Walt Disney World Hotels

[tangelo212]

I too, grew up going to Disney several times a year when prices were cheaper! There are so many things about the parks that I loved as a little kid that are no longer there that I get very nostalgic about (Horizons? Dream Flight? Catastrophe Canyon? 20,000 Leagues? RIVER COUNTRY?!)... including some hotels that are no longer! Here is a rundown of the Disney hotels I've stayed at and I can remember off the top of my head:

Coronado Springs: Was here in 2006. The main pool area with a Mayan ruins/pyramid themed pool. I also got a massage at the spa that I really enjoyed. I think it's kind of a quieter resort, it somehow doesn't seem as busy or bustling, maybe that's because it is pretty spread out? We ate at the quick buffet/cafeteria style dining room which was standard/what you'd expect. We also ate at the nice restaurant, which I remember enjoying very much.

Yacht Club I think I stayed here in 2002. This is right next door the the Beach Club, so they are pretty much the same, except for the decor. I really liked the atmosphere here, the pool is right on the lake across from a boardwalk (I believed the Boardwalk Inn is also in this area, somewhere on this lake). There is also an adorable, quaint-in-the-way-only-Disney-can-pull-off "old-fashioned" ice cream parlor. I remember really liking the rooms here. It is very convenient to EPCOT park--there may be a shuttle boat to the park if I remember correctly.

Port Orleans "RIVERSIDE" Okay, I stayed here WAY back when it was called "Dixie Landings" when I was a little kid. I remember really liking it, and that it had a lot of gardens/grounds, not that Disney skimps on landscaping whatsoever, but I just remember it having less concrete than other resorts? I have no idea what it is like now though. My dad fell in the pool with a cup of coffee (and his clothes on) here, which hilarious to my 6 yr old self.

Port Orleans "FRENCH QUARTER" Stayed here when I was really young. It was just called Port Orleans then. I remember a purple dragon waterslide at the pool which was AWESOME, I so hope it's still there. I also remember multi-colored coins in the sidewalk here. Sorry I can't remember anything truly substantial about accommodations. My mom said she remembers liking it, and that it seemed like there were "streets and boulevards, very New Orleans looking, between the buildings of the guest rooms."

Grand Floridian GORGEOUS. Right across from Magic Kingdom. To me, this is THE Disney hotel. It's modeled after the Hotel del Coronado in Coronado (San Diego). They do really good character breakfasts here. You can actually go to the character breakfast without actually staying at the hotel, just call and make a reservation.

Polynesian I stayed here a few times when I was way young, and I remember the cool dinner show, with hula dancers and fire and a variety of dancing, etc. I still have the mini shell necklaces they gave out and over which my best friend and I fought. One of the oldest resorts, built in the 70s. I'm sure it's been remodeled, but I haven't been there in ages. Also right across from Magic Kingdom.

Wilderness Lodge Very Pacific Northwest, ski lodge feel. I remember the rooms feeling a little cramped, but maybe they've been re-done. We've also stayed in Fort Wilderness, where you rent out a cabin or something? or you camp? I don't remember, I think I was 4, and I actually think that this may no longer exist??

Swan and Dolphin 2 separate hotels, but are pretty much next door. I believe that the Swan was designed by the architect Michael Graves (NOT IM Pei...thanks Munchkin03!). The Swan actually has swans on the building, and the Dolphin, ironically, has a fish that kinda look like it fell on its head and looks very uncomfortable. These hotels actually aren't owned by Disney. They are close to EPCOT.

The Contemporary This was another original hotel from the 70s. It's def been refurbished since then. The monorail goes right through the hotel, so it's really convenient. I'm not a big fan of this one though, I just don't think it's cozy. I do enjoy Mary Blair's mural/mosaic though (same artist/art director of Small World, book illustrator, I think she also did the people in the old Mexico river ride in EPCOT).

That's what I can remember off the top of my head. I think the biggest perks of staying at a Disney resort is the convenience/transportation. It also really immerses you in the fantasy/Disney world. The staff really take care of you, not to mention the beauty of the grounds, etc.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by tangelo212

Swan and Dolphin 2 separate hotels, but are pretty much next door. I believe that the Swan was designed by the architect IM Pei. The Swan actually has swans on the building, and the Dolphin, ironically, has a fish that kinda look like it fell on its head and looks very uncomfortable. These hotels actually aren't owned by Disney. They are close to EPCOT.

Michael Graves designed the Swan and Dolphin; he's gotten a ton of flak from the architecture community about the complex.

[tangelo212]

Ohhhh you're totally right, I was confusing it with something else I guess (the triangle of the Louvre??? haha )

[Smile_Awhile]

HUGE Disney geek. I miss it dearly...

I've stayed at two on-property hotels- the Polynesian and Coronado Springs. Someday, I'll stay at the Grand Floridian and the Contemporary...

Polynesian- I was fairly young when we stayed here. I got to sleep on the daybed, and the entire room was very cool for a small girl. It's a very laid-back place, but with lots of energy (if that makes any sense).

Coronado- A nice place. The rooms were fine, nothing spectacular. The theming was eh, except in the main building. That building is beautiful and amazing! The pool was neat, and the only thing that stunk was how spread out it was.

And yes, Fort Wilderness and the Wilderness Lodge still exist. They're very different places though- one is a deluxe resort (according to Disney) and the other is a campground with cabins!

[ThetaPrincess24]

I've stayed at the Polynesian & Wilderness Lodge.

The Polynesian in my opinion has some of the best fruit and overall food and fruity drinks (that can be served with and without alcohol). I believe they still have a nightly luau.

I agree the Wilderness Lodge seemed to have small/crammed rooms. But at the same time , my father is almost always looking for the cheapest deal so they may have better rooms and ours was a result of dad's cheapness. We ate breakfast there a few times and I really loved how it all came out on a skillet with separate "fixins." They have (or atleast used to) their own version of Old Faithful that goes off every hour too by the pool area.

I've been three times. I've had a blast all three times. I would recommend going in the winter months though if you can. The lines tend to be shorter then and the heat and humidity are not as bad to walk around or stand in the lines. Have lots of fun

[carnation]

I swear that if we go again, it'll either be in October for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party or in early December, for our anniversary. We've done the latter twice and it was great; 70 degrees, no lines, and all decorated for Christmas. We went one about December 15th, though, and almost froze our butts off. AXOAlum has me all fired up about the idea of an October visit.

I'm from south Texas but the heat last week in Orlando was awful.