I'll Anwer Questions

[Travelbug12]

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to do this on this board, but I've been reading your posts for a while and have noticed a lot of you are going to WDW soon. Since I've been over ten times, I would like to answer any questions you have as you've helped me so much. I've done WDW all sorts of ways, way off premises, on premises cheap, on premises expensive. I've stayed at:

Super 8 motel
Confort inn
Days in lakeside
Days Inn Old town 2X
All stars Music
All stars movies 2X
Carribean beach 2X
Coronado springs
and
Contemporary

Not to much experience with higher end as I'm always on a budget and we're also always trying to save money on food so only moderate restaurants but we've done several character meals and especially love the grill in japan. we've always had a car.

As an aside, we frequently add on to this trip by going to miami...lots to do there as well although it a far trip from orlando. I'll be happy to give you any information I have.

 

[Cyrano]

Thank you for the offer travel bug and welcome to DLP DIS Board

There are lots of people over on the UK boards here who also love WDW.

 

[Bexx]

Thank you Travelbug! I'll move this thread over to the UK Trip Planning Board.

 

[AlanUK]

Welcome to UK Trip Plannning Travelbug12

We always welcome input from our US friends so feel free to take part in all the discussions that we are having on here

 

[Miffy2003]

Welcome to UK Trip Plannning Travelbug12

We always welcome input from our US friends so feel free to take part in all the discussions that we are having on here

Absolutely! It is great to have everyone's opinions on here

What of the resorts listed would you class as your favoutite and why?

I loved CBR & ASMo though I've not tried the others in your list

 

[Travelbug12]

Hands down contemporary for many reasons. The rooms of course are much larger than the moderates. Transportation is easier to magic kingdom. My biggest reason is that everything is compact. that is, you go up the elevator to your room, and down to the pool. I am also obsessed with beaches, and that little beach next to the pool makes my day. I love the pool, and the slide, but again oh, I left my sunglasses in my room, no problem just run upstairs, all the resorts I've been at its twenty minutes to the room and another twenty back. That being said the only negative here is the food. You can't eat at the expensive restaurants all the time (well I guess some people can) and the "snack bar" is just awful for food of this type. Its especially greasy and limited compared to the food courts at the moderate resorts...I wonder if they're trying to get you to eat at a sit down restaurant? It doesn't matter though, I really really love this hotel, although last time was a real splurge, and I don't know if it will happen again.

As far as the moderates, I've stayed at Carribean beach (2X) and corronado springs and like them both very much, I don't know if I could pick a favorite between the two. I thought the food court at coronado was better than most, but the trip to the pool was just crazy. The pool itself was terrific. Again both these moderates were just great. I've also stayed in all star music and movies, I also feel not only are these great, but better than similar hotels off premises.

Anything else, let me know, I've been to disney so many times, I like to share my tips.

 

[Miffy2003]

We always like Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary I love the walk to MK, fantastic!

 

[Ju]

Hi Travelbug12, thanks for sharing - as everyone does here, it's such a great way to grab ideas.

Anyway, we're flying into Miami next month and "doing a bit" down there before driving up to Orlando. Approx how long does it take to drive, the roads are prob great so it's just the distance which'll be tiresome! We've only got a short time there, what/where would you suggest looking at if we've only got 1/2 day spare to zoom around - Son 11yrs wants to look at Miami Beach! I'd quite like to see Art Deco region.

I'm sure there's other questions to ask you about Miami area (we're actually staying in Key Largo at first) but can't think of any at moment.

Cheers

Ju

 

[Amyrlin]

How would you compare the values to the moderates in terms of noise and beds?

 

[Travelbug12]

Ju,
Miami is one of my favorite places. I have to tell you though, I started going to Miami before it was fashionable and still had bad neighborhoods with cuban juice stands and its quite different now. It is getting way to overcomercialized and the tourists are worse than disney. What this means is that the beach is sometimes dirty and there's a crazy party vibe around. I still think there's nowhere like it but I just wanted to prepare you. The other reason I mention this is you have a child, and he might find it strange. There is so much to do, especially with children but you'll probably have to wait until the next trip if you only have a half a day.

Probably your best bet would be to go straight to Ocean Drive to "News Cafe" overpriced but really great American food, sit outside and soak up the ambience. After eating walk across the street and there it is, the greatest beach. I personally would just spend time at the beach. Alternatively you could go to Lincoln Road still pretty much south beach (by the way south beach just means anything below 14th street) and walk from one end to the other.but this is not the beach. Most of the restaurants are good here Next is very good. THere are mostly stores, restarants and a few art galleries its very nice. You can walk along Collins avenue south of 14th street (around 10th) and every high end american store is there: Kenneth Cole, Bananna Republic, Ralph Lauren etc. If there's any way you can squeeze it in one of my favorite places is something called "Parrot Jungle". You walk through and feed hundreds of large tropical birds, theres nothing like this anywhere. Its a must for children. Its located halfway between miami beach and miami the city. Just so you know, Miami beach is an island like manhattan, and that is where you want to go, miami proper is a regular city with businesses etc and a great waterfront, but head for the beach. There are so many things to do with children when you have the time: Seaquarium, Zoo, Childrens Museum, Monkey jungle, spice farm, there's some kind of crazy pool who's name I can't remember which is a public pool something like the venitian pool and of course the beach. Miami has that torquise water you see in the carribean.Since you'll be there for so little time, I strongly suggest you pick on thing and have a great time.

