Resort choice for hubby after a bad experience

[CindysMom]

The last time we went to Disney as a family it was Spring Break and a disaster. The kids were younger and we had a string of very bad experiences. So bad that Disney gave us 8 passes to come back.

The kids and I went back with those passes and more and had a blast each time, but my husband hasn't been able to join us. We're going back in October as a family (our kids are now young adults). I want it to be special for DH. We've stayed at the All Star Sports, Caribbean Beach (with hubby), Off Site, at PO Riverside and 2x at Pop.

On the list of things I'd say we would value in a resort, I'd say it would be:

1. Size for four adults to sleep comfortably
2. Location (I, personally, don't care for buses.)
3. Relatively short distance to Epcot since we plan to eat there a lot.

Ideally, I'd like to stay close to Epcot, so I'm thinking of the Beach Club (since we need space for four adults to sleep), but I'm concerned about cost. The pin deals that have come out exclude the dates that we need to go to accommodate everyone's schedules.

What would you veterans recommend to make it comfortable for four adults, special for my hubby and reasonably affordable?

 

[Tara]

I'd seriously consider renting points from a DVC owner for a 2br villa at either Beach Club Villas or BoardWalk Villas. You'll have so much more space than in single hotel room at a pretty reasonable rate.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Swan and dolphin is close to Epcot, and often it has great specials cheaper than moderates if you catch a good one. Its not a " Disney resort ", but uses Disney buses, and walking distance to Epcot and HS. We stayed there when we lived in Florida a few times.

 

[DebbieB]

The last time we went to Disney as a family it was Spring Break and a disaster. The kids were younger and we had a string of very bad experiences. So bad that Disney gave us 8 passes to come back.

The kids and I went back with those passes and more and had a blast each time, but my husband hasn't been able to join us. We're going back in October as a family (our kids are now young adults). I want it to be special for DH. We've stayed at the All Star Sports, Caribbean Beach (with hubby), Off Site, at PO Riverside and 2x at Pop.

On the list of things I'd say we would value in a resort, I'd say it would be:

1. Size for four adults to sleep comfortably
2. Location (I, personally, don't care for buses.)
3. Relatively short distance to Epcot since we plan to eat there a lot.

Ideally, I'd like to stay close to Epcot, so I'm thinking of the Beach Club (since we need space for four adults to sleep), but I'm concerned about cost. The pin deals that have come out exclude the dates that we need to go to accommodate everyone's schedules.

What would you veterans recommend to make it comfortable for four adults, special for my hubby and reasonably affordable?

I would do Beach Club, Yacht Club or Boardwalk Inn. I would request a room with a daybed so that 1 of your children could sleep in the queen and 1 in the daybed. I was going to suggest renting points for Beach Club Villas or Boardwalk Villas but it's probably too late for October.

 

[LazyDaisy]

If you're going for the deluxes the Beach Club is nice, but I think it might be the busiest of them. I've never stayed at those but I have passed through visiting and the Yacht seemed a tad quieter, but had all access to the BC.

Of the moderates, how did you like PO Riverside? I think that might be your best bet if you don't want to spend as much as a deluxe.

I'm sure others will have even better advice. But I think you need to figure out what your priority is. Is it going to be a) quietness, b) cost, or c) proximity to EPCOT? I think you can do two out of three but perhaps getting all 3 is going to be more difficult.

 

[CindysMom]

Do you know if you can take advantage of EMH at the Swan and Dolphin?

Are the day bed rooms the same cost as a regular room?

 

[Missyrose]

I'd seriously consider renting points from a DVC owner for a 2br villa at either Beach Club Villas or BoardWalk Villas. You'll have so much more space than in single hotel room at a pretty reasonable rate.

It's too late to rent points for this coming October at the Epcot resorts. You might find some availability here or there for a day or two, but not more than that. Those who are interested in the Epcot resorts during October should plan to rent points 11 months out, the Food and Wine Festival is VERY popular with DVC members.

 

[jojomoore]

I would keep an eye out for special offers for October. I dont think they have released general public disounts yet. My family loved BC. So close to epcot. We were able to walk there in 5 or less minutes. We took the ferry boat to HS. It is a very pleasant ride. THe bus rides to MK and AK can be quite long though because BC shares buses with YC, Swan, Dolphin, and BWI. On the bright side however, when we were there in 2010, BC was the first stop on the bus route and the buses were always empty when they picked us up. The bus stop is also just a very short walk from the front door of BC. We enjoyed hanging out by the pool in the evenings and getting a drink at the pool bar.

My family also loves AKV - KIndani but we did take buses everywhere.

