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MissEsq
LIF Adult
Member since 10/09 920 total posts
Name:
Missy
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Disney Hotels (orlando) - give me your recs
We are planning a trip for early 2012 with DC and have never stayed at the disney properties but are thinking about doing so this time because of its convenience. Please give me your thoughts on any you have stayed at! Many thanks!
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Posted 5/16/11 9:11 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Disney Hotels (orlando) - give me your recs
We loved the Polynesian. It's on the Monorail. With a younger child, it was a great decision. We were minutes from Magic Kingdom. Not folding/unfolding of the stroller. You can take the kid in the stroller in the monorail.
We also considered the Port Orleans and another one by Epcot. But the convience of the Polynesian took over. We also went in May (off from any vacation times) so we got a much cheaper rate.
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| Posted 5/17/11 8:32 AM |
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Mill188
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 3073 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Hotels (orlando) - give me your recs
You can't go wrong with any of the Disney hotels.
A recommendation depends on so many things though. What park do you plan to spend the most time in? What's your budget? What time of year are you planning? Do you want a kitchen?
Disney has a hotel to suit every need or desire....
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| Posted 5/17/11 11:07 AM |
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KittyGags
LIF Adult
Member since 7/09 5614 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Hotels (orlando) - give me your recs
I stayed at the Wilderness Lodge with my niece and nephew and it was great! No complaints!
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| Posted 5/17/11 11:14 AM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Hotels (orlando) - give me your recs
What are you looking for? If you have higher budget I like the Polynesian - you can take the monorail to the MK or to the TTC and switch to the EPCOT monorail. The advantage of the Poly is that you can walk next door to the TTC (ticket and transportation center) and hop the ferry to the MK (you can roll your stroller on) OR you can walk to the TTC and hop on the EPCOT monorail and not change trains.
Contemporary is nice to be able to walk to the MK but it is more sterile and more of a resort you can stay anywhere (with the exception of the monorail going through the building).
I love the AKL b.c it is so different from anywhere else and it is nice if you get a savannah room to sit on your balcony and have giraffe eating right outside your room. But it is the farthest from the MK.
If you want a Villa - Bay Lake Tower attached to the Contemporary is very convenient. AKL also has Villas.
There are so many choices if you have a flexible budget.
If you don't then there are still some great options.
What are you looking for?
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| Posted 5/18/11 7:34 PM |
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DPG1103
LIF Zygote
Member since 5/11 15 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Hotels (orlando) - give me your recs
You can't lose with a Disney hotel... there are so many though, it depends how much you are looking to spend/how much time you think you will spend at the hotel. Disney has different hotels for different budgets/needs. My husband & I go to to Disney around 5x a year so we have stayed in quite a few Disney hotels. Some websites with info/pics/pricing/reviews to help you are:
www.allears.net
www.mousesavers.com
www.tripadvisor.com
& of course: www.disneyworld.com
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| Posted 5/18/11 8:35 PM |
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ml110
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 5435 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Hotels (orlando) - give me your recs
like others said, you can't go wrong with any of the disney hotels/resorts. it just depends on your budget and what you're looking for.
i just got back yesterday from disney.... we stayed at Pop Century. its one of the their "value" hotels, so the price is really reasonable. but it also means the rooms are a little smaller than other hotels, bathrooms could maybe use a little update. BUT, its still a disney hotel, so it was clean and well maintained, staff was awesome. it was just DH and i, no kids. the rooms MIGHT be a little small if you have a baby and all the baby gear with you. but, you're not in the room much anyway 
LOVED the theme of the hotel. each building was a different decade. so like the 50s building had a GIANT juke box and a bowling pin shaped pool. the 80's building had a HUGE walkman and rubix cube. just so cool to walk around and see all that fun stuff!! i could definitely see a kid LOVING it! it also had 3 pools, which is great too.
Pop Century also has direct buses to all of the parks, which is awesome. some of the resorts have you go to the Transportation center first and transfer to get to the park.
