Who's stubborn like me?

[cjsm&d]

Anyone else make up their minds about a resort at WDW before giving it a chance and later wondering why you took so long to stay there?

For many years I thumbed my nose at staying at CSR and S&D. My DW would mention them but I'd just say that they don't appeal to me and I won't like them.

I remember telling her that CSR looks boring and when we were staying at YC mentioning that I thought that S&D looks out of place among these beautiful EPCOT resorts... well now...

DW finally talked me into trying CSR 3 years ago, and now it's my family's favorite moderate resort!

Last trip down i was determined to stay in the EPCOT area. DW priced the nurse's deal at Swan. I really didn't want to do it, but how could I argue with staying outide of EPCOT for HALF the money it would have cost to stay at YC/BC?

Now I would stay there anytime! The restaurants and amenities are great! I'd probably still rather stay at YC, but unless the prices become more equitable, I'm now a S&D fan!

 

[pl4bby]

Nope I am a deluxe resort snob. I can't go back.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Nope, have no use for S&D, never stayed there and never will, stayed at CSR once and will never go back, totally detested the resort layout, hugeness and food options!

 

[Magic3forme]

we stayed at the Dolphin last year while Dh had a conference... we will NEVER stay there again... I was beyond disappointed in the hotel/ pool/ staff/ rooms. I'll stick with DVC.

 

[cjsm&d]

I think the point is being missed.
I wasn't asking if people love CSR or S&D. I was asking if people had avoided staying at a resort only to later find it was actually a great resort...

 

[meggiebeth]

We booked at SSR because there was a 45% off discount and free dining. I felt like it was one of my last choices- and it wouldn't compare to the Poly, BC, AKL, GF, etc. I insisted to my family that it wasn't in the same league. When we stayed there, we fell in love!!! We actually didn't like the Poly or AKL at all really, they were dark and dreary. We felt that SSR was in the same league as BC- with the exception of location.

We are still put off of the S&D because although we have been inside it, it feels like a normal hotel- not a Disney hotel. Also it doesn't offer free dining which is one of the things we almost insist upon when visiting WDW. I think we may give it a chance someday, although my dream is to stay at the GF. I used to prioritize the Poly over the GF. And I considered switching from SSR to AKL, thinking it would be so much better. I am so glad I didn't actually get us to switch.

I was stubborn when it came to parks too. Before our first trip in 2011, I thought that Epcot would be the best park- my favourite. I thought that MK would be my least favourite- boring and babyish. It turned out that MK was my favourite park by far and Epcot was second to last in my preferences.

Meg~ Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[wdw4rfam]

I think the point is being missed.
I wasn't asking if people love CSR or S&D. I was asking if people had avoided staying at a resort only to later find it was actually a great resort...

did that with POR. Said it just didn't appeal to me. Well when yougest turned 3, we became a fam of 5. So we gave it a try and loved it. We had some major bus issues, but are going back because over all it was a wonderful resort. Can't say I wouldn't go deluxe, just cant bring myself to pay those prices. I'd rather stay 11 days at POR.

 

[SarahKate]

I did the same thing with POR. Thought it looked boring and not flashy like we were used to at the values. But a few friends really liked POR and we looked at it more closely. We have since stayed there twice and will never, ever go back to the values. I'd like to think I'd be open to trying another Mod but it would be hard because we love POR so much.

 

[cjsm&d]

I did the same thing with POR. Thought it looked boring and not flashy like we were used to at the values. But a few friends really liked POR and we looked at it more closely. We have since stayed there twice and will never, ever go back to the values. I'd like to think I'd be open to trying another Mod but it would be hard because we love POR so much.

It's funny you say this because many years ago when we first stayed at Port Orleans (POFQ) I wasn't impressed with Dixie Landings (POR now) at all.

We now like POR more than POFQ (Though we like POFQ too), especially since there is no sit down restaurant at POFQ. We used to love Bon Famille and were extremely disappointed when they decided to close it and use the room for DVC stuff.

 

[SolitaryPhoenix]

At this point, the only resorts I've formed that kind of "heck, no, I won't stay there" are the All Stars and CBR. I don't really know why. At this point, I don't really see any reason why that would change, so it probably won't. I would stay - and would like to stay - at any of the others that I haven't stayed in, at least once to check it out (AoA, FW Cabins, Poly, BW, Y&BC, SSR, Contemporary, GF). I don't know that I'd consider Swan and Dolphin in this, but I've stayed at the Swan, and while it was lovely, I really have no burning desire to go back again or stay at the Dolphin.

