Which WDW Resort hotel?
 

If you were going to stay at a WDW Resort hotel - which would it be out of the following: <BR>Caribbean <BR>Port Orleans <BR>Dixie Landings <BR>Coronado Springs <BR> <BR>What is the standard of these 'moderate' hotels compared to 'value' and 'deluxe'? <BR> <BR>Also, which resort/hotel do you recommend if staying in the Lake Buena Vista/Maingate area? <BR> <BR>Any advice welcome.

Hi, Sarah <BR>I strongly recomend the Vistana Resort <BR>Or the Orange Lake Country Club , or <BR>The Cypress Point . <BR>email me I can help <BR>Bye <BR>Zeev

I've been to WDW eight times, & I wouldn't dream of NOT staying at a WDW hotel..the decor is so whimsical & fun, the convenience & frequent transportation can't be beat. <BR> <BR>I've stayed twice at Dixe Landings. Port Orleans is the sister resort adjacent & is comparable. <BR> <BR>Dixe Landings has nice rooms, beautiful landscaping, pretty nice pool (not at the level of Yacht & Beach Club, but much better than either Polynesian or Floridian pools), frequent free WDW bus transport, & optional boat transport to Pleasure Island. note, Dixie Landings is roughly split into "Bayou River" style buildings & "Mansion" style, I prefer the former because they are MUCH closer to the main pool & the front desk/ food court. Port Orleans is smaller & a bit easier to get around. <BR> <BR>I would choose Port Orleans/Dixe Landings over the Caribbean. Caribbean has gotten criticized for inadequate, crowded food court (also, No restaurant on site)...which is where I usually like to take breakfast & coffee to jump start the day. Also, when our airport shuttle bus drove thru the Caribbean, it looked a little threadbare compared to the newer Port Orleans/Dixe Landings. <BR> <BR>I've not stayed at the Coronado, all I know is that it's a brand new, moderate ($150-ish ??) hotel. <BR> <BR>P.S., the previous poster sounds like a real estate salesman or travel agent to me, trying to hustle up off-site business!! If there's something to say,why not post it publicly?? Think VERY hard before booking off-site. It always going to be more of a hassle. At a WDW hotel, transport runs so frequently, we always come back in the afternoon for a couple hours pool break.. a wonderful way to refresh & rejuvenate one's self. This will be impractical if you're staying "off world".

Sarah, <BR>Stayed at Caribbean Resort, very unhappy with it, transportation long and laborious to other parks. Yacht club location much better....Caribbean Beach was pretty but rooms were not very nice, I would spend the extra money and get the services and extras! Also, went on a disney cruise, it was wonderful.

The moderate hotels are good. I've stayed at Port Orleans and Coronado Springs and liked both of them. If you stay at the Coronado, ask for the Cabanas - those rooms are closer to the pools and lobby/food areas. It is often used for conventions. The value hotels are also good. I've heard that the transportation from them (All Stars) is not as good as other hotels. The deluxe are great in that there are more transportation choices (boats take you from Boardwalk, Yacht/Beach Club to MGM, Epcot). The Contempory is walking distance from the MK and also has the monorail close by which will take you to EPCOT. <BR> <BR>I recently stayed at the Wyndham which was near Downtown Disney. I booked it on priceline.com and got the room for $45 a night! It's a 4 star hotel and is very nice. If it's your first trip to WDW, it would be nice to stay on property to enjoy the full "magic".

Tom's correct about L. Zeev's post. He had tried to unload a condo on me by emailing me directly instead of on my post. <BR> <BR>We've stayed at the Port Orleans and enjoyed it. Check-in was efficient. The hotel restaurant was good for a quick breakfast so we could get a good start to the parks. We wanted extra towels and housekeeping came quickly to drop them off. We didn't have any problems with Disney transportation--all very efficient.

Sarah: <BR> <BR>I would highly recommend the Port Orleans (although I haven't stayed at any of the others.) There is a web site called "Walt Disney World Insider's Guide" which has detailed descriptions of all properties: wdwig.com. <BR> <BR>The last two times I've been to WDW, I've stayed at the Port Orleans. The New Orleans theme is fun (definitely try the beignets at the cafeteria) and the place is more compact than Dixie Landings. The buses were frequent - we had no trouble getting around. We had rented a car, but never used it. Staying at a WDW resort allows for the total escape from reality.

The value resort rooms are definitely the smallest you will get and the resort is obviously quite noisy because of all the kids.(I am not anti-kid). We have stayed at the Dixie and Coronado, both moderates. Dixie and Orleans both have a great atmosphere, I find. Dixie was built in '92, so all the landscaping has had a chance to grow in. If you stay at Dixie, you can use the pool at Port Orleans(that is how it was, and vice versa). The food court here is really lousy. Ate there for old time's sake last year and it was not very good. The Coronado will have the newest rooms because it opened about 2 years ago. It is more sparsely landscaped, but it also has the southwestern atmosphere, i.e., not tons in the way of trees. It is a lovely property and the food court here is pricier but great value and worth it. Food is cooked at stations and all that we had was terrific. Lots of choice...baking, nachos, fajitas, caesar salads , fresh fruit, etc. If I wanted to go up a level to deluxe, I would opt for the Caribbean Beach and Yacht Club( twin properties I believe)I did research the Lake Buena Vista area, but have not seen the hotels here, and I don' know how much you want to spend. I would opt for the above properties, I think before going to Lake Buena Vista(Coronado, I think). We also stayed at the Vistana for part of our stay and I really missed Disney and the whole feeling there. Oh yes, apparently shuttle service to and from the coronado is more efficent and frequent than the other moderates, they say...maybe because it caters partially to conference people. Does this help?

