Help me decide which Disney Resort to stay at!

[wayneg]

Don't like the look of the values they seem too 'busy' when we have visited and we like a little bit of calm away from the parks.

This isn't just a value problem, last year at AKL myself and DS went for a swim, not too bad, within 20-30 mins every sunbed was taken and it was packed. I suspect it was down to EMH at MK in the evening, everyone had same idea, swim in morning, MK in eve. Also MK was mega busy, they ran out of wristbands. Avoid EMH evenings now.
Hoping OKW is not so busy but doubt we will be there much.

 

[Lizzybear]

Thanks for all the great advice guys

I always thought AKL would be the winner for dream resort, but apparently not!

At the moment we're thinking one of the Port Orleans resorts as they look really nice and we still get the DDP there. AKL would have been my favourite pick but it looks like its gonna cost twice as much as PO, and it just doesnt seem worth spending so much more. And the PO resorts seem to be a popular choice here too which must be a good thing.

Wayne, as you suggest the OKW deal was really good so I'll def be keeping an eye out for a repeat of that for next year

I was all set to upgrade from POFQ to AKL in 2007 but I just couldn't justify the extra cash and after visiting yes it is a gorgeous resort but personally if I was paying all that money i'd want a location to match and it's a bit too far flung in the Disney complex for me to want to spend a whole holiday there. However, I know many like this and see it as an advantage. I would like to stay there at some point but i'd combine it with other deluxe resorts I think.

 

[marbella_chris]

our favourite beach club villas beacuse of the pool (stormalong bay - never over busy) and also because we own vaction club there.

we love grand floridian, yacht club (next door to beach club) and wilderness lodge is just awesome at christmas.

never stayed at any value so couldnt say. stayed at port orleans, great place, didnt like the fact we had no balcony, and if you use buses then it can be a pain depending on where you are, but the boat to downtown disney is great.

old key west - didnt like the rooms, saratoga springs - not bad, bit to spread out and big for my liking and pools are boring.

just my 2 cents, i realise it all comes down to budget, but i would always go for the very best that you can afford, in my opinion its money well spent.

 

[Cinderella]

We almost always make sure we get some kind of discount or deal. But even with those, the resorts are so expensive. If money were no object we'd stay in Poly Lagoon view concierge again, or GF concierge. We haven't stayed at the Grand Floridian but we really want to - a garden view at either of these resorts would be very nice too.

For me, the best value has always been the WL, so we've stayed there most. WL & AKL (we haven't stayed at AKL yet) are cheaper than the other deluxe resorts but they offer a lot for your money. WL is beautiful and the boatride to MK is great.

I'm not keen on staying in the moderate resorts. Given the choice, I'd rather split a stay between a value and a deluxe resort first. I think I've probably been spoilt by the deluxe's though.

If you can get a deal - any of the DVC resorts are great too - we love Saratoga Springs but I wouldn't pay rack rate there.

 

[raph_b]

I was all set to upgrade from POFQ to AKL in 2007 but I just couldn't justify the extra cash and after visiting yes it is a gorgeous resort but personally if I was paying all that money i'd want a location to match and it's a bit too far flung in the Disney complex for me to want to spend a whole holiday there. However, I know many like this and see it as an advantage. I would like to stay there at some point but i'd combine it with other deluxe resorts I think.

I'm currently thinking the exact same thing as you

Great minds really do think alike

 

[torsie24]

If money were no object I'd be in the GF Concierge theme park view! (We are getting a free room of our choice with our wedding and this is our choice!)

But for this upcoming trip we have chosen AKL as it really isn't much more expensive than a moderate, but I really love nice hotels and it just looks fabulous!

 

[Graeme]

Raph,

I'd advise you to think about OKW. As it was the original DVC resort it's a lot more spread out than some of the others, with most of the units only being two storey. We stayed there for our honeymoon in Sept 03 and a lot of the time had a quiet pool to ourselves, or only had about a dozen others round the main pool. Contrast that with the BCV, AKL and WL pools and there's no contest. The unit sizes are huge and you can park outside your door. Most balconies look over a golf course or waterway and it's just so quiet. It's also a boat ride away from DTD.
I'm going back there for my third stay in May and would definitely recommend it for adults without kids as a relaxing escape from the parks.