Hotel with heavy theming or not?

[katyjeka]

I used to think theming was important until we stayed at Swan, on that trip I realized location was even more important! We made the "mistake" of surprising our girls with a trip to AKL. They love animals and beg to stay there every trip. It is a little removed, but they love it and we've grown to enjoy it as well. The older we get the more we enjoy an escape when we leave a park and Kidani Village is so peaceful. The theming is gorgeous!! Our oldest was recently married and they are talking about starting a family...when that happens, I'll probably return to the values (at least for a few nights) because the theming is great with little ones.

 

[crzy4dsny]

If you are traveling with young kids go with the value resorts. ASMO, AOA has the best Disney theming for them, they enjoy the resort more than the park lol. I've stayed at just about every resort, my kids are grown now but we stick with the values now for the price and we don't mind the Disney feel..

 

[kylenne]

Location is absolutely my top priority always, but theming is a very close second. Transportation is much more reliable than people give credit for but there is still the occasional snafu (as we were reminded on the trip we just got back from) so ultimately I’m going to rate anywhere that lets me walk to a park over anywhere else. My feet have never let me down on a rope drop morning! And being able to get home relatively quickly/easily is extremely important being neurospicy.

Theming is hugely important to me though. The whole reason I go is for the intangibles of the “bubble”, being immersed in a place. I’ve never stayed at the values because they’re a nonstarter for me. Theming is a huge part of that, I actually find it incredibly lazy and phoned in at them with the exception of the mini Carsland at AoA. Slapping giant statues everywhere does not constitute theming to me. It also contributes to the general feeling of sensory overload present there. I need my resort to be an oasis away from the organized chaos of the parks lol.

That said I actually love Swan and Dolphin despite the lack of overt Disney theming. The Graves architecture is very polarizing and I understand why others don’t care for it but I find it whimsical and unique enough that it fits right in with Crescent Lake. The location is really what makes them shine, and at a fraction of the price of the Disney deluxes nearby, that’s what i do for more “budget” trips. I’m doing a CR/Swan split at the end of August. By far my favorite way to do Disney is a split stay between a Crescent Lake and monorail resort since they tick all the boxes of park proximity, on site amenities and theming. Boardwalk is my new fave over there specifically because of the theming.

Outside the deluxes, Coronado is my favorite and I would love to stay there again. Theming is a huge part.