WDW resorts - which do not float your boat ?

[boomhauer]

Old Key West

Without a car, you can be a good 15 minute walk to the main area.

Bus service is slow.

Doesn't feel much like Disney. More of a golf resort.

 

[skiwee1]

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!

You can still get the fresh morning air in a deluxe room even if they have interior corridors. It's called a balcony. It is wonderul to sit on ones own private balcony and breath in the fresh morning air. I'd rather have that any day then ouside corridors where there is no privacy at all. You cannot keep the door open all day but you can keep your slider open all day if you like.

 

[cobbler]

I am not a huge fan of CBR. At the time we went they had individual stations for the food court and you had to pay at each station. I guess it went under rehab and it is more like the others now where you can get a variety of things then pay at once.

Also the pool was under rehab when we went but the next year we just stopped by to see what it looked like and it was small.

What we did like about it was the nice beach theme and being able to go on the beach a little bit.

So far the values have not floated my boat.
Pop was nice because it was new and the sports was nice because I have all boys and they love sports. But they are value and I can tell.

 

[Mom2Rae]

Granted, it was 2002 when we stayed there for one night until we checked into AKL, but at the time..it was so worn and old looking. The paint on the doors were peeling, knobs missing off the dresser, etc. The resort is also VERY SPREAD OUT and the walking was a nightmare.

I think they've done a re-hab since then. I would love to stay at POFQ one day, though!

 

[jennymouse]

So far I've stayed at ASMu, POP, AKL, Poly, WL, BWV & BCV. I really liked all of them, but prefer BCV or BWV. I'll spend a couple nights at POFQ before checking into BCV and that'll be our first time at a moderate.

The only resort that doesn't appeal to me is POR simply because it reminds me too much of home and I like something different when on vacation. I used to live in an apartment complex that looks just like the mansions at POR.

In my opinion, none of the WDW resorts are bad tho.

 

[goofie4goofy]

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

I know I am in the minority too, but this resort just does not thrill me for all the reasons you posted above. I just don't like being so isolated, when in WDW I want to be near everything. For us there is nothing like a monorail resort. I hate taking the bus...I don't care how short the wait is. We also have never been to AK...again just does not thrill us enough to go. I expect that to change one Everest opens, but I guess that's why they built it there too. But that is the beauty of WDW...something for everyone.

 

[zipDdoodah]

Cons:
Far from MK
Spread out with lots of walking
Bus service inconsisent
Far walk to food court area and front desk
No full service restaurant
Lacks in theming compared to other resorts


Pros:
Awesome pool area, huge
Brand new clean rooms
tasteful decor
Quiet
Close to DTD (even walking distance depending on location of room)
Friendly staff


We stayed at SSR this year as non-DVC owners. All in all, it is a mixed bag. There were things we loved about the resort and things that bugged us. We usually stay at WL, and I was really missing the theming and being close to MK, although being close to DTD had its advantages too. I would stay there again definitely, but I think a split stay at a MK resort would be an optimal choice!

 

[CinRell]

CBR
Pro
At disney
CM in gift shop very nice
outside corridor (see, I really like these.. much prefer to inside)

Con
Too big and spread out
Theming didn't really get you "in the feel"
Food court awful
Pool tiny
Bus rides SLOW and took forever

POFQ
Pro
Really got you in the feel of the resort with theming
Lounge/entertainment wonderful!
CM VERY friendly
Pool huge and fun theming throughout
Food court wonderful
Gorgeous grounds and beautiful rooms
Buses fast with few stops
Small and quiet and quaint and romantic
Boat ride to DD

Con
Mousekeeping not super
They made us go home eventually

 

[Laurafoster]

You can still get the fresh morning air in a deluxe room even if they have interior corridors. It's called a balcony. It is wonderul to sit on ones own private balcony and breath in the fresh morning air. I'd rather have that any day then ouside corridors where there is no privacy at all. You cannot keep the door open all day but you can keep your slider open all day if you like.

That is exactly how i feel. It is sooo nice to site out on your balcony enjoying a glass of OJ or a coffee etc before heading of to a park. Its also nice way to chill out and unwind after a day in the parks!!

