We are are a family of 4 - 2 adults and 2 college kids - finishing up a very nice stay at Saratoga Springs. We are in Paddock area (which is big) in room 4836. This is 4th floor, near the stairs and a short walk from the elevator. We are not as far from the central area as some, and are also not close to Downtown Disney. But we are very close to our car, which is the important thing to us. We have enjoyed the Community Center where our son beat us all at pingpong. If we had smaller kids, they would have enjoyed the coloring, crafts, and Playstation 2 there. We rented a 4 person surrey and had fun riding around the resort. Twice we have washed clothes. The laundry is a short walk from our room and is free. However, there are only 2 washers and 4 dryers so they probably get busy. But, we are here during a very busy week and found them empty both times we went. Hubby has enjoyed jogging around the resort lake. We have all enjoyed the quiet pool and whirlpool near our building. The main Rock Spring pool looks fabulous, but is a pretty decent walk and is more kid-oriented. None of us used the spa or fitness center but both look awesome. We like the Artist Point foodcourt. We thought the choices were pretty varied and the food was good. We all had variations on the flatbread pizza the first night and it was all tasty. The sandwiches look good. We are in a studio room which has been fine for us. We brought an air mattress for dd to sleep on the floor and the entryway actually has enough room so that she almost has her own little room. It does obstruct the door when opened, but we just step over it and we're fine. This gives ds the sofa bed all to himself. The lighting in the room is not good, which seems to be a recurring problem in Disney resorts. I think it may be the energy saving bulbs. One over our bed was out and they replaced it promptly. But there is just a little sconce type lamp on the wall over the bed - no lamps on a table and no way to turn one off and leave the other on. Next time I would bring along a clamp on light for my side of the bed. And speaking of my side of the bed, there is very very little room and no table or anything. I am using a tall skinny box (holds our little Christmas tree) as a makeshift bedside table for my glasses and book. Otherwise I would have only had the floor. One nice thing is that there are plenty of outlets, and we are enjoying the fridge and the balcony. We really like Saratoga Springs and would be happy to stay here again.
This was our 1st time staying here, and I honestly won't think of staying anywhere else. The convenience of the monorail is more than worth the cost of the rooms to me. We did the tower MK view, and it was just stunning. A perfect start to our vacation when we dropped off our luggage and there was the castle right out our window. The new refurbed room are gorgeous and modern, with just a few odd little quirks. Beds are comfy, but bring your own pillows if you can. These were like sleeping on marshmallows. Could use a little more counter space in the bathroom, and there really is no place to put your clothes down except for the back of the toilet or the floor. Lots of room to stretch out, good closets, and the safe is big enought to put a laptop in.
Our family are from England we had a great 16 nights in the dolphin in April and we are looking to come back as soon as we can, we all loved it For me I loved the setup and bar my wife lived the restaurants and our 12 year old daughter loved the boat ride and exploring the hotel If we had one complaint it was that because of the large amount of conference people we could not use some of the area as we are use to But in the main as magical as the rest of the holiday I am new to this site and would like to thank its founders for a great portal to link us all to a place we love to visit for us here in the k the holidays we take is made more magical because of the way we are treated my these who work and live within the area so many thanks to the Florida people for making us feel so welcome time after time Richard, Deborah and Lauren Moles
We checked in on nov 24, got there about 12:00 and our room was ready. We thought this was a good sign. We were given a map to our room (we should have packed a lunch for the journey) I think we had the furthest room from the main building. We got to our room opened the door and were assaulted by a "funky" odor, we called mousekeeping they sprayed a deodorizer and it was better (not gone but better). The good thing was we were close to bus stop 3. Sunday we went to the food court for breakfast, wife and i had bacon, eggs, home fries, our 2 kids each had waffles. went to pay bill was around $ 50.00!!! food was good but not that good. We would have done better at a character breakfast. spent the rest of the day at the parks. The main pool was beautiful not that bad of a walk to our room either The pool snack shack was good prices more reasonable. walked to pepper market to buy some supplies for breakfast for the rest of the week...to eat in our room. Found out they have transportation to and from rooms nobody told us about that when we checked in and we carried our carry on bags all that distance, never saw the transport carts again for the rest of the week. One morning the toilet would not flush, called maintenance they repaired it while we were at the parks. Got back to our room about 11:00 to get ready for bed I went outside for a minute my wife runs out saying the toilet was shooting out the flush handle by this time we just wanted to sleep so I readjusted it my self...did not want to wait for maintenance. The place was did not seem busy most of the week did not have neighbors most of the time. I think they could have given us a closer room. All in all we had a great vacation we were only at our room to sleep and shower. I will not stay at this property again, in 2004 we stayed at the Carribean Beach and thought that was a lot better.
Were were at the GF For our honeymoon from Oct 30th/Nov 2nd. For this being the Flagship hotel..its was a major disappointment. I will compare the GF with the Grand Cali at times.....When we first arrived we arrived a little early. Went to check in such...it was about 2 pm. room not ready.....TWO hours later we called to check on the room..it was ready. They told me where it was and I was like Um?? This is our honeymoon we res a honeymoon suite (using our DVC points) the has us two building away on the 7th floor. No flowers in the room as ordered...no nothing. Now the Grand Cali...No wait...concierge level as requested...and we told them were there for our Anniversary..Room was AMAZING...View was amazing!....sigh the GF view was of the pool....anyway I went down to the desk...They say sorry but no rooms are available as it Jersey week...day goes by still not flowers...nothing...next day again the front desk. I get a manager and tell him so far this has not been very magical...he apologizes and that night a Bottle of champaign and A few flowers where in the room. We also went to Victoria and Alberts...Food was GREAT...the downer was the Greeter complaining to a Waiter about her 7.00 per hour and she was going to quit. Sigh We had visited the GF many times before while staying at other hotels at disney at all times of day and night. It was just not the same as other Deluxe Hotels we have stayed at. The "flagship" needs to goto the Grand Californian as that was truly magical!
"Grand" is really a great way to describe this resort. To start the buildings and general layout of the resort are all very well done. We stayed in concierce in the Sugar Loaf building and were greeted outside of the hotel, as we got off the DME bus on our way to the front door. The greeter confirmed our last name and walked us privately thru the main building directly to our room in the Sugar Loaf building. The concierge services were described to us, she gave us our room keys, asked if we wished to leave a credit card on file for room charges, explained our DDP meal plan and gave us a brief overview of how to get more information about the parks. That completed our check-in in only 5 minutes and we were already in our room-No waiting in line, no going to the hotel desk. That was it! Absolutely brilliant! The room was excellent, very clean (and I'm picky), all the linens were spotless, the carpet appeared brand new. There was no musty scent in the room that some here speak of. The TV was a new flat screen(though it was a cheesy LG with a slow remote control), the room included a refrigerator a nice desk with network data jacks, and nice sleeper sofa, nice chair and ottoman. We had a nice balcony facing the marina, as requested. The room had two confortable full size beds, though I wish you could get two King size. The bathroom had two sinks, a hair dryer, coffeemaker, iron, ironing board, a safe, and a separate toilet and shower area. The soaps and shampoos are quite nice. Two robes are also included. As some have mentioned here, we had issues with Hot water, most notably that our showers were lukewarm to almost cold. On morning 1, I thought maybe the hotel was just busy and waited until Morning 2 to say anything. The same thing that morning, no hot water. Literally the kids were shivering in the shower and it was turned all the way to Hot and so I knew I needed to say something. After getting ready for the day, I went downstairs to the Conceirge desk in the Sugar Loaf and told the lady there that the water was quite cold. I explained to her that everything else was great. She immediately responded that that was unacceptable and that "we needed to be provided hot water". She said she would have someone address it immediately and told me that she was granting us a credit to our bill to compensate for the trouble. She did provide us a sizable credit, and I didn't even request or expect one, though it was very nice and I was happy to be treated so nicely. I went back up to the room, and not 10 minutes later a repairman knocked at the door. He spent 10 minutes working on the shower and told me he had fixed the issue and asked me if I wanted to check it. I did check it and it was perfectly hot. I was really happy to see the immediate attention from the staff, they were excellent. This is best way for any resort to respond (by exceeding your guest's expectations)--BRAVO. For those of you considering the Concierge Option (and we also took some time to consider it if it would be important for us), I have to say it was excellent. In the mornings there are cererals and muffins, fruit, coffee, milk, juices toast, cappuchino, teas. In the afternoon there are snacks, though we did use it then, and then in the evening there are meats, beers and wines and after-dinner drinks thereafter. Cokes, water and other sodas are there too. This is a nice thing when you come back from the parks and don't want to go to the cafe or the grill to get something. I think a cappuchino is $4 at the Gasparilla Grill, so that alone adds up quickly. Moreover the best part about Concierge at Sugar Loaf, is that it is more private, it's detached from the main building and if you need anything the front desk is right downstairs and you get immediate attention. The concierge did not replace us dining out for lunch or dinner, but most mornings we were happy with the simple breakfast and coffee. I would have liked to see some egg items and more protein, but I still think it was nice. The hotel is arguably expensive and it's still Disney. This is not the Ritz Carlton, nor will you mistake it for such, but it's absolutely the best alternative. It's ultra convenient with the monorail and nearby Magic Kingdom. The attached marina is fun for taking out the boats, the resort features 5 restaurants plus the Gasparilla self-serve grill, plus your concierce ammenties (if you decide to get that), so you have plenty of close dining options. Also you are close to the Poly and Wilderness Lodge resorts if you wish to dine there for a change. The staff in the restaurants, housekeeping, the staff in the concierge, at the marina, even the groundskeepers and bell services were all excellent. The staff is on their game and knows what fine hotels are about. Despite the hotel being very busy over the Thanksgiving holiday all of the castmembers were excellent and served to provide a relaxing vacation for our family. We can't speak more highly of the resort and really enjoyed ourselves.
