{"id":79193,"date":"2012-09-19T00:01:16","date_gmt":"2012-09-19T04:01:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_ms_news\/?p=4259"},"modified":"2022-05-05T13:49:48","modified_gmt":"2022-05-05T17:49:48","slug":"which-disney-resort-should-i-pick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/which-disney-resort-should-i-pick\/","title":{"rendered":"Which Disney Resort Should I Pick?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Ann Dunnington<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Good day, Walt Disney World planners!\u00a0 I am currently sitting on a plane, flying from Calgary, AB, Canada to Minneapolis.\u00a0 A short layover (aka, a quick run through the very long Minneapolis Airport), and we\u2019ll be on our way back home to Ohio.\u00a0 I had originally planned on doing a Calgary\/Canadian Rockies trip report, because the whole reason we went to Canada was because \u201cMarty sent us\u201d (yep, we took a left out of the theater, past that big silver ball and headed due North<\/em>).\u00a0 It was a fantastic trip, but of course, while we were there we couldn\u2019t pass up the opportunity to get over the \u2018end of vacation blues\u2019 by planning our next trip to Walt Disney World. \u00a0Side note: one of the Delta flight attendants has a Mickey Mouse lanyard on\u2026 it\u2019s a small world after all<\/em>.\u00a0 (You knew that was coming).<\/p>\n

My husband and I started thinking about where we wanted to stay for our next Walt Disney World vacation.\u00a0 To date, we have stayed at the Walt Disney World Swan twice, All Star Movies, All Star Music, Pop Century, Saratoga Springs, and offsite at the Westgate.\u00a0 We loved each resort in its own way, but we\u2019re looking forward to a little something different for this next trip.\u00a0 I\u2019ll tell you where we have decided to stay at the very end.\u00a0 The suspense is killing you, I know.<\/p>\n

So, how do you decide where to stay?\u00a0 There are so<\/em><\/strong> many variables in choosing a hotel.\u00a0 It isn\u2019t just as easy as pointing to a map with your eyes closed.\u00a0 Here are some things to think about:<\/p>\n

Onsite vs. Offsite<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/strong>Ah, the big debate.\u00a0 For us, it\u2019s a no brainer.\u00a0 We stayed offsite in 2010\u2026 and lasted one night. You see, the Westgate where we stayed is a nice resort- we had a 1-bedroom condo with a full kitchen, balcony overlooking a lake, fairly close to Animal Kingdom, you name it.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the internet wasn\u2019t working, someone broke into our room while we were in it, and the neighbors next door screamed all night.\u00a0 Needless to say, we were really missing the Disney magic!\u00a0 In fact, I called the front desk of All Star Movies at 1:00am to see if we could find a room for the night, and I was so impressed with how sympathetic the Cast Member was and how willing she was to accommodate us (even at a discounted rate).\u00a0 This is not to say that staying offsite is bad, because you really can find some nice deals and excellent hotels very close to Walt Disney World.\u00a0 Here are some things to consider to help you choose between onsite and offsite:<\/p>\n

Onsite<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Offsite<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Free parking\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 $14 per day WDW parking (unless you have an Annual Pass)<\/p>\n

Less space for the money\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 More space for the money<\/p>\n

Short commute time\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Longer commute time<\/p>\n

No need to rent a car\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Car rental a necessity (shuttles are not always reliable)<\/p>\n

Immersed in Disney magic\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I-Drive isn\u2019t very magical (just kidding\u2026 sort of)<\/p>\n

Wonderful customer service\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Customer service depends on where you stay<\/p>\n

Extra Magic Hours Benefit<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For us, staying onsite is well worth it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Value, Moderate, Deluxe, Deluxe Villa\u2026.Oh my!!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/strong>Ok so let\u2019s say that I have convinced you to stay onsite during your next Walt Disney World vacation.\u00a0 There are so<\/em><\/strong> many resorts and resort types to choose from, how do you pick?\u00a0 Here are some things to think about:<\/p>\n

How many people are you traveling with?<\/p>\n

Are you traveling with children?<\/p>\n

What is your budget?<\/p>\n

Do you like to spread out and enjoy the room, or do you just need a room to sleep in for the night?<\/p>\n

