Which is the best resort for a longer stay?

[dandlewood]

Hey guys,
Long time Lurker and long time traveler to WDW. I usually visit WDW for 5-6 days and stay at the monorail resorts (Poly/Contempo) but we wanted to plan a longer trip(10ish days) this time around and take things at a more leisurely pace. i.e. we wanted to allow for a day or 2 just relaxing at the pool and not trying to fit each park into one day. Which resort do you guys think is best for a longer trip? As of right now I'm considering AOA, CBR, Contemporary, & Riviera. I'm completely open to options outside of these guys, but I feel like I've researched my way into a corner. Here is my logic so far:

My Party: My wife, 2 children (8/6) and myself

AOA
Benefits:
Cost
Skyliner
Theming
Pools

Cons:
End of Skyliner route
Dining options limited
I hear it is louder/crazier than other options

CBR:
Benefits:
Skyliner hub
Rooms are supposedly nicer than AOA
Decent Main pool

Cons:
Spread out
No elevator if on 2nd floor


Contemporary:
Benefits:
Monorail
Great Dining Options
Walkable to MK

Cons:
Pool is not that great
More Expensive
Not a "relaxing" property


Riviera:
Benefits:
New resort
Decent dining options
Decent Pool
Skyliner

Cons:
Expensive
Poorly reviewed hotel

 

[PalmettoPath]

For a relaxed longer stay I would consider Saratoga Springs. Villa accommodations with kitchen/kitchenette. Relaxed vibe. Walking to Disney Springs (especially if you stay in College Park). A personal favorite. Five pools, 65 acres of space to rent bikes and so on. A totally different feel. Even the bus service from there isn't too bad (and I do not love Disney buses). Just a different option versus the usual suspects.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Consider OKW, especially if you have a car. You can actually park in front of your villa and not waste time walking down endless corridors. Turtle Pond area is lovely with a pool, grills, QS (seasonal) and bus stop. Villas are the originals (we've owned since 1996) and are huge. It is truly home to us. Disadvantages are lack of QS (there is a take out window) and distance to Conch Flats. If you have a car, it should not be a problem. 1 BR would get you a full kitchen, dining, living room and full size washer and dryer and you can't beat it.

We stayed in a 2 BR at BLT a few weeks ago and the rooms are amazing but it is a long walk to anything. I can't imagine a long stay. We split our stay with BWV 1 BR and love the location but the rooms are tired and darker than I remember. We also did a tour of RIV and the rooms are gorgeous, however you are in a tower and walking down long hallways to get anywhere.

Another option is AKV Jambo House. It is a favorite of ours (and we bought recently) and though very different from OKW, we love the pool, grounds, restaurants and of course, animals. Hallways are long, but it is truly a unique experience and I love to hang out in the lobby. I'd give it a look!

Good luck!

 

[Dicentras]

Riviera, for sure. The vibe of the resort is perfect for a laid back, take your time trip. And the skyliner offers so many options for checking out spaces like Boardwalk. Plus CBR is right next door. It‘s a lovely resort.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Are you going to have a car? If so, of your choices I like CBR. Riviera is nice, but is a lot more expensive. I would not want to stay at CBR without a car though because of how spread out it is. Also, you can easily get over to Riviera from CBR to enjoy their food offerings.

But as others have pointed out, for a longer stay, and only if you have a car, renting points for DVC resort is a terrific option. If you can swing a 1BR, then you have a kitchen and laundry in your villa, along with extra space to relax.

I don't like contemporary or bay lake tower. The lush landscaping is a big part of the resort feel to me, and Contemporary and BLT just don't have that at all.

 

[manakin]

Beach club is wonderful!
best pool on property, you're on the boardwalks (and the walking distance from epcot allows infinite dining options), you're near to the minigolf and you have a pretty big area were you can walk around(from epcot to hollywood studios). and, you have the skyliner too!

 

[nw6675]

Have you considered BLT? Perks of CR, but could have a full kitchen and washer/dryer if you get a 1 or 2 br. Way more relaxing than CR.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

My longest stay on Disney property was BLT (I don’t own DVC but that trip had me really looking into it… loved it and we still look back fondly at that trip). We adore the recreation room there and the overall amenities (my kids are 11 and 7 currently, they were 9 and 5 for that trip). For 10 days, I’d give serious consideration to a cash booking of a Villa (or renting points if ok with that process) and one with access to multiple resorts and/or parks, such as a monorail resort or Epcot resort. Having walkable or monorail access to different things is key to keeping things interesting. The washer/dryer in most Villas is also really nice, especially if going during warm weather where you may go through a few outfits a day.

If this were me, I’d lean towards BLT if anywhere close to your budget.