We have just returned from 2 weeks at Pop Century ( we did not eat there though ) We all thought the hotel was superb for both us and the kids, we stayed in 80's building and the pool ( computer one ) was really good lovely and warm no matter what time you decided to go swimming ( open 7am till midnight ) lifeguards on duty 10-10 and some where really funny playing with the kids in the pools, The rooms were also okay we only used ours to sleep in though as we were at the parks most of the time till late. Using the buses was easy enough running about every 15 mins
This is more of an observation really.As a visitor from the uK I have been really heartened to read the reviews of the Port Orleans resort and know that it hasn't changed at all. Still the same excellent service and what a great resort!.We have stayed a number of times at the POR (when it was good old Dixie Landings)last stayed at POR at Christmas in 2001.In 2003 we stayed at the Carib.Beach but visted the POR and we were really sorry that we hadn't stayed with what we knew.CB was ok but not a patch on the elegance and service of POR.Magnolia bend is my favourite and in the early hours of the morning watching the rabbits and other wildlife play on the beautifully manicured lawns. We haven't been back to Orlando since 2003 but have had the opportuntiy to vist the Paris and Los Angeles resorts ...Orlando remains the best. We are coming again at Christmas for 3 weeks and although we are staying for a few nights at Hard Rock Hotel Universal there was no contest when it came to the Disney hotel and for 18 glorious nights we will be coming home to the POR.....36 nights to go ..I just cannot wait! Will post a review when we return
I regret that I can't withdraw my previous review where I gave it a 8. I just got back from that can only be described as the resort from h^^l. We arrive at 3:30, and the room isn't ready yet... There solution is to give us a handicapped room (well I'm sorry but I don't want to sleep on the floor or have a bathroom with no door... I called and they said okay, we'll put you in another room... they said someone would be right over with the new keys to the new room... 1 hour later I call and am told the keys are on the way... 2 hours I call again and now they say Oh, I'm sorry the runner never came to pick up the keys... I end up driving back to pick them up, then go to the "new" room to find that it has a card in the room from Mickey to some family named Benson (my name isn't Benson) and find that the room smells like a smoky bar on a Friday night... I again call and explain that my daughter has breathing problems and can't sleep in a smoked up room... Their solution was to send some over with a can of air freshner to cover up the smell of smoke with fake floral scent... Again I ask for a new room.. I finally get one that is reasonable at 7:30... Their solution for wasting 4 hours of my trip that I would normally bill to a client for 1250 /hour... they knock 25 dollars off the bill... Now, don't think it got any better from this point on... it seems when I dialed the front desk I wasn't actually getting anyone at the hotel I was getting a calling center somewhere else... I know this because when I called at 2 in the morning to ask where I could find some antacid they told me to go to the front desk.... when I go there they explain they have nothing and that It would be faster for me to just drive to a all night gas station myself... So if you want a hotel where you will never be able to speak to anyone that actually works there by phone (a call center in India I guess) then by all means pick this dump.
Our family are staying once again in the All Star Music Resort.I love this place and shops and food courts are awsome! I tell you that this hotel is the best you ever seen. Where Dreams Come true!
We just love the Coronado. We arrived around noon on September 1 and waited about ten minutes to be checked in. We gave our information, showed our drivers' licenses', etc. While they were checking to see if our room was ready, they noticed that we were there celebrating my 50th birthday. As we were dealing with someone who was training with check-in, the CM who was helping her asked us to wait a minute...she had to go check something. She came back with birthday balloons, a birthday card and special "gold key cards." Our room was not ready, but they indicated it should be within the hour. We told them we would go eat lunch and then call to see if our room was ready. We went to the Pepper Market for a lite lunch (we were going to Emeril's for dinner at Universal's City Walk at 5:30 and didn't want to eat too much. My husband had a turkey sandwich and I had a ceasar salad...average. While we were eating lunch, it started to pour. By the time our room was ready, it was down to a mere drizzle and we got our luggage out of the car and took it to our room to unpack. We were in Casitas 5 with a water view...exactly as we had requested. We were in a corner room on the first floor (I jokingly asked my husband if he thought they put us on the first floor because I was turning 50 and they were afraid I couldn't handle the stairs!). We had a great view of the Lake and had a hammock right outside our door. Walking to El Centro, Pepper Market, the Dig Site took no more than 5-7 minutes. We were often asked if we wanted a ride on one of the golf/luggage carts that go around the resort, but we always turned it down...we enjoy the walking. While we were unpacking, there was a knock at the door and a basket of chocolates, wine and two Mickey etched wine glasses were delivered for my birthday. We also had turndown service for our bedding every night. We were close to the quiet pool which we really enjoy. It's not that we don't enjoy the Dig Site pool, we just prefer the more quiet area. We never used the buses because we always rent a car. But we never saw a crowded bus leaving or entering the resort. The Pepper Market food is average to above average depdning on what you order. We have never had an issue with any of the food (although I'm personally not crazy about the breakfasts). The first time we stayed here they were very helpful in explaining the way it is set-up, how it works, etc. Now we consider ourselves pros on the workings of the Pepper Market. We have only had breakfast at the Maya Grill once so we can't really offer any thoughts on it. Mousekeeping was great. Just about every day we would go to a park for extra morning hours and then come back to the resort for a nap/swim. Each time we did, our room had already been cleaned. They left extra shampoos, lotions and soaps every day. We received a lovely "kissing swans" towel animal in our window the second day we were there that I absolutely loved. We love this resort because there are not a lot of kids running around. Believe me, we have nothing against kids...we have two of our own (although they are now 21 and 19). But after being at the park all day, we like the quietness that is afforded at the Coronado. For those who worry about the convention people that may be there, here is our thoughts. In all the years we have stayed at the Coronado, once was there a "boisterous" group of conventioneers...they were very loud when they would walk to or from the convention center. But they never bothered us at the pool or anywhere else. We were thinking of staying at the Polynesian next year for our 25th anniversary as cost is not that big of an issue for us. However, after our many stays at the Coronado, we have decided this is just our favorite resort and we have no desire to stay anywhere else. So we will be back at the Coronado from September 1 - 9, 2008 and can't wait.
JUST GOT BACK 09/14 TO 09/22/07 THIS RESORT IS SEROUS ANIMAL LOVER'S AFTER 3 DAY'S I TOOK ALL PIC'S I COULD. CHECKIN WAS CRAZY!! ROOM READY AT 4PM. THEY WERE NOT BUSEY. JUST NO MOUSEKEEPING!!! BUSSES NEVER ON TIME. SPENT ALOT ON CAB'S. WE WERE THERE FOR 9 DAY'S. WE LOVE DISNEY I BEEN GOING SINCE 1977. 2 TIMES IN 07. 1ST TIME THE FRENCH. BOMA WAS O.K. EVERTHING TOO SWEET! FOOD WISE. THE ANIMAL'S WERE AWSOME!!! HAD TO SWAPE A TOWEL RABBIT FOR MY WIFE. FOR THE MONEY YOU PAY! $345.00 A NIGHT PLUS TAX. CLEAN RESORT. NIGHT VISON WAS AWSOME!!! POOL WAS GREAT. TRY IT FOR YOUR SELF. SEE WHAT YOU THINK!!!
This was my second time staying at this resort, and I've got to say, WOW, it's gone way down hill! My mom and son and I arrived at WDW a day earlier than expected and stayed at the All Star Movies...by the end of the week, we were wishing that we'd stayed there! First, our luggage got lost between the two hotels (we were told that we're not allowed to take luggage on the Disney buses,,,understandable, but then they need to have a better system of getting bags from one resort to the other), then when we finally got to our room, it was pretty dirty, with a big stain of something on the floor. Then I went to put some water in the fridge and found that whoever had been in our room before had left a sandwich and salad of some kind in the fridge..couldn't tell what kind of sandwich due to all the MOULD on it!!! Then we came back from the park one day and the Mousekeeper had left an opened bag of garbage on the table...had to then throw away all of our open food...I called the desk to inform them that I wasn't really happy, she put me on hold for over 20 minutes! After that, I guess that our Mousekeeper was "spoken to" about my complaint because every day after that we arrived back at the resort and our room hadn't been done...looked like she just "forgot" about our room for the rest of the stay...and on the last day, when we were waiting for the Magical Express bus to take us back to the airport with my 4 year old son sitting on the bench with me, a couple of cast members from the bell services standing talking about her "a%$**($" of an ex husband who was taking her to court to try and get her kids taken away from her....not such appropriate comments for a 4 year old to overhear! I will NEVER NEVER stay at this resort again...being Disney, I'm sure it can do much better! Luckily this wasn't my first trip to WDW and I've had other great experiences to offset this one!
After the recent renovation, this is my favorite resort at WDW. The rooms are pretty nice-- nicer than many others IMHO, and the size is okay, too. But what makes this my favorite is the proximity to MK, the convenient access to the monorail, and the historical magic this hotel has. Think about it...THE MONORAIL goes right through the middle of the hotel! How can you top that?!?
My fiance and I stayed at CSR aug 7th-13th. The resort was absolutely beautiful! Check in was very quick, we got there at about 12:30, and our room was not ready yet, but we went to the pool, had a few drinks, and by 3 the room ready for us, our bags arrived shortly after and we were able to spend a night out at the parks! We stayed in Ranchos 6A, which was one of the farthest walks from El Centro that you can get, but it was such a beautiful walk that it did not bother us one bit! We were very close to the Main pool, which has a great bar and food area. (the bartender Max is awesome! we loved him!) The Bus stop was about a 1-2 minute walk, not bad at all! I would actually request to stay in this building next time I visit because the pros to the location outweighed the walk we had to make in the AM for breakfast. Our room was spotless, cleaned everyday, and the king size bed was great compared to our queen we have at home. There were always golf carts going around that would pick you up and drop you off at the location you ask for. It was a very handy thing, becuase some nights we just were not up for a walk from El centro to our room, and we would just wait for a few minutes and catch the golf carts. The buses ran great! I think the longest wait we had was for Downtown Disney on a friday night, and we were expecting it (about 20-25 minutes). We usually only waited about 5-10 for park buses. The drives were not long at all! animal kingdom was about 5 minutes, epcot was about 5 minutes, MGM about 5-10 and Magic Kingdom about 10-15. I suppose it depends on the drivers as well, some drivers seemed more comfortable driving the buses than others (there were also a ton of training drivers the week we were there). As for Pepper Market, It is really not all that difficult! If you are confused they will explain it to you and while we were there the hostess' were all very friendly. the %10 gratuity is really not that bad since they get your drink, refils, and clean your table. While we were there the Shuttle launch was happening and we actually watched the shutlle shoot up from the pool, it went right out from behind the Pyramid, it was a great experience! This resort does not have many kids running around at all! It was so nice and relaxing to be able to sit by the pool and not listen to screaming kids! The waterslide was great and me and my fiance went down a few times each day! If you want a nice relaxing resort to come back to after a day at the parks, Coronado is the place to go! I really can not understand how any one could give this place a bad review! it was wonderful and I have already booked our Honey moon for December! Can not wait to go back!
