What is your favorite deluxe resort and why?

[Babsy]

We LOVE split stays. It feels like two vacations in one. You get to experience the positive advantages of being in more than one area of WDW and to experience the varying ambiences of at least two different resorts. We do operate on a 3 night minimum per resort, however, so we don't split stay anything less than 6 nights.

My 'general purpose' favourite resort doesn't really exist. However, if it did, theGrand Floridian/Poly/Contemporary would be tied for first place. The reason is that staying in a resort where I can see the castle is magical for me personally. Plus, it is nostalgic as it goes right back to our first visit when I was a child decades ago. The reality is, though, that it varies trip to trip which resort I prefer. I love these three monorail resorts for their easy access to the MK, larger size rooms, classic Disney appeal, excellent dining options and view of the castle from the resort.

Epcot resorts are great for walking to two theme parks. They are also good if you have a park hopper and can take advantage of dining in WS in the evenings. Other than WS, though, I don't find the dining options as convenient as in the MK resorts. Also, the rooms are smaller than those in the MK area. (except the WL). When I was younger and my children were teenagers/young adults, the Epcot area resorts were my favourites.

The AKL is in a special class. The atmosphere, dining, lobby, animals, activities and pools are all excellent in this lovely resort. It is isolated, but that is surprisingly part of its charm. We visit this resort on every WDW trip whether we stay here or not. This is the only resort where we do that. It is that good.

WHICH resort will work best for us varies by who is going and what the budget constraints are and the focus of the trip. With small children, a MK resort will likely work well. With young adults/teens then the Epcot area resorts are awesome. If you want a relaxing resort focused trip without as much theme park stimulation, then the AKL is a great choice. If you plan a park centred, rope drop to park close type of visit then values or moderates are great options. If you need multiple rooms and don't want to risk your group being separated over a large area, then a DVC rental or a resort with a small footprint may be a better option.

Bottom line: They are all awesome!!!

Have fun choosing!

 

[_19disnA]

Depends on the your family (i.e. what age are the children) and which park(s) you plan to spend the most time at and your budget. Not a fan of split stays since you waste too much time repacking and don't have a room to go to for at least part of that move day.

 

[Disneylover99]

Love the Poly.

The lobby smell, the music, the tropical vibe, the fireworks and electric water pageant from the beach, walk to the TTC to go to Epcot, the boat to MK, The Tambu Lounge, standard rooms so close to the main building, Oasis pool, Captain Cook's, nice walk to GF.

 

[NH-to-FL]

DW and I love the Boardwalk Inn. We have stayed there many times and love the theming and, of course, the location. We enjoyed the short walk over to Epcot in the evenings. Many of the rooms have quiet, garden courtyard views and all of the rooms have balconies.

We are not pool people but once we splurged on a 1BR BW villa that looked out right into the Clown's mouth. I sat out on the balcony and watched kids spit out of the clown's mouth into the pool. They all looked like they were having fun.

 

[Spunky946]

The poly and the contemporary hands down are my favorites. Love being close to mk

 

[85glht]

Wow! Tough question... my least favorite for theming would be the Contemporary.... but it’s location is awesome. I picked Polynesian and Wilderness lodge for theming/ favorite places to stay... YC, BC and Boardwalk for location... we love having the ability to walk to 2 parks and not deal with transportation.
AK is nice for the animals but it is far from all parks but AK itself.
GF is very nice with the beautiful grounds and all.... we stayed there once... it was ok... just would focus our money elsewhere

 

[fla4fun]

My least favorite would be AKL, because I like being near a water feature. But really, it’s like asking which of your kids is your favorite. They all have some very positive attributes. It really depends on your park plans, and your personal feelings about what amenities you need to have a great trip. If you are spending a lot of time at MK, you may not want to be at AKL and make that trip so often. If you are there during a festival at Epcot, it makes more sense to stay at an Epcot resort where you can pop in and out than at WL. For me, it’s more about location and convenience and less about theme.

As a Floridian, WL is probably my favorite from a theme standpoint, because I no longer feel like I am in Florida when I stay there. But I don’t stay there if I am doing an Epcot centered trip because I don’t like where their bus stop is at Epcot. I have stayed there and not done any parks though (even with an AP) and had a great time.

 

[marchingstar]

As a Floridian, WL is probably my favorite from a theme standpoint, because I no longer feel like I am in Florida when I stay there.

Oh yeah, this is another good point. I’m from an area that looks pretty similar to WL, so staying there on a disney vacation would feel like a bit of a disappointment. It’s too much like where I’m from, and I want to get away from my normal on a disney vacation too.

 

[mel&me]

AK love getting up having coffee and sitting on balcony watching the animals roam

 

[monica9]

From where I've stayed, Wilderness lodge. The theming and the location

I don't believe there is any resort (maybe GF) that competes with the detail that is put into Animal Kingdom Lodge but it's just a bit too far and secluded from everything to be my number 1 pick.

Staying at Poly this coming year which is on my bucket list so my #1 might change.

 

[monica9]

I have to admit the AKL is the only one we have stayed in, but I love it. I can sit for hours on my balcony or wandering around outside watching the animals. And it is easy access to one of my favorite restaurants!

The detail they put into this resort......amazing!

 

[monica9]

Oh yeah, this is another good point. I’m from an area that looks pretty similar to WL, so staying there on a disney vacation would feel like a bit of a disappointment. It’s too much like where I’m from, and I want to get away from my normal on a disney vacation too.

Then I'd go with Beach Club or Poly if I were you.

 

[marchingstar]

Then I'd go with Beach Club or Poly if I were you.

haha. good choices i love BC, and we check in for our first star at Poly next month!

 

[RCID]

Beach Club
Love the theme.
Love the lobby scent.
Love the proximity to EPCOT
Love Cape May Cafe
Love the pools, perhaps best pool on property.

 

[Jennasis]

For us, the hands down winner is the Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower. You cannot beat the location. Fabulous dining and recreation activities. Easy access to other resorts. Views that KILL. And we LOVE the ambiance and theming. It's truly original Disney.

 

[Jimmy Mouse]

We've done Contemporary 2016 bay lake view, 2017 theme park view and 2018 this past september Club Level Theme park view so I chose the Contemporary. We have Beach Club booked for Christmas week Club Level and we have AKL booked for spring break Club Level. I'm still worried I may have made the wrong choices but we want to try something new so.... But what we love about The Contemporary is location to MK, monorail, Cali grill, Chef Mickey's, Pixar Place, good enough pools, Best views in all of Disney.

 

[snappy]

We've done Contemporary 2016 bay lake view, 2017 theme park view and 2018 this past september Club Level Theme park view so I chose the Contemporary. We have Beach Club booked for Christmas week Club Level and we have AKL booked for spring break Club Level. I'm still worried I may have made the wrong choices but we want to try something new so.... But what we love about The Contemporary is location to MK, monorail, Cali grill, Chef Mickey's, Pixar Place, good enough pools, Best views in all of Disney.

Sounds wonderful. But I will say best views in all of Disney is subjective. For me, it is boardwalk views: view of the boardwalk, crescent lake AND Epcot fireworks. Heck I can even see MK fireworks from a distance. Best part: a view of the parking lot is not included!

 

[monica9]

Beach Club
Love the theme.
Love the lobby scent.
Love the proximity to EPCOT
Love Cape May Cafe
Love the pools, perhaps best pool on property.

LOBBY SCENT! It's the best resort smell!
This is my husbands favorite too.