As a Florida resident, I have stayed at Fort Wilderness campground a couple times a year for the past 8 years. My latest trip, Oct 20 to Oct 23 was a disappointment. We noticed a general lack of security in the park - and, we were unlucky - a party trailer was parked - next to us. On the Thursday that we arrived, the party went on until 1:00 am.....We are talking about 15 to 20 adults at this site in the 800 loop that were yelling and laughing loudly...The next night was the same. What happened to this being a family experience? At the price that you pay for camping there - you would assume that someone from Disney would be monitoring the campground to make sure folks behave. Don't know if we will be back.
While my boyfriend and I stayed here we had a camper. We got a great spot and were super close to the bus stop. However, unless you have a golf cart or bikes it is a haul. Like I mean 20-25 minute walks. BOOK YOUR GOLF CARTS EARLY. Both times we have been there, they have all been sold out. Fortunately, we had bikes so it wasn't bad. I was in a walking boot and had to bike with it on, but it is what it is. Live and Learn. Something good about the bikes, although, is that there is super close parking for them to get on the boat to MK. Same way with golf carts. Loved that. Unfortunately, the buses take forever it seems like. We usually rode over to MK and then took the monorail to GF and rode a bus from there. It seemed much faster. We loved Trails End, the only home-like food in WDW (granted we are from KY). Best on property food hands down. It's also a bike ride away from FWL. Nice, relaxing, and it gives you a break from the parks. Stop and see the horse stables. There's something really neat inside. To sum it all up, the Campsites are nice. The cabins look okay, but it is clean and well put together. Bathhouses are wonderful-- definitely better than I thought they would be. If you have a camper, RV, or just love camping, stay here. It's a good value and location.
This resort is a classical beauty! I was convinced the Polynesian would always be my number one favorite resort and remain unchallenged...........and then we stayed at the GF. The lobby is spectacular and the resort manages to remain cozy amongst all the opulence. I only wish they would complete a walkway to the Magic Kingdom. It would require a bridge over a small canal but would be a great amenity for guests. The service has consistently been outstanding over the years.
This is one of my favorite places to stay on Disney property. The location is excellent and it is within walking distance of two parks. Also, it affords some peaceful time if you want to put your toes in the sand on the beach or take a stroll around the lake. The pool is wonderful and the poolside bar is a great place to watch a game. There are so many great options for dining within a short walk or boat ride.
We stayed at the All Star Sports Resort Sept 13-20, 2016. Overall our stay was okay. The theme for this resort is absolutely Kid Friendly or perfect for those who never want to grow up. The sports theme translates well through the lobby to the food court and out to the pools and the landscaping. The room was great. There was plenty of room around the beds for our chair to maneuver freely. The King bed was lowered and was great for transferring. The double bed was not the most comfortable but it was okay. The roll in shower was large enough for a caregiver to help if necessary but the floor remained wet for longer than some other roll-in rooms we have had. Mousekeeping was good and although we requested they not enter our room one day, the beds were made and towels were replaced each day. The food court, End Zone, was as expected (busy) and the food options were acceptable. We shared a giant slice of pizza and a salad as a meal one day and were more than satisfied. Breakfast was our favourite meal at the End Zone. The CMs in the End Zone food court were by far, the friendliest, happiest and most polite of any CM's we experienced this trip. We were at the resort during some heavy rains and found that the flooding on the walkways from the main lobby building to the others were very deep and a little dangerous. I think we would have given this resort a higher rating had it not been for the very unwelcoming, and downright rude CM that checked us in. We did write to WDW regarding this CM (and the great CM's we came into contact with) and hopefully this was a one off situation. This resort would be perfect for families with young children, tweens or adolescents who love all things sports. Or adults who want to take advantage of all that staying on a Disney resort has to offer at a budget price.
In real estate, they say it’s location, location, location. For the Bay Lake Tower (BLT) it’s true. The best thing about the BLT is the location. You are less than a 5 minute walk to Magic Kingdom. That is huge! I took advantage of it many times. Many evenings, my wife and son were done for the day. I’d walk over to MK for the last few hours and it was awesome. However, there is no food court. You have to use the Contemporary for all food and drinks. Kind of a pain for coffee in the morning. The BLT theming is nonexistent. The lobby is super small with no Disney touches. Nice lobby for and an upscale office building but not for a Disney Resort. Rooms are a little small and pool is OK. My son loves it. My wife and I are not as in love. I would much rather the Polynesian.
