Which is your favorite resort and why?

[imktdqt810]

We are currently booked at Poly in a villa (due to the normal resort rooms being closed during our June 2021 stay). I posted to that board how our "Bucket List" vacay is slowly dashing my hopes. So DH suggested we DON"T make this our bucket list vacay and that we go less days (booked Sat to Sat at the moment) and we don't stay at the Poly. We have done Pop Music in the past (didn't like the really long bus trips) and CBR which we enjoyed but want to maybe stay some place different. The goal will be to cancel the 8 day tickets and hopper passes, along with the Poly booking (or switch to another resort so I don't lose my travel insurance) and maybe go Sun - Friday to save some money since next year might "still be different" but we still get one day in each park. Any info on what is your favorite resort is and why would greatly be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[skeeter31]

For us, its whatever Disney Resort we are staying at on that trip, that qualifies as our favorite. We really have never had a bad experience at a Disney resort, and we have been a ton of times. If I had to think of the couple of bad experiences it would only be All Star Music and Coronado Springs (but before the most recent renovation). Other than that, every resort has been perfect. I can’t really pick a favorite. Old Key West would be up there. Wilderness Lodge would be up there. Poly, POFQ, AoA are all amazing. The best resort is going to be different for everyone, but if you go into it with the mindset that it will be the best, it will be!

 

[_19disnA]

LOTS of older threads on this topic. Usually the answer comes down to your budget and which resort you like best.

 

[dachsie]

Why don't you try the Tower at Coronado Springs? Its new and would be less in price and has several dining options (assuming they all open by then)

 

[tuckymom]

I have 2 current ones:

Poly: On the monorail loop makes for a fun and QUICK trip to MK and back. Its ideal for an afternoon break. Love the tropical feel. Great restaurants and lots of food options (well non COVID times). Love the pool area and fireworks on the beach! Our family loves park hopping and nights in the park so being that close to 2 is awesome. Plus close to GF and a quick ride without a car or bus to Contemporary. Also the smell and I don't hate the gift stores there the way I normally do.

Caribbean Beach: Best moderate right now for me. The skyliner is a game changer for that resort and against convivence and cool transportation. The main pool there is great and for my young kids, walking a ways and enjoying the outdoors there is wonderful. Like Sebastian's and the pool bar a lot! Great refurb a few years ago for the lobby and the rooms.

 

[Marionnette]

We are currently booked at Poly in a villa (due to the normal resort rooms being closed during our June 2021 stay). I posted to that board how our "Bucket List" vacay is slowly dashing my hopes. So DH suggested we DON"T make this our bucket list vacay and that we go less days (booked Sat to Sat at the moment) and we don't stay at the Poly. We have done Pop Music in the past (didn't like the really long bus trips) and CBR which we enjoyed but want to maybe stay some place different. The goal will be to cancel the 8 day tickets and hopper passes, along with the Poly booking (or switch to another resort so I don't lose my travel insurance) and maybe go Sun - Friday to save some money since next year might "still be different" but we still get one day in each park. Any info on what is your favorite resort is and why would greatly be appreciated. Thanks!

The Boardwalk!

Beautiful views of Crescent Lake. Walking or boat to two parks. Lots of dining options at YC/BC, S/D and on the boardwalk itself. Easy stroll into EPCOT for more dining or to the Skyliner to get to 4 more resorts (Riviera, CBR, AoA and POP). Great nighttime atmosphere. We own 3 DVC resorts but the Boardwalk tops the list.

 

[imktdqt810]

I have 2 current ones:

Poly: On the monorail loop makes for a fun and QUICK trip to MK and back. Its ideal for an afternoon break. Love the tropical feel. Great restaurants and lots of food options (well non COVID times). Love the pool area and fireworks on the beach! Our family loves park hopping and nights in the park so being that close to 2 is awesome. Plus close to GF and a quick ride without a car or bus to Contemporary. Also the smell and I don't hate the gift stores there the way I normally do.

Caribbean Beach: Best moderate right now for me. The skyliner is a game changer for that resort and against convivence and cool transportation. The main pool there is great and for my young kids, walking a ways and enjoying the outdoors there is wonderful. Like Sebastian's and the pool bar a lot! Great refurb a few years ago for the lobby and the rooms.

I am currently booked at the Poly but it's under construction and not due to be completed until "Summer 2021" which will be after our visit in June. They also might or might not be done with the great ceremonial house by June but I know the Monorial isn't going to be making stops at the Poly while it is under construction. Yes, we can still walk to the Monorail via TTC to catch the monorial. Oh and they have not had "park hopping" since they have opened back up. You need to reserve which day you will go to what park, you can enter it multiple times a day but parking hopping (for now) is still off.

 

[imktdqt810]

The Boardwalk!

Beautiful views of Crescent Lake. Walking or boat to two parks. Lots of dining options at YC/BC, S/D and on the boardwalk itself. Easy stroll into EPCOT for more dining or to the Skyliner to get to 4 more resorts (Riviera, CBR, AoA and POP). Great nighttime atmosphere. We own 3 DVC resorts but the Boardwalk tops the list.

I just looked at the Boardwalk (& the Beach club) since I didn't realize you could walk to EPCOT and take a boat to Hollywood Studios...thanks for that info! But neither of them are booking rooms either in June 2021 and only the "Deluxe Studio" are open to book which reminds of what the Poly is currently showing....under construction and not fully open by June of 2021!

 

[MomOTwins]

Your stay is in June 2021, and candidly it is just too early know what will and won’t be back by then in terms of hopping, resort dining, transportation etc. Having stayed at resorts during construction, sometimes it is awful and sometimes it is not even noticeable. Even if the Poly monorail is closed it is an easy walk from Poly to TTC to catch the monorail.

