How do you pick a hotel?

[Lostinwdw]

I am lost! I read the unofficial guide to wdw and I can't decide. It suggested the swan and dolphin. My friend stayed at the swan and disliked it. She suggested the Hilton....

We are thinking of going Thanksgiving week and the book says that is one of the most crowded weeks of the years. It is my only chance to actually get there.

1. I don't want to spend a lot of time waiting for transportation.
2. It is just my husband and I going, no children.
3. I would like a nice pool at the hotel.

I've never been to any Disney park. It seems so overwhelming, there is so much.

I don't think the All Star resorts interest me....

 

[boston-yachter]

WELCOME!!

now breathe....lol....I guess you should start with your budget...thanksgiving is a peak time..and you'll most likely pay the highest price for a room...

if you budget allows for you to stay at a deluxe...then I suggest any of the resorts in the Epcot area...especially the resorts on the boardwalk...
The Y&BC has a fantastic theme and even better pool...the Yacht club is fairly quiet and well themed...plus the location to the boardwalk..and the boat to both MGM and EPCOT allows for easy transportation....plus MK and AKL are a quick bus ride away...
The BWI is a great resort too...but the Y&BC beats that resort out when it comes to the pool...
You can also walk to EPCOT or MGM from either of these resorts
Both those resorts are very romantic and adult friendly...

Don't forget about the MK resorts though....both the POLY and GF are very adult friendly...the only downside being there a good distance away form other parks besides the MK...and though the monorail is fun....I personally would prefer the easier access to MGM and EPCOT...as I feel those are more of Adult parks...

if a deluxe is out of your price range...consider CSR or even CBR...those both have fantastic pools..especially CSR...

Hope I was of some help...

 

[sjw4870]

Planning the first WDW trip can be overwhelming. First decide on your budget, then narrow your choices down to whether you want to stay in a deluxe resort (GF, Poly, Yacht Club, etc.), a moderate (Coronado Springs, Port Orleans, etc.) or value (all-stars).

I am big fan of the Magic Kingdom, so I prefer to stay over in that area (Poly,GF, Contemporary) You have good transportation options with the monorail. If you will spend more time at Epcot or MGM, consider staying at Yacht Club/Beach Club (they have a great pool there). You can walk to Epcot and there is a boat to Epcot and MGM.

The moderate resorts are all connected to the parks by bus. Port Orleans has a direct boat to Downtown Disney which is a nice option.

I think the Disney bus system is excellent, and unless you have a car, I think it would be better than your options at Hilton.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

On my 1st trip we did the contemporary
It was great it was before my son and it has themeing but not alot. It has great restaurants and the monorail and you can also walk yes walk to the Magic kingdom
but the others are right look at your budget and really look at the MK or epcot resorts you can walk to epcot from YC, BC, and Boardwalk. Also what are you looking for themeing, convience, food, are you planning on any extras like tours or other stuff. You definetly wanna stay in the park Downtown disney is nice we have stayed at the doubletree guest suites there and it was great but you wanna stay in the park We were always at teh parks and spent very little time on our room we drove everywhere cuz the bus was always late and over filled !
check out the books and websites www.mousesavers.com is great they always have so much info on discounts
This site helped me alot also www.wdwmagic.com
you can really meet some great people who have alot knowledge about how to get a good deal and great places to stay

good luck

 

[Lesley]

I really think the Swan/Dolphin looks like an excellent choice for you. Mainly for the reasons boston-yachter stated about the Epcot resorts location...it fits your top priority points very well. Actually, for an awesome pool...I'd head to the YC/BC, but you can most likely get a much better rate at S/D and I've heard their pool is very nice. As much as I like the BW, their pool is probably the most boring of the resorts in the area, unless a big long slide is your thing...but the YC/BC pool has that and more.

But the MK area also gives you fairly easy access to 2 parks...and busses to the rest. I love the Polynesian and they've got a great zero entry volcano pool.

I also love all the moderate resorts at WDW. I think POR and CSR are tied for my favorite. Both carry out their theme very well....so in that regard I'd pick by which theme is more appealing to you. CBR is also nice.

If you're not renting a car, definitely stay on WDW property. If you are renting, consider the costs of parking, the hassle of taking trams, and having to drive in an unfamiliar place against being able to just get on a bus at a Disney resort and get where you want to go. Off site hotels often have shuttles, but they are not nearly as efficient and convenient as WDW's own transportation system to get to and from the WDW theme parks.

I guess just start with your budget and go from there....and if your budget is looking like its in the value resort range....then take a look at some off site hotels that might be a bit more adult friendly. But plan on renting a car too.

Good luck planning the trip....most of us find that planning is half the fun!

 

[MJames41]

Hey Lost,

I also read the Unofficial Guide before our trip in 2000 and didn't think we would like the All Stars. Decided, based on what the book suggested, that we would try Priceline. Absolute disaster. Ultimately we ended up almost begging for a room at the All Star Sports and it was fantastic. We loved it so much better there (even with it's 74 rating) than at the Marriot Orlando World Conference Center (with it's 92). If your budget only allows for that, then go for it and enjoy. Otherwise, if the money is fine, look at where you will be wanting to visit the most. Based on what you have said, it sounds like Epcot area is the best, although a monorail resort would be great as well. Just my thoughts.