Absolutely loved this resort and it would definitely be a huge contender to stay at again. We stayed in the cabanas section and the rooms were so nice and felt very private. The views were absolutely amazing! The staff was friendly and for the most part helpful and it was very clean and welcoming. It's a moderate resort but it felt very deluxe to us! I highly recommend! Pros: - stunningly beautiful - very nice rooms - awesome pool with huge hot tub - easy to navigate, we never got lost - 4 different bus stops with easy access - food court with tons of options Cons: - only two drink stations, long walks to refill cups - not necessarily a con for some, but the majority of the food is Mexican due to the resort theme. Something to think about if that's not your taste.
We stayed at Coronado Springs for 8 days the week after Thanksgiving in 2014. This was the second moderate resort we have stayed at since 2011 (2 previous trips were at Port Orleans French Quarter). Now to understand the context of this review, I was 48 at the time, my sister was 43, and my mom was 68. Neither my sister nor myself have children. So this trip is from a kid-free adult vacation point of view. First, the things I loved! - The grounds are beautiful. It is really nice to walk around and just chill... lots of space and walkways to wander around. - Pepper Market (Food court). Excellent service, excellent quality and quantity of food. Had one small issue that was quickly and courteously resolved with no issues. - Pool area. Huge, relatively quiet. Great place to chill and relax. Nice pool bar - and the Siestas Cantina serves a limited but adequate breakfast menu. - Very nice rooms. Excellent housekeeping staff. - Very quiet around our rooms. - Outstanding front desk staff. Second, the things I didn't love (and this is purely subjective and personal preference): - The place is HUGE. There are very few rooms near the main complex (registration desk, resort store, food court). Ours were nowhere near this area, so it made for a looooong walk to hit the store or food court. This came into play for breakfast. The long walk easily added 45mins to our mornings if we wanted to grab some breakfast before we left the resort for the day. We later found out Siestas Cantina at the pool had a limited breakfast menu, and the pool was easily 1/4 the walk to the food court, so that made for a good time saver. Wish we had known about it earlier in our trip! - CS has a large convention center. A convention center in and of itself isn't that big of a deal, it just depends on what convention is going on lol! During our visit, there was a sizable cheerleading competition going on. So areas of the grounds (mainly every step of our walk from our building to the bus stop) were saturated with tween to teen aged girls practicing, celebrating, consoling, and in all stages of full blown drama laden meltdowns. Hundreds of them. It was by no means a major disruption to our day... but rather a noticeable distraction. At least we didn't have any teenage boys with us lol - Bus service was spotty. I understand the resorts now have monitors at the bus stops that give you an idea how long the wait is for the bus you are looking for, so I would see this as an improvement. Looking forward to this addition on our trip in Nov/Dec 2016! All and all it is an excellent moderate resort. As I have really bad knees (thanks to a brutal fire fighting career), I would prefer to save my knees for the parks. So the long walks to get to the main complex was a negative for me. But I wouldn't say it spoiled our stay in any way. It was just an inconvenience. I would definitely say the pros outweigh the cons! Such a beautiful resort!
Absolutely beautiful resort that is meticulously maintained. The suite was the perfect space and use of space for our party of 3 adults (myself, husband, and my mother) along with our 4 and 2 year old daughters. Splash pad and pools were amazing. I literally have two complaints about our entire stay there. 1. There was no dish soap provided in the suite or in the food court for washing reusable mugs, meaning that we had to just rinse it for a week. 2. The room was hot and the air conditioning was not even attempting to cool the room below 77. We called the front desk and they had someone up there to fix it quickly and the problem was resolved for the remainder of our stay. If this is the entirety of my complaint list, that should tell you something.
We spent 3 nights of a 10 night split stay at the Poly, in August 2016. It was awesome! The location is amazing, access to the MK via monorail and boat was so convenient. We stayed in a DVC studio room, main floor Tokelau, on the pool side. The room was beautiful, queen bed was super comfortable. There is a sofa bed for two, (very comfy) and room for a 5th person on a pull down bed under the very large tv. Mousekeeping was wonderful, room was very clean.Check in was fast and friendly. Check out was great but the computer system was down when we left so I couldn't get a copy of my room charges. I explained it needed before my flight and they went above and beyond to get it to me, even called my cell when the email address on file didn't work. We also had some pixy dust at Ohana when I requested bread pudding to take back to our room. They made us a great take away package and when I tried to pay I was told it was on the house - super nice surprise ! We have started at 6 Disney resorts and the Poly is our favorite.
