Postponing holiday - idea's needed !!!

[Little Flower]

We found out this week that we will have to postpone our 2008 holiday. It was supposed to be 2 weeks in June staying at Port Orleans Riverside but, unfortunately, my husband being a soldier, he is off to Afganistan in July 08 so is not allowed to leave the country beforehand. I have decided to focus on planning a postponed holiday in December for when he gets back (that way i can pretend there is no blind panic setting in about the detachment!!) It would also be a great treat for him when he returns!!

Here is my dilema,

As we have an extra six months to pay the holiday off, my DH informs me that i can pick whatever resort i want and we can stay there.

I had originally thought the Poly as i really love the way that Disney does the really themey resorts but i have heard that it isn't so great compared to others when it comes to being decorated for Christmas.

I am now leaning towards the GF or BWI.

Does anyone have a preference??

All advice would be really appreciated. I want to make this our most special trip yet

 

[rickhasco]

Hi
Other than the views given here, maybe check out Tripadvisor and see what the reviews read like. I've found this to be the best place for honest, impartial assessments of every Hotel.

 

[disneyholic family]

We found out this week that we will have to postpone our 2008 holiday. It was supposed to be 2 weeks in June staying at Port Orleans Riverside but, unfortunately, my husband being a soldier, he is off to Afganistan in July 08 so is not allowed to leave the country beforehand. I have decided to focus on planning a postponed holiday in December for when he gets back (that way i can pretend there is no blind panic setting in about the detachment!!) It would also be a great treat for him when he returns!!

Here is my dilema,

As we have an extra six months to pay the holiday off, my DH informs me that i can pick whatever resort i want and we can stay there.

I had originally thought the Poly as i really love the way that Disney does the really themey resorts but i have heard that it isn't so great compared to others when it comes to being decorated for Christmas.

I am now leaning towards the GF or BWI.

Does anyone have a preference??

All advice would be really appreciated. I want to make this our most special trip yet

the GF is REALLY expensive, so you should take that into consideration...
but if money is not an issue, it's a lovely place to stay, especially during Christmas time (it's our favorite WDW resort year round)....

like the Poly, it's on the monorail, which i think is so much fun...
in fact, for me, being on the monorail, and just a hop away from the MK really is a major part of the magic.....that's not to say that the other WDW resorts aren't wonderful - they all are and if you stay at any of them you'll enjoy yourself....
so i really would take the cost issue into consideration...
perhaps you'd rather save the money on the resort and spend more on other things during your holiday....
because really truly all the resorts are enjoyable...we've stayed at many of them, and always had a magical time wherever we were....

regarding the GF vs the BWI - i much much much much much prefer the GF. While we enjoyed staying at the BWI, we would probably never stay there again (many other resorts come higher up on our list of preferences).

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Grand Floridian is a special place to stay, if your budget isn't an issue I would stay there.
I am not that clued upon abbreviations, BWI - you mean the Boardwalk?

If so it's a fantastic location but we were dissapointed with the standard of room when we stayed at a 1 bedroomed villa last year - a lot of the furniture was in need of replacement, but for location it cannot be beat.

GF v BW - I would go for the GF overall.

 

[Goofyish]

I'm a big fan of the Epcot resort area (Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Swan & Dolphin) - gives you so many options of places to eat and visit within walking distance of your resort. The pool at the Yacht/Beach Clubs is one of the best on-site too

You can also walk to Epcot or Studios (or take the Friendship boats)

 

[disneyholic family]

I'm a big fan of the Epcot resort area (Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Swan & Dolphin) - gives you so many options of places to eat and visit within walking distance of your resort. The pool at the Yacht/Beach Clubs is one of the best on-site too

You can also walk to Epcot or Studios (or take the Friendship boats)

yes, the epcot resort area is very nice, with some entertainment in addition to restaurants (e.g. jelly rolls)...
if you're interested in staying in that area, then instead of the Boardwalk, i would suggest staying at the yacht club or beachclub resorts....the YC and BC share the same pool - Stormalong Bay......i agree that it is without question, one of the nicest pools on WDW property (probably the nicest pool)...
our personal preference is the YC over the BC, but they're basically the same resorts, differing only in decor....i would choose either one of them over the Boardwalk Inn...

 

[Miffy2003]

If you would consider splitting your stay, you could have the best of both worlds and stay half at BWI and the other half at GF or Poly?

The Xmas decs at the GF and BW are very impressive, and I would agree that the Poly decs are more low key. Here are a couple of photos if that helps the decision a little

The Gingerbread House at the GF

The Chocolate Poly

 

[jtlover]

GF definitey - I will pursuade you with some photos of our stay up until Sunday

If that has not pursuaded you I will have to find some more

It is am amazing resort.

 

[Little Flower]

GF definitey - I will pursuade you with some photos of our stay up until Sunday

If that has not pursuaded you I will have to find some more

It is am amazing resort.

OMG those photos are amazing - i think you may have persuaded me but, if you have any other pictures i would love to see them!!!!

What level room did you stay in?

 

[disneyholic family]

OMG those photos are amazing - i think you may have persuaded me but, if you have any other pictures i would love to see them!!!!

What level room did you stay in?

that's not a standard room, but the standard rooms are also very nice...

 

[jtlover]

that's not a standard room, but the standard rooms are also very nice...

No it isnt a standard room it was a lodge tower room but the standard rooms stops at where the sofa part joins. Our stay last year was in a standard which is lovely.

We were in Sago Cay building and room 5413 on the fourth floor. I will find some more photos and post later

 

[Little Flower]

No it isnt a standard room it was a lodge tower room but the standard rooms stops at where the sofa part joins. Our stay last year was in a standard which is lovely.

We were in Sago Cay building and room 5413 on the fourth floor. I will find some more photos and post later

Yey!! Thankyou - it really does look lovely. I was worried it might be a little too old fashioned for us but, it just looks beautiful. I'm definately thinking that this could be the one for us

 

[Little Flower]

JTLover - i'm curious, where abouts in Oxfordshire do you live. That's where i am too

 

[jtlover]

If you want any personal help with planning I would be more than happy to help you.

I will download some more photos shortly

 

[Little Flower]

Thankyou - it would be really great!! It's hard to picture whether a resort will suit you so it's nice seeing holiday snaps rather than promotional pictures!!

 

[jtlover]

We are in Abingdon in Oxfordshire, where are you?

The first and third photos are of the main lobby in the day and then at night. It is a lovely place to stay and is not stuffy at all - my daughter loves this hotel and doesnt want to stay anywhere else - she is 15

 

[Little Flower]

We're in Carterton (just near Witney) Small world isn't it!!!!

GF really looks beautiful. I think i am definately persuaded! Who did you book through??

 

[penlanspice]

Love that second picture of the marina, this picture brings back memories!! LOL

Last year for our wedding week we stayed on the 1st floor in the last room on the right (the room above the umbrellas)

The GF is the hotel everyone goes past on the monorail and says "one day we'll stay there"

 

[jtlover]

Love that second picture of the marina, this picture brings back memories!! LOL

Last year for our wedding week we stayed on the 1st floor in the last room on the right (the room above the umbrellas)

The GF is the hotel everyone goes past on the monorail and says "one day we'll stay there"

Fantastic for a wedding and honeymoon

We were in the tower block in the photo third windows up

 

[Miffy2003]

Fab photos, jtlover. You had a smashing room.