visiting other resorts

[TiggerandTink]

This May will be our first trip to WDW and we are staying at ASMo. I would like to check out some of the other resorts though with the hope that we will be able to afford to go back again. We have some time set aside on a couple of afternoons to just go exploring and check out some resorts but I know we won't be able to see them all. My question is which resorts should we definately try to check out and see while we are there. On this trip will be my DH, DS, DD, DM, DF and myself. If (when ) we go back again I think I would like to try staying at a mod, not sure we could swing a deluxe but I think those would be fun to go look at. Thanks

 

[disneyag]

Check out the deluxe hotels on the monorail; your kids will enjoy the ride! The Poly has beautiful theming.

 

[annieb727]

One that I DEFINITELY want to go see is the Animal Kingdom Lodge...they have the wildlife reserve there, and I heard there are places you can walk out onto balcony areas and see the animals without having to stay there.

 

[nbodyhome]

I would definitely visit the AKL. But also, you can see quite a few hotels just by walking around the Boardwalk (Yacht, Beach, Beach Villas, BW, Swan and Dolphin) in a very short time. Or the monorail loop is good too, but takes longer since you have to hop on and off the monorail for much of it.

The Wilderness Lodge is beautiful too!

 

[extravaganzamom]

If you happen to go to Downtown Disney, you can take a boatride (dock located by Rainforest Cafe) to Port Orleans. The boat will make stops at both Riverside, and the French Quarter. This is a beautiful moderate resort!

 

[TiggerandTink]

Thank you for the suggestions.
We definitely want to ride the monorail so checking out those resorts seems real "doable" for our schedule.
My kids always love a boat ride and we do plan on checking out DTD so that sounds like something we would be interested in doing. I didn't realize that you could catch a boat there and head to the resorts!
Can you walk from the AK to the AKL? or do you need to take a bus or other transportation? I think AKL is one of the places I would like to stay in the future so I think this one is definitely on the "places to check out" list.

 

[Gina Loves Disney]

I would suggest checking out Port O. French Q. you fit it in if you plan on going to Downtown Disney because then you can just take the boat to Downtown Disney from the resort. POFQ is a moderate resort some you would prob. be able to swing it next time, much more affordable than the Deluxe Resorts. It's small, quiet and beautiful. You can even walk along the river there and check out the sister resort, POR and take the boat from there to DD.

 

[BroganMc]

Can you walk from the AK to the AKL? or do you need to take a bus or other transportation? I think AKL is one of the places I would like to stay in the future so I think this one is definitely on the "places to check out" list.

My tactic has always been to plan a meal at a resort as an excuse to visit. So for AKL, I book an ADR for Boma's after AK's closing. Around 6:30-7pm. That gives me time to drive over to AKL, park, and tour the resort. You go through the lobby toward the sweeping ceiling-to-floor windows, down the steps and out to the savannah overlook.

There's no walking path between AK and AKL, but it's only a mile away by bus or car. Just hop an AKL bus after a day at AK.

As for DTD and the bus to PO, it also stops at SSR and OKW. Both are the Home Away from Home timeshare resorts. And both have restaurants you can go to. SSR is directly across from DTD. OKW is next up the river, then it's POFQ and POR.

For the Boardwalk area, I plan dinner at the Boardwalk and see the Inn and Villas. I plan the character breakfast at Cape May and see Yacht Club & Beach Club. I can use that area to then hop a ferry or walk to Epcot's countries or MGM's entrance.

For the monorail resorts, I also plan meals. Ohana's at the Poly (or a luau), 1900 Park Fare or my favorite Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian, and Chef Mickey's or California Grill at Contemporary. I have my own car so I just park at the TTC and use the monorail to hop around. It turns out to be much easier than parking at the resort.

Only places I haven't gotten a good enough excuse to visit are Caribbean Beach and Coronado Springs. And the All Stars and POP, though I have stayed at All Star Sports years ago.

 

[Remember The Magic]

The Poly and the Grand Floridian are must-sees

 

[MeMom]

Here are a few suggestions from things I've found fun and interesting. I'm very excited for you taking your first trip. You will LOVE this place!!!

From MK, take boat ride to Wilderness Lodge, see the geyser, eat a meal, take a picture on the bridge inside the lobby and by the fun totem pole outside the mercantile, sit by the huge fireplace, walk over to Ft. Wilderness, do the campfire and movie, visit the petting zoo.

Definitely Animal Kingdom Lodge to see the animals, have a zebra dome, browse their awesome gift shop, hear the storyteller by the firepit.

Poly-go at night and sit on the beach to watch the Electric Water Parade

Contemporary-supposedly has the best arcade around, if your kids would like that, eat at Chef Mickey's.

From DTD, take the boat to POR, see the waterwheel, roam the peaceful premises, walk the path to POFQ, very pretty architecture, have a beignet, take pictures by the gators playing the musical instruments.

