Which Deluxe Resort is Best. Your opinions matter :)

[rgf207]

I am going to WDW with my girlfriend next march and this will be the first time staying on property. I have a good job now and I can afford to stay at a deluxe resort. The problem is that I have never really been in one

I have been in the GF for dinner at 1900 park fare but that's about it. I have seen the CR from the monorail ride and the POLY from the monorail also but I have never been in them.

I notice that there are a lot of people that have stayed in all three. Which one did you like best and why.

Also, where would you say is the best type of room/view to pick at the resorts

I was thinking of staying at the CR with a tower room. I would request one with a MK view but I know that isn't guaranteed. I would be a bit disappointed if I got there and did not have a MK view.

Your opinions and suggestions are much appreciated


BTW, I would just like to say that this board has the friendliest and most helpful people I have ever seen. Thank you so much.

 

[Scoootch]

All of them are wonderful on the monorail line but my personnal favorite is the GF I'd choose by which theming you like best - vicotorian,tropical or contemporary. As for if you choose the CR, you may actually like the bay lake view just as much if not better as you'd be able to see the electical water pagent at night from the bay lake side. Just a thought Anyway, like I said, my first choice would be GF. I also love the Y&B club too if you'd like another suggestion ~ I love the beachy pastelly colors and themes though. I'd choose by which theming you like best and then of course by which you can get the best discount codes with. Best of luck and pixie dust!

~*~*~*~*~* *~*~*~*~

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I've stayed at CR, and the Poly. I can't help with GF though it's gorgeous and I hear nice things about it.

Between CR & Poly however, I'd pick the Poly.

 

[F1Julie]

I'd go with the Poly. I think it's the most romantic of the 3. I find the GF and little stuffy. My 2nd choice would be CR.

 

[Tikiman]

Well I guess it is no surprise if I pick the Polynesian. The monorail resorts have the best location as far as I am concerned with the Epcot resorts being almost as good. The Polynesian has the best of many things in my opinion although the contemporary has a lot to offer and the GF has great food and nice pools with a good location but any time I have visited the resort and come in contact with CMs there it has been nothing but a bad experience and is one of the main reasons I take it off my list of places to stay. Also I think the room décor makes me ill or as I usually describe it the look is just like my grandmothers living room but that is just an opinion.

Over in the Epcot resorts I prefer the Yacht Club myself and the AKL would be a close second favorite. The only thing I can say that I do not like about the AKL is the location.

Aloha

Steve

 

[ksc37]

If you're looking to be on the monorail, I'd recommend the Polynesian, especially if you're going with your girlfriend. It is very nice to sit on the beach and watch the fireworks & the water pageant, and the overall feel of the resort is more romantic than the Contemporary. The Contemporary is nice, and extremely convenient (you can walk to the MK), but I'd say the Poly has a better theme, especially for couples.

For a view, I'd recommend lagoon, if you can afford it. If you don't want to spend the $$$, request one of the garden view longhouses that offer a partial lagoon view.

If you like the World Showcase at Epcot (and its dining options), I would also recommend looking at the Yacht & Beach club (requesting Water View with a full balcony). We stayed there before we had kids, and loved walking over to Epcot or the Boardwalk for meals and/or drinks & Illuminations.

If you don't care about being really close to the parks, the Animal Kingdom Lodge has wonderful theming & decor, and good dining options (for those with a more adventuresome palate). I loved it there, but did not like its location.

Those are my top 3 deluxes... but it really depends on your personal taste. The themes are all so different that what one person loves, another will probably despise.

 

[sjc]

Some more opinions.... We stayed in the Tower last May. It was somewhat difficult to get a king bed. I don't know if you'll mind having 2 queens (or doubles?). The bay side view tends to be very undervalued in my opinion. It is an amazing sight to wake up and look out on Bay Lake in the morning. I also really liked watching the electrical water parade from our bedroom at night. Overall our Contemporary experience was ok. The room was fine, but was showing a bit of wear. We had some hot water problems. (We were the last room in the wing and it took literally 10-15 minutes for the shower to heat up even after a service visit from maintenance.) I am not sure that it was worth the full rack rate.

The Wilderness Lodge might be a good choice. The setting is great. My wife, who is still not the biggest WDW fan, really enjoyed the hotel. Rooms are a bit smaller than the other deluxes, but for two, that should not be an issue.

We have not stayed at the Grand Floridian, but did spend some time there in the lobby and grounds. It felt a little bit "stuffy" and "formal" to us. My wife's opinion was that, the hotel's theme did not match it's setting.... if that makes sense. Or put another way, the hotel seemed almost too nice and formal for a theme park vacation. That was just our impression (your mileage may vary)...... steve c

 

[wdwprncess77]

I know this is a hard decision for you to make. Especially since, everyone's opinion is different on this subject.

