The first Resort you stayed at?

[Dano1182]

The first Hotel (Motel ) I ever stayed in at or near Disney was Motel 27 .I think it was 27 but not 100 percent of number.We stayed there in 1977 for christmas.
We took train from NY .It was a fun adenture for a kid.

I have no idea where the motel was.I do recall being surrounded by orange groves.
My cousin and i walked in and picked some.
Of course the was only the Magic Kingdom then.



Now we go every year thanks to DVC.I try to tell my kids how simple it was or at least seemed to be back then.
They have no idea how lucky they are.

 

[MHTeacher]

Does it hold a magical place in your heart that others just can't touch?
Are you the same with the first resort you stayed at?

Our first on-site stay was in 2001 at All Star Sports....AND, NO, it does not hold a magical place in my heart! There's a resort for everyone, but now after staying at several different resorts, I know the Sports is not the one for us!

 

[ADisneyQueen]

Our first Disney resort was All Star Movies in Dec. 2001. We walked in the lobby and kept saying "this is a value resort"? I guess we thought it would be some small, run down motel. Our kids were 1 and 5 and loved the big dog statues. And I remember we paid $69 a night with a winter special for people coming from up north. The parks were empty b/c it was before Christmas and shortly after 9/11.

 

[Taja]

First WDW visit was in 1981. Stayed at Club Lake Villas, which was part of the Disney Institute/Disney Convention Center. Really wanted to stay at the Contemporary Resort, but I tagged in on to an east coast business trip and didn't book until late May or June (Labor Day weekend visit), so CR and Poly weren't available.

 

[sullins5]

LOVE this thread! CBR, CBR, CBR!!!!! And still CBR! We stayed offsite our first year and HATED it! After that? We tried CBR. Love the ambience, the music, the theming, all the animals you see running around, renting the boats, bicycles, the pools, Port Royale, the cm's. And just about every time that's where we go! It just doesn't feel like going to WDW if we don't go to CBR. Sometimes I wonder if the price were right, would we go deluxe? But why when we just love CBR!

 

[gojoe]

My first trip was with my Mom & Dad. It was the summer of 1973. We stayed at the Contemporary for 5 wonderful day. I grew up with Uncle Walt on Sunday night telling me about his plans for Utopia. This was our trip of a life time. For my Mom, Dad and me it was our last. My Dad passed a few years later. I can remember every detail like it was yesterday. I always find some reason to visit every time I go. Thank for starting this post it brought back wonderful memories. Thanks Mom & Dad, I miss you.

 

[shocker]

Does it hold a magical place in your heart that others just can't touch?

I ask because my DH and I stayed at AKL on our first visit to WDW.

We had the most magical, perfect 2 weeks ever.


SO now whenver we think of planning another trip - even though we've stayed at other resorts since and loved them all - we both just want to book Jambo House all the time!

(Well, i would stay back at GF RPC - but I'd rather not bankrupt us )

I feel guilty for not trying other places too, but I just loooooooove AKL.

Are you the same with the first resort you stayed at?

Nope, Nope, and Nope. Our first WDW resort stay was Boardwalk Inn. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't "magical" I'll not have a need to stay again. I picked it because of the walk to Epcot and boat to DHS and the fact it had very few rooms and the big sprawling resorts do not appeal to me and for that it satisfied. Where it fell short was a bit too stuffy with no real room theming.

I think it an interesting twist that Disney themes it's lower end rooms MORE than it's high end rooms. I guess they think those who can afford it are too stuffy to sleep in a 'Nemo' or 'Football' themed room. I think just the opposite, I want a 'Herbie' room but with plush towels, double sinks, and queen size beds. I don't mind spending a lot to sleep in fairy room.

I didn't get theming at BW. Since then we've tried WL and LOVED it. I am afraid to try something new now because it will always be compared to WL. WL gave me the "everything in one bldg." feel, actual room theming, quick access to 3 transportation methods, and one quick boat ride away from accessing all monorail resort dining.