Since you'll be at Movies, be sure to see the grounds of Music and Sports, which will be right beside you.

Pop Century-neat icons to have pictures with, Goofy water jets and Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head are especially good for pictures with the kids, have a tie-dyed cheesecake, check out the shadow boxes of the different decades in the lobby, the adults will especially like those, Everything Pop is a very good gift shop.

Coronado Springs is a beautiful place, check out Buzz2001's information on it. It is really a beautiful place and has some unique stuff in its gift shop.

Grand Floridian-just see it because it is there, top notch, and probably the most well-known resort in WDW.

Caribbean Beach-I haven't been to this one, so it's on my list to do this summer. Looks like a good place to get the real beach atmosphere.

Spend some time walking along the Boardwalk at night for a fun atmosphere, games and ice cream, etc.

 

[Atchley]

The Poly and the Grand Floridian are must-sees

I absolutely LOVE that cake. It is beautiful!

 

[Remember The Magic]

I absolutely LOVE that cake. It is beautiful!

thank you!

 

[alldiz]

I agree with others that you should check out monorail
resorts....easy to do....

Also Definately take the boat from DD to POFQ...
1st stop...check out that resort....you'll love it..
Beautiful, small and intimate...
Then walk to por enjoying the beautiful scenery...
Enjoy a counter service meal before going back to DD...

OH....The poly beach is a great place to watch wishes
Have a great trip
Kerri

 

[wrldpossibility]

We managed to see most the resorts while in WDW for the first time last Dec. Since we have young kids, we had to have an activity or meal at the other resorts to make it more interesting to go there (they weren't interested in going from resort to resort just to tour).

We had an ADR at Whispering Canyon, so we left really early, took the monorail all around and saw the GF gingerbread house, the poly, then got on the boat launch to WL. Another day we had an ADR for HDDR, so we saw FW. We had a meal at Boma, and the kids sat by the firepit and did an African Christmas craft with CMs, which was wonderful.

We also had an ADR at Chef Mickey's so we checked out CR.

The one time we stopped by resorts just to look was when the kids went to bed early and DH and I walked from Epcot to the Boardwalk, just to check out the Epcot resorts. It was lovely, but the kids would have been bored.

We stayed at POR, so we saw that obviously and walked to POFQ. We didn't see the other mods or the values, though!

 

[winterman]

We have visited AKL three times, but each time we had ADRs at Boma. As I recall, on each occasion the guard at the gate found our name on a list. He then gave us a parking pass. I'm not sure that you can get in just to check it out. We did arrive 45 - 60 minutes early so we could go to the outside viewing area.

 

[extravaganzamom]

When my family and I went to AKL to check it out and have dinner, we hopped on a bus and it dropped us off and we proceeded to look around and eat dinner with no problems at all.

 

[TiggerandTink]

Here are a few suggestions from things I've found fun and interesting. I'm very excited for you taking your first trip. You will LOVE this place!!!

From MK, take boat ride to Wilderness Lodge, see the geyser, eat a meal, take a picture on the bridge inside the lobby and by the fun totem pole outside the mercantile, sit by the huge fireplace, walk over to Ft. Wilderness, do the campfire and movie, visit the petting zoo.

Definitely Animal Kingdom Lodge to see the animals, have a zebra dome, browse their awesome gift shop, hear the storyteller by the firepit.

Poly-go at night and sit on the beach to watch the Electric Water Parade

Contemporary-supposedly has the best arcade around, if your kids would like that, eat at Chef Mickey's.

From DTD, take the boat to POR, see the waterwheel, roam the peaceful premises, walk the path to POFQ, very pretty architecture, have a beignet, take pictures by the gators playing the musical instruments.

Since you'll be at Movies, be sure to see the grounds of Music and Sports, which will be right beside you.

Pop Century-neat icons to have pictures with, Goofy water jets and Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head are especially good for pictures with the kids, have a tie-dyed cheesecake, check out the shadow boxes of the different decades in the lobby, the adults will especially like those, Everything Pop is a very good gift shop.

Coronado Springs is a beautiful place, check out Buzz2001's information on it. It is really a beautiful place and has some unique stuff in its gift shop.

Grand Floridian-just see it because it is there, top notch, and probably the most well-known resort in WDW.

Caribbean Beach-I haven't been to this one, so it's on my list to do this summer. Looks like a good place to get the real beach atmosphere.

Spend some time walking along the Boardwalk at night for a fun atmosphere, games and ice cream, etc.

What a great plan MeMom. I really appreciate you laying this out for us, makes it seem less overwhelming when trying to figure out where to go and how to fit it all in. We do have ADRs at Chef Mickey's and 1900 Park Fare so that right there will give us an excuse and time for 2 of them.

Everyone has been so helpful. I just can't wait to go! I might even be more excited than my kids if that's possible.