Stephen McAllister , we were just there in early December. The plan was to do a Disney cruise in 2021 and back to WDW in early 2024. But as of a few nights ago, we decided not to torture ourselves; so we’re going back in early October 2020.
I would never pick a Disney resort based on transportation options only, unless you are only going to certain parks. I will take a Disney bus any day over being stuck on the monorail or Skyliner. Bus breaks down, they send another bus. Do not avoid a Disney resort due to buses. No Disney resort is near everything.
In 2016, I went to Animal Kingdom Lodge to meet a friend of mine who I hadn't seen in over 10 years and was a cast member (still is). I was BLOWN AWAY. It' is so beautiful! I didn't even know that they had animals! My family doesn't like large crowd or parks so I think we will stay there. We'll probably only stay at the hotel and go to the parks 1 or 2 days out of the trip.
I couldn't agree more. Since we love bouncing around all of WDW , we always get a rental car. It's really not that much and we do NO busses and have a blast being spontaneous. That said, we love our Old Key West and stay at our other fav often; Animal Kingdom Lodge.
I’m sorry but Animal Kingdom lodge will never be a “worst”, I don’t care how far away it is, it is worth it. Just cuz there’s the sky rail now, the distance has not changed 😂 the rooms, FOOD, and Savannah cannot be topped
AKL was our first stay at WDW (daughter had just become a cast member and we went to see her, so there was the discount) and wow! It's hard to beat when you see exotic animals everyday from your balcony! We had no problem getting around, even though it is a bit of a ride to get to and from places.
DeMilo Young the woman in the video? Oh yes 9 times out of 10 it’s her favorite place to stay, she recommends the restaurants almost every video lol that’s what made it so shocking that it was on this list, and the only reason is for the distance because of the sky liners. Sounds like someone else at DFB Guide had her read this. I stayed at that resort because of this channel’s recommendation.
imtigger2 I had the worst experience at AKL in 2013 because we didn’t get a savannah room and the balcony overlooked the parking lot and the balcony was full of bird poop
I just want to thank you for all your tips and advices. Me and my boyfriend are taking my grandson to WDW for 7 days in January, and because of your blog, we are feeling confident about our planning. Your resort and dinning tips has been so helpful in the planning of our vacation, and we can’t wait to try some of those restaurants thanks to your videos. Thanks A.J.
Nice vid! I had some ideas that I and some other followers would LOVE to see :) 1: favorite and least favorite Disney World/ Disneyland rides- I've wanted this for forever! 2: WORST restaurants for vegan food at Disney World- I'm vegan and loved the "Best Restaurants For Vegan/Vegetarians, and would love to see its counterpart. 3: Worst food items you've ever tried- a warning for your watchers, lol 4: This would be so legendary- RANKING every resort from favorite to least favorite, I would lose it if I saw this! 5: A ranking of all the lands- Fantasyland, Pandora, Asia, Galaxy's Edge, Tomorrowland, Main Street, Liberty Square, Future World, Toy Story Land, Dinoland, Discovery Island, Frontierland, Adventureland, (anything I forgot except for the Hollywood Studios lands- they would probably all be at the bottom because they aren't that unique, except for TSL and GE. 6: Ranking different resort restaurants 7: Ranking resort pools! 8: Your favorite and least favorite small places to see characters that don't tend to garner crazy long lines, (Thotful Spot, Meet Gaston, that kind of thing) 9: Disney World/land rides you'll never ride again 10: Epcot showcase lands ranked 11: Food that is only Instagram-worthy- not very good though. 12: Attractions that took place of other attractions that were better before 13: Character meals ranked! 14: Best cast member experiences you've had 15: Worst cast member experiences you've had 16: Restaurants getting better at DW/DL 17: Restaurants getting worse at DW/DL 18: Best disney attraction SONGS!!!! 19: Your view on the Parkeology Challenge (pleaseseee) 20: Best first date attractions! 21: Rides that are much better at night Update: More I would love to see: 22: The best rope-drop strategy for each park 23: Best and worst table service restaurants 24: Best and worst counter service restaurants 25: The best ice cream at Disney World 26: Restaurants everyone hates that you love 27: Your favorite WDW gift shops 28: Attractions everyone hates and you love I hope you take these suggestions to heart- They'd be SO cool to see! Love you, AJ!
