Girls trip... early December.. here's our final options.

[MeridaMerida]

Two females in 30's. Being closest to the parks is priority for my friend. Favorite parks are Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom. My friend is from Manhattan and loves food/wine/cocktails. I usually travel with my toddlers/husband so looking for a more adult trip! I have no idea if holiday decor is up, it's first/2nd week of december.

Here's what we have narrowed it down to based on pricing and what was available, in order of least to most expensive. All standard rooms.

Wilderness Lodge
Beach Club
Grand Floridian Resort
Polynesian

 

[TyphoonLegume]

I'm going to say Grand Floridian...

Since Park proximity is a priority... and Epcot or DHS didn't exactly make the cut... I'd turn my focus to the MK resort area. The Polynesian may slightly edge out the Grand here in terms of transportation... with it's walking distance location to the TTC and therefore direct monorail to Epcot (as opposed to changing from Resort Monorail to Epcot Monorail)... but I'm hard pressed to give a solid vote to the Polynesian with the extra price tag.

Holiday decor will in fact be up, including the ever so popular Grand Floridian Gingerbread House. With Christmas decorations in mind... The Wilderness and Grand take top resort honors!

With food/wine/cocktails on the agenda... you can't go wrong with the Grand or MK resort area... if you're going to bar crawl... why not monorail bar crawl? Enjoy a beverage at Mizner's Lounge or the bar at Citrico's, as the lobby orchestra plays in the background and the light smell of gingerbread fills the air. Breakfast at the Grand Floridian Cafe is a nice break from the hustle and bustle of character meals and you can consider Kona at the Polynesian, the Wave at the Contemporary, or do I dare suggest Sunday Brunch at their California Grill... all only a monorail ride away. Dinner options are equally abundant... and let's not forgot that Disney Springs with their ever growing list of bars and restaurants, is only a bus ride away. Dinner at Animal Kingdom Lodge's Jiko? No problem... monorail over to Magic Kingdom and catch a bus from there.

Enjoy a boat rental from the marina (seriously, you'll both laugh and have a great time)... or consider a spa appointment. Trader Sams and his 'rum friends' are only a beach stroll away... the same beach you can sit on and catch a fireworks show from, 2 actually, thanks to the Christmas Party.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of your options to be honest... I'd look at some dinning options and non-park activities that you might be interested in... and build around that!

 

[Marionnette]

Two females in 30's. Being closest to the parks is priority for my friend. Favorite parks are Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom. My friend is from Manhattan and loves food/wine/cocktails. I usually travel with my toddlers/husband so looking for a more adult trip! I have no idea if holiday decor is up, it's first/2nd week of december.

Here's what we have narrowed it down to based on pricing and what was available, in order of least to most expensive. All standard rooms.

Wilderness Lodge
Beach Club
Grand Floridian Resort
Polynesian

I would choose the BC. Walking distance to EPCOT and HS. Multiple dining choices between the 3 Disney resorts in the area, Swan & Dolphin and in the World Showcase. Spend an evening at Jellyrolls and then stroll back to your hotel room.

GF would be the runner up for the larger room, proximity to the MK and numerous restaurants within the resort or a monorail ride away. Nice atmosphere in the lobby but it draws quite a crowd during the holidays with so many people wanting to see the gingerbread house or take advantage of a photo op in front of the massive Christmas tree.

Regardless of what you choose, make it a point to visit all of the deluxe resorts to see their holiday decorations. They will be up by the time you expect to be there.

 

[Farro]

Beach Club - best choice for access to many different restaurants, places for cocktails, close proximity to two great parks. Can't be beat!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

That's a tough one. I love BC, but if favorite parks are AK and MK, I would take Beach Club off the list. For an adults-only, girlfriend trip, I would also take Poly off the list. It's loud and chaotic. I would narrow it down to WL and GF. They are both quieter and more sophisticated and the Christmas decor at both resorts is off the charts. At WL, you will have Geyser Point and Territory Lounge for great cocktails and food. Artist Point is also one of the best signatures at WDW, IMHO. GF has Mizner's, a live band in the lobby and two great signature restaurants. You really can't go wrong with either of those resorts!

 

[Bree]

Beach Club due to the proximity to Epcot for dining and drinks.

GF would be my second choice. Mizner’s Lounge is nice, but the band plays right outside and it can be hard to hold a conversation.

Poly is loud and always full of non-resort guests.

WL - I’d save this one for a family trip. It’s one of my favorite resorts, but not for a girls trip.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Beach Club for all of the reasons above. An adult trip with food and drinks. Beach Club all the way.

 

[cruisin5]

BC. Ease of visiting Epcot ... and JELLY ROLLS!

