Help on choosing a deluxe

[ClareH]

I need advice!! We've (myself and parents) have been to Disney for the last few years and have always stayed at PO FQ because we love the theming so much. However, this year we're pushing the boat out and will be coming for Christmas & New Year and are torn between the Grand Floridian concierge, AKL concierge and Yacht Club concierge. This will be our first time at a deluxe and we really don't know what one to go for. My boyfriend is also coming and he has never been to a Disney hotel before (actually he's never been to Disney World before!!). We won't be renting a car so will rely on the Disney transportation and we love to go for nice meals each evening, we're also looking for peace and quiet (if there is such a thing at Disney). I've also been told about the Gaylord Palms resort and have looked at their website. I'm now wondering whether to spend a couple of nights there because it looks fantastic - has anybody stayed there yet? Any comments, good or bad, would be appreciated on any of these resorts.

 

[drusba]

First be warned that is one of the most crowded weeks of the year and if you are going to make reservations you better do them soon. In fact, you may find some or all of your choices are already gone.

The quietest of the group would be AKL. It sits out by itself away from everything else, except for the animals in the savannah. Have not seen it yet but reports have generally been giving it high ratings. However, you must take a bus everywhere from there if you don't have a car. In any event, when you are in your room anywhere at WDW it is usually quiet, so I am not sure you should consider "quiet" as an important issue.

GF concierge is the best of three if for no other reason than its concierge rooms are larger than the other two. Also, GF is a very luxurious resort (and the most expensive). From there you are just a short monorail ride away from MK and you also monorail to Epcot (bus elsewhere).

If you want the best location on site, then the YC concierge is the choice. YC/BC, BW, and Swan/Dolphin are the Epcot resorts. You can walk from one to other and walk to Epcot and MGM (bus elsewhere). You are within walking distance of over two dozen restaurants (at the resorts, at Epcot, and at MGM). The BW is a night life spot and you can walk there. YC also has the best pool on site although at that time of year it is often too cool to go to the pool.

You may want to consider other options. For example, for probably less you can get a 1BR villa at BoardWalk or Wilderness Lodge villas. That gives you two rooms, far more space than a concierge room, and you also get a kitchen and washer/dryer. Wilderness Lodge is is in a very woodsy area and provides not only quiet but perhaps the best themed resort on site (early 1900's national park lodge and even has its own geyser) From there you boat to MK and bus everywhere else. BW (which I personally consider to be the best resort on site) has the same location advantage as YC but also gives you the nightlife area without even leaving your resort.

I do not know about Gaylord Palms, but be aware that if you stay off-site then you should get a car. Bus service from off-site resorts is usually mediocre to lousy at best (even when they try to tell you how great it is).

 

[ClareH]

Thanks for your advice. I've now reserved the GF main building concierge for the first 7 nights but unfortunately they couldn't do the main building for the whole stay. I really fancied AKL but as we're not driving I'm taking up your suggestion of the YC/BW (I've never really fancied BC). I thought the villas at BW or WL sounded good but as my mother "doesn't want to be anywhere near a kitchen on holiday" we've had to forget that suggestion.

I tried the YC but they didn't have any concierge availability, in fact they didn't have much availability of any type of room, I then tried the BW and have reserved 2 concierge rooms for the rest of the stay. The thing that did worry me was that the concierge room at BW is a 'standard' view room - do you know what this would look out over. I don't want to be paying a lot of money for a pretty poor view. The other thing that worried me was when I last went to BW it seemed pretty noisy - can you hear a lot of what is going on outside in your room? Also, we're having 2 separate rooms at each resort, do you think it would be more advisable having 1 suite?

 

[wdwnut]

hi: i agree with drusba. the epcot area resorts are absolutely wonderful for location. we're dvc members at bwv and love it. as far as having a kitchen in the villas-we've never used that white stove decoration ever! that nice refrigerator and washer/dryer in the 1br and larger units is really great. the noise from the boardwalk and/or pool areas would only be a problem if you have the doors open to the balcony. once the doors are closed, you'll be more likely to hear noisy neighbors than outside noise. the beach club villas will also be open at that time and you could get a 1br villa there too. the holiday decorations at the wl/vwl are outstanding, but you will have to take a bus from there for any of the parks except the magic kingdom (take the boat launch).

