Need help picking resorts

[FSU Girl]

I am so back and forth on which hotels to pick for my stay and need some opinions to help me make a decision.

So background info:
I'm going to be at Disney World Saturday-Monday then going on a 4 day Disney Cruise then going back to Disney World for either Friday-Saturday (leave late Saturday night) or Friday-Sunday and leave very early Sunday morning. This is for the end of May.

I've stayed at none of the below hotels before and want to try something new that I haven't experienced before (only hotels I've stayed at are: Contemporary, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Pop Century, Riverside, Caribbean, Swan and Dolphin)

Originally I really, really wanted to stay at Grand Floridian - I've been wanting to stay there forever it's my dream hotel. It's just very expensive. I also really want a king bed, which seems like it's a slim to no chance of getting it at anything besides a villa or moderate where it's a category.

I'm thinking since the first part of my trip will be spent more at the hotel I want this hotel to be nicer, so either a deluxe or a villa. We are spending the majority of Sunday at Magic Kingdom and Sunday night at Epcot. So I was thinking of either Grand Floridian or one-bedroom Beach Club Villas the price for these is almost the same with the Beach Club slightly higher than a standard room for GF. Or should I splurge and get the king Deluxe that's $400 more a night? (this one is probably unrealistic)

For the second part at Disney World I'm at a total loss where I should stay. I hate the values so they are out, but now I'm thinking a moderate might make more sense, especially since it might be just one night and majority of the days will be spent away at the parks. They have the king category to book and the rooms are a lot cheaper than the deluxe or villas. Or will I feel disappointed since it will be the end of our vacation and a downgrade from what we have been doing? I was thinking maybe one of the cheaper villas like Saratoga or Old Key West. Really any hotel for this part is up as an option.

The trip is for my birthday. Any suggestions would be amazing! I'm a crazy planner and like to have every detail of a vacation planned out in advance.

 

[ErinsMommy]

IMO if you really want to stay at the GF then I would stay there.

 

[GoonieBride]

stay at the Grand!

 

[FSU Girl]

Staying at the Grand Floridian is super tempting and definitely on the list of contenders. I do want to have two different hotels for my stay. Any suggestions for the second hotel?

 

[Elsaalltheway]

I've never stayed at the Grand but my friend loves it, if it's for your birthday then splurge. For a mod I would try Port Orleans. You can catch a boat to Disney Springs. Something new, and a mod. People tend to love it and are always talking about it.

 

[DG25]

If you really want a king bed at a deluxe, a few days ago, WL had them for AP rate under $300 a night, can not remember exactly but I was going back and forth because I just know I will end up solo for the first time this year. One daughter had a baby less than a year ago and said no to vacation, second daughter will be like 8 months along, and although she said yes, I have my doubt, first baby she has no clue yet what walking at 8 months is like and will never to WDW. Anyway, check out WL for some of your stay.

As for the grand, I'm with you my dream, but then I don't spend much time in the room. I also can't really see the views so that is a waste also. I walk around every time I go, and take in the feel, but I am happy at WL and BRV so this trip I went back to them. I love POFQ but done it so often. I hate the values. Last year we did five deluxe and we loved WL the best, Poly second, BWV and poly was close and may have been second but I really can't compare because we were upgraded to a 1 bedroom so that is not fair to compare it to all the others. Fourth would be contemporary and last world be AKL jamboree, way to much noise.

Not much help. I love WL since it is quiet and peaceful, boat ride to MK. Easy access to FW and Cont if you wish to eat other places. Yes construction now, but it did not effect us last year so doubt it will this year, and since half the hotel is closed less people and less rooms so less crowds.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

If your dream is the Grand, I would do it. I love both GF and BC, but GF is more stunning (IMHO) and has more upgraded amenities than BC (turndown service, etc.). BC is great if you are going to EP a lot, which you aren't, so I would go with GF.

I agree with the POR suggestion (POFQ is very nice, too). It's really lovely and the rooms are very comfortable. Will it be the same at GF? No, but it's still a really lovely resort and if you need to shave costs a little to be able to stay at GF for the first part of the trip, I would do it.

 

[happymommy]

Are you a fan of the Epcot resorts? Have you considered the Swan? Totally renovated, plush rooms, much better in my opinion than most Disney deluxe resorts at a much, much lower price. Granted, I've only stayed there or the Dolphin using Starpoints, but our stays have been amazing for walking to and from Epcot.

Even given you're using DME, you could factor in a town car service.

I've stayed at the GF, but never paid more than $179/night. Now, it's like $600 plus rack rate for a garden view room. To me, that isn't worth it, when I can stay somewhere else and still go over, visit the lobby and have a few glasses of wine at the bar there.

Are you going solo or with a partner?

If I were to go to the GF again (and trust me, I've been pricing it out for our next trip, just DD and me for her 18th birthday), no way would I pay what they are asking now. We have All Star Sports booked, in a 2 bedroom connecting deal for her roll in shower (she can't stand in the shower due to POTS, she can pass out, since she has EDS). We're paying roughly $130/night average, and since we have our own connecting rooms, no way can anything come close to that. It's nice since she needs more sleep on vacation (she can go 14 hours without waking).

Disney prices are out of hand.

I would weigh how much you are going to be actually in the room or at the resort. If you are going to the parks, maybe it's not worth the expense now to pay for an expensive room.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

If GF is within your budget, go live the dream.

