Deluxe Resorts

[Cookie Princess]

We are trying to select a Deluxe resort - have stayed in both value and moderates. Need your help.

DH: Tight with $ & wants to watch animals.

DS(9): Wants the best water slide/pool area there is.

Me: Stayed at CR as a child and would like to again stay near the parks (MK or EPCOT resorts). Would love to stay CL, but husband would die from the $.

Things to consider: We need a room with a king and a daybed or 2 queens and a daybed as no one wants to get kicked by DS all night, and DH & I can't sleep comfortably in a smaller bed. Also, want a resort that has quick eats so that we can head to the parks for early entry.

 

[Pig Pen]

You may be happy with WL. It's fairly close to MK, there's lots of wildlife and walking trails around, and the pool is okay (there's a small slide). It seems to be less expensive than some of the other deluxes. There is a nice food court, and Whispering Canyon restaurant in the lobby. Also a quick boat ride to the campground which serves a breakfast buffet, as well as easy access to the monorail resorts.

IMHO, the BEST pool is Stormalong Bay @ Beach Club (big bucks), with Coronado a close second (a moderate but not real close). AKL is best wildlife viewing of course, but is a bit remote too.

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by Cookie Princess
We are trying to select a Deluxe resort - have stayed in both value and moderates. Need your help.

DH: Tight with $ & wants to watch animals.

DS(9): Wants the best water slide/pool area there is.

Me: Stayed at CR as a child and would like to again stay near the parks (MK or EPCOT resorts). Would love to stay CL, but husband would die from the $.

Things to consider: We need a room with a king and a daybed or 2 queens and a daybed as no one wants to get kicked by DS all night, and DH & I can't sleep comfortably in a smaller bed. Also, want a resort that has quick eats so that we can head to the parks for early entry.

Let's see. The AKL would meet the DH needs as it is the most economical of the deluxes along with the WL. There is also a fast food area Mara that has a good selection. The drawback if you want to look at it that way is that transportation from the AKL to any of the parks is by bus only. We have stayed at the AKL four times and are scheduled to return for our fifth stay in Jan 2005 and we do not view the buses as a drawback but there are some that do. It comes down to a personal choice realy.

The WL would meet the close to MK, economical requirements but the transportation to everywhere else is by bus and I believe you share buses with other resorts. At the AKL you do not share buses with any other resort. There is also a fast food area called Roaring Forks that has a good selection.

Both of the above had queen beds so a room with two queens is not an issue to get.

Now the best slide area would be the YC/BC but they are not on the low end of the deluxes resorts from a price perspecive and they do not have a fast food eatery in the same sense as the AKL and WL.

You did mention CR and that would be close to the MK and you have the monorail to go to the TTC then change to the public monorail to get to EC. Everything else is by bus and you share with other resorts. You could get a garden wing room for a good price but the pool area does not compare.

So I would say AKL but if you are going to spend alot of time at the MK maybe the WL would be the way to go.

 

[Minnie724]

Have stayed at a number of resorts and our kids have loved the Polynesian. We have gotten good rates via AP and recently with Expedia. The Volcano pool is lots of fun. It has a tropical feel. There is a take out place. The location is perfect. You can walk (10 min) to TTC to get a monorail to Epcot. The monorail also takes you to MK or you can take a small boat. You do need to take a bus to MGM or AK, though.

 

[swilphil]

I would say Beach Club. Depending on what time of year you are going, you might be able to rent points in the Beach Club Villas Sun-Thursday and save a little money. You need to be a little flexible on your dates and start looking into it ASAP. SAB is definitely the coolest pool and it is a short walk to Epcot and a nice little boat ride to MGM. You can get quick eats at Beaches N' Cream or walk over to the Boardwalk. I like going to Epcot's World Showcase and getting counter service. If your husband wants to watch animals, you all can spend the day at AK.

 

[dpic]

Originally posted by Tiffany


The WL would meet the close to MK, economical requirements but the transportation to everywhere else is by bus...

Don't forget that WL has boat service to CR which gives easy monorail access.

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by dpic
Don't forget that WL has boat service to CR which gives easy monorail access.

I am aware that you can take a boat from the WL to the CR and then catch the resort monorail to the TTC so I can off of the resort monorail and into line with everyone else for the monorail to EC. That definetly takes longer than a direct bus from the AKL to the front of EC.

Since the WL has direct boat access to the MK there would be no reason to take the boat to the CR and then take the resort monorail all the way around to the MK.

