WDW resorts - which do not float your boat ?

[pooh2001]

Each WDW resort has it's PRO's and CON's - even the deluxes.
But which WDW resort racks up more CON's than PRO's ?

I can start - but most likely be in the minority:
Animal Kindom Lodge (AKL)

CON'S ->
1) bus to everywhere,
2) a bit remote from the Parks (MK mostly),
3) no fireworks ever to be seen from any room or spot on the property,
4) my kids are not thrilled with animals (as in zoo atmosphere),
5) We do not care for Jinko or Boma food,
6) the rooms have dark furniture.

PRO's->
1) one of the less expensive deluxes,
2) some rooms have bunkbeds,
3) the pool is large and has a slide

CONS = 6 votes
PROS = 3 votes
FINAL VOTE-> NO AKL for our family


What WDW resort do you not like ? Pro's and Con's ?

Each family would have their own opinions.
What does not float my boat , may float someone elses

 

[NancyIL]

Well...I LOVE the Swan and Dolphin...while some don't care for the looks of them. On the other hand, I don't see the attraction of the Polynesian and the Contemporary. Neither is attractive in my opinion.

 

[klinlin]

I did not care for CBR either time I stayed there. Too large and crowded, and too many bus stops!!!!

 

[safetymom]

CSR. I didn't like the theming. Also thought it was a long walk to food court or main pool. Also didn't like the Pepper Market. Really tried to like it after 2 stays but won't stay there again.

 

[ADisneygirl]

I didn't like All Star Sports. Small room, too many people and too much noise. I haven't tried it, but the camping site doesn't appeal to me either. Other than those, I hope to try all the resorts eventually!

 

[Harmony]

First off, I like the way you formed your question.

Secondly...here's my opinion. (and I can bet that I'm also in the minority)

Port Orleans Riverside

Cons:
1. dark room and nothing special about it
2. elevator hard to find and we had a stroller so we ended up carrying it downstairs every morning and upstairs every night. Ugh!
3. LONG, LONG walk (had asked for a preferred and CM stated that it was a preferred location *shrug*) to bus stop, food court, etc.
4. Gift shop was nice was not bigger or better than at the Pop or Value resorts
5. The pizza at food court was 'okaayy' at best


Pros:
1. Love the boatride to DTD
2. The check-in room is pretty
3. Having the water view is esp nice on your way out first thing in the morning. Also a nice background for pictures

I guess that means no POR for our family! lol

 

[Jim5150]

We enjoy All-Star Movies although will not stay at POP again.

 

[Troy08]

Wilderness Lodge-
Pros-Incredible theming-lovely pool and hot tub area-near MK-boat to MK-
Good bus transportation-good sit down restaurants-bunk bed rooms-large lobby-lots of activitities-boat and bike rentals.

Cons-majority of rooms only hold 4-needs better fast food restuarant-not on monorail

Pros-10
Cons-3

I've stayed there three times-it is definately my hotel of choice

 

[pooh2001]

Harmony - "First off, I like the way you formed your question."
Thank you.
I try to be polite.
Eveyone has their own opinions.


Thank you to everyone who has answered.
Some PRO's may out vote the CON's for some families.

What floats mine , may not float yours

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Our 3 ds have asked not to return to AKL also. We just had a really bad experience, but we may not be the norm

Cons:
Never saw animals in our deluxe savannah view room
DS said we have bunkbeds at home
Got food poisioning at Boma
Burnt my mouth on spiced food at Mara
Attacked by bugs going to pool
Thought storyteller was boring, o.k. our former pastor was a missionary in Africa so I am sure they had their story fulls already
Crafts person didnt interact or talk to kids
Broken ice machine
Dirty Towels left in bathroom
Long, long, long walk to room

Pro:
Didnt have to share our bus with any other resort.

Hmm about 10 to l for no AKL again.

 

[MayMom]

I like this thread!
Port Orleans Riverside didn't float our

Cons: long walks everywhere, no interior corridors, small rooms, no refrigerators (at that time) uncomfortable beds, terrible pillows,
Pros: we were at Disney, disney soaps, disney shampoo, disney wake ups, disney channels on TV, (you get where I'm going with this)

What is funny about us not enjoying the POR is that we are planning on staying at ASMo next summer and alot of these cons are things we will probably encounter there as well!! But we will still be at Disney, have disney soaps......

 

[dixiedizfan]

ALL STAR SPORTS Pros: Price
Theming
Best Bus Service
Food Court

Cons: Small Rooms
Long Walk


DIXIE LANDINGS Pros: Gorgeous Theming
Beautiful Landscaping
Food Court
Large Gift Shop
Boat to DD

Cons: Dark Room (Alligator Bayou)


CORONADO SPRINGS Pros: Pepper Market
Theming

Cons: Conventioneers
Bus Service
Cabanas section bland & boring
Loooong walks

 

[Badllamamama]

I did not care for CBR either time I stayed there. Too large and crowded, and too many bus stops!!!!