If you want to save money at a moderate, CSR has king beds as a bookable category. The resort is lovely, and you can spend some of your savings on a relaxing spa treatment!

 

[cutigerlady]

I've done something similar around a cruise. Be careful on how grand you start your trip, you might be disappointed when you get to your cruise! We stayed at AKL CL before our cruise, which was amazing! We didn't go to the parks at all. After our cruise, we stayed at the Dolphin (my husband gets government rates there). It was a deluxe for the price of a moderate. Plus, we were spending all of our time at the Food & Wine festival.

 

[FSU Girl]

I'm trying to plan an all out awesome vacation. My boyfriend and I will have new Annual Passes that neither of us have had before so we will be going up on weekends, but this will probably be the only week long trip for the year. Plus it's my birthday lol. I'm really tempted to pick Grand Floridian, but I feel like I'll be disappointed if I don't get a king room. And the buildings not being connected is a downside. Are the villas at Beach Club connected to the main building? I think we are definitely going the moderate route for our one night stay when we get back from the cruise, it just makes sense so we will be saving some dollars there.

All of these responses are super helpful! Thanks everyone!

 

[Dug720]

Just making sure you know that the cruise has QUEEN beds. DCL is not like other lines with the tacky push them together twins. (Only mentioning because of the obsession with a king bed.)

 

[FSU Girl]

Just making sure you know that the cruise has QUEEN beds. DCL is not like other lines with the tacky push them together twins. (Only mentioning because of the obsession with a king bed.)

I know, I went on my first Disney cruise in December. I just kind of accept those rooms are tiny in all things lol.

 

[Hopefully]

BCV building is not attached to the main BC resort. It is a new building behind the BC. It is a short, covered walk

 

[FSU Girl]

Has anyone stayed in the Deluxe King room at the Grand Floridian? Is it worth the money it would be an additional $400 a night I think.

 

[FSU Girl]

Are you a fan of the Epcot resorts? Have you considered the Swan? Totally renovated, plush rooms, much better in my opinion than most Disney deluxe resorts at a much, much lower price. Granted, I've only stayed there or the Dolphin using Starpoints, but our stays have been amazing for walking to and from Epcot.

Even given you're using DME, you could factor in a town car service.

I've stayed at the GF, but never paid more than $179/night. Now, it's like $600 plus rack rate for a garden view room. To me, that isn't worth it, when I can stay somewhere else and still go over, visit the lobby and have a few glasses of wine at the bar there.

Are you going solo or with a partner?

If I were to go to the GF again (and trust me, I've been pricing it out for our next trip, just DD and me for her 18th birthday), no way would I pay what they are asking now. We have All Star Sports booked, in a 2 bedroom connecting deal for her roll in shower (she can't stand in the shower due to POTS, she can pass out, since she has EDS). We're paying roughly $130/night average, and since we have our own connecting rooms, no way can anything come close to that. It's nice since she needs more sleep on vacation (she can go 14 hours without waking).

Disney prices are out of hand.

I would weigh how much you are going to be actually in the room or at the resort. If you are going to the parks, maybe it's not worth the expense now to pay for an expensive room.

I've stayed at both the Swan and Dolphin and do like those. I'm not sure they would actually be cheaper for me though. The rooms are around the same cost, maybe slightly lower, but you have to pay $20 for parking every day and a hotel fee so after that I think they might actually be more expensive. And the Dolphin isn't available for my dates I think they are having a convention or something.

Ah I wish GF was only $179!

I'm going with my boyfriend, it's a romantic birthday trip for me.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I would do GF and then end it at the BC.

 

[Leelo]

I agree with others for sure! If you can afford it and it doesn't break your budget, stay at the Grand! I have always wanted to stay at the Poly and was so concerned about the price and it being a good value. I went back and forth for several weeks and my husband just said "It's within our budget. Let's do it!" I haven't even thought about the price once since then and I am SOOOOOO excited for our trip!!

As far as a moderate choice, I have never stayed at one, but I know several people who love Port Orleans French Quarter.

 

[Babsy]

Has anyone stayed in the Deluxe King room at the Grand Floridian? Is it worth the money it would be an additional $400 a night I think.

Yes, we have stayed in the deluxe King rooms at the GF. they were in the Royal Palm Club in the main building and had Club level service. Our room also had a fantastic view of Cinderella's castle and Wishes fireworks from a large balcony. It was wonderful!!!

How about finishing your trip with the Club level King room at the Grand for one night? You have access to the lounge until you leave late Saturday evening even though you have to check out at 11:00 am that day. You will finish with a wonderful nearly two days of being pampered in the best of the best resorts. You could start with the first three days at a moderate King room at CSR and save money over those three nights to help pay the extra at the GF.

I always like to finish a trip with the best resort. It does feel a little less exciting to move from a deluxe to a moderate. That said, if the only way the trip made sense was to do it the other way around I would stay at the best first (and have done so, in fact). In this case, where the Gf is so pricey, it makes sense to me to stay there for the shortest part of the trip.

Just a thought. It is how I say at Cl - by taking a smaller portion at the end of my trip for my splurges.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

Maybe you could save money by staying at a moderate BEFORE going and then go on the cruise and end with the GF so that way you end with the best and can splurge as much as you want.