Anonymous
12/14/2016 20:10
Subject: Re:What hotel at Disneyworld?
We always get park hopper because we've found that the kids want to go to the magic kingdom every day. We hit whichever park has morning hours and do what we want, but eventually end up at MK. It's nice to be able to do a park, go home, and then go to whichever park your hotel is at. Also nice to be able to eat at Epcot.
Anonymous
12/14/2016 19:30
Subject: What hotel at Disneyworld?
we recently stayed at Riverside but walked over to French Quarter and it seemed a lot better. But I would have preferred to stay at animal kingdom- that place looks awesome. Riverside was ok/not great. I liked the boat to disney springs. But that was about it.
Anonymous
12/14/2016 19:00
Subject: Re:What hotel at Disneyworld?
Anonymous wrote:OP again. I think we have settled on Animal Kingdom, but I have a non-hotel question. For a four day stay, we should get Park Hopper tickets, right?
Adding the park hopper feature to tickets takes just a few minutes and can be done at your hotel, or at any park.
I'd buy regular tickets and then, if you decide to hop one day, add the feature then.
We had a trip when we planned to hop, but then were too tired that day. We had another trip where we didn't plan on hopping but realized we were in the mood for a quiet stroll around the lagoon and fireworks at Epcot. Both times we were glad that not buying the park hoppers gave us the flexibility to make a decision in the moment.
Anonymous
12/14/2016 18:59
Subject: Re:What hotel at Disneyworld?
Anonymous wrote:OP again. I think we have settled on Animal Kingdom, but I have a non-hotel question. For a four day stay, we should get Park Hopper tickets, right?
Animal Kingdom is very nice - you will like it.
Park Hopper is to visit two different parks in the same day, right? We have NEVER seen a need for that. If there is a special event at a certain park on a certain day we will plan to spend all day in that park. We have also never stayed later than 6 or 7 - not sure who has the stamina for staying till midnight or switching parks with kids!
Anonymous
12/14/2016 18:56
Subject: What hotel at Disneyworld?
Anonymous wrote:How old are your kids and when are you going?
I've never stayed at any of the values. I've stayed at all the moderates and some of the Deluxe level resorts.
Of the moderates, I really liked Port Orleans Riverside and Coronado Springs. I didn't care or Port Orleans French Quarter or Caribbean Beach.
We have stayed at both Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter. I prefer the latter because it's a smaller resort. At whatever resort you choose you should request a room close to the main lobby ie near the entrance. Otherwise you could be like a ten minute walk from the main entrance, restaurants etc.
Anonymous
12/14/2016 18:24
Subject: Re:What hotel at Disneyworld?
Anonymous wrote:OP again. I think we have settled on Animal Kingdom, but I have a non-hotel question. For a four day stay, we should get Park Hopper tickets, right?
It really depends. I am the PP who said she was going for Marathon weekend next January. Although we bought park hopper tickets (military), there is only one day we plan to "park hop"--and that is from Hollywood Studios to Epcot, and we we are staying at Boardwalk Inn so they are both walking distance to our hotel.
Check out the hours the parks are open during your stay, and is it even conducive to "park hopping?"
And Animal Kingdom lodge is AMAZING! I stayed there about a year ago and LOVED it!
Anonymous
12/14/2016 18:20
Subject: Re:What hotel at Disneyworld?
OP again. I think we have settled on Animal Kingdom, but I have a non-hotel question. For a four day stay, we should get Park Hopper tickets, right?
Anonymous
12/14/2016 17:57
Subject: Re:What hotel at Disneyworld?
Anonymous wrote:OP again. Sorry for so many posts! I just looked at Animal Kingdom, and it looks really cool. My only question is about the distance from Magic Kingdom. Once you are far enough away that you have to take a bus to MK, do you think it matters whether you are at Animal Kingdom Lodge (all the way across WDW from Magic Kingdom) or at say Port Orleans Riverside, which is somewhat closer?
Animal Kingdom is a great resort. Feels very upscale, very themed, very fun.
Way better than Pop Century.
Anonymous
12/14/2016 17:40
Subject: What hotel at Disneyworld?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If you're not staying on the monorail then definitely do Pop. It has it's own busline so you won't have any stops first thing in the morning, just going straight from the hotel to the park.
It's undergoing major renovations. I guess that's the thing about going in the off-season.
