I've never stayed Deluxe- where should I stay?

[nursejackie]

We've stayed at BC (last December), BLT (December 14) and OKW (for several years).

BC's pool is amazing, the walk to Epcot a big bonus and the accessibility to the Boardwalk for dining an added bonus. We stayed in BCV and could actually see half of the silver ball from our balcony. We foolishly went to the bus stop at 7.30am for HS EMH and found you can't catch the bus! It's the boat or on foot, so we dashed along on foot, which we actually enjoyed (15-20 mins).

BLT was the best location of all, you can walk to MK, and jump on the monorail to Epcot, and to the other monorail resorts for dining options. We had a car so didn't have to use the buses to HS or AK. They have a great pool and slide, and interestingly, BLT guests can use the pool at contemporary as well, but contemporary guests cannot use BLT pool. It did feel characterless though, especially as we went at Christmas time, we had to go over to the Contemporary for any atmosphere, and also for any dining.

OKW is my personal favourite, because I just feel at home there, it's peaceful away from reception and pool area, and you can park outside your villa. There isn't much 'foot traffic' from people coming for a look around (unlike BC). But I think we are just sentimental about it as it's where we stay most years, and where we wake up on Christmas day

It AKL kidani this December so a new experience awaits

 

[Shellyb84]

We've stayed at BC (our first deluxe resort stay), Poly and GF as adults. They were all amazing. I think we still prefer BC slightly over the others. We love being able to walk to two parks, and we spend a lot of time at the pool and their pool is fantastic. The atmosphere at the resort is very relaxing. We also like everything being under one roof. The CM's are very friendly and helpful. We had an issue with our shower last time and the manager was there within 5 minutes and it was taken care of immediately. We enjoy all the restaurants at BC and it's nice to be able to walk over to the Boardwalk.

The Poly is a bit noisy, but it's cool to be on the monorail. I love the theming. We love Ohana's and Trader Sam's. I have found however that out of all 3 deluxes we've stayed at, the CM at the Poly are not the friendliest. We've had much better service at BC and GF. Also, it is older and is definitely showing it's age. We were also underwhelmed by the pool.

The GF is beautiful and relaxing. We were worried it may be stuffy as some feel it is, but we didn't find it stuffy at all. The CM's there are top notch. We had excellent interactions with everyone we met. We didn't try any of the restaurants there other than the quick service place, which is nice that it's open 24 hours. It was nice to be able to walk to the Poly. We did find the pool here to be underwhelming also, and there was a smoking area right outside our building, several times we had to walk through a cloud of smoke to get inside, and on our last day we could smell smoke off our balcony (I would have requested to be moved if it wasn't our last day). I don't know where smoking areas are at the Poly or BC, but I've never seen anyone smoking or smelled it at those resorts.

I have stayed at WL as a child, I remember that it was beautiful but not really anything else.

I don't think you could go wrong with any deluxe, however I have no desire to every stay at CR. It does not seem like Disney to me. It's noisy and just looks like an airport.

 

[Mousemommy1]

To add.
We stayed at WL. We loved it.
We are booked in at the Poly next. We felt a bit too, well, not the right kind of people for the GF, it seemed too formal for s with small children.
We are hoping that the Poly will suit us with the transport links and theming. We NEED the transport links this time, that's what swung it for us.

Just throwing in my two cents, but we stayed at the GF this past April, thinking we would hate it.

It was DH and I, DD11, DD9 and DS15 months old. It was absolutely wonderful and we are definitely going to stay there again in the future!!!

 

[njmom76]

I have stayed at both Poly & BC with small kids and prefer BC. Having the whole resort indoors was a plus for rainy afternoons (we are summer travelers). Our kids love the pool and have a ball playing in the sand area. We haven't stayed at the Poly since they have added DVC, but my daughter loves the old pool there. Enjoy!!!

 

[nursejackie]

We've stayed at BC (our first deluxe resort stay), Poly and GF as adults. They were all amazing. I think we still prefer BC slightly over the others. We love being able to walk to two parks, and we spend a lot of time at the pool and their pool is fantastic. The atmosphere at the resort is very relaxing. We also like everything being under one roof. The CM's are very friendly and helpful. We had an issue with our shower last time and the manager was there within 5 minutes and it was taken care of immediately. We enjoy all the restaurants at BC and it's nice to be able to walk over to the Boardwalk.

The Poly is a bit noisy, but it's cool to be on the monorail. I love the theming. We love Ohana's and Trader Sam's. I have found however that out of all 3 deluxes we've stayed at, the CM at the Poly are not the friendliest. We've had much better service at BC and GF. Also, it is older and is definitely showing it's age. We were also underwhelmed by the pool.

The GF is beautiful and relaxing. We were worried it may be stuffy as some feel it is, but we didn't find it stuffy at all. The CM's there are top notch. We had excellent interactions with everyone we met. We didn't try any of the restaurants there other than the quick service place, which is nice that it's open 24 hours. It was nice to be able to walk to the Poly. We did find the pool here to be underwhelming also, and there was a smoking area right outside our building, several times we had to walk through a cloud of smoke to get inside, and on our last day we could smell smoke off our balcony (I would have requested to be moved if it wasn't our last day). I don't know where smoking areas are at the Poly or BC, but I've never seen anyone smoking or smelled it at those resorts.

I have stayed at WL as a child, I remember that it was beautiful but not really anything else.

I don't think you could go wrong with any deluxe, however I have no desire to every stay at CR. It does not seem like Disney to me. It's noisy and just looks like an airport.

When we first came to WDW in 1979 from England we went to the Contemporary on the monorail and thought it was amazing, although in those days there was only a few resorts. We stayed off site and had dreamed of staying there ever since but I haven't yet. I feel I should stay one day for sentimental reasons, but I think I will be disappointed, so I may just carry on dreaming of days gone by and those trips when I was a child (I am 47 now).

 

[Grand Admiral]

When we first came to WDW in 1979 from England we went to the Contemporary on the monorail and thought it was amazing, although in those days there was only a few resorts. We stayed off site and had dreamed of staying there ever since but I haven't yet. I feel I should stay one day for sentimental reasons, but I think I will be disappointed, so I may just carry on dreaming of days gone by and those trips when I was a child (I am 47 now).

If you really like CR, don't let that stop you. Like you, I grew up always wanting to stay there. We finally did in 2014, and I still loved it. CR isn't heavy with theming like other resorts, but you're still at Disney. Being able to walk to MK was great, and there is something special about boarding the monorail inside the hotel.

Our room was on the Atrium Club Level, so having access to the lounge was very nice too. When my son went to bed, we took our baby monitor with us to the lounge.

Theme park view was awesome, and watching Wishes from our room or the lounge was great too. My son was too young to be able to stay up until 9:00, so it worked out well.

Our arrival day, we didn't go to a park, so we swam and then took a monorail "tour" and stopped by Poly and GF just to look around and visit a couple of shops.

I'm about the same age as you, so don't underestimate the nostalgia you'll get from actually being there.