Help me pick please :)

[qwerty2k]

So looking to go in october 25th 2018 which will be a second honeymoon for me and my fiancee (getting married in august and going to australia in august). We are both 31 just fyi if that makes any difference lol.

There seems to be very limited availability (im booking from the uk), so the following are our options for a 10 day / 9 night stay:

(all prices include air fair, park tickets and hotel stay for the both of us)

• Swan or Dolphin - £3888 (standard courtyard)
• Port Orleans Riverside - £4036 (double royal guest room - standard)
• Animal Kingdom Lodge - £5054 (but is oddly in a pool view with bunk beds)
• Animal Kingdom Lodge - £5818 (savannah view club level)
• Grand Floridian - £6285 (double garden view)
• Saratoga Springs - £4993 (Deluxe studio)
• Copper Creek Villas & cabins Wilderness Lodge - £5712 (deluxe studio)

Soooo, we have stayed at animal kingdom lodge before 4 years ago and loved it (we have been twice before, 1 time on property and once off), just not sure if going back it may not live up to the memories?

I know its subjective but just wondered if anyone could offer any sort of advice on how to pick, as we are only going for 9 nights we won't have too much time for lounging around the resort i guess so would location be more a decider?

any help appreciated, in a bit of a rush, will update with more info later!

 

[sponica]

as we are only going for 9 nights we won't have too much time for lounging around the resort i guess so would location be more a decider?

any help appreciated, in a bit of a rush, will update with more info later!

To narrow down your options:

When do you think you'll be back? (For comparison sake, I've been a handful of times (6?) over the past 15 years with the 7th trip planned in May, but it will have been 3.5 years since our last visit with 5+ years being the longest gap ever)

How much time do you spend in the parks, are you park commandos (going from open to close) or more laid back?

The advantage to the Swolphin is that it's in the Epcot area, and easy to get to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
Riverside is sort of centrally located (but its bus transportation only to the parks)
I think club level at the lodge would be awesome for a honeymoon.

 

[Dumbo7]

There is so many new things since 4 years ago. I would pick Grand Floridian because it’s the closest to animal kingdom and you can monorail to Epcot because it’s food and wine!

 

[hoperunner]

I agree Savannah View Club level for that price compared to some of your other quotes looks like it might be a good value. Club level will help you save on other food. We just recently stayed AK with a Savannah view for the first time and loved it! Epcot area is a great location too. I guess I would put those #1 and #2. Port Orleans is nice, but very big and your are taking a bus to any park. I would maybe put Copper Creek #3 as you can at least take the boat to MK and Wilderness Lodge is awesome. With 9 days, why not take a bit of time and enjoy the resort.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

So looking to go in october 25th 2018 which will be a second honeymoon for me and my fiancee (getting married in august and going to australia in august). We are both 31 just fyi if that makes any difference lol.

There seems to be very limited availability (im booking from the uk), so the following are our options for a 10 day / 9 night stay:

(all prices include air fair, park tickets and hotel stay for the both of us)

• Swan or Dolphin - £3888 (standard courtyard)
• Port Orleans Riverside - £4036 (double royal guest room - standard)
• Animal Kingdom Lodge - £5054 (but is oddly in a pool view with bunk beds)
• Animal Kingdom Lodge - £5818 (savannah view club level)
• Grand Floridian - £6285 (double garden view)
• Saratoga Springs - £4993 (Deluxe studio)
• Copper Creek Villas & cabins Wilderness Lodge - £5712 (deluxe studio)

Soooo, we have stayed at animal kingdom lodge before 4 years ago and loved it (we have been twice before, 1 time on property and once off), just not sure if going back it may not live up to the memories?

I know its subjective but just wondered if anyone could offer any sort of advice on how to pick, as we are only going for 9 nights we won't have too much time for lounging around the resort i guess so would location be more a decider?

any help appreciated, in a bit of a rush, will update with more info later!

Personally, I would take Swan/Dolphin off the list. They are great resorts, but lack the "Disney" touch as they aren't WDW properties. You won't get DME, magic bands, 180+10 ADR's (you will have 60 day FP+ booking, though). We love Swan/Dolphin when we want to do "budget deluxe", but I wouldn't pick either for a honeymoon.

Since you've stayed at AKL before, I think I would eliminate it. It's a fabulous resort (as you already know), I would just want something new and different, especially for 9 nights.

If budget is a concern, POR is absolutely lovely. It's my favorite of the mods. Beautiful grounds, comfortable rooms and a boat to DS.

GF is fabulous and is, of course, WDW's signature resort. Super comfortable rooms, no bad views to be found, tons of restaurants and amenities plus the monorail.