 

[bennifer]

did that with POR. Said it just didn't appeal to me. Well when yougest turned 3, we became a fam of 5. So we gave it a try and loved it. We had some major bus issues, but are going back because over all it was a wonderful resort. Can't say I wouldn't go deluxe, just cant bring myself to pay those prices. I'd rather stay 11 days at POR.

I'm still doing that with POR! I really don't know why I'm digging my heels in, I know so many people that love it. Maybe because I was disappointed in CBR (we usually stay at CSR).

 

[nessz79]

I think the point is being missed.
I wasn't asking if people love CSR or S&D. I was asking if people had avoided staying at a resort only to later find it was actually a great resort...

I was thinking the same thing when I read some of the responses!

Anyway, yes! And we love S/D!

 

[mad madam mim78]

I think the point is being missed.
I wasn't asking if people love CSR or S&D. I was asking if people had avoided staying at a resort only to later find it was actually a great resort...

Haha. I was thinking the same thing.

 

[mmmears]

I think the point is being missed.
I wasn't asking if people love CSR or S&D. I was asking if people had avoided staying at a resort only to later find it was actually a great resort...

Yes. We didn't want to try AKL because it was so far away from the parks. And we just didn't "get" why people were ooohing and aaaahing about it. Then we visited for dinner... and fell in love with it. Now no trip to WDW is complete without at least a few days at AKL -- my family just loves it there. We were totally wrong.

 

[KatMark]

There are several we have never stayed at and I still have no intention of doing it -- Grand Floridian (too stuffy) and the Wilderness Lodge (bad experiences when visiting). I highly doubt I would ever change my mind about those two.

I also said we would never stay at the Boardwalk or any other moderate than the Coronado. Well, we are staying at the Boardwalk Villas in December and if we stop for two nights in April on my husband's business trip, we will probably stay at a moderate other than CSR (we will stay at Port Orleans Riverside). I too said I'd never stay at the Swan/Dolphin and actually looked into it for our December trip this year. But I was able to get the BWV cheaper than what the Dolphin was quoting me at. Some day we will stay at the Dolphin for a short trip.

 

[patty57]

I did the same thing with S & D. Almost always stay at BC & BW because I love the Epcot location, and love the resorts. We stayed at the Swan last June for a nurse's discount, and stay connected rate, which the WDW resorts couldn't come close to. We all really liked the Swan. Liked it so much, I'm staying at the Dolphin in May! All things being equal (price), I would stay at BC for SAB, but I'm paying half to stay at the Dolphin.

 

[trishadono]

As our FHP (family happiness planner) I encounter lots of stubbornness! I have found a way around it. At dd age 11 I started a kid n mom every other year trip. We go once as a family and then I alternate each year alone with dd/ds. My dh needs a king or a queen bed alone so we stay deluxe. Then I usually use kid trips to try new/go back to favs. With ds I tried WL, CSR and POR , he loved those. Dd and I went back to CBR after a long break and we forgot how pretty it is. I got her there by staying 3 nights and moving one night to GF CL . That way I got to go back to one of my old favs and she got Sugar Loaf! Have to say I only have one resort I am stubborn about... SS. It is so large, so far from parks etc I don't see any advantage of staying there.

Trish

 

[natfrac]

We will not stay at any value resort, ever. As empty nesters, we avoid the hotels heavily populated with kids and tour groups. Plus DH really likes a balcony, so BWV is our resort of choice. We've stayed at POR, OKW, and the Swan before, and while we did like the Swan, it's more economical to rent DVC points and stay at the Boardwalk.

 

[pigletto]

I find my tastes/resort needs change over time. I wasn't very interested in AKL until we went for dinner. It's just so impressive when you actually see it in person. We ended up staying there and loved it.
I also wasn't all that interested in Beach Club yet this year a good deal came out and it sounded perfect for a summer trip so we're going to stay there in August.

I would say SSR and CBR are lowest on my priority list right now, but I'm sure we'll give them a try one day.

 

[HM]

Yep, just did that with POR. It never appealed to me. Decided to stay there last month on a short trip and decided it's a very nice resort. It helped that we had a good location in Oak Manor.