First timer -resort help?

[Farawaymouse]

Hi!

I have been busily reading the forum posts and so much great information but I am still confused! We have been to Disneyland before but not to Disneyworld and it is a whole different beast.
We are coming from Australia so it is most likely a one-off trip and we want it to be awesome

We have booked our international flights and arrive in mid September . At this stage we have some flexibility , but are looking to check out some other areas then head to Orlando around 24th September 2016. 2 Adults and a 9 year old this trip. We are mostly interested in Magic Kingdom, followed by Animal Kingdom then the Studios and Epcot. Love the idea of being able to walk to MK as we did this in Disneyland and HK Disney and really enjoyed the ability to get off buses etc! This leaves us with Contemporary? A bit unsure as to whether it has enough "Disney feel" for our daughter? Also if it is worthwhile paying the extra for a one bedroom in the Bay Tower rather than a standard room in the hotel itself?
Then I looked at Wilderness Lodge and loved the idea but it seems there are major renovations underway so this has scared me off. So after all this rambling....would love any advice of best place for us to stay, if not walkable to MK then are the buses etc awfully crowded and slow etc... We are planning 4 nights stay but also happy to split between resorts if that is recommended. Also if I book now does that mean I can't get the discount offers that may come out later?

Thanks for sticking with this LONG post... hope someone can point me in the right direction as I am becoming more and more confused!

 

[brinkley07]

I think the Contemporary resort is nice, and if you book a room with a view of the park it will have the MK feel. If AK is your second choice then AKL is amazing with a savannah view. We love waking up and going to bed looking at the animals. As for the walk to the park, well that's all it is...a walk through a parking lot and down a sidewalk. The busses are fine and depending on the time of day they aren't too bad crowd wise. We are not fans of WL for the transportation which seems to take forever to me, and with the renovation I would wait. Lastly if you book now and a discount comes out you can call and book the discount. Of course you are subject to what is available when the discount comes out. I hope this helps a little! Good luck!

 

[Farawaymouse]

Thanks so much Brinkley07 AKL accommodation looks amazing, I just wasn't sure how far away it was form the other parks and if it would be a lot of time travelling? Thanks for your points on WL- I too was nervous so that is one struck off the list!
Too many great choices!

 

[emoses]

AKL is my favorite hotel but it is a bit far out of the way. Getting to AK is uber convenient because it's right next door, but MK is ~30min bus ride most days. So if that's your focus then you're probably best off with something on the monorail. It will come directly to your hotel and you can hop on for a fun ride to MK really easily! It's about a 10 minute ride all the way around (I missed my stop last time I was on it so I ended up having to go around the whole route again but it's so fun on there we didn't mind at all!). Have you considered the Polynesian? That's on the monorail and has more 'theme' to it than the Contemporary imo.

FYI you're going at a great time crowd wise! September is the lowest crowd month of the year so you shouldn't have too long of waits on rides, or be fighting to get on any buses.

 

[Farawaymouse]

Thanks emoses! I have only briefly looked at the Polynesian. I didn't realize how convenient the monorail was to be honest, that is such a short trip and who doesn't love a monorail ride!
Glad to hear September is a less busy month, I believe it is still hurricane season but we shouldn't be too worried as there are warning systems etc?

Off to look more closely at the Polynesian ...and perhaps the idea of splitting our stay between two resorts...

 

[emoses]

Yeah monorail is super easy! Only hiccup is sometimes you spend a little time waiting for it to come. I hadn't stayed at the Polynesian in a long time but went in July and really enjoyed it! We split our hotel time between the pool and their beach and that was super fun!

Yeah, September is still hurricane season (as a FL resident I can tell you that!), but hopefully it should be ok! Can get some good rain in that month so maybe bring ponchos just in case

I haven't done a split stay myself before, but I've heard Disney makes it really convenient for you so it's an idea!! The other monorail hotels would be Contemporary and Grand Floridian. GF is quite expensive though.

 

[Babsy]

Hi!

