If you could choose any resort....

[hlm2007]

So hopefully this question is not too wide open and difficult to reply to. Basically, we won a trip to Disney and can choose any resort (based on availability). I need to have my top 3 choices to list. I know being on the monorail would be convenient - do those three resorts trump all the other deluxe resorts though? Here's another thing we need to consider - we have another family joining us at their own expense who can't pay for a deluxe resort. So, is there a deluxe resort that has a value resort within walking distance? They also have the option to stay at Shades of Green which is close to Poly and maybe GF it seems? BUT then they can't make their FP reservations in advance with us (that's not a perk with staing at SOG). Whatever resort we choose - I would like to have at least one or two parks we can walk/boat/monorail to instead of having the bus as our only option.
Thank you for your help! I figured starting here might be best as you all are the pros!

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

So hopefully this question is not too wide open and difficult to reply to. Basically, we won a trip to Disney and can choose any resort (based on availability). I need to have my top 3 choices to list. I know being on the monorail would be convenient - do those three resorts trump all the other deluxe resorts though? Here's another thing we need to consider - we have another family joining us at their own expense who can't pay for a deluxe resort. So, is there a deluxe resort that has a value resort within walking distance? They also have the option to stay at Shades of Green which is close to Poly and maybe GF it seems? BUT then they can't make their FP reservations in advance with us (that's not a perk with staing at SOG). Whatever resort we choose - I would like to have at least one or two parks we can walk/boat/monorail to instead of having the bus as our only option.
Thank you for your help! I figured starting here might be best as you all are the pros!

That is great. Which park will you go to most? There is no value that is walk-able to a deluxe resort. I would pick which is most convenience for you.
If I had to pick one just for convenience - I would pick the CR - we go to MK most. You can walk to MK so easily and love that the monorail is right inside. The pool is not special but not sure if you want a pool day. We love the theme and relax feel of the Poly - it is beautiful. Plus it has a nice pool. The GF is just not our favorite resort.
If you will be at EPCOT or HS - then one of the Boardwalk resorts would be great. The BC/YC has a great pool but we also enjoy the BWI.

Enjoy the trip wherever you stay!

 

[indoshakespeare]

Maybe they can stay in Swan/Dolphin and you stay in Beach Club / Yacht Club or Boardwalk

 

[Shellyb84]

So hopefully this question is not too wide open and difficult to reply to. Basically, we won a trip to Disney and can choose any resort (based on availability). I need to have my top 3 choices to list. I know being on the monorail would be convenient - do those three resorts trump all the other deluxe resorts though? Here's another thing we need to consider - we have another family joining us at their own expense who can't pay for a deluxe resort. So, is there a deluxe resort that has a value resort within walking distance? They also have the option to stay at Shades of Green which is close to Poly and maybe GF it seems? BUT then they can't make their FP reservations in advance with us (that's not a perk with staing at SOG). Whatever resort we choose - I would like to have at least one or two parks we can walk/boat/monorail to instead of having the bus as our only option.
Thank you for your help! I figured starting here might be best as you all are the pros!

Congratulations! That is awesome!

My top 3 in order are Beach Club, Grand Floridian and Poly. From BC you can walk to two parks, Epcot and HS, and it has the most amazing pool!

 

[hlm2007]

That is great. Which park will you go to most? There is no value that is walk-able to a deluxe resort. I would pick which is most convenience for you.
If I had to pick one just for convenience - I would pick the CR - we go to MK most. You can walk to MK so easily and love that the monorail is right inside. The pool is not special but not sure if you want a pool day. We love the theme and relax feel of the Poly - it is beautiful. Plus it has a nice pool. The GF is just not our favorite resort.
If you will be at EPCOT or HS - then one of the Boardwalk resorts would be great. The BC/YC has a great pool but we also enjoy the BWI.

Enjoy the trip wherever you stay!

We plan to probably spend the most time at MK and the least at AK.

 

[Shelleyfs]

My favourites are the Grand Floridian, Beach Club and Boardwalk.

 

[JAMIESMITH]

You can meet up with the other family for plenty of park time regardless of where you both stay. I wouldn’t let their budget influence your decision. This is an awesome opportunity for your family!

The Polynesian has my heart. I would love to return there. We’ve diner at The Grand Floridian many times and would love to stay there. The Contemporary would also be awesome for the walk to Magic Kingdom and the monorail.