 

[kniquy]

I would do Polynesian -- on the monorail, just a short ride to some of the better restaurants on property. It is also a quick ride to Epoct -- which gives you a ton of dining options. If you are going for a week i would consider a split stay with AKV-- this way you get the best of both worlds with two great resorts, great dining options and then you would be close to AK park for a portion of your trip.

You have a few bar options staying at - Cali grill bar at the top of the contemporary has a bar menu so you get just get a bite to eat there or just plan a dinner at the Cali Grill. Trader sams at the poly would be a fun experience. A monorail pub crawl would be fun (there are threads on here that you could probably search). I would actually plan a dinner at one of the AKL restaurants (this could be a break from touring time at AK park) Jiko is one of the best on WDW property. If you are looking for a bar then you could hit Victoria Falls.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Poly because not only is it a fun only at Disney kind of place that smells yummy the minute you walk in the lobby but it has the best transportation possibilities for the parks you'll be visiting.
Of course you also have Trader Sam's for late nights but still easy to get back to your room evenings.
As well you have Kona Café for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and the French press coffee at 2 locales. I don't drink coffee but the man does and he's already pointed out that he'll miss it on our next trip the first we will not be staying at Poly.
Easy to see fireworks and the electric pageant from the beach.
Largest standard rooms on property.
Yes there is a reason this is one of the most expensive resorts @ WDW and to my way of thinking it's all justified when compared to the other property resorts.

Which is not to slight the other deluxes but if I only had 3 or 4 nights to take in the whole Disney experiences it's easiest to acquire at the Polynesian.

 

[MeridaMerida]

Poly because not only is it a fun only at Disney kind of place that smells yummy the minute you walk in the lobby but it has the best transportation possibilities for the parks you'll be visiting.
Of course you also have Trader Sam's for late nights but still easy to get back to your room evenings.
As well you have Kona Café for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and the French press coffee at 2 locales. I don't drink coffee but the man does and he's already pointed out that he'll miss it on our next trip the first we will not be staying at Poly.
Easy to see fireworks and the electric pageant from the beach.
Largest standard rooms on property.
Yes there is a reason this is one of the most expensive resorts @ WDW and to my way of thinking it's all justified when compared to the other property resorts.

Which is not to slight the other deluxes but if I only had 3 or 4 nights to take in the whole Disney experiences it's easiest to acquire at the Polynesian.

We chose the Poly! I think we want to go all out on theming and liked that it was on the monorail so we can go to GF and Contemporary easily too if we want to eat there! Any recs on dining from Poly?

I'm thinking Trader Sams, Kona Cafe for breakfast, maybe California Grill for dinner?

 

[MeridaMerida]

I would do Polynesian -- on the monorail, just a short ride to some of the better restaurants on property. It is also a quick ride to Epoct -- which gives you a ton of dining options. If you are going for a week i would consider a split stay with AKV-- this way you get the best of both worlds with two great resorts, great dining options and then you would be close to AK park for a portion of your trip.

You have a few bar options staying at - Cali grill bar at the top of the contemporary has a bar menu so you get just get a bite to eat there or just plan a dinner at the Cali Grill. Trader sams at the poly would be a fun experience. A monorail pub crawl would be fun (there are threads on here that you could probably search). I would actually plan a dinner at one of the AKL restaurants (this could be a break from touring time at AK park) Jiko is one of the best on WDW property. If you are looking for a bar then you could hit Victoria Falls.

Thank you! Ultimately we went with the Polynesian! So excited!! I love the ideas you gave. I liked the idea of GF as well but it was quite a bit more during our dates.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Early December....no brainer...Wilderness Lodge! Its is absolutely gorgeous around the holidays (they start decorating slightly before Thanksgiving, with everything up by Dec 1.

Your friend would love Artist Point restaurant. And as I type this, I see above you already chose Well....still go to dinner at Artist Point for the food and to look around. Soooo pretty!

 

[kniquy]

Any recs on dining from Poly?

We have done Kona for dinner and really liked it, this coming trip (in just 13 days -YEA!!!) we will be trying Ohana dinner and then Kona breakfast. The disunplugged just did a Cal Grill review -- it is expensive but does look amazing. I think we are planning on hitting this for our late November trip.

It is even just fun doing a resort tour to check out the shops and all the christmas decorations. That could be an afternoon itself.

Christmas time is truly magical!!!

 

[MeridaMerida]

I'm excited to see the Christmas decor! If I didn't have little kids at home I would go longer!

 

[Farro]

Thank you! Ultimately we went with the Polynesian! So excited!! I love the ideas you gave. I liked the idea of GF as well but it was quite a bit more during our dates.

You'll love it!!! Have a great trip!!! And you can easily walk to Grand Floridian from Polynesian on the path between the two.