 

[The Duchess]

Location, location, location.
We like the Epcot resorts because Epcot is our favorite park to just hang out at.
We did BW for honeymoon, but now favor YC with family.

 

[ead79]

It can definitely be overwhelming trying to pick the perfect resort. Don't worry though, Disney's resorts are excellent. If budget is not a major concern, then I would suggest staying at a deluxe resort as they have the most amenities and prime locations. I like to choose my resort based on what parks I plan to spend the most time at. For example, if I plan to spend most of my time at Epcot, I would pick an Epcot area resort such as the BoardWalk or Yacht Club. If I plan to spend more time at the Magic Kingdom, I would pick the Grand Floridian or the Polynesian. Have fun choosing, and don't worry--you'll have a blast!

 

[FOTM_Ring_Bearer]

We've gone the last 2 years. It has several advantages.

1.The weather is still nice. Cools off at night but you can usually wear shorts during the day.
2. The Christmas decorations are being put up. The Candlelight Processional starts the day after Thanksgiving at EPCOT.
3. It's value season so the resorts rack rates are the cheapest.

As far as picking a resort. Pick one that has a theme you would enjoy. Deb Wills has a great web site. www.wdwig.com

You can check out each resort, prices, photos, etc.

If you arrive the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the crowds are not bad. It gets busier as you get closer to Thursday, but we still didn't think it was bad. Planning is the key.

Good luck!!

 

[swilphil]

Originally posted by Lostinwdw

1. I don't want to spend a lot of time waiting for transportation.
2. It is just my husband and I going, no children.
3. I would like a nice pool at the hotel.

Lost in WDW,
With this criteria, the Swan/Dolphin is perfect for you, unless of course you can afford Yacht Club or Boardwalk Inn. The Swan/Dolphin is offering some great rates, and you don't have to wait for transportation long, if at all. Ask your friend why she didn't like the Swan. Check out some of the posts about the S/D. We stayed at the Dolphin and loved the lobby, pool, and, best of all, LOCATION. Basically you're staying at a Deluxe resort for the price of a moderate.

DON'T stay off-site during a busy holiday. You will spend so much time stuck in traffic or waiting to get into the park.

 

[kalamazoo]

I agree with those who say to stay closest to the parks that seem to interest you most. I know that when Dh and I would go without kids we would gravitate more towards EPCOT and MGM.

This being said I would recommend the Boardwalk area resorts (although I have not stayed in all of them, I have been to them all and they all seem nice). One thing that no one has mentioned (I think) is that you can easily walk to both EPCOT and MGM - you do not have to rely on Disney transportation at all for these parks. To me, this is a great advantage especially if the parks are crowded or if you are planning to leave the parks during a time of mass exodus like after Fantasmic.

There are also lots of restaurants and shops and nighttime entertainment in close proximity on the Boardwalk not to mention those easily accessible at EPCOT. The entrance to EPCOT from the Boardwalk area puts you smack in the World Showcase where there are tons of restaurants and shops.

One thing you might want to consider is that the awesome Stomalong Bay pool (shared by Yacht Club and Beach Club) will probably be packed if the weather is good.

I would be curious to know why your friend didn't like the Swan. The location is excellent and it is one of the first stops on the Disney bus route for the Boardwalk resorts. The pool is nice, themed but not over the top.

If you think you might like to try a MK based resort then I would chose one of these two:

Grand Floridian - because the main building is so impressive and there are actually quite a number of restaurants at this resort and you can take the monorail to MK and EPCOT (for EPCOT you have to change monorails at the Ticket and Transportation Center - TTC).

Polynesian - because you can either take the monorail directly from the resort like at the Grand Floridian or you can take a short walk directly to the TTC and catch the direct monorail to EPCOT. The proximity to the TTC is a huge advantage because it is a hub for Disney transportation so you can catch a bus to anywhere on Disney property - especially useful for resort hopping. Also the Kona Cafe is just about the only place on Disney property that serves a decent cup of coffee (where's Starbucks when you need them?).

 

[daannzzz]

After staying at many of the Disney resorts I finally tried the Dolphin in 2001 and we really liked it. It is a deluxe resort for less money. The Swan is a hair classier and less eyepopping. The lobby of the Dolphin is emense while the one in the Swan is diminutive but I like them both. Do not stay off site. Your friend may have not liked the stay at the Swan but you may love it.
That being said, if you can afford it I would pick the Yacht or Beach Club or Boardwalk over the Swan and Dolphin.
Be aware that these 6 resorts share bus service.

You may want to think about a savannah view at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. It is very relaxing to sit on the balcony and watch the animals. The pool is large and very pretty and it has its own buses. It doesn't share with anyone!

 

[Mermaid 3]

I don't want to make your decision more confusing, but I just have to say "We love the Wilderness Lodge". If your budget allows, it is a relaxing, but deluxe atmosphere. It is closest to MK, but transportation is always available to go to any of the parks or the Market Place. Take a look at it before you decide. You won't be sorry.

 

[Mermaid 3]

Oh, and I forgot to tell you, I've been there 3 times at Thanksgiving. It is very, very busy, but worth it!!!