Originally Posted By WeirdJohn Hi all! I was curious to see what is people's favorite Deluxe Hotel at Disney! Doesn't matter if you've stayed or not, all experiences count. I'm staying at the Poly for my Honeymoon in Dec, and I hear that will be great. But I wanted to hear about other special experiences in the upscale Disney hotels as this will be my first (possibly last considering the expense) stay at a Deluxe. Fire away if you wish to participate!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Naming a single favorite is difficult. My favorite Deluxe based on location and dining options is the Boardwalk. My favorite based strictly on themeing would be the Wilderness Lodge. Favorites that I've never stayed in would be the Poly and the Contemporary Tower. I would love to try either one, but have never been willing to spend the money to do so.
Originally Posted By jmuboy Animal Kingdom, Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge (in that order) for me. Boardwalk would be 4th. Great Hotel with a Great location.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I'd say Yacht and Beach Club. Bigger rooms than the newer deluxes, great location with Epcot next door and Boardwalk across the lake, and the best pool area on property.
Originally Posted By WeirdJohn I agree with Boardwalk. I have stayed there a few times as my parents are DVC members. I especially enjoy the lounge. I have heard about as many good things about the WL as Poly as well.
Originally Posted By Mr X Boardwalk seems like a theme here, so I'll go ahead and agree. Although, that's the only "higher end" Disney hotel I've ever stayed in, so my opinion is limited. Granted, there was NOTHING special about the room. It was just a regular hotel room, no better or worse than any generic hotel room I've ever stayed in. But the place itself, with the awsome lobby, great little lounge just off the lobby, the boardwalk itself, and the proximity to Epcot and MGM, make it truly awsome. I suppose then the same would apply to Swan, Dolphin, and Yacht and Beach. As for where I haven't stayed, yes Poly and Wilderness seem really cool...Poly would probably win based on proximity. I love the Grand Floridian lobby...I think it would be cool to stay there sometime. Also, Contemporary if you could get a room on the fireworks side (I had family stay there once though, and the rooms were WAY old and dated...don't know if they've refurbed since then).
Originally Posted By jmuboy MR X - ALL Contemporary rooms were updated in the last 12 months or so. They are really great rooms now befitting the hotel's name. Common areas are being updated now. The whole property is going for a NYC "boutique hotel" modern look (with the dark woods, etc). I like the new look.
Originally Posted By Mr X Oh, cool. Then I would love to stay there someday, on the fireworks side in the tower! It's been a while, and I've always loved the whole vibe of the contemporary with the monorail and all (the rooms were a little shocking...so 70's).
Originally Posted By trekkeruss That's why I would choose Y&B over Boardwalk. You can still enjoy the Boardwalk facilities, and you get Stormalong Bay.
Originally Posted By MPierce I am a big fan of the Wilderness Lodge, but an argument could be made in favor of any Disney Deluxe Resort.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 The WL is my fave ... but close behind are AKL (taken down a peg now that it's being DVC'd!) and the Contemporary (my childhood/young adult fave with the best new rooms on property!)
