What Is Your Favorite Deluxe Disney Resort?

Question

I need to know what your favorite Deluxe Disney resort is, Wilderness Lode, Polynesia, Grand Flor....etc. I'm staying at the Villas at Wilderness Lodge, but I want to know what your favorite is and why. Also if you've ever stayed at a Disney Timeshare (Boardwalk, Beach Club, Saratoga, Old Key West, etc...) tell me about it and why you liked it so much, or why you didn't. Thks in advance! :)

I need to know what your favorite Deluxe Disney resort is, Wilderness Lode, Polynesia, Grand Flor....etc. I'm staying at the Villas at Wilderness Lodge, but I want to know what your favorite is and why. Also if you've ever stayed at a Disney Timeshare (Boardwalk, Beach Club, Saratoga, Old Key West, etc...) tell me about it and why you liked it so much, or why you didn't. Thks in advance! :) And I might add.....MONEY IS NOT AN OBJECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

My favorite Deluxe Disney Resorts are the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge and the Old Key West Resort. I am a Disney Vacation Club member, and I have stayed at these resorts. I like the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge a lot because I had stayed at the Wilderness Lodge before, and I loved the atmosphere- the old-style feel of a Yellowstone-type lodge, complete with surrounding trees and a lake, a great swimming pool area, nice restaurants, a convenient place for quick snacks, and nice music amid an American Indian motif in the lobby. Super cool. The difference between the 'Inn' at the Wilderness Lodge and the Villas is that I found the rooms at the Inn to be rather small. The room was in a great location (pool view), but for the money I wondered about the value at the time. The accomodations at the Villas, on the other hand, were spectacular. The inside of the one bedroom Villa made my Mom not even want to leave the room, it was so nice and nicely-decorated. In the general store you can get free DVD rentals when staying at this resort! With the Villas, you get the beauty of the Inn, but with the much better (and larger) accomodations that the Villas offer. I have also stayed at a studio at this resort, and while the one bedroom blows it away, it is still nicer than the Inn.

My other favorite resort, the Old Key West Resort, is perfect if you want larger accomodations in a Vacation Club resort, for a cheaper price. This resort is also much quieter than the others, so if you like a place to just relax, but still be within quick striking distance of all of the Disney attractions, this is your resort. You can park your car and keep it parked there for the length of your stay- bus stops are conveniently located throughtout all areas of the resort, and run every 20 minutes to every theme park and Downtown Disney.

I have stayed at the Boardwalk, and it was nice because of the Boardwalk area outside. If you stay there, you can always run outside til midnight to get a slice of pizza (the best thing). You can also easily walk around the way to the back entrance of EPCOT- puts you in the World Showcase. If you are a big sports fan, the ESPN Club is right there on the Boardwalk, which is really good during playoffs of whatever sports that you are into. Late at night, Jellyrolls is a great place to go listen to the dueling pianos and sing along while having some beers. Atlantic Dance is a great place to take your special someone for a late-night twirl. The great thing about Boardwalk is that you don't have to be a resort guest to enjoy all of these things that I just mentioned. I always drive up to Boardwalk and enjoy it for a few hours.

I haven't stayed at Beach Club or Saratoga Springs yet, although I have toured the Saratoga Springs, and it is nice.

Answer 2

The weekend I proposed to my fiance, we stayed at both the Boardwalk resort and the Grand Floridian (mostly because we wanted to extend our stay, but couldn't add another night at GF). In the past, we've also stayed at Port Orleans-Riverside and our parents have stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

The Grand Floridian is very elegant. By far, the most expensive resort on property. The design is supposed to resemble early 1900's Florida. I think that the antique nature of the furniture and design makes it feel a little less comfortable than other resorts, but in general it was a nice experience, we had a view of the Seven Seas lagoon, and we could watch the fireworks from MK and light show on the lake. Plus they have a spa, several great restaurants and it's connected to MK by the monorail.

Boardwalk is more of a fun, relaxing resort. Our view looked out onto the Boardwalk, the lake and the Yacht & Beach clubs across the water. At night, the Boardwalk really comes to life, with the lights, sounds, people and street performers. It was neat to watch it all from our balcony. The room itself was very plush and comfortable. Definitely one of my favorite resorts.

AK Lodge is really nice. They have Jiko and Boma, which are great restaurants. The decor is amazing, because they've made the entire lobby resemble what a resort may look like when you go on an African safari. It's not over-the-top, but just right, as far as setting the mood and developing the theme of the resort. Another perk is some rooms look out to a savanna, where animals room. Very cool indeed.

My favorite resort by far is Port Orleans - Riverside. It's a very relaxing, calm, beautiful resort. My fiance and I are spending our honeymoon there for that reason. It's a little less hustle and bustle than some other resorts. It's a large resort to walk around, which is nice for long walks. The shuttle boat on the river takes guests to Downtown Disney, which is convenient. The ambiance created by the southern decor is very relaxing.