Lastly, if you’re a frequent Poly/CR guest (which is a description I’d apply to me), you’re probably not going to like CBR and AOA for 10 days, in my humble opinion. I do like those resorts, but it’s hard to compare them to the locational advantages of other options for a long trip.

 

[SleeplessInTO]

How about a one bedroom at Bay Lake Tower, or Animal Kingdom Lodge?

AKL has better pools and food imo, but not as convenient to the parks. Kidani 1 bedroom should have two full bathrooms as BLT would too.

Not to say BLT food isn’t good. I really enjoy takeout from Steakhouse 71, and my kid keeps begging to eat at Chef Mickey’s. Those characters are pretty appealing.

Beach Club is also a good idea if your kids are strong swimmers. I enjoy the pool and food there also.

 

[Karebear]

Neither of these 2 are on your list but I will add them for thought. We typically spend 9-11 days on property simply because we fly from the west coast and it takes a day to get there and back. My absolute favorite is YC and there is a lot to do in that area with the Boardwalk. My kids can (and have) easily spent a whole day at the pool there with all of the games and such they have going on. For a moderate resort, I would pick CS. It does not have the skyliner or anything, but it has one of the better pools and a bunch of dining options.

 

[DJFan88]

We go 10 days each time and always do a split stay. We love it. We start value first week, then deluxe it the 2nd week. Hopper tickets.

 

[Lizgistix]

I'll make a case for Art of Animation.
You have a family. They have family suites which come with a microwave and mini fridge, along with disposable plates and utensils. Also a sink and coffee maker. Also paper towels.
The Nemo pool sounds like it would be a great fit for a 6 and 8 year old. The Cars area also has a pool and isn't too far from the Nemo pool. Don't stay in the Little Mermaid area, it's too far away from everything.
It is noisier than the other resorts mentioned...because it's catering specifically to families with kids. It is loud by the Nemo pool but it's kids being kids and doing kid stuff. Also it's a fun pool area. The Cars pool isn't as loud.
Yes the dining options at AoA are limited to the food court. But you also have the Skyliner available to go eat at CBR or Riviera. Or Pop Century but really, it's nearly the same as AoA but without the cupcakes.
And with kids, that also means early bed times (usually), so it will be loud during the day, and then as night approaches, things start to settle down as little ones go to bed. After a certain time it's pretty darn quiet.
Did I mention the Cars area is really cool at night?
Did I mention the family suites have a main bedroom for the parents, a pull out sofa for kid number 1 and a pull down murphy bed at the dining room table for kid number 2? Did I mention there's a table with 4 chairs to sit at? You could bring a pizza back to the room and watch movies.
Did I mention there's two bathrooms?
Oh and there's a living room with a sofa (the pull out) and a table, plus a chair (maybe two)

So yeah, that's my case for AoA. I stayed in a Cars suite last year and I absolutely loved it!

 

[gottalovepluto]

I have a soft spot for RIV because it’s just beautiful. Also it has the least amount of walking of any resort I’ve stayed at. For a long stay indoor hallways would be a big plus for me. I’ve had 4 stays at RIV & loved it every time so I would not classify it as a “poorly reviewed hotel”. (And if the reviews aren’t from Disney forums like this throw them out the nearest window. Trip Advisor reviews are always questionable but specifically with regards to Disney hotels they’re basically useless.)

If you really wanna try a value or mod I encourage you to split that with a deluxe, ending at the deluxe. That way if you find it just isn’t your style you aren’t trapped there for a week & a half (I generally stay deluxe or CSR GDT but tried POFQ last trip and it was ok at first but by 4th night I was SO happy to be moving to BWI the next night. The noise was just too much.)

I’ll throw a vote out for Gran Destino Tower (just the CSR Tower, not the normal rooms). Rooms feel deluxe but at a mod+ rate. Downside is buses can be annoying, would be another split stay candidate to try a hotel with a different vibe that can help you save some money vs all 10 days at a Deluxe. I wouldn’t want all 10 days there though.

Downside to Splits is you have to pack and no room from 11am-4pm, upside is a fully cleaned room complete with fresh sheets. Something I didn’t appreciate before Disney cutback housekeeping to trash & towels every two days (maybe, if they get around to it) no matter the length of stay. Deluxes have full housekeeping back at all I think.

 

[Selket]

My first thought was YC/BC or BCV because you'd have the fancy BC pool and the Boardwalk area is very nice to walk around when you want to get out but not go to the park. Having a kitchen (to me) would be nice for a long stay but if you have the funds to eat out then by all means...lol. The Swan/Dolphin are worth a look. They work like a deluxe for the after hours stuff I think and they have some larger rooms that look very interesting. I've always liked them and you're in the Boardwalk area.