If Yacht and Beach club is one of your options i would 110% recommend it. I stayed there last month and it was absolutely fabulous. As soon as you walk in there is an amazing smell and it’s so good having a character breakfast at the hotel and ale and compass has some amazing food (my favourite breakfast place). The pool is literally a water park it’s huge and amazing. It is a 2 minute walk to epcot and if you don’t want to walk 2 minutes you can take 30 seconds on the boat. You can walk to Hollywood 15 mins or take the boat that takes 8 minutes. You are also 2 minutes drive away from fantasia Mini golf. Everyday you get new amenities and anything you ask for comes with 5 minutes. you can also take the walk to Epcot then get on the skyliner to Hollywood! You can also walk into epcot and get the Monorail over to Magic Kingdom. I love it at the Yacht and Beach club and would definitely recommend it. With the rooms there is no bad rooms and they don’t play music till around 9 o clock so it’s not like other resorts where they play music at crazy time in the morning. Thanks AJ i used all your tips in Disney and it made such a difference!
Amazing Antonia .... Stormalong Bay is the best Resort pool on property....😁😁 By far😉😉 Then pop into Beaches & Cream for some goodies, just make sure you book as it gets very, very busy..
I heard that the breakfast at Ale & Compass is very good. We went for dinner and were terribly disappointed. Flavorless food, pushy service and strangers a foot away on either side of us.
politechnology look into Wishes Candle Co.!! They make Disney inspired candles and I believe they have this exact candle you’re wanting! I’ve ordered their candles and they’re great and even have mystery pins inside😍👏🏼
My husband and I stayed at Pop Century last week. The room was very nice with the Murphy bed, so we had a table as well as the bed. 👍🏻 The Skyliner is right there - very convenient.
We just stayed at CBR this August and we loved it! Even without the skyliner being open we were very happy with the resort as a whole and how quickly we could get around to everything we wanted to!
Military families! Don’t forget about Shades of Green! Short walk to the Polynesian for the monorail, and all the same amenities that regular Disney hotels get.
We love Shades of Green!! It’s location is good and the room sizes were awesome! We loved it and would absolutely stay there again and it didn’t cost an arm and a leg for everything!!!
love Shades of Green! great pricing for both rooms and park tickets, bus availability, a decent dining plan, and great distance from Magic Kingdom and Ticket and Transportation Center!
I was amazed at how gorgeous Coronado Springs is! The lounges and restaurants are amazing! It’s not really close to anything but it’s a great place to hang out and It definitely doesn’t feel like a moderate resort.
The new Gran Destino is absolutely gorgeous, I visited over the summer just to check it out and I loved it. I wasn't able to see any of the rooms but the grounds/lobby/restaurants are all top notch.
I absolutely disagree with Wilderness Lodge being “remote”. You only need a bus for Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Disney Springs. The Deluxe buses are never crowded like they are at moderates, so you get on the bus and go. We’ve had waits before at moderates where we’ve waited for 2 or 3 buses before it came empty enough for us to get on. The boat goes directly to Magic Kingdom where you can get a monorail to get over to Epcot. Still faster than the bus. We LOVED it when we stayed there because the transportation was fast and usually pretty empty.
I'm glad you commented on this it makes me feel better. We are going next year and staying at WL and I was nervous after reading reviews about the transportation being terrible.
You really don't even need a bus for Hollywood Studios, either, if you have parkhopping. After taking the boat to Magic Kingdom and monorail to Epcot, just walk through to International Gateway and then either take the boats to the Studios or the the Skyliner, or walk. I know it sounds like a lot, but taking in all the small details of Walt Disney World along the way is still better to me than just taking a bus.