 

[Janet2k]

ClareH, I have done concierge at all three resorts that you have listed (two of them, the AKL and GF, multiple times). I prefer the AKL’s concierge staff to any of the others. In my humble opinion, they are the best.

Since you asked if you should go with multiple rooms or a suite, I thought I would point you at my photo album. I have photos of suites at the resorts that you are interested in. I have stayed in two-bedroom suites at the AKL, GF, and YC. I have also stayed in a one-bedroom suite at the AKL over the Christmas holidays. As to the DVC villas, I have stayed in one-bedroom and two-bedroom villas many times at the BWV and OKW (I adore both of those resorts). Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of the WDW resorts as they all have something special to offer. But the suites and villas can be expensive, especially over the holidays.

Since it sounds like there will only be four of you in your party (you, your parents, and your boyfriend), you really only need a one-bedroom suite or villa. If you want to spend the additional money, then by all means consider a two-bedroom suite. With a one-bedroom suite, though, you get a master bedroom and a “parlor” room. This parlor room has a sofa-sleeper in it, usually queen-sized (so it would sleep two people). You could also ask the resort to supply you with a rollaway bed if you’d rather only one person slept on the sofa-sleeper and the other person slept on the rollaway bed. Also, one-bedroom suites could have either a king-sized bed or two queen-sized beds in the master bedroom. If you and your boyfriend do not sleep together, then try to reserve a one-bedroom suite that has two queen-sized beds. That way you could sleep in the bedroom with your parents, and your boyfriend could sleep in the parlor room by himself (with his favorite Disney stuffed animal to keep him company).

Janet2k's On-Line Photo Albums

 

[Minybear]

The Poly concerge and the AKL concierge either one of these are the way to go. I have been to both but if I had to chose between the two it would be AKL concerge.

Now if you decide to stay at Gaylord Palms Resort. I have seen their web site and their rooms are fantastic. Plus plan on visiting Canyon Ranch and get pampered. They are GREAT.

 

[Disney Doll]

I'd go with the BW or the YC/BC. I love the location, and even though it's in a busy area, they are quite restful...there are little out of the way spots, and benches/beaches along the water. Strolling from Epcot to the resort area is nice too. A standard view at the BW will mean you are looking at the front entrance, seeing the comings and goings. I have stayed in those rooms and find them to be quite nice, but I don't spend a lot of time in the room in general. I did find it interesting to watch the comings and goings around the front entrance when I was there, but I am nosy by nature!

 

[drusba]

ClareH, I believe the BW Inn concierge rooms that are "standard" look out over the garden and quiet pool area of BWI (although I am not certain). That area is very pretty and actually very quiet as all the BW activity is on the boardwalk side of the resort. In fact, if you are considering that area, rather than two concierge rooms, you might want to try for a 1BR Garden Suite at BWI. Those are extremely nice suites which actually have there own little backyard with garden. In any event, I am not sure you really need two concierge rooms for only four.

 

[ClareH]

Thanks to everyone for their opinions. We have now finally decided where to go and have changed the GF concierge to AKL concierge as I've read so many positive reviews. So, we've got 2 concierge rooms at the AKL for the first half of our stay and 2 concierge rooms at the BW for the second half. Thanks again.

 

[ducklite]

I had a very poor experience at the GF concierge, and wouldn't stay there again if it were free. I would stay at the GF again, just not in their concierge level.

THe AKL concierge was wonderful, and I would LOVE to stay there again.

The YC and GF have one advantage, that's in getting to your "nice dinners", however I would hope one of your dinners would be a Jiko at the AKL, which is IMHO the best WDW restaurant these days.

I haven't stayed at the YC concierge yet (that's this summer) but have heard only excellent things about it.

I would absolutely NOT stay off-site during that week.

Anne