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| Posted 5/18/11 11:13 PM |
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MissEsq
LIF Adult
Member since 10/09 920 total posts
Name:
Missy
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Re: Disney Hotels (orlando) - give me your recs
Thank you everyone! I'm thinking that the monorail hotels may be best since we will have a stroller and all our gear - LOL! Are there character sitings/dining opportunities at any of them? I looked at the website for a bit and I think I'm more interested in the Polynesian and Contemporary/Bay Villlas. From these hotels I know you have to take a bus to downtown disney and animal kingdom -- how is the bus system? are you waiting a long time? crowded? annoying? I wold like to avoid renting a car if we are paying the extra money to stay at a disney property. Also, what is the hotel pick up like? Thanks!!
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| Posted 5/19/11 8:55 AM |
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ml110
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 5435 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Hotels (orlando) - give me your recs
Posted by MissEsq
Thank you everyone! I'm thinking that the monorail hotels may be best since we will have a stroller and all our gear - LOL! Are there character sitings/dining opportunities at any of them? I looked at the website for a bit and I think I'm more interested in the Polynesian and Contemporary/Bay Villlas. From these hotels I know you have to take a bus to downtown disney and animal kingdom -- how is the bus system? are you waiting a long time? crowded? annoying? I wold like to avoid renting a car if we are paying the extra money to stay at a disney property. Also, what is the hotel pick up like? Thanks!!
The bus system is awesome!! there are staff at every bus stop, and they will call for additional buses if the lines start to get too long. so they really try to help you get where you're going quickly. the buses can get a little bit crowded, and there were people standing on all the buses we took. BUT, most people are really nice and will give up a seat to someone (like you) who has a little baby and all the gear with them.
you definitely don't need to rent a car if you stay on disney. they even have the "Magical Express" bus that picks you up at the airport for free (and takes you back afterwards). They day before you head home from disney, you get a note in your hotel that says "We know you're leaving soon. Please meet the MAgical Express bus at (whatever time)to get to the airport". AND they print your boarding passes for you, too! the morning we were leaving, we woke up to our boarding passes under our door, all ready to go- SOOO convienient!! AND you don't have to take your luggage on the bus to the airport with you. Disney will check it all the way to your destination for you. all you need to take on the Magical Express is your carry on with stuff you need on the plane. SOOO nice!
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| Posted 5/19/11 9:58 AM |
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MissEsq
LIF Adult
Member since 10/09 920 total posts
Name:
Missy
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Re: Disney Hotels (orlando) - give me your recs
Posted by ml110
Posted by MissEsq
Thank you everyone! I'm thinking that the monorail hotels may be best since we will have a stroller and all our gear - LOL! Are there character sitings/dining opportunities at any of them? I looked at the website for a bit and I think I'm more interested in the Polynesian and Contemporary/Bay Villlas. From these hotels I know you have to take a bus to downtown disney and animal kingdom -- how is the bus system? are you waiting a long time? crowded? annoying? I wold like to avoid renting a car if we are paying the extra money to stay at a disney property. Also, what is the hotel pick up like? Thanks!!
The bus system is awesome!! there are staff at every bus stop, and they will call for additional buses if the lines start to get too long. so they really try to help you get where you're going quickly. the buses can get a little bit crowded, and there were people standing on all the buses we took. BUT, most people are really nice and will give up a seat to someone (like you) who has a little baby and all the gear with them.
you definitely don't need to rent a car if you stay on disney. they even have the "Magical Express" bus that picks you up at the airport for free (and takes you back afterwards). They day before you head home from disney, you get a note in your hotel that says "We know you're leaving soon. Please meet the MAgical Express bus at (whatever time)to get to the airport". AND they print your boarding passes for you, too! the morning we were leaving, we woke up to our boarding passes under our door, all ready to go- SOOO convienient!! AND you don't have to take your luggage on the bus to the airport with you. Disney will check it all the way to your destination for you. all you need to take on the Magical Express is your carry on with stuff you need on the plane. SOOO nice!