Though not as family-friendly as I would have hoped, the Polynesian did provide quick counter-service, the beach, big-screen movies for kids on that beach, and the sand-bottom pool even if it was small. My biggest complaint was the noise from the WDW Raceway or whatever its called. The roaring engines disturbed our afternoon naps twice. Kona Cafe gave one of the best meals of my life period. The only problem was the overwhelming noise level. Kids love the chocolate sculpture of the animated alien Stitch and his Hawaiin friend, Lilo. I didn't get to see the Ohana show, which was dissapointing. Seems like reservations months and months ahead of time are the only way to get in. However, a senior member of my traveling party pointed something out: if you weren't in Disney and took away the fancy pool and view of Cinderella Castle, the longhouses look rather stereotypical Polynesian motel - the sort of motel that's been considered offensive since the '80s. And despite the size, the rooms aren't anything to get excited about. The best part was the view of the fireworks from the beach while we ate our pineapple ice cream; Dole Whip. However, I know from a previous experience that at Fort Wilderness Campground they pipe the syncing fireworks music in on the beach, which they didn't do at Polynesian while we were there. Lastly, the fauna in the lobby gets old after the initial check-in, but is energizing and eye-catching the first couple of mornings.
The title sums it up. The Wilderness Lodge is breathtakingly beautiful. The rooms are spacious and spotlessly clean. There are always kids activities by the pool, which features geysers that the kids can watch for hours! Older kids will love the zippy slides. If you've never actually seen the exterior, imagine a huge Lincoln Log house... now make it into a towering lodge and surround it in pines. The landscaping is rustically soothing and makes for great twilight strolls. Whispering Canyon Cafe, though pricy, has portions big enough to feed the Marine Corps. The kids ride around on hobby horses during the meal. I haven't actually been to Artist's Palette, but I hear that the window views are lovely. And, as at any Deluxe resorts, (though it really is inbetween the deluxes and moderates, which I view as a good thing for family-friendliness and casualness) the service is top notch.
Beaches n' Cream is a cutsey little ice cream shop out by the main pool. However, at one of Disney's largest resorts, the most popular casual dining seats only 26. The demand is much higher, reservations not accepted, and waits usually exceed 90 minutes. Don't come here from another resort no matter what your snooty, hoity-toity cousins told you - they can actually afford to eat in the other restaurants. I spent only three hours here and I was already sick of the high-society vibe. I suppose people who can afford it may find it more suitable, but despite being breathtakingly beautiful and the pier very soothing, even this, the relaxed half of Beach and Tennis, was too old money for me. Men were walking around in suits! And if I saw another pink, gingham dress with a head of flouncy, silky blonde hair on top... urr. Anybody who is stretching their budget to stay here is going to be very dissapointed. I suppose people who don't have to probably aren't used to anything slightly more... vacation-y.
If you get good weather, this is very tropical, beautiful, and vibrant. Dull weather and it looks like a Ft. Lauderdale condo development. The staff is particularly friendly here and organizes great kid activities. Martinique is centrally-located and has the best facilities. It is worth the cost upping. The many pools are all clean and adequate, though the main pool is by far the best. The food court is very troublesome. This is one of the largest Disney resorts but has one of the smallest food courts. Expect to wait at least 20 minutes for meals during the regular season and upwards of 45 in the peaks. However, where else in Disney can you wear your bikini and go barefoot to get your soda refill? Bang for you buck like all the moderates. The marina activities - I reccommend paddleboats but broke a foot with the surrey bikes - can be expensive, but some are cheap and good on resort days. Carribbean Beach is a fantastic choice if you plan on spending more than one day at your resort as there is always something to do from getting a weave or fake tattoo to having a picnic out on Cayman Isle.
This will always remain Dixie Landings for me. (Before just plain Port Orleans merged with it and became Port Orleans French Quarter.) This is a great trivia question 'cause it identifies veterans of WDW. The staff is typical Disney helpful. Never a frowning face. The carriage ride, though pricy, is memorable.
An adorable resort nestled near Downtown Disney. With the bayou theme and Ol' Swimmin Hole pool, the kids will love it. I've seen multiple kids marvel at "dat big wheel." (Actually a working cotton mill water wheel.) This is the only moderate that can accomodate 5 persons - one kid in a trundle bed. The food court has the best mick n' cheese in WDW and the landscaping is gorgeous on the hoity-toity Scarlet O'Hara side of the river called Magnolia Bend. Think of classic antebellum plantation houses and then sanitize them. Alligator Bayou on the other, far-flung in is more motel-style but also somewhat rustic and spotlessly clean. Beautiful flowers throughout. The bus service is so-so. The boat launch to Downtown Disney makes for a fantastic Girls' Night Out. This is definitely among my Top 3 Resorts.
We had a lovely stay at AS Music. The rooms are comfortable and the housekeeping staff surprised our daughter every day by setting up her Build-a-Bear in a fun spot. We didn't use the pools this time but they looked fun. We were in the building farthest from the main building. It was quite a hike at the end of a LONG day. They weren't running the little golf cart trams. They sat parked the entire stay. AS Movies ran those trams the year before and saved us a few steps morning and night which was a nice amenity. AS Music food cart seemed smaller than AS Movies. It got pretty crowded at the peak meal times. Lines were long and service was moderately slow especially at peak times when you're trying to get to the parks in the a.m. Another negative for us which was not the resorts fault was loud neighbors. They were foreign and very loud in their communications with one another. Slamming doors when they left the room, etc. Sometimes you just get folks that forget there are other folks enjoying some sleep! Transportation was fine and we had no trouble gettting to/from the parks. Very nice resort but we liked AS Movies better!
Since I am an annual passholder, I was able to take advatage of discounted rates Disney World had for the days after Labor Day Weekend. My stay was from 9/2 to 9/5. I chose to stay at Pop Century because I wanted to give another value resort a try. Last year, I tried All-Star Movies. I did not like this resort because I found the front desk unprofessional, and the bus transportation so overly crowded. I heard good things about Pop Century, so I decided to give them a chance. I was not disappointed with Pop Century. The front desk staff was professional and very helpful. They put me in the 50's building, which was close to the food court and buses. I found the room clean and roomy. It was away from the pool, which is good since the rooms near the pool get quite noisy. The food court had very good selections for breakfast and dinner. I liked the table layout of Pop Century's food court better than All-Star Movies. The wait for buses were never long, and the buses never had to go to other resorts before going to the parks. I would definitely go to Pop Century again.
This is my 3rd trip to this resort and I have to say that I was not that impressed. Our trip began with the fire alarm going off during check-in. During this time, all of the guests exited the building and waited outside for an hour with no update as to what was going on or how long we could expect to wait. In addition, the Maya grill was having computer issues so everybody was brought their dinners before their appetizers. Many of the employees did not appear to be that helpful or happy this time around. The last pet peeve of this trip was that the employees at the bar made no attempt to stop two older teens and their father from throwing fodd out into the lagoon. This is the first time that I have had abad disney resort experience. Safe to say I will not be revisiting Coronado Springs again. I hope my Animal Kingdom trip from Dec15-23 is much better. Thanks for listening.
We have stayed at Saratoga Springs, Yacht & Beach Clubs, Dolphin, Coronado Springs, All Star Movies, Several Downtown Disney Hotels and Old Key West is our Favorite.
I love fantasia theme in the all Star Movies. And the shops/dining are cool to.
I am writing this review to help anyone who is thinking about staying at the Dolphin and feels confused or unsure because of the mixed reviews on this forum and Trip Advisor. When I booked the Dolphin, it seemed people either loved it or hated it and this caused me some concern until check-in.....so I want to add my honest opinion to help others decide. We are a family of four..my daughter is 17 and my son 16. Cost was a major factor in making our decision. I got a AAA rate of $179 and then discovered a govt. worker/nurse/teacher rate of $149. We also signed up for the free Starwood Plus membership rthat provided us with a free upgrade to a balcony, water-view room and late 4 pm check-out (ithis is based on availibility). We did not have a car so the parking fee was not an additional cost for us. I was extremely impressed as we pulled up to the Dolphin. The pyramid shape and colors of the resort made it visually stunning.... hwever, we agreed that the dolphin sculptures are dolphin fish not dolphin mammals. The lobby is bright, expansive and visually appealing. The staff were polite and very helpful. We were early and our room was not yet ready, so we ate at the Cabanna Grille by the pool. As we walked outside, i was very impressed by the immaculate and beautiful landscape and grounds. The pool area was gorgeous....I fet like I had arrived at a wonderful, beautiful resort. After lunch, our room was ready and I could not exhale completely until I saw the room. We were in the East wing, room 6030. There were no smells in the elevator or lobby. As we entered the room, it was bright, clean and odor-free. I was delighted with the view. We could see Tower of Terror and Mickey's hat from the balcony. The beds are heavenly...more comfortable than my own bed! The bathroom is small, but since the vanity is located outside the bathroom it was not a problem at all. There is another small alcove that provides additional counter space. I was delighted with the room as well as the lobby, grounds and pool area. However, the best was yet to come...the location of this property is amazing! It is one ferry stop away from MGM on the very slow-moving Friendship boat. It is a very short stroll to all the amenties at the Boardwalk and a short 10-15 minute walk to EPCOT or get a Friendship boat to EPCOT at the Clamshell walkway. It is also walking distance to the Fantasia Gardens and Fantasia Fairways...excellent mini-golf. The fairways are challenging....my DH and DS loved it! We ate at Fresh twice for breakfast....pricey, but delicious! The bagels and fruit at the lobby coffee shop was good for the grab and go breakfasts...again, not cheap. We really liked The Fountain....really good food, great service and delicious ice-cream! The Cabanna bar and Grill had great food, good comapny and yummy drinks. We loved the Dolphin! Everything was truly wonderful! However, this is my caution.....you have to know yourself and your family. Because of the conventioneers, it does have an adult atmosphere...the atmosphere of a really nice hotel in any city or vacation destination. It is not Disney oriented although there is Disney merchandise in the gift shop. Having visited other Disney properties, there is definitely a different energy....in these other properties, there are definitely more little kids, young families...the noise level and crowd levels were higher at the Disney resort pools and the lobbies. I think that if you have younger children, this is something to consider. This is where you need to know yourself and what you want......it was perfect for our family yet I do understand that others what something diferent when they are at disney. The only other caution is that although you do have access to Extra-magic hours, you are not able to get the Dining Plan.....sit down meals at Disney are very, very expensive. For us, it was not a problem as our teens are not "into" dining but if this is a part of your pleasure on vacation, it is something to consider. In the end, we loved the Dolphin abd absolutley loved the vacation. Hopefully, we will go back next year and I will definitely stay at the Dolphin again...and BTW, I prefer the Dolphin to the Swan.
