Should I switch?

[CaptainAmerica]

And shut up on the poor part. I don't care about "category" of resort.. more about location/size/amenities. I'd choose POFQ over Saratoga Springs every time if I had to.

It wasn't a dig at you, I just meant I've never stayed at the Poly and I suspect it would be my #2 favorite resort if I ever did. Having visited all of the resorts on many occasions, Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Polynesian, and Wilderness Lodge stand on their own as truly unique.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Does Ft Wilderness have room service?

Ummm. Never used it there. Not sure they do actually. We actually enjoyed taking the golf cart to the mercantile and The Settlement to get food..

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Does Ft Wilderness have room service? Or is there a place close by where I can order take out for breakfast?

I don't believe so. Most of the amenities are up in the Settlement area, which is where you'd drive your golf cart to eat / swim / catch the boat. I think they might have pizza delivery.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

The second pic is the view from the 14th floor of Bay Lake Tower.

 

[epcotisbest]

@CaptainAmerica @epcotisbest @Courtney6682 @MySmallWorldof4 @lostpro9het @LAKid53
@anyone

Please advise!

If you start switching resorts now, you will have plenty of time to make multiple changes to your plans between now and your trip time. Second guessing your plans and making changes is fun.
@lostpro9het and I both strongly suggested Kidani earlier, but Jambo is OK too. And I absolutely love Saratoga Springs and you don't care for it, so you could switch to Saratoga Springs then next month switch it for something else! Fun.
Then, maybe switch AKL for the first part of the trip and GF for the second part...then later, maybe change the order of the stay back to GF first. Then maybe early fall switch the GF stay to...aww, never mind.

 

[21stamps]

If you start switching resorts now, you will have plenty of time to make multiple changes to your plans between now and your trip time. Second guessing your plans and making changes is fun.
@lostpro9het and I both strongly suggested Kidani earlier, but Jambo is OK too. And I absolutely love Saratoga Springs and you don't care for it, so you could switch to Saratoga Springs then next month switch it for something else! Fun.
Then, maybe switch AKL for the first part of the trip and GF for the second part...then later, maybe change the order of the stay back to GF first. Then maybe early fall switch the GF stay to...aww, never mind.

Hey how, in fairness to me.. Poly was my first choice over GF.. FW was my choice over AKL.. and neither one was available when I made the reservation..and I did have CR booked last year before switching.. SOO.. it's not like I'm totally changing my mind. lol
And Kidani doesn't have anywhere to grab food.. I'm not cooking. I will spend time at the pool though.

It wasn't a dig at you, I just meant I've never stayed at the Poly and I suspect it would be my #2 favorite resort if I ever did. Having visited all of the resorts on many occasions, Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Polynesian, and Wilderness Lodge stand on their own as truly unique.

Ah, ok. I thought you were calling me an elitist again.. lol.

View attachment 208579 View attachment 208581

Thanks! Is the first photo the Main pool?

 

[21stamps]

I don't believe so. Most of the amenities are up in the Settlement area, which is where you'd drive your golf cart to eat / swim / catch the boat. I think they might have pizza delivery.

I don't believe so. Most of the amenities are up in the Settlement area, which is where you'd drive your golf cart to eat / swim / catch the boat. I think they might have pizza delivery.

Ok thanks.. i've never done Disney pizza delivery, but we did order pizza hut during an OSU game at Poly. It's cheaper!

The second pic is the view from the 14th floor of Bay Lake Tower.

I wanted to quote your post from the previous page but don't know how. In regards to the hectic level- that's pretty important to me right now. The prior week we are going to be on a ship with 4000 people, so I want a bit of peacefulness on the Disney World portion.

Which resort would you choose? If I was to replace GF. These guys have sold me on a kale so I guess I'm keeping that one

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Ok thanks.. i've never done Disney pizza delivery, but we did order pizza hut during an OSU game at Poly. It's cheaper!




I wanted to quote your post from the previous page but don't know how. In regards to the hectic level- that's pretty important to me right now. The prior week we are going to be on a ship with 4000 people, so I want a bit of peacefulness on the Disney World portion.

Which resort would you choose? If I was to replace GF. These guys have sold me on a kale so I guess I'm keeping that one

Ahhhh the pressure!!!! FW will definitely give you peacefulness, but you won't have deluxe amenities. AKL is definitely peaceful as well. It always seemed quiet when we would pop in for a meal. It is super far from everything though. If amenities are important I would do Poly.