 

[lovin'fl]

If you chose Yacht Club, Beach Club and Boardwalk...the extra person could stay at Swan or Dolphin. And you'd be walking distance or boat to two parks including HS with new Toy Story land opening.

If we ever won a free trip, I'd chose Yacht Club since we are DVC and can stay at all the other deluxes and Yacht Club is not busy and is quiet and elegant. And that Storm Along Bay pool is awesome.

 

[VeronicaZS]

I would vote Yacht, Beach, or Boardwalk. Walking distance to Epcot (and not too bad to HS) plus boat to HS & Epcot. Your friends could stay at Swan or Dolphin which do have 60 day FP privileges.
Congrats on winning the trip, how awesome!!

 

[dismoose23]

My top three would be 1. Grand Floridan (Favorite resort on property) 2. Polynesian (never have stayed) 3. Boardwalk (never have stayed). As others have said, GF and Poly are only a boat or monorail ride away from MK and Contemporary is within walking distance.

 

[Magical2017]

Yacht or Beach Club would be my choice for the pool. You could see if the friend can try to rent DVC points for BC if you are flexible with dates. Depending on when you go, it might be really tough to do this, especially at BC.

Any of the monorails resorts would be on my list, but I have only stayed at Contemporary. I don't think you can go wrong with your choices.

Wilderness would be lovely in the late fall/winter.

We loved AKL so much. The pool/splash area is great, seeing the animals is a plus, and they have educational activities like making giraffe feeders. The restaurants are awesome. The downside is that you don't want bus only service, and that is all AKL has. It would definitely be more affordable for your friend who is also traveling than some of the other resorts.

 

[hlm2007]

I would vote Yacht, Beach, or Boardwalk. Walking distance to Epcot (and not too bad to HS) plus boat to HS & Epcot. Your friends could stay at Swan or Dolphin which do have 60 day FP privileges.
Congrats on winning the trip, how awesome!!

Oh good to know swan and dolphin have fastpass privileges too! It's SPG owned correct? Our friends can get the friends and family rate at Marriott properties so they could utilize that potentially also.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

So hopefully this question is not too wide open and difficult to reply to. Basically, we won a trip to Disney and can choose any resort (based on availability). I need to have my top 3 choices to list. I know being on the monorail would be convenient - do those three resorts trump all the other deluxe resorts though? Here's another thing we need to consider - we have another family joining us at their own expense who can't pay for a deluxe resort. So, is there a deluxe resort that has a value resort within walking distance? They also have the option to stay at Shades of Green which is close to Poly and maybe GF it seems? BUT then they can't make their FP reservations in advance with us (that's not a perk with staing at SOG). Whatever resort we choose - I would like to have at least one or two parks we can walk/boat/monorail to instead of having the bus as our only option.
Thank you for your help! I figured starting here might be best as you all are the pros!

The monorail deluxes don't necessarily trump the other deluxes. It just really depends on what you are looking for for your vacation.

If you will be visiting MK the most, the monorail resorts make the most sense. If you will also be visiting EP a few times, Poly is most convenient as you'll have the monorail to MK, plus you can walk to TTC to get the EP monorail there. It's also the most convenient resort to Shades of Green if being near your friends is important.

In terms of making FP+ at the 60 day mark, it actually doesn't matter where the other family is staying. As long as they are linked as Family and Friends in your MDE account, they have tickets linked to their profiles and you have a WDW resort stay booked, you can make everyone's FP+ at 60 days.

If your biggest criteria are staying at a deluxe and having a more affordable resort nearby for the other family, I would consider the following:

1) Poly with other family staying at Shades (GF is also close, but not walkable from Shades)
2) CR with other family staying at WL (if they can get a military discount)
3) BC/YC or BWI with the other family staying at Swan or Dolphin (just know, they won't have access to Magical Express if they stay at Swan/Dolphin)

The other option is to simply pick the resort that appeals to you most, have the other family pick what they like and then meet up at the parks.

 

[Disneylovingmomof2]

Poly!! Your friends can stay anywhere on property and still come hang out at Poly with you...they just won’t be able to go in the pool. But watching fireworks from the Poly beach is amazing.

 

[hlm2007]

The monorail deluxes don't necessarily trump the other deluxes. It just really depends on what you are looking for for your vacation.

If you will be visiting MK the most, the monorail resorts make the most sense. If you will also be visiting EP a few times, Poly is most convenient as you'll have the monorail to MK, plus you can walk to TTC to get the EP monorail there. It's also the most convenient resort to Shades of Green if being near your friends is important.

