Oh what a great thread!
Bearing in mind that I've only been to WDW once, a visit (we were at Port Orleans Riverside) during which I nevertheless visited all the deluxe resorts so my opinion is based on the public areas of the hotels as opposed to staying there.
Least favourite resort: The Contemporary
. I know it's got lots of fans so I'll keep my criticism short but to us, this is by far the coldest, most uninviting hotel of them all. The CMs, from the lobby to the California Grill podium to our servers, were snobbish and aloof and we absolutely hated this hotel. Not only does the 'theme' not appeal to us at all and we don't understand it but the atmosphere was even worse. It's a huge shame, I wasn't expecting to dislike it so much so I'd had plans to have at least of couple of meals there and I had to cancel everything after our first visit. Even if this were the cheapest hotel on property, we would never stay there. I'll maybe make an effort to check out the Contempo Cafe and The Wave on my own one day but I'll keep any and all expectations at an all-time low.
Favourite resort: The Polynesian blew me away. I never in a million years expected it to feel that way. The minute I stepped foot inside the resort, I knew it was special. It's got an incredible sense of place that can't be seen in pictures, you have to experience it for yourself - the gorgeous, lush decor, the mini waterfall in the lobby, the music, the beach, the view, the staff, the relaxed guests. Every hotel transports you somewhere and some do it impeccably but the Polynesian is the ONLY resort that made me feel like I was on holiday. Sitting on a swing bench with your feet buried in the sand, feasting your eyes on Cinderella's Castle while the lovely music lulls you to let it all go while sipping Lili'koi juice is my definition of heaven. It's right there with
Castaway Cay's Serenity Bay for me in terms of relaxation (which is the highest praise I could possibly give). Also, Kona Cafe has the best breafkast in Disney World in my opinion. Great service, the Kona coffee French pot is exceptionally flavourful, the juice is perfect and the Macadamia Nut Pancakes are melt-in-your-mouth pieces of buttery deliciousness.
I will say though that The Grand Floridian is the most gorgeous hotel and the one that impressed me the most, everything from the decor, the atmosphere and the staff, but the Polynesian is just special and has my heart.
Old Faithful: We stayed at Port Orleans Riverside and even though we were only there once, it's home. It's beautiful and cosy. I'm getting emotional just writing this. I feel homesick for it, it was perfect for us. We loved the resort so much and being able to walk down the river to grab some delicious beignets from French Quarter almost every night was truly special. I feel like it'll stay our home for a while, we felt completely welcome there and part of the community. It helps that we enjoyed the resort's pool, campfire, food court and bar a lot and made it our homebase. Unless our budget allows for a deluxe, POR is where we're at.