Help with Hotel Choices

[Chris]

I have taken may family to WDW 20 times over the past seven years and have stayed both on property and off. We are saving our points from our Disney Visa to upgrade from the typical value or occasional moderate resort that we usually stay at. However, Each of our four family members has chosen a different hotel and is sticking to their guns. We will be going after Thanksgiving so the Christmas decorations will be up.

Here are the choices:

Me: Animal Kingdom Lodge
Wife: Boardwalk
Oldest Son: Wilderness Lodge
Youngest Son: Contomperary

Any views on this would be helpful. My wife thinks the AKL is not close to enough attractions/activities and during the trip we made to tour the resort there was not an animal in sight.

Please help. This will probably be the only time we get to stay in a upscale resort and really want to make a good choice.

 

[crazygirley]

I would choose AKL. I have never been there during Christmas, but have heard that the decorations are wonderful. I don't know about the animal situation in the winter, either, but I am pretty positive the animals will still be there. As for your wife thinking that AKL is exceptionally far from the action, she couldn't be more wrong. I have noticed that the bus rides to and from AKL are some of the fastest rides I have ever taken in the whole WDW resort. The reason being, they do not share a line with any other resort. I was at AKL last summer and never waited longer than 30 minutes to get anywhere (actually, it took 25 minutes to MK, and that was the longest) And believe it or not, our Monorail ride from the Contemporary to Epcot took us a 35 minutes, a whole 10 minutes longer than the supposed long trip from AKL) I hope you can convince your wife and children (although they should really have no say in how you spend your money, right dad!?) ) to stay at AKL. You will really enjoy yourselves.

 

[joviacdan]

Tough choices....

Boardwalk seems like it's the nicest to me.

Animal Kingdom seems like it'd be the most fun.

Contemporary has the best location.

Oh I don't know - Now I'm all confused!!!!

 

[DisneyPhD]

All good choices. I think I would end up going where you got the best deal. Normally that is ALK. As far as being far away, it isn't that bad. We stayed there one night in Aug (the rest was at OKW in a stuido, but we had a aniversary night away at ALK) and really liked it. With AP discounts is was 129 a night, and they upgraded us to a good view. Sometimes there isn't many animals, sometimes tons, if you stay there you will see tons, visiting maybe not so lucky.

AKL transport is great. You don't share busses with anyone and the bus stops are very close by. This really cuts down on your transport time, making it not so bad that you are father away then some. Don't worry about it not being close enough. We thougt is was just fine. It has a great pool, both your sons will like it.

They also have a good "food court" type food service place, along with 2 great restants. It is a new resort, and really well done all around.


Boardwalk is a great location, lots to do around there. Personally between the 2 I choose Y&BC, that is my favortie resort in all of WDW, the pool can't be beat and I love the theming. If you just want the location S&D is giving some really great deals lately.

Contempory and WL are close to MK, but that is is. Everything else is far away. The monorail is nice and MK is a good place to be close it. WL has some wonderful theming, I hear the rooms at Con are nice and big and there are many food choice from there.

WL is a great resort, with tons to do there. You might get a good deal there too. After thanksgiving would be a great time to stay there. Wonderful Christmas decorations, very warm and cozey.


As always with staying at a Deluxe look for codes and consider getting one AP, it could save you tons. (If that is the only reason, don't buy it until you actually get the room at a discount locked in, you don't need it until check in.)

Beware, going from a value or mod to a deluxe spoils you. Not that values and mods aren't wonderful, it just can be hard to go back after getting used to it. (same with DVC, you won't want to stay anywhere else after trying a "home away from home resort.") BTW the only non DVC resort that DVC members seem to stay at or slipt up trips for is AKL. So really depending on the deal you get, my vote is with you.

 

[crazygirley]

Originally posted by DisneyPhD
Beware, going from a value or mod to a deluxe spoils you. Not that values and mods aren't wonderful, it just can be hard to go back after getting used to it.

This could not be any more true! I am going in July with the parents to AKL, and am already saving up my pennies for a early 2005 trip to AKL with the BF! No way can I regress back to a Moderate, let alone a Value! :lol: It's sad but true!

 

[KaliSplash]

My personal favorite is the Wilderness Lodge. theming is exceptional. Drawback is the bus system. At least some routes have been shared with Fort Wilderness, and it takes an eon to get in and out of there. But I'll still head there and drive to other parks.
Animal Kingdom is far away from everything except Animal Kingdom and Blizzard Beach. The restaurants tend to have more ethnic offerings, which may be a plus (Or not, depending on your children's taste.) It was designed by same guy that did Wilderness Lodge, you'll see the similarities if you've seen Wilderness Lodge. Of course, the animals are only available here.
Contemporary is unbeatable as the definitive Walt Disney World Hotel, with Monorail going right through the Concourse, particularly if you get a room in the Tower. (Seven Seas Lagoon side is top of the line, of course.)
I am not familiar with BoardWalk, but it's supposed to be top of line with lots of entertainment and restaurant choices nearby. Two great minature golf courses are also nearby here.

Contemporary Tower or Boardwalk will probably be most expensive.

I'd lean to Wilderness Lodge, particularly if you're going to be spending a lot of time at Magic Kingdom

 

[Moustronaut]

Which park do you spend the most time at?

If it's MK, then go for the Contemporary. Easy access via monorail or simply walk right over across the parking lot.