I still haven't stayed in value but would like to try ASSp, when budget requires. I still haven't stayed in a mod and don't think I ever may because of that big sprawling issue I have along with my long transportation time issues. Deluxe, however, is another story. My short list for trying is CR and BC, again no room theming and in the end I may just slip back into WL and pocket the difference (more souvenirs )

 

[DsnyMama]

Animal Kingdom Lodge - hands down. At age 19 and 21, my husband and I spent our very first WDW trip (and also our honeymoon!) at AKL. It was pure magic.

 

[Mamu]

Our first Disney Resort was POR (then called Dixielandings) We've never returned but it does hold lots of good memories.

 

[msp2mco]

Our family first stayed in a cabin at Fort Wilderness. We planned the trip a couple of months ahead of time, so there weren't many options. We have great memories of the campground, but then we bought into DVC, and have stayed there ever since. We've been back to Fort Wilderness a few times for Hoop de Doo and always enjoy a drink on the porch.

 

[MsGrandma]

Fort Wilderness when I was a kid...camped in my aunt and uncle's camper!
Great memories and hilarious photos.

 

[PoohsFan1]

The first resort I ever stayed at was the Poly...I was a kid back then and the only resorts to choose from was either the Poly or CR (tells you how old I am ). After that first trip, we did a second trip a couple of years later and we again stayed at the Poly. After that we stayed off site (parents bought a time share right outside of Disney). Ever since then, I have been dreaming of going back, but it just wasn't in my budget. Finally in August, I will be reliving my childhood and heading there for 3 nights before going over to BLT ....I have the best DH ever . We do visit the resort whenever we can and I always got so jealous of the people swimming in the pool because they were staying at that resort. We do go to other resorts, and I have loved them all so far, but I just could not wait to get back to my first love .

 

[YankeePrincess]

My first resort was the Poly and it is still my favorite resort.

 

[torsie24]

Thanks for the great replies everyone. Seems like it's quite split, but that when people do find their favourite resort it becomes difficult to stay elsewhere.

I think split stays are definitely the way to go for us, and as we'll always have trips long than 2 weeks we should be able to.

Our next trip (2014....sigh) is going to be a split stay between AKL (of course!) and then a few nights trying the new villas at GF if we are able to stay there on rented points. As we'd love to buy there, but would like a stay first.

I'd love to try YC/BC so I'm sure we'll do that one trip too, maybe when we have older kids who can fully enjoy SAB.

 

[milmore104]

First stay was at OKW. And we paid.... Rack rate for EVERYTHING. Oh the things I didn't know way back then.

 

[eliza61]

Without a doubt, our first resort was special. We stayed in the Ft. Wilderness cabins and loved them. My sons were very young and we use to go down to the beach every night and watch the water parade. They also loved the woods, after a night at the parks, we would spend a lot of time sitting on the patio.

We still love Ft. Wilderness.

 

[Lehuaann]

Another for FWcabins.

This was our first resort and I feel the magic everytime we go back.

 

[scootch]

We stayed at the Poly the first time and loved it. The next trip, we couldnt' afford the Poly and went "down" to a wing room at the Contemporary. Well, we ended up falling head over heels in love with the contemporary... and it is truly the one in our heart. We also "downgraded" one year to the WL and to be honest, if it had a monorail, it would likely be our first choice. The kids loved the pool and atmosphere there.

 

[Suellen]

Nope... first Disney resort was with a friend and was All Star Sports. Pretty sure I haven't stayed there since!

Every trip turns into a magical one these days.

Our favorites though have been at Animal Kingdom Jambo house for fourth of July two years ago
Saratoga Springs for a September trip in 2010.

They were just our family of four and very, very relaxing.

 

[deserrai]

We always stayed off-site until just my daughter and I went back in 2008. We stayed at All-Star Music. One day I'll break down and spend the money to stay at the Poly. My grandmother used to bring me to the Magic Kingdom for the day (we lived in Kissimmee when I was a little girl.) We always rode the ferry and she talked about how much she loved the Poly every time. So, I guess Poly holds a special place in my heart even though I've never stayed there.