WOW the check-out is definitely a nice perk!!! Thanks for the info!!
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| Posted 5/19/11 8:56 PM |
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ml110
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 5435 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Hotels (orlando) - give me your recs
Posted by MissEsq
Posted by ml110
Posted by MissEsq
Thank you everyone! I'm thinking that the monorail hotels may be best since we will have a stroller and all our gear - LOL! Are there character sitings/dining opportunities at any of them? I looked at the website for a bit and I think I'm more interested in the Polynesian and Contemporary/Bay Villlas. From these hotels I know you have to take a bus to downtown disney and animal kingdom -- how is the bus system? are you waiting a long time? crowded? annoying? I wold like to avoid renting a car if we are paying the extra money to stay at a disney property. Also, what is the hotel pick up like? Thanks!!
The bus system is awesome!! there are staff at every bus stop, and they will call for additional buses if the lines start to get too long. so they really try to help you get where you're going quickly. the buses can get a little bit crowded, and there were people standing on all the buses we took. BUT, most people are really nice and will give up a seat to someone (like you) who has a little baby and all the gear with them.
you definitely don't need to rent a car if you stay on disney. they even have the "Magical Express" bus that picks you up at the airport for free (and takes you back afterwards). They day before you head home from disney, you get a note in your hotel that says "We know you're leaving soon. Please meet the MAgical Express bus at (whatever time)to get to the airport". AND they print your boarding passes for you, too! the morning we were leaving, we woke up to our boarding passes under our door, all ready to go- SOOO convienient!! AND you don't have to take your luggage on the bus to the airport with you. Disney will check it all the way to your destination for you. all you need to take on the Magical Express is your carry on with stuff you need on the plane. SOOO nice!
WOW the check-out is definitely a nice perk!!! Thanks for the info!!
ooh yeah! there are a lot of little perks like that with staying at one of the disney hotels! this was the first time i used the check out thing, because when i would go with my parents, we would drive down. i can't tell you how great it was to wake up and have our boarding passes all ready to go, hand over our luggage, and then go grab breakfast before we got on the MAgical Express to the airport! no waiting in line to check in, or dragging luggage around the airport...
Disney hotels really are awesome!!
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| Posted 5/19/11 9:43 PM |
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Ma-n-Pa2008
Mommy's Big Boy
Member since 3/09 2584 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: Disney Hotels (orlando) - give me your recs
i've stayed at port orleans, all star music and caribbean beach resort. loved all of them!
Message edited 5/19/2011 10:41:56 PM.
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| Posted 5/19/11 10:41 PM |
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Viviane1108
LIF Adolescent
Member since 6/09 509 total posts
Name:
Anita
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Re: Disney Hotels (orlando) - give me your recs
We stayed in the Grand Floridian and loved it..can't wait to go back...
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| Posted 5/20/11 9:45 AM |
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hazeleyes33
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 13060 total posts
Name:
Ginger
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Re: Disney Hotels (orlando) - give me your recs
Posted by Viviane1108
We stayed in the Grand Floridian and loved it..can't wait to go back...
We are going there this time. Can't wait 
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| Posted 5/20/11 1:59 PM |
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Tine73
Member since 3/06 22093 total posts
Name:
*********
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Re: Disney Hotels (orlando) - give me your recs
We just got back yesterday and we stayed at the Grand Flordian. It was great! We took advantage of the Magical Express and it was awesome not to even think about our luggage. Our room was ready when we arrived (1pm) and our luggage was delivered to our room within the hour.
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| Posted 5/20/11 11:28 PM |
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hazeleyes33
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 13060 total posts
Name:
Ginger
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Re: Disney Hotels (orlando) - give me your recs
Posted by Tine73
We just got back yesterday and we stayed at the Grand Flordian. It was great! We took advantage of the Magical Express and it was awesome not to even think about our luggage. Our room was ready when we arrived (1pm) and our luggage was delivered to our room within the hour.
Do you have any pics of the hotel??
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| Posted 5/21/11 11:43 AM |
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