 

[Safari Queen]

AKL is our favorite non-DVC resort! We love the look of it, the animals, and Boma. Next is BC for the atmosphere (lots of beautiful rooms with comfortable furniture to kick back and relax), amazing pool, dining options and access to EPCOT and MGM. Boardwalk is next, for the look and location, then WL, because it's so beautiful

Least favorite are the Swan and Dolphin. I hate the look of them -- they seem so out of place -- and we've been very disppointed by the quality of the restaurants. The Poly, GF and CR don't float my boat at all but I'd stay there if someone else paid the bill!

 

[edingerc]

GF
Cons
Two very different levels of concierge service. I don't appreciate spending that much to be told, sorry you can't come in here, you have to go to that outside lounge
The resort takes itself too seriously. The fact that it takes its theming from a time of exclusivity adds to an air of 'snootiness'
No hedge maze. It takes up space, but is a required element of the seaside victorian era resort
Not enough vegetation to keep the resort shady during hot summer days. The open looks are a part of the theming, but more shade trees would make strolling cooler.
Bus sharing. There's no excuse for this
Pros
Beautiful architecture and impecibly clean grounds
a single monorail or launch stop from MK

Poly
Cons
Few 2nd story balconies
suites don't have lagoon views
Pros
The most contented staff in WDW (I've been told in Keys of the Kingdom that the typical staffer works in the Poly for twice as long as any other position)
contentment and relaxation that should be bottled and sold on EBay

Contemporary
Cons
The architecture is a train wreck. In trying to get efficient and modern architecture, they got overly sterile
Interior decoration that could only be inspired by really good drugs (it was built in the late 60's, after all)
Pros
A rennovation that fixes Con #2

 

[goofy4tink]

GF for me....no pros or cons since I've never stayed there. But everytime we visit there, either to eat or just to look around, I come away saying I don't want to stay there. I can't explain why, it's just the feeling I have. I don't think I've stayed at a resort yet that I wouldn't stay at again....I just have different expectations based on where I'm at.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Old Key West

Without a car, you can be a good 15 minute walk to the main area.

Bus service is slow.

Doesn't feel much like Disney. More of a golf resort.

As far as the walk to the main area - just take whatever bus comes next. The last stop on the bus route before leaving OKW is the Hospitality House area.

 

[NCRedding]

CSR:
PRos: nice landscaping, great pool and spa area; bus isn't shared with other resorts; front desk staff and Pepper Market staff were very helpful

CONS; big, spread out resort--LONG walks anywhere we wanted to go; no quick food court for grabbing food; don't like crossing the parking lot to get to the bus stop; didn't like stopping at so many bus stops in the resort; didn't care for the theming; uneven levels made for difficult walking for my mom; housekeeping area right next to our room was very noisy at 7 am (difficult enough on regular mornings, unbearable when we didn't get in from MVMCP until 2 am the night before).

 

[ibouncetoo]

The only resort that doesn't appeal to me is POR simply because it reminds me too much of home and I like something different when on vacation. I used to live in an apartment complex that looks just like the mansions at POR.

Same reason CSR doen'st appeal to me....I live in the Southwest

I really enjoyed POFQ. Liked the size, the boat to DTD, the theme (every time I go to MK I miss not having New Orleans Square which is at Disneyland....this resort fills that emotional gap), liked the pool and hot tub and the privacy curtain between bed and bath area. I'll be there for onenight, one week from today (!) before getting on the Wonder

 

[disneyholic family]

Contemporary Resort - the architecture and the service don't do anything for me .....this is the only resort in WDW that i can say i truly hate and where the service was substandard....

AKL - the theming leaves me cold (i live very near to africa and have had to go there - i hate going to the real thing, so i have no interest in the fake one at WDW)....also the use of dark wood makes everything very dark....i guess WDW believes the phrase "the dark continent"...

we've liked all the other resorts we've stayed in...our favorite is GF, followed by WL....

 

[Carrieberry]

Dislike: POP Century.

Pro's- fun theme, big resort, big pool, big food court.

