DownTown Disney Resorts Vrs Disney Moderates?

[Eyore4Ever149]

I am contemplating a trip in the Spring. I have stayed at Carribean Beach- didn't thrill me. And Port Orleans French Quarter- I loved it.

What benefits are there to the DTD resorts?

What is transportation like? is a rental car the best bet?

Are they allowed to go to the parks EMH?

Which ones have you stayed at and what did you like/dislike about them?

 

[kylara]

The DTD transportation isn't as bad as most off site hotels but still not excellent. It does run on a more regular basis throughout the day though...usually every 1/2 hour.

The only hotel that participates in EMH is the Hilton.

I haven't stayed at any myself, but have attended conferences at the Hilton when I was local to the Kissimmee area. The friends that I knew staying in the hotel found it very comfortable. It is also a short walk to DD which is nice in the evening.

I am sure there are others here who can give you more info on the other hotels. Although for the price of many of the DD hotels, the moderates, 'specially if you get a code rate, might be the way to go since the cost would be comparable.

 

[LAH]

Bumped

 

[susy]

I have to tell you that I've stayed at CBR and POFQ also. I was not thrilled with CBR and liked POFQ, but LOVED Coronado Springs!!!!! You should take it into consideration. It is a very "deluxe" mod. I have stayed at three of the DTD hotels (including the Hilton). They are very nice, but just like any hotel anywhere. I definitely prefer CSR to any of them. The funny thing is that I did not think I would like the theming, but it was just so pretty!

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

Anyone else have input? I would post this on the Resort boards, but Im afraid Ill be bombarded with "dont bother, just got Disney" which I know is great, but thought I would review all angles.

Coronado looks kinda big for my taste, I didn't like all the walking at Carribean Beach, Im afraid it will be the same kind of thing.

Buena Vista sometimes has some good deals, and I know I have seen interesting prices on other DTD hotels....

 

[pammy1027]

I loved staying at the Grosvenor- right next door to DTD and Pleasure Island. My SO had stayed at the Swan and a couple of other Disney properties and preferred our stay in DTD much better. I'd say adults only is a better bet in DTD since the adult playground is right next door. The transportation was Disney buses that ran all day and all night on very frequent schedules. If you have kids, then do Disney.

 

[luvey]

i stayed at the hilton in august and enjoyed it. the rooms were clean and nice. but i also picked it because the closeness to dtd and the early magic hour -- it's the only resort in dtd that participates in emh. when i stayed there i also learned of the nice perk of having packages sent to my room. i loved that. it was important to me to stay off of a disney resort because i didn't want to be bombarded with the mouse and i wanted to walk to something to do at night. dtd was perfect for that.

the only bad thing about the transportation is waiting out in the open in a lot numbered parking lot for the bus to take us back to the hotel after the day at the park. otherwise they were on time and only packed during peak hours.

otherwise i would stay there again if the price was right. but i do want to check out a few of the deluxe disney resorts in the future.

 

[jeannej]

Really enjoyed staying at the Wyndam Palace last year. Rooms were clean, well decorated and spacious.

jeanne j

 

[LAH]

Jeannej,

We are staying at the Wyndham for our wedding in April. Recently, I noticed on another website that people who stayed at the Wyndham are very disappointed. Can you tell me what month you were there and what room catagory you stayed in. I'm starting to worry.

Thanks!

LAH

 

[Asil65]

I have stayed at the Double Tree Guest suites 2 times and really liked it. We had a rental car both times. I loved having the extra space , a little kitchenette. It was also much cheaper than most of the disney hotels I had looked at. You can easily walk to restaurants across the street.A few blocks from Downtown Disney. We are staying at a Disney resort this time in April. I will be interested in comparing the two.

 

[MommytoPayton&Max]

We stayed at the Holiday Inn this past May, mostly to keep the cost low. We got an internet rate for $60 (pre-DIS and not knowing we could stay moderate with a code for a close rate, so that might have changed things). However, we had no problems with the hotel. We thought the transportation was fine. You just have to plan your day a little more in the event you want to return during the day. When we stayed at POFQ in 1997, it seemed like we rode the bus just as much as the Holiday Inn DTD. It was by no means glamerous, but our DD3 didn't seem to care because she was at Disney. The pool was fine, too. We actually requested a poolside room and were only steps from the pool for no extra cost. I also liked it because I am a frequent stay member and could get points for credits for future stays. We really were not at the hotel much so accomodations didn't matter too much to us. However, the couple times we took day breaks, we didn't find it much of a problem to go back, rest and then hit another park. I really liked being walking distance from DTD. That being said, if I would have known I could stay value or moderate for a great rate I would have stayed there instead to take in the whole Disney concept.

The hotel had a little store, and it had several items similar to what we found in Disney stores. There was also a little planning booth for Disney info and I think we could buy tickets there, too. The hotel had a routine taxi that serviced the hotel, so it was convenient for us to call the hotel and get a cab. We did this twice from the water parks, because the bus was not running that quickly and we were tired. There was also a bar, which for us, is a must after a long hot day. It worked nice to take a bucket of beers to the room to relax at the end of the night, or have a margarita by the pool.

Because of the smaller size and less frequent transportation, we got to know other guests who were staying there for Disney visits. Our DD3 made friends with another girl, about 7, who we saw on the bus every morning. It was fun for her to ride to the parks with someone she knew or to "play" while waiting for the bus.

All in all, we were fine with our choice. We would probably stay there again as opposed to going to a value. However, we are staying at the Contemporary next month, and I am so looking forward to being right there!! As for a choice between DTD hotels and moderates, the real choice for me would come down to cost. If they were close enough, I would probably go with the moderate Disney resort.

 

[MommytoPayton&Max]

Also.........

I believe it is the Grosvenor (or whatever its actually called) that has a character meal. I don't know if this is actually Disney sanctioned or any more of the details. However, I know at least one of the DTD hotels has this option.

 

[cleo]

Just a little bump over to Disney Resorts.

 

[sotoalf]

It all depends on how much Disney pixie dust you want to be bombarbded with. I've stayed at most of the DTD hotels. The Wyndham and Hilton are spacious, clean, with lots of amenities: what you'd at any Hilton or Wyndham around the world. They're anonymous and unspectacular.

The Grosvener on the other hand, at which I've stayed three or four times, is seriously dull (and people rag on the Contemporary??). We last stayed in January 2002, to our dismay. The rooms, restaurants, lobby – all looking worn and smelling like a cafeteria.

Now I'm someone who cringes at Disney's militant obsession with order and its tendency to recreate the bayou or the boadwalk without any of the grime that made them so glamorous; however, I will pick a Disney hotel over a DTD hotel anytime. Say what you want against Disney, but it does things right. If you want to be assaulted by a theme 24-7, by golly, a Disney resort's the place to be.