The One Resort You Wouldn't Stay At.

[real mad hatter]

Hi Folks,Having recently returned from 14 magic days at WDW staying at PORS. We always visit other resorts on our trip to have a wee nosey,usually deluxe,one day I'll save that extra dollar,anyway,this year we checked out Swan & Dolphin and also Contemporary.The Swan & Dolphin we did like with those waterfalls outside and the situation of it,however the Contemporary resort left us cold.It reminded us of a hotel built around a shopping complex,and didn't feel I was in Disneyworld.Now that's just my opinion so please don't jump on my back if your a Contemporary fan.So is there one resort that you've visited that you wouldn't like to stay at?

 

[popcenturylover]

I like being submersed into a theme. But AoA looks as if you are submersed without a breathing apparatus, while Nemo swims by smacking you with his fin. Over the top is fine. Over the top and under the bridge and everything in between is not. For me, anyway.

To each his own, I guess!

 

[Mukta]

Maybe we are the only ones, but we are never in our room except to sleep at night. We don't normally eat at the resorts, so that has no bearing on our choice. I like the feel of a moderate for the price compared to a deluxe, but we decided this go around to hit a value to try it out since we aren't there enough to justify the cost increase. I guess what I am trying to say is that with us we aren't in the room enough to dislike any hotel. I guess based on the time of year there are certain values that I would avoid just due to the crowds.

I pretty much just sleep at my deluxe hotel too. I pick it because I can walk into Epcot and save time. I can also take a boat to DHS. Even if Ia m just sleeping there, not having to take a bus to two of the resorts, or drive is a big plus for me.

 

[Lori Nicklas]

I myself would not stay at the all-stars again I have been to 3. I huess I look at it as I have paid my dues...I feel that I can move up. I have no itch what so ever to stay at the pop century. I have been to the Caribbean beach 3x and love it every time. The kids say it is their 1st request. I have learned to ask for a room close to Peppers Market. In the past I have stayed at the Yatch Club and I too have found it a bit stuffy for me. I will hit all of the others before I die then I can stay at my favorite from then on.

 

[pixargal]

My family has stayed at almost all the resorts on property. The only one we would not stay at again would be the Yacht Club. I do not care for the decor in the lobby, very cold feeling, and not welcoming at all. The CM who checked us in was just as cold. The view from our room was overlooking a flat roof with pebbles and trash on it. The Beach Club, on the other hand, is just the opposite. We really enjoyed staying at that resort.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Saratoga Springs, I visited it once and was not impressed. Seemed spread out and so far out there. I also wouldn't want to stay at Old Key WEst either, however if the price was right or it was free I would stay there.

 

[Lori Nicklas]

My family has stayed at almost all the resorts on property. The only one we would not stay at again would be the Yacht Club. I do not care for the decor in the lobby, very cold feeling, and not welcoming at all. The CM who checked us in was just as cold. The view from our room was overlooking a flat roof with pebbles and trash on it. The Beach Club, on the other hand, is just the opposite. We really enjoyed staying at that resort.

Good Info to know about the Beach Club. We felt the same way reguarding the Yatch Club.

 

[pixargal]

Good Info to know about the Beach Club. We felt the same way reguarding the Yatch Club.

It took me many years to get my family to the Beach Club after the disappointment at the Yacht Club. I am glad we went because it is like night and day between the resorts. The CM checking us in was such a delight. The lobby had a wonderful energy about it. Perhaps because of the many families that were running around. Definitely worth checking out.

 

[laxchik18]

What's been your favorite dvc resort? Thinking bay lake for the next trip, so im kinda curious

bay lake is definitley nice. you should go there bc its a great experience, but going down an elevator and walking across to another building for counter service was a bit of a turnoff for us. but the fact u can walk to MK is great and i love the style of the place. the pool is good too. my dad and i really like it but didnt lovfe it while my mom was absolutely LOVED it so its totally different for everyone. also the monorail is nice. but our fave if wilderness lodge villas. ther was absolutley nothing we could complain about there. we loved the feel and experience and convience of everything. it was just great! but i dont want to deter you from bay lake bc i def say do it at least once

 

[laxchik18]

I wouldn't stay at AoA. It looks way too loud for my tastes, and I am someone who likes the other value resorts.

Why couldn't they have made it just a tad less A 3yr old Designed This looking?

you're in disney..you're supposed to feel like a 3 yr old

 

[I_heart_Tigger]

For me it's the GF for much of the same reason people don't like the contemporary. I find it blah and soul-less. I have stayed here before but I don't get the same "home away from home" feeling as I do at Y&B, WL, AKL, or PORS which are my resorts of choice.

 

[LivFreeorDisney]

I've only stayed in a deluxe or DVC resort so I'd have to say I wouldn't ever stay in a Mod or Val resort. If I had to pick a DVC resort I wouldn't stay at again, I'd say Old Key West. The rooms are big but it just doesn't do it for me.