In terms of making FP+ at the 60 day mark, it actually doesn't matter where the other family is staying. As long as they are linked as Family and Friends in your MDE account, they have tickets linked to their profiles and you have a WDW resort stay booked, you can make everyone's FP+ at 60 days.

If your biggest criteria are staying at a deluxe and having a more affordable resort nearby for the other family, I would consider the following:

1) Poly with other family staying at Shades (GF is also close, but not walkable from Shades)
2) CR with other family staying at WL (if they can get a military discount)
3) BC/YC or BWI with the other family staying at Swan or Dolphin (just know, they won't have access to Magical Express if they stay at Swan/Dolphin)

The other option is to simply pick the resort that appeals to you most, have the other family pick what they like and then meet up at the parks.

So I can make their FP reservations?? They are linked to me in my disney account already because I always make their FP reservations on previous trips we have taken together. I didn't realize I could make theirs in advance too though if they weren't staying on property also. That's a huge benefit!

 

[disneyfantotheend]

You can meet up each day at your park of choice and then get some personal family time in the evenings at your own resorts. Much less complicated and I am sure the other family would not want you staying at a cheaper resort just to accommodate them.

My two choices would be Beach Club or Polynesian. I have never stayed at either, but would love to. Beach Club has the great pool and easy access to DHS and Epcot. Polynesian has the monorail and is my favorite of the monorail resorts.

 

[Babsy]

Congratulations!!! what a nice prize!

If you stay at GF or Poly, then they could stay SOG (nearby) as you suggested. If you stay at the CR, then they could stay at WL or FW cabins and ride a boat to the CR to meet up with you. If you stay at an Epcot resort (YC/BC or BWI) then they could stay at the Swan or Dolphin (lots of discounts) and just walk to your resort.

Any value resort is separate from the deluxe resorts. They would have to meet you at a theme park or take an uber/lyft to your resort. Easy enough to do really. We have gone to WDW with people several times while staying in different resorts. It's not a problem at all.

FWIW: If it were me, I would stay in a MK resort on the monorail. The convenience, ability to see the castle and fireworks from your resort, the large comfortable rooms and the general atmosphere of these resorts is just unparalleled, IMO. If you want convenience to your friends and they can swing the price of a DVC rental at WL or a cabin at FW, then you can travel back and forth via a boat between your resorts and walk to the MK from the CR. The CR tower TPV is wonderful, IMO. I have never stayed in SOG, but it is very close to the GF and Poly. If you can't walk it, it would be a very short lyft ride between. I have this vague notion that there is a walkway from SOG (to the monorail at one of the resorts?), or that there used to be years ago before it became SOG, but I could be completely wrong about that. Perhaps someone else here can clarify.

All that said, a stay at the Boardwalk for you and the Swan for your friends would put you in a very short walking distance from each other. The deluxe rooms at the BWI are lovely, BTW.

 

[tommygunn]

If it were me, I'd say choose the Contemporary. It's my favorite resort at DW with all the perks mentioned in the posts above. In addition, while your friends can not stay at a less expensive hotel that is close to the Contemporary, they can stay at whatever Disney hotel they choose, and simply take a Disney bus to the MK and walk right over to you. It's about as convenient as you can get without being at one of the monorail resorts.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

So I can make their FP reservations?? They are linked to me in my disney account already because I always make their FP reservations on previous trips we have taken together. I didn't realize I could make theirs in advance too though if they weren't staying on property also. That's a huge benefit!

Yes. As long as they have valid tickets linked to their profiles, you can make their FP+ at 60 days when you make yours.

Oh good to know swan and dolphin have fastpass privileges too! It's SPG owned correct? Our friends can get the friends and family rate at Marriott properties so they could utilize that potentially also.

Yes, they are Marriott properties managed by Starwood, so they can take advantage of Marriott and SPG promos. We've stayed at both Swan and Dolphin and find we can typically find SPG rates which bring the room costs to to around what a WDW mod would cost.

 

[Ashley Marie]

If you really want to be close to your friends the Beach/Yacht Club for you and Swan/Dolphin for them sounds like it could be a nice idea. But in reality, would you be spending a lot of time with them when you’re not at the parks? They wouldn’t be able to join you at your pool at BC/YC, for instance. I’d personally take this amazing opportunity to book whichever resort you think would work best for you, and plan to meet them for park time. If you’re spending most of your time at MK try the Polynesian or the Grand Floridian. Congrats!