Which resort--please help me decide!

[kyanmama]

Hi! I'm new here and this is my first post, but I've been spending waaaayyyyy too much time scouring the boards for information. So helpful!

Anyway, we are going to WDW Dec 22-29 this year. The last time I was there was about 15 years ago, and my husband has never been. Kids are 3 and 8. Here's what we've narrowed it down to based on price, free dining offers, etc:

-Animal Kingdom
-Saratoga Springs
-Coronado Springs
-Old Key West
-PO Riverside

We would do a dining package with all of them. Likely spend time at our resort in the afternoon to take a break from the parks. We're leaning towards one of the first 3 on the list. What would you choose?

Thanks for helping. I'm new and clueless lol.

 

[VAfamily1998]

Animal kingdom lodge would be my pick.

 

[ncc1701]

FYI there is work being done at Coronado., If you haven't already you may want to checkout any posts, threads about what is going on . It is also a convention hotel but based on your dates that wouldn't be an issue. If you do POR you can use the pool at POFQ . They put in a new childrens splash area at the pool last year.

 

[RedmonFamily]

PO Riverside is great, theme is wonderful and great quick service while saving money compared to the deluxe resorts, if budget is less of a concern I would go for animal lodge

 

[mkh531]

Animal Kingdom, no question

 

[allsaintsatx]

Another vote for Animal Kingdom! Would choose OKW or SS if you were planning on more Disney Springs time. Coronado Springs never really interested us? I think the theming just isn't our bag. But AKL is incredible. Great resort for middle of the day rests. The rooms at AKL are a bit smaller than other deluxes and there is no sofa bed, so may take that into consideration that your kids would have to share a bed.

 

[mickeynut1]

Hi! I'm new here and this is my first post, but I've been spending waaaayyyyy too much time scouring the boards for information. So helpful!

Anyway, we are going to WDW Dec 22-29 this year. The last time I was there was about 15 years ago, and my husband has never been. Kids are 3 and 8. Here's what we've narrowed it down to based on price, free dining offers, etc:

-Animal Kingdom
-Saratoga Springs
-Coronado Springs
-Old Key West
-PO Riverside

We would do a dining package with all of them. Likely spend time at our resort in the afternoon to take a break from the parks. We're leaning towards one of the first 3 on the list. What would you choose?

Thanks for helping. I'm new and clueless lol.

Another vote for AKL. Out of your choices, we have only stayed at AKL, but we loved everything about it. It's a beautiful resort with great dining options and a relaxing atmosphere.

 

[Babsy]

Another vote for Animal Kingdom! But AKL is incredible. Great resort for middle of the day rests. The rooms at AKL are a bit smaller than other deluxes and there is no sofa bed, so may take that into consideration that your kids would have to share a bed.

True, unless you book a bunk bed room. then you would have a queen plus a set of bunks.

Another vote for AKL. It's a beautiful resort with great dining options and a relaxing atmosphere.

Absolutely agree! AKL is also the only deluxe resort on your list. whenever possible, we prefer to stay deluxe for the extra dining options and amenities! At AKL, as Mickeynut1 has said, the dining options are particularly awesome! watching the animals from your room's balcony is nice too. However, if the Savannah view isn't in the budget, some standard view rooms will still give animal views (partial savannah) OR the pool views are often quite lovely. We have been very happy in all room categories at AKL!

We enjoy the pools here as well as the many activities or just talking with the friendly CM's! Enjoy!

 

[kyanmama]

Thanks so much for the replies and advice!
My only concern with Animal Kingdom is getting to and from the parks...should this even play into my decision? We plan to go as early as possible each morning and likely return to resort for an afternoon break, go back to parks late afternoon or evening.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

CSR is my favorite resort, even with the construction. It's centrally located, has good busing, tons of dining options, and a top notch pool & slide.

 

[Twilight Sparkle]

Another vote for AKL. We love that place! We rent DVC points and stay in a 1 bedroom villa.

 

[buzznina]

If you can swing AKL then that would be my #1 pick, such a unique resort. #2 would be POR, great resort with boat transportation to DS.
Since it does not look like you will be in a hurry during your afternoon breaks, then I would not focus on transportation. You are really only looking at about a 5 minute difference depending on what park you are at.

 

[Babsy]

Thanks so much for the replies and advice!
My only concern with Animal Kingdom is getting to and from the parks...should this even play into my decision? We plan to go as early as possible each morning and likely return to resort for an afternoon break, go back to parks late afternoon or evening.

