Poly for us, but it is over-priced and we rarely stay there anymore. That said, we have not stayed at Beach Club (stayed in the others). We are staying there for 2 weeks in August.
WL.... Best in theme, location and price
Poly... Great beach, view, not worth the cost
CR... Used to be fantastic, used to a great game room
YC... Best if EPCOT is you main focus
BC.. Decor lacking over Y&B, EPCOT focus
GF... Never again, snooty, lacks comfortability
AKL... Never again, food, location, theming awful
This is my ranking of all the deluxes I've stayed in:
1. BoardWalk Inn
2. Yacht Club
3. Beach Club
4. Wilderness Lodge
5. Polynesian
6. Animal Kingdom Lodge
7. Dolphin
I've loved all my deluxe stays but this is just a personal preference ranking.
Beach Club, more for location than anything. Not that it's not a beautiful resort, but all are so nice. We just love W/S and it's wonderful restaurants, so that's the deciding factor for us.
BC for us. SAB is amazing
Quick walk to Epcot where I can enjoy the WS each evening.
Walk to DHS to get out RR and TSM fix.
All the restaurants in the area
Beach Club, more for location than anything. Not that it's not a beautiful resort, but all are so nice. We just love W/S and it's wonderful restaurants, so that's the deciding factor for us.
Add one more vote to the Beach Club votes! We've stayed AKL, BLT and BC and BC wins hands down! Everything is great about it even scent of the resort is wonderful! SAB is seriously the BEST pool on Disney property! The closeness to Epcot is unbeatable. There are lots of food choices either on property or with a quick walk.
Staying at a deluxe for the first time this Aug (CR) and can't wait! Even though we haven't stayed there yet, I'll give the CR my vote.
We will visit MK often (probably every night). When we were at WDW a couple of years ago we stayed at CSR. While we were waiting for our CSR bus each of the nights we were in MK we would look at CR and think how nice it would be to just walk back to the hotel.
My second vote would be BC/YC and that would only be if I was there at a time when I would be visiting Epcot often (ie. food and wine festival).
The only selling point of a deluxe for my family would be convenience to a park since we spend so little time at the resort.
Oh, I realize that, elaw, but I always consider the Walt Disney World Swan and the Walt Disney World Dolphin among my deluxe options when I'm planning our next visit. Sometimes with certain deals they offer, a week there can be as much as a thousand bucks cheaper than that same week at one of the Disney-owned Epcot resorts. I simply can't turn down an offer like that being as you're still in the "middle of the magic", as they claim. All things being equal I would certainly prefer staying at the BoardWalk Inn or the Yacht or Beach Clubs for that fuller Disney immersion, but the times we've stayed at the Walt Disney World Dolphin have been fabulous. And they have the most comfortable beds out of all the deluxes where we've stayed.
Stayed at most of the deluxe hotels over the years.
1. Beach Club - atmosphere & location.
2. Grand Floridian- beautiful resort!
3. CR/BLT- sentimental favorite
4. Wilderness Lodge - love the decor and theming.
5. AKL- beautiful lobby, but too far from everything.
6. Poly - only stayed once, that was enough!
We have yet to stay in one by Epcot well Swan awhile back. Here is my order of the few we have stayed in
Kidani - beautiful, the animals, pools, great for kids but peaceful. Parked right below our room. LOVED!!
Poly - location, theming, room size. Overcrowded pools and bar.
CR - good but nothing wow. Boring pools. Good food options
GF - beautiful lobby, tacky room decor, great food options, bland pool. Beyond overpriced.
I am surprised how many love WL. I love the lobby but those rooms look too rustic and dark for me. Might have to give it a try after we get to YC or BC.