Don't get me wrong the WL is beautiful but transportation to anywhere other than the MK is not the best. A direct bus from the AKL to any of the parks is quicker than taking a bus from the WL to EC, MGM or the AK as the WL shares it buses with other resorts.

 

[old lost boy]

The best pool is Stomalong Bay. But as mentioned $$$$.

AKL for animals, WL second.

WL has rooms with a kig bed and buck beds.

IMHO the Epcot deluxes have the best location.

AKL and WL best price.

 

[dpic]

Originally posted by Tiffany
I am aware that you can take a boat from the WL to the CR and then catch the resort monorail to the TTC so I can off of the resort monorail and into line with everyone else for the monorail to EC. That definetly takes longer than a direct bus from the AKL to the front of EC.

Since the WL has direct boat access to the MK there would be no reason to take the boat to the CR and then take the resort monorail all the way around to the MK.

Don't get me wrong the WL is beautiful but transportation to anywhere other than the MK is not the best. A direct bus from the AKL to any of the parks is quicker than taking a bus from the WL to EC, MGM or the AK as the WL shares it buses with other resorts.

Not to belabor the point, but those who haven't stayed at WL may not realize how quick the access to MK and the monorail resorts is from WL. A short and pleasant boat ride gives easy access to CR (where the OP admits is her first choice). Many folks, myself included, consider the monorail as much an attraction as transportation. Not only is the TTC available from the CR monorail (where the Epcot monorail is available for those who prefer something a little more Disney than busses), but all the dining options at the Poly, GF, and CR are readily available. For us, visiting the resorts is part of the fun. On our upcoming trip, we plan many meals at all of the MK resorts, and the option of taking a boat and monorail instead of a bus is very appealing.

 

[pinkminnie]

You won't be sorry if you go WL. We have tried several resorts so far, but I think the WL would be the favorite choice of my family. The theming is fantastic, food choices quite good, and access to MK is great. We never had a complaint about the transportation while we were there. Good luck choosing!

 

[susy]

WL woods view will give you the best overall value. AKL has animals , but only from a savanah view room can you see tehm from your balcony. WL has a decent slide and the boat to MK is great. Buses at AKL are great,too. Can't go wrong with either resort.

 

[PamNC]

To make your husband happy, obviously AKL is the choice. Or, perhaps WL. For your son, the best pool area would be Stormalong Bay so you'll need to stay at YC/BC. You want the CR. Hmmmmm.

The Poly has a great pool and waterslide - it's not the economical choice so your husband may not be happy. But, you and your son would be. You obviously are into nostalgia as with the CR. To me the Poly has the true Disney magic. It's a very relaxing resort with beautiful landscaping, great beach area, wonderful CMs. Since a slide and pool is important I didn't pick CR.

WL would be nice but I have to tell you the pool is lacking. I don't even remember a slide but I'm certain there is one. WL would meet the $$ requirement and you would get a deluxe experience.

OR, I have a better idea. Rent points from someone from DVC. Many times you can do this and come out much chepaer. You could stay at Beach Club Villas and you would have the best pool/slide on property. Your husband would be satisfied. I'd just worry about you but I know you would love the Epcot Resort Area.

Have fun! Decisions, decisions, decisions.

PamNC

 

[Winnie Pooh Fan]

WL absolutely does have a water slide, its just not a very large one. The pool is also on the small side for a deluxe resort but the resort is also much smaller than most deluxes.

However, I am not so sure that WL would include the animal requirement for your DH. If you have a pond/quiet pool view you will see a few ducks and a few small animals but thats about it.

The transportation from WL was great. The boat to MK and CR where you can hop the monorail. Also the bus to TTC is only a few minutes a way.

One you might consider checking into is the Swan/Dolphin. Depending on your dates they sometimes have great discounts. I believe sometime this Dec it is $99 a night. (Check mousesavers.com for details).

This resort doesn't have any animals for DH but location and pool are wonderful.

The only resort your DH would find great animals is AKL and the pool is supposed to be larger than WL but I'm not sure about how the slide is. Transporation is strictly bus but at least it doesn't share with other resorts.

Allearsnet.com has great pictures of the resorts and the rooms along with good reviews so that might help narrow down your search.

Good luck and happy planning.

 

[Cookie Princess]

WOW...thanks so much to everyone for your input. Is the pool and pool slide at AKL similar in "fun factor rating" to that at the POLY? Decisions, decisions. How far ahead of a trip do you need to contact someone to rent points? Is there ever an AP discount for CL at AKL or any other resort for that matter? My husband's comment to that question was..."if you have to ask, you can't afford it"...UUGH! THANKS!