Remember your first resort (sigh)

[landmark]

Is it just my family or do others hold a special place for that first Disney Resort? Our first stay (as a family) in fall 2003 was at the Contemporary and since then the family doesn't want to try anything else. Like a good DIS'er I want to "try them all" and our last stay split POFQ/AKL (twice the fun) and for our spring trip I wanted to go to the BC or BW. Like a good mother I asked the family where they wanted to stay and I got 2 - Contemporary and 1 - "The one that looks like an A" (AKA the Contemporary)

In May whenever we'd pass the CR on the way to MK the kids would both shout... "Look there is our first hotel!" (like we never have been out of the house before LOL!) Then "Why aren't we staying there?" and while waiting for a bus after Spectro the DH chimed in with "If we stayed at CR we'd be home by now.." LOL I'm outvoted.

So with fond memories of our "first time" as a family... it's back to the CR in March for us! I don't mind.. I did love the CR and had a Magical time but I did want to try out SAB. Well... all the reason to plan for a followup trip if the family will let me stay anywhere but the CR!

 

[mickey0216]

BC (before children) the DW and I stayed at the CR. We loved it.

AC/BGC (after children / before grandchildren) I hope to stay there again...

 

[Muushka]

I think I may not be a normal Disney-person.

The first on-site hotel I stayed at was Poly, back in '85 or so. To be honest, I was not impressed. The second time it was CBR, again, not impressed. The third time it was Dolphin, well, you know. Then I got married and we stayed at Dixie Landings. Loved it. Then we stayed at WL, loved that even more. So it seems with me, as time goes on, my love for the resorts grows!

We have stayed at all but GF, PC and BW, but plan on staying at these places also (well, probably not PC).

 

[Alice in Cleveland]

I stayed at the Contemporary as a child/teen back in the 80's. I haven't been back since 1985, but I would not rule out staying there again someday. I just hate what they did to the decor!

 

[sherry8253]

Istayed at the CR in 1973 and again in 1978. But I have not been back to that resort since then. My DH and I talk about staying there but I hate to pay the price for a tower room (and I want to stay in the tower) even with an AP discount. Maybe next year I will bite the bullet and pay the cost.

 

[Gabrielle]

Our first on-site was the Polynesian in 1986. The Grand Floridian in 1990 and then numerous stays at the Moderates, with stays at YC, Contemporary and WL.

The favorite resort is the POFQ, though, because it's my kids' "first" resort (the first one they remember). Even though they're older teens, this is the one that holds a special place for us.

 

[Kallison]

My kids love the Contemp rooms but adore the BC - SAB pool. Next trip SAB is being rehabbed, and Contemp was booked full. So we are trying a new resort. Actually in 6 trips we have done a new resort each time, which is part of the fun for us. We've done Dixie Landings, Port Orleans, Contemporary (upgraded to tower), Beach Club, Dolphin and now Boardwalk. I still want to try Wilderness Lodge and Grand Floridian.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Originally posted by mickey0216
BC (before children) the DW and I stayed at the CR. We loved it.

AC/BGC (after children / before grandchildren) I hope to stay there again...

Our first stay was just the opposite type-we had young children then, stayed at the FW Cabins, IMHO the best buy for a young family. Although DH and I have been traveling just the two of us for many years now, someday I'd love to return to stay at the cabins with my young grandchildren at about the same age my children were (7 & 4).

 

[mom23guys2]

Our first on-site stay was at the Poly many years ago. We then switched to BC. As we needed more rooms because of growing children we switched to Dixie Landing, then the All-Stars. Had a little more money so stayed at AKL a few times( my favorite). Then found out about Teacher discounts and switched to Swan, then Dolphin. This year with a lack of teacher discounts for the whole time of our trip (we really want to stay put this time) its back to POR. When our sons, now adults, heard the news they were thrilled. They fondly remember our stays at Dixie Landings and are looking forward to returning.

 

[DepCor0311]

Honestly...My first on-site resort was CBR and to tell the truth, I would not stay there again...Not that it is not a nice place, but it is very big and usually pretty crowded. My experience there with busses was not the best either. Additionally, we are two adult travelers, and CBR is more family oriented.

 

[dsnylndmom]

My first stay ever was at the Disney Inn. This was way pre-kids & I was with friends so have little memories of it.

First stay with the kids(only 1 trip so far!)was at ASMo and we hated it soo much that we moved after 2 nights! So we don't have found memories of that "first stay" LOL

But, we do have some fond memories of CBR(where we switched to after movies)

 

[disneyandme]

My family stayed in CR back in 1978-- there was only Poly and CR at that point. We felt very special to be on the monrail and not to have to drive at all. We also went to Poly for supper on night.

 

[newholiday]

after staying off-site a few times on vacations with friends/family/DH
- our first onsite was at All Star Music in 1996 - DSs first WDW trip
- our next WDW vaca was in 01 and we stayed at the WL for 9nights (added on 3more nights on our 6th day)
- in 02 we "had" to stay at PO/FQ (only place avail for 8consecutive nights at 22hr notice)
- this yr we took our first trip "home" to VWL and stayed 2nights at CB (this was added on a few wks before our trip, MILs FL home had hurricane damage)
- next vaca will start at PO/Riverside (unless codes come out, to save points) followed by 6nights "home"

 

[WDWLVR]

Very first stay was way back in '76 at the Howard Johnsons in the village.

