use that particular trip, number of trips I have planned for the year, and the number of sleeping spaces I need that trip impact where I stay.

I haven’t been since Feb 2020, and I’m debating about a trip this fall. I’ll probably go deluxe or DVC rental because its probably a one time trip for a few years.

 

[SteveH]

#1 for me is value, I will not pay the $$$ for Disney Deluxe, and the Moderates can be a good value, but not always. Given the choice I will stay at Swan/Dolphin first, then if it's prices are high I'll look at a Moderate. IMHO for the price and the location you can't beat Swan/Dolphin. You have two resorts a short walk or boat ride away. While theming is nice, I won't pay the outragous amounts Disney wants for that "feature" of a resort. I also want a breakfast that reasonably priced, normally an omelet is our go to meal in the morning. Our last trip was at POFQ I found their "baked" omelets were, okay but nothing great and as I recall there was 1 or 2 options and now it's only 1 choice. (The lunch Jambalaya was truly awful IMHO.) On the other hand the design your own omelet and bacon at Picabu at the Dolphin was pefect, we actually looked forward to breakfast there everyday.

 

[_19disnA]

I would consider budget, location and personal preferences as the biggest factors. If someplace is over priced, then I really don't care how good the 'theming' is or what else is nearby. If only planning to go to MK (for example), then staying on the other side of the property near Epcot makes less sense for us. No hotel is closest to every park, so you have to consider where you plan to go in deciding what works best. Over the years, we have also stayed both on the property as well as offsite for far less money and enjoyed those places as well.

If you are the go/go/go type and consider every minute not on a ride is lost time, then clearly the amount of time spent either waiting for or using Disney transportation matters. However, you will probably wait far longer in a popular ride line then using any Disney transportation, but I see less discussion about that.

 

[Anna131517]

It has to have a 5-person room (we’re a family of 5) and I want the easiest possible transportation to the parks. I also like easy breakfast and dinner options in or near the resort but that’s not an issue with most Disney resorts.

 

[raddisneyfan]

Hard to say...its a combination of different factors. My favorite resorts have the theming...WL, CC, BRV, AKL, but won't stay if I can't get a good discount (and it really has to be significant)...so, more often than not, I'm staying at a moderate...CSR, POFQ, or POR. I don't like the theming at any of the Values, except maybe the Cars suites at AOA, but then they aren't cheap either. Sometimes I'll spring for BWI, again, if I can get a good discount, so that I have access to 2 theme parks via walkway...purely for convenience. I like theming here fine, but not as much as WL or AKL.

 

[NickC]

We typically pick our preferred resort, but also give our travel agent a list of 2 or 3 other places to price out. We like to stay at places where we can walk to at least one park. So, this will typically include GF, Contemporary, YC/BC and Boardwalk. We usually end up staying at our first choice, but sometimes (and I don't know why) there is a huge price difference. So, we will also weigh the pricing at that point. Location is huge for us. It is nice to walk back to the resort after fireworks, or be able to get to MK with a 10 minute walk in the evening. We normally wouldn't hop to a park if we are settled in our room at night, but being close by allows us to spend an extra hour or so just walking around in the park.
The other thing we will consider is transportation. How many resorts share a bus, and where does it stop first, etc. We've had several experiences where a bus would pull up and it couldn't fit everyone waiting in line. So, being the first stop is nice.

 

[FunnyLady1966]

That's the great thing about Disboards..........lots of opinions and experiences to read about. Totally respect your choices.
Never been on the Skyliner tho. Gonna have to check that out next trip!

I love that there are SO many different perspectives on just one post. I never say never

 

[CrystalClear82]

It depends on the type of vacation. If it's more of a staycation, then it's about the amenities for us. If we're going to the parks, its about location.
Then it's really about price after that.

 

[pigletto]

The best deal I can get on a mod or deluxe or Swan/Dolphin.

I like to change it up so I rarely go to the same place two trips in a row. This next trip is a split stay Port Orleans ( my favourite mod) and AKL ( rented DVC points).

So I would say price, theme, atmosphere and amenities all come into play.

 

[Lilsia]

I have my favorites and so I go with the one that is within my budget for that trip out of the ones that I like.

 

[legler2250]

1. How cozy / comfortable / accessible the lobby is for reading (CCV, AKV, BWV)
2. Relaxing pool area with plenty of trees and scenery (Poly, AKV, CCV)
3. Location (BWV, BCV, YC)
4. Any other resort because they are all amazing in their own right =)

 

[Shellyred8]

it's mostly about location, ease of transportation to the parks, and maintaining the idea of the "bubble." I want to see as few roads/cars/parking lots as possible and I want to be able to use non-bus forms of transportation as much as possible.

This is exactly us. This is also why we do split stays for most of our trips. Part of our stay is in the Boardwalk are and the other part is in the MK area.

 

[gregskellington]

Location. I have no desire to drive at Disney so I need to be somewhere like the DVC side of Poly or at an Epcot resort to have as many travel options as possible. I like the less well located resorts but they always put a hamper on the vacation.

 

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

This is exactly us. This is also why we do split stays for most of our trips. Part of our stay is in the Boardwalk are and the other part is in the MK area.

This is exactly what we've been doing. Makes the whole trip feel so much more convenient/easy.

 

[slmoy1016]

It depends on the timing of vacation. For me, if it's during Food and Wine Festival, or Flower Garden Festival, I prefer to either stay at GF, Polynesian, Boardwalk, or Beach Club. If no festivals are involved, Caribbean Beach is my go to due to cost, pools, and Skyliner access.