Disney Dreaming - which Deluxe?

[handustmom]

I have only stayed in Pop Century. If you were able to pick a Deluxe resort, which one would you pick and why?

 

[stargazertechie]

I think the next resort I want to try is Beach Club for the pool!


We've stayed at AKL and WL and love them both!

 

[lcj19]

I would say the Beach Club as well, but if you were to ask my husband he would say the Contemporary (he wants to stay in the resort the monorail runs threw).

 

[bjakmom]

LOL I am so excited to be heading to my first POP stay in 5 days - and I have stayed at all the deluxes except GF, and I have spent a lot of time there in the restaurants and doing special events.
I see that your kids are 12 and 16. At those ages, my kids loved the Boardwalk/Beach Club area. There was always somewhere for them to go walk around - they love the slide at BW and Storm Along Bay at BC. Beaches and Cream is a MUST DO for us every trip - the kids love that place and love to order the kitchen sink and share it (it's pretty over-the-top disgusting IMO - but they love the fan fare and making themselves sick eating it - and I love having the pictures).
Wilderness Lodge is beautiful if you like the feeling of being away from it all.
AKL is amazing and has the animals and African atmosphere - it's my fav - but there is no other area for the kids to hang in (like the boardwalk/ESPN area at BW/BC).
Poly is just beautiful and I think the rooms are some of the largest. Another great pool and slide.
Contemp is great if you want to feel like you're always in the action. Lots going on in the lobby - stores, chef mickeys - teens would again have somewhere to walk around when they wanted.
You really can't go wrong - they all offer something fabulous - just need to find the fit for your family LOL I'm sure you can tell that going off safely on their own was always a big draw in my family once the kids hit 12 - even if it was just down to the arcade or to walk around the stores, my kids, nieces and nephews love that aspect of the resorts. Enjoy!!

Just saw that you are a OMDD winner --- CONGRATULATIONS!!!

 

[handustmom]

LOL I am so excited to be heading to my first POP stay in 5 days - and I have stayed at all the deluxes except GF, and I have spent a lot of time there in the restaurants and doing special events.
I see that your kids are 12 and 16. At those ages, my kids loved the Boardwalk/Beach Club area. There was always somewhere for them to go walk around - they love the slide at BW and Storm Along Bay at BC. Beaches and Cream is a MUST DO for us every trip - the kids love that place and love to order the kitchen sink and share it (it's pretty over-the-top disgusting IMO - but they love the fan fare and making themselves sick eating it - and I love having the pictures).
Wilderness Lodge is beautiful if you like the feeling of being away from it all.
AKL is amazing and has the animals and African atmosphere - it's my fav - but there is no other area for the kids to hang in (like the boardwalk/ESPN area at BW/BC).
Poly is just beautiful and I think the rooms are some of the largest. Another great pool and slide.
Contemp is great if you want to feel like you're always in the action. Lots going on in the lobby - stores, chef mickeys - teens would again have somewhere to walk around when they wanted.
You really can't go wrong - they all offer something fabulous - just need to find the fit for your family LOL I'm sure you can tell that going off safely on their own was always a big draw in my family once the kids hit 12 - even if it was just down to the arcade or to walk around the stores, my kids, nieces and nephews love that aspect of the resorts. Enjoy!!

Just saw that you are a OMDD winner --- CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Thanks, we are so excited!! We don't know yet if we will even have a choice of resort, right now we are playing the "what if" game. I think DH (the one that actually won the contest) is leaning toward the Poly. I think it would be amazing to see the Castle from our resort. Like I told him, they could put us in a tent and I would still be thrilled.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[pArKsFaN]

I love AKL, but someday I want to stay at the Poly for the theming and the monorail convenience. BW is also on our "want" list since it's so close to Epcot. We booked it last fall but ended up switching back to AKL since we love it there so much. My kids are also older and I think they might enjoy all the activity around that area. It's hard to decide - AKL is definitely a favorite for us, but it's the only deluxe we've stayed at.

Congratulations on winning!

 

[graceesmom]

With children the age of yours, I think they would LOVE the Beach Club/Yacht Club for the access to Epcot, the Boardwalk, the great pool, etc.

Our favorite is still the Contemporary. It just means Disney to me and there is nothing more convenient than walking right to the Magic Kingdom in the morning without having to wait on transportation.

The Poly has a beautiful lobby, but it's not my favorite place to stay b/c there is only 1 sink in the bathroom, not alot of seating by the pool and no hot tub on site. I do however, eat at Ohana's once every trip and I love to hang out in that lobby. For ambiance, the Poly can't be beaten.

We are staying at the GF for the first time in June only b/c it ended up being less expensive than the CR with the discounts that were available.