 

[21stamps]

Ahhhh the pressure!!!! FW will definitely give you peacefulness, but you won't have deluxe amenities. AKL is definitely peaceful as well. It always seemed quiet when we would pop in for a meal. It is super far from everything though. If amenities are important I would do Poly.

Unfortunately Poly isn't available. I really did like that GIF had Christmas music and Christmas trees even in the outer buildings... I don't know maybe I'm second-guessing this too much. I just thought it would be nice for T to try someplace new, and we really did have a great time on our bike ride to Fort wilderness. And like I said, the contemporary is what I originally had booked last year, but one of my friends stayed there recently and wasn't thrilled. not hated, but said it wasn't very convenient, and the sinks were horrible lol
I can't do Bay lake tower because the studios look too small, and I haven't checked so I don't know the price on a one bedroom but I don't really need it. Does BLT look out at a parking lot the same way the tower does?

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Unfortunately Poly isn't available. I really did like that GIF had Christmas music and Christmas trees even in the outer buildings... I don't know maybe I'm second-guessing this too much. I just thought it would be nice for T to try someplace new, and we really did have a great time on our bike ride to Fort wilderness. And like I said, the contemporary is what I originally had booked last year, but one of my friends stayed there recently and wasn't thrilled. not hated, but said it wasn't very convenient, and the sinks were horrible lol
I can't do Bay lake tower because the studios look too small, and I haven't checked so I don't know the price on a one bedroom but I don't really need it. Does BLT look out at a parking lot the same way the tower does?

We didn't stay there but I assume there would be Theme Park Views and Pool. On reconsideration do GF. I am going to try and start my tr now since I am doing nothing for an hour waiting for my youngest dd to get done with gymnastics class.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

It is super far from everything though.

Nope. A bus from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, or Animal Kingdom is faster than a bus from the Magic Kingdom resorts to those same destinations. The MK resorts are convenient to the Magic Kingdom but more inconvenient than the other resorts to literally anywhere else.

Stamps, I know you've stayed at the Grand Floridian before. If the bus from the Grand Floridian to Animal Kingdom didn't bother you, then neither would the bus from Animal Kingdom Lodge to the Magic Kingdom. It's basically the same route.

 

[LAKid53]

Currently booked at GF theme park view 4 nights AKL savanna view 3 nights. Thanksgiving weekend and following week. .


Debating on switching GF to one of them, or AKL to the latter 2..all of these were sold out previously.

The Contemporary (theme park view)

Or

Boulder Ridge Villas (WL is sold out)

Or

Ft Wilderness Cabin. (Would rent a golf cart)


I worry about Boulder Ridge because of the view or lack of...I guess ft Wilderness has the same problem technically.lol
I worry about the crowded/noisy lobby at CR, as well as multiple security checks when taking monorail to dine at Poly and GF.

What would you do?

ET

Stamps,

Don't know where you getting the idea that the view at Boulder Ridge well, sucks. Everything is on target to open mid-July. You're visiting over Thanksgiving. The only construction going on at that time will be the cabins over by the boat launch.

I've walked down to Geyeser Springs, gotten a nice adult beverage and parked my behind out back with an AMAZING and unobstructed view of Bay Lake.

I'm with @CaptainAmerica. Hate split stays - all that packing and unpacking.

Go with Boulder Ridge. The weather (as you should know) will be clear in.November.

Would I, the Kid, steer you wrong?

Does this mean I'm going over Thanksgiving? If so, I'll be at Boulder Ridge or Copper Creek for our drink.

 

[LAKid53]

I'm doing the split stay intentionally. I want kiddo to experience a different resort.. but I need half the trip to be in the MK area.

Copper Creek was available, but you can't pick a view... the benefit of Boulder Ridge is the extra fireplaces and the community room. I think the building gets locked after dark. Someone let us in last time for our hidden Mickey hunt.

Got news for you...you can't pick a view any more at Boulder Ridge either. Your selections are (1) floors and (2) proximity to elevator.

 

[LAKid53]

Wait.. I just looked up my photos.. Now, admittedly a boat came within 3 minutes of us arriving to the dock.. but look at the times..

Just got on launch at WL-

View attachment 208568


Swiping MB at turnstile after standing in line..

