Originally Posted By WorldDisney Hey guys, Well, through this weird thing called life, it looks like I will be going back to Walt Disney World in August . I'm going to treat my mother, it's her first time there, just a Cali Disney fan. Anyway, I'm thinking of staying at the Best Western in DTD there for 3 reasons. A. It's a decent price for me and nice size rooms for the price B. I want to be in DTD Disney so when my mother is sleep by 9 pm, I have something to do and C. I hear if you rent out certain rooms, you can actually see Epcot fireworks!!! That's what sold me more than anything else, knowing we can watch it from out balcony . So, has anyone been? How decent is the hotel? Looks nice in the photos (of course, they ALWAYS looks nice ). What about bus transportation to the parks? How reliable and roughly how long do they take to get around? So yeah, if you can answer a few of those questions, would appreciate it. Life is weird though, I had NO plans of being in America, much less going to WDW and now here I am .
Originally Posted By AuroraRose Check tripadvisor.com they always have excellent reviews from everyday travelers.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney Thanks AuroraRose . Took your advice and glad I did. I actually figured out that I can stay more ON property and still be close to DTD with a better hotel at that. I started looking up reviews for Port Orleans which many people recommended, you can take a 10 min. boat ride to DTD, better accomodation and grounds and when it's all said and done, will cost just $100 more for the entire stay. Completely worth it . Wow, I already found my hotel and I still have months before I go .
Originally Posted By AuroraRose glad i could help! Port Orleans is always my first choice when staying in WDW, i'm glad you "discovered" it
Originally Posted By AuroraRose OH! the boat ride to DTD is so relaxing a nice change of pace from the bus system.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I checked out tripadvisor and was rather surprised by the ratings (though I agreed with them). Saratoga Springs, which frequently takes a lot of criticism on various Disney fan sites, has the highest ranking of all Disney resorts at WDW.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney <<glad i could help! Port Orleans is always my first choice when staying in WDW, i'm glad you "discovered" it>> LOL, you could've saved me some time there girl! I had to make lots of clicks on the mouse you know . Yeah, when it said 'boat' to DTD, I was sold! My mother would love something like that. That's already a great first night introduction to the resort for her ). Can you tell me about how often a boat comes and the hours between operation. But, I'm sold already! As soon as I get my specific dates down (and more importantly, a flight schedule to the states) I'm there!!
Originally Posted By AuroraRose i'm pretty sure it leaves at least every half hour--not positive though. another good site to check is allears.net
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I want to comment on this. I stayed at the Best Western last December and had a great stay. There are several things that are really convient about the Best Western. Its an all inclusive hotel, which means everything is in one building. You just walk into the lobby and up the elevator to your room. That being said the rooms are very spacious and extremely comfortable beds. The funrishings in my room were from the 1980s. I know this because one of the pictures was dated 1984. My room had a small frig, coffee machine and a microwave oven. I think the all you can eat breakfast was an additional $8 a day. I liked this hotel and would recommend it to friends. Mind you its not going to be that luxerious but its clean and comfortable. Transportation can be spotty. Fortunately DTD is only a 10 minute walk away. So you have lots of options. You can either take the hotel bus ( which is shared with the other DTD hotels ) or you can walk it to DTD and use Disney Transportation. During my stay I also had a car, so when it came to transportation I had a lot of options. I found the staff to be very friendly and helpful. Yes you absolutely do get to see the fireworks nightly from, the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and DTD if you want to stay up to that hour of the evening. Gosh did I miss anything? OK, now.... that being said. My favorite resort of choice on property is Port Orleans. I prefer Port Orleans Riverside, but you may want to stay at Port Orleans French Quarter as its not nearly as spread out. POR has been food options and there is more to do. Yes the boat to/from DTD is fun. Any resort on property is a lot of fun and well themed. You want to keep in mind that POR is spread out and there are a lot of bulidings. Your going to be doing a lot of walking just to get to your room. That being said. Its better to stay on property for convience sake and so you can make use of the Extra Magic Hours available to on property guests.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I am seriously thinking of staying at the Best Western again while I am at Disney for a week next October. I will have to see.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Disney's moderate resorts have two full size beds or you can opt for he king size. When I visit Disney this October there will be three adults in my party and since the Best Western has two queen size beds that might be a better option.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Saratoga Springs, which frequently takes a lot of criticism on various Disney fan sites, has the highest ranking of all Disney resorts at WDW.