Originally Posted By nbodyhome I have to say, I'm not really needing themed/fancy hotels at all. It is fun occasionally (like, the Gaylord Palms, Swan and Dolphin, or Mandalay Bay in Vegas). But more often, if I travel, I like bed and breakfasts and family run hotels (especially in Europe, where the dollar is so weak). I really like the Candy Cane Inn near Disneyland - though staying at a BW for $65 per night this coming trip to save money. I like looking inside the GC, but I can't fathom spending much money on onsite properties. If I ever spent more time in Europe, I could see staying in a hostel - I'm generally no-frills (again, it's fun occasionally - I LOVE the Polynesian). The Gaylord Palms is worth staying at, they even had a $99 special for some of December. I live here, but it was still more than I could really lay out casually (once you add in resort fee, taxes, etc, parking - that is about $150 per night). Disney is definitely upgrading their resorts, though slowly. I am surprised that the GF was the last MK area resort (not including FW) to get better beds and TV's, etc. I am assuming they are finished with that, but I don't even know. There is a lot of painting and rehab going on on property now, and I also think that the landscapers are doing a wonderful job (with flowers and such). I have never stayed at a Peabody, but I do like the Royal Pacific (I've stayed there once).
Originally Posted By beamerdog My least favorite resort to stay in (not visit the lobby areas) in AKL. They denied me access to stay on an upper floor with a savannah view (which we had paid for) with one of my dogs in training and were very un-Disney about it. In the process we lost 5 hours of our vacation being tossed from one person to the next. They kept my SIL and DS, but sent DH and I to the Yacht Club, who treated us like royalty. Anyway, I think the rooms are somewhat dark and small. (I do love the lobby and restaurants, though.) Pop Century was my next least favorite due to hard beds, tiny room and noise. About other guests at any hotel. I have found that every once in a while I have witnessed bad/rude guest behavior in all levels of the WDW resorts. Luckily I've never had that "pleasure" at the YC. However, my friend, whose DH loved the GF said that during one of her stays there she was sure that there was a major mafia contingent taking up a large part of the property, lol. Makes the robe-clad images looking much better...
Originally Posted By Mr X **I've not been in the rooms.** Same as you would expect from the outside. Motel style entries, not much space, gaudy decor.
Originally Posted By Mr X It was reasonably clean for a low end motel, that's about as far as I can go on the positive side. But for $100+ a night? Some people just MUST stay "on property" I guess. For the same price or less, you could stay in a MUCH nicer place nearby that has equally good (if not better) transportation options.
Originally Posted By sun-n-fun Our least favorite and only one we did not enjoy was ASMo We were given a night ar GF for our honeymoon from a friend who worked at there. It was great. I thought as a girl from the country, I'd feel out of place but I didn't. I loved it and hope to one day stay again only longer. The rest of our honeymoon we stayed at DixieLanding We also loce CBR, so relaxing, we'll be there again in 2 weeks!
Originally Posted By nbodyhome I actually prefer the Pop beds to the ones in the Cinderella Castle Suite! I remember going to Shades of Green (with a relative) for 2 nights, and then heading to the Pop for a couple of nights. I liked the bedding at the Pop Century better. They aren't Heavenly Beds, but I don't find them too firm either. I sleep well there!
Originally Posted By TDLFAN You mean.. people actually DO sleep their time away while staying in the Castle Suite?? Besides... it's a free night at Disney, and I for one would not be picky at the bad conditions of the beds in Cindy's castle. After all, those matresses have been there since the medieval times...have they not? It is a medieval castle, right? LOL!!
Originally Posted By nbodyhome >> After all, those matresses have been there since the medieval times...have they not? << It sure felt like it! I did sleep, about 2 hours. I was pretty wound up, of course. But I like to sink into a mattress, and it was really pretty firm. So - that was more time to look around the room! The suite isn't that big, so it's not like you can go off exploring.
Originally Posted By mrkthompsn I don't count the Pop Ghetto resorts as "resorts". With that said - the Swan. Cheeseball.
Originally Posted By jonvn I like the idea of a Pop Ghetto resort. They could put basketball hoops all over the place and play loud rap music and have employees dressed up trying to sell drugs to everyone in the lobbies as you enter. An excellent idea for a theme.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome I love the Swan (and Dolphin). Very classy, beautiful resorts with great beds. IMHO, of course. I'm not even sure what constitutes a "resort", but the Pop is my favorite of the values.
Originally Posted By dshyates "I like the idea of a Pop Ghetto resort. They could put basketball hoops all over the place and play loud rap music and have employees dressed up trying to sell drugs to everyone in the lobbies as you enter." Then you'll love some of the "resorts" on US 192.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome That reminds me, when I worked at DRC back in 2000/2001. A guest called, and he was going to a conference at the Grand Floridian. He had family coming with him, 5 total. The guy wanted to extend his vacation by a few days. I was able to find the GF on special for $200 per night or so. But he was like "I've heard about the Sports resort, I thought my kids would like it". He'd have needed 2 rooms there, so the price wasn't going to be much different than the one room, GF. I talked him out of it, and into the GF. But he wasn't convinced - I hope he didn't change the Sports!
Originally Posted By dshyates "But are they Disney Ghetto? I want an on property Disney Ghetto." Well, no, they are not Disney. But for something as annoying, you should try the All Stars during "Cheerleader Hell". During our one and only stay, there was cheerleading comp at WoS. I was up to my eardrums in 14 year old giggly chatter. The unsanctioned cheer-off in the food court was just too "Bring it On" at the Mall for me. I wanted to jab knitting needles into my ears. I haven't been back.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome ^^ There are some guys online who seem quite happy to be at the All Stars when cheerleaders are around!
Originally Posted By dshyates Go figure. I'm gay (with 2 kids). Something funny. When my oldest was 8 she was a Jr. Broncos cheerleader. I had to take her to practice every Sat. I would sit there and watch the real Broncos Cheerleaders in sweats teach the kids, hating every minute of it. All the while knowing "real" men would pay money just to sit there for 3 hours. Not to mention the startling number of divorced ex-cheerleader Moms who can't seem to resist an attractive yet suspiciously disinterested man. Every time I'd turn around there would be a chunky 30ish lady next to me. The conversation always went something like this: Lady: "Which ones your daughter?" Me: "Gay." Lady: "I knew it." Me: "What gave it away? The book?" Lady: "Yeah, a straight guy would have a video camera so he could prove he was here to his co-workers."
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I think the value resorts ARE real resorts. Before we bought in to DVC we would occasionally stay at the values for trips we hadn't planned much in advance. I thought the All Stars were fine for our purposes. These unplanned trips only lasted about 3 days so we didn't have much time for anything besides the parks. The All Stars gave us a place to sleep, access to Disney Transportation, 'Extra Hours' access to the parks, and the great Disney feeling. Not a bad deal for under $100 per night.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome What exactly is the definition of a "resort"? What makes the All Stars one, while a Best Western isn't. I've had people take offense at my calling the mods "motel style" because they do fit the definition of a motel. That doesn't make them not nice (or not a resort), but the outside walkway and close parking would lend to that definition.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip To me a resort offers activities other than just sleeping or swimming. I feel that the All Stars qualify as resorts because they offer on-site access to 4 of the best theme parks in the world.
