What Are Your Favorite WDW Hotels?!

[MaddieB223]

Hi DIS-Friends!
I'm trying to fantasize about my family's next WDW vacation during these crazy times! We will (hopefully) be about to go on a whole-family WDW vacation this time next year. The plan is May/June 2021 to celebrate my 21st birthday!

My family has been dedicated to the YC/BC for years (and with good reason!), but we have been talking about possibly shaking it up and staying somewhere else. What are your favorites? What would you recommend? It would be a large family trip where the youngest would be around 18 and the oldest would be 60s/70s. Let me know!

Maddie

 

[Carol_]

Port Orleans Riverside has boats. Grandmas love boats. Everyone loves beignets, which are a boat stop away at POFQ, nice pool, fishing, dog friendly in some rooms. The lounge is great and although Pete from the Dis and I are at complete odds on this - I like their table service restaurant too.

 

[MaddieB223]

Port Orleans Riverside has boats. Grandmas love boats. Everyone loves beignets, which are a boat stop away at POFQ, nice pool, fishing, dog friendly in some rooms. The lounge is great and although Pete from the Dis and I are at complete odds on this - I like their table service restaurant too.

Thank you!

 

[loves to dive]

Well, YC is my favorite resort on property and I've stayed at all of them but AoA, WL, SS and POFQ. But, I would stay at any of the Epcot resorts if you are wanting to go deluxe. We have actually been staying at Dolphin lately just because I can't stand spending the money at YC but you are still close to both HS and Epcot. CS is our favorite moderate, we love the vibe there, we love the fact that there are a lot of food options and I just like the SW look of the place. We don't really have a favorite value, we tend to just stay at one for a night or two at the beginning of a split stay.

 

[Sue M]

There’s such a wide spread of costs, it would depend on everyone’s budget. If GF is in everyone’s budget, I’d pick that.
It would also depend on how many people would be in each room. Will you need rooms that can accommodate 5?

 

[WEDWDW]

You MUST stay at a SKYLINER RESORT!!!!

I am a Skyliner Resort "purist"(Disney Riviera Resort/Caribbean Beach Resort/Art of Animation/Pop Century only),but some Guests consider the Crescent Lake Resorts to be "Skyliner Resorts" as well.

Disney Skyliner is THAT awesome!

Skyliner and Rise of the Resistance are a ONE TWO PUNCH to remind everybody once again why Walt Disney World is the most amazing place on Earth!

And Happy Way-Early 21st Birthday wishes-that's a BIG,FUN one!

 

[mister morrow]

might be an unpopular opinion, but OKW is probably my favorite resort. i love the beachy-feel (i live in the northeast so it's nice to me haha), the huge rooms, and the patios looking onto the golf courses. it's also nice how the rooms are set up, it's not like a usual hotel; the rooms are not all in one building, they are spread out into dozens of buildings, which gives you way more privacy than other resorts.

i just turned 19 the other day and my other siblings are around my age, and we never get bored at OKW!

 

[clapton]

GF or WL can’t go wrong with either one!! Both beautiful, great lobby, good quick service, good restaurants and great atmosphere! The DVC villas at both are great too!

 

[Letsoflyakite]

Favs? Riv and Poly, then Boardwalk. All different, all fantastic.

 

[TCRAIG]

Just an FYI - While WEDWDW found the Skyliner to be awesome - made me quesy as all get out on a not so windy day. So if any of your party is prone to motion sickness - it might not be your best bet to pick a Skyliner resort. I also love OKW - but those stairs can be tough for some and elevators are not a bookable guarantee.

 

[sydneysmom]

for us, the Grand Floridian. alot of people feel like it's stuffy, and I couldn't disagree more. It's super pretty, the pools are wonderful, you're so close to MK.... you have the boat / monorail option. and the restaurants are wonderful !

 

[happymommy]

Planning a large family trip can post many challenges; I’ve done it! Factors to consider are the budget of all parties, their goals, wants, must-haves, and the proximity to which parks. We did a large group at AKL, and found the transportation was not the best (I had suggested Boardwalk Villas for that trip, and it would have been way better). DVC villas can be nice, as a 2 bedroom can host two small groups with a living room to gather, full kitchen for snacks or meals, and your in room washer/dryer (nice with kids!). I agree I prefer the Epcot resort area the best, and like the better pricing at the Swan and Dolphin. They have nice suite options as well, for families to spread out.

I’d start now with going over budget with everyone, then what amenities they all want at the resort. I’d definitely try to pick a resort where you can walk to a park (which is why I prefer the Epcot resorts). Then once that’s done, plan maybe one meal a day where most if not all can have together. Touring with a big group is hard, so allowing to split up and do their own thing most of the day works best.

 

[merry_nbright]

You want fun and laid back, plus in the middle of the action? Polynesian. Trader Sam’s is next level amazing and you can watch the fireworks from the beach or even the Terrace or marina. The rooms are huge and you’re super close to the TTC, so easy access to Epcot monorail and MK monorail. As much as I love the Skyliner resorts, if you want to go big and be truly immersed, I highly suggest the Polynesian. Plus, both pools are awesome and you can get a boozy dole whip right off of the lobby. What could be better?!

 

[Sakiki]

AKL every time. It may not be the most convenient in terms of transport - you really need a car - but the ambience is unique and nowhere else has giraffe, zebra, eland, wildebeest etc etc outside the windows. And Boma is still our favourite restaurant on property...

 

[jotunheim]

for us, the Grand Floridian. alot of people feel like it's stuffy, and I couldn't disagree more. It's super pretty, the pools are wonderful, you're so close to MK.... you have the boat / monorail option. and the restaurants are wonderful !

I agree - even better is that VGF will soon be walkable to the MK.

 

[kylenne]

The Poly is my absolute favorite. It’s the perfect size, not claustrophobic but not sprawling, and the theme is truly immersive and makes me feel transported to another place. Some people find it dated but it’s all in vintage kitschy fun to me and it’s truly beautiful and relaxing at night. As a Disnerd I love the history it has. On a practical note, it has some of my favorite food on property, not the standard stuff you see everywhere at other resorts, and the location can’t be beat—great transportation options to and being a walk or short monorail ride away to some of the best signature dining. And who wouldn’t want to watch fireworks from the beach with a dole whip?

 

[bakerworld]

I love YC - haven't stayed there since we joined DVC but we do BC fairly often and sometimes I just walk thru Yacht Club on our way to the HS walkway just to 'get me some'. Of the moderates our favorite is CBR but for DS access I would say French Quarter - first bus in and out.

 

[BlovesC]

Beach Club for when we want to focus on relaxing and eating well!

All Star Music or Port Orleans French Quarter for when we're doing a pure hit-the-parks-at-rope-drop commando trip!

Animal Kingdom for a combination of both...great food, great location, great rooms!

 

[Minnie1222]

This is my personal and biased ranking of all the WDW resorts I've ever stayed in:
1. Grand Floridian (location & theme)
2. Four Seasons Orlando (not really a Disney resort but surprisingly very close to MK)
3. Animal Kingdom Lodge
4. Boardwalk Inn, Yacht Club, Poly




Contemporary and Beach Club

 

[Babsy]

Polynesian

Great pools - nice for May/June
New area - changes it up from the Epcot/DHS area that you have frequented at YC - but still easy access to both MK and Epcot via monorail
Huge, comfortable rooms
Trader Sam's
walk to the GF or monorail to the CR for other great dining options
Incredible theming
you can see the castle from your resort!!!!!

There is something special about the Poly. If you are going to 'shake it up a bit' from the YC, I would highly recommend a stay at this fabulous Disney resort