Walt Disney World Resorts

[MargaretJ]

What Disney World Resorts have you stayed in? Which one did you like the best, which one the least? I'll start. I have stayed at:

All Star Music
All Star Movies
All Star Sports
Caribbean Beach
Port Orleans French Quarter
Dixie Landings - (now POR)
Coronado Springs
Wilderness Lodge
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Boardwalk Inn

Boardwalk Inn but Animal Kingdom Lodge was a close second is my favorite to date.

Caribbean Beach is my least favorite so far but I may need to give this one a second chance.

How about you?

[Connears]

Being a DVC member, I have a limited number since we joined (1994)

FW cabin 1993
OKW(too many times to count!)
BWV 2000
BCV 2002
Swan (CL-2003-4 New Year's trip)

OKW is my favorite because of the space, the feeling and most of all the friendly CM.

Love BCV(but SAB too crazy in the summer)
Hated BWV(will not return-ever-rude CM abd very poor service all around)
Loved Swan-(location and all the retaurants and activites)

Connears

[Tagrel]

Good post!

Lets see,

Disney Institute (when there was one) - very nice, but not very themed...
Yacht Club - twice! Love it there! :captain:
Villas at the Wilderness Lodge - Home! Love it! - Very peaceful, and love boat to MK and resorts.
Beach Club Villas - Stormalong Bay, walk to Epcot - Does it GET any better? :winking:
Regular WL room - Nice, but we are spoiled by DVC - Maybe if it was a courtyard view... :)
Grand Floridian - Grand! Beautiful at Christmas, and love the Monorail access!
Animal Kingdom Lodge - Beautiful Resort, but horrible CM REALLY left a bad feeling for this resort. Bit remote for a Deluxe, and missed walking or boating to other resorts/parks.
All Star Music. Very nice, clean, lots of theming, and a great bargain!

Off site:
Vero Beach - LOVED it! What a great way to unwind after a week in the parks!
Portofino Bay - A Universal Hotel, but VERY nice, and you HAVE to love the front of the line access you get staying there. We won't GO to Universal again until we stay on site! Want to try Hard Rock next.

This July we try our first Disney Cruise, and then Boardwalk Villas. I'll have some more experience and opinions after that! (along with a bunch of pictures to share, I'm sure!) :winking:

Absolute Favorite.... VERY tough... Has to be DVC.. and I think its a toss up between VWL and BCV. That is why we typically stay at both! :) But we want to try ALL the DVC resorts, and will definitely go back to Vero in the future!

Worst... While it was very nice, we have no desire to stay at AKL again. Once was enough for us.

[Tagrel]

...Hated BWV(will not return-ever-rude CM abd very poor service all around)...

This is my EXACT issue with AKL. Doesn't it REALLY leave a bad taste in your mouth when you have a bad CM experience? I wonder if the nasty ones know just how many people they drive away, never to return?

[JennyAnne]

Good thread! I can't wait to read everyone else's answers. Mine is very simple.

1990 - Shades of Green before it was Shades of Green (I think it was called Disney Inn, but someone might be able to help me with that)
1994 - CBR
2004 - CBR

That's it! We didn't have a ton of money growing up, so those were our two main vacations we took. Now 10 years later, I'm taking my husband. Since he's never been there and I haven't been there in so long, I chose a resort that I was somewhat familiar with and that reminded me of our honeymoon location (St. Lucia). Obviously I enjoyed CBR...we had very good service, friendly CM's and a great location in Martinique. And we lucked out, because we never requested anything as far as location was concerned.

I would like to eventually stay at as many resorts as possible, especially Beach Club and Poly. Wouldn't mind the Boardwalk either! :D Think I need to start making more money before I stay at any of those!!

[MissBianca]

Uhoh, now you're going to see what spoiled brats we are!

Our first trip was not at a Disney Resort.

Since then: Grand Floridian, Beach Club, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Polynesian.

Mostest favorite is the Beach Club. Location, location, location, swimming pool, Beaches and Cream, and it's just homey.