I have been busily reading the forum posts and so much great information but I am still confused! We have been to Disneyland before but not to Disneyworld and it is a whole different beast.
We are coming from Australia so it is most likely a one-off trip and we want it to be awesome

We have booked our international flights and arrive in mid September . At this stage we have some flexibility , but are looking to check out some other areas then head to Orlando around 24th September 2016. 2 Adults and a 9 year old this trip. We are mostly interested in Magic Kingdom, followed by Animal Kingdom then the Studios and Epcot. Love the idea of being able to walk to MK as we did this in Disneyland and HK Disney and really enjoyed the ability to get off buses etc! This leaves us with Contemporary? A bit unsure as to whether it has enough "Disney feel" for our daughter? Also if it is worthwhile paying the extra for a one bedroom in the Bay Tower rather than a standard room in the hotel itself?
Then I looked at Wilderness Lodge and loved the idea but it seems there are major renovations underway so this has scared me off. So after all this rambling....would love any advice of best place for us to stay, if not walkable to MK then are the buses etc awfully crowded and slow etc... We are planning 4 nights stay but also happy to split between resorts if that is recommended. Also if I book now does that mean I can't get the discount offers that may come out later?

Thanks for sticking with this LONG post... hope someone can point me in the right direction as I am becoming more and more confused!

Yes, you are right, WDW is a whole different beast from DL. The size does matter! LOL

First of all, with only 4 days, I would not bother splitting your stay. It isn't much trouble to move, but for only 2 days at each resort you wouldn't really have much opportunity to enjoy either one, IMO. I have stayed at them all multiple times and I rarely bother to move for less than three days at a resort.
It just feels too unsettled to only have a set home base for two nights before you have to move.

Also, yes, discounts can be applied later, as long as they are available in your resort and room type.

If the MK is likely your focus, then I agree that a monorail resort will be the best choice for you. I would carefully look at the three choices to see which resort appeals to you more. All three are tied for my favourite resort in WDW. They are all deluxe resorts, they all have large comfortable rooms, they all have great views of the MK, they are all on the monorail and they all have easy access to each other, the MK and Epcot. they all have buses to DHS and to the AK. I have given up trying to choose between them. They each have different features unique about them that I love.

For most people the Poly seems to be the preferred or most appealing choice. It was the resort that I stayed in for my first onsite stay, so I have to agree that the Poly is very Special. The tropical island theme is so relaxing and well done, the views across the lake to Cinderella Castle so romantic, the lava pool is awesome (you can watch the castle and/or fireworks from here) and the new Oasis pool should be finished when you come in September. The Poly has unique easy walking access to the TTC, so you can take a monorail directly from the Poly to both Epcot and the MK. Super convenient.

Possible cons to a stay at the Poly are that some rooms do not have a balcony. You can request a balcony or patio, but I believe that most people make that a request. You can't get a guaranteed balcony in any room category (except suite level or a bungalow). The other con is that all the rooms are in buildings separate from the main longhouse where the restaurants and shops are located. So you pretty much have to go outside when you leave your room to do anything.

The Grand Floridian is the flagship hotel of WDW. Everything seems to be just a little bit better here. More restaurants, more seating at the bus stop, serene manicured grounds, nicer toiletries, an amazing lobby with frequent live music playing, wonderful shops. It is a magnificent place to stay. The rooms are bright and cheery and nearly all have a nice balcony or patio. Most rooms are in buildings exterior to the main building, but some rooms are in the main building. These rooms are Club level and pricey, but they are wonderful, some with fabulous views across to the MK. Dining at the GF is pretty much as good as it gets in WDW. Fresh flowers abound.

The only cons here are potentially staying in a room that requires going outside to get to restaurants, shops, etc and, for some, a feeling that the resort atmosphere is a bit 'stuffy' or perhaps formal.

The Contemporary is the third choice. It has the distinction of being the only resort with walking access to the MK. For some, that feature alone makes a stay here desirable. It is also the deluxe where the majority of the rooms are within the main building, so everything is under one roof. However, even if you do stay in the exterior Garden Wing, there is a covered walkway to the main building, so you do have protection from the elements. All the rooms (with the exception of a very few GW standard view rooms) have lovely views at this resort and all the tower rooms have balconies. So, if you book a tower room, you will have a balcony. Also you have a choice of a beautiful serene bay Lake view or the magnificent Magic Kingdom area view. If you take a look at the pictures online you will see how awesome those views are! A MK view tower room has the best view in all WDW, IMO.

The CR has the best overall transportation options, IMO. You can go everywhere in WDW almost directly from here. The exception is Epcot, where you will have to change monorails at the TTC.

The downside of a stay at the CR basically comes down to the theme of the resort. For many it just feels like any hotel anywhere. I understand. It was one of the last hotels that I stayed in for that very reason. However, when I walked into the tower room and looked out over that view over seven saes lagoon, the Mk, the Gf and the Poly I was thrilled! Another downside for some people is the very plain pool area. It is not heavily themed or tropical like the pools at the other MK resorts, in particular. Again, take a look at pics online to see if it will work for you or not.