If it's Epcot or even MGM then go for Boardwalk. Epcot's back door is a short 5 minute walk and MGM can be reached by boat, bus or walking.

Based on personal experience, my wfie and I LOVED staying at the Boardwalk Inn because we spend most of our time at Epcot and MGM. We loved the theming of the resort and all the shops and restaurants on the Boardwalk. It's just beautiful all like up at night and when crowded it really does take on that Coney Island carnival feel. However once you're on the hotel side of the Inn, it's very peachful and quiet with a wonderful garden and good views of spaceship earth and world showcase. The mornings are very peaceful too as we'd get up early and have coffee and donuts from the Boardwalk bakery and sit outside looking out at the lighthouse across the lake. It was so easy to catch an MK bus, monorail back to Epcot for dinner and walk right back to our room. But then again we don't have children so your take may be different.

We've spent time at all of the other resorts looking around or enjoying the restaurants there.

Contemporary has the monorail geek factor and great views of MK, or of Bay Lake. The atrium has a unique feel and some nice vintage Disney artwork. But beyond that it doesn't have a lot to offer beyond a normal hotel.

Wilderness Lodge has our favorite theming of any resort on Disney property. It's simply amazing with the faux mountain stream in the courtyard. Great food at Artist Pointe and unique dining at Whispering Canyon. My wife highly recommends winding down with hot coco and a book in the rocking chairs in the Iron Spike room. But transportation can be a bit iffy. You share a boat to MK with Fort Wilderness and you sometimes share buses with the other MK resorts. Also... smaller rooms than the other deluxe resorts, something to consider for a family of 4.

Animal Kingdom Lodge has the same size rooms as wilderness lodge so they will be on the smaller side. The theming is also very nice with the African details everywhere. The big draw here is the animals. Even if you don't have a savanah view room, there are observation pathes all over the resort. They even have rangers to answer questions about the animals. Certainly the most "educational" off all the resorts.

Hope that helps, enjoy your trip!!!

 

[AkiraRaptor]

Originally posted by Chris
Any views on this would be helpful. My wife thinks the AKL is not close to enough attractions/activities and during the trip we made to tour the resort there was not an animal in sight.

What time of the day did you visit the resort? They pull the animals back into the barn area, which you cannot see, during the day hours to do the normal checkups, behaviour training, etc.

Plus, if it's a hot day, the animals will seek shelter from the sun, and sometimes it can be hard to find them.

The best time to view the animals is in the morning, and anytime in the evenings and on into the night.

The thought was that most people will be at the parks durning the day, so that's when they do the "animal" stuff, unlike AK where the animals are brought in at night, AKL's animals stay out all night, and are brought in during the day.

Have fun in whatever you choose!

 

[dae_woods]

Personally I would choose POR (Dixie Landings to those of you true fans).

However, since that isn't one of the choices...I would say AKL.
I have never been to the AKL but heard it is absolutely amazing. The wilderness lodge is very nice as well. No experience at the boardwalk and the contemporary is not contemporary enough for me anymore.

Have fun no matter where you stay!!!!!!!

 

[swimmom]

My family & I are very partial to WL Although I've never been when the Christmas decorations are up (we'll be there this year!), I hear the lobby is breathtaking. I'm looking forward to the rocking chairs and a cup of hot chocolate at the fireplace after a long day at the parks. We are also planning on a carriage ride one evening. Our favorite parks are MK & Epcot. Transportation to MK is usually very quick by boat. When we go to Epcot, we make it more exciting by taking a boat to the Cemtemporary then the monorail to Epcot. I'm sure it takes us longer to get there than by bus, but we enjoy the boat and monorail rides getting there.

I have visited the other resorts and stayed at Contemporary years ago. It's a little too modern for my taste.

The Boardwalk is fun in itself, but I don't know anything about the rooms.

Animal Kingdom Logde is cool, but northwoods is more to my liking. (We also love to travel to the Pacific Northwest).

When we start to plan a trip to WDW, we attempt to stay at a different resort, but alway come back to WL.

No matter which one you choose, I'm sure you will have a great trip.

 

[VillianFan]

We stayed at AKL last year the week after Thanksgiving. The decorations were beautiful but a bit exotic. Not your traditional Christmas stuff. My family, my mom/dad, and my brother's family were all there.

We all voted together that our next trip will be Wilderness Lodge, we just like the homey feel better there!

Either way you will have a great time, I love to go when the Christmas decorations are up!

 

[ClemsonTigger]

No Loosers

Well, its good to have a problem where there will really be no loosers. They are all fine choices with my least favorite being the Contemporary...except if you have small children or will spend most of your time in MK. Rooms are pleasant but not themed in the way the other three are.

Boardwalk has easy access to Epcot and MGM and has a special environment to just walk around in when you're "home"

AKL is really a special place and something everyone needs to experience once. Like what was said before, the bus transportation is probably the fastest of all non monorail resorts.

Wilderness lodge is wonderful in so many ways. It is a little slow in transportation.

Depending on how long you'll be there, possibly consider splitting your time between Boardwalk and AKL or WL? That way you'll only have two people mad at you (and the younger ones will forget as soon as they are there.

 

[DCL]

If I were you, I'd just book at the Polynesian! That way no one will be bummed because someone else's hotel got chosen over theirs!

 

[mkt]

sounds like Polynesian to me :lol:

 

[AkiraRaptor]

How long are you staying? Maybe you can do more than one resort as a compromise?