Absolutely agree. Wilderness Lodge is amazing. Bus departure times are posted. You know how long the wait is. And FYI it’s never long. Taking a boat to MK is a fun way to get there. It might seem remote but it’s really not. Also if you can upgrade to club level the Old Faithful Club and the staff take your vacation to another level
Why would you want to take the dirty diaper smelling monorails. They are old, break down often and stink. So boat to MK, then monorail to the TTC then get on another monorail to Epcot.
The Jackal Smith I get the monorails are old, but I have never noticed a smell. They are quick and efficient. One of my favorite modes of transportation. And even with the connecting monorail at TTC, it’s faster than the bus.
Honestly I never minded the traveling from Coronado. It is a beautiful hotel and it was much less crowded than other Disney hotels we have visited and the trend usually goes the less crowded the more perks we got and the friendlier the CMs were (also the buses are emptier so more seating). If anyone wants to try Boardwalk I would recommended renting DVC points. The DVC rooms are newer and although they keep the old-boardwalk style, these are nowhere near as awful as the regular guest rooms (pictured in the video) - to pile on that tip BLT rooms are also newer than the Contemporary’s rooms. I think if you are coming for a short stay where every minute counts then yeah the recommendations in the video will likely be very valuable to you, but if you are coming for a once in a lifetime long-vacation, (let’s say a week or more) where time doesn’t matter as much and where you’ll likely want to put in more resort time or simply if the comforts of your own resort are most important to you then this list is less valuable. AKL is probably the number 1 food resort on site, they have tons of activities to keep children occupied, there’s the animal views and the best in-room Jet tubs if you opt for a 1 bd and above. Same for the Wilderness Lodge Complex, if you stay at Copper Creek you can have a beautiful 1 bedroom that can beat most rooms in the skyliner resorts (save Riviera) and there’s a lot to do and see at the Wilderness Lodge. Also I love the skyliner but it is subjected to weather limitations that other forms of transportation are simply not. For instance, if a thunderstorm or sometimes a heavy water storm goes through they tend to stop the skyliner so you still need to plan accordingly to make it places sans skyliner and if this is the only reason you chose your hotel and are otherwise not super happy with the room and the amenities you are going to be very disappointed.
Family just stayed at All Star Music family Suite and it was completely renovated. 2 pull down murphy beds, 2 large bathrooms, it was very nice. Construction was going on in other buildings, but had zero impact on our trip. We stayed in Calypso 10 and would do so again.
Kidani Village is an exceptional resort for the very reasons that it was put on the worst list. It is great getting some peace and quiet at a resort after the craziness of the parks.
I agree! I stayed there several years ago with my family and it was wonderful. So peaceful in the mornings looking out at the animals. The bus ride honestly isn't that long...get a good conversation going and you'll be at the parks before you know it. So worth it! :)
We stayed at Wilderness Lodge in November. They're main complaint was time spend on transportation. In our 8 night stay we only had ONE time that we waited more than 20 minutes for transportation (it was waiting for the boat back from Fort Wilderness after the Hoop De Doo and one of the boats broke down, so they were working off of a single boat)! We took the boat every chance we got and the buses were extremely efficient when we needed them. I would NEVER put this on a "worst of" list. It's now our go-to resort.
7:35 Family Suites at Art of Animation are never cheaper than 2 standard Mermaid rooms. Different season rack rate prices generally all work out to: Standard x 2 +12% = Family Suite price.
Just wrapped up a trip to Disney World and stayed at Caribbean Beach it was so nice to use the skyliner for transportation to and from parks, made travel easy and comfortable. Wasn't very hot during out trip so actually spent most of time in skyliner cold not hot. I agree with AJ the new transportation system has made the CBR a great place to stay.
