Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I think that RoadTrip "hit the nail on the head" when it comes to what the Spirit will say. I'm with the Spirit here.. although I love those resorts. They should have remained stand alone resorts. I also think the Disney slide a little with Saratoga Springs... the place just looks like an apartment complex with outside entry onto every unit. Its sub par compared to other DVC resorts.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom AKL can not handle the parking load right now for the current number of guests staying there. On my recent stay I found AKL the most difficult resort to drive up to and park. It was like trying to get through "Check point charlie" and I was STAYING at the AKL. We had to show photo ID as well as our room key to park. And the parking was very, very limited. It made those late hour trips to Ghirrideli difficult so much so that we ended up just using the resort bus because there was no guarantee we would find a parking space when we got back to the resort.
Originally Posted By WeirdJohn I actually didn't think the DVC for AKL was up and running yet. Am i mistaken? Or are you saying the parking is not adequate even for the lodge itself? I would guess this has something to do with the popularity of Boma and Jiku. Sounds like they need guest only parking plus visitor parking.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 For my laid backness, it's the Poly, for its grounds, luau, walking the grounds at 7AM, lying in bed watching the castle change color at night, totally relaxed atmosphere. Next year we're staying at the WL, we've only eaten there a couple times, and it is gorgeous also.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys IMO, it's the Yacht Club, hands down. Three years ago, I surprised my wife by telling her we were staying at the YC, while having booked the Grand Floridian as a special treat. After two nights at the GF, we checked out and switched to the YC. We were very disappointed w/ the GF. We also love the Boardwalk, which is our DVC home resort. Spring and Summer trips are Boardwalk. Fall trip is YC.
Originally Posted By WeirdJohn I'm seeing a trend. For the MK resorts Poly or WL, for EPCOT resorts YC or BW. It seems in both cases there is one that isn't selected. i.e. BC for EPCOT, GF for MK. I have to agree on the GF. For that type of money it should be the best hotel hands down. It's almost a written law. But it seems the Poly, WL, and the AKL seem to beat it out. Granted the Poly is the second most expensive hotel next to the GF, so maybe that is a bad example.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 The sad thing about the Poly, when we stayed there in 1981, it was $60 a night.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^ and gas was $1.50 a gallon -- ( and that was a high price period) - so things equal out A new 1981 Corvette base price was $16,000 ( had one -black on black) - today it is $45,000 ( $65,000 for the Z06 model) This whole thread making me nostalgic -- except for not wanting my 1981 salary back either
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 My '65 Mustang brand new was $1,995. It cost $5 to fill the tank. And I don't even want my 2000 salary back.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 yep I remember the days of 29 cent regular and 33 cent premium I used to put in my 69 Camaro......
Originally Posted By WeirdJohn Heck, I remember paying 89 cents a gallon for premium just in 1998. So it wasn't that long ago for cheap gas. Yes, that is a 300% plus increase in price in less than 10 years. Insane. Actually, with what I will save in gas costs when I am not driving while in WDW for a week, the Poly trip will practically pay for itself.
Originally Posted By Labuda My favorite deluxes so far are AKL and WL. Have only been in lobby areas of WL, but it's just got a really nice feel to it. Staying at the BW thiss summer, and so far I am LOVING the location. :d
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Being a 12 year DVC member I missed staying at WL -- and Y&BC I would rank the others thussly ( from when I used to stay at them) 1. Poly -- just like the atmosphere and being able to look across the lagoon at MK 2. GF -- yes I did enjoy it most of the time- and used to frequent Narcoosee's 3. Contemporary -- even though it houses my favorite restaurant on the planet - I always got a 'cold' feeling staying there, the interior and rooms just never did it for me -
Originally Posted By MPierce >> A new 1981 Corvette base price was $16,000 ( had one -black on black) - today it is $45,000 ( $65,000 for the Z06 model) << Hard to beat a GMC product! Just kidding, I know you are a BMW man now. A very fine automobile. >> Being a 12 year DVC member I missed staying at WL -- and Y&BC << Have you tried staying at the WL DVC. A friend of mine was staying there our last trip in a 2 bedroom unit, and I was very impressed. He even had a tiny view of Bay Lake.
Originally Posted By WeirdJohn MPierce...That is a good suggestion, however, I hear that staying in a DVC resort that is not your own is very hard as you can only book 7 months out unlike the 12 months you can book for your home resort. From what I understand, it is almost impossible to book in a WDW resort that is not your home resort.
Originally Posted By WeirdJohn BTW, I love how topics take a life of their own above and beyond the original subject. It keeps things interesting.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Lets put it this way the resort with the highest occupancy rate is the AKL.
Originally Posted By irishfan >>Lets put it this way the resort with the highest occupancy rate is the AKL.<< Really? That surprises me, it does seem to be the most discounted of the deluxe resorts though.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <>> Being a 12 year DVC member I missed staying at WL -- and Y&BC << Have you tried staying at the WL DVC. A friend of mine was staying there our last trip in a 2 bedroom unit, and I was very impressed. He even had a tiny view of Bay Lake. < I haven't , am spoiled by the size of the OKW units