Are you renting a car or relying on WDW transportation?<\/p>\n

What is your favorite theme park?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Value Resorts<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>\"\"<\/a>The Value resort rooms (minus the family suites) are similar to a typical budget priced hotel in any city, with some Disney magic thrown in.\u00a0 The Value resorts are:\u00a0 The All Stars (Music, Movies, and Sports), Pop Century, and Art of Animation (Little Mermaid Section).\u00a0 Generally they come with 1 King bed or 2 Queen beds, bathroom with a sink outside, small table and a couple of chairs, mini-fridge, phone, TV, safe, hair dryer, iron, ironing board, basic toiletries, and have outside corridors.\u00a0 They\u2019re themed with larger than life characters and are great for families and budget-minded travelers.\u00a0 They also have a food court, gift shop, arcade, pools with evening movies, plenty of parking, coin laundry and in-room pizza delivery.\u00a0 Depending on the time of year, and if you have a discount like AAA, a Pin Code, or AP discount, you could spend anywhere from $70 up to $180 per night, plus tax. \u00a0These rooms are the smallest of the on-site properties at 260 square feet, but a fine size for 2 adults and 2 kids.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Value Resorts Family Suites<\/strong><\/p>\n

Art of Animation and All Star Music have family suites that can fit larger families.\u00a0 They have all of the amenities I listed above with an addition of an extra living room space, kitchenette, and extra bathroom.\u00a0 These are good choices if you have a larger family, a few kids, want extra space, or want to have the ability to make light meals in the room.\u00a0 They are almost double the size of the regular Value rooms, at between 520 \u2013 568 square feet, depending on the resort.\u00a0 You will pay for this extra space, though.\u00a0 They are a bit more expensive than the regular Value resort rooms, ranging from $159 to $425 per night, plus tax, depending on time of year and if you have a discount.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Moderate Resorts<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Moderate resorts are a step up from the Values.\u00a0 These resorts are Coronado Springs, Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter, and the Cabins at Fort Wilderness (but I consider the cabins a step up- more on that in a bit).\u00a0 The rooms at Coronado Springs, Caribbean Beach, and Port Orleans are about 315 square feet and offer 1 King or 2 Queen beds, a couch, a table and chairs, TV, phone, mini-fridge, safe, hairdryer, iron, ironing board, and exterior corridors.\u00a0 Like the Value resorts, they have a food court, gift shop, arcade, pools with evening movies, plenty of parking, and coin laundry, but they also have room service (limited), a table service restaurant, bike or boat rentals, and nicer toiletries.\u00a0 Though these are still very much Disney resorts, the characters are much more subtle and the feel of the grounds is much more upscale.\u00a0 These rooms are moderately priced, and depending on the time of year and if you have a discount, you can expect to pay anywhere from $145 to $300.<\/p>\n

So what about the Fort Wilderness Cabins?\u00a0 These are considered Moderate, but to me they\u2019re on the cusp of a Moderate and a Deluxe\u2026 a Mod-luxe?\u00a0 These free-standing units have a separate sleeping and living area, with a family room, fully equipped kitchen, and full bathroom.\u00a0 Because of the amenities, these cabins can run anywhere from $285 to $400 per night.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Deluxe Resorts<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>The Deluxe resorts are the top of the line hotels that Disney has to offer.\u00a0 These are the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary, Bay Lake Tower, Wilderness Lodge, Yacht Club, Beach Club, Boardwalk, and Animal Kingdom Lodge.\u00a0 These Deluxe rooms offer more space than the Moderate resorts at between 345 and 380 square feet, and as you would expect, all of the amenities that the Value and Moderate resorts offer with a few more \u2018extras\u2019.\u00a0 The grounds of each of the resorts are meticulously maintained with a lot of recreational activities and upscale restaurants to enjoy.\u00a0 Except for the Animal Kingdom Lodge, all of the Deluxe resorts access a nearby theme park via Monorail, boat, or short walk.\u00a0 Animal Kingdom Lodge is very close to the Animal Kingdom, but the only transportation available is a bus.\u00a0 So what will you spend if you stay at a Deluxe?\u00a0 As I said before, it depends on the time of year and if you have a discount code, but the average is somewhere between $285 and $550 per night.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Deluxe Villa Resorts<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Deluxe Villa resorts are Disney Vacation Club properties.\u00a0 These are located at the Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Bay Lake Tower, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Old Key West, and Saratoga Springs.\u00a0 The size of villas range from a studio with a kitchenette that sleeps up to 4, to a Grand Villa with a full kitchen that sleeps up to 12.\u00a0\u00a0 The location of these properties is difficult to beat- they are each very close to a theme park or Downtown Disney.\u00a0 If reserved through Disney, these resorts can be very costly (between $350 and $2500 per night) but you can experience them at a fraction of the cost by renting DVC points.\u00a0 There are a few companies that rent out DVC points, or you can also rent these from DVC owners on your own.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Other Options<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you have a camper (or if you own or want to rent a tent), you can stay at Fort Wilderness.\u00a0 They have full or partial hookups, bath houses, and lots of recreational activities.\u00a0 These campsites are a hoot to see at Christmas time because the yearly campers always go all out with their holiday decorations.<\/p>\n