I'm a 20 something female (nearing the 30 something's, but let's not talk about that) and I have no children. When I go, I LOVE LOVE LOVE to stay at the Yacht Club, even though MK is my favorite park. The Yacht Club seems to be fairly quiet and has less children than the other resorts. You can get a great view of the lagoon, boardwalk and Illuminations. They have the best pool (with cocktail service) and you can walk to EPCOT, boat to MGM, and have the nighttime entertainment of the Boardwalk. Also, there are boat rentals (you could take an Illuminations cruise). I just find it som convenient there and the CM's are outrageous. They are so wonderful. I'm a DVC member at the BC so I stay there a lot too, but I would prefer the Yacht Club any day of the week.

 

[leighe]

Out of the three you mentioned I would choose the Poly. It is such a great atmosphere and the rooms are huge!

However, if transportation isn't a big thing with you I would definitely go with AKL. DH and I stayed there last spring break and loved it! We loved the secluded feel of it all - especially after a long day in the parks. It was sooooo romantic!

 

[goofy4tink]

If being on the monorail is a must for you, I would choose the Polynesian. We stayed there and really liked it. Very romantic. Also liked the CR though. But, it's not so romantic. But, if you want my favorite deluxe, it would be Boardwalk. It's a terrific spot, especially for adults. There are great restaurants and clubs there. It's very romantic. You can walk to either MGM or Epcot. THat would be my pick.

 

[disneyandme]

GF is the best choice. We don't find it stuffy at all. We have a DD5 and are shorts and sneakers for everything kind of people. We never felt out of place. Also, the are tons of options for eating!!

 

[tar heel]

We've stayed at YC and Poly and eaten meals at GF, CR, AKL and WL. I think a young couple is probably going to have more fun at an Epcot resort. We LOVE the YC. The location is great, the hotel is beautiful and the pool is the best. For atmosphere, I think it would be hard to beat AKL but for a deluxe resort, the location is lousy.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Have to go with GF. We don't find it stuffy at all and we have three small children. Everything about is first class.

 

[Andrew015]

Everyone seems to forget about the WL!!

That would get my vote, especially if you're going to take your girlfriend. I don't think that there's a more romantic resort on property than the WL.

Only minor drawback is that it's not on the monorail. If you wish to stay on the monorail, you can't go wrong with any of the three. Nothing beats the luxury of the GF... period. Standing on the main concourse of the Contemp while the monorail comes through gives me shivers everytime I see it. And the tropical paradise of the Poly makes you feel like you took a wrong turn and ended up in the South Pacific.

Can't go wrong with any of them, if ya catch my drift

 

[Chicago526]

BF and I picked the Poly, but we've never stayed there before. Hope this helps (I'm 28 and he's 32).

 

[CarolA]

YC/BC and AKL.

I don't really like staying on the monorail. Takes too long to get to Epcot on the monorail and thier are more little kids at these hotels.

 

[sbelyo]

The Poly is my favorite. The CR is great as well, but my wife didn't like the futuristic styling. The restaurants are better in the poly. Breakfast at Ohana and Kona Cafe are table service where the CR Chef Mickey's is buffet. I've never stayed at the GF so I couldn't tell you much about it other than it's beautiful inside and out. As for a Deluxe not on the Monorail the AKL is hands down my entire family's favorite. There's a whole lot to do there besides sitting in your room. There's animal watching, awesome zero enrty pool, and you feel as if you are in Africa.

 

[autumnfae]

I'm a big fan of the Contemporary. We've stayed in the tower (#4741) facing the MK the last two summers and it's just amazing. Waking up to the castle every morning, watching the fireworks every night, just watching what's going on in the World. If you bring binoculars you can see people walking around in the park. If the MK is open late they run the Water Pageant by that and you can see and hear it from your room. The monorail being inside the main building is a plus. Everything contained in one building is great. You don't have to get soaked to run down to the food court for a snack if it's raining. The rooms are big (2 queen beds and a sofa or 1 king bed and a sofa) and are brightly decorated. The bathroom is spacious and has a seperate room for the toilet with an extra sink. There is nothing else in the world like staying in a MK-view tower room at the Contemporary.

 

[YCFAN]

Yacht Club!! I love the pool area and the quick access to Epcot and MGM. I just feel pampered there a little more than the others.

 

[disneyfreakk]

depending on when you go the poly is being renovated. before you make your decision, do a search on the dis website for the different hotels. i thought i would just love the GF until i saw the rooms... yuck!! ( IMO ) goodluck with your decision, and please let us know what you are going to do!!