 

[crispy]

Having stayed at all level of resorts, I will say that there is no hotel I would refuse to stay at, but the hotel at the bottom of my list is Boardwalk because of that scary clown pool. :shudder:

 

[CP_alum08]

Having not stayed in every resort I'd like to give them each a chance. Of the ones we have stated at we will never go back to the all-stars. For the same price Pop is far and away better.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I couldn't stay at any of the Values. Found out this year that we also have to rule out Swan & Dolphin. The big reason... DOUBLE BEDS!

DH and I are completely miserable if we don't at least have a queen. Truthfully, we prefer a king, but not like you're going to find a room w/two kings.

I'm also a bit claustrophobic. Sure we had a ton of luggage and a stroller, but even the space (or lack there of) in Wilderness Lodge had me feeling really antsy. I was so thankful for our balcony b/c it helped ease some of that tension. I thought maybe it was all of our stuff, but I checked out my brother's room at AKL that trip (since they didn't have as much stuff) and I felt the same way. This is part of why I loved the Contemporary. Sure, I love the tower and am a huge Mary Blair fan, but the room was huge compared to WL. I'm praying I don't feel too cramped at Yacht Club. I know the room is bigger than WL, but it's smaller than the Contemporary.

Some of this has also manifested in other travel obsessions. I like being close to the attractions...not just WDW... it's everywhere we stay. If I'm too far away...I don't know...I just get kind of freaked out. I have to stay on the strip in Vegas and while I don't like to pay midtown $, I'll stay just outside of midtown if I'm in Manhattan. I also like a nice hotel and like having some hotel time to enjoy the amenities. The fewer the amenities...the more isolated and restricted I feel. I know- crazy stuff. Not saying it makes sense...it's just me.

I even started out booked in a mod for this upcoming trip and had to rebook b/c I started to panic about room space, no balcony, and distance from the parks. I even cxld and Beach Club and rebooked at Yacht Club b/c the better odds of a balcony.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Having stayed at all level of resorts, I will say that there is no hotel I would refuse to stay at, but the hotel at the bottom of my list is Boardwalk because of that scary clown pool. :shudder:

OMG- totally forgot about this. I knew there was a deluxe I was forgetting. I am terrified fo that pool.

 

[Tusportsfan]

Oer the course of the past ten years, we've been to more resorts than not (Pop, all of the moderates, Wilderness & Animal Kingdom Lodge [both regular rooms and villas], OKW, SS [both regular rooms and treehouse], and the villas at both Beach Club and Boardwalk and the Poly. And yes, we are trying to get through all of them at some point, and the only one we will not go back to is PORS.

Whether it was the overgrown theming or the location we were at, this one resort simply did not seem to have the magic all the others did. I know you really cannot compare a value against a deluxe or DVC room against a moderate, but was the only one where I would not return, even if it meant not visiting that year.

 

[I_heart_Tigger]

Whether it was the overgrown theming or the location we were at, this one resort simply did not seem to have the magic all the others did. I know you really cannot compare a value against a deluxe or DVC room against a moderate, but was the only one where I would not return, even if it meant not visiting that year.

I guess Disney knows they have to appeal to different people. I would take PORS over the Grand Floridian (which is the worst resort on property IMHO), Contemporary, Saratoga, Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Swan/Dolphin - basically any value, mod or deluxe other than Wilderness Lodge, Beach Club, AKL and Poly and the reason I put it up there was because of the feeling I get walking around the resort. I actually chose it over GF, Contemp and AKL two years ago even though the others were still within my budget.

The only resorts I absolutely would never stay at - would take a dive on the highway rather than stay there are GF and OKW. I would love to see them both torn down and replaced with something at least adequete but I'm sure someone out there loves them so I guess I'll call off the wrecking crew for now

I couldn't stay at any of the Values. Found out this year that we also have to rule out Swan & Dolphin. The big reason... DOUBLE BEDS!

I've only ever had Kings and Queens at the Swan and Dolphin, if you like them don't rule it out, just ask for a king or queen room.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I've only ever had Kings and Queens at the Swan and Dolphin, if you like them don't rule it out, just ask for a king or queen room.

I think they offer either single queens or single kings, but everything I found on the rooms that can accomodate 4 said the beds were doubles. That would be awesome though if that's not the case. I will definitely keep this in mind for future trips since the prices are usually pretty nice, even w/resort and parking fees. Thanks!

 

[Tusportsfan]

Tig - you are right that every resort, generally, has it's own set of both fans and detractors.

I will say that the overgrown, dark feeling we had from PORS was from the Alligator Bayou section of the resort. Maybe we would have had a different result had we stayed in the Magnolia bend section.

And I do want to give French Quarter a try at some point .....

 

[erider]

I don't like POR. The resort looks boring in my opinion, and the theming does nothing for me. Another place I don't like are the All Star Resorts. I stayed once in the All Star Sports in the middle of the summer, and the place was full of Brazilian tour groups, who where up in the middle of the night and making noise. Then I decided never to stay at an All Star again. I have stayed at Pop, and that's fine. But I think the deluxe resorts is where the real Disney magic lies.