Sarah, Where you stay may depend in part on who is on vacation with you. We stayed at the Port Orleans several years ago and it was great for us- moderately priced (Disney moderate) and the pool was great for our little one. It had a dragon slide and a lot of shallow parts, in fact I am not sure if the pool was more than 4 feet deep. Which if you have teenagers, may not be the place to stay. If you do have older children with you, think about a resort along the monorail line, so that they can have some freedom to come and go into the park on their own, yet you won't be worried about them catching buses, etc.

Sarah, <BR> <BR>We've stayed at all the resort hotels you mention except Port Orleans. Of those you list, I'd definitely choose Dixie Landings, as other seem to in this forum. <BR> <BR>We're firm believers in staying "on site," and the transportation is very easy from Dixie (and Port Orleans). Do be sure to request a room near the food court/central building, because if you don't you can be really, really far away. <BR> <BR>You don't say how many you'll be traveling with, but here's a wonderful thing we learned about Dixie: you can get a free trundle bed--in fact, we think you automatically get one. This is great for our family of four, with a girl and a boy. Our son is still short enough to sleep in the trundle bed, and therefore we aren't faced with having to sleep mom with daughter and dad with son, to avoid putting adolescent son and daughter together. Disney doesn't seem to advertise this trundle bed feature, and we think it's great. <BR> <BR>We stayed at the Coronado last November and were disappointed. The room was fine (and they did supply us with a rollaway bed), but the food court was small and didn't seem to be planned well to manage people--surprising for Disney. <BR> <BR>You didn't ask this, but I'll tell you one thing that has worked well for us: we rent a small fridge for the room, and then buy OJ, milk, and cereal. That way we save a lot on breakfast. We buy the cups they sell at the hotels, which you get for about $8 and then can refill for free. One of the best deals at Disney. <BR> <BR>As a great Disney fan, I hope you enjoy your trip.

I know the value hotels aren't on your list but I stayed at Disney's All Sports, and if you just want a place to "hang your hat" and go for a swim its adequate. The rooms are small but clean. I enjoyed the pool, the food court, and the weird tacky decor!! (ours was football)

<BR>Have gone to Disney three time in last three years (once on the cruise) and <BR>agree with everyone else. Loved Dixie <BR>Landings - the pools and grounds are great. Did not like the Caribbean of <BR>All Sports. Definitely stick with Dixie.

Another vote for Dixie Landings! We had 2 parents as well as two kids ages 8 and 10 and one grandma. We also used the trundle bed feature and found it fine although the rooms are on the small side. The kids loved the big pool as well as the small pool right outside our building. The kids thought the food court and the refillable mugs were great too. I would also second the advice re the WDWIG website. I found their advice invaluable. They even recommended which building numbers to request for the most convenience. I think we stayed in 18 which was close to the food court, the bus stop, and had one of the small pools right outside. Enjoy your trip.

Hi all, <BR>The first time I went to WDW my daughter was 4 and we stayed at the Carribean. We have been back every year since then, and have alway stated at the Carribean. My daughter is 11 now, and we wouldn't consider staying anywhere else. Yes the food court is crowded at times, but I don't fly 2,000 miles to hang out at the hotel. The Carribean has beautiful landscaping, a fun pool, and a lagoon with ducks that eat out of your hand. Also there are bicycle and boat rentals. The staff there is the greatest. I find thw WDW transportation to be adequate. <BR> <BR>Kathy <BR>

We stayed off site last year but longed for Dixie Landings. We just love it there. In the general store they sell small boxed of cereal and you can buy 6 bagels in a bag for 1.99 then we just toast them in the cafeteria. Saves money. I vote for Dixie!!!!!!

I have stayed at all the onsite properties listed except the Coronado Springs. The rooms at the Carribean are the largest. I liked being on the lake, and having access to the watercraft. It is a large property but we were close to the main building/food court both times. If your party has four people in the room it is the place to stay. The Dixie Landings was very quiet, and very pretty. The kids really enjoyed the pool, and my son fished from one of the bridges. This past December we stayed at the Port Orleans, the Christmas decorations were great. However with four adult women, the room was too small, and we were happy when we moved to the Disney Institute for the remainder of our stay. Our group size increased to 8, so the price was the same for a Very Large two bedroom townhouse. 2 1/2 baths, and a full kitchen. If your group will be large I definitely recomend that you look into that option. Bus service at all the moderates was good, however the service at Disney Institute was very slow. After waiting for more than 40 minutes for a bus to return us to the resort from DisneyMGM, I inquired about the long interval, A transportation employee ended up giving us a ride right to our door. Definitely worth remembering if you are having trouble. We did have a van, which we ended up using for all of our other park trips. Good luck with your plans. Judy

We are planning a first time trip to WDW. It will probably be a one time thing. From what I've been reading I'm leaning towards staying on site. My kids are 13, 11 and 7. What hotel do you recommend for that age group and for our first and only visit? Someone told me to make reservations for 4 and just slip that third kid in? Are the All Star Hotels to young for my children? Thanks!

