Which Deluxe?

[Babsy]

I resisted CR for many years for this very reason -- it just didn't seem very "Disney" to me compared to other resorts we'd stayed at before. That all changed for me one year when we got an amazing rate on a 1 BR Villa at BLT with a MK view...it was INCREDIBLE. And the room actually did feel very "Disney" to me in the same old school mod way that Space Mountain and much of Tomorrowland do...so you might want to reconsider CR. And being able to have just a short walk back to your hotel is priceless if you plan to have long days at MK and/or have MNSSHP tickets...you get to skip the crazy lines for the monorail!

We had a similar experience with the CR. I just absolutely love staying here. The tower with a TPV is our preferred room category, but we have also really enjoyed the quiet of the GW rooms. We were lucky and were assigned ground floor about 50% of our stays here. Love the pretty views and convenience of the CR!
Yes, the pool is simple, but it is set with views over Bay Lake, has never been crowded when we are staying there and the kids had lots of fun. It may not be super themed, but it is still an enjoyable place to relax. For all its grand theming, Storm Along Bay is often crowded, difficult to track kids and involves a walk across the path outside to get to the slide. It is nice for really young (that you keep tethered to your side in the sandy area) or older kids that can be trusted to swim on their own without supervision. The CR is easy and relaxing.
You have three days to the MK which are the most at any one location. Also, the MK is the most problematic theme park to get to/from, IMO, so we prefer MK resorts when having a MK focused visit. Stating in the Epcot area resorts without a hopper and with only one visit each to Epcot and DHS doesn't seem like a great option to me as the advantage of walking to the theme parks from these rooms is lost.
Staying at the AKL would be my second choice to the CR. It is a gorgeous resort, has great dining, a really nice pool at both Jambo and Kidani (and you can use both), animals!, and is generally less expensive than the other choices. Lots os people hate the buses, but we have never found them to be a problem from here. It is a few minutes (5-10 minutes, perhaps) longer on the bus to the MK, but the reverse is true when travelling form the MK resorts to the AK (and no one seems to feel that is a huge problem?). You don't have walking distance, but the bus to the AK is like 5 minutes, so it is just as quick to get there as it is from any resort in the MK area to the MK. So, transportation is close to a wash, IMO, between the CR and the AKL.

Good luck choosing! Any of the resorts that you are considering are simply wonderful and I am sure that you will have a fabulous vacation!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

OP, I know this isn’t part of your request at all, but with 7 nights... maybe a split stay? When we first started going I shunned the idea of a split... wanted to unpack and stay put the whole time. But now as we’ve been to different places and have more experiance, we’re sort of becoming converts to splits... especially a MK resort/Epcot resort split. Gives you a taste of both worlds.

Obviously not for everyone, just throwing that out there.

 

[cutigerlady]

I was surprised how much I liked our Contemporary GE room. My son loved how close he was to the pool. I really liked the extra touches at this resort - they came around pool each afternoon with cold fruit, cool towels, had towels set out on each chair, and had liter bottles of water in the room. The pool was super easy to keep an eye my my son. The rooms are very spacious. The only thing I missed was not having a balcony. Next time I would ask for first floor to get a patio.

We have stayed in the main tower and really liked it! The arcade is my kid’s favorite on property (they have no idea how cool it was in the old days when I was a kid!). The short walk can’t be beat if you are going to MK most days.

 

[SarahC97]

I was surprised how much I liked our Contemporary GE room. My son loved how close he was to the pool. I really liked the extra touches at this resort - they came around pool each afternoon with cold fruit, cool towels, had towels set out on each chair, and had liter bottles of water in the room. The pool was super easy to keep an eye my my son. The rooms are very spacious. The only thing I missed was not having a balcony. Next time I would ask for first floor to get a patio.

We have stayed in the main tower and really liked it! The arcade is my kid’s favorite on property (they have no idea how cool it was in the old days when I was a kid!). The short walk can’t be beat if you are going to MK most days.

How did your son like the pool? For my girls the pool is a big deal - I'm just afraid they wouldn't really like the pool there. But with most of our days being spent at MK, the location is super tempting - and a garden wing room isn't that much more expensive than a room at BC/YC.

 

[SarahC97]

I really appreciate the feedback and suggestions, everyone. You've given me a lot to consider and I think CR is a serious contender now. Thank you!

 

[Babsy]

How did your son like the pool? For my girls the pool is a big deal - I'm just afraid they wouldn't really like the pool there. But with most of our days being spent at MK, the location is super tempting - and a garden wing room isn't that much more expensive than a room at BC/YC.

my two granddaughters like the pool at the CR fine (first visit age 5 and 2, now aged 8 and 5 and still like it there), but they are not particular and have fun in any pool! LOL! The slide is pretty good! There is a small splash area for small kids. It's basic, but fun and easy to watch while relaxing yourself.
DGD's also really liked the monorail going through 'our' resort, and enjoyed going to Chef Mickey's downstairs, and really enjoyed hot chocolate in their PJ's on our balcony while watching the MK fireworks! ( so did Granda and Grammy with them!).