AKV and BC were both very peaceful resorts. Neither have food courts and, in my opinion, quick service options are very limited. But you can make dining reservations at epcot for TS meals or even a quickservice meals if you stay at BC. The board walk bakery carries breakfast items too which would be a short ferry ride across the lake.

AKV is not close to most parks but,IMHO, it seems like everything was very simplified and easy there. All amenities in one or two buildings and pool and bus stop just outside lobby. Bus everywhere. Peaceful. Dining options are definatley influenced by the culture and are not mainstream.

Ideally staying at the poly or GF or Contemporary would get you the closest to MK and the monorail to epcot and give you the most room but my family has never stayed at these due to the fact that they are the most expensive resorts on disney property. I actually scored a good deal on the poly back in 2009 but decided not to stay their because of reviews that indicated that it was in need of renovations. WE stayed in AKV instead and loved it. We most likely would have loved the poly too. Generally im not very picky, i dont expect things to be brand new and luxurious but i do like for everything to be in working order including all bathroom hardware, refridgerator, water temperature, etc. And i am sensitive to musty smells.

 

[*Fantasia*]

On the list of things I'd say we would value in a resort, I'd say it would be:

1. Size for four adults to sleep comfortably
2. Location (I, personally, don't care for buses.)
3. Relatively short distance to Epcot since we plan to eat there a lot.

Ideally, I'd like to stay close to Epcot, so I'm thinking of the Beach Club (since we need space for four adults to sleep), but I'm concerned about cost. The pin deals that have come out exclude the dates that we need to go to accommodate everyone's schedules.

What would you veterans recommend to make it comfortable for four adults, special for my hubby and reasonably affordable?

BC sounds like it's the ticket to what you're looking for! You can walk it to Epcot as well as DHS! How cool is that?! Then to get to MK, you can take the monorail at the front of Epcot and take it to TTC and then take the monorail from there to MK! No bus needed! Now, as far as AK, you will have to take the bus to AK unfortunately. There is no monorail or ferry boat that can take you there and it's surely is not a walking distance.

But I think you made a great choice. You are definitely right there by Epcot! And it's just a walk away to all the restaurants. I heard that the Stormalong Bay is a great pool.

Your other option is the Swan/Dolphin. With the discount that they sometimes offer is about the same price with the Disney's moderate. You are still in the heart of Epcot area. Though it's not Disney, the location and the cost can't be beat!

I hope you and your family, especially your husband will have a "magical" time!! I hope your husband will find that "magic" again, so he will keep coming back to the most happiest place on earth!!

 

[padawans]

Fall discounts haven't been released yet. I would keep your eye open. There is a big convention at the Epcots resorts Oct 21-25. I hope those aren't your dates. I think it will be very difficult to get a discounted standard view at any epcot resort that week.

 

[RMulieri]

It's too late to rent points for this coming October at the Epcot resorts. You might find some availability here or there for a day or two, but not more than that. Those who are interested in the Epcot resorts during October should plan to rent points 11 months out, the Food and Wine Festival is VERY popular with DVC members.

2nd this..And bookings overall at the Epcot area resorts are generally tight .Food and Wine books them up pretty fast.
OP if the dining plan and Magical express aren;t all that important to you, I would try the Swan and Dolphin.They aren't Disney owned, but they do get most of the Disney perks and they are a deluxe cost that with the right discount can begotten for the price of a moderate

 

[wdwmike59]

On the list of things I'd say we would value in a resort, I'd say it would be:

1. Size for four adults to sleep comfortably
2. Location (I, personally, don't care for buses.)
3. Relatively short distance to Epcot since we plan to eat there a lot.

I would suggest you stay at the Polynesian. It fits number 1 as there are two queen beds and a day bed that will fit most normal sized adults. My kids are 5'9" and 5'11" and they slept comfortably. Number 2, you are on the monorail for Magic Kingdom, a short 5 min. walk to the TTC for the Epcot monorail and buses to AK and DHS. Number 3, see number 2.

 

[WEDWDW]

Do you know if you can take advantage of EMH at the Swan and Dolphin?

Are the day bed rooms the same cost as a regular room?

Yes,the Swolphin is EMH eligible.

If you don't mind me asking,what happened to warrant 8 passes from Disney-it must have been pretty bad!Thanks.

 

[CindysMom]

You all are so helpful! Thank you for your input. We'll wait for the discounts to come out and see what works out the best financially for our different options. Sounds like I have some good choices.

In answer to your question, it was a string of events. The lines were obscenely long that week. I remember waiting 60 minutes for Dumbo and then having the ride run only 60 seconds before stopping.

