Alternative to Disney Contemporary
 

I have a conference there April 24-27 and have no intention of staying there... I have heard too many bad things about it.
What hotel is the nicest within commuting distance. I will have a car...
Thanks!

I would stay at the Wilderness Lodge or the Grand Floridian. Both top notch in my opinion. GF is the best of the 2 though.

I would go with the club floor at the Yacht and Beach Club.

I loved the Animal Kingdom Lodge. But then you'd have to like watching wilderbeast and giraffes and gazelle frolick in the mini-veldt beneath your balcony. If that's you, then go for it.

Definately not the Polynesian - even though commuting to a conference by monorail would be tempting. The Grand Floridian has a fake feel to me so I've never been tempted to stay there. I liked the Boardwalk Inn and Villas - I liked the location near Epcot plus it has its own group of restaurants and shops. I also liked the Beach Club but the room was a bit small.

I also have to say that I liked the Contemporary. The rooms are the largest at Disney - the bathrooms had an unusual layout but were good for a family. Our room was in good shape and was convenient to the pool.

bennnie,

What's the issue with the Polly?

We stayed there (albeit 7 years ago), and thought it was great.

For what it's worth, I believe the Polynesian was rehabbed within the last few years.

Yacht Club is nice and the Wilderness Lodge has such a homey feel, and I love the "down home cookin" restaurant in the main lobby.

gc - We had dinner at the Poly in Feb 03. The rooms may have been rehabbed but the common areas were still badly dated. Think Brady Bunch in Hawaii. Not appealling. Plus there's a weird smell from those plants on the ground floor - smells like a combo of too much organic matter and chlorine.

The Wilderness Lodge could be a good choice. They have a boat that takes you to the Contemporary. That would be an interesting commute.

topping...

I believe the common areas have now all been re-done at the Poly since they say it is now completely different inside.
We are staying at the Yacht club when we go down in the fall. We hear GREAT things about it.