Least favorite? How can I pick ANY of those? It's a three way tie for "not the mostest favorite." I'd go back to ANY deluxe! I'd really like to try the Boardwalk if I win the lottery and can have a garden suite! And the YC is sooo nice--but for some reason my yachty husband :captain: just loves the BC so when I leave it up to him, home again! The WL is wonderful, but I LIVE in the Pacific Northwest. I want vacation to be different!

[mickeefan]

Mine are pretty limited.
Got into a rut and stayed at CBR for 25 plus times.
In 2001 got a special states only rate and stayed at the Contemporary.
In 2002 got bumped from the CBR due to renovations and stayed at the Polynesian.
In December 2003 went back to the Contemporary on annual passholder rate.

I am afraid after I got a taste of staying on the monorail I am hooked on the deluxe resorts. We really enjoyed the Polynesian, but our favorite has become the Contemporary. I love the location and the rooms are probably the largest of all the resorts. We are going back here in November 2004.

[DrBabe]

I believe the first time I stayed on site was Caribbean Beach when it was quite new. I've stayed at Riverside several times in both the mansions and the bayous (really wish the name had never changed), stayed at the Contemporary once, stayed at All Star Music once, stayed once at Port Orlean French Quarter, stayed once at the Dolphin, stayed once at the Wilderness Lodge and once at the Wilderness Lodge Villas. Lastly I've stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. AKL is now my favorite, particularly in the value season! Wilderness Lodge always makes me feel, too, like I've come home -- guess you can't take the girl out of the pine trees. There is something about both WL and AKL that makes one feel so comfortable. In March I'm going back to Caribbean Beach -- since March isn't value season!!! have to go to a moderate to keep the budget a bit under control. The only place I really didn't like was French Quarter because we stayed there right before it closed for re-newal, and it needed it, and also our room smelled like some chemical. Every resort has it's good features. It's just a matter of who's going, when, and other types of considerations.

[SuzyQ]

Here's our list and (hopefully) will keep on growing! ;)

AllStars: Great for the price
PopCentury: Even Better! Love the lake and "newness"
CBR: Really enjoyed our honeymoon here - will definitely stay again
POR: Great theming!
PORFQ: We loved the smallness and the river boat to DtD
AKL: Had a savanah room and really loved this resort - I recommend it for the summer/warmer months.
BC: Ya know, it's that ol' not-so-Disney CM problem - we had a couple of them here, so we will not be back.
YC: Love the location and the richness of the dark woods
WL: Our favorite resort so far!

~Suzy

[Bookwood]

My list may be the shortest yet (I have said I am very comfortable in my "rut" I tend to find something I like and stick with it)
Dolphin- least favorite as desk personnel wasn't friendly and I have elevator issues (or room placement issues depending on you point to view) to use Starwood lounge we had to go to lobby and through lobby and back everytime. (but then free is a hard rice to quibble with)
All-Star Movies- great price and since I'm a simple girl I don't need frills- I love the feel of it!!
Cabins at Ft Wilderness- I loved having a kitchen and room for 6 in one place internal bus was a tiny minus. I am staying here again this summer.

I'd love to try more resorts- I just need companionship (and money) for the trips!! WE (DH and I) would like to try the Poly sometime- then I vote for the "Epcot" resorts because of location Beach club here I come (someday).

Pam :mickeyWalk: "Bookwood"

[FLSharon]

I think we've enjoyed each place we've stayed.. Here's our list..

CBR: My first onsite.. not my fav, but it was ok. After staying at the others, we came back to walk around to see if we felt different. And I didn't.

Poly: Great place, but only during warm weather. I really wish they had a couple hot tubs.

POR: My so very favorite. Love the grounds and the boats. I could walk around this resort forever! Wish they had hot tubs around the quiet pools! We've stayed here so many times, I've lost count.

WL: This is my fav winter place. And they have two nice hot tubs. I'm def a water person. And I love the fireplaces. The negative is the counter service food area.. detest eating there. If it's cold outside I carry my food to the lobby area.

Dolphin: Had one great stay here. Room placement is key since the hotel is huge and I don't like the narrow low ceiling hallways. Our room was right off the elevator. Really love the pool area... and hot tubs! Would go again if the price is right. LOL... Loved the access to Epcot and MGM.

