First Timer Resort Advice Needed

[TowMater92]

Okay, the title is a lie. I've visited the World once back in 2001 when I was 9, but that hardly counts, right?

Anyways, I'm planning a trip for this summer and don't even know where to start. As background, I'm a Disneyland vet - was an AP for two years, have gone more times than I can count, and know which hotels to stay at. I've even planned/booked a trip on a Tuesday and flew down that Saturday!

My friend and I (both mid-20s girls who are eying the whole "drink around the world" thing at Epcot) want to visit in the summer when I can get time off at work. Which can either be as early as May, or late as September - I won't know until about mid-April (the beauty of working for a sports team is that you never know when you can take a vacation). Probably more in the August/September range, though.

We're looking at a week or so (fly in on a Sunday and fly back on a Saturday type of deal), and because we hail from the uber expensive SF Bay Area, we'd prefer to keep it fairly inexpensive (~$150/night or so). But we're also not afraid to spend a little more money if it maximizes our time in the parks - being Disneyland vets, we're used to the whole "15 minute walk from your hotel to the park" thing. So probably looking at a Value or Moderate resort.

Anyways, which resorts give the best bang for you buck while also typifying a Walt Disney World experience? So used to either paying mucho dinero for one of the three Disney hotels, or $160/night for a Harbor motel.

If you want to stay in the $150 range you'll have to go with a value resort, I would go with AoA or Pop for location and better buses over the All-Stars. You might be able to get a good deal at CBR if you want to go moderate because of the construction but if you're going in the summer they might be full even with construction so there may be no discounts. To walk to a park from your resort you would have to go to a deluxe resort(CR, BC, YC, BWI, Swan/Dolphin) are the resort where you can walk to a park. You might check rates at the Swan/Dolphin, its not a WDW resort but you can get really good rates from time to time. You can walk to Epcot and DHS from there in under 15 minutes.

 

[VH103428]

I would either look at going during Food and Wine next year or the Flower and Garden in late April or early May. We have been there during Flower and Garden the last few years and really enjoy the kiosks they have set up that offer little meals and have some drinks and some beer or wine flights. It makes drinking around the world a little easier. For the resort POR and POFQ will be over 150, but are very nice resorts. Pop Century is a nice resort with good transportation and within the 150 a night budget.
Have a great trip!

 

[amylevan]

As others have said, to stay in the $150 range you're going to have to stay in a value. I would also check the rates at Swan/Dolphin as some discounts can put you closer to your price range and within walking distance of Epcot.

As for sit down meals, for two 20-somethings, I would say don't worry about it. Hit counter service meals, and if you really are craving a sit down meal you can usually find something.

 

[iujen94]

Hi! I saw someone else mentioned it too, but I also wanted to put a plug in for the Swan/Dolphin. My best friend and I have an annual Disney trip - we got during Epcot Food and Wine which is a blast. We love staying at the Swan - it's affordable (sign up for their free Starwood Preferred Guest program for better rates, or they also have AAA rates if you are a member. Also, keep checking rates even after you book, as they'll adjust your rate if it drops. This past September I think we ended up paying about $175/night including taxes and fees). It's also walking distance to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. The quality of the room is on par with a Disney deluxe resort, IMO, at a Moderate or even Value resort price. The only downside is that since it's technically not a Disney resort, there's no Disney theming. But you do get almost all of the Disney resort benefits (ability to make FPs at 60 days out, access to Extra Magic Hours, etc.) But for a girls' trip where we are rarely in our room anyway, we don't mind giving that up!

 

[Dsny4fun]

First....if you can Labor Day week it will be hot but very low crowds...go to the parks in the morning, take a break in the afternoon, then go back to the parks at night when the weather can be very tolerable. Also there are usually "fall discounts" and I got a room at a moderate Labor Day week 2017 for $159 a night so it can be done. Do the Epcot food & wine festival during the week, its very busy on weekends....you girls will have a great time!!

 

[Little E]

I response to your question about table service vs quick service the, answer is yes, there are many quick service restaurants. You in no way have to book TS meals for your trip. You could do an entire trip eating only quick service meals. We have been to WDW every year since 2011 and we only started eating at TS restaurants in 2016. Up until that point, my boys had no interest in taking the time to sit through a TS meal...they wanted to ride the rides! We found lots of variety in quick service meals throughout the park and in the WDW resorts. Granted, you won't get "fancy" meals at quick service place, but if that's not important to you, you can definitely do a whole trip eating only at QS places. QS meals allow you to "wing" it a little more...you can go wherever you want, whenever you want, and they are obviously cheaper than TS meals too.

Have a magical trip next summer!!

 

[Skippyboo]

Just a warning about a September trip. You make want to invest in some sort of travel insurance. That’s prime hurricane season in Florida. The last two falls, the parks were shut down and people had to shelter in their hotel rooms.

Unfortunately there isn’t AC all over the place especially in Epcot where there is not much shade in the World Showcase. So be prepared for 90 degrees and jungle humidity and plan to avoid the afternoon peak heat.

Maybe look into the non Disney Disney Springs hotels. A lot of them have shuttles to the parks and you have easy access to Disney Springs where a lot of the really good restaurants are. Mousesavers is a really good sight for tips and hotel specials to save money. For the price of a value, you might be able to get a better room offsite at Disney Springs area.

 

[DJFan88]

Agree on Swan/Dolphin, super convenient for what you want to do., walk/boat to Epcot, and DHS. Go grab the monorail if you want and transfer to MK, sure a little longer, but totally doable, or bus. The bus from Swan/Dolp. is the quickest I ever took for back and forth to Disney Springs.

So many great lunch and dinner places are quick serve, esp. if your on the boardwalk. They don't even take reservations at ESPN and the other place there (BoardwalkGrill"?). The Fountain is easy sit down diner type, no res. required., Great quick serve at Epcot, just walk in , get the fish and chips in UK, Chinese over there, etc.,

Plus, this far in advance, you can probably get a decent rate there. Dolphin is usu. less, but I recommend requesting a 3 fl. room for easy in and out without needing an elevator.

You've got to go on their own website to do it though, and keep in mind the rates. You can also plug in AAA. We did that and got a 50 dollar credit to use at their restaurants like Fountain or the Picabu (quick serve)

 

[disneykid1990]

I've been looking at both the Port Orleans resorts and really like the theming. Any preference as to which one/what are some cool features that they have?

French Quarter is my favorite! The resort is small and quiet. Also, the pool is wonderful and has a great bar! Riverside can be a long walk to the food court and pool depending on where you are staying on property.