My number one pick, however, would be the deluxe studio at CCV. We absolutely LOVE WL and the villas. The resort is gorgeous, so peaceful, great restaurants and SO much to do. I also particularly love the layout of the studios for a couple. You will have a queen plus a sofa, giving you a lot of extra space in the room plus a full coffee maker ( I LOVE that!). I also LOVE to boats to MK, CR and Ft. W. So much more romantic than a monorail!!!

I think my choices would be in this order:

1. CCV
2. GF
3. POR
4. AKL CL (if you hadn't already stayed there, this would probably be in second place)
5. AKL pool view
6. Swan/Dolphin

 

[qwerty2k]

Just a quick thank you to everyone so far, amazed at how quick and helpful you have all been . Some good food for thought!

To narrow down your options:

When do you think you'll be back? (For comparison sake, I've been a handful of times (6?) over the past 15 years with the 7th trip planned in May, but it will have been 3.5 years since our last visit with 5+ years being the longest gap ever)

How much time do you spend in the parks, are you park commandos (going from open to close) or more laid back?

The advantage to the Swolphin is that it's in the Epcot area, and easy to get to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
Riverside is sort of centrally located (but its bus transportation only to the parks)
I think club level at the lodge would be awesome for a honeymoon.

I think we will end up having kids the year after this so won't be back for quite some time! We like to spend a lot of time in the parks, but last time a mid afternoon break worked out very well for us so we would likely do that again. The beauty and curse of WDW is so much choice!

There is so many new things since 4 years ago. I would pick Grand Floridian because it’s the closest to animal kingdom and you can monorail to Epcot because it’s food and wine!

Grand Floridian does look real nice, as the room is in an 'outer building' i think it says, how far away are they from the lobby / quick service etc? Im assuming its not moderate level spread out?

I agree Savannah View Club level for that price compared to some of your other quotes looks like it might be a good value. Club level will help you save on other food. We just recently stayed AK with a Savannah view for the first time and loved it! Epcot area is a great location too. I guess I would put those #1 and #2. Port Orleans is nice, but very big and your are taking a bus to any park. I would maybe put Copper Creek #3 as you can at least take the boat to MK and Wilderness Lodge is awesome. With 9 days, why not take a bit of time and enjoy the resort.

My only concern about club level would be how much we would actually use it, like you say we may save money on food, i guess we could have breakfast there (we aren't big breakfast people so a croissant or bagel would do us).

Personally, I would take Swan/Dolphin off the list. They are great resorts, but lack the "Disney" touch as they aren't WDW properties. You won't get DME, magic bands, 180+10 ADR's (you will have 60 day FP+ booking, though). We love Swan/Dolphin when we want to do "budget deluxe", but I wouldn't pick either for a honeymoon.

Since you've stayed at AKL before, I think I would eliminate it. It's a fabulous resort (as you already know), I would just want something new and different, especially for 9 nights.

If budget is a concern, POR is absolutely lovely. It's my favorite of the mods. Beautiful grounds, comfortable rooms and a boat to DS.

GF is fabulous and is, of course, WDW's signature resort. Super comfortable rooms, no bad views to be found, tons of restaurants and amenities plus the monorail.

My number one pick, however, would be the deluxe studio at CCV. We absolutely LOVE WL and the villas. The resort is gorgeous, so peaceful, great restaurants and SO much to do. I also particularly love the layout of the studios for a couple. You will have a queen plus a sofa, giving you a lot of extra space in the room plus a full coffee maker ( I LOVE that!). I also LOVE to boats to MK, CR and Ft. W. So much more romantic than a monorail!!!

I think my choices would be in this order:

1. CCV
2. GF
3. POR
4. AKL CL (if you hadn't already stayed there, this would probably be in second place)
5. AKL pool view
6. Swan/Dolphin

WL does look really nice as do they all lol. yeah AK is a tough one for us, loving it so much first time round but not wanting to try and recreate what we had before and then maybe be disappointed if it wasn't quite as 'magical' ?

 

[sachilles]

Since there are no kids along the trip, is night life a consideration?
Saratoga is stumbling distance as well as boat distance from Disney springs. Port Orleans is a boat ride to Disney springs.
Swan and Dolphin are near the boardwalk area.
9 nights is quite long in my opinion. Perhaps see if split stay is an option to experience something new?

 

[Monorail_Man_NJ]

Copper Creek, Riverside or GF.

Although I prefer FQ to Riverside.

I would eliminate SSR, AKL and SWOLPHIN.