When your booking your trip you have 3 decisions to make... 1.hotel 2. Tickets 3. Dining Then decide which order of importance these 3 are and budget accordingly. For my hubby and I it is.. 1. Dining 2. Tickets 3. Room So we would rather have deluxe dining rather than a more expensive hotel. So we book the all stars. We are there to sleep and change and that's it. Plus we can go and enjoy all the things at the other resorts.
I definitely agree about the room. It's really just a place to crash for me. Having a pool is nice, but by the time I made it back to the resort the pools were all closed. The Skyliner was probably the biggest draw for me to Pop Century over All Star, though I would have liked to have tried one of those amazing cupcakes at All Star.
@@GreenmanDave ...we were going to change it up and book pop. But it is now significantly more than all stars. And since we drive in, we have a car. We will.use the skyline a time or to try it out.
Susan McKinney yes! We’re tickets, food, then room. So with a family of of 6 we have to be creative with rooms but we always choose the cheapest option. We choose tickets that make sense for us, but usually include park hopper so we can fit in more (or we think we do 😉) and food for us must be tasty but not quite signature. ❤️
@@johannakline2899 ...when I was a travel agent that is my advice to clients. Being a travel agent I have stayed in some 5 diamond hotels, while nice, were still a place I laid my head. When I talk about my trip I talk about having breakfast with mickey or minnie or meeting the princess at the castle or our rides but not much about my room.
Absolutely! Even for our honeymoon last year, my hubby and I booked a Value Resort! We knew we would only be there to sleep, and all of our awesome memories came from our time in the parks and amazing dining experiences!
We stayed at the Art of Animation Cars resort in October and it was terrific. We stayed in building 2, so we were close to the buses and to the skyliner. My sisters and I took our Dad for what turned out to be his last trip He really liked the skyliner and had no issues boarding his electric scooter. Highly recommend.
Carribean beach resort is a moderate resort and it does have a hot tub.. which I definitely enjoyed a few weeks ago 😁. Love all your videos! Great resource for Disney planning!!
I'm planning at staying at Pop century during my next vacation, All Star Movies was decent not many complaints there. I'll always pick a value resort at Disney just because I would rather spend my money on other things since I'm only sleeping there and I can still visit the other resorts if I want to
AJ, Thank you for your upbeat, positive, smiling voice. I look forward to the DFB videos. Husband and I planned in late Jan/early Feb a trip for Sept. hoping there is some assemblance of normalcy by then. Keep up the positivity, you and the entire DFB staff help me to see the light at the end of the tunnel. 😍❤🌺🤙
Fingers crossed they won't up the price for Pop Century now that the Skyliner is open. That's still our best bang for your buck hotel. And I'll admit I wasn't a Skyliner fan at first, but once we tried it out and realized it took WAY less time than waiting for a bus we were converted. Especially when you factor in the walking time because Pop Century is virtually the LAST bus station at every park.
Dont be scared of buss rides when choicing hotel if y are not gonna ran back and forth all day. I stayed at All Star Music and it was a ten to fifteen minutes ride to go to basicly all the parks and its shorter than its take me to commute to my city centre. Whata more important is getting rooms closer to the lobby. Youre legs are gonna thank you for that when you can skip the half a mile zombie walk back to youre room. Also: Disney boot rides are great! Relaxing and fun way to get to a park or the Boardwalk. J.
We loved All Star Movies! We stayed there in May and everything about it was great! We stayed at POP in August and were very surprised that so many people LOVE it as much as they do. We did not like it at all :-(
*living my best porg life* We are the Porg, restistance is futile... ahum. All star was good for what it was and had some great CMs but its down is that its only acceses by busses and quite basic in hotel room and theming. If you stay at Pop or AOA you wil have the perks of the skyliner. The downs is also that there is very little amenities in the rooms and no USB ports - Bur I am sure they will change that in the refurb. And busses aint that long but a covered or even movable walkwayas would help in rainy days. J.