Excellent resort. We went 5/28-6/4/2007. We stayed at Barbados. We chose the bottom floor since there were no elevators. the kids loved th pool. Resort did not seem as large as I had been told. Our room was a 1 min walk to bus stop. Barbados stop was the last on route so we had little time waiting to get to parks, but a longer drive back from the parks. Would definetly stay here again.
I had read a few reviews of this resort post booking and pre arrival. Most of those I read complained about the prices in the Pepper Market and the room size. I arrived around 10:30 AM and check in isn't until 4. We were told that they had a room ready for us so we could go ahead and enjoy the park. We stayed in Casitas 5326. The first thing I noticed about the room was that it has 2 double beds when I had reserved a King. I was a little disappointed because this was supposed to be a romantic vacation with my fiance. I decided not to complain though, as I had shown up long before check in and was promtply given a room (and hey, being squashed together in a double bed is romantic, right?) The room was spotless. I didn't think the bathroom and living space was any smaller than most reasonable motels. Thie first night we ate at the Pepper Market and the food was good, portions great and bill - huge. For the 2 of us with 2 non alcoholic drinks it neared $40. I didn't know if I'd be eating there again. The next day we came back in the afternoon to swim and sit in the wonderful air conditioning. The main "Dig Site" pool was great aside from truly being bathwater temperature. I bought one of the unlimited refill mugs at the snack bar by the pool. We decided to give Pepper Market another try and took our mug (which we shared). He got 13 buffalo wings and a plate of grilled veggies and I got steak fajitas. Both were wonderful and the portions were HUGE. Our bill was $22. That was more like it. Check out was great, as all we had to do was leave. I love the option (when staying at Disney) to charge all purchases to your room. One charge is so much easier to keep track of than 15. Overall, I would love to stay here again, but will probably try to experience other resorts before returning.
Nearly everyone will disagree with my review, but it's based on my stay, and it wasn't good. First, the positves... the theming, construction, decor were all amazing. WDW at its best. That's where the kind words end. Small room. The tub didn't function properly. The CMs were quite rude. The room we had was well quipped with a horrible location. We stayed there on our wedding night. After our reception, we hit the parks for a while and were treated like gold at Epcot and MK as we wore our prerequisite bride and groom moue-ear hats. I thank everyone who worked the parks that day, because we felt so special. When we checked in, we were just kind of rushed on... the concierge didn't even walk us to our room... rather just pointed and said, "It's at the end of the hall." We've NEVER had that happen at any other WDW Deluxe resort while staying on a concierge level. The room itself overlooked the parking lot bus loading area on one side, and the lobby on the other. Pavement and vehicles on one side and the screaming madness of the Whispering Canyon on the other. While the lobby is quite a sight to see and otherwise would've been a great location, the constant yelling from the restaurant facing us really detracted. Romantic wedding night... I don't think so. And don't get me wrong, Whispering Canyon is probably a lot of fun and kids have a blast, but for us on this stay, it's not what we were expecting. We couldn't wait to leave. We've never stayed there again and probably never will. I give it a 10 for the theming and a 2 for everything else, splitting the difference, I give it a 6 overall.
We stayed at the Dolphin in March during ESPN weekend. While yes, there are more spectacular and better all-around resorts on WDW property, the Dolphin is good enough where it belongs in the discussion (and exceeds in some cases... I'm looking at you Wilderness Resort.). The only complaints I have about the resort is the large, neverending layout (You could walk forever to get to the pool depending on where your room is) and the in-room furnishings (a little dated), and the parking fee. But none of these things should ruin your stay (unless you're just a miserable person anyway). The beds are incredible and gave me the best sleep I've had in years. Depending on your room, there are some great views to be had (we got a nice view of the Boardwalk). The dining is excellent: Shulas for those who want to commit financial suicide. Fresh, which is a modern-style buffet, has become one of my new on-property favorites (open only for breakfast and lunch) for those who want to put a hit on their wallet but not let it hemmorage. And there are some quick, counter-service options too. A walk over to the Swan gives you some cool nightlife at Kimonos... a sushi bar with karaoke: Excellent food and spirits and exceptional decor. What sells the Dolphin is the location. Epcot and MGM...err, DHS, are both @10 minutes away, the Boardwalk is right next door. Its location in regards to DHS was extemely helpful when getting to the park early for ESPN Weekend. You also have Extra Magic Hours when staying at the Dolphin which is another huge perk. One would think that Disney is still irate at giving Sheraton and Westin hotels with some of the most prime real estate on property (equidistant walking distance to 2 parks). Not exactly to the purchasing Manhattan for beads level, but still has to make them feel a little sick. My favorite resort, no. Recommended, certainly.
We usually stay at the Port orleans Riverside and when we seen these suites we were not really sure we were ready to go back to the all stars . Well this was a great trip thanks to the suites. Anyone with a party of 5 or 6 would love these rooms. The pool had activities for the kids and movies at night . We saw rabbits , a frog and lizards that my son just loved. We had great mousekeeping and had no issues with noise . The buses ran pretty good but were crowded at night coming back to the resort. Nothing that wasn't going on at any other resort. All the lines to go back were long even for the upscale hotels. We will return to the suites and are hopeful they will expand to other all star resorts or even to POP .
Having stayed at the swan with myself and our then 6 y/o son 2 years ago all i can say is top notch. the only thing missing is that you can tell it is not a Disney owned hotel. every thing was perfect spotless ect. there was just a little "Disney Magic" missing. Even though you have all the same extras as a Disney resort. I cant put my finger on it maybe because of no theming. but when you were in the hotel it just didnt feel Disney. dont get me wrong we had no problems or complaints, Service was great,. but if you have stayed in a Disney Resort befor you will know what i mean.
Stayed in Building 25 near food court and main pool (worth the extra money if you have kids) my 7 y/o son loved the pool. only reason we are not staying ther in feb 08 is the main pool will be closed, so we are going to stay at a delux. but after that will go back. if you stay in anything other than a perfered room you are far from rest, main pool and food court , but they have a bus to bring you around the complex. room was a good size.
My boyfriend and I stayed in the Pop Century in August last year, i've stayed in all of the All Star Resorts before, this is my fav value resort, with all star movies a close 2nd. We had a room overlooking the parking lot in the 90's section. We didn't find that the Food Court, busses were that far away as we used to cut across the parking lot and were there. The buses were always regular and i think we only stood twice!!!! Buses came more regular than when i've stayed at the All Stars, as i have found that you tend to have 1 bus for the 3 All Star resorts!!!!!!! Rooms are the same as All Star Resorts, and you get what you pay for, more than enough room for 2 adults. The decor at pop century was excellent and the food served at the food court was lovely. We liked it so much that were going back June 2008.
I love Pop Century. Because the Pop Century is the best hotel. Our family will love the Pop Century..
We stayed at Caribbean Beach the week of 6/18/07. It was great. Check in ran smoothly, the staff was super friendly and prompt and my room was very clean. We have absolutely no complaints-ok maybe one. We checked in at 6/19 @ 12:15 am so check in was a breeze. Only a few customers were there with us. Our luggage was already in the room for us. We had a ride to our room from the front desk within 10 minutes. The woman who checked us in was very friendly and imformative. She gave us a packet with information about all the parks and dinning. She even took the time to explain them to us in detail! Our room was clean. I am very particular and I always look for cleanliness in a Hotel. This place sure has it! The bathroom was spotless and the room smelled clean. Everyday, the maid came and cleaned our room and gave us new towel animals, some with pens. We always had clean towels and she emptied our trash and replenished anything we used up. She even organized our toiletries we had lying around. She sure deserved a nice tip! Dining was a blast. The food was great in the food court. It was a lot better than I expected. There were some good options to choose from. My personal favorite was the pizza! Shutters restaraunt had great food. Give them a try. Remember to make reservations at Disney or it will be a very long time before you are seated. There are busses that run every 10-15 minutes to take you to anywhere in the park. My only quarrel was that we waited almost 45 minutes for a bus to take us to Typhoon Lagoon and Downtown Disney. It seemed like everyone else was happy and got to where they needed to go quickly. (Seems we have bad luck!) I am kind of impatient so next time we will rent a car. The resort was beautiful and looked so tropical. It was definately Caribbean Island Style. We stayed at Aruba! The grounds were clean, the plant life was lush and well kept. We almost imagined we were in the caribbean. It is so beautiful. Plaintains growing on trees, palm trees, mini lizards (not sure of their exact name, but they can be seen running around), all kinds of plantlife. Although we were at a big resort, we found places to be alone in the most beautiful areas. We can't wait to come back. Disney was a blast. Caribbean beach sure lives up to it's name. We will stay here again. We are already planning our Disney trip for 2008!