 

[Travelbug12]

Amyrlyn,

I'm afraid I may not be much help here. Its that silly I never spend any time in the room excuse but to tell you the truth I usually leave at 7 am and return at 10 pm. If I'm there during the day I'm at the pool. You can research this though, I have heard specific complaints about certain resorts when it comes to noise levels. I think it also matters if your unlucky to get some big tour group of 200 kids in a marching band or something. I know that this may be frustrating but there is a site dedicated to just disney resorts, and its worth finding. some guy takes hundreds of candid photos, of each property its just amazing. Not only that but I think they have some sort of discussion board and this is where I heard about noise issues but I'm sorry I don't remember the specific complaint...it may have been port orleans, but I hear complaints about the all stars too. I've never had a noise problem at any disney property.

 

[Travelbug12]

Ju

sorry I just realized I didn't answer your basic question. The trip from Miami to orlando is a tiresome one and I always find it takes at least five hours or more but the estimate is 4. Its extremely important that you take the Florida turnpike otherwise it can take a lot longer. The florida turnpike is extremely expensive but I think its worth it if time is important. Pleas note: I am not in anyway trying to scare you because I drive everywhere, but the area from the keys to miami is a little strange. Its very remote farming area and a little depressed. Don't be suprised to see bullets for sale at the truck stops. I would be a little cautious here. When you drive north from Miami to Orlando its fine, but be careful at the rest stops, there is some crime here. Again, no big deal problems are extremely rare, but just be on your toes like you should be whenever you travel.

 

[Miffy2003]

How would you compare the values to the moderates in terms of noise and beds?

I found the moderate I stayed at (CBR) to be more quiet than ASMo. Not by much! Neither were bothersome in terms of noise

I'm not sure about the beds being different, DH thinks the bed was bigger and more comfy at CBR but I can't remember myself!

 

[Amyrlin]

We are doing this trip on a budget, and I want to end up at a delux for the last few nights, probablty WL due to cot, or if money goes well POly, so I was thinking about doihng a few nights at ASMo, but do like POFQ and not sure if it is going to be worth cuttinb back a bit, also depends on what AP discounts come out for Sept.

 

[Miffy2003]

Terri - any or all of those options sound great to me

 

[Amyrlin]

Its' sooo sad, OH says I get a bit obssessed! but he does say it is in a good way. I have never stayed at a value resort before, and am worried it may be a bit npisey and the beds are OK if they are smaller, but I need them to be comfortable. Some fo the reviews of the values have not been that good, but other have been very good and if the rates get as low as they have for AP holders in Feb ($49) youy can't get a decent hotel for much lowert than that!

I love POFQ, not so keen on CSR due to its' size and l;ike and all the deluxes, so I am not that fussy! And have just relaised it is going to be cheaper to renew the annual pass than get a 14 day ultimate ticket! WoooHooo

 

[Chester Copperpot]

I would highly recommend the Polynesian for your last few days but I thought the Wilderness Lodge shouldn't be classed as deluxe at all as the room was tiny. I also highly rate Fort Wilderness cabins but you have to factor In the price of renting the golf carts.

 

[Travelbug12]

I can't comment on the various rooms but have a suggestion. There are two websites one Allearsnet that has 60 pictures per resort where you can really see what is what and mousesavers where they give candid reviews and opinions of the values vs the moderates and so forth. Allearsnet also has readers review which are somewhat helpful but all over the lot. I really had a dilema last year between the carribean beach and coronado springs. I ended up in coronado springs and was delighted but I can't tell you which one is better i love both!

 

[Miffy2003]

Terri, whether this help you or not I don't know, but before we stayed at ASMo I had heard how tiny the rooms are, how noisy it was etc etc.... and I was concerned. However I found this to not be a problem. Here are some thoughts I had after our trip there:

Overall impressions of All Star Movies

We loved it! Yes the rooms are quite small but we found them absolutely ample for the four of us and all our luggage (we had a lot!). The room was extremely clean and nicely themed. The furnishings are bold and brash and don’t feel deluxe in any way, but that is exactly what I had expected. The grounds were beautifully kept and the large Disney icons were a huge hit with the children as well as us! There are lots of little touches all round the resort that act as a constant reminder that you are on Disney property.

We thought the reception area was great; there was a lovely big TV screen showing Disney movies and this kept the girls entertained on several occasions (including one when we had to post a parcel and it took over an hour for the CM to work out how to do it!). The shop was every Disney fan’s merchandising dream with a great selection of toys, games, clothes, plushes and all the other bits and pieces you expect in a Disney shop. There were lots of sweets, cookies and crisps and the like and they also sold small bottles of spirits behind the counter. We were very happy with the cocktails served at the pool bar! The food court had a pretty good selection and was a reasonably pleasant dining experience – far superior to a similar set up in the UK but obviously it is cafeteria style. We thought the prices were reasonable – not as cheap as going offsite but you could easily feed a family of four for one meal for $25 or so. The refillable mugs saved us an absolute fortune! The girls gave the arcade a big thumbs up. We thought the pools were great - unfortunately we didn't get the chance to enjoy them much due to the weather!

We found the bus service excellent. The longest we waited was twenty minutes – unluckily for us that was on a cold and windy night! But apart from that time, I think we waited for under ten minutes for every other journey. I wish our local bus service - which allegedly follows a timetable but often fails to show up - was as good! It felt like a luxury to not have to drive and it is ideal when you consider how close to the parks you get dropped off and picked up. We did have to stand a few times, but it’s not like it is ever a long journey!

Overall, and bearing in mind the price we paid to stay here, the resort was even better than our expectations had been. Massive thumbs up from the Goviers!

On the subject of room sizes, I think it has a lot to do with expectation. My experience in the UK of room sizes (generally small ) always means I am surprised and pleased by the size of rooms in America. For example, Chester says he finds the rooms at the WL tiny - but to my eyes they are very much more than ample in size