Influence of first on-site resort

[boomhauer]

Doesn't hold true for me. First on-site stay was Caribbean Beach. I liked it and would stay there again, but ranks behind the other resorts I've stayed at.

First "deluxe" we stayed at was Old Key West, and I have no interest in ever staying there again.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I grew up staying at the CR. We are going back there in Dec and I cant wait.

 

[NMAmy]

Eh, not so much for us. Our first stay was at AsMo which was fine but didn't knock my socks off. DD, however, was 8 at the time and thought that resort was the BOMB and was sure she'd hate the Dolphin.

Now she loves the Dolphin and was a bit freaked out when I booked the WL for a couple of days on our last trip. Actually, I had to agree with her--we love the location of the Dolphin so much more than the WL so it looks like the Dolphin will continue as our favorite resort for a while.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Not true for me either. My first onsite was CBR and it was OK nothing over the top for me. My first Disney Deluxe was BC again love the resort but not my favorite. My current favorite is AKL and the same holds true for DH since we went together. LOL.

 

[Claire L]

Our first on site was WL and although I like it I think AKL is my fav, this was our second on site hotel. Oh and we now own at AKV

Claire

 

[skipperkim]

Not true for me either. My first stay was at OKW. While its a great place my favorite is POFQ. But isn't that what makes WDW great, there's something for everyone. What may be my cup of tea, may not be yours.

 

[KimR]

Our first on-site resort was CBR and we didn't care for it at all. Our next trip we stayed at the GF and loved it - it became our 'home' at Disney. Then a few years ago I waited too late and GF was sold out, so we decided to give YC a try and we loved it as well - you just can't beat the location. So now we alternate between the 2. I'd like to stay at the Polynesian one of these days, but DH and the kids aren't interested.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

With our younger children GF was our first resort and it still holds a very special place in their hearts. It's still ds's favorite resort while the girls go back and forth between GF, YC and the Poly.

I have to admit when we stayed at the GF in January it brought back a lot of memories of our first trips - it really shows how much they've grown up in the last 5 years. Ds was only 2 on our first trip and stil thinks of the GF's baby pool as his pool!

 

[iloveeeyore]

Poly was my first. It's also CLEARLY the best. I always thought it was just a coincidence?

 

[goofy4tink]

Back in '99, DxL was my 'first' resort. Then, '01, stayed there again, although now it was POR. That was my dh's first stay in WDW. Then, we stayed at the Polynesian. My dd has wanted to stay there for awhile, I got a great rate, so that's what we did. We all liked it well enough, dd didn't think it was very Disney'fied...go figure. It was on that trip that dh surprised me with the statement that he had given DVC our phone number..he wanted to buy at BWV, and there only. Okay....we bought there within 3 months. Now...BWV is my favorite. Love everything about it (well, except is has no food court). My second favorite is POP...believe it or not, I just love it there.
POR? It still holds a very special place in my heart. My issue is that I just don' think the moderates give me enough bang for the additional cost vs a value. But, I love to head over there and just walk around. It brings back such sweet memories.

 

[helenk]

My first on site stay was the Allstar Sports, the kids and I loved it because it was a neat resort and it was just great being on site. And while it got me addicted to staying on site it certainly would not be my favorite resort. I actually like the Allstar Music better, but my favorite would be POFQ, followed by the YC. I like trying different resorts and maybe I'll find that I like another one better in the future. But my mother loved staying at the POFQ and she just passed away last August, so the POFQ will always hold a special place in my heart.

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Not true for us either.

As a kid I never got to stay on-site. We either stayed at a hotel on 192 or at my parents timeshare in Kissimmee. The first on-site hotel I stayed at (and my daughter stayed at) was All Star Sports. It was for one night and was quite nice but I didn't want to stay there again. My daughter never asked about that hotel either.

For me the ultimate in staying on-site at Disney is the Polynesian. As a kid the monorail from TTC would go by it and I said when I got enough money I would stay there. And so far I have twice. When we did the DCL land/sea package we stayed at the Polynesian before and Pop afterwards. Those two are our favorites and we're hard-pressed to stay anywhere else. I'm looking into DVC but who knows if we'll ever do that.

 

[lilyv]

Not true for us. First stay at CSR, split with POR.

We would go back to POR. This trip, though, we're split between CBR and AKL.

 

[spiceycat]

first 5 stays were at the Polyn - grandmother was paying.

then brought dvc in 1993 - (DVC name changed to OKW) - became home. I also own at BWV and VWL - but OKW is home. Nothing else feels like home.

despite not naming it all the time as my favorite - it is in fact home.

 

[IMDORY]

Not true for me-my first on site hotel stay was All Star Sports. I would have to say that would be the last place I would return. Technically, Fort Wilderness was my first resort-back then the choice was FW, CR, Poly, or off-site. I do hold a fondness for our time there-and we camp up here in NY in the summer-but I really want to stay in a hotel room when I'm at WDW!

We are HUGE WL fans as this resort reflects our likes and personalities I think. We just feel cozy and "home" there. Maybe some of the FW influence from my childhood???? hmmmm....

 

[auntie]

Our first stay was Caribbean..and we did enjoy it. Went back several times. We checked out the Poly during one of our trips..and checked out of the Caribbean and into Poly. Following trip we stayed in the trailers of FW(before they called them cabins..still really a trailer with a wood exterior). We liked them, but not the location..so we checked back into the Poly mid way during the trip. It was looking as if Poly was becoming our favorite resort..and then the Wilderness Lodge opened. We've been staying there ever since. We did have a 5 day split stay between WL and Beach Club..liked WL so much better we went back to there after just two days at the Beach Club. Yet...we do still have love to visit Caribbean..as we enjoy the food court. We'd stay again, if we were to choose a moderate. We rather enjoy having a balcony, and none of the moderates offer those. We are content to stay WL and visit the Caribbean now.