What is the most Disney Feeling Resort?

[ddbowdoin]

Hey all... just returned from a trip and now starting to look into planning something else. This last trip was my very first time on property. I must say... I was disappointed with the Beach Club.

1.) very well themed
2.) convenient location
3.) amazing pool

All great things.... but, to me and this is my opinion the resort lacked the Disney feel. People here have mentioned you always feel like your are surrounded by the Magic but I just didn't get that. I felt like I was back home in New England. Expensive rooms, high brow guests.... I just didn't enjoy it.

What is a hotel that just has that amazing Disney feel...

Thanks for weighing in!

 

[Kamikaze]

The whole Y&B + Boardwalk area is supposed to be themed to a Northeast and New England maritime feel, so if it made you feel at home, it did its job. I've been to hotels up here that were exactly like the Yacht Club, down to the signs on floors and doors.

The most 'themed' resort to me is POR. Everything fits the theme.

 

[bmarkelon]

This is kind of a tricky question. I think I have to say that the best themed resorts, in my opinion, are the Polynesian and Wilderness Lodge. There is just really something special about the way they take your breath away when entering their lobbies. They take you to another place for sure. Some others that are a close second are AKL, Grand Floridian and the Boardwalk. But there is something to say for the Contemporary feeling the most "Disney" to me. They go hand in hand.

 

[MansionGoer13z]

Though I've never stayed there before, I think the Contemporary would have the most Disney feel to it. I do remember riding the monorail in the morning and seeing a character breakfast or meet and greet going on as the train stopped for pick up.

 

[bmarkelon]

I'm going to elaborate a little again to hit all of your points....

1)well themed~1. Polynesian 2. Wilderness Lodge 3. AKL
2)convenient location~1.BLT at the Contemporary 2. Poly and GF
3)best pool~1. Beach Club 2. tough but I'm going with the Boardwalk 3. Poly

 

[MKCP 1985]

For the money, Wilderness Lodge has the most Disney feel. You could well be in the midst of a Frontierland expansion, surrounded by Humphrey Bear and Ranger Woodlore

(disneyshorts.org)

There are Hidden Mickeys all around and you have Disney Water transportation to the Magic Kingdom, all in a warm, family oriented location.

With money as no object, the Polynesian captures the feel of Adventureland and has monorail transportation. It is the ultimate resort for capturing the Disney Feeling. Its location can't be beat and its pool is still amazing after all these years.

As much as I like the Contemporary and Grand Floridian (and I like them a lot!) they are just a little too sterile or stuffy when compared to the Poly and the Wilderness Lodge, in my opinion.

 

[JohnnyDollaz89]

I would go with The Contemporary as the most Disney Feeling resort! Only because i stayed there 8 times

 

[zurgandfriend]

I would go with The Contemporary as the most Disney Feeling resort! Only because i stayed there 8 times

Ya the Contemporary screams "Walt Disney" from the A frame design to the monorail running through the resort to the gum drop shaped trees outside.

 

[ddbowdoin]

The whole Y&B + Boardwalk area is supposed to be themed to a Northeast and New England maritime feel, so if it made you feel at home, it did its job. I've been to hotels up here that were exactly like the Yacht Club, down to the signs on floors and doors.

The most 'themed' resort to me is POR. Everything fits the theme.

I guess my point is that everyone here talks about experience the "magic" at their resort but I don't want to feel like I am somewhere else, I want to feel like I am at Disney.

I have a home on Marthas Vineyard, if I want NE I'll just go there! haha

 

[mickeysshoes]

I guess my point is that everyone here talks about experience the "magic" at their resort but I don't want to feel like I am somewhere else, I want to feel like I am at Disney.

I have a home on Marthas Vineyard, if I want NE I'll just go there! haha

You need to try a differnt resort that had nothing to do with New England theme...I would suggest WL or AKL to start!!!!

 

[ajt5027]

Call me crazy but I think this is a totally subjective question. To each person it's different. I think all the resorts have a distinct Disney feel, not so much the theme or decor but the aesthetics. People waiting in the lobby with strollers, Mickey Mouse/WDW themed shirts, the hidden Mickey's. I've stayed at many on-site properties and each time I go in, I get a distinct Disney feel.

If you have a house on Martha's Vineyard, maybe a hotel with a lounge called Martha's Vineyard, hits a little too close to home. I have a house at the Jersey Shore, but I call the Boardwalk home. But like I said, its not the theme so much that immerses you, its the surrounding attributes. You have to take a deep breath and stop for a moment to see and feel everything. The cast members name tags always gets me...that's how I know I'm getting immersed in the Disney World.

 

[DizneyPryncess]

I love the resorts on the Boardwalk, and the vibe they have, but I can understand where you wouldn't feel that they are as "Disney" as other places.

I find the Polynesian to feel very Disney to me. I don't know if it's the castle in the distance, or the monorail zipping around the resort, but I've always felt that way about it.

 

[stratman50th]

I guess my point is that everyone here talks about experience the "magic" at their resort but I don't want to feel like I am somewhere else, I want to feel like I am at Disney.

