Unofficial Guide Resort Report Card

[autismgoesdisney]

I am totally confused about people that think POP is that much better than the other values. I must be missing something. I stayed at AllStar Sports one time and POP one time and I just didn't notice ANY differences!!! I am thoroughly confused when people keep saying how much better POP is!

 

[damien]

I don't think you can ever base anything on what 1 particular guidebook (or person) says about a resort. I think the Unofficial Guide is an exception though. It breaks down everything and grades it all (from the readers). We're talking food, transportation, lighting, sound, food, pillows, room configuration, resort service, etc.

Looking at the list, I've stayed at 12 of those resorts, and I'd say it's pretty much spot on to what I've experienced. I would have ranked the Polynesian a bit higher and Old Key West a bit lower, but other than that, as someone else said, that list didn't surprise me in the least.

 

[KatMark]

The beauty of the variety of resorts at WDW is that there is something for everyone, so the ranking of any given motel can depend on so many factors! Have your car with you? Then you don't care about bus service! Are you a park commando who is just looking for a place to shower and sleep? You probably won't be disappointed if your resort doesn't have an expercise room or a spa! Your dream is to eat in every country in Epcot? Then don't worry whether or not your resort has a sit down restaurant! As long as folks aren't consistantly complaining about room cleanliness or something else that is a deal-breaker for you, then just choose the resort that is the best fit for you and your group (and nevermind what the guidebooks say - they were probably sent to press 6-8 months before your vacation anyway).

Totally agree. We love the CSR which a great deal of people on this site detest; we won't stay at a value -- no matter which one, and are not fond of the theme of many of the deluxes. Each individual has a different experience and should go with what appeals to them.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Birnbaum is Disney's book. Always take it with a grain of salt.

Those results don't surprise me a bit.

Birnbaums is certiantly NOT the Disney book....it was the first giude.....but is and always has been independent. We have used it for years and have always found it to be better then any of the other giudes!

AKK

 

[damien]

Birnbaums is certiantly NOT the Disney book....it was the first giude.....but is and always has been independent. We have used it for years and have always found it to be better then any of the other giudes!

AKK

Birnbaum is the Official Disney Guide, and the only one which Disney authorizes. It's also the only one sold on property. And if you notice, they don't ever have a single bad thing to say about WDW. Heck, they even like Stitch's Great Escape.

As a matter of fact, if you look on the inside cover, it even says Copyright 2011 Disney Enterprises. I'd say that makes it Disney's.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Birnbaum is the Official Disney Guide, and the only one which Disney authorizes. It's also the only one sold on property. And if you notice, they don't ever have a single bad thing to say about WDW. Heck, they even like Stitch's Great Escape.

As a matter of fact, if you look on the inside cover, it even says Copyright 2011 Disney Enterprises. I'd say that makes it Disney's.

And if you look at the the writers you will see its a totally different company and if you read the Birnbaums you will see they tell you straight out whats good and what isint so good..........the way you go on about the unofficail giude to WDW and the alleged readers votings.........Do you work for them?

AKK

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

Birnbaums is certiantly NOT the Disney book....it was the first giude.....but is and always has been independent. We have used it for years and have always found it to be better then any of the other giudes!

AKK

Birnbaums IS the Official Disney Guide authorized by Disney and sold at WDW so how do you figure it is not a Disney guide?

 

[Colleen27]

I think the Epcot resorts as a whole lose points on two counts - First, there's just the slow boat for transportation to two parks which is great in comfortable weather but not so much in sweltering heat or unusual cold. And second, none of them have much in the way of counter service opportunities, with the BW and the lack of mug refill stations being the worst of the bunch.

I'm surprised to see POR ranked as the best mod. I'd have thought POFQ's smaller size/single bus stop or CSR's semi-deluxe amenities would have put one of them in that spot. I wonder how much of its success (and that of ASMu) is due to responses from larger families who have limited options in the value/mod categories?

Interestingly, the most highly ranked of the resorts we've tried is the only one I wouldn't return to - Wilderness Lodge. It just didn't feel appreciably better than a moderate to us, and the boat to MK was not much of a perk in the January weather.

 

[Infamousmare]

The beauty of the variety of resorts at WDW is that there is something for everyone, so the ranking of any given motel can depend on so many factors! Have your car with you? Then you don't care about bus service! Are you a park commando who is just looking for a place to shower and sleep? You probably won't be disappointed if your resort doesn't have an exercise room or a spa! Your dream is to eat in every country in Epcot? Then don't worry whether or not your resort has a sit down restaurant! As long as folks aren't consistently complaining about room cleanliness or something else that is a deal-breaker for you, then just choose the resort that is the best fit for you and your group (and nevermind what the guidebooks say - they were probably sent to press 6-8 months before your vacation anyway).

