Which deluxe?

[apress]

Husband and I are considering going on a couples only trip this year. We both are turning 40 and are celebrating 15 years of marriage. We have never stayed deluxe and are considering it this time. I have always wanted to stay at the contemporary in a theme park view, but am now thinking one of the Epcot resort for the closeness of Hollywood and Epcot. So which one would you choose and why? Thanks

 

[loveshak22]

That's tough! My DH and I went in November and I really wanted to try the Contemporary. But then at the last minute I decided to do the Grand. There were a lot of pros and cons to the Grand, but I still want to try the Contemporary. We haven't done any of the resorts on the Epcot side so next time we go, I'm going to have the same question as you - Contemporary or finally try one of the Boardwalk deluxes??!!

I'll follow this thread to see what great advice you get!

 

[lockedoutlogic]

For the money? Beach club

All the "deluxes" are pretty severely overpriced now...so contact some of the online travel agents who get good disney wholesale rates and book throughthem...my recommendation

 

[knkmom]

We celebrated our 30th anniversary last May and stayed at the Wilderness Lodge. It was beautiful, we requested the 6th floor with a view of the falls/pool and bay. We were able to see fireworks from MK and the electrical water pageant on the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake from our balcony each night. It was a wonderful trip, easy enough to take a boat to the Contemporary and catch the monorail or take a boat to MK! Never had an issue with the buses! It was pricey but it was a special occasion and we enjoyed our week there!

 

[lockedoutlogic]

We celebrated our 30th anniversary last May and stayed at the Wilderness Lodge. It was beautiful, we requested the 6th floor with a view of the falls/pool and bay. We were able to see fireworks from MK and the electrical water pageant on the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake from our balcony each night. It was a wonderful trip, easy enough to take a boat to the Contemporary and catch the monorail or take a boat to MK! Never had an issue with the buses! It was pricey but it was a special occasion and we enjoyed our week there!

Wilderness lodge was always my favorite...but the pricing no longer matches the amenities and it's under massive construction for dvc conversion...so buyer beware.

Still the best lobby/theme though...no doubt

 

[knkmom]

Wilderness lodge was always my favorite...but the pricing no longer matches the amenities and it's under massive construction for dvc conversion...so buyer beware.

Still the best lobby/theme though...no doubt

Absolutely agree with you, they were doing a bit of refurbishment while we were there, it wasn't bad though. If I could pick any other resort over this one I would have gone with Beach Club, it's a beautiful resort!!

 

[brinkley07]

As our favorite we love AKL savannah view room, and the hotel is quiet compared to others. We did enjoy Beach and Yacht stays as well. I'm not as much a fan of the Poly, GF, Contemporary for romance because of the crowds they can have at times.

 

[Mousemommy1]

If it were just DH and I, I think we would do BWI CL. We love being able to walk into World Showcase at Epcot for drinks and dinner.

 

[Jetta8300]

Just one opinion, for what it's worth... For our first trip, it was a couple's trip. My husband and I stayed in a tower room, theme park view at the Contemporary. Personally, we wouldn't stay there again. It was a nice hotel, but probably the hotel that resembles any other hotel in the country more than any other in all of Disney. We also weren't a fan of doing character meals with no kids, so Chef Mickey didn't really appeal to us. The Wave was good, but it's kind of dreary or something? I can't pinpoint it. The counter service option is also very limited and we weren't impressed.

We had a GREAT first trip, that's why we've been back so many times. But we enjoyed the theme at Coronado Springs moderate better than the contemporary if that tells you anything. We both were 27 years old at the time we traveled. We love "modern" hotels and we travel a bit. So we usually like this sort of thing. But we ate at tons of signatures while we were there and visited most of the other hotels and we thought all of them were better as far as theming, just the feel of them. Just our opinion but if I was going to do a special couples trip at a deluxe again we would choose ANY other hotel. Especially since you won't have small children with you and monorail convenience isn't as big a factor. I feel badly saying that it just wasn't worth the price because it really is a nice place... But it just didn't scream "vacation" to us. More like, "business trip." The tower theme park view room was overlooking either like a parking lot, or entrance or something. It was concrete, either way not a pretty view looking down rather than out.