My family just stayed at Caribbean Beach last month, and for the most part, we were very happy with our stay. We had a first floor corner room in the Barbados section that was very clean and well located. We had wanted to be close to the parking lot since we had a rental car and drove everywhere and they were able to accomodate our unusual request. :) We have stayed here before and knew how big the resort was, so we would alternate walking or driving to Old Port Royale depending on how tired we were or how bad the weather was. It definitely helps to have a car, but it was nice that they offered an internal resort bus as an option too. Our only drawback was that we had booked a room with a king bed and were traveling with an infant who had been inadvertently left off the reservation. When we got to our room, we discovered that it was a disabled-accessible room that came only with a shower. The resort was full so we weren't able to change to another room so we made due, but it is definitely difficult to bathe a 1yr old without a bathtub. I've read many negative reviews of CB lately with complaints of dirty rooms, torn carpeting and bedding, but our room was in perfect condition. We didn't really notice much of anything our of place except for a few more cigarette butts around the trash cans and in some of the courtyard areas since we were there right after the new non-smoking policy went into effect. We still love this resort and it definitely provided features that entertained our toddler when we weren't in the parks. We'll definitely go back to Caribbean Beach on a future trip!
May 15, 2007. I must say we were thoroughly impressed with Pop Century from the moment we arrived! When I made our reservation, I told the Disney travel agent that my mother was ill. When we checked in, they asked how my mother was doing! Not only that, it was my daughter's 2nd birthday and Cinderella hooked her up!!! We had the Dining Plan which I recommend to EVERYONE! The only draw back was the room is a little over 200 sq ft and my husband and sons are really tall. Other than that we had a ball! So much we're going back @ the end of July!
Having stayed at a Value resort and a Deluxe resort in the past, I was surprised by the quality of the resort. It was much quieter than the Riveside. It looked and felt like a town that I was renting a townhouse in. Having lived in the south for a large part of my life my wife and I though the resort even though it is themed to the Big Easy it captured the southern feel. While walking around the grounds I felt like I was back in the south from the large courtyards complete with covered walks to the quiet fountains and detailed building designs. The pool is nice but is covered with kids. I don't mind kids but if you are looking for a quiet pool, you won't find one here. I would recommend walking over to the Riverside and using one of their smaller pools. My wife and I highly recommend this resort and would visit it again and recommend it to anyone. 8/10 due to the lack of a table service dining room and the limited pool options. Other than that for a non-deluxe resort it is fantastic.
this is a good hotel.
This was my second time staying here and for sure not my last. The only thing I didnt like was the pool (as stated in another review) is a touch small, the rooms had an overall nicer look 9 yrs ago and they need to improve the cleaning and food in the Roaring Fork (quick service). But overall cannot wait to go back again and if all goes well it will be a 2 week stay next time.
This was my 1st time staying at the Dolphin rather than a "disney" resort. You do not feel like you are at disney at all. It is more like a conference/business hotel than a disney resort. My son who is 6 was at the hotel for an hour and still had no idea we were in Disney. The lobby is very nice, but I was disappointed within 20 minutes. We had our room and it smelled like a cat. Had to move to another room on the opposite side of the building and could not get the bed we requested because of the move. New room was nice and clean with an OK view. Beds were VERY comfy. Paid cash at check in only to find a day later that my credit card had been charged for the entire amount of the stay. Took over and hour to have that taken care of, very disappointing. Pools are beautiful, food is very over priced. Be prepared to pay to park every night. Valet is $16 a day. Overall an ok place to stay but if you want to know your in Disney this isnt the place to be.
This is definitely my resort of choice, if only for location. I've stayed there multiple times, and loved it more with each visit! The rooms are spacious, clean, and luxurious, and the entire hotel just feels like a complete escape from the outside world. Beaches and Cream is delightful, and Stormalong Bay is without a doubt the best pool anywhere on property. The hotel's proximity to Epcot and MGM are (lets be honest) what you're paying for, and it's well worth it in my opinion! There's nothing better than being able to walk straight in to Epcot first thing in the morning, and the walk from MGM to Epcot is something I have to do at least once a trip. I've never had a bad experience with the staff, and any minor problems (a towel rack fell off as I was drying my hands) were fixed immediately and with apologies. So comfortable in this hotel that I once fell sound asleep in the lobby waiting for my friends!
I stayed at Pop in January 2007. The transportation was excellent, and I don't think I ever waited more than 10-15 minutes for a bus while I was there. I visited the food court a couple times and found it clean and well-appointed. The rooms were also clean, nice, and new, which was a plus. The only problem was the absurd amount of noise. I'm fairly used to sleeping through noise, but between the wailing children in nearby rooms and the people in the pool until all hours, I was fairly miserable. A word to the wise: don't get a room facing the pool. Any pool. You won't get any sleep.
I know this is late getting on here, but after reading some poor reviews, I thought I would tell about our awesome time there! Upon checking in the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, we were upgraded to a room with a balcony facing Epcot. Every night we could watch Illuminations for the most part. It was also pretty looking at Boardwalk all lit up, and nice to see boats passing by. Room service and bell people were excellent. I got the teacher discount so the rate was excellent for a deluxe resort. Many times we walked to and from Epcot. We walked once to MGM - a little far. We also took the boats. I don't think they are much longer than other Disney transportation. The busses were also right on par with other resorts we have stayed in. We also had our car and just drove to some places like the water park. We were not charged to park at the Dolphin or the parks. I did not like the restaurant for breakfast/lunch. It is a walk through line, but very over priced. The ice cream shop was good. The pool was nice. There are lots of options. I didn't like that we couldn't see thes pool well from the hot tub to keep an eye on the kids. It was not Disney themed, but I felt a very relaxed atmosphere. There is a nice spa available if you want that type of service. If you are considering the Boardwalk or Yacht and Beach, I would consider the Dolphin.
Dining: we dined at Boma the night we stayed here and it was a great experience. although the food was average, the variety was neat and they had african drummers while we dined! although a bit pricey, worth it to go atleast once. Room: the beds at AKL were the best we had during the whole week, having stayed at coronado and port orleans riverside as well. there were little towel animals that reminded you of the great disney hospitality and the wallpaper in the bathroom was unique. overall the african theming was delightful! View: although i have heard from others their veiew of animals was bad, i saw alot of animals! they dont come out much in the morning, but at night around 4-8 there were alot of animals walking around and feeding right below our room! we had a savannah view room on the left side of the lodge on the 3rd floor. recommend a 3rd or 4th floor for the best animal viewing rooms. overall the AKL was great, and i would recommend not visiting the parks on days you visit it. there is so much to do and see at the lodge itself, that going to the parks would be a waste of money on these days. specials: while we were there, the gift shop was visited by an Artist who does disney paintings, and we purchased a painting of the AKL he had done and got it signed while we were there! what a great souvenir!
A great resort for the whole family great theme its one of my favorites
I forgot to mention, we are going back for two weeks in Sept. 2007! Because we loved it so much
It has been 16 years sense my wife and I stayed here for our honeymoon! I loved it then! It was new! And my kids are pumped about the swimming pool. Location is the best of all the resorts! 10/10 LCSGAMERS
Stayed at SSR in August of 05. We were in Congress Park, about a 10 minute walk to DTD. So I know this is a little dated, sorry. We stayed in a studio, close to a quiet pool, & were generally pleased with the room and view. Of course, being close to a walkway to DTD means being far away from most of what the resort has to offer. Walk to the main areas was just as long-if not longer!-than the walk to DTD. We bought refillable mugs, but didn't use them much besides meals because by the time you filled them and up and started walking back to your room, you finished your drink and were thirsty again! I know they've since turned Turf Bar into (more or less) a full service restaurant, albiet one with a small menu. Granted, you're close to DTD/PI and all the food options they offer, but it would be nice to see another food court or full-service eatery at the resort, I think it's big enough to warrant it. At least small snack bars by some of the quiet pools. Don't want to complain too much, as it really is very nice place to stay, especially if someone in your party isn't big on Disney theming - it is decidedly more muted here than in some other resorts. I only hope, when all construction is complete, they consider having events and amenities that'll make it seem more communal, so you'd be more inspired to do things while you're there, instead of just taking the boat over to DTD.
More compact than Riverside, one of the more relaxing resorts great boat ride.
This resort was very satisfying for the price. We even got upgraded to a sweet when we check in. It has 3 pull out bed and a queen size bed in another room. Very very nice!
The Yacht Club is an awesome resort with the greatest staff! We stayed at the YC April 27th -May 6th, 2007. From check in to check out we had great service and wonderful experiences with all the CMs we came in contact with. I think we used most of the services available too. The concierge staff is awesome, the mousekeeper that had us even showed my grandma how to make towel animals! On our last day, management, concierge and EMTs flooded our room because my son fell in the tub and busted his chin. They were all great! Even though it was chaotic with so many people in the room, they all stayed very calm so it was easy to give all the appropriate info to each person who needed it.
We took our daughter for her first trip to Disney on her 4th birthday. We hadn't told her where we were going, and she fell asleep in the airport. The next morning she woke up to Woody and Buzz standing 30' tall in the courtyard. Wow. What a reaction! If you like pizza, burgers and waffles, the food is acceptable, and room service can bring a pizza, some soft drinks and cold beers right to your door when your feet ache too much to walk to the restaurant. The pools are open late, so you can come back when the parks close and still get wet and play some more. The themeing keeps you immersed in "Disney" all day and all night. The room was clean and while not spacious, was sufficient for our needs. Although buses were crowded, and the commutes to the parks were a bit long, because the same bus stopped at all three All-Star resorts (plus Coronado Springs?), they ran frequently and were fairly convenient to get to from the park exits. The overall feel was vintage Disney. Something intangible made me recall my old Buena Vista records and the shorts they would run before feature-length movies. We have stayed off property at time-share villas, at AKL, and at All Star Movies. I believe we will choose Movies for our next trip; it's a big hit with the under-10 set! This facility does what it is designed to do: it's a value-priced, family-oriented, convenient, fun and efficient resort that doesn't bring the curtain down on the park experience, when it is time to call it a day. I rate it a 9/10 only for want of more frequent bus service.
