Favorite Deluxe Resort -- HELP!!

[laurafaith]

hi everyone...getting ready to plan for early 2012 or late 2011!! YAY!!

we have typically stayed at the value resorts....but on our next trip we will have a new addition (expecting baby number 3 in this summer)

so we are going to splurge and stay at a deluxe!! but i have NO IDEA which one to pick...they all look great!

so any advice would be great...which deluxe is your favorite and why?

there will be 5 of us at the time of travel: my, hubby, 8 year old, 4 year old and infant!

thanks

 

[MickeyNicki]

I say the Poly! We love it there, took our 2 nieces for a late Xmas gift and they had the time of their lives at their "Hawaii House"

Location cannot be beat, having the monorail makes life with kids so much easier, great food choices in that resort and nearby, nice rooms, awesome activities for kids and the volcano pool and the beach were huge hits with the girls

 

[Bell30012]

My vote is Contemporary in the tower facing MK. Fireworks from the balcony? Can't be beat for the magic.

 

[akl-fan]

I would try a villa (1 bed) at AKL or WL. We found it so much easier with a young baby to have a full kitchen. Just being easy to heat a bottle or blend some fruit is a godsend. It is also great to be able to put you kids down and be able to escape into your own room. Your older kids would love the animals at AKL or the boat to magic kingdom from WL.

Many people will advise you to stay on the monorail with very young kids but I find it over rated and when we were there last September, it was constantly breaking down.

AKL and WL are usually cheaper than any of the monorail deluxes.

If you would like to try a 1 bed villa on the monorail then they are available at Bay Lake Towers at the Contemporary resort. Why not splash out for a Theme Park view. I think that would be pretty special.

 

[Chicago Mo]

I have stayed at the Contemporary. But the Poly has more child friendly stuff! We stayed there in Sept 2010 with my 6 year old triplets. LOVED IT! had either the monorail or the fairy to take us to and from the magic kingdom has the beach for the kids to play watch the fireworks and the water parade! the mono didn't like to work a lot in our stay.. Yet still got us to where we needed to be.
Floridian was beautiful but didn't feel very Home like with kids... Yet i am sure it is.
cannot say enough about the poly!!!

 

[waynesgirl]

Since the 1st deluxe we stayed at was SSR, WL, AKL, and then CR- and two times we were given pixie dust and upgraded- it is really kind of hard for me to say...

My DH liked AKL because the theme and decor can't beat. And having a balcony to enjoy coffee on in the morning is great. (Buses were a little slow for me- not a whole lot of courtesy from people when you have had to wait 45 minutes for a bus...)

SSR with an upgrade, with its in-room washer and dryer, microwave, full kitchen, and extra space made it a great place for us to stay with our older kids and 1 year old. (Little too spaced out for me)

WL, I felt, was very small and cramped with 2 beds in it. Theming, again was beautiful, but it was just smaller to me. Standard room though.

CR was last Nov- we were upgraded to a suite for my DS's bday. It had a great view (could still see the fireworks even though we faced the lake), convenient to MK and EPCOT (which my DS loves), and the space couldn't be beat. Biggest room to date. CM's were amazing and the Electrical Water Pagaent was the best thing I have ever been able to do with my DS. He loved it and that made the stay there totally worth it. Better than the best because he was in the place that the "train goes through" and he got to sit on the beach and play in the sand and watch the EWP!

Best trip of my entire times at Disney.

 

[KatMark]

We've only stayed at two -- the Contemporary and the Polynesian. Beyond measure, the Poly to us is way better than the Contemporary in terms of theme, room decor, grounds, pool, watching Wishes from the beach and friendliness of staff. We would say the Poly!


***My opinion of "favorite" may change after we stay at the AKL in a one-bedroom suite at Kidani...I really think this will turn out to be our favorite.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

My favorites is the Contemporary and Boardwalk Inn. Both locations have very friendly Cast Members, great themes, amazing atmosphere, restaurant options, walkways to the various parks, Resort Monorail access from the Contemporary and wonderfull rooms.

