First timer needs help picking resort!

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dobiedadorf

New Member
HI! I'm a first timer and I am planning a 7-9 day trip in December (the week before Christmas)

There are three of us (two oldies in our 40's and 50's) and our 14 year old daughter. After reading this board for some time, and reading Mousesavers/Allearsnet , and factoring in budget issues, I have come up with four scenarios:

1. Stay at Swan (teacher's discount) Use Disney transportation. Have money left over for extras (Cirque, watermice, etc.)

2. Stay at WL/AKL--split stay. One of us gets AP so we can get discount. Rent subcompact so we don't have to rely on busses. Listen to DH grumble about how he hastes to drive on vacation. Don't have money left over for extras.

3. Stay at WL/AKL--split stay. One of us gets AP so we can get discount. Use disney transo. Listen to DH and DD grumble about how they hate to wait for transportation. Have money left over for extras.

4. Stay at Boardwalk. One of us gets AP so we can get discount. Use disney transpo, but don't have money left over for extras.

We are really into nice hotels (our favorite "outside" the world is the GCH in the "other" disney" so I don't think we are interested in a moderate. I would appreciate any advice! Thanks.
 
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BRER STITCH

BRER STITCH

Well-Known Member
Hi DOBIEDADORF!!! :wave:

Welcome!

First of all....put this idea of poor Disney Transportation behind you! If it was so bad, NOBODY would stay on property! Unless you have Star Trek Transporters at your house, Disney Transportation is as fast as getting anywhere around your city.

With that said, my easy choice is your #3 item. Stay at Wilderness Lodge. (Maybe you should stay alone if your husband and daughter can find reasons to grumble while vacationing at the 'happiest place on earth'!!! :lol:

You'll love the Wilderness Lodge and the AP sounds like the way to go for discounts. Christmas is my favorite time at the parks so you're sure to have a GREAT time with all the halls fully decked wherever you go!

Let us know what you decide!

:sohappy:
 
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Sloan

Sloan

Well-Known Member
not so easy ...

While I agree with most of what BRER STITCH had to say, I'm not so sure that the choice of #2 is 'easy' - I'd go for #3.

I agree that WDW transportation should be at least adequate for you - and if you're at Boardwalk (choice #4), even better, because you're essentially already at EPCOT, can take the monorail from there to MK, and have easy bus access to everywhere else. Since you're in to nice hotels, I think this might be your best bet. I'm sure that you'll have other responses as well, so let's see what everyone else has to say ...

In any case, you're going to be visiting at a great time of the year, and I'm sure that you'll have a great time no matter which of your plans you end up selecting. (also, I've never stayed at the Swan, so I can't really judge how nice that one is, though I've heard its great).

The annual pass idea is great - and don't forget that it will help you get some other discounts, inclluding the Cirque show, which is excellent!
 
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Sloan

Sloan

Well-Known Member
I meant #4

Sorry about that - I meant your choice #4, the Boardwalk - though I guess that's obvious from the body of my post ....
 
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swimmom

swimmom

Well-Known Member
I'm quite partial to WL and I can't wait to see it decorated for Christmas myself. (By the way I too will be travelling with my husband & 15 year old daughter the week before Christmas!) We have learned to never be in a rush with Disney transportation. I myself really enjoy letting someone else do the driving while I'm on vacation.

Also just so you know, they have recently changed their policy on the Mouse Boats. You now have to have a driver's license to operate one alone. Therefore, your daughter (and mine too) can no longer operate one alone until they get their license.
 
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DDuckFan130

DDuckFan130

Well-Known Member
I agree with Sloan, but if you don't decide on Boardwalk, the Swan may be a wonderful choice as well because the proximity to Epcot and MGM-Studios is pretty much the same as well as the transportation to the parks (i.e. the Friendship Boats). The hotel is just as great and since you did not mention buying an AP if you stay at the Swan because of teacher's discounts, this may be the best way to go.

Good luck :wave:
 
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BrerPete

BrerPete

Active Member
Choice number one: The Swan. Staying at the Swan eliminates choice 4 because the Swan is a five to seven minute walk to the Boardwalk. Use the buses b/c if you're in a hurry take the Boardwalk bus and walk or the Yacht and Beach club bus and also walk.