The only theme park where there is a noticeable difference from the AKL is the MK. You will take an extra 5 -10 minutes once on the bus. It really isn't a big deal at all. We found the buses to be regular and efficient. The buses only go to the Jambo and Kidani bus stops, so no circling around the resort.

I wouldn't worry about it. We have stayed at all the WDW resorts and really have found transportation to be the luck of the draw at any - with good and not so good experiences possible at any of them. The only big advantages for transportation are the MK resorts to the MK or the Epcot resorts to Epcot, IMO. On the positive side: AKL is only a 5 min bus ride to the AK!

We never base our resort choice upon transportation, unless choosing a resort that we can walk from to a theme park.

Enjoy!

 

[izzylovesmickey]

We have stayed at 3 of the resorts on your list. We just got back from a split stay of AKL & SSR. Bus rides to the parks were comparable with of course the shorter trip to AK from AKL and a quick trip from SSR to Disney Springs. SSR has multiple bus stops within the resort and AKL only has 2. CSR has multiple stops also. All that being said I feel the biggest difference is the type of trip you want. We felt that AKL is more of a destination-you need resort time to truly appreciate the various facets of the resort. Great dining, awesome animal viewing and interesting cast members to chat with. SSR is more a vacation feel. You are removed from the parks and we found we spent more time relaxing and enjoying DS. Coronado (pre-construction) was a beautiful resort to wander with relatively short bus rides to the parks and a fun pool. Haven't stayed since construction but see us returning after. All the resorts have their pros and cons but each can certainly provide a great landing place to enjoy the most magical place on earth!

 

[Disney Mom 7272]

I would pick Animal Kingdom Lodge

 

[allsaintsatx]

Thanks so much for the replies and advice!
My only concern with Animal Kingdom is getting to and from the parks...should this even play into my decision? We plan to go as early as possible each morning and likely return to resort for an afternoon break, go back to parks late afternoon or evening.

We were just there in April, and we had pretty stellar bus service. It wasn't even bad going to Disney springs, and I thought it was going to be horrible. The bus was only late one day, and it was only by 10 minutes. Which is no better or worse than we've had at any other deluxe resorts. It was a non-issue for us. And we had previously been spoiled by staying on the monorail line, and being able to take a boat to the Magic Kingdom, and even after all of that spoiling we really didn't mind the buses at animal Kingdom Lodge! Believe me, it's a small price to pay to stay there! Stunning resort.

 

[allsaintsatx]

True, unless you book a bunk bed room. then you would have a queen plus a set of bunks.

Excellent point! That's something I never consider, because we've only got one kid! Equal bedding options as well! And the only fight will be who gets the top bunk!

 

[mickeynut1]

watching the animals from your room's balcony is nice too. However, if the Savannah view isn't in the budget, some standard view rooms will still give animal views (partial savannah) OR the pool views are often quite lovely.

I agree! We've stayed both savanna and pool view and while it was nice watching animals from our balcony, I loved our pool view just as much. Since there are several animal viewing areas around the resort, having a savanna view isn't a priority for us and we wouldn't hesitate booking pool view again (or even standard) .

Since it does not look like you will be in a hurry during your afternoon breaks, then I would not focus on transportation. You are really only looking at about a 5 minute difference depending on what park you are at.

I agree

The only theme park where there is a noticeable difference from the AKL is the MK. You will take an extra 5 -10 minutes once on the bus. It really isn't a big deal at all. We found the buses to be regular and efficient. The buses only go to the Jambo and Kidani bus stops, so no circling around the resort.

I wouldn't worry about it. We have stayed at all the WDW resorts and really have found transportation to be the luck of the draw at any - with good and not so good experiences possible at any of them. The only big advantages for transportation are the MK resorts to the MK or the Epcot resorts to Epcot, IMO. On the positive side: AKL is only a 5 min bus ride to the AK!

This has been our experience as well .

 

[kyanmama]

Thanks sooooo much for all the great info and advice. I love hearing from other people who have actually been there.
And the winner is....
Animal Kingdom Lodge! My boys will be so excited!

 

[Deb & Bill]

...Absolutely agree! AKL is also the only deluxe resort on your list. ...

Sorry, but OKW and SSR are also considered deluxe resorts. They are just entirely DVC resorts and do not have a hotel component to the resort.