FYI: the girls have stayed at the CR, GF, AKL, Poly, YC/BC, POR and Dolphin. So they have experienced different pools at the different resorts. They enjoy them all.

Perhaps you could show the girls online pictures of the pool at the different options and get their opinion?

 

[mickeynut1]

My family and I are starting to plan a trip next year (around Labor Day) and we know we want to stay deluxe but can't decide which resort.

We're going to stay for 7 nights with a 7 day base ticket (no hoppers). I know we will want and need to take breaks during the day so I want to stay someplace convenient. We are probably going to do Epcot and HS only one day each, with MK 3 days and AK 2 days. We are seriously considering beach club for the pool but wonder if that's the best option since we won't be at EP or HS much. I'm worried AKL will be too far away for convenient breaks. So, where would you stay if you were touring like we plan to? BC/YC, WL, Poly or somewhere else? GF and Contemporary don't really appeal to us theme-wise and we have stayed at the Poly before, kinda want to try somewhere new. Thoughts?

Thanks!

My choice would be either GF, AKL or WL. I agree with others that YC/BC wouldn't be a good choice as far as convenience is concerned. As others have suggested not ruling out the CR, I feel that way about the GF. I know you said the resort/theme doesn't appeal to you, but you might be surprised after actually staying there vs visiting. After visiting the GF more times than I can count, I never had the desire to stay there as the atmosphere/surroundings just didn't appeal to me. After giving in and finally booking my first stay, I instantly fell in love with everything about the resort and have stayed another 2 times since that first stay. I feel that even though visiting a resort gives you somewhat of a feel for a resort, it's totally different when you stay there (at least in my experience). Good luck!

AKL is not located on some distant planet. I really don't get people who say it is too remote. It's not significantly more remote from MK than Beach or Yacht Club, for example. And you'll be at AK for 2 days, and AKL would be right next door. AKL is a great resort with two feature pools that all guests are allowed to use. So that's a strong contender.

I agree

The Wilderness Lodge has great access to MK via the bus or the boat. It is an easy bus ride to Epcot or DHS from there. The bus to AK takes a little longer but that is true of any resort. The WL is a really nice resort, too.

I agree, the WL is a beautiful resort and we've always had good luck with transportation with never experiencing any major issues .

You have three days to the MK which are the most at any one location. Also, the MK is the most problematic theme park to get to/from, IMO, so we prefer MK resorts when having a MK focused visit. Stating in the Epcot area resorts without a hopper and with only one visit each to Epcot and DHS doesn't seem like a great option to me as the advantage of walking to the theme parks from these rooms is lost.
Staying at the AKL would be my second choice to the CR. It is a gorgeous resort, has great dining, a really nice pool at both Jambo and Kidani (and you can use both), animals!, and is generally less expensive than the other choices. Lots os people hate the buses, but we have never found them to be a problem from here. It is a few minutes (5-10 minutes, perhaps) longer on the bus to the MK, but the reverse is true when travelling form the MK resorts to the AK (and no one seems to feel that is a huge problem?). You don't have walking distance, but the bus to the AK is like 5 minutes, so it is just as quick to get there as it is from any resort in the MK area to the MK.

 

[SarahC97]

OP, I know this isn’t part of your request at all, but with 7 nights... maybe a split stay? When we first started going I shunned the idea of a split... wanted to unpack and stay put the whole time. But now as we’ve been to different places and have more experiance, we’re sort of becoming converts to splits... especially a MK resort/Epcot resort split. Gives you a taste of both worlds.

Obviously not for everyone, just throwing that out there.

You know, a split stay might just be the way to go for sure. I'll have to price it out and see how it works out. Thanks!

 

[SarahC97]

My choice would be either GF, AKL or WL. I agree with others that YC/BC wouldn't be a good choice as far as convenience is concerned. As others have suggested not ruling out the CR, I feel that way about the GF. I know you said the resort/theme doesn't appeal to you, but you might be surprised after actually staying there vs visiting. After visiting the GF more times than I can count, I never had the desire to stay there as the atmosphere/surroundings just didn't appeal to me. After giving in and finally booking my first stay, I instantly fell in love with everything about the resort and have stayed another 2 times since that first stay. I feel that even though visiting a resort gives you somewhat of a feel for a resort, it's totally different when you stay there (at least in my experience). Good luck!



I agree



I agree, the WL is a beautiful resort and we've always had good luck with transportation with never experiencing any major issues .

You know what's funny? We plan on being there over my daughter's birthday and I asked her what resort she had interest in (she's 6) and she said that she wanted to stay at the resort with a red roof that looks like it's on its own island - GF! LOL My husband just didn't like it the few times we've eaten there. He thinks it feels like a 1990s mall. But I agree, the rooms look pretty nice. I think we might have to consider a split stay so we can meet my DDs request for her birthday.

 

[MusicalAstronaut]

I love Beach & Yacht Club SO much, but I don't have kids and I spend a lot of time in Epcot/DHS. If I could stay anywhere on your list regardless of price I'd do Poly or WL. Those will also be easier to take MK breaks. I think WL has a boat to MK (I've definitely taken a boat to the campground), so maybe Poly would be more convenient for MK. AKL isn't too far away but it's obviously not on the monorail line.