We just got back from a week stay at Pop & we loved it! We were put in the 80's building - facing the water, so we had a little walk to the busses, but it wasn't bad. The housekeepers were great - they did a great job with our rooms everyday.
Let me start out by saying that the Polynesian is my favorite hotel on property. It's location and newly renovated rooms are simply the best on property. However, the Polynesian can be quite expensive. $450.00 a night for this property I feel is to much. If you can try and get a AAA rate or a discount code it will help offset the cost. The atmosphere is great and I love the aspect of being able to walk out to the beach and watch the fireworks. The rooms are quite large in three of the buildings: Tahiti, Tokelau, and Rapa Nui. I have stayed at both Tokelau and Tahiti and both are great. If you don't want to spend the money go to the Caribbean beach resort. They have a similar theme and both have nice beaches. An added plus to CBR is the beach has a playground. Overall if you can get a discounted rate at the Polynesian take it and have a great time. Its by far one Disney's nicest resorts.
My mom aunt and I spent 5 days 4 nights at the poly in January 2007. I still feel like I've been to the real hawaii! lol It was just so relaxing and beautiful and we were always greeted with a friendly aloha from our "cousins". We stayed in Tahiti with a magic kingdom view. There's nothing more spectacular then watching the fireworks over the castle from your own balcony! The dinner at Ohana's was a lot of fun. The food was amazing and more than you could ever eat, and there are plenty of activites for the young and young at heart. (I'm 19 and there were adults without kids joining right in too!) You can learn to hula, do the limbo, or have a coconut race around the restaurant! Plenty of chances to get leis! (I came home with 10! lol) The volcano pool was also great for young and old. The slide is great, though might be a bit dark for the under 6 crowd. The pina colada's were great as virgin and probably better as the real thing. It's a great backdrop to relax. You have the pool on one side and the white sand beaches and seven seas lagoon on the other. Staying at the Polynesian is like having two vacations in one!
This is my favorite Resort...Its fun, colorful, themed well, easy to get around, clean, etc... I can go on and on. I just love its atmosphere. It is the best value resort by far. It has its own buses unlike the All *"s. Im actually staying at Riverside this year and I feel like a trader but it wasnt my decision. My family wanted 2 try something different:( Other than that, I love pop more than anything!
From the minute we got there we had nothing but an excellent time!!! Every single cast member was more than helpful and the characture guy named Jeff was fabulous with his drawings of our kids. Foodcourt was much better than we thought it would be, only crowded a couple of times but we got seats no matter what again the cast members there were great. I ended up buying into DVC at SSR and even still my kids want to do at least a couple of days there again when we go back!! I highly recommed it, we stayed there from April 12-20th and had a room in Bldg. #6 which was Herbie themed.
we just got back from a 4 night stay at pop century. april 26th thru 30th. i had been reading alot of these reviews prior to our trip. needless to say i was a bit apprehensive to stay at pop. ANYONE WHO HAS WRITTEN ANYTHING BAD ABOUT POP CENTURY in my opinion, has mental issues! we had the most wonderful time ! great service, food, sights & sounds. we saw rabbits running about the court yards how cool is that!!! room was nice & cool slept well ---- not a problem. i do not like a dirty room---- not a problem. do not like standing in long lines, the buses were great ----- not a problem. we had 3 full days at the parks, got 3day ticket w/ park hopper. the only thing i would have done differently is get the extra hopper that includes disney quest in downtown disney, its 36.00 ea to get in so the 5.00 extra for that add hopper would havew been well worth it. also if i am not mistaken that also includes the water parks. really did not care for mgm or animal kingdom. they are really nice parks just my opinion. would find other itinerary next visit. extra magic hours at night were great however you better go back to your hotel & get a power nap our lounge at the pool in mid day so you will have the energy to enjoy those extra hours later that night. when you get to the parks in the morning you should go to the main fast pass attractions 1st! we did this & never waited more the 30 min to go on any of them -- got them done so we could put ourselves in a lower gear to enjoy the rest of the attractions. i purchased a 60 qt. cooler before leaving for disney's pop century. it really did its job. we also brought our coffee maker, what a life saver that was! WE HAD A MAGICAL TIME. I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO GO BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi folks here is a long review. My family (DW, DS-6, DD-9) and I stayed at All Star Movies from Apr 12-20 this year for spring school vacation. We had a blast there and thought the over the top theming was awesome as did my kids. We stayed in building 6 on the top floor in the Herbie building. The room was pretty small but managable and pretty much what we expected at a value resort, which was fine. This was all of our first trip ever to Disney!! We enjoyed the parks and got up and out early all week. Our room overlooked the backside and the parking lot on the reverse side of the middle open water play area with Herbie and the two halves of Herbie sticking out of the buildings. Getting the luggage up there was a chore at the start as we had a rental car, but there were elevators. The place was really quiet all week and peaceful at night when we returned from the parks. It was a 5 minute walk to the main pool area with Wizard Mickey an the pool was great, we swam in it almost every night after getting back to the resort and the water was warm. Not too crowded either which was a bonus. The food court was also excellent offering the traditional fare again that we expected. I must say that they put some garlic in the spagetti or the oil on it and it was really delicious. Thier pizzas were very good too, we had a few late night one night. My kids enjoyed their kids meals as well although my son who always wants a cheeseburger complained a little but we all shared for the most part so it really didn't matter that much. It was really crowded a couple of times but mornings mostly were when it was packed. The breakfast fare was also excellent, love those Mickey waffles smothered with strawberries lol. I also want to throw a shout out to Jeff the charicature guy in the lobby who was excellent and really did a fabulous job drawing up my kids. Very expensive but well worth it and fun to do for my kids having everyone stare at you like a star while he draws you. The fun part was kidding with the kids while it was being done as they could not see the drawing until done. Again a great time and one of those memories to last a lifetime. Busses which were in front o fthe main check in area were very quick although packed. I think I actually sat on the way home once as I always gave up my seat to be nice to either elderly or other mothers with kids. The mousekeepers we had were also tremendous!! Every day we came back to the room and they had all their stuffed toys set up on the beds and in the windows like they were all waiting for us to come home. in addition they had a new towel animal created and added in with eth stuffed animals ever single day, one day a rabbit, another an elephant, a raggedy ann type towel doll and on and on. They even left llittle notes to the kids thanking us and wishing us a magical day gain every day. I imagine the $5 I left in an envelope for them daily helped in that manner but again if you saw the looks on my kids faces as they came back to the room every night looking to see what was made and set up for them it was well worth it. The beds sucked and I'll be honest so did the pillows lol, but I didn't have a back ache in the morning so again it was what we expected at a value resort. Every intercation with cast members was excellent and they were always very helpful with anything we asked. The tap water in the room definately had a smell to it though. We rented the fridge for $10 a day and it was well worth it, we got a case of water at Target and always had fresh cold water ready to go when we wanted. I also was able to buy a six pack at the gift shop and put in in there as well and have a couple of cold ones each night with the wife before bed. The TV was normal and we pretty much had it on the weather channel 24x7 and a little disney channel (what else lol) for the kids getting ready in the morning. We decided to stay out of the loop all week in terms of news and were glad we did too. The one night we came back and made the mistake of turning on CNN it was all about the Virginia Tech tragedy, and quickly changed the channel. My wife and I both looked at each other and were like OMG, lets not do that again. Did I mention we did the DDP and it was well worth it. I would have to give our stay at ASM a 9 out of 10 if I had to scale it. We knew what the resort was in terms of being a value resort, it was our first trip to Disney ever, and given that can honestly say that we had the greatest time of our lives. In fact we ended up getting 4 free tickets on the plane ride home to come back, and then decided to join DVC once we got back after seeing the DVC stuff at MK on Thurs before we left. We thought the tickets were a sign lol. In fact after joining DVC and telling my kids etc they were actually disapointed and asked if we could go back to ASM again instead. So now we are planning on coming back to Disney again next April but staying at our new home resort SSR, but the wife and I have talked about maybe taking them out of school a couple days early if we can and paying cash for 2 more nights to start the trip off back at All Star Movies and then onto SSR. I imaging that is what we will end up doing if we can afford it. So bottom line is this is a value resort, it may get crowded and noisy at times, but if you stay away from the preferred view at the fantasia buildings and save a $100 too doing that lol, you will have an excellent time. Ask for Herbie buildings #6 on the top floor if you can, we had room #9631 and would recommend it to anyone wanting to save a few bucks and having a nice quiet place to sleep at night that is convienent to everything at the main buildings. Oh and just for the record on the signs stuff lol, our room #9631 and the last 4 digits of our home phone is 6391, coincidence or fate lol? And yes I did play the number when we got back and then found out it came out in Feb. I'm staying on it though because after seeing the magic first hand on our vacation, I am now a believer that dreams do come true and there really is magic in the word, we just lived and experienced it for sure and will be coming back for more.
