Influence of first on-site resort

[minmate]

I've been reading some of these threads and realizing it seems a lot of people wind up naming the first on-site resort they ever stayed in as their favorite one. It got me thinking, my kids' first on-site experience was at Pop and they loved it so much they never want to consider anything else. I'm convinced it has to do with the intensity of it being so much a part of their first Disney Experience.

(I on the other hand am still undecided.) I've toured the grounds and lobby areas of several resorts but haven't had a chance to stay in them. I liked the colorfulness and theming at POP, but we've also stayed at GF too and of two and they're like total opposites of each other! I really liked both of them for their own reasons.

I almost wish one of the YOAMD was to be able to stay a few nights at each of the resorts! Wouldn't that be great?

So, I'm wondering how much this holds true for everyone? Is your favorite resort the one you first stayed at? Why... why not?

 

[TisBit]

I think that this is pretty much Psych 101.....first impressions, reliving past experiences and fear of change will always drive this to be somewhat true. I think even some off site areas will experience this. As kids we always stayed off site and have fond memories of this experience.

Our first on-site as adults was Carribean....I don't necessarily hold high emotions, but part was I wasn't too happy with our location within that resort. We were too far away from everything.

 

[Sinderelli]

No way! Our first on site stay was at ASSports- I have no desire to return there. It was OK- just not great.

My favorite resort was on our 3rd trip- Caribbean Beach Resort. Everything was perfect- our room location, the view, proximity to OPR, roominess, etc. I this resort- even more than the GF!

 

[Alphabetsoup]

Doesn't hold true for me...

My first on-site visit was ASMu....but it was probably my 20th visit to the world. My last trip was staying at WL and I looooove it. Next trip we may stay at Pop just for finance reasons, and it is a bit hard to think of that.

My hubby on the other hand, his second trip and first on-site was at WL and he is loathe to stay anywhere else.

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

It holds true for me. Our first stay was at Wilderness Lodge and it still doesn't seem like a "real" Disney trip unless I stay there. Stepping into the WL lobby and looking up in awe is my first Disney Memory ... we planned that vacation for 18 months and I was so excited to finally be in WDW.

My stays go like this: WL, CBR, POLY, WL, WL, OKW, POR, WL. I try new things, but I always go back to WL!

 

[karemore]

No. Our first stay was at GF, main building concierge. Did we love it? Of course.

But our last stay was at POFQ and between the two we'd go back to FQ.

Of course this stay we're trying POP and I think our daughter (turning 3) will love POP even more than FQ.

 

[ChelleinNC]

Nope. First stay was at Poly for my honeymoon, it was very nice but the BC is where I feel "home"

Now that I own DVC, I have to share my "love" between regular resort, BC and my "home away from home" SSR

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

Our first on-site resort was the Dolphin, back in 2003. We've moved on to quite a few different "true" Disney resorts since then. However, on our last trip we made a brief re-visit to the Dolphin (on the way between Disney Studios and DTD - boat to bus transfer). It looks much the same since five years ago, but we all couldn't help but notice the lack of Disney magic. Sure, there's an official Disney gift shop, and the hotel is very nice, but there's that slightly undefined "thing" missing. Great location, wonderful transportation options, especially to DS and Epcot and overall a beautiful lodging option, but we definitely didn't feel like we were back at "home."

To us the Polynesian will always be home.

 

[jcb]

Not for me either. CBR was my first. I can't say anything bad about it (but I did go in July) but my favorite is a toss up between WL and CR. They each have special memories for me, which, in my elementary view, is the point.

 

[shelleybell]

It does hold true for me!
My first was POR, and still love it to this day. I have not stayed there our last 4 trips, due to one reason or the other, but it will always be home.

 

[daisyduck123]

Not true for us.

We didn't find our favorite resort until we became DVC members.
Now our favorite is BCV!!

Followed closely by AKV!

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Poly was our first stay the year WDW opened so it always holds a special place in my Disney heart.
GF & YC are our favorites but we DVC members of VWL, BC & SSR.

 

[Tara8595]

Looks like it only holds true if your first stay is at someplace that most people love. My first stay was at the Boardwalk, it is still my favorite if money is no object, but otherwise, Pop is the one that I keep returning to, and that came fairly later in my obsession. It's hard to justify the extra $200 or so to stay at the Boardwalk when I love the Pop so much.

All that being said, I love to stay at different places, and just booked the Poly for the first time because I will have a toddler there and figure it will be good to have access to the monorail.... but if I still had no kids, I'd probably go back to BWI.

 

[Atchley]

We stayed at ASMo first and although it was nice, it wasn't fantastic. We stayed at CBR last time and absolutely fell in love! Would have stayed there this time, but with the pool being redone we checked out WL and it wasn't that much more than a mod to stay there so we went for it. We will definately go back to CBR. I can't wait till the pool is done. It will probably be where we stay on our next trip.

 

[PEANUT1]

Disney has and always will be The Polynesian. That is where my family stayed when I was little and there is just something so magical about that place. Alas...I now own DVC and will not dare spend my precious points to stay there. I know...poor me

 

[G8r4evr]

My first onsite stay was at Dixie Landings. I enjoyed the resort, but the rustic theme wasnt exactly my cup of tea. Since then, I have stayed at CSR and CBR and preferred both of them to Dixie Landings.

 

[MassJester]

Contemporary was my first, and I must say I like it. However, I think my favorite is the Boardwalk Villas.

 

[TDC Nala]

My first was the Contemporary. Current favorite is AKL.

 

[heartbeeps]

I haven't found my 1st yet. My 1st stay was at Contemporary in 1975 (only because they oversold Polynesian ). Didn't care for it AT all (other than the electric parade). My next on-property stay was at the Swan ~1994; Didn't like that either - rooms were like a sardine can! (But did like the boat ride to Epcot from there.) So I'm still waiting for my favorite hotel and am praying hard that AKL is it as I'm paying a fortune to say there. (Ah yeah, praying for a code too .)

 

[RMulieri]

Kind of hold s true for me.As a kid we stayed at the contemporary (very late 70's)....always think of that as my favorite.My husbands first trip to the world was with me in 2000, we stayed at the CBR ...and both hated it.While resort hopping he fell in love with the BC/YC/BWI.So that is where we now stay.Have to say I love them, but CR is still my favorite