Anonymous
Post 05/03/2025 22:44     Subject: What does your teenager or child remember most about Disney World or Universal Studios? Do they remember the hotel?
Anonymous wrote:We’ve been to Disney with our kids a few times and we just spent 4 nights in a Disney resort over spring break and never went to any of the parks.

The Disney resorts are fun given the theming/vibe, pools, and access to other Disney properties (and parks).

I can’t imagine staying offsite and navigating transportation unless you plan to spend all day at a park. Being able to go back and forth makes it more fun/relaxing imho.

Fwiw, I don’t think you need to spring for a luxury property. We’ve enjoyed Art of Animation just as much as the Boardwalk. We’ve visited/eaten at all the fancy resorts and most other Disney properties—each has a fun vibe and different pros/cons.


We did this one time and it was one of our best Disney trips. My kids were young though so I think they thought the resort was Disney. They know better now.

Other than that trip, we’ve always stayed off property, mostly at condos or houses, and I much prefer it. It’s really not a big deal to drive in each day. But we tend to stay at the parks all day and not go in and out.
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2025 23:01     Subject: What does your teenager or child remember most about Disney World or Universal Studios? Do they remember the hotel?
We stayed at the budget friendly Disney Sports hotel (under $150/ night at the time) and my then 9 year old liked it so much that he opted to spend a full day at the hotel (game room, fun sporty pools, outdoor games, hosted activities, and big football fields to run on) instead of another day at a park! I had rented a mobility device due to my foot injury and I let him drive it around the hotel grounds for several hours.

He’s been begging to return there!
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2025 10:38     Subject: What does your teenager or child remember most about Disney World or Universal Studios? Do they remember the hotel?
She remembers the little chocolate muffins she had for breakfast every day when we stayed club level at Portofino Bay (Universal).
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2025 22:04     Subject: What does your teenager or child remember most about Disney World or Universal Studios? Do they remember the hotel?
My kids tend to notice hotels and want to discuss them and compare them. At Universal, my kids prefer Hard Rock, then Aventura, then Portofino. They take a dim view of Cabana Bay, Dockside, Surfside, and Royal Pacific. We have Helios booked and they are thrilled.

You'll notice that the "prefer" list includes a non-premium hotel as their second favorite hotel. So you can absolutely have a great time at the cheaper hotels. We will eventually stay at Stella and Luna as well.
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2025 20:52     Subject: What does your teenager or child remember most about Disney World or Universal Studios? Do they remember the hotel?
My kids remember the Grand Floridian and the Wilderness Lodge for sure. The pool at the Wilderness Lodge was a hit, as was the boat ride to the MK. At the GF we were on a concierge floor in a huge room with access to the lounge for snacks, etc. Plus there was a character breakfast in the hotel. Also nice to be able to come back in the middle of the day for a break or swim, which was easy to do when you are on site.
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2025 20:52     Subject: Re:What does your teenager or child remember most about Disney World or Universal Studios? Do they remember the hotel?
Mine remember the hotel. We stayed in a cheap hotel outside the park (didn’t have much money so we made it work on a shoestring and had a great trip). The hotel had two pools that were open until like 10 or 11 at night. After we tired of the park, I’d order a pizza and we’d spend the entire evening at the pool.

We had a great time at Disney but the only thing anyone still talks about was the hotel pool.
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2025 20:47     Subject: What does your teenager or child remember most about Disney World or Universal Studios? Do they remember the hotel?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Curious if the hotel was the one thing they remembered most (ex: a great pool or room) or one particular part of the theme park stands out.

How important is a “fun” hotel with the pool and characters? Or is the visit to the parks the place where majority of the memories are made?


I went when I was 9 and 15 and thought Disney World was terrible for people between the ages of 8 and about 30.

It had long lines and very boring rides. I probably stayed at nice hotels away from the park but can’t remember them. I came away thinking Disney parks are for people who are too young or too frail for good rides.

Six Flags parks have much livelier rides.

I think most people ages 9 to 30 would have a lot more fun staying around Cocoa Beach and swimming, surfing and visiting Kennedy Space Center.


CEO of Six Flags says what? 🤣
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2025 20:33     Subject: What does your teenager or child remember most about Disney World or Universal Studios? Do they remember the hotel?
Anonymous wrote:Curious if the hotel was the one thing they remembered most (ex: a great pool or room) or one particular part of the theme park stands out.

How important is a “fun” hotel with the pool and characters? Or is the visit to the parks the place where majority of the memories are made?


I went when I was 9 and 15 and thought Disney World was terrible for people between the ages of 8 and about 30.

It had long lines and very boring rides. I probably stayed at nice hotels away from the park but can’t remember them. I came away thinking Disney parks are for people who are too young or too frail for good rides.

Six Flags parks have much livelier rides.

I think most people ages 9 to 30 would have a lot more fun staying around Cocoa Beach and swimming, surfing and visiting Kennedy Space Center.