I stayed here for the first time in August, I did preparation on the computer and although I had seen pictures, and maps I wasn't expecting this hotel to be what it was in person... Although it was pouring with rain when we arrived we were greeted by the super-friendly staff and from that moment on everything was perfect, especially when you consider the $70 price per night! If this hotel wan't priced well I would not give it such a good review, but when you put the price with the beautiful grounds, oversized (but not tacky as I've heard some people call it) instruments sprinkled around and the amazing, friendly staff it was so worth it, it made me want to stay on the property again and maybe spend a little more next time! I would even skip a theme park one day just to lounge around the hotel!
We stayed one night. $100. The Good: We had good service as is to be expected from Disney. The staff was professional, pleasant and very nice. Price was reasonable and the facilities were clean. Rooms were clean and air conditioner worked very well. The Bad: No frills in the room...felt like and looked like Motel accomodations. Paint on the interior and exterior are very dated. Everything looked old...furniture, paint, wallpaper, tile. Beds were a bit hard and pillows somewhat flat. Carpet looked old and the room has a slight "old" smell to it. Pools were just that...pools...no slides no hot tubs. Pool towels are plain white and the same type of towel you get in your rooms for bath towels. No luxury. Overall...if you are looking at just sleeping there then it serves it purpose however if your looking for "Resort Style" amenities and a bit more luxury then look at another Disney resort. You will feel safe and this resort will take care of your basic needs. I personally like a more luxury feel to my vacation accommodations and was a bit let down staying here.
My wife and I stayed in the French Quarter of the Riverside resort in August of 2012 for 5 nights. We looked at all the moderate and value resorts before making a decision. After many reviews, the smaller footprint, less potential walking to shuttles, and fairly easy access to Riverside led us to booking at French Quarter. Pros: * Footprint - If you visit any of the other moderate resorts and walk from one end to the other, you realize just how big they are. French Quarter is much smaller. At the other moderates you can typically only be close to one or two key things, but not all of them. If you are close to the pool and shuttle, you are far from the food court...and so on. At French Quarter, everything is an easy walk. * Not missing the Disney moderate feel. You still feel like you are at a moderate resort with the decor and staff. * Easy access to downtown Disney on the boat shuttle * Shuttles to parks are close by, but will make stops in Riverside as well. You'll save travel time to the shuttle, but might sit on it a little longer getting to the park * Smaller footprint means less rooms means less guest at the food court * Parking near your room is fairly easy with the layout Cons: * The rooms are not that great. They felt fairly generic, but as you aren't spending a lot of time there, not a huge deal * No sit-down restaurant, but easy access to Riverside where there is one * Only 1 pool (though there is a hot tub and baby wadding pool) - you can use the pool at Riverside Overall, I would stay here again. I might stay elsewhere as I am not a WDW regular and I would want to try other places, I could see returning to French Quarter if I reach a place where I am looking for a regular annual spot to stay
DVC member and Bay Lake is one of our two home resorts. It can't be beat for location and quality. Rooms are larger than any other resorts and you walk to MK and take monorail to Epcot right from hotel. Pools are great as are water front activities, afternoon craft activities and after hours movies etc. The Contempo Cafe is user friendly and even more so now that they got rid of the ordering kiosks. Love this resort. Have stayed there in Bay Lake Towers over a dozen times and have never had an issue. Oh by the way check out the Top of the World lounge which is on top of the Bay Lake building and for use by DVC members and family only!
It deserves 5 stars on the building's overall design, and the location, but the check-in lobby needs to not look like any hotel and more like a Disney hotel. I knocked off 1 star for its need of room overhauls, and updates to everything in the entire hotel. It feels like the '70s still, which is only a bad thing for somethings. All in all it is worth staying here in the off season when it is cheaper, but not exactly for peak season. Love this hotel still, all the restaurants are fantastic, and the monorail running through is a nice touch, but again not a 5 star resort like the GF, and pretty much because of lack of updates, which I would assume it'll get in the upcoming years like the Polynesian just got.
