Where Not to Stay
OVERVIEW
This site recommends you stay in the deluxe resort Disney’s Polynesian Resort if you can afford it, or at the value resort Disney’s Pop Century Resort if you cannot.
Three other resort categories exist:
- Disney Vacation Club Resorts
- The campsites and cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
- The moderate resorts
While wonderful for trips after your first, none of these other categories is recommended for your first family trip.
THE DISNEY VACATION CLUB RESORTS
The Disney Vacation Club (DVC) resorts are expensive, and neither as convenient nor as kid-appealing as the Polynesian, their price comparator.
Their distinctive characteristics (for rooms other than studios) are extra space and full kitchens. These just aren’t of much value to first time visitors who aren’t sure if they’ll ever return, who will be spending most of their time outside their rooms!
(A couple of exceptions: the Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and the Jambo House Villas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge have terrific kid appeal. Kidani Village has substantial kid appeal, but less than Jambo House.)
They do make sense for large families, and/or those seeking spacious accommodations. See this for large families; see this for more on the DVC resorts. For the most comfortable options, see this.
FORT WILDERNESS
The campsites and cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort are neither as convenient nor as kid-appealing as Disney’s Pop Century Resort or the moderates, their appropriate comparators.
THE MODERATE RESORTS
The moderates unquestionably are much more appealing to adults than Pop Century Resort (and the other value resorts).
Their rooms are almost 2 feet longer and a foot wider than at the values, and the bedroom spaces are actually larger than those at some Disney deluxe resorts: see this.
Moreover, at most of the moderates you now get queen beds–a welcome change from only a few years ago, when they had full beds (Caribbean Beach still has full beds).
The moderates have more amenities than the values, and, to an adult’s eyes, much better landscaping and exterior design.
Even so, the moderate resorts are not a better choice for your first family trip than the values, even if you could easily afford them. The issue is that alternatives have a lot more kid appeal.
If you could afford the moderates, a more kid-appealing and convenient itinerary would be to spend the first 5 nights of your trip at Pop Century, and the last 3 at Disney’s stunningly kid-appealing deluxe resort the Wilderness Lodge.
This approach costs you ~$30 more (total!) than staying at the moderates for 8 nights, but is much more convenient and kid-appealing.
(Note: do not reverse the order here–don’t go to the Wilderness Lodge first, and then to Pop Century–or you will hear no end of complaining from your family…!)
MORE ON WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD
- For where to stay, see this
- For your next best choices, in order, see this
- For picking your resort based on appeal to kids, see this
- For picking your resort based on convenience, see this
- For where not to stay, see this
- For what you get in each resort price category, see this
- For Walt Disney World resort price seasons, see this
- For resort reviews, see this
- For the value resorts, see this
- For the moderate resorts, see this
- For the deluxe resorts, see this
- For suites at the deluxe resorts, see this
- For the Disney Vacation Club (“DVC”) Resorts, see this
- For a (geeky) overview of comparative room size, see this
- Military/DOD families should look at this
- Families seeking the most comfortable place to stay should see this
20 comments
Hi Dave,
I just read your article regarding the moderate resorts for first time visitors, and I was just curious what your logic was in recommending staying at the pop century for 5 days and the wilderness lodge for the other 3 days?
Lance–the issue with the moderates is their (relative) lack of kid appeal. The split stay alternative costs about the same, but would be much more kid appealing.
Hi Dave,
Is that right? From the website it looks like the CBR main pool is very kid friendly with the fort, water cannons, etc.. Well, I hope Disney extends their great deal until November 2011 so I can upgrade to one of the deluxe resorts! Great website, very helpful information! We are going for the first time next year, during ‘jersey week’.. I cant wait!
Lance–the kid appeal issue is relative. CBR has great kid appeal–especially the pool!
However the values, Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and the Polynesian have much more kid appeal!
Wow, I am going to have to look a little deeper into your suggestions, I put a deposit down on a CBR room but I might have to change it! Thanks again for responding so quickly!
