Help me pick a resort

[mastermind307]

Not planning to go back to Disney until sometime in 2018 (June or October), but I've started looking at resorts. The trip is supposed to be a mother/daughter trip (unless DH decides he wants to come). DD will be 11 or 12 at the time and we've been 4 times since 2010, but always with family so we're excited to just go with the 2 of us.

We've stayed at POFQ, BWV, and VWL on our previous trips. I really like those resort so not sure if I want to stay at one of those again or try a different one. I rented points to stay at BWV and VWL and would do so again to stay there or at another deluxe resort, that's the only way it's affordable for us.

I would like to have more than 1 option for transportation, even if it's just a boat to Disney Springs. And we want one that has good CS options for lunch/dinner. Since DD will be considered a Disney adult, we won't be eating at as many TS restaurants as we have in the past.

I'd love to hear people's opinions on different resorts and why we should stay there.

 

[Quellman]

What are your goals for the trip? If you plan on spending all of your time in the parks, out shopping, or at the pool, and you have a more constrained budget, pick moderate or value since the room matters less. Dining is getting decent across many of the resorts now, people always mention how the food court at Art of Animation is unique and accessible. We found it to have a large selection the only time we ate there, for breakfast.

The only alternate transport for moderate/value hotels is with Port Orleans which will take you to Disney Springs. All Deluxe resorts with the exception of Animal Kingdom Lodge have either a boat or monorail at a minimum.

Caribbean Beach has a great theme to it, and Coronado Springs a great pool and slightly better food options than some places due to it being a convention hotel. If you don't mind the risk with renting points, you can usually get Bay Lake Tower outside of the 11 month window, but depnding on the dates in October, maybe not due to the party fireworks and food and wine going on. Have a great trip.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

If you are interested in a different moderate resort with secondary transportation, POR is your only option (boat to DSp).

 

[nilla]

Coronado.

I didn't even read your comment, but Coronado anyway. It's THAT good.

 

[nilla]

Ok, now that I actually read it...

The moderates all seem to have excellent food court-type quick service restaurants. I can tell you from experience that CSR and CBRs are fantastic. POR's looks good, too, though I haven't eaten there in a while. I'd imagine POFQ is the same story.

 

[CynBeth]

I would say CR or Poly if your budget allows.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If you are renting points, it is just you two, and it is not September-January, I would suggest BLT. Contempo is a very good QS, although not s food court.

For June I think this quite possible. October is a harder month for any near-park rental.

 

[HairyChest]

in order of preference from places ive stayed :
1)Polynesian
2)grand Floridian
4)wilderness lodge
5)animal kingdom lodge
6)port orleans riverside
7)art of animation

 

[Babsy]

1. Swan or Dolphin.
2. CR
3. POR

 

[stephmarty]

We rented points for a studio villa at the Poly for our upcoming trip. Not a whole lot more than I've paid for POR in the past. Some more, yes, but saved a lot doing this way. So, since that's what we chose to do, I guess that would be my recommendation.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

in order of preference from places ive stayed :
1)Polynesian
2)grand Floridian
4)wilderness lodge
5)animal kingdom lodge
6)port orleans riverside
7)art of animation

Just wondering, was there a number 3)?

 

[mastermind307]

What are your goals for the trip? If you plan on spending all of your time in the parks, out shopping, or at the pool, and you have a more constrained budget, pick moderate or value since the room matters less. Dining is getting decent across many of the resorts now, people always mention how the food court at Art of Animation is unique and accessible. We found it to have a large selection the only time we ate there, for breakfast.

Our normal schedule at Disney is to get up and hit rope drop, we're morning people so get up early. We usually stay in the park until early afternoon, eat some lunch and then head back to our resort. DD likes to swim, but prefers the quieter pools over the main ones so we aren't picky out that. We'll go to Disney Springs once or twice. We also always want to play mini golf and maybe we'll fit that in. We may or may not go back to the parks in the evening. We don't have PH unless we upgrade after we're there.

If you are interested in a different moderate resort with secondary transportation, POR is your only option (boat to DSp).

I do like POR, my DH and I stayed there a long time ago before we were married and had DD.

Coronado.

I didn't even read your comment, but Coronado anyway. It's THAT good.

I was thinking about trying a different moderate, Coronado or CBR, but they both seem so big.

I would say CR or Poly if your budget allows.

I'd love to stay at the Poly, but I think that's a little out of my price range. CR is at the top of my price range, but might be doable depending on when we go.

If you are renting points, it is just you two, and it is not September-January, I would suggest BLT. Contempo is a very good QS, although not s food court.

For June I think this quite possible. October is a harder month for any near-park rental.

I am torn on when to go. There are pros and cons to going in June or October. I think renting points in June would be easier to get a resort I want, but it's more expensive. October is cheaper, but with so many events going on, it'll be more difficult to get certain resorts.

1. Swan or Dolphin.
2. CR
3. POR

I have looked at she Swan and Dolphin, but since we'll probably fly and want to use ME (I really don't want to rent a car) I don't think those will be an option.

