Need Help In Choosing A Resort . . . Please

[EmilyNM]

We've just booked our flights for our FLA trip in late-October and plan to spend three full days of it at a WDW resort . . . but which one?? ?? I need help in choosing a resort that will work for us all: DH prefers good, easy resort transportaion to MK, Epcot and also appreciates great dining options; 11 yr. old DD would love a nice pool and a pretty room; I absolutely want a room with a private balcony on the second floor or higher and a nice view (gotta have that ambiance ). We've stayed at the Contemporary last time. Liked the monorail access, but not the hotel rooms. Have not totally r/o the Poly but would love love love any strong recommendations for resorts in the next category down (a bit less expensive). I'd really like to book ASAP, so quick responses would be a real blessing. Oh, and we will have a rental car, as well. Thanks!

 

[grimley1968]

If you want good transport to MK, but don't want to spend as much as Poly, check out WL. I think it's the best themed resort in all of WDW. It offers boat rides and direct bus rides to MK. Be sure to call soon, though. It's pretty late in the game to make ressies for late October now.

 

[spiceycat]

good, easy transportation is only the MONRAIL.

only 3 hotels - Cont. Polyn, GF.

I would go with the Polyn.

If your husband doesn't mind bus tranportation then POR is a very nice resort. My favorite of the moderates.

wl is a nice resort. a smaller (rooms are smaller) than the Polyn but it only has boat transportation to the MK, Cont, FW - all else is bus transportation.

all the deluxe rooms have 2 queen beds.

the moderates have 2 double (full) beds.

 

[spiceycat]

if he would put up with pretty lousy tranportation to the MK. then Epcot resorts - BW, BC/YC, D/S, you can walk/boat to Studios or Epcot from them. walking can be faster.

bc/yc has the best pool on property.

 

[grimley1968]

good, easy transportation is only the MONRAIL.

I'll disagree with this. We rode the monorail several times last summer. One time we waited about 20 minutes for one. Another time, we were stuck inside the Contemporary waiting to go around to the TTC, and waited about 25 minutes for some train ahead of ours to clear out in front of the CR.

I've never waited that long for a boat, and I've never seen the boats have issues like what I describe above.

Also, if you can find a resort that has direct tranportation to a park, like WL does with MK, that's not bad either.

I do love the monorail, but it is quite old now, and breaks down pretty often, compared to buses and boats. When it's running well, it really is about the best, but that's less often than it used to be.

 

[liltoot]

I love the Beach Club. A five minute walk to Epcot and you can walk to MGM or take a quick boat ride. We never had any problems going to the MK from there by bus. If you don't mind the walk you can take the monorail from the front of Epcot to MK. SAB is in my opinion the best resort pool. Plenty of nearby choices for meals. Boardwalk is directly across and the restaurants in World Showcase are great. I'm sure you'll have a great time no matter where you stay but I would get going on a reservation. The end of October isn't that far away! At least that's what I'm telling myself because I'm not going until the end of November

 

[Terk-1]

For a deluxe, I'd recommend the Wilderness Lodge. GREAT RESORT!!!!

For a moderate, I would most definitely recommend Port Orleans French Quarter. This is a small resort, such as the Wilderness Lodge, so it does not take very long to get anywhere (i.e. pool. foodcourt, bus stop).

I absolutely LOVE both of these resorts. You can't go wrong with either.

 

[cscin3d]

Whatever you do, don't stay at WL. The transportation is really lousy. We went to MK three days and the fastest time was 25 minutes. I also had some issues with our room. Go with the Poly, it has monorail access and you can walk over to the TTC and take a direct monorail to Epcot.

 

[lmhall2000]

I usually love answering these pleas...but this is toughie...I really think you'd like the Beach club best...the rooms are beautifully decorated and beachy themed...and an 11 year old can handle herself pretty well in that massive pool area...ooooh ooh! I would also consider Boardwalk Inn because the Boardwalk is so active that time of year and the rooms are equally pretty...however, the slide there is under refurbishment I would check and see if it's finished by your dates first.

I would definitely do Beach Club or Boardwalk Inn...pull up both the room pictures on www.allearsnet.com and let your dd give her opinion. The Poly is nice, but the rooms are kinda darkish and I would say more "tropical" than pretty...The BC/BWI rooms are light bright and would appeal to an 11 year old.

Have a blast!
Tara

 

[EmilyNM]

You're really giving me some great food for thought here. I've just checked out the WL and as wonderful as it looks, it looks too much like home to us aw: . We live in the mountains of New Mexico and are surrounded all the time by wilderness, lodge-like homes and Native American influences everywhere. I think we need a change for this vacation. Do the rest of these resorts have rooms with private balconies? Unless they actually show a pic of someone out on a balcony, I've always assumed that there isn't one.

 

[liltoot]

The pics of the Beach Club rooms on all ears are old. i haven't found a really good place for new pics

 

[southjerseymom]

My vote is for BC/YC. Great food choices, great pool and an awesome view of Crescent Lake with a water view room. The walk to Epcot and the Boardwalk are easy and you get some "night" life there. MGM boat ride is slow but enjoyable. You can walk to MGM - it just isn't as short as the walk to Epcot (think power walk). Our bus ride to MK was easy and we didn't wait too long. We stayed on the BC side in May. We are going back in February and staying at YC. You can find endless threads about which is better. We just liked to "quieter" lobby atmosphere and we want to be assured of a full balcony. Just personal preference. If you are from the Southwest the BC/YC may be a way to really experience Disney's version of the East Coast. Have fun!!

