Never been to Disney World Resorts...Please Help.

[HausofDisney]

I will be going to MNSSHP for the first time ever in October. We will be staying off-site at Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista Resort. However, we have never been to any of the Disney Resorts and we plan to spend one day of our vacation only touring the Disney World resorts.
Could I please get some suggestions about the best resorts for two adults to visit?
Also the best place to stop and have a nice lunch or dinner while touring the resorts?

Thank you!

 

[BK2014]

The easiest way to tour a number of resorts is to hop on the monorail and tour the monorail resorts. As for a nice lunch or dinner, I would consider Narcoossee's at Grand Floridian or California Grill at Contemporary for dinner options.

 

[disneyvoice]

Take the monorail and check out all the monorail resorts - Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian. If you drink it is fun to get a drink at one of the bars at each resort. Trader Joe's at the Poly is lots of fun. At Poly, Kona Cafe is a good place to eat, you could stalk the dining site for an ADR for 'Ohana as well but those are hard to come by and it is a really heavy meal. California Grill also has a nice bar area. You can typically still get an ADR for Cali Grill a few days out but it tends to be a longer meal so not sure you want to spend that kind of time there. I don't have as much experience with the Grand Floridian but I know there is a lounge and the Grand Floridian Cafe gets decent reviews.

 

[Hisgirl]

I would also HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend you make some kind of dinner reservations at the Animal Kingdom lodge Jambo house and see the wonderful fantastic Africa world the architect created on the inside and outside of this fabulous resort. Resort hopping is not as easy as it once was, but if you plan a meal there, you can easily come in and tour around.

 

[jarestel]

Polynesian
Grand Floridian
Contemporary
Wilderness Lodge
Animal Kingdom Lodge

Have fun!

 

[Sue M]

You could start at Polynesian, hop on monorail to GF, & CR, then at CR walk outside to back of resort to the boat dock to visit WL. After you finish looking at WL, and enjoy some relaxing time in the rocking chairs by the fire you can get back on the boat to MK or CR depending on further plans. We enjoyed meals at each resort. If you plan on Cali Grill (In CR- Contrmporary) or Narcossees (at GF-Grand Floridian) time it to the evening fireworks if you can. It's wonderful viewing from those locations and the music is piped into the restaurants.

 

[JasonMouse]

Monorail resorts and hop on a boat to WL and then get on a bus to AK and then to AKL. You won't regret it. If you're still looking for more, Beach Club and Boardwalk at night after EPCOT fireworks.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Monorail resorts and hop on a boat to WL and then get on a bus to AK and then to AKL. You won't regret it. If you're still looking for more, Beach Club and Boardwalk at night after EPCOT fireworks.

Disney's Boardwalk area is a nice place to visit and see resorts. You can get there on foot by exiting through the International Gateway. You can see the Beach Club, Yacht Club, Dolphin, Swan and Boardwalk. There are several restaurants in and around these resorts.

You can also do a boat tour of the area by taking the boat that runs between Epcot and the Hollywood Studios.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Monorail resorts and hop on a boat to WL and then get on a bus to AK and then to AKL. You won't regret it. If you're still looking for more, Beach Club and Boardwalk at night after EPCOT fireworks.

All of the PP's suggestions are great! I would also suggest, if time allows and you decide to take the boat to WL to also take the boat to Ft. W. The stables that house all of the WDW horses is just a short walk from the boat dock and they have a really cute gift shop!

 

[dancin Disney style]

I would start the day by doing the monorail resorts then head to the Epcot resorts. There are a ton of dining options in that area. If you are still up for more after dinner then go to see AKL or go to POP and then walk over the bridge to see AoA.

 

[flortlebap]

Bomb and Jiko at AKL are fabulous, as is the resort. Definitely worth a visit. And bonus, you can watch the savannahs

 

[HausofDisney]

Thank you so much to everyone for the suggestions. We still have plenty of time before our trip to modify any plans but as of now we plan to start our day at Animal Kingdom Lodge, from there we will drive to Grand Floridian. Then we will walk the pedestrian path from the Grand Floridian to the Polynesian and end our day there. I love photography and plan to take a lot of photos at the resorts and on the trip. This should give us plenty of time at all three resorts. If we are able to visit resorts on a second day of our trip we plan to visit the Beach and Yacht Club as well as the Wilderness Lodge. I can't wait to visit the resorts for the first time. Thanks again!

 

[raddisneyfan]

I would vote AKL with lunch at Sanaa or WL with lunch at Geyzer Grill (I think that's the name of the new one?) or Polynesian with lunch at Kona. Be careful though, once you see them, you just might wanna stay!!

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

Yacht Club/Boardwalk area would be my choice. Poly is less impressive since they changed the lobby, and Contemporary always struck me as sort of meh. I'd go walk around the Boardwalk area and visit Boardwalk and Yacht/Beach Club and grab a drink and bit to eat at Crew's Cup at Yacht Club or perhaps even wander over to Swan & Dolphin for dinner. If you choose the monorail resorts I might consider grabbing drinks/food at the California Grill bar.

 

[DisneyDiana]

Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of the most beautiful resorts I have ever been to. I think you will love it!!! You could do a late breakfast at Boma or go over to Kidani and watch the animals while you eat lunch at Sanaa. Sounds silly but I loved photographing the bathrooms by Sanaa. They are a work of art.

 

[mousefan73]

Another idea is if you are at Disney springs, take the boat to Port Orleans,,, that is nice and they have one of the best QS...

 

[GreatLakes]

Go to all of the Deluxe resorts. It can be done in one full day and is well worth it at Christmas. I would do the following:

Start at the Poly and check out the resorts on the monorail loop. When you get done at the Contemporary take the boat to WL. When done there take the boat back to the Contemporary, walk to MK, and jump on the bus to any of the Boardwalk area hotels. Walk around the Crescent Lake checking out all of the hotels there. When done get to any park and then take the bus to AKL. I would have an ADR at one of the AKL restaurants that evening for dinner when you are done.

It sounds like a lot but it isn't bad and gets you all of the really well done resorts all in one day.

 

[shellyj]

If you are visiting to research for a future trip, I think it's well worth stopping at a value and a moderate as well as the deluxes. We stayed a couple nights at ASMu last year and were blown away by how cool it was.
Absolutely definitely visit AKL and have breakfast or dinner at Boma! AKL is our favorite place to stay and Boma is our favorite restaurant.