Please help a newbie decide btw resorts

[corinascot]

Hi! Dh and ds (9) and niece (9) are planning a mid-June trip to WDW. Haven't been there since 1973! I hear it's a bit larger now!! LOL! One of the reasons we haven't been to WDW is that dh and I are not too fond of noisy, crowded places. Wish we could visit during a quieter time of year, but it didn't work out that way. But I think we can deal with it if we have a reasonably tranquil place to return to for an afternoon dip in the pool or nap. I'm trying to decide btw Port Orleans Riverside or the Swan or Dolphin or Animal Kingdom. We're staying 4 nights. Also would like the hotel to be as convenient as possible for getting to/from resorts. (Animal Kingdom lodge looks pretty far out there). We'll probably go to MK, Epcot and MGM. We want to keep the rate under $150/night and it seems like there are some good deals out there so we could do that any any of these resorts.

Also, I hear it's difficult to walk from place to place b/c of traffic. Is this true? dh is a runner (I hear there are jogging trails)

Thanks for any advice you can give a novice!

 

[karylrocks]

I think you should choose between AKL or Port Orleans. Swan and Dolphin just don't have that "Disney Magic" for kids like the other Disney resorts do (IMO). AKL is our favorite but it is out of the way. PO is more convenient to everything if that is important to you, but if you are driving it won't make that much difference and if you are taking the bus PO has several stops and AKL just has one. Everything is very spread out at WDW and it is not really possible to walk to anything from either of these resorts. If you are not interested in visiting Animal Kingdom (our second favorite park) then you may not enjoy AKL as much as we do and should probably go with PO, but consider French Quarter as well as Riverside. I think the kids would love it there.

 

[Red Wings Fan]

If you're looking for something quieter, then my suggestion would be to stay at the POFQ. There are only about 1000 rooms so the number of people obviously would be limited. I have read other posts that list other advantages to this resort (suggest the POFQ FAQ section). We got 2 adjoining rooms on the AP rate for $74 per room/night (regular sale rate is $94 per room/night).

Obviously it's going to be difficult to avoid crowds when you are in the parks. However, you can minimize the crowds by the resort you stay at.

Also, POFQ just reopened after a complete remodel so the rooms should be nice.

 

[Mercy]

Well, we love the Dolphin! My boys were 13 and 10 last time we were there and they loved this hotel as well!

This hotel is very convenient to the parks and is in a great location in general. If you can get a good rate there, I say go for it. There are teachers, nurses, govt. and Entertainment rates out there. We have an entertainment rate of $146/night for this August.

 

[XStAnt]

POR will be the quietest resort. It actually is very pretty and tranquill (for Disney). However, it will have the smallest rooms. It's not bad for 4 people if you won't be spending too much time in then room. POR has a nice jogging trail through the resort--perfect for DH. It's bus service to all parks, but the bus service isn't bad.

Swan/Dolphin will have the biggest rooms and is walking distance to Epcot and MGM (about a 10-15 minute walk or a 10 minute boat ride). However, they are in the boardwalk area so things will be a little more hectic/noisy (although I've never heard anyone complain about noise levels inside the rooms).

AKL is also a deluxe resort like Swan/Dolphin, but the rooms will be a littl snaller. However, the theme and views of animals is supposed to be great. It is also bus service to parks.

POR will probably be cheapest. Swan and Dolphin will often have deals, especially if you are a teacher, nurse, or government employee.

My vote for you would be POR because it is so tranquil and will be the least expensive (although by no means not as nice).

By the way, if you haven't been since 1973 you may not realize how spread out Disney truly is. You cannot walk from one park to the next (well you could if you wanted to take 3 hours to get there ). You can't walk from most resorts to a park. The exception being CR to MK and the Epcot resorts (Swan, Dolphin, BC, YC and BWI) to Epcot and/or MGM. But it doesn't take long to get to the parks. At most it's a 10-15 minute bus ride.

 

[Jackie H.]

My number one recommendation would be the Polynesian - but it may be more than the $150 per night. Check on a garden view room.....

It is very quiet and relaxing, with huge rooms and an absolutely GREAT location.

Of the choices you mentioned --- I have stayed at all except Swan. (PO RIverside was Dixie Landings then - same resort, just a name change.)

Let me think: AKL is wonderful! It is quite and relaxing and the animals and African art and storytellers are great. The resort is somewhat dark and that makes it even more relaxing. That being said, it is the fartherest away from MK, EPCOT and MGM. And the only mode of transportation is bus. The buses are solely for AKL (no sharing with other resorts). And even the MK ride isn't very long (10-15 minutes? maybe longer if crowded). And the rooms are not very large. So my recommendation: very relaxing, you will REALLY feel like you are getting away from it all; but you will have smaller rooms and a longer ride to the parks. There may be a running trail, but I don't remember it.

