Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 The Poly has been majorly upgraded. I wouldn't go by the '04 experience, which was probably about when things were bottoming out. That said, I don't know why someone would stay there if they can get the Ritz for $199. You can't compare the two. Hell, the service and quality at the DD Hilton is in many ways superior to Disney's deluxe resorts and I just stayed there for $49 a night ... people consider themselves lucky when they get Disney's motels for that.
Originally Posted By dshyates "which was probably about when things were bottoming out." That seems to be my luck everytime I try a a Disney Vacation. I ventured to Disneyland in 2001 after being a WDW fan since '71. And I was also going to experience Disney's newest American park. Well I hated DCA because of its cheap offerings, and DL proper looked like hammered hell. peeling paint was the norm. Wood rot all over the place and big bare patches in the thatched roofs. It was really sad for my first visit to the Crown Jewel. I've heard they pretty much rehabbed the whole park for the 50th. Or as I like to say, right AFTER I was there. Sidebar: We loved, and I mean LOVED the Grand Cali. The linens and towels were lucious. The service was fantastic. So to get the bad taste out of my mouth about how sad DL was, I decided to visit WDW and ponied up the bucks for the Poly. Well, I told you how that went. Even though i have heard they rehabbed it right AFTER I was there. And I thought the parks were pretty stale. I went back in 2006 to hit Everest (stayed at the Ritz), and for the most part the parks were 2 years more stale. They haven't rehabbed them even though I already went. What's up with that? Just for curiosity sake, I just checked how much a night at the Ritz would be for during Christmas week this year. My Birthday is Sat. Dec. 27th, so I used that date. $229.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^Wow! That rate is almost enough to get me up to Orlando again even though I just was there and there's no must sees for me. I wonder what the Poly is going for on the same date? Actually, I don't because a friend of mine stayed at Dixie Landings last year the same time and paid $250 per night so I think it's safe to assume the cheapest Poly room is in the $400-500 per night range.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 If I ever win really big, I'm buying 4 rooms at the Poly! Nikki, do you know the butterfly garden at the Dixie? If so, please tell people so they don't think my daughters and I are nuts. Wish we had pix to post.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I can't really come up with a favorite WDW resort. Here are the one's I've stayed at and why I like them. There are only two that I have not liked. I will list them last. Favorites: Boardwalk - Great Location & Food Choices Wilderness Lodge - Wonderfully Themed Fort Wilderness Cabins - Love the privacy and the relaxed pace of the resort. The golf carts rock. Old Key West - Love the LARGE accommodations and the fantastic staff. Love the relaxed pace of the resort. Saratoga Springs - Love the upscale fixtures and furnishings in the villas. Love the pool, spa and Turf Club restaurant. Like location near DTD. Dixie Landings - My favorite resort before DVC. Deluxe feel at a moderate price. Caribbean Beach - Loved the overall feel of the place. Enjoyed the great gift shops and the live entertainment on the plaza at night. All Star Music - Great value for the cost. I really like the theming of the Jazz building. Didn't like: All Star Sports - Too many too loud kids. Really didn't like: Yacht Club - not very Disney, generic theme. We were upgraded to Concierge at no cost. Did not like the guests on that floor at all. They were all WAY too impressed with themselves. It was like la-di-freaking-da... here I am staying on the Concierge floor at a Disney Deluxe. Aren't I great? I don't know. If I was paying what they were I might have been all la-di-freaking-da too. Since it was a freebie for me, I just thought they were all obnoxious.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey <<Nikki, do you know the butterfly garden at the Dixie? If so, please tell people so they don't think my daughters and I are nuts. Wish we had pix to post.>> Sorry bobbelee, I was completely unaware of a butterfly garden until you made it up...uh, I mean mentioned it . I'll look for it in February though - we're staying at Riverside for the first time in a few years. I can't wait!
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey <<Yacht Club - not very Disney, generic theme. We were upgraded to Concierge at no cost. Did not like the guests on that floor at all. They were all WAY too impressed with themselves. It was like la-di-freaking-da... here I am staying on the Concierge floor at a Disney Deluxe. Aren't I great? I don't know. If I was paying what they were I might have been all la-di-freaking-da too. Since it was a freebie for me, I just thought they were all obnoxious.>> Trippy, a friend of mine had a similar experience at the Grand Floridian last year. It was her family's first time, and they said everyone was incredibly snobby. She told me they won't stay there again. They're at the Poly as we speak.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Nikki, please please check it out for us. My daughter says it's on the parking lot side of Acacia. I know it was there in Sept 2001. We haven't been back to the Dixie since. I have MouseWorldRadio on my pc, and they were just playing the music from the Poly lobby. AH memories.
Originally Posted By dshyates The Butterfly Garden is mentioned on this page over at Allears.net. Scroll near the bottom. Its under a the heading, "What things are there for kids to do?": <a href="http://allears.net/acc/faq_dxl.htm" target="_blank">http://allears.net/acc/faq_dxl.htm</a>
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt <<Nikki, do you know the butterfly garden at the Dixie? If so, please tell people so they don't think my daughters and I are nuts. Wish we had pix to post.>> Sorry bobbelee, I was completely unaware of a butterfly garden until you made it up...uh, I mean mentioned it . I am NOT making this up..I found it on the back of the hotel map they give you at check-in!!
Originally Posted By seafairy1622 my favorite is AKL. We stayed there on our forst visit in 2005. We really got the wow effect! We got it fot $137 a night! We have also stayed at POFQ. Loved it! CB was nice and last June we stayed at Music resort. I was pleasently surprized at Music resort. We got the broadway section as requested. Loved it. Every morning when we stepped out of our room we heard broadway music! Theming was really cute. Food court not too crowded like CB. Room was always clean. Next June we are staing at Movies. Would love to stay at Boardwalk but too exspensive.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Yacht Club - not very Disney, generic theme. We were upgraded to Concierge at no cost. Did not like the guests on that floor at all. They were all WAY too impressed with themselves. It was like la-di-freaking-da... here I am staying on the Concierge floor at a Disney Deluxe. Aren't I great? I don't know. If I was paying what they were I might have been all la-di-freaking-da too. Since it was a freebie for me, I just thought they were all obnoxious. << Opera snobs!
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Nikki, do you know the butterfly garden at the Dixie? If so, please tell people so they don't think my daughters and I are nuts. Wish we had pix to post. << I never thought y'all were nuts. As a matter of fact that's on my must do list on my next trip to WDW.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I am NOT making this up..I found it on the back of the hotel map they give you at check-in!! << Sure you did HH!
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Hey Happy, next trip we go over to Acacia/Acadia and take a flippin' picture of the butterfly garden. Hope my other daughter doesn't mention her experience at the German Pavillion with the ladybug release. They'll lock us all up in the nut house.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey I'll take a picture for you, bobbelee, I swear! Just remind me closer to the trip, otherwise I'll forget.
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt <<Butterflies, and Ladybugs, I'm starting to become overwhelmed!<< Is it bugging you?
Originally Posted By MPierce Actually this lack of knowledge of what is avaiable at WDW makes me feel like I've lived my life in a cocoon!