I hope Animal Kingdom is good. We have just booked to go in June . Need to find a nice restaurant for wife’s birthday, maybe with a show? Can anyone advise please! Thanks
We have always celebrated any occasions at Ohanas at the Polynesian. It's not a show per se but is a fun interactive experience. Though I haven't been to it in years my mom and nephew love the Hoop Dee doo revue at Ft Wilderness
We recently had a Birthday celebration at Takume Tei, the new signature restaurant at the Japan pavilion. It is pricey, but the service and the immersive experience are truly memorable.
I understand a lot of people don't love Wilderness Lodge, (at least those I've talked too,) because of the travel inconvenience and distance. Some people think it's not very 'kid orientated,' but I'de like to give another take. Wilderness Lodge is a wonderful hotel, with great dining options, fun atmosphere, and great travel to the Magic Kingdom if you take the boat. It's one of the few hotels that can really accommodate to a larger family, (I'm talking 8+ in a room.) It also has something for everyone. The Disney theme is there, but not always in your face. It has the excitement for little ones and the history side for adults or older kids. Also, and this could just be me, it's not super busy. Since it isn't in the hustle and bustle, you can really relax and have space. It may not be right for you and your family, but I don't think Wilderness Lodge gets enough credit.
I just got to Saratoga Springs and we were lucky enough to get one of the brand new renovated rooms and it is BEAUTIFUL! It’s spacious, there’s a ton of storage, and I love the fold down sofa bed!
We've always used Pop since it was centralized and convenient. One year we stayed at Caribbean in 2018 and while the rooms were nice and had ceiling fans, it was under construction and the lack of centralization was annoying. There were no elevators but the buildings were only 2 or 3 story so it didn't matter much. Too bad we're not allowed to go back to DW again since we're from Louisiana.
Caribbean beach was great at Christmas, as long as you stay away from tortuga. Started in Tortuga which has older beds and away from most amenities. Moved over to Aruba and it was great. Close to food and the skyliner right next to the building.
Honestly I love the bus system. Even from Animal Kingdom lodge I never find that it takes too long personally. My favorite is to stay in the Wilderness cabins and rent a golf cart. You can take it to the buses at the front or the boat to the kingdom. It's awesome when the weather is nice
I'm staying at All Stars Movie its cheap, convenient, and get all the magical perks. My wife and I will be at the parks all day anyways so doesn't matter as much to us to have the amenities
Carly Gusto we are housed at movies as well. We are going for UCA nationals cheerleading competition. We booked through UCA. I’ve only ever stayed at Grand Floridian. I’m not expecting anything extravagant, but, like you, it’s only a place to sleep for us.
I've stayed at Deluxe resorts on all trips and it is really nice however being in the parks from open to closing I realized I'm only using them to shower and sleep in. Weve never even used the TVs in them lol. We do Deluxe dining always so I figured I'm going to save money on my next trip and do a value resort and spend it elsewhere, but to each their own.
Corrections on the cheaper than renting two rooms if you stay at AOA. Renting two rooms in Pop Century will still be cheaper than AOA family suite. At least for us it was it's $100 a day cheaper. We going in june
Thanks for the info but for me, distance to and from parks bares no weight in the choosing of a hotel. The construction and refurbishment definitely would.❤️
First of all, I would like to say that this video is an extremely well put together production. It is absolutely shameful that Disney is going to charge all of its patrons to park at their resorts. Where in the world does the greediness end? Unbelievable!
Animal Kingdom Lodge is totally awesome. I stayed there in February and transit times did not bother me at all because I love animals especially giraffes.
Have to disagree with Wilderness making the worst list! Staying at Boulder Ridge for 18 days in January! Love how close it is to MK and the monorail resorts and it’s the best to see decorated for Christmas!
Brent us too! Last trip we did Bay lake Tower which is excellent for walking to mk, Beach Club is our favorite Epcot resort and also love Old Key West for the size of the rooms. And we LOVE SeaWorld!!