It is great that Disney has a resort for the people that serve this country and their families. I've been dozens of time to this resort and at least a dozen more to other resorts including all the ones on the Monorail Line, and will tell you this resort is worth it if you can't afford to go to the super deluxe resorts. It is definitely not a Super Deluxe Resort, but for what you pay it is definitely worth it. Nearly every room has a view of the great Gazebo a pool, a pond with Coy Fish, or one of the golf courses. Definitely the Palm Wing is better, especially with the new renovations, but the Magnolia has the two pools, and is much closer to Everglades (Bar and Grill). The Palm Wing also has a parking garage which is very nice particularly with Florida's weather. Hands down the best thing though are the massive rooms. A standard room makes every other resort including the Polynesian look puny. Also breakfast is decent to have a couple of times, and during the slow season they'll usually give it for free. Definitely also the most secure resort, and has multiple huge waterfalls. It has a laid back feel that's for sure. And my cousin recently had a wedding there, ceremony, and reception, which was very good. It also has a Laundromat. I don't recommend dinner here though unless you want the equivalent of Captain Cook's at The Polynesian, burgers, wings, or breakfast which are all good. If you want a nice dinner go to Epcot. The wildlife includes deer, turkeys, snakes, and gators. So to sum this all up, if you like huge rooms, golf courses, waterfalls, great rates, know or are a military person that is going with you on the trip, and you don't mind not going to Disney's Super-Deluxe resorts this is a great resort for you.
This place was amazing! I would totally recommend it to anyone, but then again maybe not because i want it all for myself :) They beignets will leave you drooling after and dreaming about when your vacation ends, the casual atmosphere is just what you need after a long day at the parks and you can count on the cast members to also help you out and know what you need! absolutely amazing
First let me say we have stayed in the Contemporary Resort, All-Star Movies, and the Polynesian Resort in the past. It was difficult to convince my family to down grade to a moderate resort after staying in the Polynesian. Boy were we surprised at how nice the POFQ is. The rooms were beautiful and very clean. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. Check in was the easiest we have ever had at any hotel not just Disney. The resort is smaller than all the rest at Disney which was a plus after long days at the park. Even the deluxe resorts can have quite a walk. We went over a holiday week and never once had to stand on the bus. Taking a family of 4 including a 17 yr old and a 9 yr old can be a challenge but this resort and its staff made it much easier. Now I will have a difficult time paying for a deluxe resort when i can get the same or better quality from this incredible moderate.
Just stayed here the end of May after retiring from teaching! Such a nice relaxing trip! Even with the construction I have no complaints..:) I have usually always had a room that faced the courtyard down on the first floor - this time we were on the fourth floor courtyard view..it was nice to have a balcony to sit outside. Our room was clean and comfy - no extra noise from construction at all! Love riding the boats instead of the busses - just an added touch that my whole family enjoys. We have stayed here many times and I'm sure will again in the future!
We returned a few days ago from a week stay at the DVC studios at the Polynesian. The resort is beautiful and the only complaint I have is with housekeeping. I am a DVC member and am aware that you get towel and trash service on your fourth day at the villas. However, you can ask for clean towels for $6.00 per day or full cleaning service for $30.00 per day. On our first day there the room had not been cleaned properly. There was hair and dirt on the floor. We asked to have it swept again. I think the cleaning person came in, but only did it quickly. I cleaned the dust off the pull-down bed and the louver closet doors. There were also sticky finger marks on the door. I didn't even bother mentioning anything else, because I knew it would not be taken care of. On the third day we asked for clean towels and said we were happy to pay for them. Housekeeping said we were scheduled for the next day for towels and get some from the pool, which we did. On the fifth day with four people in the studio, I asked for full cleaning service and said if I had a sweeper like most villas, I would do it myself. I was told there was a sweeper in the closet, but in checking again told housekeeping there was not a sweeper in our villa. I never received full cleaning service, nor a sweeper. I have been a DVC member for 8 years and have never complained or had this problem at any other Disney resort. Other than housekeeping in our room area, the resort was lovely. For the cost of membership and yearly maintenance fees, I was disappointed.