 

[qwerty2k]

Just looking on Disney's site and they say in their description of GF: 'Walk or ride the monorail to Magic Kingdom' - as far as im aware you cannot actually walk from GF to the MK?

 

[sachilles]

Just looking on Disney's site and they say in their description of GF: 'Walk or ride the monorail to Magic Kingdom' - as far as im aware you cannot actually walk from GF to the MK?

correct. someday they'll get a bridge over that canal. Really surprised they've not figured out a solution to that by now.

 

[qwerty2k]

correct. someday they'll get a bridge over that canal. Really surprised they've not figured out a solution to that by now.

Thanks for confirming. Bit surprised that they say on their site when you are booking that you can walk to the magic kingdom then!

 

[Shanti]

So looking to go in october 25th 2018 which will be a second honeymoon for me and my fiancee (getting married in august and going to australia in august). We are both 31 just fyi if that makes any difference lol.

There seems to be very limited availability (im booking from the uk), so the following are our options for a 10 day / 9 night stay:

(all prices include air fair, park tickets and hotel stay for the both of us)

• Swan or Dolphin - £3888 (standard courtyard)
• Port Orleans Riverside - £4036 (double royal guest room - standard)
• Animal Kingdom Lodge - £5054 (but is oddly in a pool view with bunk beds)
• Animal Kingdom Lodge - £5818 (savannah view club level)
• Grand Floridian - £6285 (double garden view)
• Saratoga Springs - £4993 (Deluxe studio)
• Copper Creek Villas & cabins Wilderness Lodge - £5712 (deluxe studio)

Soooo, we have stayed at animal kingdom lodge before 4 years ago and loved it (we have been twice before, 1 time on property and once off), just not sure if going back it may not live up to the memories?

I know its subjective but just wondered if anyone could offer any sort of advice on how to pick, as we are only going for 9 nights we won't have too much time for lounging around the resort i guess so would location be more a decider?

any help appreciated, in a bit of a rush, will update with more info later!

For a 2nd honeymoon, I'd do Grand Floridian or Animal Kingdom Lodge.

 

[TomorrowlandKD]

I wish I could say we're "only" going for 9 nights! That's going to be a great trip whatever you plan! Enjoy!!

 

[nursejackie]

As a fellow Disboarder suggested, why don't you consider a split stay? We visit from the UK every December (3 more sleeps!) for 17 nights and usually do a split stay, with this year being a 3 resort stay (what are we thinking?!). It's great to try two different places, especially when you are going for longer periods, like us Brits usually do. Will you have a hire car? If you stay at the Swolphin you need to factor in a $30 a day resort fee, whatever that is, and $20 a day parking, as we found out after we'd booked 5 nights this year.

 

[Babsy]

Either the Grand Floridian for the location and luxury or the AKL with Club Level would be my choice. The GF outer buildings are all close together and the rooms are spacious and comfortable. transportation to the MK is convenient. everywhere else is bus except monorail to Epcot.
You know the AKL is amazing, club level is just a nice touch. The breakfast is convenient and occasional snacks in the lounge in the evening are very nice.

 

[megs1313]

AKL Club for sure. Hands down.

 

[baler31]

You have a wide variety of prices. Does budget play any part in your decision ? From Swan/Dolphin to GF there is over $3200 USD difference. Personally, with the prices you have given I would choose Swan or Dolphin. They were both renovated within the last year you can walk to two parks. Two adults will likely spend a lot of time in Epcot.For any transportation issues Uber, Lyft or Minnie Van on Property will not cost $3200. Uber is very easy to use and we use it internationally frequently. I would not rent a car.

You can purchase magic bands. As for ADR's we rarely bother anymore and make them the day before and typically have any option we want.

We go over NYE every other year, Easter every other year and are used to very busy times. We have stayed in all the deluxe resorts, Swan, Dolphin and CSR. If you could do GF club that might sway my opinion, we love CL at GF especially.

 

[qwerty2k]

Thanks again everyone. Much appreciate the input.

When considering the grand Floridian we looked at the travel times to various places. The source I saw quoted gf to Epcot at around 40/50minutee via monorail which seems a long time? Looking st other travel times it seems that apart from magic kingdom it isn’t a particularly convenient resort?

My fiancée I think is leaning towards wilderness lodge club level (which I forgot to list above!) but is swaying between that akl club level or gf garden view with gf being the most expensive.

 

[baler31]

That is an accurate time for Epcot and I agree it is not convenient for HS and Epcot. If budget is not of a concern I would choose WL CL. I think it is a nice mix of convenience with good bus service and theme.