Help me pick my hotel 1st stay in Deluxe

[PIRATEGIRL007]

I need help deciding which Deluxe to stay in for our January trip. Ulitimately AP discounts will play a huge part in where we stay but i want to make tentative reservations now for January. I have never stayed in a Deluxe and this trip (w/ hopefully a good discount) we will be able to afford it. I prob won't be able to justify more than a standard or a little bit above standard room, but i want to take this opportunity to start staying at the Deluxe's. I want to stay in a monorail resort or in the MK area but then again I loved AKL's theming when we visited to eat at Boma!

Our travel party includes 2 adults late twenty somethings who love disney, no kids. We will be staying probably about 3-4 days this trip in early January.

My choices are:
Contemporary-
Polynesian-
Wilderness Lodge-
Animal Kingdom Lodge -

 

[MainStreetFireman]

Tough choice. Are you more about the service or the theme? I hear that the GF is peerless when it comes to service, but I have never stayed there. Maybe Poly or AKL since they are both very well themed, and both actual areas (Polynesia and Africa) are farthest from the continental U.S. For me, nothing beats the Poly, but that's my thing. Good luck deciding. As is often said when being confronted with this type of problem -- there really is no bad choice.

 

[KatMark]

I voted for the Polynesian. It is our second favorite resort after the CSR. The Contemporary is okay...but it is a little "too" modern for me. We don't like the Grand Floridian at all and have not had the pleasure of staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge...and we would do that only if we could afford a Savannah view. I am sure you will be thrilled whichever one you end up picking.

 

[Amyg]

I can understand what you mean about seeing AKL and wanting to stay there! We stayed at POFQ (which we totally enjoyed) last summer and went to eat at AKL...we were awestruck by this resort! So much so that we have reservations for next summer!

I have never been to the Poly (I live in Hawaii so would not stay there) or GF (look gorgeous but not into Victorian) and didn't care much for the very modern Contemporary resort.

It will boil down to what you really want more, being able to take the monorail or having just the busses to rely on. Good luck!

 

[pooh2001]

Polynesian - our reasons

CR - nice but has construction where the wings were.
AKL - we do not like the restuarants and buses to everywhere
WL- buses and boat to MK, and our main reason in the Pool. It's is way too small for all the WL guests and ducks swim in the pool

Poly- -> monorail to MK. Great restauarants & 'Ohana's for Lilo & Stitch, 2 pools, wonderful views of MK fireworks from the beach, can walk to TTC for monorail to EPCOT, just a monorail away from great character breakfast and dinners at GF and CR, Poly has a wonderful gift shop (must do even if you do not stay there) - Plus Poly hs Kona coffee, not the stuff which is served around WDW (DH hates the WDW coffee brand - to remain not named, no offense)

On the side, Swan/Dolphin serves Starbucks coffee, another DH favorite

 

[Kata]

I have stayed at 3 (AKL,POLY,WL) of the 4 resorts you are considering. I loved all 3 of them so much I have reservations at all 3 resorts in 12/07.I was lucky enough to get really good deals for all 3 of them. If you want a monorail resort you should definetely choose the Poly,when I walked into the room I thought I had died and when to heaven.I loved the Kona Cafe and I didn't eat at Ohana but I know it is very popular. I loved AKL,I love animals and in my opinion it offers 2 of WDW best restaurants(Jiko,the best meal I have ever eaten in my life and Boma).WL was not a planned stay,but when I walked into the resort I fell in love. AKL and WL do offer the best rates for deluxe resorts.Have fun whatever you decide!!!!!!!

 

[DisneyBride'03]

I voted Poly....my first WDW hotel Nothing beats the monorail and seeing the castle as you walk along the beach..especially at night!! Very pricey these days w/ a discount/code....but I visit the resort every time I am in WDW!



* I meant to say.."w/O a discount/code..oops!*

 

[kribit]

I said Poly, but the new CR rooms look beautiful too. I would pick either.