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels are Westin and Sheraton owned, respectively.\u00a0 Guests that stay at these hotels receive Extra Magic Hour benefits, but do not enjoy free parking, and Disney gift cards are not accepted here.\u00a0 \u00a0We have always enjoyed staying at these hotels, as the service is very comparable to Disney owned resorts, it\u2019s on the Friendship Boat loop to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, and there are some wonderful restaurants like Il Mulino and the Fountain to enjoy.<\/p>\n

The Downtown Disney area has some \u201consite but not onsite\u201d hotels that are not Disney owned, but are considered \u201cgood neighbor\u201d hotels.\u00a0 These hotels include Best Western, Buena Vista Palace, Double Tree Suites, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Royal Plaza, and Wyndham, so they could be good choices if you are a frequent traveler and have rewards memberships to use.<\/p>\n

So which resort are we going to choose for our next Walt Disney World vacation?\u00a0 See if you can guess with the following clues:<\/p>\n

We travel just the two of us, with no kids<\/p>\n

We are budget conscious<\/p>\n

We like to spread out<\/p>\n

We rent a car<\/p>\n

Our favorite theme park is EPCOT<\/p>\n

We like to take evening walks around the hotel<\/p>\n

We like to be inside the \u201cDisney magic\u201d without being hit over the head with Mickey Mouse ears (if you know what I mean)<\/p>\n

We have food allergies and prefer to cook in our own kitchen whenever possible<\/p>\n

We like big band music and evening entertainment<\/p>\n

I am happiest when I am on a Friendship Boat<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Did the last two hints give it away?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We have decided that this year we will be renting DVC points to stay at Disney\u2019s Boardwalk in a 1-bedroom villa.\u00a0 This allows us to have a full kitchen, be close to EPCOT, spread out, and enjoy the evening Boardwalk activities without having to get in the car and drive there.\u00a0 When renting points, keep in mind that sometimes the resort and room type won\u2019t be available for when you\u2019re traveling.\u00a0 Knowing this, we do have a few back-up\u2019s if the Boardwalk 1-Bedroom isn\u2019t available, and that is the Animal Kingdom 1-bedroom villa, followed by the Boardwalk studio villa, and lastly the Animal Kingdom studio villa.\u00a0 When we were in Calgary this week we stayed in a condo and it was so much better for us (physically and mentally) to be on a regular eating routine.\u00a0 We like going out to dinner as much as the next people do, but after a few days of it we\u2019re both ready for my own cooking again.\u00a0 Plus, I like to be able to pack lunches to eat when we\u2019re in the park whenever we get hungry without having to wait in line.<\/p>\n

Who knew there was so much to consider when selecting a Walt Disney World resort hotel?!\u00a0 Where are you staying during your next trip?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Ann Dunnington Good day, Walt Disney World planners!\u00a0 I am currently sitting on a plane, flying from Calgary, AB, Canada to Minneapolis.\u00a0 A short layover (aka, a quick run through the very long Minneapolis Airport), and we\u2019ll be on our way back home to Ohio.\u00a0 I had originally planned on doing a Calgary\/Canadian Rockies…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":202,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6189],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-79193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-featured-article"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/202"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=79193"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79193\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":79510,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79193\/revisions\/79510"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=79193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=79193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=79193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}