Ditto, CBR does not float our boat for the same reasons and didn't care for the food court.

 

[Ilovestitch]

I can start - but most likely be in the minority:
Animal Kindom Lodge (AKL)

CON'S ->
1) bus to everywhere,

Have you ever stayed at AKL? The transportation is a plus for this hotel. It's the ONLY deluxe that doesn't share busses w/multiple resorts. We did a split stay Poly/AKL and AKL had much better transportation. Yeah it took a little longer to the MK (monorail isn't really that much of a timesaver, more of a novelty/fun way to travel) but it was quick to the other parks, especially b/c we didn't have to stop at other resorts first or on the way back.

At Poly, we always had to stop at GF, Contemporary and sometimes the WL. That meant the busses were full a lot before we even got on them.

 

[KristineN]

Contemporary Resort

Pros
monorail resort
great view of the MK (at least from our room)
Chef Mickeys & California Grill
nice shops
great arcade for the kids

Cons
pricey
room was just so so..just not up to standard for the price
pool was ho-hum - ecspecially with 5 ducks swimming in it every single evening
no kids club

I would try it again...but next is the Poly for us.

 

[DrTomorrow]

For us it's the Grand Floridian. No PROs/CONs, as we've never stayed there, but the theme - what we saw as we explored both the lobby and the grounds - just didn't appeal to us.

 

[leight]

POFQ

Pros-
smallest of the mods, short walks to pool, food court from almost any building

pretty courtyards and landscaping, romantic views at nite.

Food court- nice cheese/fruit platters- great for a romantic picnic at nite! Nice breakfast selection

Cons-
Had really bad mousekeeping- soap scum w/ razor stubble stuck to the shower!

still not liking the whole outdoor corridor thing- but we stay for 2-3 nites only-FL res- so I just chalk it up to being inexpensive/and on disney

Really disappointed w/ the pool/slide- great for preschoolers but my 4 & 7 yr old didn't think much of it.


Overall I don't like the values/mods but like the theming for the kids and the convenience of being on property. I really want to try all of the resorts so we are doing another weekend in Dec at POR- hope that is up to everyone's comments. Have no real interest in CBR and we have tried CSR- which we love (except the outside corridor thing- don't pay extra for water view- palm trees are always in the way!) Next is probably WL/AKL b/c of price. Got married at the Swan- so I adore that one!

 

[arizonacolbys]

We have loved everywhere that we have stayed - we love WL, Polynesian & Contemporary, but usually end up at POP because it's a great price & we always have a blast there!

These are some of my pro's/con's when considering upgrading to a Moderate (we've done this multiple times but end up back at POP! )

Caribbean Beach Resort:
Pros:
Central location to parks
Fun looking pool
Relaxing beachy theme (like Poly)

Cons:
Way too many bus stops
Have heard food court isn't great
Too spread out - too far to walk to refill our mugs

POR/POFQ:
Pros:
Boatride to DTD looks fun!
Closeness of everything at resort

Cons:
Pool just looks OK
Theming doesn't look exciting (really don't care for the POFQ theming with Mardi Gras & jesters everywhere )

 

[skiwee1]

Wilderness Lodge:
PROS:
Beautiful lobby
Whispering Canyon Cafe

CONS:
Terrible transportation
Tiny rooms
Small pool
Tiny food area-Roaring Forks
Room service lacking

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I'm surprised to hear so many people disliking the outdoor corrider thing. It's one of the things I like to see. When I'm in a strange place, fires are always a small concern of mine. I don't stay up nights thinking about it or anything, but I like knowing that my escape route is simple. I am much more concerned about getting out of the Swan/Dolphin in the event of a fire. I also like getting fresh Florida air when I open my door (We usually travel in a group with adjoining rooms, so we usually have to go between rooms in the AM). If WDW were somplace other than Florida, it might not be as nice first thing in the morning, but the warm morning air is so exhilarating!

I've seen ducks in a number of WDW pools. It does concern me. I like ducks overall, but when they are in the pool, I worry about sanitization.

Our least favorite so far has been CBR.
Cons: The hot tub was too crowded/did not have enough jets, all the distances were too far (check-in to room, room to pool/hot tub, room to food court, room to bus stop, room to where car was parked) , the bus seemed to take a long time, the resort could use more theming, no -real- butter in the food court

Pros- the food court was quick and easy with no tipping, the pool (maybe not as elaborate as some other pools, but we liked it. It made me think of POC.), the price was right, mousekeeping was excellent

I like AKL, but one con nobody has mentioned is the lack of quiet pools there. One pro nobody has mentioned is the amazing lobby!