View attachment 208569

That's pretty efficient, right? I thought AKL would be much longer.

I take the boat all the time from WL to MK. Prefer it to the bus.

 

[LAKid53]

I'm going 11/25-12/3. Christmas Party time.. but I know what you mean.

And shut up on the poor part. I don't care about "category" of resort.. more about location/size/amenities. I'd choose POFQ over Saratoga Springs every time if I had to.

If @MySmallWorldof4 would ever start her trip report I'd love to see more about the cabins and FW in general.

All you had to do was ask...I've stayed at just about every resort, including the cabins.

I don't remember the cabins having room service. Room service at most moderates is just pizza delivery, anyway. But they do have grocery pickup...and maybe they will deliver.

Cabins are nice, plenty of room, kitchen, lots to do around the resort, guests like to decorate their cabins during the holidays - the cabins are in reality single wide one bedroom mobile homes. And yes, if you rent a cabin, reserve a golf cart - they go fast.

 

[21stamps]

We didn't stay there but I assume there would be Theme Park Views and Pool. On reconsideration do GF. I am going to try and start my tr now since I am doing nothing for an hour waiting for my youngest dd to get done with gymnastics class.

Yes.. can't wait!

 

[21stamps]

Nope. A bus from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, or Animal Kingdom is faster than a bus from the Magic Kingdom resorts to those same destinations. The MK resorts are convenient to the Magic Kingdom but more inconvenient than the other resorts to literally anywhere else.

Stamps, I know you've stayed at the Grand Floridian before. If the bus from the Grand Floridian to Animal Kingdom didn't bother you, then neither would the bus from Animal Kingdom Lodge to the Magic Kingdom. It's basically the same route.

The reason for MK area is because we do multiple days at that park, the rest only 1. The bus from Poly to Animal Kingdom was fine when we stayed at Poly in '15.. 20 minutes maybe.

Last year we did our AK day when staying at Wilderness Lodge, but we took an Uber from Poly after Ohana.

I would love for kiddo to stay at the Boardwalk.. but I haven't booked it for the same reason as I listed above. In a few years we will be able to.

Stamps,

Don't know where you getting the idea that the view at Boulder Ridge well, sucks. Everything is on target to open mid-July. You're visiting over Thanksgiving. The only construction going on at that time will be the cabins over by the boat launch.

I've walked down to Geyeser Springs, gotten a nice adult beverage and parked my behind out back with an AMAZING and unobstructed view of Bay Lake.

I'm with @CaptainAmerica. Hate split stays - all that packing and unpacking.

Go with Boulder Ridge. The weather (as you should know) will be clear in.November.

Would I, the Kid, steer you wrong?

Does this mean I'm going over Thanksgiving? If so, I'll be at Boulder Ridge or Copper Creek for our drink.

Yes! You're going sometime between 11/26 and 12/3!! . We can have a drink at Territory Lounge!

I know I'm being difficult, like always.. one part of me thinks we should complete the monorail loop.. another part knows how pleasantly surprised I was at WL..and another part wants to stay in a cabin. Lol

Got news for you...you can't pick a view any more at Boulder Ridge either. Your selections are (1) floors and (2) proximity to elevator.

That's annoying. Why are the villa bookings that way?

All you had to do was ask...I've stayed at just about every resort, including the cabins.

I don't remember the cabins having room service. Room service at most moderates is just pizza delivery, anyway. But they do have grocery pickup...and maybe they will deliver.

Cabins are nice, plenty of room, kitchen, lots to do around the resort, guests like to decorate their cabins during the holidays - the cabins are in reality single wide one bedroom mobile homes. And yes, if you rent a cabin, reserve a golf cart - they go fast.

I am so undecided. Ugh.
What's your opinion on the Contemporary?

 

[mouse_luv]

Ok then. I better love AKL as much as people say they love it.lol.

Hey if you don't want to stay there I'll gladly stay in your place. I hate attitudes like this, it's one of the if not the best resort on property especially with your view and the time you are going. Again, if you are going in with this attitude already about AKL then just cancel and get something else. Again, myself and others would gladly take that from you in a heartbeat.

Also, split stays rock, but what do I know.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Yes.. can't wait!

I ended up chatting with some of the other moms, the social butterfly that I am. Sorry. I was tagging people and then couldn't help myself and started conversations.