What resort to consider for a two-night stay?

[Janet2k]

Hey, gang, I need your help. This week I mailed formal invitations to my parents and siblings, asking them to join my family for a Halloween vacation. I already have everyone’s rooms booked at the BWV and am hopeful that most of them will take me up on my offer (we have never vacationed together en masse). That part I don’t need any help with (unless someone wants to convince my siblings and parents to vacation with me). What I need help with is the following. One of my dearest Dis friends has just made some vacation plans, and she will be arriving in WDW on the day that I was going to depart. Since she and I have never met face-to-face, I would like to extend my stay by two days so that we can finally meet. I am not sure what resort I should stay in for my extended stay.

I have already stayed in the following resorts: AKL, BWV, BWI, BCV, OKW, CR, CBR, CSR, PO, WL, YC, GF, and Swan. I have yet to stay in these resorts: Poly, Fort Wilderness Campgrounds, Dolphin, BC, and VWL. It would be fun to stay somewhere “new,” but it would be just as fun to stay in one of my old favorites. I don’t know if my husband and two children will be staying with me on those last two days (it depends upon their school and work schedules). Because of that fact, I need to consider resorts for just “me” and resorts for “me plus family.” My Dis friend and her husband will be staying at the BCV (but she might change that to the BWV), so I should probably consider an Epcot resort. However, since WDW is such an easy place to move around in, it really doesn’t matter where I stay (WDW transportation and taxicabs can always get me where I need to be).

I would love to hear everyone’s opinions regarding what resorts I should consider and why. Please give me your inputs for a “me only” stay and a “me plus family” stay. Thanks.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I'd say try the Polynesian since you've never stayed there before.

 

[ead79]

just you: perhaps try the BC or the Poly for something new

you plus family: BCV or VWL so you will have more space

 

[lindylou]

Hi Janet2k, I've followed your posts since I first discovered these wonderful forums and I must say, "love to hear about your stays in the suites." If you want to experience the ultimate of vacation that's the way to go! Have you ever stayed in the Honeymoon octagonal rooms of the GF main building? My husband and I stayed there for 3 days during an unexpected business trip. It was truely heaven. Hope my typing is OK, too lazy to get up for my glasses.

 

[gonga]

Lindylou, are you referring to the Magnolia Suite in the Main Building of the GF or the Octogon shaped deluxe consierge room in the GF main building??

 

[lindylou]

Janet2k, it was the octagon shaped consierge room main building. I believe it was also called "turret" room. We came across this room by accident, it was all that was alvailable on such short notice. Janet, the room was beautiful! My husband and I had not gone away alone for over 20 years, it was wonderful! By the way, the room had only 1 king bed.

 

[Janet2k]

CaliforniaDreaming, the Poly is very high on my list. I haven’t stayed there yet but my sister has, so I have at least seen its rooms. Of course I would love to stay in the Poly on the night that we attend the Polynesian Luau. However, I think I will be booking the Luau for early in my vacation since I know that my husband & kids will be with me at that time (and hopefully the rest of my guests). If that is the case, I may save the Poly for another vacation. Hhhmmmm…

Ead79, thanks for your “family” stay suggestion – a DVC villa. My daughter & I have experienced the BCV, and my son & husband have not. I loved the BCV. Of course I would probably consider your other suggestion, the VWL, since none of us have stayed there yet (we have only stayed at the WL).

Lindylou, your post was darling. I haven’t stayed in the GF’s octagonal rooms yet. If you have some photos of that room posted, I would love to view them (hint, hint). Do you remember what your room number was and what its view was? The GF is my husband’s favorite resort, so you are tempting me to consider the GF for my extended stay, *sigh.*

 

[Janet2k]

Okay, I've narrowed down my choices to the following resorts: Poly, Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge, and Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgrounds.

Since Lindylou mentioned "suites," I looked into a one-bedroom suite at the Poly and they are all booked up during my stay (we haven't stayed at the Poly yet). I was disappointed to hear that. I did look into a 14th floor concierge room at the Contemporary and it is available. I mentioned the Contemporary to my husband (who has never stayed there before) and he said, "But you promised that we could stay in a Fort Wilderness cabin one of these days." He's correct, I really do want to try out Fort Wilderness, especially after having gotten a taste of it with my daughter last Fall via our FW carriage ride.

I have to decide if a cabin will be right for the last few days of our vacation. I am thinking that wherever we stay, those last few days will be "resort" days. I plan on doing nothing but being lazy & hanging out at my resort -- and doing lots of swimming. (Since we'll have already spent several days at WDW, we'll pretty much have gotten all our theme park stuff out of the way.)

I have stayed at the CR and really enjoyed both of its pools. However, I have no idea how many pools there are at Fort Wilderness or where they're located, especially in regards to the cabins. Can anyone tell me how someone gets to the pool(s) at Fort Wilderness? Is a pool located within walking distance of the cabins? Or would we have to use a resort bus in order to get to the pool area?

By the way, another thing that might keep us from staying at Fort Wilderness during this trip is the fact that we are extending our stay to hook up with a fellow Dis'er. If we stayed at the CR, it would be much eaiser for she & her spouse to drop by. However, Fort Wilderness & its cabins might hamper that a bit (I don't know how easy it is to navigate through the campgrounds).

 

[MJames41]

I'm not sure how many pools there are at Fort Wilderness, but there is a pool easily within walking distance. You would probably want to use Disney transportation to get to the boats, though (or rent one of the electric golf carts). You mention that the days will probably be "resort" days. I would suggest, in that case, you choose either Fort Wilderness or Wilderness Lodge. Either one would be great, although my suggestion would be Wilderness Lodge since it would be eaiser for your friends to find you, unless you might want to have a cook out (since the cabins have bar-b-ques). As for things to do, of course, it's Fort Wilderness hands down.

 

[vbfamily]

I would say Poly or CR, maybe VWL-I think these would be fine with or without DH and kids. Easy to get to other areas of WDW-Poly and CR would be a little bit better with the monorail.

Maybe a suite will open up at the Poly. What about a BC suite?

IMHO, I wouldn't stay at FW if you are going to spend a lot of time with a fellos DISer in the Epcot area. Transportation can be a little tricky. This is just MHO. I'm sure people can have bus problems anywhere but if time is important those last 2 days-I would either stay at BC or a monorail resort.

Have fun. We'll be there over Halloween and can't wait.