Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey This is the first I've heard of it too, MPierce - don't feel bad!
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey I checked All Ears and Deb Wills does mention that there is a butterfly garden behind Acadian House. So if you're hallucinating, bobbelee, be comforted in the fact that you're not the only one .
Originally Posted By MPierce I never make it to Epcot for the Flower & Garden Festival, so this is my one shot at seeing a Butterfly Garden at WDW.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Be careful!! I went to one of those at our local zoo. Flying bugs all over the place!! It was awful. ;-)
Originally Posted By Disney and beyond Favorite- Wildnerness Lodge and Beach Club are tied, with Grand Floridian coming in a close third Least- can't think of one, actually Where I would Like to say- Contemporary, actually. Where I wouldn't stay- Carribeian Beach
Originally Posted By SteamboatPhillie Favorite: Riverside. The first time I visited I HAD to stay at French Quarter, because I love the Mardi Gras-vision of New Orleans (even though I've never been to the actual city). But the last two times I went to Riverside because either FQ was closed or booked full, and it grew on me. It's a lot more mellow, which is a nice thing for a hotel when the parks themselves are visually and audibly overbearing. And like someone else said, it's reminiscent of the Haunted Mansion and that whole time period, which has a certain attraction to me. Of the four I've stayed at my least favorite is easily the Contemporary. It's just a regular hotel, doesn't feel like Disney at all. Even the All-Star Movies is kind of slapdash with its decorations (or Pop Century, more below), but at least it's more than just a hotel. One of the things I love about staying at Disneyworld or Disneyland is that their hotels carry the feel and experience out of the parks. I like that immersion, and the Contemporary doesn't have it at all. I would like to eventually check out all the hotels, really stay at them instead of just walking around them (like I did last year). When I have more money to spend freely the Polynesian resort is at the top of my list, because I love the culture and decore. When I go next year I'll stay at either the Caribbean or Coronado Springs. They're both closer to my budget and I'm interested in checking out each one. I just haven't decided which yet. (Why is everyone hating on the Caribbean?) Would never stay: Well, I said I didn't care for the Contemporary, and the All-Star Movies didn't have much going for it except the best value (it's not that I'm the best with money, but since I can't drive I have to stay on-property when I visit). But man, the Pop Century? When I walked around last year I was almost repulsed. So gaudy, so over-the-top. Maybe it's that I hate pop-culture reminiscing with a passion (Hey, remember the Macarena? = me choking back vomit), but when you add in that this is Disney we're talking about, there's no excuse for it. Lame, lame, lame. I would rather throw in an extra couple hundred and stay at the moderate priced than be at the PC.
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt <<I never make it to Epcot for the Flower & Garden Festival, so this is my one shot at seeing a Butterfly Garden at WDW>> I've seen the F&GF @ EPCOT 2x, It's unbelievable..moving topiaries!!! SO COOL!!
Originally Posted By Mr X Favorite stayed at: Boardwalk. Least Favorite: (I assume this is "stayed at" too?) Coronado Springs, but see below. Where I'd like to stay is: Polynesian and Fort Wilderness (for obviously different reasons). Actually, I'd love to sample them all, but the way it has worked out I haven't stayed in very many at all. Just the three I'm mentioning (I've spent tons of TIME in lots of the hotels though, and I basically love em). I lived in the area for a while (not much chance to get a room, unless I just REALLY felt like blowing money for no reason at all), and now I have family living in the area so again, there's just no need. Where I wouldn't stay: All-Stars. Except that I did. But not by choice (the company I was working for (cheap as they obviously are) paid me to stay there for a fortnight. Or I should say, fortnightmare. I was actually given a choice. All-Stars and a rental car, OR Polynesian with no car...I chose the car. In hindsight, I probably blew it. I should've taken the 14 days at the Poly and paid for my own damned car.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***a friend of mine stayed at Dixie Landings last year the same time and paid $250 per night*** ***Dixie Landings - My favorite resort before DVC. Deluxe feel at a moderate price.*** Am I the only one who sees the irony in these two posts, made virtually one on top of the other? Am I the only guy in the world who thinks that $250 per night for a gussied up motel is extremely far from "moderate"? I dunno. I mean..things are so darned cheap where I live here in TOKYO perhaps I don't "get" what "moderate" means. But even in Tokyo you can find a motel for less than $250! Heck, there are several HOtels that charge less than that within minutes of Tokyo Disneyland. Sorry to rant, but I guess Disney shoving the term "moderate" down our throats have sort of distorted the meaning of the word a bit? I just can't fathom how $250 is anywhere close to "moderate" for a quasi-impressively themed motel.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Indeed we were at a 4* Hilton near London at the weekend, the room rate was $150 a night (for the UK). Yep, WDW is stupidly priced for such poor service.
Originally Posted By Mr X Agreed. And even if the service WERE impeccable, that'd still be pretty nuts! Wasn't it just 5-7 years ago or so that the "moderate" places were under a hundred bucks a night? $250 for a motel just seems greedy.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well it is almost worth it at the Disneyland Hotel in Paris or the Grand Californian in DL, because the service and facilities are impeccable, but I find the Deluxe Savannah View experience wanting at WDW (that was $400 a night). That said the DLH Paris is a stupid $600 a night.
Originally Posted By Mr X The Mira Costa and Tokyo Disneyland hotels are even more than that, I believe (not sure of the actual rates, but I've heard they charge up to $600-700 for a regular room at peak times). Interesting comments, Dave. I agree with the notion that quality is worth paying for! No doubt (and location, and je ne sais quoi as well). I didn't want to derail DAR's topic here too much (it's a good topic, thanks DAR!)...so I started up a new one if you want to check it out... <a href="http://mb.laughingplace.com/MSGBOARD-T-102278-P-1.ASP" target="_blank">http://mb.laughingplace.com/MS...-P-1.ASP</a>
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo We got a deal as AP holders. If we had paid normal rate, it would have been $900.
Originally Posted By Mr X Good Gravy! $900!???? For a regular room???????? Really???????????????????????????????? (wow, Tokyo has lost that "expensive" edge these days, to say the least!)
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well for a regular room, tickets and breakfast (all DLP hotels include breakfast and tickets in their package unless you are AP holders). For a park view it is $1500 a night, and for the presidential suite in peak season is $3000 a night.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Wasn't it just 5-7 years ago or so that the "moderate" places were under a hundred bucks a night? $250 for a motel just seems greedy.>> That would be the absolute top Holiday rate including Orlando's ridiculous hotel/sales tax. Typically you could book a moderate for about $160 + tax per night, though lately I've seen them discounted below $100 for Annual Passholders. Also... be fair; the moderates may have basic motel construction. But show me a Super 8 or Motel 6 ANYWHERE with pools, landscaping, food courts, lounges (bars), and transportation options like those provided at the Disney Moderates. To compare a Disney Moderate to a standard motel is like comparing Apples to roach bait.