Well said and just what I was thinking. I was initially worried b/c we'd switched rezzies from GF to BWV; however, after thinking about it, I realized that people might have ranked it low for reasons that don't matter to me.

 

[damien]

And if you look at the the writers you will see its a totally different company and if you read the Birnbaums you will see they tell you straight out whats good and what isint so good..........the way you go on about the unofficail giude to WDW and the alleged readers votings.........Do you work for them?

AKK

Copyright 2011 Disney Enterprises, Inc.
All photographs and artwork copyright 2011 Disney Enterprises, Inc.
All rights reserved. Published by Disney Editions, an imprint of Disney Book Group.

And no, I don't work for the Unofficial Guide. I just appreciate it's authenticity and the fact that it's comments are coming from people like you and I, the ones that pay money to stay in these resorts, not some Travel "Expert" like Pauline Frommer.

 

[damien]

I think the Epcot resorts as a whole lose points on two counts - First, there's just the slow boat for transportation to two parks which is great in comfortable weather but not so much in sweltering heat or unusual cold. And second, none of them have much in the way of counter service opportunities, with the BW and the lack of mug refill stations being the worst of the bunch.

I'm surprised to see POR ranked as the best mod. I'd have thought POFQ's smaller size/single bus stop or CSR's semi-deluxe amenities would have put one of them in that spot. I wonder how much of its success (and that of ASMu) is due to responses from larger families who have limited options in the value/mod categories?

Interestingly, the most highly ranked of the resorts we've tried is the only one I wouldn't return to - Wilderness Lodge. It just didn't feel appreciably better than a moderate to us, and the boat to MK was not much of a perk in the January weather.

I agree. We stayed in the Epcot Resort area before, and while we loved the walk to Epcot, we sorely missed having an acceptable CS location.

There's no doubt, you can't go by these numbers 100%. There are things I don't agree with either. Only 73% of people said they'd return to the Polynesian, and I'd go back there in a heartbeat.

What's interesting as well as how some of the resorts stacked up against last year's numbers. Only one hotel was up, and it was a non-Disney owned. Some of the more obvious ones were DVC properties:

Dolphin - Up 18%. (Though oddly, Swan was down 30%.)

Animal Kingdom Villas - Down 7%.
Wilderness Lodge Villas - Down 10%.
Beach Club Villas - Down 14%.
Saratoga Springs - Down 18%.
Bay Lake Tower - Down 20%.
Boardwalk Villas - Down 26%.
Old Key West - Down 25%.

DVC members are usually the most complacent and are very happy with their resorts. Surprising (and disheartening) to see numbers like that.

 

[Sammie]

I personally would agree with the ranking for BW due to parking, having to go outside to restaurants, no really good quick service, less than great front desk service and many just do not like the circus, clown theme.

I would imagine Yacht Club gets compared to Beach Club which is more family friendly, brighter decor, not a convention hotel and that affects its ratings.

I am surprised Kindani Village is number one, not that it is not a great resort, just not the most centrally located.

 

[Sammie]

I agree. We stayed in the Epcot Resort area before, and while we loved the walk to Epcot, we sorely missed having an acceptable CS location.

There's no doubt, you can't go by these numbers 100%. There are things I don't agree with either. Only 73% of people said they'd return to the Polynesian, and I'd go back there in a heartbeat.

What's interesting as well as how some of the resorts stacked up against last year's numbers. Only one hotel was up, and it was a non-Disney owned. Some of the more obvious ones were DVC properties:

Dolphin - Up 18%. (Though oddly, Swan was down 30%.)

Animal Kingdom Villas - Down 7%.
Wilderness Lodge Villas - Down 10%.
Beach Club Villas - Down 14%.
Saratoga Springs - Down 18%.
Bay Lake Tower - Down 20%.
Boardwalk Villas - Down 26%.
Old Key West - Down 25%.

DVC members are usually the most complacent and are very happy with their resorts. Surprising (and disheartening) to see numbers like that.

Honestly I doubt many DVC member buy the Unofficial Guide or vote in these surveys. I would say most of these are cash guests.

 

[damien]

I personally would agree with the ranking for BW due to parking, having to go outside to restaurants, no really good quick service, less than great front desk service and many just do not like the circus, clown theme.

We looked at the Boardwalk as an option for next year but decided against it (before reading the book) because of those exact reasons. With kids, it stinks having to go that far to get food. Polynesian is the same thing though, and it doesn't bother me there. Difference is, the restaurants on the Boardwalk aren't the most kid-friendly. ESPN Club is OK for kids, but the food is nothing to write home about.

