For this week’s Destination Disney, we are sharing our 3 Favorite Disney Resorts. (I’m hoping some DisneyLAND fans will jump in with their favorites, as I’m hoping for an upcoming trip to Disneyland and would love to read about the favorite resorts out there – and why.) In any case, I’ve only ever been to Walt Disney World. So, here are our favorites . . .
{one} Well, quite honestly, my family has only stayed on Disney property twice now (2011 & 2012) and both times were at Port Orleans Riverside. We loved it so much the first time that we quickly made plans to go back for a longer stay. It definitely feels like home! Now, as a travel agent who gets to help other families plan their magical vacations, I always recommend Port Orleans Riverside to my clients with families of 5. The newly remodeled guest rooms are great. We love walking into the lobby to check in – right away, we feel welcome. We love the gift shop on site and the food court – they have some delicious food there! The main pool is really fun and the kids enjoyed fishing on our last trip. It’s just a beautiful resort to walk around and take pictures of. I’m sure we’ll be visiting again someday. (Be sure to check back on May 30th – I’ll be featuring Port Orleans Riverside on the Magical Blogorail Tour of Disney’s Moderate Resorts.)
{two} It seems like those people who have never actually visited WDW get this picture of the Grand Floridian in their heads as “the resort”. We used to think we’d love to stay there some day if we could afford it. But, we’ve visited there several times for meals at 1900 Park Fare and tea at the Garden View Tea Room. And, while we love browsing the shops (we could hang out in Basin all day) and we love walking the beach, etc., it’s really just too swanky and high class for me. I feel out of place. We’re just used to being more laid back, I guess. So, anyway, all that to say that we would feel much more comfortable staying at Polynesian. We love visiting there too! We love the walk between the two resorts and the fact that it’s on the Magic Kingdom monorail loop. We adore ‘Ohanas and Captain Jack’s has the most amazingly delicious chicken sandwich. The atmosphere just seems more homey and comfortable. I hope that we can one day swing a visit here, even if it’s only for a night or two!
{three} During our resort-hopping venture on our last trip, we discovered a new resort (one we hadn’t even visited before) – Coronado Springs. We fell in love! We stayed for several hours here – most of the time spent by the pool area – where Ashley and I indulged in virgin pina coladas while our little pirates played in the playground area (and sand). We also enjoyed walking along the beach area and hanging out on the hammocks. I’m looking forward to spending some more time at this resort in September when we go for our National Meeting for 3D.
This coming September, we have reservations at a resort that we’ve passed by a few times but never actually stopped to visit – our neighboring Port Orleans Resort – the French Quarter. My kids are excited for the sea serpent pool and I’m anxious to check out this one – the smallest of Disney’s resorts. Anyone stayed here? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
5 comments:
Hi Heidi, My friend stayed at the Port Orleans French Quarter Resort last October and she loved it. We stayed at The Caribbean Beach Resort on our first trip to WDW. It was a beautiful resort and I wished we had spent more time there but we only had 7 days in total and visited a different park each day. On our second trip we stayed at The Beach Club which is my absolute favorite place on earth. I adored everything about it. On our third trip we stayed at Wilderness Lodge and I loved that too. The theming and location was excellent. We have also resort hopped and visted many of the other resorts. We too liked the feel of the Polynesian but felt that The Grand Floridian was a little too 'grand' for us!
Lindsay
x
We stayed at what was Dixie Landings and I think it might now be the area you mentioned. We stayed in the plantation house type, loved it. Next we stayed at Coronado Springs (it was about a year after it opened), really didn't like it. Especially the food area, you had to be seated, they added in tip only it was really just a food court like Dixie. We had originally booked Caribbean Beach which I'd heard only good things about and we so wished we hadn't changed our reservation. Anyway, then we started taking too many kids and went to condo's off property which were a much better deal for us. Disney's accommodations for larger families are too pricey for us. Hope you get to try out a new one next time. We may in the next year or two get to Disneyland, we'd like to do a West trip so I'll be curious to see your comparisions as we've been to Disney World like 6 times.
My hubby and I just got back from a long weekend at Disney. We stayed at the Caribbean Beach this time. I was a little worried because it's not one of the most popular ones but we LOVED it. Since we didn't have any little kids with us, we were very happy to be far away from the pool area but it was great having a small beach right outside our door. Will definitely go back there soon!!
Interesting list Heidi :-) POFQ is my most favorite resort that I have stayed in and we have stayed here many times. You will love it! It is quaint and quiet, but not boring. The decor all over is wonderful and the kids will get a kick out of the alligators. The pool is great and the slide is awesome. I have a personal fondness for the store Jackson Square and the food court, Sassagoula Floatworks is pretty good to, for a food court. I just love this resort. It is so nice, after a long day in the parks, to know you have a short walk to your room :-) And, like Riverside, having the boat to DTD is a fantastic perk! Enjoy your stay there!
Suz
My husband and I had stayed at POFQ several years ago before our son was born. Last month we booked our first family of 3 WDW vacation for Oct 30-Nov 9 and are again, staying at the POFQ because we had such a wonderful time before. One of the main reasons for booking again is the size of the resort! It was wonderful not to have to stand in large cattle lines while waiting for your bus and you never had to worry about the bus being too full from pervious stops, etc. Everything was a short walk and that will be perfect with a toddler in tow. Another feature that we loved was the water taxi to DD (which you already had the opportunity to partake). I think my son will get a kick out of that! I had told my husband, prior to booking, that I wanted to either stay on the monorail, at the new AofA resort or at the POFQ with a list of reasons why for each. POFQ it was and we will be again this fall, just in time for Halloween! Hope you enjoy your stay!
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