So? If you are just sleeping there what difference does that make?
Anonymous
12/14/2016 17:36
Subject: What hotel at Disneyworld?
Anonymous wrote:If you're not staying on the monorail then definitely do Pop. It has it's own busline so you won't have any stops first thing in the morning, just going straight from the hotel to the park.
It's undergoing major renovations. I guess that's the thing about going in the off-season.
Anonymous
12/14/2016 16:16
Subject: What hotel at Disneyworld?
If you're not staying on the monorail then definitely do Pop. It has it's own busline so you won't have any stops first thing in the morning, just going straight from the hotel to the park.
Anonymous
12/14/2016 13:59
Subject: Re:What hotel at Disneyworld?
Anonymous wrote:OP again. Sorry for so many posts! I just looked at Animal Kingdom, and it looks really cool. My only question is about the distance from Magic Kingdom. Once you are far enough away that you have to take a bus to MK, do you think it matters whether you are at Animal Kingdom Lodge (all the way across WDW from Magic Kingdom) or at say Port Orleans Riverside, which is somewhat closer?
Doesn't matter. You are taking a bus either way. The most time consuming part is waiting for the bus to come. Sometimes you get lucky, other times not. You want to look at how many stops each resort has. AK only has 2. Kidani and Jambo. Caribbean Beach have 5 I think. So whether your stop is first or last, you are waiting on one end of your trip or the other.
Anonymous
12/14/2016 13:53
Subject: Re:What hotel at Disneyworld?
OP again. Sorry for so many posts! I just looked at Animal Kingdom, and it looks really cool. My only question is about the distance from Magic Kingdom. Once you are far enough away that you have to take a bus to MK, do you think it matters whether you are at Animal Kingdom Lodge (all the way across WDW from Magic Kingdom) or at say Port Orleans Riverside, which is somewhat closer?
Anonymous
12/14/2016 13:36
Subject: What hotel at Disneyworld?
Definitely don't do the Cabins. That's not Wilderness Lodge.
Also, on the swimming -- Florida weather is hit or miss during February. We've had trips where we swam in January, but other trips where it was too cold. The outdoor pools are heated, fwiw.
Make sure you check which parks have extra magic hours in the morning (not night) on which days before you book your fast passes so you make sure you're in the right park on the right day.
Also, on the swimming -- Florida weather is hit or miss during February. We've had trips where we swam in January, but other trips where it was too cold. The outdoor pools are heated, fwiw.
Make sure you check which parks have extra magic hours in the morning (not night) on which days before you book your fast passes so you make sure you're in the right park on the right day.
Anonymous
12/14/2016 13:34
Subject: Re:What hotel at Disneyworld?
Anonymous wrote:OP again. You guys are so great. Thanks so much for all the help. I just found a discount site through Mousesavers that produced a list of possibilities for under $300/night. My kids are crazy early risers so Extra Magic Hours are important to us, so I do want to stay at a Disney hotel. Here's the list:
Art of Animation $281
Port Orleans Riverside $179
Pop Century $107
Caribbean Beach Resort $149
Animal Kingdom Lodge $248
Coronado Springs $151
All-Star Movies $111
Yacht Club $300
The Cabins at Fort Wilderness $290
Saratoga Springs $235
The Villas that a PP suggested are all sold-out. Keeping in mind that we won't be using the pool in February, with the options I listed at the prices I listed for a four day stay where we intend to mostly be at the parks, which would you pick? I think I'm leaning toward Art of Animation or Port Orleans Riverside. Yacht Club is undergoing renovations, which is probably why it's discounted, so I'm reluctant to pick that one despite the great reviews above. Thanks for crowdsourcing my trip planning!
We were just at the Caribbean and liked it. The negative is it is spread out so ask for a room near the food, if that is important to you. The food sucked, but so did the French Quarter when we stayed there a few years ago. The Caribbean just had a refurbishment and it looked much better. There were some strange things like in the bathroom they cheated out and painted the tile vs. retiling but it looked fine. The room was clean and comfortable. I'd do a moderate vs. value. We have stayed at the value and its fine but they are very crowded. $250 for Animal Kingdom is a great price. Once I was quoted twice that much but personally we don't spend much time in the room so I'd rather stay extra days than have a fancy room. It doesn't seem like a good use of money to me.