Good luck deciding!! Whichever of these three great hotels you choose, you are saying in one of the best of the best that WDW has to offer.

 

[Accident]

You're probably going to be spending most of your time in the parks so the question is really what kind of budget do you have to a resort? there really isn't a bad resort, just what extras and where is it located. For us, we don't find the 10-15 extra minutes geting to or from any park to be in the way but we save enough money that we can stay for longer without spending more money vs a deluxe hotel. Before you really pick a resort, I would say it would be wise to decide what else you want to do. Is there any specific restaurants, dining show or breakfast you must do? Is there something specific at the hotel you want when your not in the parks? Is there other hotels you want to visit if only to spend a few minutes walking around and seeing them? For many, what else you do and how much of it you have time for can really change depending on where you stay.

for us, we like staying more days so we don't do the deluxe resorts too often. Art of animation is heavily themed with modern animation and might actually be that version of feeling like disney your going after. It also happens to be a value resort and might offer you more options like staying longer. Port Orleans is many people favorites and it's just a step up in cost being a moderate. To me it still feels disney and new orleans at the same time but it's not like jumping into the animations that AoA offers. Then you have the deluxe and really before I pick a deluxe, I would ask yourself exactly what you want out of your stay, what you want nearby, where else you need to get too. There isn't really a bad resort, it's really just what you want out of it and how much are you willing to pay for it and what are you giving up if you do pay heavy for a place to rest your head. a 4 day trip, your going to be in the parks all day long, especially if you think this is your one and only trip does getting there 15-20 minutes faster really change anything?

 

[Farawaymouse]

Thanks for all your help guys. Babsy what a fabulously detailed reply- incredibly helpful thankyou!
Accident- thanks for the differing points, you are right that it is worth considering the value resorts and we have looked at AoA but I think we will go with something in the Magic Kingdom area. We are holidaying in the USA for 3 weeks and it is a long way to go so budget is kinda out the window this trip
We have now narrowed it down to the Contemporary and the Polynesian. My husband prefers Contemporary - probably Bay Lake Tower and I am leaning towards the Polynesian- let the fun begin

 

[DizDaD7]

Hi!

I have been busily reading the forum posts and so much great information but I am still confused! We have been to Disneyland before but not to Disneyworld and it is a whole different beast.
We are coming from Australia so it is most likely a one-off trip and we want it to be awesome

We have booked our international flights and arrive in mid September . At this stage we have some flexibility , but are looking to check out some other areas then head to Orlando around 24th September 2016. 2 Adults and a 9 year old this trip. We are mostly interested in Magic Kingdom, followed by Animal Kingdom then the Studios and Epcot. Love the idea of being able to walk to MK as we did this in Disneyland and HK Disney and really enjoyed the ability to get off buses etc! This leaves us with Contemporary? A bit unsure as to whether it has enough "Disney feel" for our daughter? Also if it is worthwhile paying the extra for a one bedroom in the Bay Tower rather than a standard room in the hotel itself?
Then I looked at Wilderness Lodge and loved the idea but it seems there are major renovations underway so this has scared me off. So after all this rambling....would love any advice of best place for us to stay, if not walkable to MK then are the buses etc awfully crowded and slow etc... We are planning 4 nights stay but also happy to split between resorts if that is recommended. Also if I book now does that mean I can't get the discount offers that may come out later?

Thanks for sticking with this LONG post... hope someone can point me in the right direction as I am becoming more and more confused!

1st off... to the Disboards.

2ndly. If you're only going to be doing 4 days, & going to 4 parks, a split stay is definitely not the way to go...And also being in close proximity to MK when maybe only going there for 1 day or maybe 2, to me isn't the best idea either ( especially if you're not WoW'ed by the decor/look/feel.

September should be rather lighter on the crowds, and later in that month you should have superb weather....I'd suggest trying to get maybe BWV or BCV...For you can walk to both EPCOT & HS too. or take the boat. Both are themed nicely too. I also agree with AKL/V but for a 4 day trip, your not going to have much resort time ( which is really what this place is known for ).

If staying at a moderate....I'd suggest either CSR ( great bus service ) & POR, which has a real nice feel to it, plus has the boat to DTD....Er I mean DS.

Either way have a great trip in whichever you choose...