Lance–try to make Disney’s Wilderness Lodge work–it is both the least expensive of the deluxes, and the most kid-appealing hotel on the property…
We are 3 somewhat slightly older couples, looking at taking a trip to D World in early October and we were thinking of using our DVC points to stay at the Boardwalk, Beach Club, or other comparable vacation condo. Do you have any lodging recommendations for us? We have enough points to most likely get a studio or 1 bedroom for each couple and would like convenience, and a bit more quiet accommodation, since we won’t be bringing any children, except the child inside each of us…We are also thinking of purchasing the Dining Plan, and the 7 day MYW Park Hopper tickets — should we go to AAA to purchase these? (is there any discount?) Would like to hear your thoughts…THX!
Hi Judy…for “older” adults seeking quiet and convenience, I’d go with the Beach Club. It is nicely proximate to Epcot and the Studios, and quieter than the BoardWalk, which because of its design has many villas facing the pools or the (sometimes noisy) Boardwalk itself.
Re AAA, you can often get small discounts from them–e.g. 5%.
The dining plan will pay off only if you would have done that many sit-down dinners anyway…
The split stay sounds interesting to me. How do you do book this? Doesn’t seem like you can do it online? How will it work with the free dining promotion? We are planning on going in mid-December for 5 nights, possibly 6.
Hey Rachel–to do a split stay, you’d book two separate reservations (ideally wth a one night overlap if you can afford it, to make changing resorts easier), and do the free dining plan with each
Hi Dave,
I agree with your suggestions. I cannot live the year down that we took the kids to Wilderness Lodge. They were awed and amazed. We haven’t been able to afford it for subsequent trips, but I can’t bring myself to go to a value hotel again…too noisy and loud. Last year we went to French Quarter at Christmas. I loved it (quiet, charming, and close in) but the kids were like..meh. This year I’m going to try the Royal Rooms at POR. These rooms are close to the lobby/bus and the grounds supposedly have castle-like theming. However, no question but that POLY and WL do capture the imagination!
Hi Kathy! Let me know what you think of the Royal Rooms once you get back…and if you can imagine an 8 year old in them!
Hi Dave, My family of 2 adults and 2 teenage daughters 19 and 17 are planning to visit WDW in Dec for 7 nights of this year from Australia. Which resort would you recommend in both Deluxe and Moderate for this “kids” age group. The 17 year old is Disney mad but still want comfort and quiet for us “older kids”. Thanks for this wonderful website as it has helped us choose which week we are coming.
Hi Kathy, thanks for the kind words, and that’s a tough one!
Suggest you skim a few reviews and give me some initial reactions, and then I can help focus.
Start by looking at Port Orleans French Quarter among the mods, Grand Floridian and Beach Club among the deluxes, and Old Key West one-bedroom villa among the DVC properties.
The reviews are all linked to here: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/04/26/walt-disney-world-resort-hotel-reviews/
For relative prices, see the links that start here: http://www.mousesavers.com/roomrates2012.html
Give me your reactions to these options, and we can hone in on one or go to some other ones based on why you aren’t keen on these…
Hi Dave,
Thanks for the speedy reply! Had a look at the Polynesian and the reviews weren’t that great for the price you pay but certainly is very convenient for transport. Have found out on http://www.mousesavers.com that the 17 year old is free in the rooms, so that helps keep the price down a bit. Looked at the Grand Floridan reviews and once again are mixed but overall good. Beach Club has good reviews and so does the French Quarter. My 19 yr old daughter wants to be able to use a gym (as if she won’t be doing enough walking!) So if staying at French Quarter can you access another resorts gym? Also looked at Old Key West and according to this website not good for transportation. We are first timers and will probably never return so want to factor the travelling time in. We are planning on arriving 6 Dec (not until very late in the night) departing 13 Dec but nothing booked yet. So I guess it will depend on what the crowds will be like as stated “fewer” on your chart. Let me know what you come up with and thanks heaps for your help.