 

[RustManFan]

POR, definitely!

 

[Babsy]

I do like POR, my DH and I stayed there a long time ago before we were married and had DD.



I was thinking about trying a different moderate, Coronado or CBR, but they both seem so big.



I'd love to stay at the Poly, but I think that's a little out of my price range. CR is at the top of my price range, but might be doable depending on when we go.


I have looked at she Swan and Dolphin, but since we'll probably fly and want to use ME (I really don't want to rent a car) I don't think those will be an option.

1. POR is a good option. It is also large and spread out much like CSR and CBR. If you didn't mind the size of POR you would probably be fine at CSR or CBR. Then there is also the option of a preferred room location at any of these.

2. CR or BLT is a great choice, if it fits the budget. Large rooms and you walk to the MK.

3. We always fly and almost never rent a car. We just factor in the cost of a town car or taxi. You often save enough with a discount staying at the Swan/Dolphin that it is still the best option. You get luxury and location for the price of a moderate.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

October is cheaper, but with so many events going on, it'll be more difficult to get certain resorts.

Renting points for October, you will pay a premium rate (and still need some luck) to get BLT, BCV or BWV. Hard to say what next year looks like for VWL bookings yet. AKV, Saratoga and OKW will not demand premium rates, but for October I would still be booking in advance of 7 months, especially if your trip is anywhere near Columbus Day.

VGF is always hard. Poly is mostly weird; it's one of the most-requested for rentals, but not sold through. Most of the activity is at 7 months, and that can be pretty fierce. I switched a Saratoga booking to Poly at 7 months this year and availability was gone by 8:30AM; Saratoga studios had holes at the end of the morning as well.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

@mastermind307 - if you liked POR, CSR is actually a little smaller.

 

[Perelandra]

If you want to spend more time in MK, then I would try to rent pts for Poly or WL, if Epcot, then Boardwalk (it's pretty affordable, especially if you pay Hresort premium and get a standard room. If you want to spend a bunch of time at DSprings, then you can rent SSR points cheap and walk there.

 

[mastermind307]

I think I have my top choices as being
1. BWV - I really like the location and being able to walk to to parks and other resorts is a BIG plus. The downside is the CS options.
2. BLT - Again, I really like the location and I always wanted to stay here or at the CR.
3. VWL - I really enjoyed our stay here in Oct. 2015, but I'll have to wait and see what the resort is like after the construction is finished.
4. BCV - I prefer BWV, but would consider Beach Club because of the location.

I'm still considering the moderates just simply because of the CS options, but unless a good discount come out, renting points seems to be the cheaper way to go right now.

I've ruled out SSR, I looked at it and although walking to Disney Springs is appealing, the resort is so big and from what I've read you have to walk along side roads to get to different places and I prefer not to do that. I believe OKW is the same way. I also don't think the Swan or Dolphin will work for us. I like the perks of staying at Disney owned resorts.

I looked at AKL and a savanna view is the almost the same cost at BLT, VWL, and Beach Club and for location I'd rather stay of one of those. However, standard is cheaper, but not sure if it would be worth it to stay there without the view. Plus we'd have to take a bus everywhere.

It's fun just looking at and reading about the different resorts. I think I've been going through planning withdraw, it's been over a year since I last planned a trip.

 

[Perelandra]

I think I have my top choices as being
1. BWV - I really like the location and being able to walk to to parks and other resorts is a BIG plus. The downside is the CS options.
2. BLT - Again, I really like the location and I always wanted to stay here or at the CR.
3. VWL - I really enjoyed our stay here in Oct. 2015, but I'll have to wait and see what the resort is like after the construction is finished.
4. BCV - I prefer BWV, but would consider Beach Club because of the location.

I'm still considering the moderates just simply because of the CS options, but unless a good discount come out, renting points seems to be the cheaper way to go right now.

I've ruled out SSR, I looked at it and although walking to Disney Springs is appealing, the resort is so big and from what I've read you have to walk along side roads to get to different places and I prefer not to do that. I believe OKW is the same way. I also don't think the Swan or Dolphin will work for us. I like the perks of staying at Disney owned resorts.

I looked at AKL and a savanna view is the almost the same cost at BLT, VWL, and Beach Club and for location I'd rather stay of one of those. However, standard is cheaper, but not sure if it would be worth it to stay there without the view. Plus we'd have to take a bus everywhere.

It's fun just looking at and reading about the different resorts. I think I've been going through planning withdraw, it's been over a year since I last planned a trip.

In my opinion, if SSR and OKW are too big for you, then the moderates would be as well. They are huge. In my mind SSR and OKW are lower end deluxes, but a step above moderates, and while OKW lacks a good CS option, the Artist's Palette looks nice at SSR. So, if I wasn't going to step up to a BWV or BLT, and if I could get SSR or OKW for less than POR or CBR, then it would be a no brainer for me. I would go deluxe.