3 of my friends and I stayed at the BoardWalk Inn 18 months ago. I had wanted to stay there since it was built due to its proximity to Epcot and all the accessible restaurants and entertainment. We were not disappointed! We took the Magic Express bus to the hotel, and an employee was there to greet us in the lobby, who took us straight up to the Club Level to check us in. He checked all our Magic Bands to make sure they would get us into the Club Level, our rooms and the parks. He also made us dinner reservations and gave us tips about when to go to which parks, where to get some tasty snacks, etc. Each day as we walked past him to enter or leave, he would stand up from his desk, smile, greet us, and offer assistance and advice...he was so sweet. The Club Level lounge was on the Eastern wing facing the lake, and had a variety of tasty things at different times of the day. It was nice to plop down there after checking in to get some food and drink after a long traveling day. The best perk for me about the lounge was unlimited hot fresh coffee, and the ability to bring soda cans and food back to the room. Maybe not a money saver in the larger picture, but super convenient and time saving which made our visit more relaxing. The lounge can get a little crowded, particularly in the morning before the parks open, but we never had a problem finding a place to sit. Every square inch of the hotel was in that gorgeous 1920s style boardwalk theme, and you truly feel like you've walked back in time. There were so many interesting photos and artifacts on display. I love history so this was great for me. Our room was on the garden side of the Club Level in the Eastern wing, and I'm glad because it was much quieter than the lake/boardwalk side. The rooms were slightly more spacious than the "moderate hotel" size rooms with a sofa, desk, refrigerator and coffee machine. The restaurants/bars were great, most stay open for hours after Epcot closes, which leaves many convenient options for us adults. The walk to Epcot was short and easy, and drops you between France and the UK, which is great if you want to go straight to the World Showcase anyway. It's a shorter walk than if you were to go there from the main entrance. I think the only walk that might have been closer would be the Beach Club. We rented one of those group bicycles and drove all around the lake, had a blast. It was also nice to take the launch boats to Hollywood Studios. We found the boats to be much less crowded and more convenient than the buses, with shorter waits. Perhaps we were just lucky. Overall we had a great experience at this hotel, and I'd definitely stay there again.
This was my first time staying at a DVC property, so I guess I don't really have anything to compare it to, but I can honestly say that I will be coming back. I've stayed at All Star Movies and POFQ has always been my go-to, but my deluxe studio on Turtle Pond Rd. Was so nice that I think this may be my default resort from now on. I love how everything is so spread out. I know some people complain about it, but I found that the size of the resort contributed to the calm and quiet atmosphere. I loved my little studio with its own balcony and a nice view of the pond. I didn't eat at Olivia's, but I did have a few nightcap sat The Gurgling Suitcase, which had a fun, upbeat vibe to it (even if it's a little small). The staff there were all very friendly and helpful and my room was very clean, quiet, and comfortable. I will definitely be coming back.
I love Ft. Wilderness!! Mind you, I've camped in all sorts of places (state parks, national parks, KOA's, military RV parks, private RV parks, even Walmart on occasion) and Disney Fort Wilderness is the nicest, cleanest, most beautiful, and my favorite camping spot! 1) Their bathrooms are immaculate; 2) litter is picked up several times a day; 3) super friendly staff; 4) beautiful grounds; 5) the best pool; 6) always the cheapest DW resort; 7) the spaces are huge! 8) the turkeys must be on the payroll cause they are too funny. Also, it's the only resort you can bring your pets and they have a nice doggie park. I enjoy it so much that we usually spend several rest days just hanging out around at the pool, or horseback riding, or riding our bikes. We always make friends when we stay at Ft. Wilderness, you get to know your neighbors cause everyone is friendly, and that doesn't happen at the other resorts. We bring our bicycles to get around to the store or the bus stops, it's just quicker, but we have left them at home too and the bus system is a little inconvenient, but riding the boats to/from MK is awesome, especially during the fireworks. My only complaint is we don't get housekeeping, but I can wish upon a star!
My daughters and I had tea today for Mother's Day Weekend. Our waiter was Tyrone. He was excellent at accommodating us and showed a lot of grace when my six year had a tantrum over her selection of sweets. Without being asked he swept in and found a solution to her childish frustration. His service was excellent and amazing with children and families! The tea selection were abundant, and the savories, scones, and sweets perfection! The presentation of our offerings was unforgettable and adorable! I highly recommend this tea for children and families. I also recommend it for a child's first public tea. Thank you Tyrone and Disney Beach Club for the exceptional hospitality!