Kathy
Kathy, I would pay little attention to reviews on places like Trip Adviser etc., as most reviewers have not stayed in every Disney resort option, and that’s your relevant set of choices. Convenience and travel time is relative it varies depending on your specific itinerary. My recollection is that you can’t use the gym of another hotel–the only moderate with such is Coronado Springs…if a gym, convenience, and an “older” feel are the big issues, then the Contemporary or the Beach Club are likely the best deluxe choices. A one-bedroom villa at Old Key West gives you more space and is the best value for money among the one-bedroom villa options…given the gym issue, among the moderates, only Coronado Springs will suit…
Hi, my husband and I are planning to go to disney in 2013. I know the prices arent out yet, but we’re also not able to make any trip plans until he returns home from deployment. We want to stay in a room that is more geared towards adults as we’re leaving our 2 year old with the in-laws. I’ve been looking around and with the 40% military room discount, this can get us a great hotel for the same as a cheap one would have been originally, which is ideal . We’re going to make up for our lack of a honeymoon. Any romantic ideas? I’m wanting to get us the premium package so we can have a nice sit down dinner each night. I’m thinking 6 nights, but that just doesnt seem long enough. I want to keep the price under $6000, ideally, but with flights from Washington to florida, and spending money, it seems more or less to be hitting $7500+. Any recommendations? I’m looking at the contemporary resort, but we want a balcony and a king size bed. I was looking and they only give us the option to stay in the bay lake tower, which I cannot find a standard water view layout for that. Do they all have balcony’s? Are all of the rooms in the main atrium “club level” . Is there anywhere I can find a layout listing room numbers and their location at the hotel?
Hi Christina, a couple of things…one is that the 40% off deal expires in Sept 2012, so it may not be available for 2013. They may bring it back, but no guarantees…see http://bookwdw.reservations.disney.go.com/ibcwdw/en_US/specialOfferDetails?name=Promo&promotionCode=fy11military&market=fy11military
Second, on Bay Lake Tower, none of the rooms are “club level,” and they are probably aiming you at a studio room, which would be OK–see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/09/13/review-bay-lake-tower-at-disneys-contemporary-resort/ I’m not keen on these rooms for families, but for a couple they’d be fine.
Honestly, I don’t think the Contemporary is romantic at all. If you can afford a deluxe, for romantic and adult lodgings I’d advise either the BoardWalk Inn or the Grand Floridian. For the BoardWalk Inn, see this http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/12/16/review-disneys-boardwalk-inn/ and also this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/04/03/personal-favorites-the-epcot-resorts/ For the Grand Floridan see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/11/07/review-disneys-grand-floridian-resort-spa/
If the price gets too high and you need to drop to a moderate resort, Port Orleans French Quarter is the most romantic–see this http://yourfirstvisit.net/2009/10/23/review-disneys-port-orleans-french-quarter-resort/ and this http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/10/25/personal-favorites-the-moderate-resorts/
You can save money on the standard dining package instead of the premium one…if this doesn’t give you enough sit down credits for all the meals you want, it likely would be cheaper to pay cash for a meal or too than to get the premium plan.
Six nights won’t allow you to do everything…but you don’t have to do everything, as you’ll be back later when the kids are older. That’s enough for a relaxing and fun visit…
This will probably raise more questions, so think about it and get back to me!
I would like to plan a trip for October 2012, but don’t know where to begin. Should I book myself on the Disney website or go to a travel agent. I also need help deciding which hotel. My family consists of my husband and myself, an adult daughter, an adult son, and an 11 yr old grandchild. We would like to have a king size bed and then separate beds for the others. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Hi Marie, you can book either way. The travel agent will likely save you time, but they will still need you to help with a lot of decisions–e.g. all the ones on the home page.
The hotel issue is a tough one to fulfill, because of both the king and the number of beds. For a king and 4 more beds–three two person, one one-person–see one of the two-bedroom DVC villas that hold 9–my highest rated one is Kidani Village: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/01/31/review-kidani-village-at-disneys-animal-kingdom-villas/
Also check out the Treehouses–no king, and one set of bunk-beds, but a little more privacy See this http://yourfirstvisit.net/2009/08/16/review-the-treehouses-at-disneys-saratoga-springs-resort-and-spa/
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