FWCabins: Almost forgot this stay. We only stayed here to be close to family that needed the cabins for a stay of 6 people. We really didn't utilize anything that FW offered so this literally was just a place to stay. Our grass wasn't mowed outside the cabin and it kinda had an icky feel to me. Also the hot water ran out wayyyy to quickly. Def not a place i'd care to stay again. But like I said, we did it to be close to family so it was ok. And I guess we did cook a big breakfast for everyone so we did use the kitchen.

Would love to stay at GF but haven't found a good deal and doubt it if I ever will.

[Sheryl]

Like many of you I have hopes of staying at all the Disney resorts someday.

All Stars Sports We spent two nights here with inlaws, it was great deal for a great price.

Caribbean Beach Resort This was our very first Disney resort. We enjoyed it very much, but it was in need of updating. Would try it again since it has been renovated.

Coronado Springs This is our favorite moderate resort. We loved everything about it and hope to stay there again.

Animal Kingdon Lodge Stayed here twice. First stay was absolutely perfect, but on our second stay we had a terrible time at checkin with the Cm we had and that put a damper on our stay there.

Wilderness Lodge This is our family's very favorite resort. Love everything about it here.

Polynesian This was just me on a girls trip. The resort is beautiful and I hope to stay there with my family next year.

We are hoping to be able to stay at Pop Century and Yacht Club this summer. I would love to stay at Grand Floridian next December for a long weekend with my sister Sandy and Linda C for the meets. We are planning on staying at the Polynesian next January for the marathon and just booked a disney cruise with YMJ for August 2005.

:mickeyWalk: Sheryl :minnie:

[Snickerdoodlesmommy]

It looks like most of the resorts have been covered!

I too think the Carribbean Beach is one of the best moderates, esp. now since it has been updated.

Coronado Springs has a wonderful pool
Grand Floridian what's not to love about this place? (well, maybe the price)
Port Orleans French Quarter also love the pool here. Real shame they closed it now.
Disney Institute here we stayed at the now defunct Treehouses and had a great time!!!
FW Cabins really liked these. Very clean and the kitchen had all the extras that really come in handy!
Polynesian don't really see what the fuss is all about on this place. The carpets in the room were damp feeling, food terrible and the hallways smell old and musty to me.
Contemporary Although very convenient to get to the MK, hated the room decor!
Yacht and Beach kids loved Stormalong! Beaches and Cream is always a big hit as well!

LindaC :sun: :mickeyWalk:

[Barb D]

Ive been three times to Orlando and my oder of hotels is:
1998 Contempory: We had a problem with ants in the room and I felt the bathroom was a bit aged looking. Other than that it was a nice place t stay

Ive been to beach club Twice. First time was 1999 and second time was 2002. Beacuse we stayed a second time they upgraded us to consierge for free. I love the location of this hotel. We love Epcot and MGM best so this sit us well. the biggest problem is Disney transportation sucks here!! The bus driver said theres not much that can be done about it because of how they sit aside from other resorts you have to share with 5 hotels making the buses pretty crowded. We generally walked through Epcot tp get on the monorail to go to Magic Kingdom and rode the boat to MGM and used buses for down town and Animal Kingdom.

[Shirley]

AllStar movies - Loved the feel and themeing of the resort.

CBR - Relaxing, we had a great location loved the resort.

CSR - Loved the resort but wasn't happy with our room location, even though we had a great pool view, we were on the 3rd floor way away from the elevater and it was a long ways to take all the luggage in the heat of july. GS loved the main pool slide.

AKL - Was great. loved the bigger room and GS loved watching the animals.

This year we have a week booked at WL, we booked WL months ago but now we have a tough decision to make. Just found out a woman I work with has a 2 bedroom condo at the Wynham palms resort and we can stay at her condo for a 3rd of the cost of a week at WL. The condo has 2 bedrooms, queen sleeper sofa, 52 in tv in living room, tv's in each bedroom, hot tub in master bedroom, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, washer and dryer and a patio. Only problem is the week we are going is not her week so she thinks she cannot find out if the week we want is available till something like 90 days out. (she is going to double check the policy).
I saw the pictures on the website and it looks great. The negative is it is offsite, but for all the extras at alot less money I think we are willing to give it a try.