First Disney resort was the Poly and yes it will always hold a special place in my heart. We were scheduled to stay there with my mom back in '97 but had to cancel when she was diagnosed with lung cancer and died later that same year. We bought her a brick near the Poly and when we're down there we always go and find it.

My DH and I love trying all the resorts and have been to most. We honeymooned at the Grand Floridian.

Joined DVC back in 2000 but we still like trying other resorts. Boardwalk is home but we've also stayed at VWL and OKW and have BCV villas booked for this December for one night.

I had my very first stay at the Contemporary last December and loved it! We had a tower room that looked out at the Magic Kingdom. It was great to be able to walk back from MVMCP.

That's what I love about Disney - so many wonderful choices!

 

[head2toewinner]

First stay was off site when I was about 4. First onsi5te trip remembered was music when I was like 8. We hated it. We always had to stand on the bus and so many other things. It was so horrible. Then we got wise to the bus situation and realized that on off peak times sports got picked up then music then movies and they all used the same bus. We keep staying at sports now and I love it. Been to pop a couple of times too. I just like the value resorts for some reason./

 

[goofy4tink]

My first stay was in '99 with dd, then 6, and my mom. Stayed at DxL!!!!! Now, with my mom gone, it really holds a magical spot in my heart. When we stayed at the Polynesian in '03, we checked in and dd said..."Well, it's nice but it just isn't as magical as DxL!!" You have to love your 'first' resort!!!

 

[PamNC]

My first Disney resort was the Contemporary - with my parents. I believe I was 16 or 17. I felt so privileged to be staying there. My parents took me to Disney a lot but we had family in the area so we usually stayed with them. This time was a treat to actually stay on property.

My first Disney resort later on with my husband was All Star Music. That was 10 years ago. We've gone every year since and we've now stayed at CBR, Coronado, Contemporary, Poly, Grand Floridian, Yacht and Beach Club, and Wilderness Lodge. My favorite is the Poly with YC/BC coming in a close second. We're staying at the Swan for the first time for Thanksgiving weekend.
I would like to stay at AKL concierge at some point for a long weekend and do the Sunrise Safari. For some reason, I have no desire to stay at the Boardwalk or Port Orleans. Would like to try the Fort Wilderness Cabins and Beach Club Villas (rent points from an owner).


PamNC

 

[AndyMcV]

I went to WDW twice as a kid and have special memories of being there. Coming from Canada it was a real treat to just be there regardless of being at a Disney resort. My parents unfortunately never saw the benefits of staying on site. At the time they probably could not afford the extra cost (as it was probably enough just to be there). So as a kid I never got the chance to actually stay on site. However the Contemporary will also hold a special spot with me. I remember taking the monorail and passing right through this super cool hotel where I could actually see in side if it. I could see the people walking around down below. It was really cool the way it was made/designed.

As an adult I got my first chance to stay on site at Disney in 2000. At work one of our busness systems' supplier was having there annual customer conference in Orlando Florida, at WDW!! And guess what.... it was at the Contemporary. :-D So I quickly told my boss of all the benefits of going to this conference. He, he, he... it was all set. My DW and I were recently married and we had an awsome vacation onsite at Disney at the Contemporary. We tooks some extra days ourselves and we were there for over a week and a half. It was amazing. It's funny/silly I felt almost priviledged to stay there. It brought back so many memories and feelings from when I was a kid wanting to stay at this really cool resort.

The Contemporary will always hold a special spot for me.

 

[TWOOD]

My DD & I had our 1st stay @ BWI in '97, & it's very special for a few reasons. First, my DD had been pointing to the TV since she was 3 every time a Disney commercial aired & saying, "Mommy, I want to go there!". I told we'd go when she was 6. Well, I got divorced when she was 3 & every trip we took between 3 & 6 included family members to "help" me. Our first trip to WDW was also our first solo trip as mom & daughter - we went 2 months after she turned 6. It was AWESOME & proved we could do anything by ourselves! Now, 7 years later, it's still just the 2 of us & we're heading back to WDW for our 22nd time in Dec. I'll never forget that wonderful liberating week at BWI! WDW has become our "mother/daughter escape from the real world" & we cherish our time alone together - just last week my DD said, "I'm ready for us to be at Disney, Mom." - that makes me so happy considering she's 13, quite social, & very involved in school, athletics, etc...

 

[liliagm]

My first hotel "memory" is the Treehouse villas back in 1986, I was 12 years old, and it was great, I know I stayed before maybe at what used to be the villas (overlooking a golf course) where they have now the Saratoga resort and also at the Contemporary, but I was really young so the first stay I clearly remember is at the treehouses, it's so sad they are no longer open beacuse I would love to stay there again!!