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hmmm, I like many of the Deluxe resorts. Wilderness Lodge has to be top. Beautiful hotel and grounds, inspiring Lobby, great restaurants, the best shop in WDW IMHO, great pool and the boat ride to the MK is wonderful. Next is Animal Kingdom Lodge. Waking up and seeing a Giraffe out your window (without needing shots) is an amazing experience. The pool is excellent and the restaurants are sublime. The wonderful smell and decor of the lobby really do take you to a different place. Down side of AKL is the transport and huge corridors. Those two resorts are the best for me as they take you to another place entirely. I really like the Poly too, but it does feel very late 60's, early 70's to me. But the Luau, firey torches, view, Dole Whip on tap and the Monorail makes for a nice choice. Next on my list - Contemporary Tower - Man this building is so cool with the monorail going through it. It's not higher up as the rooms are like a number of business hotels I stay in here in Europe (I want something different on vacation), but for people who do not attend a lot of conferences etc., this is a great choice. And with the California Grill, it has the best restaurant on property. Special mention for Boardwalk for location and activities, but really the theme does little for me in comparison to the others. As for YC & BC, as well as the GRand Floridian - rather go somewhere like the Del Coronado in San Diego if springing for that theme and money.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Humm how about the Castle? My "dream" stay would be the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. I'm with RoadTrip on this one. Resort stay is completely related to personal experience and individual taste. I love EPCOT so any resort in that area is going to be my first pick. Mind you I have never stayed at any deluxe resorts in that area. I always vacation with either friends or relatives while at WDW, so I tend to book Moderate resort rooms in areas that are convient. One of my friends that I typically vacation with always drives his RV down and he stayed at Ft Wilderness. So on those vacations its best for me and my party to stay at the Wilderness Lodge since its close to Ft Wilderness and shares the same buses and boats. On ocasions when there are large numbers of us and the price of rooms is a factor then we always opt for a Moderate and prefer Port Orleans Riverside. My last stay at WDW was back in January. My party stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge primarily because there were no rooms available at the Wilderness Lodge, we wanted to try a different resort, and since the vacation was taking place in January/ February we wanted to be in a single inclusive hotel building and not running from building to building like stays at a moderate. Turns out this was a wise move as Orlando had the coldest weather in 4 years. I don't think you going to be disappointed with any of the Deluxes. Be aware that additional deluxe accomidations can be had off property or at Wyndham Bonnett Creek Resort ( also on property ).
Originally Posted By WeirdJohn Great thoughts so far everyone. I'm excited about the Poly as I've always wanted to stay in one of the MK resorts. Spirit, I may regret asking this as I am becoming aware of your long passionate posts on various subjects, but why is the DVC going in going to temper your like of the AKL? My parents' home DVC resort is the Boardwalk and we have always been very pleased with our stay there. Hey Kennesaw, I keep hearing good things about both PO resorts. I think we may stay there on our next Disney trip. I keep hearing it has a Deluxe feel without the price tag. That will be really important when we start having kids.
Originally Posted By WeirdJohn Btw, the PO love that is out there is one reason I asked about Deluxe resorts only. I wanted to get opinions on those in particular and not just get everybody saying POR. Lots of love for that resort I've noticed.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Spirit, I may regret asking this as I am becoming aware of your long passionate posts on various subjects, but why is the DVC going in going to temper your like of the AKL?>> I don't want to put words in the Spirit's mouth or anything, but I have heard his reasoning often enough that I think I have it down. The Spirit believes that DVC Resorts should be planned that way from the beginning (like Old Key West, Boardwalk Villas, and Saratoga Springs). He believes that when DVC resorts are built as an add-on to an original Deluxe Resort (Wilderness Lodge, Beach Club, and Animal Kingdom Lodge) that it puts pressure on dining and recreational facilities not intended to handle that many people. He also feels that watching Joe Average and his family walk through the lobby of a Deluxe Hotel with their bags of groceries from Wal-Mart cheapens the experience for the higher demographic folks who generally patronize the Deluxe resorts. Personally, I feel the Spirit is just trying to win the vbdad Pooh Playground Award for not being able to let something go. But the Spirit is a good guy so I like him anyway.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip ^^^ P.S. I realize that it is hard to understand how someone staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge on an annual passholder discount rate of $149 per night is a "higher demographic" than a person able to spend a minimum of $16,000 on DVC membership. I'll let the Spirit explain that one. Personally, I've never been able to figure it out. ;-)
Originally Posted By disneydad109 At one time I would have said the Grand Floridian or Poly hands down. They both have started to slip a lot over the past few years. Now it would be WL or AKL.
Originally Posted By wam0418 Here is my favorite.....Wilderness Lodge...although I have never stayed there yet...I have been inside and around the area and think is greatly themed. I just recently stayed at the Poly and it was great as well. I was only a kid when I stayed at the Contempo and I loved the monorail going through it. But cant remember the rooms that well.And now that I have just become a DVC Member this past month ...my home resort will be AKL. So in Oct. I will get to see what it is like. I like what I hear and see. My vacs. will give me the chance to try each one.
Originally Posted By WeirdJohn Hi RoadTrip. I see. Personally I can't wait to see what Spirit has to say in reply.