[Stinkerbelle]

As much as I'd like to stay somewhere fancier I have only ever stayed at the Allstars. I've stayed at all three of them and like Sports the best. I think the layout is better than the other two and its usually the 1st stop for the busses. We are hoping to stay at Pop Century in April.

[LimeGreenCheri]

Allstar Sports Great layout of the resort.

Allstar Music my least favorite of the Allstars. But, in December, we were in the Jazz building and it really wasn't that bad.


Allstar Movies My Favorite Allstar resort. The themeing here is like no other.

Carribean Beach resort This resort is just too big for my taste. The busses were always full and even though our room had been refurbished, I didn't think the decor was very good. The boarder had a totatlly different color scheme from the bedspreads and carpeting. It looked like something my grandmother had decorated.

Port Orleans Riverside Very nice southern resort. We loved all the mansions and the pool was great

Polynesian We stayed here, concierge, on our girls trip and had a blast. I loved sitting in the lounge and looking across the lagoon to Cinderella's Castle. If I ever have the cash, I'll stay here again

Dolphin Got a great rate of $60 on priceline for one night here. The staff was so nice, especially when they switched our room for free at midnight after a my little girl got sick. They didn't charge us for any clean up and they didn't even charge us the resort fee.

Grosvenor I know this isn't a Disney resort, but we had a great view overlooking DD from our tower room. While the themeing wasn't great. The view more than made up for it!

I would say my favorite resort would be Polynesian and my least favorite Carribean Beach resort.


Lookout Coronado Springs and Pop Century.... you've got to win my heart! :eyelove:

[LuvmeDisney]

Great Topic!

I'm going to go from favorite to least fav. We were just discussing this at the supper table last night with the kids!

:D Wilderness Lodge- The kids just loved the atmosphere, CM's, pool, location!
:D Polynesian - What can we say. Room size for our family is super. Location on the monorail rocks! We also liked it was just a short walk to the TTC.
:shock: Animal Kingdom Lodge- The kids loved the Savannah. We surprised ourselves that the farness of the AKL didn't really matter. We definately had some very un "Disney" Cm's here, but we tried to overlook.
These are our top three Choices and almost run neck in neck,

:cry: Beach Club- The kids love the pool here, of course, and you can't beat the location, but we were very disappointed the 2nd time we stayed here. Rude CM's, the rooms were in dire need of rehab (this was Oct a year ago), and probably the most frustrating thing is waiting in line at Beaches and Cream (great place) for refills on the mugs. They have to figure out a better way here!

:) Coronado Springs- Again, kids loved the pool! Could go without the long walk, but it is exercise, right? Rooms were a fine value for the price. We didn't care for the Pepper Market set up too much though.

:wink: Dixie Landing (now POR)- Another steller choice for value. A little far with buses, but nice atmosphere. Love the boat ride to Downtown.

:cry: Comtemporary- I know we are in the minority, but this is the one place the children made perfectly clear they did not want to go back too. We were in the GWNorth, and although the rooms are nice and big, they are old and we found mold and mustyness everywhere! There was always a perfumy smell in the halls, like they were trying to cover up something.
The pool was alright, but did not make any great impression. The food court was a positive, as is the monorail. Maybe the Tower rooms would be better.

Linda

[DonaldDuck]

All Star Music (twice)
All Star Movies
Port Orleans French Quarter
The Wilderness Lodge
The Polynesian

My favorite would have to be The Wilderness Lodge. DH and I stayed here for 2 weeks during December. It was a wonderful vacation. I really can't say that I have a least favorite. I have had great experiences at each hotel.

Next up is The Contemporary. Our goal is to stay at most if not all Disney World Resorts.

[Goofygirl]

Our first stay on-site was with a motorhome at the FW campground in 1992 (two weeks, during which DH took the DVC tour and used the following year to talk me into buying)

Carribean Beach Resort (1993) right before we bought into DVC and again in 1996

OKW Resort every year from 1993 until now, (twice even two times a year)

BWV once

Port Orleans French Quarter once

Dolphin hotel once

Vero Beach Resort three times

DCL twice, 7-night Eastern and 4-night cruise

This summer we´re going to try the new Saratoga Springs Resort and the 7-night Eastern cruise

My very favourite place is OKW, the least favourite of all hotels I´ve stayed in is BWV.
I loved the stay at the Dolphin and the POFQ as well. CB was ok.