Gee, I don't know about slipping a kid in. Won't you be needing to buy tickets for 4 anyhow?

<BR>S. Bessey - <BR> <BR>if the kids even remotely like water, & if budget allows, consider the Yacht or Beach Club (in the Epcot resorts area). The Y&B Club has an fantastic, large pool complex. <BR> <BR>It's also an easy 5 min walk to EPCOT, many older kids like Epcot over the Magic Kingdom. <BR> <BR>The entire Epcot Resorts lagoon area also has a lot of good restaurants, entertainment, etc. <BR> <BR>If you need more room than a "regular" hotel room, the Boardwalk Inn (also in Epcot Resort area) has some suite setups with mini-kitchen etc. <BR> <BR>You didn't state budget - these are all Disney's "deluxe" hotels & can cost $200-300 per night & up, depending on season, available MKC discounts, etc. <BR> <BR>I'd advise AGAINST "slipping a third kid in" - where exactly would he sleep?? Housekeeping would probably notice the extra body, and you'd get caught anyway. Extra cost for a 5th person is fairly modest, but it may get quite cramped even in a "deluxe" room containing 2 queen beds. <BR>

I have stayed at Coronado Springs, and Carribean Beach Resort in the last 12 months. 1 week at each location. I stayed at Coronado on a business trip and decided against it on the return "family" trip simply because I'm not much on the "southwest" type decor. However the room was fine and the food court had quite a bit to offer if you are eating at the property. <BR> <BR>Carribean was a different story. Although the room was virtually the same as Coronado with only the interior decor being changed....The food court area was TERRIBLE. 3 or 4 of the restaurants were not even open during the lunch hours so your choices were very limited. <BR> <BR>We visited numerous Disney properties while we were there. The moderates are a good value. Although transportation can be a little time consuming it is great to be able to catch the bus to ANY disney property for free. My personal opinion is that next time I will probably go a little higher than the moderates and stay at the Boardwalk. OH BY THE WAY another bad thing about Carribean....The Disney busses drop you off at a designated spot at each theme park...Each resort has its specific drop off/pick up area. Carribean was ALWAYS the farthest drop off area away. <BR> <BR>All of this being said, if Disney is your main trip objective, I wouldn't even think of NOT staying at a Disney property. It is just the easiest thing to do. <BR> <BR>Just as a side note..If you don't mind spending a buck of two...make reservations for a dinner at the California Grill at the top of the Contemporary Resort. Make sure and be there during the time that they shoot the fireworks at WDW. They stop serving food, turn down the lights and pipe in the WDW music and you see the fireworks from a TOTALLY BEATUTIFUL perspective. Its pricey, but worth it once..even my 8 and 14 year olds loved it.(I've done it on each trip now) <BR> <BR>Enjoy!!

In the past 25 years, I've been to WDW at least 53 times. I never knew (after they built it) about HOTEL PLAZA BOULEVARD in Lake Buena Vista. I stayed there last year for the first time I will not stay anywhere else again. it is SO close to everything (downtown disney), WDW, very nice, clean, peaceful, and I think ALL the hotels have transportation. they have best western (1), Hilton (1), Courtyard by Marriott. a Double Tree Inn, Grosvenor, a Wyndham and I think two or three others. I'm hoping I am able to get back there this year during New Year's.

I've also been to WDW many times (I'm probably up to 12 now) and I cannot say enough about how important it is to stay on the Disney property. Transportation is provided as well as "extras". I've stayed at the Royal Caribbean (I don't even know if they're around any longer), the Polynesian, the Yacht Club, Caribbean Beach Resort, off-property Hyatt or Marriott (can't remember which but they're all the same anyway), and I know I'm forgetting some others. The best place I would have to say was the Yacht Club. Although it can be a bit costly, the service is impeccable, the location is outstanding (don't even need to take transportation to Epcot- it's a 5 minute walk), they have a beach, pools, water slides, and an area across a lake where they have their own restaurants and stores. It's also a short bus ride to the Magic Kingdom and the other properties, including Pleasure Island. You can also walk to the Swan hotel from there, which has a great Italian restaurant inside. We were also upgraded to the concierge floor where they had complimentary breakfast every morning and snacks were laid out for guests (peanut & jelly and chocolate chip cookies for the kids) every day at about 3. I agree with the others that the Caribbean Beach Resort is one of Disney's worst resorts, at least when I was there anyway-perhaps it's changed since then. Of the moderates, I've been told by my mother (who's been to Disney even more than I have) that Port Orleans is very nice, so if you're going to go that way I would stay there or at Dixie - not Caribbean Beach Resort, IMO.