 

[Farawaymouse]

Thanks DizDaD7- although you may have now confused me further
To be honest we haven't been planning on spending any real time at Epcot and were only planning a quick visit to the studios hence choosing to stay close to MK. It seems we may be a bit odd in this regard?

We have the option to extend our stay at WDW by a day or two but that will eat into time available for other places so not sure what to do there..

 

[DizDaD7]

Thanks DizDaD7- although you may have now confused me further
To be honest we haven't been planning on spending any real time at Epcot and were only planning a quick visit to the studios hence choosing to stay close to MK. It seems we may be a bit odd in this regard?

We have the option to extend our stay at WDW by a day or two but that will eat into time available for other places so not sure what to do there..

Completely understand..in 4 days it's tough to do & see everything w/out running around....So not much time will be spent at the resort...A lot of times people will post on here, Which park to miss questions??? Like should I choose HS or AK? I'm not a big fan of that, but to each his/her own...Maybe you can split a day up for both those parks and hit MK on the others..

If I were still set on staying near MK, and the $$$ part wasn't a huge factor then I'd go w/ Poly or GFv..

 

[Hopefully]

Thanks DizDaD7- although you may have now confused me further
To be honest we haven't been planning on spending any real time at Epcot and were only planning a quick visit to the studios hence choosing to stay close to MK. It seems we may be a bit odd in this regard?

We have the option to extend our stay at WDW by a day or two but that will eat into time available for other places so not sure what to do there..

For a " one off" trip to WDW with a 9 yo I definitely would consider adding a day or two. I would also suggest a bit more research before you finalize your plans. The Unofficial guide to WDW and My First Visit are both good references. WDW is huge. 47 square miles. The Magic Kingdom is most like Disneyland. You may want to consider spending more time in the other 3 parks since you already know what the MK offers.
Personally our favorite park is Epcot. But Epcot is NOT all about "rides". We love World Showcase. We choose to stay at the Beaach Club Resort. We love it there. Your you can walk to 2 parks- EC & DHS. It has without question the best pool on property in Storm Along Bay and more restaurants in walking distance then any other area.
Good Luck deciding.

 

[Farawaymouse]

Thanks Hopefully! I have been researching for some time but still have so much to learn. We may look at adding an extra day I think as the more we look the more we find we would like to add in!

The 9 year old is very much into the rides and animals so that will bout main focus but will look further at places like Epcot, for some reason it just isn't grabbing me but maybe I am missing something?

 

[Quellman]

Thanks for all your help guys. Babsy what a fabulously detailed reply- incredibly helpful thankyou!
Accident- thanks for the differing points, you are right that it is worth considering the value resorts and we have looked at AoA but I think we will go with something in the Magic Kingdom area. We are holidaying in the USA for 3 weeks and it is a long way to go so budget is kinda out the window this trip
We have now narrowed it down to the Contemporary and the Polynesian. My husband prefers Contemporary - probably Bay Lake Tower and I am leaning towards the Polynesian- let the fun begin

Great choices! We love Bay Lake and Stay there every year as we own the Disney Vacation Club there (though we have stayed other places). We are spoiled and stay in theme park view every time, but then again we spend more time in the room then many other vacationers, so being able to see fireworks each night is nice. They have studio, 1 bedroom, and 2 bedrooms available direct from Disney. The studio has a small kitchenette, but the bedrooms have full kitchens, with a 9 year old you could do a studio or a 1 bedroom just fine depending on funds available. The bedrooms also have laundry machines in the room (handy if you want to wash some clothes while on holiday). Since you will likely be spending your days from park open-park close, a standard view would certainly save you some money. Views could be woods, parking lot, or even pool. Lake view gives you the lake view. The tower is connected to the Contemporary by a covered bridge. At contemporary there is 1 quick service and 3 full service restaurants. People also enjoy the walk to the Magic Kingdom, I know we do!

Polynesian also has studio rooms available beyond the regular hotel rooms. They also have 3 full service and 2 quick service dining. They also have a fun bar called Trader Sams Grog Grotto while Contemporary has a great wine bar. Polynesian has a brand new pool, but there are no covered connections between the different hotel buildings. They also have a very nice beach area and are very close to the transportation and ticket center should you need alternate transportation. You can also walk to the Grand Floridian.

Happy planning!

 

[Farawaymouse]

Thanks Quellman. I must admit Bay Lake Towers is slightly ahead at the moment. One of those reasons is the practicality of things like the in suite laundry. I am still wondering if the lack of theming will be a bit of a letdown but the views and ability to walk to MK are pretty enticing!