 

[Aurora0427]

I'd do an Epcot resort. I think CR is geared more towards a kids trip. We've done two adults only trips to the beach club and one to the CR- we really loved being able to eat and drink at World Showcase easily- plus you have the Yachtsman Steakhouse at YC. Beach Club is our favorite resort, and all the rooms have been recently renovated.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I would do an EP resort over CR for a couples only trip. CR is great for its proximity to MK, but, IMHO, that's about it. The EP resorts not only offer you easy access to DHS and EP, they are far more romantic, if you ask me. It's so nice to simply stroll around the Boardwalk or EP WS, have a great meal (SO many great restaurants within walking distance), rent a boat or surrey bike, etc. The resorts are also quieter in my opinion, than the MK resorts. Personally, I would choose BWI or even a studio at BWV. For a couples trip, YC would be my second choice.

 

[lala5176]

I would stay at an Epcot resort. I have yet to do a couples only trip but if I did I would want to be within walking distance to Epcot since that is where we would probably spend a lot of time. Both yacht club and beach club are great resorts. Can't speak for Boardwalk yet but will after the summer. Whatever you choose have a great trip. We are also celebrating my 40th and 15 years this year. Congratulations!!!

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Ok...since we have a rankings debate starting here...

1. Beach
2. Animal kingdom lodge
3. Boardwalk
4. Yacht club
5. Wilderness (price just was raised too high for what it is)
6. Polynesian (at regular price...you can get steep discounts and it moves to the top of the list with the renovations for DVC now nearing completion)
7. Grand Floridian
8. Contemporary

My ranks are based on what I feel is value for the dollar...as I've stayed at all countless times, worked at a few of them...and have spent countless hours pooling, bar-ing, and eaten at every restaurant many times over...

Club level - now that it's not called the ridiculous concierge title - is really not worth it in most circumstances - the exception is when you have to book it to get a specific room type...not a view - mind you.

 

[loves to dive]

I agree with the above posters rankings but I'd put YC first and BC third, BW fourth. I stay at YC just about every time I go, it's a little more adult focused then BC but both are fine. I've stayed at all the deluxes except WL and SS and don't enjoy the monorail resorts. I don't like having to depend on the monorail, it goes down a lot and there are no buses to Epcot from them unless it is down. I've found it quicker to bus it between Epcot and MK then take the monorail. We are Epcot/HS fans so the Epcot resorts just make more sense.

 

[loveshak22]

If you are thinking outside the Epcot area and the Contemporary, I will second other comments about WL and AKL. We loved both of those! Although with WL someone else already mentioned the construction issue. AKL is more secluded but we loved sitting on the balcony and watching the animals. And when we went I think we upgraded to CL for the cost of basic rooms at some of the other deluxes. I'm not sure that's still the case with price, but we loved our stay there.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I agree with the above posters rankings but I'd put YC first and BC third, BW fourth. I stay at YC just about every time I go, it's a little more adult focused then BC but both are fine. I've stayed at all the deluxes except WL and SS and don't enjoy the monorail resorts. I don't like having to depend on the monorail, it goes down a lot and there are no buses to Epcot from them unless it is down. I've found it quicker to bus it between Epcot and MK then take the monorail. We are Epcot/HS fans so the Epcot resorts just make more sense.

I agree with your points. I don't really point much of a distinction between yacht and beach. I actually like the theming of yacht more. Like the fact that beach club is on the edge of Epcot though...not a big deal either.

A couple things about the monorail spots. First, contemporary and poly opened at $29 a night. They haven't changed much...inflation is normal...not sure 2000% is though.