[Jasonsmom]

I've only stayed on-site once :shock: but I do hope to remedy that soon *S* We stayed at POR and loved it. The only bad part was a rude bartender. DH and I hope to go to the Polynesian next time - I just love the feel of it when we've walked around.

Paula

[TiggersPal]

LIke many of you, my aspiration is to stay at ALL Disney resorts, but so far here we go:

CBR - our honeymoon and 2 other times so it's special to me:)

All Star Sports - my sons all loved it and so did I until we stayed at

All Star Movies - loved loved loved this one! Great theming made it for me:)

Contemporary - this is my hands down fave, we stay there every time we get a good rate, what's not to like with small kids and the monorail?

POFQ- Love that it's very small, and the New Orleans theming

CS - Stayed here the first and only time 2 years ago with just DH and really love it! Dont' know if I would take the kids there, seemed like more of an adult atmosphere to me

I can honestly say that I have always wanted to stay at the Poly so much that I just couldn't stand it, but now I think that's been displaced by Animal Kingdom Lodge. I just think it's so cool and we had the most fabulous meal there last time in October --- but then again I still want to stay at Wilderness Lodge, too, and if we do get a travel trailer it will be Fort Wilderness for us....

I think TOO MANY CHOICES!
LOL

[Brer]

IN 73 we stayed at the Disney Inn (least I think it was)
95 it was Shades of Green
then WL....love this place
Dixie Landings nice for a moderate (both sides,but I favor the mansions)
PO great place, love the grounds
BWV...the best all round location ,easy access to MGM and Epcot
Contempoary. very nice, great time and best location for MK
BCV great location, not as good as BWV,but quieter
OKW...didn't stay long enough(1 night) and it was rainy...
Vero Beach ...NICE
Favorite...BWV 5th floor !! that is home !
no least favorites

[Ursulinda]

Polynesian - Loved the location, view, monorail access, ferry boats, room size, proximity to Kona coffee, and the gorgeous bathroom.

All Star Movies - loved the food court, dalmations and toy story theming, and the fact that there were not doors to open to get to the drawers. Didn't like the crowded, multistop buses.

All Star Music - loved the Music, Jazz Inn rosegarden courtyard, quiet pool, and the fact that there were not doors to open to get to the drawers. Didn't like the crowded, multistop buses.

Dixie Landings, Mansions - LOVED the ambiance, azaleas, crickets, boats on the Sassagoula, walk over old man island, fried chicken in the food court, and the beauty of the place. Didn't like the multistop, shared buses.

Port Orleans - LOVED the jazz playing at all hours, the beauty of the place, the fountains, the pool the riverboats, and Bonfamilles, my favorite resort restaurant (now closed). Didn't like the food court or shared buses.

Coronado Springs - loved the beauty of the place. Didn't like the food court, the long hot hike to the room from everywhere, the erratic bus service. I do NOT want to stay here again.

Boardwalk Inn - loved the convenience to Epcot, the beautiful garden view from our room, and the room itself. Didn't care for the absence of continual coffee (back in the days when the coffee was drinkable)

Boardwalk Villas - Loved the convenience to Epcot and the very nice rooms. Solved the coffee problem by making my own. My first experience in a villa was as a guest in the Grand Villa. What an awesome experience.

Wilderness Lodge - loved the ambiance, the smell of the place, the boats. Didn't care for the bus service.

Wilderness Villas - you win some you lose some - I've had GREAT villas and not so great villas. But east or west home at the villa is best! My vacations are much less commando since we came home here.

Animal Kingdom Lodge - hands down my favorite - from the sounds of the drums in the lobby- general ambiance, animals, BOMA, dedicated bus service, pool. If they'd put villas here, i'd buy in a heartbeat! Only downside in my mind - rooms, bathrooms and closets are small.