Brent oh my I haven’t updated my channel in a while but my family does go back a ways with Disney! I’m running the marathon so I hope it’s not too cold!! And yes- I’m the wife and I for sure make all the plans now 😂
I stayed a Port Orleans Riverside and it felt like it was in the middle of everything and I loved it. The ride to magic kingdom and Epcot were kinda long but I never really minded too much. The rooms were so nice and there was a boat that could take you to Disney springs. The ride to animal kingdom was so short and the ride to Hollywood studios was decent as well. I would highly highly recommend staying there :)
Viewing this on March 28th, 2020. Right in midst of the COVID 19 mess. At this point, I wonder if there will even be any Disney visits for the remainder of 2020. Trust me, I want things to get back to normal too but it's not looking good! It's still refreshing to watch these videos though. It's a pleasant distraction to what is going on out in the world right now.
I'll be going there for the first time in June. This video made me a little worried, as I have a bad back and they make it seem like the travel to other parks is quite a lot to deal with. Any advice would be very appreciated! 😊
Spiderific! The worst part about any of the travel is the wait. Honestly, the skylines are the best and quickest, but other than the monorail, all of the travel options are pretty pleasant. The problem with the monorail is, it’s old, and it’s showing it’s age. It’s not the most comfortable thing in the world, and sometimes the lines for the monorail are insane, but it can be quicker than the bus. That said, the bus is by far, way more comfortable.
Spiderific! Disney transportation isn’t really that bad, even if you’re not at a resort with the best transportation options EXCEPT at park closing when the sheer volume of people all leaving the parks at the same time can overload the system. If you’re feeling achy and the bus line is a mile long, give yourself the permission to call an Uber/Lyft to come get you instead. The price of the ride is usually quite reasonable ($10 or less), and it’ll get you off your feet much more quickly than if you waited for the bus. If you’re not the type to close down the parks though, bus transportation will probably be just fine. The buses come frequently enough that you can usually find a seat on one outside of peak (I.e. opening and closing, though opening isn’t nearly as bad in my experience) times.
@John Bell yes they are but I believe it's so worth it and do much to do and I feel like where so behind on what people that go annually know and their doing constant updates we would love to watch it grow and constantly experience the changes
Stayed briefly at Caribbean beach in February and now again in November. It's night and day. It took us 10 minutes to get from our resort room to inside the gates of Epcot via skyliner. Insane!! And all the construction noise is gone!
I stayed at Coronado Springs on my honeymoon last year, and while we had to take a bus everywhere, it gave us a chance to relax before or after the parks - and the buses were all just lovely!
Did it take a really long time riding around? How early did you generally have to leave to get to the parks at opening? We are staying here for our honeymoon in March and I’m so worried about the travel times now!
@@ashleyd.1211 We were there in October, so it wasn't HUGELY busy, which was nice. As such, we rarely went to a park for opening. Early yes, but not opening. I'd say the longest we were on a bus would have been 15 minutes to get to Magic Kingdom? It wasn't bad at all.
Corrections: all moderates have hot tubs All star movies renovations were completed in Sept. Saratoga springs resort renovated rooms were into service back in September, if you request Congress park - you have a good chance at getting one.
We just got back from a Disney vacation and stayed at the Art of Animation. We LOVED it! The Skyliner was so awesome and we wished that we could take it to all of the parks. The only downside of AofA was the cafeteria which was pretty terrible, but luckily we only really had to eat there once. Also, we took a lot of DFB recommendations that really helped us throughout our trip, so thanks!
Savannah Lay-Fawks really! Aoa is known for having one of the better cafeterias. We are there last year and it was wonderful. They offer a lot of different things you don’t see at other places.
Just got back this week and we’re already counting down our next trip for May!! Our littles we’re obsessed with the skyliner from pop century!changed the resort for us! Love your channel!