Just got back from the Caribbean Beach Resort (CBR) and was quite happy with my stay. This is the second time in the last six months I have stayed at this resort and both times was pleasantly surprised. It has a lot positive attributes that make it worth the moderate price. The room is quite spacious, bigger than values and bigger than most moderates. (Get a corner room, they have more widows and one less neighbor). The bathtubs have been updated with new walls in the last year or so, which was nice. The foodcourt was adequate and served our purposes just fine. Don't expect anything to fancy or unique just your standard food court. Many people complain about the food quality but I thought the food was fine. Another common complaint has been the cleaniness of the rooms. Both times our room was clean. Sure it could be cleaner but most people will find the room to be clean. The bus system was actually better than expected, we really didn't wait very long for a bus. However, having a car at this resort is a plus. The only complaint I had was with bell services. Both trips I had problems getting help with my bags. For example, the first trip it took more than three hours to get one piece of luggage to my room. This was a transfer from Riverside not magical express. All transfers are done before 3:00pm so there was no reason for the delay. So be sure to pick up your bags when you check-in rather than having them deliver it to your room. On the second trip after I checked-in I walked outside to have someone bring me to my room and they said they had nobody available and I would have to wait. They also informed me that luggage was not allowed on the internal shuttle. So I had to walk with my bag in one hand and my son in the stroller with the other hand in the Hot florida afternoon sun. Of course I was in Trinidad south which is the farthest possible building away from the customs house. The morning I was leaving I called at 8:00am to have someone bring me and my bag to the Magical Express station at 10:30am. I was told that they had nobody available to 11:30am. So I had to walk again back to the customs house with my luggage and kid. I packed deodorant in my backpack and stopped at the foodcourt to "freshen up" because I was sweating so bad. By the way I am not overweight, it was just that humid. So my advice would be to plan for this and call the night before you leave to have someone pick you up. The first trip I had a car it was definitely worth the extra money, especially at this very large resort. The best aspect of this resort is the beaches. They have a playground and have beautiful thick white sand. Actually the beaches here are just as nice as the ones at the Polynesian. My son loved the beach and for half the price of a deluxe it is a great option for those on a budget. The landscaping is very nice as well. I would recommend this hotel for those who want a little nicer environment and bigger room than a value, but don't feel like shelling out the big bucks for a Deluxe. I will definitely go back to this hotel.
the past couple years me and my friend have been going to Disney, we have absolutley loved this resort. It's just about our favorite one to visit. Us, being teens, it was soo much fun to just hang out and watch all the sports teams doing their thing. It's located not even five minutes from the wide world of sports..so you can just catch a bus to a baseball game. There's always something to do and parents with teens...i sugggest you stay here....you're kids will love it. It's loud and filled with other kids for them to hang out with. basically, it's amazing.
as coronado springs is a confress and bussiness center it is very quites this is also because qutie large! the shop is great and so is the paper market ( think that what it called) the other resurtan ( cant rember wat it is call) was great nice dipping suase for the bread. mmm!! great room and maid service, nice pools.
I had previously reviewed our stay for 2006, but I wanted to review this resort again for our 2007 trip. We stayed at the resort from Jan 4th - 14th. We requested AB section but where given the mansion section. (last time we requested mansion and got AB) The grounds were beautiful again this year. Our room was on the top floor of Magnolia Terrace. The resort was full due to the Disney Marathon. Room - Clean, quiet and close to an elevator. Busses - Once again we walked to the main bus stop (SOUTH) and never waited longer than 10 minutes. Laundry - I used the laundry room next to the quiet pool. $2.00 per load No one else was using the pool or laundry room at that time so I would sit by the pool and read. Very Peaceful! Staff - Very helpful. I requested that the concierge desk hold a PAL MICKEY for friends that would arrive at a later time. They were quite accomodating and my friend's family was suprised with the Pal Mickey and 1st timer buttons. During checkin, we again requested AB section and told that it was full due to the marathon, but they would give us our pick of rooms in 2 days when the marathon was over. After finding our room we decided not to move. Food Court - During our stay the food court was being refurbished. They had a make-shift set up with hot meals at breakfast and dinner and grab & go items for lunch. I would have to say that the staff pulled this off quite nicely. Overall a very pleasant experience for our 2nd stay at WDW. I would highly recommend it.
We are from the UK and have been going to Disney for the last 7 years. We have to have our Disney fix each year and we are always sad when we have to leave. We have stayed at WL and POR and visited all other resorts to get some comparisons, but I have got say Riverside is by far our favourite, it is relaxing resort and a pleasure to walk through the grounds. The rooms are okay although not large and don't have balconies are nicely themed and plenty big enough for a family of 4. The food court has a variety of choice, from salads, pizzas, burgers, chicken etc which should please most people. Boatwright’s the restaurant also has good offerings (steaks etc) but the downside is you could have to wait up to 1/2 an hour for a table if you haven't already booked. Entertainment is excellent, Bob Jackson the pianist is there 4-5 times a week and believe me he is no normal pianist. He will have you clapping you hands, stomping your feet and singing your head off. Trust me you will have a great time if you choose this resort, we love it!!! Thanks for reading this. Regards Dave Hagley Worcestershire United Kingdom.
I've stayed at Port Orleans Riverside twice--although the first time it was still known as Dixie Landings--and I would recommend it to anyone. We have stayed at all the Value resorts, as well as Wilderness Lodge and Yacht and Beach Club, but POR is by far our favorite. We were in Alligator Bayou the first time; Acadian House in Magnolia Bend the second. Both locations were incredible. There was no noise whatsoever either time, and we had spectucular views of the Sassagoula River from both of the rooms. Mousekeeping kept the rooms IMMACULATE and even made a different towel animal every night of our stay. The rooms were also a very good size for a family of four. Sure, the rooms don't have balconies/patios like the pricier Deluxes, but the ambiance and overall feel of the place more than made up for it. The theming and attention to detail here is impeccable. Guest Services and all the cast members were always helpful and constantly had a smile on their faces--a welcome sight after a long summer's day at the parks. We never ate at Boatwright's, but what we did eat at the foot court was fantastic (for fast food). The lounge was also great. We LOVED all the quiet pools and Ol' Man Island. You have a choice between the big main pool when you want to go down the waterslide and the scenic smaller pools when you just want to relax. My only complaint is the consistently high water temperature (even though all of WDW's pools are heated). In the summer, when the mercury's rising, why do you need the pool to be heated? All of the additional activities here, like fishing and carriage rides, add to the quality. We especially enjoyed the boat to Downtown Disney. We rented a car the second time we stayed here, but the first time we utilized the bus service and found it to be extremely efficient even during the rush hours. Overall, the Port Orleans Riverside resort is INCREDIBLE. Great quality for the price, and in my opinion, the best moderate by far.
The report is old, but I thought my report might be helpful to anyone considering this resort. This was our first trip, and we were also on our honeymoon (we were on a budget.) When DH and I arrived at ASMu, the park was extremely clean. The resort also had some Christmas decorations up. They had some wreaths, Chrismas ordiments, and a huge Christmas tree. When we arrived to check in, we arrived around 8pm. There were no lines for check in. The CM that checked us in was extremely helpful and nice (even though, they couldn't assist us with an upgrade.) They knew we were on our honeymoon. We put in a request for a non smoking and a quiet rooom. Though, we did get our request of a quiet section of the park (we had the first floor in the Broadway section), but they put us in a smoking room. We flew all the way from California to Florida and we had been up since 3am...so we were exchausted. And to top it all off, we had to carry our luggage to the room (and that's a llllloooooooooonnnnnnngggggg walk from the front desk/cafeteria/suvineer). The resort is clean, spacious, and well themed. We noticed rabbits would hop around our section of the resort. The great thing about being in the Broadway section was that we were never woken up early in the morning or late at night. We never heard one child throw a tantrum or cry. Plus, we never heard any parents freaking out to get the kids up and running. The only complaint that I can even think of was it was a pain to walk all the way back to the resort after a long day at the parks. The mousekeepers were great! Though, they never made any towel animals for us, but they did clean and always gave us extra towels. Their food court has a nice selection. I never had breakfest or lunch there, but DH and I had dinner once (when we arrived) and their food was good. DH and I also bought the Refillable Mugs, which saved us a lot of money--since we're huge soda drinkers. I don't drink coffee, so DH would always get me some soda first thing in the morning, and a soda after a long day at the parks. Their bus transportation was great. The only time we actually waited was we waited about a half hour for the early morning bus to Epcot. The only time there was a long wait for a bus was at MK during closing. Over all, if you're on a budget and you're not goin to spend much time at your resort (besides sleeping and getting ready for the parks), then I would suggest you stay at this resort. If you're going to stay at the resort longer (swimming, relaxing, other activities at the resort, etc.) then spend the extra money.
It can be overpriced if you pay full rates but if you get a discounted rate it isn't too bad a deal. The pool is better than an offsite pool with enough to keep the kids happy. The rooms are adequate, the only complaint is no microwaves and the possibility of being a long long way from the main area.
Okay, lets start with the positives. It has a nice pool (not as nice as the other deluxe resorts) and it has a decent place to eat (you don't have to stay there to eat there though). That's it. Now for the bad. It only has bus service. The maid service was horrible, dirt in our hallway was there the day we checked in and was still there the day we checked out. Animals are hardly ever out. Yeah we were there in the Summer and I was told in the hot times the animals are usually hiding from the heat in a place you can't actually see them. SO much for seeing animals. And the price. Sorry but if you don't get animals only the promise of animals and the occasional whiff of animal droppings I would rather stay in a barn.
Look at it as a upscale Best Western. If you want to use the extra magic hours and if you are in your own car you can justify a discounted rate for this hotel. It is really a 65$ a night hotel and you can justify paying up to 80$ (the 10$ parking lot savings and 5$ value of extra magic hours). But if you can't get a discounted rate, stay off-site. It just isn't that magical.
I have stayed at the poly for over 20yrs. I just love the it. I recently booked a stay here for the fall of 2007, 10 nights, concierge level. This past week when I tried to call them for help making my travel plans, dinning etc. They acted as if they couldnt be bothered with me. I was crushed to say the leaset. If coustomer is important to you, You may want to consider another resort.