If I thought it might be the only time I would get to stay at a Deluxe and it was an option, I would choose a monorail resort. That is something you can only do at Disney. BTW, you can see the castle from your resort while at the CR, the GF or the Poly.

Congratulations on winning One More Disney Day!!!!

 

[shannonstar]

I agree with the Beach Club. Great pool, awesome location. My son is so excited that we picked it for our next stay. We usually do POFQ, which he loves, but we wanted to be closer to the action this time.

 

[disneydiva1313]

Beach Club is my favorite! Great location, and pool!

 

[padawans]

If they give you choice go with the most expensive Poly or GF. If you don't think you will ever be able to afford a monorail resort on your own I would definetly take advantage of the opportunity. BC and BW would be my second choices.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Boardwalk Inn because of their theme/atmosphere, walkways to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios, entertainers that perform every night along the Boardwalk, ESPN Club which is my favorite Table Service Restaurant is located over there and the Luna Park pool which in my opinion is amazing.

 

[roydavid7771]

Beach Club for two things.....Beaches and Cream and Storm Along Bay. Enough said.

 

[jaceraden]

Oh, to be in your position. Congrats!!!

I think I'd pick Beach Club with the ages of your kids. Have fun!

 

[PaulaSB12]

Yacht Club for Yachtsman Steakhouse, Storm-along bay and the opportunity go to Beaches and Cream for an ice cream sundae for breakfast.

 

[kelleigh1]

We are going on our Dream Trip this coming October.

Hubby and I have gone to WDW twice previously and both times stayed at Mods. After our last trip in 2007, we said that our next trip wouldn't be until we paid off all of our debt and then could save up for the dream trip.

Well...the debt is paid off. And, I've had the good fortune of coming into some money recently which has gone a long way towards paying off the trip months before we'd expected.

So we are now booked for the Yacht Club with the Deluxe Dining Plan for a week in October. We debated back and forth about Yacht or Beach Club and finally settled on the Yacht Club. We loved the themeing at both, the location with its easy walk to both Epcot and Hollywood Studies and of course, Stormalong Bay.

We are very excited and are very much looking forward to it.

So I say, never stop dreaming! You just never know.

 

[bjmzl]

We stayed at Beach Club last October and loved it, and I had seen so many good reviews for the Poly, but now I am having second thoughts and may go back to Beach Club

 

[Ferissp]

We stayed at the Polynesian for 7 nights 2 weeks ago. Our offer to buy dvc points was accepted this afternoon and we will close by April (*fingers crossed*). We bought at bay lake towers because it is the only DVD on the monorail until the Floridian opens up next year.


Back to the Polynesian...fantastic! We stayed at the Tuvalu House and while it was not what the travel agent had requested for us, it was PERFECT. It was incredibly quiet. It was a short walk to the main building and the main pool. The boat rental marina was right there but we never heard the boats. You entered right at captain cooks (the cafeteria with adequate food) and a good place to get a soda, beer, snack. Never felt crowded at the resort which is important for someone with social anxiety disorder who just spent 12 hours in huge crowds, lines, etc.

The staff was incredibly friendly, they had activites for kids everyday by the pool and the neverland club for babysitting. The kona cafe food was really hit or miss but on the meal plan we didn't feel ripped off. We had breakfast at Ohana (sp?) and it was not the best character breakfast for time with characters or food but was still good.

My mother-in-law has a soy allergy which limited the menu for her. However, with all Disney restaurants the chef came out, discussed options, etc. And she was happy. If you can please a 55 year old stereotypical long islander with a finicky stomach and food allergies you should get a medal.

If they had A DVC resort we would have bought here in a second.

If it matters, there was a smoking area right there at the end of the hall that is still out of the way.

I have only stayed in Pop Century. If you were able to pick a Deluxe resort, which one would you pick and why?

 

[Belle83]

I've never stayed at a Disney Deluxe, but we are staying at Wilderness Lodge in December We wanted a Magic Kingdom area resort, and it's the cheapest of those. Plus, I'm from WA and he's from CO and the resort is kind of a mix of our home states, lol.

I would love to stay at the Contemporary, Grand Floridian, Boardwalk Inn, Yacht Club, and Animal Kingdom Lodge. I can't pick just one!

 

[francie57]

We have stayed at all of the monorail resorts but we love the Epcot resorts much more. We love the BW and BC because of the easy access to Epcot and all the restaurants and the short walk to The Studios. We have been staying in this area since the resorts opened and will be returning again in Aug.

 

[pgianna]

I would stay at the swa/ dolphin. I have stayed there a couple of times. This is the best value as far as the deluxe resorts are concerned. Big cost difference between that and any other deluxe hotel.