>> DVCers vote early and often, Trippy! Oh, and I have stayed at the BW (thru PL.com for $38-42 a night) and it is quite nice and convenient with large rooms.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney <<I want to comment on this. I stayed at the Best Western last December and had a great stay. There are several things that are really convient about the Best Western. Its an all inclusive hotel, which means everything is in one building. You just walk into the lobby and up the elevator to your room. That being said the rooms are very spacious and extremely comfortable beds. The funrishings in my room were from the 1980s. I know this because one of the pictures was dated 1984. My room had a small frig, coffee machine and a microwave oven. I think the all you can eat breakfast was an additional $8 a day. I liked this hotel and would recommend it to friends. Mind you its not going to be that luxerious but its clean and comfortable. Transportation can be spotty. Fortunately DTD is only a 10 minute walk away. So you have lots of options. You can either take the hotel bus ( which is shared with the other DTD hotels ) or you can walk it to DTD and use Disney Transportation. During my stay I also had a car, so when it came to transportation I had a lot of options. I found the staff to be very friendly and helpful. Yes you absolutely do get to see the fireworks nightly from, the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and DTD if you want to stay up to that hour of the evening. Gosh did I miss anything? OK, now.... that being said. My favorite resort of choice on property is Port Orleans. I prefer Port Orleans Riverside, but you may want to stay at Port Orleans French Quarter as its not nearly as spread out. POR has been food options and there is more to do. Yes the boat to/from DTD is fun. Any resort on property is a lot of fun and well themed. You want to keep in mind that POR is spread out and there are a lot of bulidings. Your going to be doing a lot of walking just to get to your room. That being said. Its better to stay on property for convience sake and so you can make use of the Extra Magic Hours available to on property guests.>> Wow, THANK YOU so much for all the info Kennesaw Tom . Now you have me torn again between Best Western and P.O. . Yeah, I alredy decided if we stay in Port Orleans, it WILL be French Quarter. Besides it being smaller, I read many reviews saying that's where the buses come first for pick ups and home, so there is always a seat. Not bad . Yeah, honestly the Best Western sounds great for the price and the fact its so close to DTD, that's what really sells it for me. I'm not a hotel guy. Sure, LOVE being in one lol, but honestly, I don't do the 'amenities', take in the pool, usually avoid eating in the restaurants. 90% of my focus is the parks. Honestly, I'm thinking what would be nice for my mother than for me. You are talking to a guy who will be spending $15 a night for a cot in Peru to see Machu Picchu the week before he hits DisneyWorld, so most hotels are usually fine for me . But it will be my mothers first time, she's naturally a little older than me and a little more picky, but usually the Best Westerns/Holiday Inns are more than fine for us, when you're born poor that stuff is no problem and more than fine. BUT, if I can afford to do more, I certainly would and it would be nice to actually stay in a Disney resort for a change .
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<<<Saratoga Springs, which frequently takes a lot of criticism on various Disney fan sites, has the highest ranking of all Disney resorts at WDW.>> DVCers vote early and often, Trippy!>> Let's give credit where credit is due. Even YOU have said that Saratoga Springs is one of the better (if not the best) of the DVC resorts.
Originally Posted By AuroraRose <<Now you have me torn again between Best Western and P.O. .>> On no, there is no torn you'll stay at Port orleans and like it! JK There's nothing like staying on property, you should try it at least once.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Let's give credit where credit is due. Even YOU have said that Saratoga Springs is one of the better (if not the best) of the DVC resorts.>> And I stand by that ... I enjoyed my stay there. And was surprised (in a good way) by a lot of things. But I have enjoyed other DVC resorts from the Boardwalk to Hilton Head to Vero. My issues with DVC have more to do with overbuilding as well as adding them where they don't belong (like WL, BC, AKL and Contemporary). But you know that. You just have a natural DVC inferiority complex, Tripster!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<There's nothing like staying on property, you should try it at least once.>> Yeah ... but both PO and the BW are ON property resorts. And if someone isn't going to be using the pool/jacuzzi/bar/food court than why not spend less to stay at the BW? I would pick PO over BW any day ... but I appreciate and use all of the facilities and enjoy the resort experience. Some folks are just going to look for a place to sleep.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub It has been a long time since I stayed in DD hotel but I seem to recall the bus dropoff was always at the transportation center in a different area(further away) from Disney bus system. Then you would take the Disney buses to AK or Epcot or MGM.I only mention this because it would be an added burden for your mother's enjoyment and yours. I hope you stay on property.It would be safer.
Originally Posted By AuroraRose <<Yeah ... but both PO and the BW are ON property resorts.>> AHHH! didn't realize it was a good neighbor hotel, i don't keep up with those. Thanks