I was shook you said AKL! You can’t beat the AK! Yes it may be a bit far away but the atmosphere is unbeatable, it’s an incredible place to hang around and walk to explore. Not to mention the animals! Also you can join the lounge which is so fun (it does cost) as you get little buffet food and get to know cast members so well. The rooms are super exotic also! It was my first ever Disney hotel experience and I adored it
I agree about Gran Destino. We didn’t really like it and we don’t have children. There was so much convention traffic that it took away from the Disney Magic. We could hear everything in the hallways while in our rooms which was a bummer and check in was hectic. I will say it’s beautiful, and super clean.
I take Wilderness Lodge over all the other resorts, boat to MK, buses to all the parks, beautiful resort, great food, pools, and scenery. It is one of my DVC properties
We stayed at Gran Destino, club level, one bedroom suite. The room was huge, even bigger than in some of the deluxes. However, when we drove into the portico, expecting someone to come out and greet us and take our bags, like in a deluxe, it didn’t happen. We of course had to schlep our own bags into and out of the room. The accommodations are beautiful, but it is definitely not a deluxe in terms of services offered.
The Cabins at Ft Wilderness are still my "default". Yeah you are farther away from everything, even Magic Kingdom despite the boat. From a cabin you generally have to first take the IN RESORT bus to get to the boat or the EXTERNAL busses, and then travel to the park. But all that said its a wonderfully relaxing and laid back resort. The slower transpo almost aids in that laid back relaxing feeling. It also has Trail's End which offers a breakfast buffet and a really good one. Honestly this is one of the main reasons I choose it. I LOVE a good breakfast buffet and not many resorts have one. I'd love to know about others that do and how good they are. Plus the cabins give you an insane amount of space at a moderate resort price.
We really thought of staying at Coronado. We found a deal that made Coronado almost as cheap as a value resort so it was tempting...I think it would be quieter (maybe or maybe not) at Coronado. I'd have to check on their food; it it's good we might consider there even though it's not on the top of our list.
I like the remoteness of both the Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge. But, we always have a car so we can get around the property rather quickly.
Others have corrected the hot tub mistake so I’ll just add that the Polynesian has just started a room refurb project on the non DVC side. Disboards regulars have reported work being done in Rarotonga longhouse. As well, with the recent updates to security at Epcot meaning monorail guests no longer have to hit security twice, imo the Poly remains the best MK area resort for transportation.
We stayed at All Star Movies and one day while we were at Disney Springs we took the bus to the Caribbean hotel and we exited the Jamaica stop and rode the Skyliner to Ecpot. It was pretty neat!!
Ha, have a Coronado standard view room booked for part of our upcoming stay but I already anticipate the walking! We are staying at Pop Century for the other part of our stay though so 1 out of 2 isn't bad, lol! Thanks!
We are staying at Coronado Springs in February!! I figured it would pop up in the worst resort list. However- Man, we are getting our rooms for less than $200 a night, and I have been told over and over and over again that the buses are not a huge issue! I’m hoping for the best. We are visa card holders and explore the riviera, but most of the dates were eaten up already!!
Sheigh Ormord I was at Coronado a year ago and it was lovely! There were tons of buses so we never once had an issue with that and the rooms were beautifully renovated and quiet! You guys will love it! :)
@Sheigh Ormord We stayed there in Sept. The renovated rooms are gorgeous, & so is the new tower, but the buses are so badly & dangerously overcrowded that I emailed the hotel manager about it. Take your own car to the parks if you can.
I just got back from a trip to Disney world and my family was able to go to beaches and cream for ice cream before it officially opened for the soft opening
If your an adults only group and stay at the value resorts...check to see if there are any competitions going on during the summer (baseball, cheerleading etc) because those groups tend to fill up the value resorts first....just a heads up if you dont mind that.
Pop Century has been my home-away-from-home for more than 10 years. I don't plan on changing. I adore the skyliner. Now I only have to take a bus to DAK and Disney Springs.