 

[Coloradomom]

Even with the choice of Deluxes, we still choose POR hands down! If you are looking for ambience it cannot be beat (for pretty choose the mansions and your DD will feel like Scarlett O'Hara). The grounds are lovely, and you can take a horse and buggy ride. Don't forget the boat to DTD.

We love Boatwrights restaurant too. Good food and service.

Granted there is only bus transportation to the parks but we have always found it to be reliable and timely.
And for a large resort it is very quiet and peaceful...walking along the river and paths is restful after a long day.

We'll be there 10/21-10/29!
Good luck in whatever you choose.

 

[jillybeanjo]

I vote for the Poly. Your husband will appreciate the monorail for easy transportation to the MK and Epcot. You can eat at Kona and 'Ohana on site, or walk or take the monorail to the GF, or take the monorail to the Contemporary to eat at one of their restaurants. Your daughter will love the Poly grounds and pool - very tropical with a great view of the castle, so you can see Wishes every night. You might like a room with a balcony overlooking the water with a castle view.

 

[mikesmom]

If you are considering BC/YC for October, better move fast! The Food & Wine Fest will be going on in Epcot and usually all the Epcot area hotels sell out quickly.

 

[vanyel]

Poly - meets all your needs, is a beautiful, relaxing haven in the middle of all the action. Great food, excellent coffee, cool pool, and of course the monorail and in walking distance to the ttc.

 

[linchat]

Yaught Club / Beach Club are next to epcot, you can walk there. It is great! No waiting for transportation. Plus, they are great places to hang out after the park.

 

[minnie61650]

Have you concidered All Star resorts?

I am 55 years old and travel several times a year. I often stay at 4 star hotels.
So the deluxe resorts do not have anything special for me.
All Star is like being in the heart of the Magic and that is where I want to be.

All Star Music is my favorite.It is quieter because more couples stay there. I love staying at the Clypso building. It is closer to the pool,food court and bus stop.

Here is a site with a map of All Star Sports and All Star Music.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/allstarmap.htm
Scroll down.All Star Music is at the bottom of the page.
The Calypso buildings at All Star Music are #1 and #10 are nearest to the food court and bus stop.
They are the preferred buildings and cost about $12 extra per night.
The Calypso pool at ASMU has Donald Duck.

Here is the map of All Movies.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/allstarmovie.JPG
The Fantasia Buildings are the preferred buildings.
The All Star Movie Fantasia pool has Mickey.
It is a great place to stay .
Preschoolers love it.
It is like being in the middle of a Disney Movie Fantasyland.

Buses are wonderful.

Bus rides are quite short from the ALL Stars according to PassPorter.com

All Star Buses-CBR buses---CSR buses--PO buses--- Contemporary
MK 20 min---- 20 min-----15 min------10 min---20 min(mono)
Epcot 10 min-- 15 min-----15 min------10 min---15 min
MGM 10 min----12 min-----15 min------15 min---20min
AK 10 min------20min-------10 min----15 min---20 min
DTD 15 min----20 min------35 min-----15 min---35 min

It only takes 10 minutes to get to Epcot,MGM and AK from All Stars.
MK is 20 min away. That's the same amount of time it takes on the monorail from the Contemporary.

I have visited WDW more than a dozen times with the 1st time in Oct. 1971. It was brand new. I've stayed at FW, Disney Inn, a few the of Hotels on hotel Blvd., CBR and the towers at the Contemporary. I got to see the MK from my balcony at the Contemporary and I'm happy I got to experience it once. I just prefer the All Star Resorts.
The theaming is pure Disney.
My last 4 visits have been at The All Stars and this fall when we take dd,dsil, and our grandson age 3 we are staying at the All Stars Music. I thought about AKL and even though we can well afford AKL I just wanted Alex to experience the Disney Magic at the All Stars on his first visit.
Where else can one find Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse at the pool?
Have a great time at Disney!
Linda

 

[linchat]

All stars, ugh. Don't send someone there! Those places are cheap and cheesey (no pun). But if bringing kids, maybe... But kids love the pools at the Yaught Club.

 

[nhpooh]

We've just booked our flights for our FLA trip in late-October and plan to spend three full days of it at a WDW resort . . . but which one?? ?? I need help in choosing a resort that will work for us all: DH prefers good, easy resort transportaion to MK, Epcot and also appreciates great dining options; 11 yr. old DD would love a nice pool and a pretty room; I absolutely want a room with a private balcony on the second floor or higher and a nice view (gotta have that ambiance ). We've stayed at the Contemporary last time. Liked the monorail access, but not the hotel rooms. Have not totally r/o the Poly but would love love love any strong recommendations for resorts in the next category down (a bit less expensive). I'd really like to book ASAP, so quick responses would be a real blessing. Oh, and we will have a rental car, as well. Thanks!

Hi, The next step down in deluxes would be AKL or WL. WL is close to MK and has great transportation. They also have balconys. The mod's don't have balconys. If you could do without the balcony I would go with POFQ, small resort and great rooms. The pool in POR is cool your DD would love it. The resorts over near Epcot are nice too, but in the same price line as the poly. I would love to stay at the bc/yc but can't now maybe someday.