Con's, big resort, big pool which people stay at until the wee hours making lots of noise, big food court with no where to sit and long long lines at meal times. Bus stops que you up ike waiting for a ride with no shade over the line. Sometimes busses take a long time to get to the park (we waited 45 minutes for a bus from Epcot) and fill up fast so sometimes when leaving the resort or park you have to wait for 2 or 3 busses before you can get on one.
We HATED this resort. Just not our thing. We like All Star Movies so it is not a value thing.

We also did not care for Poly or AKL. I was beginning to think it was the dark wood =dark feeling thing but then we stayed at WL on our last trip and LOVED it! Would go back in a second! Can't think of a single con. We had great bus service, great CM's, great Mousekeeping, great pool, great food area, EVERYTHING! We stayed here the same week as Pop so the crowds at Pop cannot be blamed on it being "busy everywhere". We sometimes got on busses all by ourselves and never waited longer than 10 minutes for a bus.

We also LOVE LOVE LOVE Beach Club. Love the light airy beachy decor, the rooms and of course the location! Only con there is the lack of food court/quick eatery. Still, it is so close to World Showcase it is ok. Only is a problem in off days and then we just schedule the character meal or go to Beaches and Cream. Would love to stay here every time.

Right in the middle fall Port Orleans FQ and Riverside. They have some of the pro's and some of the con's from each.

Never stayed at CSR (we lived in AZ for 4 years and just recently moved so no interest in that decor) and CBR (seems just too big).

 

[JudimouseNC]

We ususally stay at the WL....

Pros:
themeing is amazing
staff has alwasy gone above and beyond for us
the pool
transportation to the MK by boat
close to Fort Wilderness amd Trails End...best value breakfast around property
two hot tubs at the pool
amazing lobby
amazing Mousekeeping staff
Humphrey the Bear.....we have a collection...hehehehehehe

Cons:
food court is horrid
not enough washers and dryers

We have stayed there 7 times and, after our last trip two weeks ago to All Star Movies, will never stay anywhere else again.

That said....

All Star Movies

Pros:
price was good
themeing was great for the grandkids
laundry area was big and clean
food court is wonderful

Cons:
we had alot of trouble at check-in and with our room keys
CM at check-in was LESS than friendly
beds are horrid...my back is STILL hurting and required a trip to the doctor
no hot tubs at pool
pools were heated one day and not the next
Mousekeeping was not up to par...one night we came back and one bed was without a bedspread
WORST bus service ever....we wound up using our car

 

[Cinderella94]

I've never stayed anywhere I wasnt happy with. Then again, Ive only stayed at POP twice, and I absolutely loved it both times.

 

[LeesyUD]

I loved AKL...here's my opinion on a few
AKL:
Pro's:
1. Love the theme
2. Great Pool
3. Saw a ton of animals from our Savannah view room
4. Boma was great
5. Really like the Mara too
6. Newer resort and very clean
7. Was given a free upgrade
8. Five minutes from Animal Kingdom!
9. Get a deluxe resort feel at a less expensive rate.
Con's
1. Further from Magic Kingdom (but we drove so not that big of a deal for us)
2. Bus is only form of transportation
AND in the middle the CM's wereb't overly friendly but they werent rude...they were fine.

Port Orleans Riverside: Pro's
1. Boat to DTD
2. Rooms were just renovated within last few years
3. Grounds are beautiful
Con's
1. Way too spread out
2. Share bus with POFQ
3. Value isn't that great for this hotel INMO.
4. Theming is nice, but kind of boring

Carribean beach: Pro's
1. Love the theme
2. Grounds are beautiful
3. Has own bus
4. Has a mini beach by the lake with hammocks(very relaxing)
5. Boat rentals
6. One of the best food courts IMO
7. Rooms were just renovated, and you have option to pay extra for king
Con's
1. Very spread out
2. Only 1 small hot tub

And I've also stayed at all the all-stars and been to Pop, for me they are really spread out also, but they are a great value. They are not my first choice...but if I don't have alot of money to spend for a trip, I would definitely stay here. I love the themes and best of all they are the cheapest on Disney Property. I think next time I will try Wilderness Lodge!