We stayed 3 days at the Club level at the Grand Floridian hotel and had such friendly, professional service from everyone we met. I want to mention Paula, one of the women who helped serve the food. I had put in a request for gluten free options at the 3rd floor conceirge service and everyone was so thoughtful to get me breakfast items and cookies. Paula went out of her way to get me something special, other than the veggies and fruit, as that was all I could eat on the buffet. She went down to the chef and had him make me the most delicious GF chicken one night!! The other hostesses were very accommodating, but Paula took action!! I so appreciated it!! The other person (don't remember her name, as it was Thai), who was outstanding was the woman who cleaned our room. Every time she saw us, she was so pleasant and efficient. On the day we checked out, she was so nice and told us not to hurry, as she had so many other rooms to clean. Others had made no exception and said it was imperative that we leave,. I understand that there needs to be a check out time, but it would be helpful if you had 15-30 minutes leeway!! We had a great time and loved the room and ambience of the hotel. We would stay here again.
Stayed in a Magic Kingdom view room. Stepping out onto the balcony overlooking the lagoon, the Poly, the Grand Floridian and the MK; was well...magical. During the day you could watch the bustle of the park, the people and the monorail. At night it was Celebrate the Magic, the Fireworks and the Electric Water Parade. Taking a bus to any park is torture for my kids, so being able walk to the MK in less than 10 minutes was priceless. Our room was comfortable and large, and we never noticed any noise once we were inside our room. The pool is OK, reminds me of a public pool, nothing special. Elevators could be slow to come and were sometimes filled up when they arrived. The Contemporary is classic Disney.
We stayed this weekend for our 4th anniversary, and we have stayed in several other WDW resorts. I had high hopes from reading other reviews, but I found a few sore pots amongst the great qualities. First the GOOD: Great views of fireworks (we were on the Bay Lake side overlooking the pool, which is lovely) and the wonderful nightly Electric Water Pageant. Comfortable beds with pristine white linens. More spacious than rooms in some other deluxe hotels. Monorail access and the ease of walking to MK. The bathroom came stocked with wonderful fluffy towels and I loved the small light that came on when you walked into the water closet in the bathroom at night. The staff was overall very courteous and it was really clean in all the public areas & our room. The BAD: If anyone from WDW should happen to read this, please take note- a couple in their 50's who tell you that they are staying at your hotel for their anniversary does NOT want to wake up to LOUD screaming/piped in music at SEVEN am daily thanks to the hellfest of screeching that emanates from damn Chef Mickey's. The noise was very loud in my room (10th floor , on the side closest to the window near the restaurants). The screaming and clapping wasn't even drowned out all the way by the white noise app I have in my phone for such situations when we travel. Also, I think whoever designed the bathrooms without a counter deserves a permanent wedgie.
I own at Bay Lake Tower and it is one of my favorite places to stay at Disney World. The rooms at the front of the tower have views of Magic Kingdom (MK) and the fireworks. Even some that aren't listed as MK view. If the park isn't framed in the middle of the window, it isn't considered a Magic Kingdom view. That doesn't mean you won't be able to step out on the balcony and watch the fireworks. If your room is at the back of the resort facing the lovely lake, and you are at the resort at Firework time... take that elevator ride to the roof bar and watch the fireworks from up there. They pipe the music in too. You can rent boats at dock and drive around one of the biggest lakes on property. The little personal boats are great fun. Monorail right next door in the main building for easy MK or EPCOT access. MK is also a short walk away if you are feeling energetic. The one bedroom rooms have 2 bathrooms. The two bedroom rooms have 3 bathrooms. Plenty of space for everyone, with a contemporary decor. There is a community hall with activity and games, check the schedule they give you at check-in. This resorts location also makes it easy to resort hop to the other monorail resorts for dining or to just check out the atmosphere.
The grounds are nice, food is awesome, nice walking area by the river. Jazz tunes floating in the air. I love to stay here .