 

[damien]

Honestly I doubt many DVC member buy the Unofficial Guide or vote in these surveys. I would say most of these are cash guests.

That's a good point.

 

[ols386]

AKV and BW are my two least favorite resorts so far.

Love POFQ and the Poly.

 

[Sammie]

We looked at the Boardwalk as an option for next year but decided against it (before reading the book) because of those exact reasons. With kids, it stinks having to go that far to get food. Polynesian is the same thing though, and it doesn't bother me there. Difference is, the restaurants on the Boardwalk aren't the most kid-friendly. ESPN Club is OK for kids, but the food is nothing to write home about.

I think that even though you do go outside at both the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian, due to how the buildings are arranged, it is a shorter walking distance. Some of those hallways at BW are really long, so you walk a long hallway, take the elevator down, then through the lobby and out and down the Boardwalk.

At least at the Polynesian if it is pouring rain you can can go from Lodge house to lodge house and make it without getting soaked and I agree the food choices leave much to be desired. Capt. Cooks and Gasparilla's are two of the better quick services locations.

 

[carlton the bear]

I think that even though you do go outside at both the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian, due to how the buildings are arranged, it is a shorter walking distance. Some of those hallways at BW are really long, so you walk a long hallway, take the elevator down, then through the lobby and out and down the Boardwalk.

At least at the Polynesian if it is pouring rain you can can go from Lodge house to lodge house and make it without getting soaked and I agree the food choices leave much to be desired. Capt. Cooks and Gasparilla's are two of the better quick services locations.

Have you ever tried walking from the Tahiti longhouse at the Poly? That is miles from Captain Cooks. The same for the GF, it can really be a hike from some of the bldgs. to Gasparillas. The halls at the BW are long, but if you have a room near the elevator it really isn't a problem. Also, I don't see where the halls at the BC/YC are any shorter than the BW. This whole report card in my opinion desreves an "F" for failure. Come on, this has to be the most ridiculous rankings I have ever seen. How can some of the values be rated higher than some of the deluxe hotels (BC, YC, etc. )The rooms in the values are so small that you would be better off in my opinion staying at a Holiday Inn or similar type hotel where at least you had some room to move in. How could this insane ranking put BLT 9and the CR 24? They both basically share the same amenities, and unless you are staying in a 1 bedroom at BLT, the studios are incredibly small, while the rooms at the CR are one of the largest of any of the WDW hotels. Also, what is it with dis posters and the fear of clowns? The clown slide at the BW is not scary, and all you need to do is go the BW and see all the young children having the time if their life. It is the parents psychological hangup or fear of clowns that is the problem, not the water slide being the problem.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Have you ever tried walking from the Tahiti longhouse at the Poly? That is miles from Captain Cooks. The same for the GF, it can really be a hike from some of the bldgs. to Gasparillas. The halls at the BW are long, but if you have a room near the elevator it really isn't a problem. Also, I don't see where the halls at the BC/YC are any shorter than the BW. This whole report card in my opinion desreves an "F" for failure. Come on, this has to be the most ridiculous rankings I have ever seen. How can some of the values be rated higher than some of the deluxe hotels (BC, YC, etc. )Value for the moneyThe rooms in the values are so small that you would be better off in my opinion staying at a Holiday Inn or similar type hotel where at least you had some room to move in. How could this insane ranking put BLT 9and the CR 24?some people probably prefer the newness of BLT They both basically share the same amenities, and unless you are staying in a 1 bedroom at BLT, the studios are incredibly small, while the rooms at the CR are one of the largest of any of the WDW hotels. Also, what is it with dis posters and the fear of clowns? The clown slide at the BW is not scary, and all you need to do is go the BW and see all the young children having the time if their life. It is the parents psychological hangup or fear of clowns that is the problem, not the water slide being the problem.i don't think it was based on the clown slide as much as the other points some pp's mentioned

By looking at the list, the overwhelming factor to me seems to be value for the money spent. At value resorts people aren't spending a ton and are getting value amenities while still staying on property...thus they find it worth their money. At AKL Kidani and GF they feel that they deluxe price tag is most worthwhile at these 2 resorts. They don't feel that BW offers comparative value for the high price tag. I liked the Poly last year but with the price ever increasing, I doubt I will stay there again w/o a huge discount. We can afford it, but it just isn't worth that much money to me. People are becoming more frugal. I think it shows by the rankings.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I personally would agree with the ranking for BW due to parking

Unless you valet park at the Grand Floridian the self parking lot is across the street is by far the longest walk to the main lobby for any of the WDW Resorts.