While we waited for Tomorrowland Speedway, we were "treated" to two employees having a rather loud and vulgar argument. When we arrived at the car for our turn, they continued the argument and put my then 7 yr. old daughter into the car sans a seatbelt. I had to buckle her in.

When we booked the trip I planned a character breakfast for my daughter's birthday. The CM suggested I bring her a gift and have a character give it to her. When we arrived at the location, the person who checked us in told me that they didn't do that. Confused, I explained that the CM who booked the reservation told me to do it and she snatched the gift from me. We wound up waiting 45 minutes after we were done eating for Goofy to arrive with her gift. He was great about it and she still remembers it, but I have less than pleasant memories of it.

I cannot remember the couple other incidents, but they were similar. I actually waited six months to write. When I was doing our scrapbook, I was reminded of the issues and wrote to simply say that I had great Disney memories from my childhood, but that when I took my children this is what happened. I honestly wrote just so that they would be able to prevent it from happening again. I was shocked when they called and asked if I could send them Xerox copies of my tickets. I had them, because I scrapbooked them. I sent them and about a month later a letter and 8 passes arrived in the mail. I was shocked.

We waited 9 years to use them, but since then the kids and I have been back four times. We've actually had more fun there with them being big than we did when they were little.

Hoping all of us can have an enjoyable week this time.

 

[padawans]

You all are so helpful! Thank you for your input. We'll wait for the discounts to come out and see what works out the best financially for our different options. Sounds like I have some good choices.

In answer to your question, it was a string of events. The lines were obscenely long that week. I remember waiting 60 minutes for Dumbo and then having the ride run only 60 seconds before stopping.

While we waited for Tomorrowland Speedway, we were "treated" to two employees having a rather loud and vulgar argument. When we arrived at the car for our turn, they continued the argument and put my then 7 yr. old daughter into the car sans a seatbelt. I had to buckle her in.

When we booked the trip I planned a character breakfast for my daughter's birthday. The CM suggested I bring her a gift and have a character give it to her. When we arrived at the location, the person who checked us in told me that they didn't do that. Confused, I explained that the CM who booked the reservation told me to do it and she snatched the gift from me. We wound up waiting 45 minutes after we were done eating for Goofy to arrive with her gift. He was great about it and she still remembers it, but I have less than pleasant memories of it.

I cannot remember the couple other incidents, but they were similar. I actually waited six months to write. When I was doing our scrapbook, I was reminded of the issues and wrote to simply say that I had great Disney memories from my childhood, but that when I took my children this is what happened. I honestly wrote just so that they would be able to prevent it from happening again. I was shocked when they called and asked if I could send them Xerox copies of my tickets. I had them, because I scrapbooked them. I sent them and about a month later a letter and 8 passes arrived in the mail. I was shocked.

We waited 9 years to use them, but since then the kids and I have been back four times. We've actually had more fun there with them being big than we did when they were little.

Hoping all of us can have an enjoyable week this time.

If your dh hates lines like mine does I would suggest getting to the parks at rope drop. I'm sure you know this, but it makes all the difference in the world. I don't know how old your kids were on your first visit, but I agree with you Disney is much more fun when they are at least school age. I tried taking my kids to Dl when they were both under 4, and it was a miserable experience. I hope this trip is more enjoyable for your dh.

 

[JennyDrake]

I would also vote for a Crescent Lake resort.

 

[MMS1125]

i just want to throw another vote in for the Poly if it's in your budget. The room is pretty big and the monorail really makes a huge difference in transportation. I think your DH would love the Poly (it's our fave resort...my DH just loves it)

 

[disneydee6]

Beach Club is a great choice. We fell in love with disney with our first stay (and mind you, it rained the entire stay) because we had such a great and close resort to go back to. Hopefully DH will have a great time this time!

 

[JeanfromBNA]

Don't know what the bad experience was, but I'd recommend the Epcot Resorts in this order: Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Beach Club. These resorts have access to the most restaurants, night clubs, and suitable experiences for those of us who are more sophisticated in our humor. You also might want to consider Saratoga Springs or Old Key West for its proximity to Downtown Disney.

I have not heard of any of the deluxe or vacation club resorts becoming inundated with tour/cheer/football/sporting/spring break groups that take over resorts en masse.

 

[patty57]

We've stayed at both Beach Club and Boardwalk multiple times, and love them both. We just came back from a June trip where we stayed at the Swan because it ended up being the price of a moderate with the nurse discount and stay connected rate on a second room. We had always hesitated to stay at the Swan/Dolphin before, fearing the loss of Disney "magic". We ended up loving the Swan and would not hesitate to stay there again...especially if the price were so much better than the Disney Epcot resorts.