The swan is a five minute walk to Epcot (fast paced walk) and a 10 to 12 minute (fast paced walk to MGM studios). There is also a shuttle boat to both parks, but if you're in a hurry use your feet. The shuttle boat takes an average 20 minutes b/c it stops at Boardwalk and Yacht & Beach.

Splitting the stay between two resorts, while providing a magical experience times 2, will mean you have to waste time packing and moving luggage. Why waste the time. Although the resorts are beautiful and it is your first time, odds are, you won't end up spending a lot of time there. I've stayed in the All Stars to the Boardwalk and the only thing I use the room for is too collapse on the bed after a long day of fun and thrills.

Use the extra money to enjoy things like Cirque, which is great, nothing like a circus (music, dancing, comedy) You'll love it. If you were thinking Animal Kingdom Lodge, I'm guessing you like animals. How about the Animal Kingdom behind the scenes tour. We got to touch a Black Rhino and saw the new baby elephant.

I hope you have a great time. I always do.
 
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arkfantasmic

New Member
dobie just so you know the disney transportation is not that bad,and if there is a wait ,bus stop is a good place to meet new people.as for the hotel, i stayed at the gch last summer and if its your favorite(it is very nice ) you should love the wl. christmas is a great time to be at wdw, we will be there week before you at bcv, and its nice to be so close to 2 parks. la nub is one of my favorit cirque shows worth the money,anyway hope this helps have a great time.
 
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ZHoyt

ZHoyt

New Member
If budget is a real issue, try the Swan or Dolphin. But if you can afford it, I recommend the Boardwalk. I think the difference between staying at a "real" Disney hotel vs. the Swan (run by Westin I believe) is worth the money. But either way, for me, the best bet on property is the EPCOT resort area (swan/dolphin, boardwalk, yach/beach clubs). You are within walking distance to one (or two), not to mention boat transportation if you don't want to walk, and then you only need to bus to MK or AK, and you can even monorail to MK if you want to trek through EPCOT (but bus is probably MUCH faster).

WL and AKL are nice, but nothing on property can beat the EPCOT area. The only reason I would stay at WL/AKL is if you really want to focus on AK or MK, because these are obviously closer to those resorts. But honestly, splitting trips between hotels gets to be a pain. On my honeymoon/wedding I stayed in a total of 4 hotels (Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, Beach Club, Boardwalk). If I could have done it over, I would defiantely spend the extra dough to stay in a single spot. No matter what though, all of these resorts are wonderful places to stay and I'm sure you're going to have an amazing trip.

Don't forget to exercise those AP's for all the discounts you can find, and since you have a week, I strongly recommend one of the living seas in-water tours. You can get a discount if you have AP's, and it is for my money one of the very best and most unique things to do in all of WDW.
 
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barnum42

barnum42

New Member
I like to have some cash in my pocket for extras rather than skimp everywhere else to fund my room - which is why I stay offsite.

BUT - if I had the budget to do one of your four options I'd go for number three - Two great resorts and some dosh in the pocket.
 
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VacationMan

VacationMan

New Member
Personally, I'd think you are better off with a Rental Car. For the price of MEARS transportation TO and FROM the resorts (or a taxi), you generally are already 1/2 way there to the cost of a rental. We have flown down over 20 (maybe closer to 30) times now, and we NEVER rely on Disney transportation. We Disney busses infrequently, mainly only during off seasons, or a a "split up" capability for the rest of a large party to be able to go where they want during the day (Little Kids... back to the resort to rest, etc.).

The time you have indicated you are going will start to ramp up with the season. making the busses even more crowded.

Be sure to take into the following costs... SOMEONE on this thread up date prices for MEARS (As I am only going by memory from a while ago:

No Rental Car: MEars to/from Disney property about $24 / Per person.

With Rental Car, Dollar, Thrfty and Alamo (I Think thats the three) are IN terminal now. Check www.mousesavers.com for MANY discount rental codes

Park hopping during a day has always taken considerably more time on busses between properties. Using a vehicle we have hit all 4 parks on a single day with minimal times between.

Parking is free at ANY disney park if you are staying on property.