The value resorts are more chaotic. I find once I'm inside the room it's fine but navigating anywhere outside is loud. The food court can be loud and crowded and lots of yelling (not just kids either - ugh!). I tend to stay at values now because of the cost. Their suite rooms looks better than they used to look (with the 2 pull down queen beds - wherever that is - one of the All Stars had them I think for sure). If you're looking at the price point I'd get one of those renovated value suites.

CR is my favorite resort and I'd be thrilled to stay anywhere on the monorail. A vacation club room with a kitchen would be great but $$$$. Riv looks beautiful - just from videos I've seen it seems like an "adult" resort (I know..I like the CR but it's so close to the MK and has the monorail). We stayed at CBR once and it was fine - I haven't felt compelled to return.

POR/POFQ share pools I think and have the boats to Disney Springs. They used to have fishing and other stuff and my kids always loved it. I haven't been back in awhile. I like a nice (renovated) room so just not sure on the rooms at some of the mods.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Of the resorts you listed, I would choose CBR.
-Kids will love the themed pool with two slides and water play area.
-Also has the quiet pools in each village and the playground on the "bridge"
-Great dining options. Centertown CS/TS, Spyglass Grill, Riviera CS/TS, skyliner to all the dining around Epcot resorts
-Skyliner access to 2 parks
-easy access to laundry facilities at each quiet pool
-whole vibe is tropical and relaxing
-good budget option for 10 days

 

[dandlewood]

Thank you all for your replies! My wife and I read through these together and are processing the combined might of your advice. In particular, I think the one point about Riviera being a more "adult" hotel makes us feel like we can nix that from our consideration. We are currently discussing transporation, as that will likely effect our decision. We live in NJ and were considering doing the drive. My parents drove us down when we were kids and it was a memorable, but exhausting experience. If we drive down, we will have a car and I think we will lean towards the CBR/SS/OKW/PO options. If we don't drive down, I think the options open up a bit more. I will think more on what you guys have said and really appreciate all the great advice.

 

[beccasmom]

The Riviera is lovely (I was underwhelmed with it in photos, but we stayed there one night last summer and are returning at the end of July, so I‘m a fan now), but pricey. Good dining options and the Skyliner. BLT is a good option and its location can’t be beat. The one-bedroom units have 2 bathrooms, which is a great convenience. However, the pool is no great shakes IMHO and too small for the resort. I’ve always liked the CR, but the new room theme is not to my taste at all. However the rooms are spacious and there are good dining options (we like Steakhouse 71 and the Contempo Cafe). Or perhaps consider Wilderness Lodge? It is a gorgeous resort (visit for a meal if you don’t stay there; it’s a gem).

 

[VicarJT]

We go for 10-15 days once a year rather than two shorter trips. Over the last few years, we have done split stays, though I’m not sure I would want to do that with kiddos. One thing I would consider is that with the ages of your children, they will probably go to bed well before you do. So I would want a place where I would be happy to hang out while keeping them safe. So a suite like at AoA, or a deluxe with a patio/balcony would give you that. Also, if you’re going to bring a car, check out AKL Savannah rooms. It is so much fun to watch the animals! And for the record, Riviera is awesome and very child friendly. And yes, expensive.

 

[brockash]

Hey guys,
Long time Lurker and long time traveler to WDW. I usually visit WDW for 5-6 days and stay at the monorail resorts (Poly/Contempo) but we wanted to plan a longer trip(10ish days) this time around and take things at a more leisurely pace. i.e. we wanted to allow for a day or 2 just relaxing at the pool and not trying to fit each park into one day. Which resort do you guys think is best for a longer trip? As of right now I'm considering AOA, CBR, Contemporary, & Riviera. I'm completely open to options outside of these guys, but I feel like I've researched my way into a corner. Here is my logic so far:

My Party: My wife, 2 children (8/6) and myself

AOA
Benefits:
Cost
Skyliner
Theming
Pools

Cons:
End of Skyliner route
Dining options limited
I hear it is louder/crazier than other options

CBR:
Benefits:
Skyliner hub
Rooms are supposedly nicer than AOA
Decent Main pool

Cons:
Spread out
No elevator if on 2nd floor


Contemporary:
Benefits:
Monorail
Great Dining Options
Walkable to MK

Cons:
Pool is not that great
More Expensive
Not a "relaxing" property


Riviera:
Benefits:
New resort
Decent dining options
Decent Pool
Skyliner

Cons:
Expensive
Poorly reviewed hotel

YC or BC. Great pool area, boardwalk access and walk to 2 parks.

 

[maryj11]

I wouldn’t choose CBR only because it’s so spread out. If you have a car it would be different. I would not stay in the Little Mermaid rooms at AOA way to far away from food & buses. A family suite would be better at AOA. Not many food option though. If I had to pick I would choose WL or BC. Never stayed at YC or Riviera. The vibe does not appeal to me.