Second and you pointed it out...is that the monorail is in trouble in my opinion. I think it's obvious that they don't want it longterm as is...but they also show no desire to replace it because it can't be tied to a line item charge and that's all they care about. It wasn't meant to last forever...especially if you over run the trains by more than a decade and won't commit to replacing the beams due to cost and lack of desire to shut it down for a period of time.

 

[Babsy]

We like any of the MK resorts more than the Epcot resorts, especially for romance. Looking at the castle from your balcony is magical! Watching wishes fireworks is wonderful from your balcony as well. You can watch some of the high Illuminations fireworks from some of the Epcot resorts but you can't book that view like you can book an MK view in the CR, Poly or the GF. Plus, without the castle, it isn't the same, IMO.

If the MK calls to you, then a MK resort will be amazing. The rooms are larger than at the Epcot resorts also. Which resort is a personal choice. We love them all in different ways. The TPV from the CR tower is the best, IMO, but the TPV from the Poly or the GF is nice too. If your dream is the CR, I would go with that. The CR is awesome with the monorail going right through the resort, the best views, comfortable rooms and easy transportation everywhere - including the other resorts!

For romance, you just can't beat the Poly or the GF. It just depends upon which style suits your definition of romance - tropical island or Victorian England. We chose a split stay between the GF RPC King room and BWI deluxe room CL. It was very lovely, but the BWI room could be a little noisy in the evening.

If you are more inclined to spend your time in Epcot or DHS, then an Epcot resort can also be good. Or if you like more night life, bars and strolling around world showcase at night, then Epcot area resorts may be more your thing. BWI has a great CL if you are considering CL. If not, we have found even the standard rooms are very nice here.

We found that we loved the MK area when our kids were in school, then we preferred the Epcot area when they were teens and early adults, now we are retired and are back to finding the MK resorts just feel more like Disney to us. It partly depends upon your age, your preferred interests and your personal preferences. Whichever you choose, all the deluxe resorts offer something special and unique to them.

Enjoy!

 

[tcherjen]

How exciting!!! Our first deluxe stay is coming up too. We are going to stay at AKL. I would love staying at the Epcot area resorts too.

 

[Nancyg56]

Hmmmm.....This is a toughie. First, I would try to decide what you consider romantic and what your dream location alwasy was. And where you will spend most of your time. WE like the MK resorts, but I would not stay at the CR anymore. It used to be our favorite many years ago, but now? It is really way to busyish and kind of cold.

Couples romance? You did not mention the Grand, but I like that one. Can't stay if DH is with us, he would hate it.

The Poly? Perfect IMO. It is not so spread out that you a have a hike before you even leave, and the grounds are plush and gorgeous.

IF you are going to spend most of your time in Epcot, I would choose the BC. An adult only trip gives you the opportunity to stroll the Boardwalk at night, enjoy the lounges and the evening performers, and walk back "home". You can go in and out of Epcot without using any transportation, and that is really a convenience and a perk IMO.

The BC is lovely. It is a sprawling resort, but lovely nonetheless. The lobby is stunning, and the restaurants that are nearby are really good. We are considering this resort next December simply for proximity to Epcot and the pool for the kids.

 

[mickeynut1]

We like any of the MK resorts more than the Epcot resorts, especially for romance. Looking at the castle from your balcony is magical! Watching wishes fireworks is wonderful from your balcony as well. You can watch some of the high Illuminations fireworks from some of the Epcot resorts but you can't book that view like you can book an MK view in the CR, Poly or the GF. Plus, without the castle, it isn't the same, IMO.

For romance, you just can't beat the Poly or the GF. It just depends upon which style suits your definition of romance - tropical island or Victorian England.

I agree with Babsy as we also prefer the MK resorts. The Epcot resorts are nice and while we enjoyed our stay at the BC, you just can't beat those views of the castle from the monorail resorts .

How exciting!!! Our first deluxe stay is coming up too. We are going to stay at AKL.

AKL is amazing and is a great resort (IMO) for a couples only trip as it's kind of secluded, so it's quiet and peaceful .