 

[DisneyGirlMI]

Poly will only be more convenient over the other on your MK days.

AKL will be more convenient over Poly for your AK, EP, DHS days and more convenient over BC/YC for AK.

BC/YC is centrally located so it's really convenient for all parks.

Our choice would be AKL or BC/YC.

Actually the Poly is convenient to EP as well. It a couple minute walk to the TTC and then a monorail ride right to EP.

 

[dansdad]

Actually the Poly is convenient to EP as well. It a couple minute walk to the TTC and then a monorail ride right to EP.

But a shorter bus ride from AKL. To us, quick = convenient.

 

[kniquy]

I would actually consider doing a split stay -- when you have your MK days stay at a monorail resort and then stay at AK for your AK park days. The only long bus ride from AK is to MK but other than that it isn't any worse than other resorts that you have to bus to. Considering that 5 of your days will be at either MK or AK this is what i would do. We did this in April and planned our Epcot and MK days when we were at poly and then did our other parks when staying at AK. It worked out well, but the only down side was that we loved Poly so much it was tough to leave there. AK is an amazing resort but there is something about Poly that is just a little more magical

 

[mickeynut1]

You know what's funny? We plan on being there over my daughter's birthday and I asked her what resort she had interest in (she's 6) and she said that she wanted to stay at the resort with a red roof that looks like it's on its own island - GF! LOL My husband just didn't like it the few times we've eaten there. He thinks it feels like a 1990s mall. But I agree, the rooms look pretty nice. I think we might have to consider a split stay so we can meet my DDs request for her birthday.

How cute the way your DD describes the GF! I think a split stay is a great idea .

 

[SarahC97]

I think if we can make it work we'll do a split stay between a monorail resort and the YC/BC - my girls (and husband) really want to experience the pool there. Thanks everyone - I think you may have sold me on the Contemporary!

 

[Chaoticsweetness]

I would go with Poly. It's convenient to MK & to the TTC, where you would transfer over to Epcot. From the bus stop, you can head to DHS or AK. Plus Poly has wonderful theming, cannot beat it.

 

[MissionMouse]

I would relax and consider the deluxe options are all good. You don't have to return to your resort everyday to take a break. We always selected hoppers to give us options based upon crowds and how the kids were doing. We also during those years selected club level to add something special. We often took breaks to swim after lunch and hop to another park. Transportation options are not equal from deluxe resorts but will get you there. AK gets its reputation as it takes a little longer to get there and this can work in its favor or against it depending what you value. I would suggest the resort theme that fits your preference. WL and AKL offer bunk beds if this is of interest. I will admit we tried to avoid buses, use monorail and water transportation, but did use them. Yes, SAB is big, so there is not one place to sit and see it all, but if your kids can swim and you can trust them in a life guard environment we have not had any mishaps. It definitely makes exciting memories for the kids. We found a few time to the slide and they had other interest. It is sort of a hike and climb with a little of wait in line, so your child might loose interest when there are other things to do. If we were going to spend the majority of our time we would select the resort in that area. We have always stayed deluxe and when our girls were young we stayed MK resort or a spilt between MK area deluxe and AKL. Now we stay mainly Epcot area deluxe resorts. For us its about having fun, relaxing and making family memories while trying something new.

 

[gharter]

i think it really depends on when you are visiting. We have DVC points at BWV and AKL. We use the BWV in the fall when we want to go to Food and Wine. We love being able to walk into EPCOT when we want and also walk to HS.
We also own points at AKL which we use in the Spring. We may spend 1 or 2 days at EPCOT for the Flower and Garden show, but most of the time is spent at other parks. I truely enjoy getting up in the morning, sitting outside on the deck and watching the animals as I eat my breakfast at AKL. But if i really plan to spend most of my week at F&W, then BWV is hard to beat. But our kids are grown and out of the house. When our kids were younger, my answers would be very different.
I really like Wilderness Lodge. But it is not convenient to get to anywhere, even though it is beautiful. Beach Club has the best pool anywhere, but our kids are too old now.
Contemporary, unless you are in the main building, I don't see the draw.

 

[Nancyg56]

They're 6 and 9. Leaving the pool area for the slide makes me nervous. I like to at least keep eyes on them.

I disliked that aspect of BC pool. I was a mess trying to keep eyes on my DGD when she was 10. She was a strong swimmer and the lifeguards at the pool are vigilent, but there was not one relaxing moment for me.

If I was going to choose a resort that offered the most in terms of pool and activities, I would choose AKL. It is stunning, and the pool is wonderful. My family has decided it is too far out, however when we stayed there I heard not one complaint. If you plan on breaks mid day and you are going to DAK at least two days, I see no reason to avoid this beautiful resort.

I love the Poly as well, but if you are looking for a new experience, AKL will offer a vacation within a vacation.

 

[kappyfamily]

Contemporary garden wing rooms are fantastic, stayed in them a few times! With that being said this trip we’re giving WL a try. Have fun!