You get what you pay for! You hear so many people complaining because it isn't like a moderate or deluxe resort, but you are not paying moderate or deluxe resort prices. My husband and I got a room here last minute and enjoyed our stay! Any Disney resort is going to be nice even the cheaper ones. This held true at Pop Century. The rooms show their age, but they do the job. My opinion is you don't spend much time in the room anyway so why pay so much for it. If it would have been a longer stay we would have, but this trip was only 3 days. We were just happy to be on the grounds. The cast members were GREAT, as well as the food and shops. The only real complaint we had was transportation. We had to wait for about 10 buses to be able to leave Magic Kingdom to get back to Pop Century. The line was INSANE and it was so late. We drove the other 2 days. Other than transportation I highly recommend this resort if you are on a tight budget for your Disney trip!
My husband and I have stayed here twice so far, and plan on staying again in November. We loved the atmosphere as well as the cast members! The room was nice, and always looked as if we hadn't even been there the next day. Yes, you can tell the rooms are older but they are still decorated well and do the job. One thing you have to consider is the reasonable price. You will not get a "deluxe room" at a moderate resort. We felt like for the price we still got tons of amenities, easy transportation, great food , and impeccable service both times we stayed.
This is a fantastic resort, with very spacious rooms (by WDW standards) and fabulous atmosphere. On one side of "the toaster", Theme Park Views will wow you; on the other side, Bay Lake views will delight - serene and the lake is beautiful (Electrical Water Pageant every night around 10pm, right from your balcony!). We loved the modern bathroom (although people tend to complain about the shallow sinks and lack of storage space). Also loved being on the MK end of the tower, which allowed us to see Space Mtn every time we left our front door (and even see fireworks at night). Great quick service at Contempo Cafe, too. The kids got huge cupcakes every day. Still love Chef Mickey's for first-timers but no longer go to California Grill - too expensive and we don't like to spend a lot of time dining. Garden Wing will save $$. Same rooms, more quiet, and a close walk to Tower. We walk to MK (5-10 min) and take monorail back. The best!
This is the most unique of Disney's resorts, IMO. Having stayed at all the Deluxes, AKL is my favorite getaway. I love the sights, sounds, and smells of this stunning resort. The latest room refurb is the best yet. So attractive and well-themed. Gorgeous lobby, wonderful CMs, especially those out by the animal viewing areas. Incredible job on landscaping. I love the quick service, The Mara, too. Splurge on an Arusha View if you want but I book Pool View for a bit of savings. (The Polynesian is my other favorite.)
We had a wonderful time staying at the Grand! We ate at Narcooses on our honeymoon while staying at Port Orleans, and my husband fell in love with the resort, promising that next time we would stay here. We arrived on a very rainy day, yet it still felt like getting home. We were warmly greeted by Richard, and got checked in very quickly. Our room was in the Conch Key building. Which is closest to the boat launch and Narcooses. The room was beautiful! And I'm pretty sure the mattress was the most comfortable mattress I've ever slept on. Being pregnant, I spent lots of time in our room, getting ready for the day or simply sleeping in, and every day I would sit out on the balcony, watching boats go by with my husband. It was one of the nicest vacations we've taken so far. Even my husband, who simply puts up with Disney because of how much I love it, is already planning our next Disney vacation, and is planning on staying here again. By far my favorite resort! The fact that it has all three types of Disney transportation makes it so easy to get from point A to point B. Magic Kingdom is one monorail stop away, and coming back, it's the the first boat stop. I would highly recommend staying here.
I've stayed at the Pop century 3 times, once when I was 9, again when I was 12, and again when I was 13. When I was 13 I was with my grandparents, so staying in the 50s was perfect for them! Since they were both teenagers then! It's always pretty crowded, but it brings back a lot of memories for parents and grandparents. Kids love it because it's so colorful and just packed to the brim with things to explore! The 60s flower power pool is awesome!
We were supposed to stay there on our first trip in September 2002, but it was being fixed up so we got bumped to the Polynesian. Anyways, 2015 my mom booked us there because we figured we'd give it a try. We moved to Port Orleans French Quarter 3 days later. Breakfast was always hectic, and the front desk had trouble with my moms requests or plans or whatever she had gotten set straight on the phone earlier. The pool was nice, and so was the gift shop but it wasn't Disney Magical as usual
The resort was clean. Liked the themes. All in all a very nice resort and would recommend it but would give one warning to anyone. When leaving a park the walk to the bus station is a long ways away. Especially at HS, WOW. And the worst part is you have to share with the other two resorts so it is always crowded. Not saying that POP isn't a long walk but it doesn't share and seems to work better.