If you wish to take a character breakfast at a different resort (Dinner,etc.) going by buss will take a long time, if make it not possible (early character breakfast at Chef Mickeys in the Contemporary (our favorite) is almost impossible to make it with buss schedules.

Personally the AK/WL resorts are our favorites (when staying at a resort we want to spend time in). We have never stayed at the Swan or Boardwalk, but toured them both. Felt the Swan was very "Sterile" as opposed to a true disney run property. The boardwalk has always seemed to be "Seasonal" with events/things to do on the pier. Have been there at least once when there was virtually nothing to do on the pier at all! I can not address the holiday times.

Just food for thought against the "usual" Disney Goers that always take the "Disney Transportation". We also enjoy going up to Universal Citywalk at night via our rental car (free parking at night there for Citywalk), with some great retaurants and atmosphere. We also tend to stop by the Crossroads plaza to pick up groceries from Goodings when staying for a long stay (such as yours).

Regardless of the location or mode of transportation... Have a GREAT TIME!

under 30 days until our next trip.
 
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SpectroMan

SpectroMan

New Member
I have stayed at the Swan one time, and the Grand Floridian three times. The Swan is one of the most amazing resorts I have ever seen, but it was just a resort. There was not that Disney magic. If you are getting the AP, try to stay at the Grand Floridian; it isn't that much more compared to the Boardwalk. If you like really nice hotels, like me, you will LOVE the Grand Floridian. Go for a garden view room because you can't see the lake because of all the trees. When my family decides to go on an expensive trip, we try not to eat out that much to save money or not to spend money excesively. Maybe you could do that.

But, if the teacher discount is that much, you might want to stay at the Swan. It does have a wonderful location: right in the middle of Disney World.

Oh, by the way, I am one of the only people on these boards that support the Grand Floridian. So, probably, I am the only one who will tell you to stay there.

I am staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge this coming week. I will tell you how that hotel is.
 
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Lilmama21

New Member
I have to say that I loved the Disney transportation when we went the beginning of this month. The one time we used our car (we went offsite to eat) it was a PITA to get back to our hotel (Port Orleans Riverside). I think it took 2 hours to get MK to POR. We had to wait for our turn on the ferry (loooong wait, very busy night at MK), wait for the golf cart thing to take us to our car, walk to car, and finally find our way back to the hotel (we got slightly lost). If only we had hopped on the bus in the first place :hammer:

If you plan on staying at WDW the whole time, don't worry about the transportation.

As for which resort...has the family voted yet? Take a look at the photos on allearsnet.com and think what would you like most. True, it is just a resting spot but it's all part of the experience. And don't forget to take in consideration food.

Last note, I hear Cirque le Soleil is really worth the money if you can swing it! It was closed when we were there :(
 
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optjay

optjay

Well-Known Member
Wilderness Lodge.!

rent car at national only for ride to and from wdw.drop off at national at wdw and pick up on last day so you dont need to rent the car only to park it at resort unused for the week.
 
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dobiedadorf

New Member
Original Poster
Thanks, everybody

Thanks everybody for your kind replies.

After reading all of them I thought that maybe we might want to try Wilderness Lodge. When I shared this with my family, they did an about face and told me they would rather go to Disneyland and stay at the Grand Californian for Christmas! Their reasons--its closer to home, no jet lag, it doesn't take a whole day to get their and a whole day to get back, and they can walk everywhere!

I'm outvoted. Sigh :veryconfu

However, I still get to spend Christmas in the magic:xmas:

Thanks again,

Dobe
 
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MKBurn15

MKBurn15

New Member
Re: Thanks, everybody

Originally posted by dobiedadorf
Thanks everybody for your kind replies.

After reading all of them I thought that maybe we might want to try Wilderness Lodge. When I shared this with my family, they did an about face and told me they would rather go to Disneyland and stay at the Grand Californian for Christmas! Their reasons--its closer to home, no jet lag, it doesn't take a whole day to get their and a whole day to get back, and they can walk everywhere!

I'm outvoted. Sigh :veryconfu

However, I still get to spend Christmas in the magic:xmas:

Thanks again,

Dobe
Click to expand...
I'm sorry. You'll have to try knocking them out and dragging them to Florida. Works every time.
 
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