 

[Mamu]

I would pick any one of the deluxe resorts on the monorail. I would also go with the resort that is offering the best deal. We did GF in September with a 40% pin. Have also done Poly with an great AP rate. Many feel the Poly is more kid friendly. I disagree we had 4 of our GC with us in September 2-13 year old GD and 2 GS 5 and 1 1/2. We all love the GF and felt it was very kid friendly.

 

[Pakey]

I've stayed in all but the Poly (we vacation in Hawaii so the theme doesn't work) and my favorites are

1. AKV at Kidani. I'd get a one bedroom at least. I love this resort. It's a vacation within a vacation and we don't feel the need to be in the parks constantly.

2. YC if the pool is an important part of your vacation.

Otherwise I'd pick something on the monorail loop, depending on theme preference.

 

[Magic3forme]

We have stayed CR, Poly, AK--both Kidani and Jambo and BLT.

Any on the monorail are my favorites! Our room at the Poly was awesome. There was a lot of room for 5 bodies.

The CR and BLT are my favorite! Theres something about a MK view and being able to watch fireworks from your balcony!! I love the atomsphere/ shopping at CR.

having a washer / dryer and full kitchen is always a bonus too...and again lots and lots of space for 5 people!!

When we stay on monorail, we just go for rides at night, when my son was alseep or dh on a conference call!

 

[GovieMom]

had either the monorail or the fairy to take us to and from the magic kingdom

Too cute! But wouldn't that be magical?!

 

[mickeynut1]

My vote is for the Poly . We've stayed at all of the deluxe resorts except the CR, YC, and BWI and the Poly is our favorite . We love the Poly for many reasons.....the rooms are big and spacious, the volcano pool is fun with a direct view of the castle while swimming, the beach is great for watching the fireworks with a short walk back to your room, the tropical surroundings are beautiful, and Captain Cooks is great for quick CS meals .

 

[chocovrdmicears]

We have stayed at the Poly and AKL and love them both. With a new peep in a stroller, definately the Poly!!!! The monorail access is worth every penny. You can leave the MK or Epcot and never have to take the baby out of the stroller until you are in your room. In addition to a great location, we love the tropical feeling of the Poly...Tiki Torches, Polynesian music, view of the castle, sandy beach, huge rooms, excellent dining options (LOVE Kona for B,L or D) and Captain Cooks is great (Dole Whips on tap).

 

[cookieswithangel]

We've stayed at AKL and WL, and AKL is our new favorite. We've never felt more relaxed at Disney, but still did everything we wanted. The pool is great for kids, and the animals are incredible. There isn't another word for it, but waking up to them outside your balcony is amazing. The cast members are so nice, and though we didn't get to make ADRs when we went in Nov (we are eating in the hotel when we go this summer though!), I've heard the meals are amazing. I agree with above poster, with a larger family, a villa would probably be the best, but from what I've seen, those are gorgeous, both in Kidani and Jambo.
I hope you have a fantastic vacation!

 

[kennedyandkailey]

Definitely the Poly!!!!

 

[momH2the4th]

Hands down, the Poly! The rooms are spacious, it's on the monorail and a quick walk from the TTC and watching the fireworks at the Castle from the Poly's beach are breathtaking! Enjoy your trip!

 

[beebeeryan]

I'll vote for the Wilderness Lodge Villas, the boat to MK is amazing and convenient, buses were fabulous to everywhere else. The villas give you space and the full kitchen and washer/dryer come in very handy especially with the kids. Theme is great and it's compact and the walkway between the Villas and Lodge is covered so no worries if it's raining or anything.

Haven't stayed at any other deluxe yet, we'll be at CR this coming August only because we want to be able to walk to MK so we can catch the fireworks and night things more often (our kids are early to bed usually) and not worry about how long it will take to get back to the resort and if the kids will last. I have heard the rooms are beautiful but the sinks make washing anything difficult because of their design so if you're travelling with a baby that could be an issue. You'll certainly have bottles or things to wash daily.