We stayed at pop century 12-05. it was my daughter and I first trip, my husband has been to Disney many times with his family, but has never stayed on site. Would not have wanted to be anywhere else. We stayed in the 50's building right next to the bowling pin pool. The water in the pool was warm, and there was a life guard there that would throw balls around. My husband and daughter played in pool till late at nite and usually had most of it to theirselfs. Food court was not to bad to walk to. And you HAVE to buy the refillable mug, we used it so much more than I thought we would. My daughter loved that she could get a frozen coke when she wanted one. Coke products only, didn't know that before we went, would have liked to have had a Mt Dew. The buses ran quite regularly, and we didn't have to wait to long to get to the parks. But PC bus stops from the park (where they pick you up) are a long walk. And if you just miss a bus to get back to hotel, there is no place to sit and wait for next one. This is hard to do after a long day in the parks. On the plane realized I still get motion sickness, and the shopping place next to food court carried motion sickness items, Made enjoying the parks easier. Got a lot of little items to take home there also. Was able to find the autograph book my daughter had to have, Pen didn't write they exchanged with no problem. Loved this place so much that evan though we thought we would try different resort for our upcoming trip, we are going back to Pop Century
My wife and I stayed here for 3 weeks a few years ago, just 2 months before our first child was due. We had the most enjoyable and relaxing holiday we have ever had before or since. As my wife, Joanne, was 7 months pregnant we did'nt do our usual park hopping nearly everyday, we only visited the parks 4 or 5 times over the 3 weeks doing the more gentle activities. We spent most of our time at the hotel where, during the day, we lay at the pool or walked and cycled around the beautiful grounds including the French Quarter soaking up the wonderful atmosphere and enjoying the beautiful riverbank scenery. At night, there was music in the main building where a guy played piano and sang (mainly Billy Joel) and had a lot of entertaining chat between songs. We took the riverboat to Downtown Disney most days or nights (a great way to meet other guests) The food in the foodcourt was great, and the food in the restaurant was even better although a little bit more expensive. We have stayed at the All Star Resorts plus the Caribbean Beach resort and Coronado Springs resort and although they are good, they are not as good as Riverside. If you are looking for a hotel that is away from the usual noise and bustle this is the resort for you
Yes, I gave it a 7/10, but not because it's not good. While you don't get the conditioner and lotion like you do in the deluxe resorts, the service is Disney-level. I gave it a 7 because it is lacking many of the amenities and conveniences of some of the other resorts, but in its price category, it's an easy 9. Shoot, you can get a standard room for $79 a night at the local yocal motel, but here you also get some Disney magic! We have been to DisneyWorld about 8 times since 2002 when I went for the first time with my husband. We have stayed at Yacht Club resort (expensive, but convenient, convenient, convenient), All-Star Movies, and Pop Century. We are preparing to return to Pop Century for our 2nd time. The theming of the decades is wonderfully done. You MUST walk down memory lane along the lake and read the signs for each year. The colorful and oversized statues and exterior decor are the best - our children LOVED the big wheel and the Mr. & Mrs. PotatoHead and they're just 5 and 3 years old. The themed pools are neat, too - the bowling pin (50's) and the Hippy Dippy pool (60's) were the 2 we swam in. Both are excellent. As for pricing - if you do not NEED (medically) to be near the Classic Hall where the transportation, food court, check-in, etc., are, do not pay for a Preferred Room. Our room last time was on the backside of the 50's building facing the lake, and the view was AWESOME. The walk is not all that bad, either. We are traveling in a week and a half with our two children (5 & 3), and my parents (59 & 60), and have requested a preferred room so my dad doesn't have to walk as far. Transportation has been reliable. The food court can be crowded and a bit inconvenient (if you want burgers, you stand in one line, if you want spaghetti, another line), but it's not unlikely you'll see many people carrying their trays back to their rooms. It's a very common practice, especially for breakfast when part of the family is sleeping in or getting ready. If you even think you are going to make a return trip to Disney in the future, keep a copy of the map you get showing you the layout of the resort. It will come in very handy when you try to decide where you want to stay next time. This is good advice, regardless of which resort you choose.
Wilderness Lodge met every expectation we had and then some. It was a beautiful and relaxing resort to stay while enjoying the parks. We visited all the other deluxe resorts and we still preferred the atmosphere at the Lodge. We will definitely return.
My family and I have stayed at this resort for 11 times now, and going back for our 12th visit on March 13th 2007. We love the theme, the music of the islands...the food court is a great place to grab a quick bite. The rooms are excellent, always clean. Mousekeeping is always at your fingertips, anytime we needed somethings "extra" we called and within minutes they were at the door with whatever it was we needed, and they never excepted tips. We always stay at a preferred location room to be close to the food court and main pool and bar. The bus stops are spread out nicely throughout the resort. We all love it and cant wait to go back!
It has a cute theme, but I find All Star: Movies better overall. The food court is very far away from sections such as 90's or 50's. The beds, I swear, are less comfortable. It does have a really cool theme: the decades, and all. If only they would complete the early years: 00's, 10's, 20's, 30's, and 40's!
My favorite Disney resort. The food court and gift shop are convenient. The beds are comfortable. Definetely bring your kids and stay in the Toy Story rooms. The courtyard is adorable.
I have stayed at the Beach Club three times. And it was always wonderful. The closeness to Epcot, MGM and The Boardwalk is great. The hotel is beautiful. I love the Cape May Breakfast Buffett. It is the best. The rooms are so spacious with nice size balconies. It is the only hotel I will stay in. The only issue I have is the housekeeping. They could do better. But all in all it is my favorite and would recommend it.
Absolutely my favorite resort. I think we initially started staying there because of the convenience of transportation with the TTC and MK monorail loop no more than a 5 minute walk away, but we will continue to choose the Polynesian becase the whole feel of the resort is just so relaxing!! The music being piped in all around really helps transport you to somewhere very serene. And when you've had enough serenity, you can hit the parks or the volcano pool! I realize it's not affordable for all budgets, but I really would recommend people try it, just once, if they can. :)
For me this resort had everything. Great location, stunning construction, and some of the best CMs. The trip to the MK buy boat is a joy and adds to the fun of the day, though the early finish of boats to /from the Contemp can be frustrating after a nice meal. The Whispering canyon is a great relaxed atmosphere though on ocassion its too relaxed. The pool is perhaps a little too small and is what stops me giving it a 10/10 rating.
We stayed at the Villas and loved the space. It was great having a kitchen, although the dinning plan meant that we only used it for breakfast. The pools were quiet and even the Luna Park pool was never too busy. For me thie best thing about the Boardwalk is its location. We walked to the studios and Epcot, although there were boats. The one thing we found is that the resort had no real atmosphere and felt sterile. This may be because there are no resturants in the hotel itself and the shops etc are all on the boardwalk. I wont rush back.
This is just like being in Yellowstone WY. This is for everyone that enjoys the great outdoors. One of the best Signature Restruarants on Property, where the Salmon is to die for. Whisper Canyon Cafe is a great place if you have kids. AKL was modeled after this Resorts.
We really enjoyed this resort. Our first time staying was 2005. It doesn't have a sit down restrurant, but you can take the boat to Boatwights. There is a nice boat ride to Downtown Disney. Not as much walking as PO - Riverside, plus the bus drops you off here before Riverside.
We didn't enjoy the Resort for what we paid. We walked in and both had the look of disappointment. The balony was small and over looked the awning. Maybe we just got a bad room. But for that price I would stay at Beach and Yact club next time I love the Epcot Resort as it's close distants with two parks, Epcot and MGM. So that made a quick trip by boat or walking. We love the food choices, Beaches n Cream, Yachtsman Steakhous. etc
If you are a animal lover, this is a must Resort. The place is very detail. In 2002, the bus transportation wasn't bad. But Bus is the only transportation. The Resort is very close to AK. For us that was a plus because AK is our favorite park.
Easily the family favorite out of the 5 WDW resorts we have stayed at. From the time you arrive in front of the massive structure that very much represents a Western Lodge, through the expansive lobby, to the delightful pool area, there is a very comfortable feeling to the WL. Plenty of sitting areas to just relax and enjoy the atmosphere. Location, a short boat ride from the MK, is the best non-monorail resort for the MK.
We have stayed at the POP on two different occasions. Once for a weekend visit, and once for a single night. Transportation was fine, and theming and upkeep of the resort solid. It is easily the best "value" level resort in my opinion.
I take any opportunity I can to go to this resort. It has the most atmosphere and beautiful surroundings of all the resorts. The pool is awesome and the activites available are plentiful. I also think the resort has the best transportation options also. Definetly go if you can!
The Walt Disney World Swan is a deluxe resort on Disney property. Not only is it on property, it is VERY close to Epcot and Disney-MGM Studios, so much so, that it's walkable from the resort to each of those parks. This is a great benefit for those who would rather get to parks under their own steam, and not have to rely on buses or boats. If you would prefer not to walk, you can of course take busses, or boats to the parks. The rooms have probably the best bed on property, the Westin heavenly bed. It really is that good! The rooms are very well equipped, and have just been refurbished, along with the rest of the resort. Everything is brand new, and looks great. Something to be aware of, is that although the resort is on property, it is not operated by Disney. This means that the resort does not have quite the same amount of Disney immersion as the Disney resorts. If you are looking for 100% Disney all the time, this may not be the resort for you. Examples would be things like the soap in the rooms not being Disney, and no Mickey Mouse wake up calls. For me, it isnt a problem, as I get all the Disney I need from the parks. The pool complex is often overlooked, and is on par with the other resorts on property. For me, it ranks right up there with the Yacht and Beach pool. It's huge, with lots of different parts to it, hottubs, a slide, and a waterfall. There are lots of restaurant choices, including casual and fine dining options. There is also a 24 hour quick service restaurant. If you want even more dining choices, you are just a short walk away from the Boardwalk area, and of course the parks. Add in the other benefits, like Disney's Extra Magic Hours, and Disney transporation, you have the perfect base to spend your Disney vacation. Keep your eye out on WDWMAGIC, as we often have special rates for the Swan and Dolphin as low as $125. I highly recommend this resort, specifically because of the great bed and room, and the close proximity of the resort to Epcot and MGM.
We went there over New Year\\\'s and had a great time. The theming was fun, the food court was great and not too much of a ripoff. The buses came very regularly and we never really had to wait. The only thing horribly wrong with the rooms is the faucets. For the love of god get faucets that actually spit out water. It was like I was trying to rinse off my toothbrush in the rain, hoping a drop would hit it. Otherwise, the resort is great. They just need to finish the legendary years already.