Which is the best resort and why?

[Disbabe]

I am staying off site, but we're doing something completely different this time to all the other times.....
we are going to be visiting a few of the resorts. We've never stayed on site and this will be our 5th time at WDW, and we thought we'd see what all the fuss is about staying on-site. We have booked meals at 1900 Park Fare and Chef Mickey's.
Which shops/restaurants/resort are the best within the resorts and why?

 

[spiceycat]

the best - hard question - for me that changes accordingly to my mood and how I feel that day.

Polyn, WL, AKL, BC - are all on the list. the GF and YC are too fancy for my taste - but others love them.

those are deluxe.

in the moderates - POR, CSR, POFQ

in the values - Pop Century

DVC resorts - VWL, AKV, - oh second though I love all the DVC resorts - BWV, BCV, SSR, and OKW.

 

[boomhauer]

This question is impossible to answer. Everybody has their own personal favorite.

As for what all the fuss is about staying on-site, there is no way to answer that without actually doing it. Granted, the resorts are themed amazingly and that is a huge factor. But you'll never understand all the fuss until you've actually done it.

 

[rodkenrich]

.

 

[Disbabe]

Can I ask the question a different way then. From a point of view of someone who hasn't stayed onsite - what would be the features that would draw me to a particular resort to stay as I obviously won't be able to look inside the rooms and would have to judge by appearances. I know this is a very big subject - it was intended for fun, for different people's points of view, so that I could make a list of fun stuff to do whilst at the resort rather than just walk in, get my pressed pennies and walk out. Does that make sense?

 

[denman007]

If you have small kids, there is nothing like walking out of your room and jumping on the monorail at the POLY for a 2 min ride to MK. Not to mention having a castle view and feeling like you're in the middle of all the action 24/7.

While you're there, rent a water mouse and ride it around 7 seas lagoon.

 

[joepic]

That's a really hard question to answer. My personal favorite is the Contemporary... but that doesn't mean I don't like any others. I absolutely love the GF, Poly, and WL. I could live in any of those hotels.

I've never been to Pop or any of the All Star hotels..

When I was little, we first stayed at Caribbean Beach and I always have a warm feeling when walking in.

Same with Coronado Springs, we stayed there about 3-4 times when I was younger and I especially love the landscaping...

 

[Donald's Fan in PHX!]

I think the best advantadge to staying on site in a WDWR is the extra magic hours, not to mention shuttle service.

 

[ElizabethB]

If I were visiting resorts to see what staying they are like, I would go to the GF for afternoon tea. You'll get a good idea of the resort's ambience. I'd have breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wilderness Lodge -- another very unique resort with a really fun "National Park" theme, a geyser, etc. I'd have dinner at Jiko at Animal Kingdom Lodge, then walk out and see the animals and look for a CM with night vision goggles. This isn't to suggest you have to eat to visit a resort. I just think you get a better feel if you actually sit down and enjoy a meal somewhere.

The GF is elegant and we love it. The other two, especially AKL, are quite unique.

 

[episode]

You can't really get the full experience of staying on site unless you actually do it.

Yeah, you can get parts of it, but its the whole thing with all the perks that will show you how great onsite is compared to offsite.

 

[LSchrow]

unfortunately, the things that make it soooo worthwhile to stay on-site can't really be see by visiting. but some reasons we stay at the BW:
~ once we get off the plane at MCO, our vacation starts. we just board an ME coach bus, watch some mickey "welcome messages", & we're there (no waiting for suitcases, no dragging luggage, etc)
~ having a wide variety of dining & entertainment, literally right outside our door
~ security is great (tho not obvious). i feel "safe" enough to walk around the resort, or go to a park by myself.
~ soooo quick & easy to leave a park, & go to another or back "home" for a rest, to swim, or if someone is not feeling well.
~ sitting on our balcony, & watching the "world" wake up in the AM (the BW area is gorgeous ), and/or watching fireworks from said balcony in the evening.
~ EMH evenings (we "don't do" mornings ), where on more than one occassion, the wait for rides was non-existant
~ DDP that saves us significant money & encourages us to try new restaurants without concern for cost
~ after an evening of dinner & Illuminations, leaving EPCOT via international gateway, strolling back to our room
~ having a few relaxing drinks on the BW with DH (BRG or jellyrolls), then just walking back to our room (no designated "dry" driver, taxi, etc)

as with many resorts, the BW area is not "mickey-fied", but has subtle disney touches, with the feel of a quaint, elegant resort.

i think the main reason we won't stay off-site again is that on-site feeling of being at an all-inclusive resort, where every minute of your vacation actually feels like you're on vacation.

 

[VMK_Mouse]

This question is impossible to answer. Everybody has their own personal favorite.

As for what all the fuss is about staying on-site, there is no way to answer that without actually doing it. Granted, the resorts are themed amazingly and that is a huge factor. But you'll never understand all the fuss until you've actually done it.

Well put. As far as ones I like to look at the most, those are the Wilderness Lodge, Grand Floridian, French Quarter and Coronado Springs.