Dolphin - Swan. We liked the Dolphin and the room was larger than AKL. But the place is HUGE!!! It felt like we were a long way from EVERYTHING. Swan is much smaller and that would probably make it better. The earlier poster was right that it just didn't have that "Disney Feel" and we won't stay there again. But the location is very good (Beach CLub is better for EPCOT, Yacht CLub and Boardwalk is just as good and I think I would like both better than the Dolphin. Boarwalk & Swan would be a littler closer to MGM - but that is pretty much a tie. For MK: Poly, Contempory and GF is better.) My recommendation: not very relaxing - more of a fun family atmosphere - and a rather long walk to everything (Dolphin). Can't argue with the location or the cost; rooms larger than AKL, but still not all that large - no where near as large as Poly.

Port Orleans - very relaxing, but back to only buses for transporation. Riverside is very spread out - so you risk being very far from the main hall. But it is a beautiful resort - the grounds are lovely. The room is not very large - it didn't seem any larger than the all-stars..... We did not like this resort. We were 4 miles (it seemed) from the restuarant and main pool. We had stayed in the all-stars earlier and couldn't figure out what we were paying extra for here. The buses make 5- or 6 stops and that gets really annoying after awhile. I think the PO French Quarter would be much preferable to the Riverside part.


SO! Still my number one recommendation for what you've said you want is the Poly (except I'm not sure on the cost). But of the ones you mentioned I think I would recommend either AKL, PO French Quarter or the Swan (I wouldn't stay at the Swan because I would miss the Disney feel of it, but many others do not feel that way at all).

I cannot recommend PO Riverside or the Dolphin for you.

Check out these website to help get you more information
Deb Willis' Disney Site

Tikkiman's Poly Site

I almost forgot: there is a running trail at both Swan/Dolphin and at Port Orleans.

 

[swilphil]

We were at the Dolphin last June, and while it wasn't a remote location I didn't find it to be loud at all. I thought the Boardwalk would be noisy, but we didn't hear it once and our room faced it. Plus our kids LOVED the Dolphin. The best thing about it is the location. We returned to our rooms quite easily every day when the parks got to be too crowded or we didn't want to deal with the rain or heat any more. June is the rainiest month in Orlando, but they are usually short afternoon showers. The Swan and Dolphin each have quiet pools and there's a beach area where I spent a quiet afternoon reading in a hammock. The best part is we got a room at the Dolphin on the teacher/govt. discount for $129/night and we didn't need to rent a car since everything is so close.

 

[swilphil]

Originally posted by corinascot

Also, I hear it's difficult to walk from place to place b/c of traffic. Is this true? dh is a runner (I hear there are jogging trails)

The Swan/Dolphin has a jogging trail that basically goes around the little lake with Epcot, Beach/Yacht Club, S/D, Boardwalk. I'm not sure if MGM is on the trail, but it is within walking distance from the S/D. The Epcot area is very walker friendly.

 

[DemoBri1]

Originally posted by corinascot
Hi! Dh and ds (9) and niece (9) are planning a mid-June trip to WDW. Haven't been there since 1973! I hear it's a bit larger now!! LOL! One of the reasons we haven't been to WDW is that dh and I are not too fond of noisy, crowded places. Wish we could visit during a quieter time of year, but it didn't work out that way. But I think we can deal with it if we have a reasonably tranquil place to return to for an afternoon dip in the pool or nap. I'm trying to decide btw Port Orleans Riverside or the Swan or Dolphin or Animal Kingdom. We're staying 4 nights. Also would like the hotel to be as convenient as possible for getting to/from resorts. (Animal Kingdom lodge looks pretty far out there). We'll probably go to MK, Epcot and MGM. We want to keep the rate under $150/night and it seems like there are some good deals out there so we could do that any any of these resorts.

Also, I hear it's difficult to walk from place to place b/c of traffic. Is this true? dh is a runner (I hear there are jogging trails)

Thanks for any advice you can give a novice!

Just for the heck of it I'd check out what you could get for a rate at the YC. It's not really that noisy of a place, it is within walking distance of both Epcot and MGM, and you have access to several different lengths of jogging trails via the Boardwalk and other access roads.

I do seriously doubt though, that you will get a rate close to your $150/night level, but you never know. If not, I would probably say the S/D complex could be your next best bet. Yes, they're not Disney hotels anymore, but guests of the S/D do get the "on-property" perks of the other Disney hotels, including use of the Transportation system. Once again they are within walking distance of both Epcot and MGM, and you still have access to jogging paths.

Brian