April 8, 2006
Recommended Disney hotels
These Disney Hotel recommendations are a follow up to yesterday's post about the Disney vacation package special.
Port Orleans French Quarter Resort: This is a New Orleans-themed Disney Resort, with cobblestone walkways and ornate iron railings, colorful characters, wonderful food, and watery fun at Doubloon Lagoon. Some criticism has been leveled at the pool (too busy) and the rooms (comfortable but not new enough).
Caribbean Beach Resort: this is Disney's "Caribbean paradise". It is said to have a great beach, island foods, and bright, inspiring colors. Visitors enjoy colonial forts and architecture, lively markets, exotic birds and relaxing strolls on the sand and the warm waters of Barefoot Bay. Criticism includes the rooms themselves (not clean enough) and the food court (too much fast food).
Disney's Polynesian Resort: The tropical grounds are lush and at night there are torches along the pathways. The pool has a great theme and there is a beautiful beach. Criticism has been leveled at the rooms (dated, but they have begun a renovation which should make the theme less of a tacky tropical one). My friend suggests staying on the ground floor since some of the rooms on the upper floors do not have balconies. If you are staying on an upper floor, be sure to request a balcony.
Coronado Springs Resort: One friend claims that they have the best food, and says, "Do not miss the all you can eat breakfast buffet, great food for dinner too but you may prefer the 'pepper market' than the regular restaurant. Both are on the dining plan." This Disney resort is supposed to combine cultural elements of colonial Spain, Mexico and New Mexico. These cultural elements include the colorful spring-fed Fountain of the Doves and the Mayan-ruin themed Dig Site pool.
Well there you have it. Those are places my friends have stayed and enjoyed.
Posted by James Trotta at April 8, 2006 2:39 AM
I have stayed at all of these. Personal opinions. Colorado Springs was to large. It was easier to drive from one end to the other. Carib Beach was OK. Got crowded and therefore got dirty. Port Orleans, our favorite. Nice and the cost is good. Good location ETC... Poly was way to over priced. Beach Club was much better.
Posted by: Bob P at April 8, 2006 3:37 AMOoh, my favorite has to be the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Be sure to get a savannah view- we got a cheap one and we still had giraffes, red river hogs, ostriches, etc. walking right past our window. The food there is amazing- Jiko, the fancy restaurant, is one of my all-time favorites and Boma has a perfectly satisfying breakfast buffet. I was very pleased with our stay there!
Posted by: Emily at April 8, 2006 5:24 AMWe've stayed at the value resorts: All-Star Sports and All-Star Music. Basic accomodations, OK food court, fun swimming pools if we want to take a "park break" in the afternoons and relax at the hotel in the heat of the day. Disney costs can ramp up pretty quickly; I'm not interested in adding exorbitant hotel costs to that and all the kids care about anyway is the parks.
If it was just me and my spouse, I'd shell out more, because we might appreciate a really nice hotel room. :)
Posted by: Sheila Scarborough at April 9, 2006 9:41 AMI have stayed at just about all of the Disney resorts and I think they are all wonderful in thier own way, but the Polynesian and Wilderness Lodge are my 2 most favorites. The Wilderness Lodge is especially nice at Christmas time.
Posted by: Coleen at April 9, 2006 12:32 PMStay in your own villa with private pool. It's cheaper, with tons more room and privacy. We use www.castlemanharris.com
Posted by: David at April 10, 2006 12:51 AMWe took our sons and thier families down to Disney World and stayed at Port Orleans Riverside. It was a real pleasent stay. Clean, nice and friendly smiling faces everywhere you turned. Highly reccomend staying here.
Posted by: Dave at April 10, 2006 4:25 AMMY HUSBAND AND I ARE COMING BACK TO PORT ORLEANS FRENCH QUARTERS THIS YEAR, WE STAYED THERE LAST YEAR AND IT WAS WONDERFUL. VERY CLEAN AND VERY QUIET. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Posted by: Linda Hunt at April 28, 2006 9:42 AMmy husband and I took our family of 25 to Disney and stayed at Old Key West Resort and we loved it. We each had our own two bedroom condo, very spacious. There were two pools, the food was good and the place was spotless.
My husband and i had stayed at Port Orleans before and it was too crowed.
Dear Bob P -It's Coronado Springs NOT Colorado Springs, and if you'll look on the resort map there are all sorts of spots that resort golf carts stop to pick you up and bring you to the pool. Coronado Springs is big but it's a nice moderately priced resort. Yea! for Port Orleans Riverside, we like that one too. We have enjoyed most all we have stayed at and it has been most of them.
Posted by: LynnK at October 15, 2006 8:13 AMDisney port orleans Riverside is the best, even better than french quarter. I have stayed there 6 times.
Posted by: carole sullivan at November 4, 2006 1:42 AMStayed at the Contemporary Resort. The Garden Rooms are really nice. Could still see the Magic Kingdom fireworks from just outside of our room. An elderly family member appreciated having the indoor monorail station. The Contemporary Steakhouse was fabulous!
Posted by: D at November 14, 2006 7:59 AMWe have tried them all...... But our best is the Coronado Springs. Please don't go there if you're on a diet though!!! Oh the food>>.mmmm