But I think that you'll enjoy the Villas at Wilderness Lodge. My fiance used to work there, and from what I've heard, the villas are the way to go. They're a bit separated from the main building, which may not be as convenient, but it should be quieter and the rooms are much nicer. Plus you can still enjoy the benefits of the pool, boats and recreation at the Lodge.

Hope you have a good time.

Answer 3

I stayed at Disneys All Star Resort, which was pretty nice but not anything spectacular. Kids get a kick out of it because of the supersized characters outside the hotels. Considering we only came back to the hotel for a quick swim and sleep, I didnt need anything more luxurous.

If I had my pick (if money was no object), I would have chosen the Polynesian resort. People in our group who went to the luau there were really impressed. The travel channel has visited the Grand floridian, the Polynesian, and the Wilderness Lodge, all of which looked fantastic.

Have fun.

Answer 4

Well, I have to tell you. After going twice to Walt Disney World (Wilderness Lodge the first time), I have to recommend staying off site. Why? Because the costs are obscene.

Let me put it to you this way. The four of us stayed at the Nickelodeon Hotel for about half of what we would have payed to stay at Disney. It's only a mile from the park. Plus you can get out and actually eat some real food that isn't outrageously priced.

Answer 5

I stayed at the uber cheesy Contemporary Resort when I was in Orlando and I gotta say it sucked.
It was clean and it was basic, but a resort? C'mon man... they over used the word when it came to that giant Motel 6.
Toured most of the other resorts while I was there and I think it has to do with thekind of money you have.
If you have moneyto burnlike mad then the Grand is really nice digs. Keep in mind you're paying out of the nose for all the luxury so it's kinda expected it be a really nice place to stay.
If you're like the rest of us (have cash but you don't wipe your butt with those annoying twenties that find their way into your rolls of hundreds) then I the best in my opinion would be the Wilderness Lodge.
The Wilderness lodge looks so cool! I love the mountains and have some really cherished memories about going on retreats with friends in environments like that soit really appeals to my own personal nostalgia.
I love how they landscaped their main pool, the stream that runs through the main lobby is really unexpected, and the huge totems inside the main lobby are just totally awesome. It really felt like you were out camping at some huge mountain retreat. The things that really got me laughing was the spanish moss hanging off of the pines (they can't completely mask where you are) and the recording of crickets they pipe all over the grounds when night falls.
Details like that really delighted me (easily amused I guess).
Another thing I loved about the Wilderness Lodge- the fact people normally reach it by boat.
It really makes it feel like you're going out into the country to get to a place like that.
The Polynisian was one I didn't tour because it looked kinda dinky (small) but the idea of a big hawaiian buffet every night with entertainment is a huge draw to me- even though I don't really eat much I love food, and I vacation more through my taste buds then anything else.
I say if you're there right now for godsake get the heck away from the computer and GO EXPLORE!
Form your own opinion about all the resorts. They're completely open to anyone who goes- pretty much the onlyplace you can go is into the rooms themselves, and even that can be arranged byasking themain desk to show you one of the rooms if you're curious abouthow it's decorated.
One thing I remember distinctly about Florida was how friendly and kind everyone was.
Coming back home to Southern California was a rude awakening.
Hey, one more thing. If you don't come from the East Coast and have a distinct love for liquid cheese I think it might be prudent to mention there's a chain of restaurants in Florida called Steak'n'Shake. This place has the tastiest fast food I've ever laid my grubby fingers on, and they smother everything in that liquid pasterized gold.
Ahhh Heaven!
Rent a car and get out into the surrounding neighborhoods after googling the nearest location and mapquest a trip there and a trip back. And oh yeah remember if you pull over on the freeway wherever there's water there's probablly Aligators. They won't bother you if you don't bother them (or wander into their territory)but don't be an idiot and go tromping off into the ditches.
They don't take to cuddling too well.
Have a good time and don't forget to pick up plenty of cheesy touristy crap you'll never look at again!

Answer 6

Contemporary Resort....Location is excellent. Had a fantastic stay there. They have just completed a major room renovation there.
The Grand Floridian is magnificent.
I have never stayed in any of the DVC resorts. Thought about giving them a try
I have stayed many times at Port Orleans --French Quarter..had good experiences every time except 1.

Answer 7

Polynesian- Great atmoshere. You can catch the monorail to Epcot or MK. Or take a boat to MK. You can also walk to the Central Transportation hub. I like Port Orleans French Quarters just as much though for much less money.

Answer 8

Wilderness Lodge. It is just beautiful there. Like the whole lodge feel

Answer 9

The Beach Club - It has a great pool, you can walk into the World Showcase at Epcot, and you can take a boat launch to MGM.

Answer 10

I say the Disneyland Hotel is awesome...you can park hop (2-day park hoppers) to Disneyland and California Adventure...then go shopping in downtown disney...where they have almost everything!
or if you like Baseball/Hockey...you can go to the Angels/Ducks game..which is literally about 5 minutes away..
and you can go back to your hotel...and start the next day goin' back to disneyland/CA adventure and see things you missed the previous day