I have a home on Marthas Vineyard, if I want NE I'll just go there! haha

I was wondering when you would come back and ask again.
I think I get what you're saying. The resorts are very good at being what they are, the Beach Club being like Martha's Vineyard, the Polynesian being in the South seas or Hawaii, The Grand Floridian a turn of the century exclusive seaside resort. They are taking the guest to the place of their themeing, but not to "DISNEY". Is that what you're getting at?
I don't know that there is any resorts that actually do that so much as a resort that gets you away from home and puts you in a mind of being someplace else. You unfortunately picked the wrong resort to take you away. You left home and ended up at home. Pick another resort and you'll feel the magic, it just carries you into the mindset of the Magic Kingdom, etc. Not reality to more not reality if I'm getting you correctly.

 

[ddbowdoin]

I was wondering when you would come back and ask again.
I think I get what you're saying. The resorts are very good at being what they are, the Beach Club being like Martha's Vineyard, the Polynesian being in the South seas or Hawaii, The Grand Floridian a turn of the century exclusive seaside resort. They are taking the guest to the place of their themeing, but not to "DISNEY". Is that what you're getting at?
I don't know that there is any resorts that actually do that so much as a resort that gets you away from home and puts you in a mind of being someplace else. You unfortunately picked the wrong resort to take you away. You left home and ended up at home. Pick another resort and you'll feel the magic, it just carries you into the mindset of the Magic Kingdom, etc. Not reality to more not reality if I'm getting you correctly.

correct... I failed to properly get my point across.

I am excited for the art of animation... I know its a value, but to me that is something that has direct ties to Walt

 

[JillC LI]

All great things.... but, to me and this is my opinion the resort lacked the Disney feel. People here have mentioned you always feel like your are surrounded by the Magic but I just didn't get that. I felt like I was back home in New England. Expensive rooms, high brow guests.... I just didn't enjoy it.

What is a hotel that just has that amazing Disney feel...

I think I get what you're saying. There are a lot of great Disney resorts with wonderful theming of whatever style they choose, but those styles don't scream "Disney." CBR does a great job of creating that Caribbean feel, but doesn't necessarily make you feel like you're in Disney World. Same for the Polynesian, or CSR, or POFQ, or GF. It seems to me that if you want to be surrounded by Disney related theming, you might want to try All Star Movies. It is decorated with 101 Dalmations, Toy Story, Love Bug, and other Disney movie objects. Is that more what you mean?

 

[Pioneer Hall]

The idea of the resorts, as with most things Disney, is to bring you somewhere else. Most areas of the parks aren't really distinct Disney, but the way that it is created and delivered is what makes it so. The resorts are an extension of that story telling and immersive design. While you might not have enjoyed the Beach Club, it does exactly what it is intended to do. It transports you to Martha's Vineyard as best as it can. The details are built into everything in order to transport you to another world. Nothing really screams Disney in Asia or Africa in Animal Kingdom, but the way Disney can make you feel as if you are there shows that they are doing their best work.

 

[Dukeblue1227]

I grew up staying at the Beach Club... so to me the Beach Club IS Disney to me...

I never stay there anymore cuz since I started paying for my trips i haven't felt it necessary to spend the money to stay somewhere i stayed 8-9 times as a kid... but every trip doesn't feel complete until I go to Beach Club and walk through the gift shop (though; as a Beach Club snob, I hate the new gift shop... albeit much better overall) and go to Beaches N Cream for a shake...

That said...

Just from a park hopping standpoint I think the tower at the contemporary FEELS the most Disney to me...

Also... just while on topic of opinions on this matter... I LOVVVVVVVVED the AKL because to me it DIDN'T feel Disney to me.

Obviously just being IN disney everything feels disney, and I don't know about anyone else but I have some weird nostalgia over hotel gift shops and I always feel very comforted in a Disney resort gift shop... but that aside, the AKL itself, the rooms aspect of it... felt so UN-disney which is why I think it's my new favorite resort there.

I'm in Disney for a week, spending very little time at the hotel itself, so I just personally LOVE the unique Non-disney (but deep down feels entirely disney because of how un-disney it was themed) feel of a resort.

This topic is making me want to go back so bad............ ugh.... haha

 

[R W B]

I've only stayed at value resorts but I have been to each one and walked around them all and I would have to say I got the best DISNEY feel at All Star Movies. I mean you have giant Disney characters everywhere, IMO its the best for that feeling. Most other ones are themed well, but not Disney themed. I mean Poly, GF, Contemporary, YC, POFQ, POR and others all have great themes of their own but none screams out Disney to me.

 

[ddbowdoin]

I think I get what you're saying. There are a lot of great Disney resorts with wonderful theming of whatever style they choose, but those styles don't scream "Disney." CBR does a great job of creating that Caribbean feel, but doesn't necessarily make you feel like you're in Disney World. Same for the Polynesian, or CSR, or POFQ, or GF. It seems to me that if you want to be surrounded by Disney related theming, you might want to try All Star Movies. It is decorated with 101 Dalmations, Toy Story, Love Bug, and other Disney movie objects. Is that more what you mean?

Yes... that is essentially what I mean. I think its crazy that there is only a single resort with such a theme and its a value. Nothing against value resorts (especially since Ive never stayed in one) but I have heard the horror stories. There has to be a market for at least a moderate whose central theme is more Disney-esque.

 

[thewhitequeen]

Not sure what you mean by "Disney feeling" but I think the best all around themed resorts are AKL and WL and I think AKL is the best. If you want Disney in your face 24/7 I'd have to say one of the values (though I've never stayed in one).