My advice is to wait and book something closer in time. With dining no longer being bookable until 60 days, and no signs that park passes are ever really selling out, there is no reason to make plans so far out when so little is known about 2021.

 

[MomOTwins]

I just looked at the Boardwalk (& the Beach club) since I didn't realize you could walk to EPCOT and take a boat to Hollywood Studios...thanks for that info! But neither of them are booking rooms either in June 2021 and only the "Deluxe Studio" are open to book which reminds of what the Poly is currently showing....under construction and not fully open by June of 2021!

The boats are now and I sort of suspect that with the skyliner, the boats might never come back. But as I said in my other post it is really too early to know about 2021

 

[loves to dive]

My all time favorite is Yacht Club. I love being able to walk to both Epcot and HS. I prefer the adult vibe there over BC and just like the feel of the place. Having said that, I've stayed at YC,BC and BW and usually just go with whichever one is cheaper at the time I'm booking. We don't spend much time at MK so the monorail resorts don't make sense for us (we used to stay in them back in the day when they were the only on site resorts). Lately, we have been staying at Swan/Dolphin because you can get them for less than the WDW resorts with almost the same perks (no airport transportation, can't charge to the rooms and don't get Magic Bands - we drive, never charge back to the rooms and have at least 3 MB in every color and style).

As far as moderates - I like CS, I like the vibe of the place and like the variety of restaurants.

For values - frankly we only stay in them the first day or two of a split stay and I just get whichever one is cheaper.

 

[AliceIn]

The boats are now and I sort of suspect that with the skyliner, the boats might never come back. But as I said in my other post it is really too early to know about 2021

I hope boats come back. The Skyliner doesn't run if Thunderstorms are within 10 miles of Disney, and they stop running until the storms are gone for 30 minutes. During the warmest months, I would think the Skyliner will be out of commission a lot. The mornings and late evenings might be ok, but the afternoons and trying to go back to the hotel fast might be more of an issue.

 

[bakerworld]

My favorite place to stay is a venue with IG access. For a non-bucket list WDW vacation Sunday-Friday in June 2021 my preference would be the Dolphin. The Dolphin gives access to the boardwalk/YC/BC area entertainment for a very affordable nightly rate, it has a very nice lobby/lounge area, nice rooms with great beds (the pillows are eh), good places to eat, large pool/hot tub areas, wonderful outside seating restaurant and is walkable to both Epcot and HS with access to the skyliner and the monorail (if running).

If you are determined to say in a Disney venue, then I vote for the Yacht Club because I like the theming and for the park walkable distance.

 

[MomOTwins]

I hope boats come back. The Skyliner doesn't run if Thunderstorms are within 10 miles of Disney, and they stop running until the storms are gone for 30 minutes. During the warmest months, I would think the Skyliner will be out of commission a lot. The mornings and late evenings might be ok, but the afternoons and trying to go back to the hotel fast might be more of an issue.

Yeah--we were at riviera in August so I can definitely attest to being frustrated with the alternate bus service when the skyliner was down every afternoon--we do a lot of midday breaks so it was a pain.

But given they don't even run buses from skyliner resorts when the skyliner is up and running, I could see them saying as a cost cutting measure that the boats are redundant and not needed.

 

[Edeyore]

I have 2 current ones:

Poly: On the monorail loop makes for a fun and QUICK trip to MK and back. Its ideal for an afternoon break. Love the tropical feel. Great restaurants and lots of food options (well non COVID times). Love the pool area and fireworks on the beach! Our family loves park hopping and nights in the park so being that close to 2 is awesome. Plus close to GF and a quick ride without a car or bus to Contemporary. Also the smell and I don't hate the gift stores there the way I normally do.

Caribbean Beach: Best moderate right now for me. The skyliner is a game changer for that resort and against convivence and cool transportation. The main pool there is great and for my young kids, walking a ways and enjoying the outdoors there is wonderful. Like Sebastian's and the pool bar a lot! Great refurb a few years ago for the lobby and the rooms.

Don't get me wrong, the Poly is great. I have stayed there twice. CBR has become my favorite though. The skyliner just added to it, but it is also a very centralized resort, without the outrageous
pricing.

 

[cpep42]

FAVORITE: Old Key West Resort......REASON: They're family

 

[AliceIn]

I have three favorites: Poly, Beach Club, Contemporary. I love the Poly for the relaxing vibe, Oasis pool, and location. The Contemporary has one of my favorite club levels, and we like that the pool is not crazy busy like some of the other resorts. We love the monorail coming through the lobby - it's very nostalgic. I love the Beach Club for the easy access to the World Showcase in Epcot, the pool, and the overall vibe of the resort.

 

[Rockbro]

This is a tough one. I fighting this one out between Beach and Grand Floridian. I love the ambiance and scent of the GF lobby. But I like the laid-back feel of Beach.

SO, instead of choosing, I'll say Holiday Inn Express

 

[ExtraMagic]

My favorite resorts are Animal Kingdom Lodge and Port Orleans (boohoo)! But to make your trip more budget friendly trip you might try Caribbean Beach! It's not Poly, but it's still got the beach vacation vibe and it's centrally located to everything!

 

[plygph]

Poly is my favorite as I enjoy the theming as I love Hawaii and Aulani as well. I also enjoy walking out to the dock and sitting on a bench taking in the best view of Cinderella's castle.
OKW is next this is an overlooked resort but I love the theming, laid back atmosphere and the room sizes, I stayed in a one-bedroom that was bigger than my first house.
BLT Location Location Location my first trip to WDW in August 1982 we stayed in the Contemporary in the portion of the hotel that was cleared to build BLT and it was our Honeymoon
Port Orleans But I will call it by the name I came to know and love it Dixie Landings.