I have a fear of heights so I am so scared to try the Skyliner, but it's looking like the best mode of transportation! My family stayed at Art of Animation in 2018 and loved it, but my husband was frustrated with the wait for the buses when heading back from the parks at night. I am looking forward to staying at Pop in April, and MAYBE I will be brave and try the Skyliner!
Carribean Beach, has always been a favourite. Stayed there when it first opened. Although, it did have an animal sanctuary, at that time. Still, been there since and have not been disappointed. Looks like they took out the fort in the center of the pool and replaced it with a pirate ship. The fort's cannon would fire a mild steam blast, as if defending against invaders. All part of the fun. Even transportation was a plus. -JB
I went in April this year during construction at Coronado Springs and it didn’t bother us what so ever we where in the cabanas (closest rooms to the tower) and we barley heard anything, we absolutely love Coronado so much that next year we are staying again for my birthday! we even for fun walked around the whole resort and it was such an amazing resort. And the transport isn’t as bad as it seems haha.
Kidani Village has a Quick Service breakfast that was awesome. We did it twice before heading to the parks. It was LONG rides to each park, but the resort was amazing and we loved it.
Why didn’t you talk about any of the monorail loop resorts? The Polynesian is very very close to lots of the action as you have monorail access to MK and can take the very quick walk to the TTC to get the monorail to EPCOT. Also at the contemporary you can walk to MK.
Waaaait a second. Other moderate resorts have a hottub. I stayed at the French Quarter in September and went in their hot tub on the regular to soothe my feet.
November 2019, such a nice innocent time. we where still allowed to go to disney world...oh the memories.
Kimberly Marin i know, i went at the end of January 2020, so i barely made it
You said it
I love Disney so much
I was there for Thanksgiving. With luck and a scheme, might be going after this all blows over. It'd be a good before and after.
Alexis Miller I went the very last day it was open😂
I'll take any "worst" Disney hotel instead of being at work right now.
P JB Right?!
school for me
Try Bibb Poppyseed 20would Poppyseed Fort 6yrytyty Fort 6yrytyty Fort gyt 55err4et Fort 0
@@timyoongi690 Th B th Fort gyt Poppyseed 20would
P JB truth!
“OK so you’re planning on a Disney world 2020 vacation” Covid-19: I’m gonna stop you right there.
I Broke the 111.... I like it
This video came out before Covid-19 was a thing
Jacob Decker dude this vid was in November bud 🤣
I’m going in 2021 so I’m happy
@@cobrakaifan8925 But yet, it screwed up a lot of plans lmao
How many of you are going to disney in 2020?
Stephen McAllister , we were just there in early December. The plan was to do a Disney cruise in 2021 and back to WDW in early 2024. But as of a few nights ago, we decided not to torture ourselves; so we’re going back in early October 2020.
🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌
Next week.
Meeee
@@mikemarple4436 i am March 13 thru 22
me watching in end of July 2020: 👁👄👁
@Carlee Boughton I had a land and sea combo planned😭 double whammy
I would never pick a Disney resort based on transportation options only, unless you are only going to certain parks. I will take a Disney bus any day over being stuck on the monorail or Skyliner. Bus breaks down, they send another bus. Do not avoid a Disney resort due to buses. No Disney resort is near everything.
In 2016, I went to Animal Kingdom Lodge to meet a friend of mine who I hadn't seen in over 10 years and was a cast member (still is). I was BLOWN AWAY. It' is so beautiful! I didn't even know that they had animals! My family doesn't like large crowd or parks so I think we will stay there. We'll probably only stay at the hotel and go to the parks 1 or 2 days out of the trip.
I couldn't agree more. Since we love bouncing around all of WDW , we always get a rental car. It's really not that much and we do NO busses and have a blast being spontaneous. That said, we love our Old Key West and stay at our other fav often; Animal Kingdom Lodge.
I usually rent a car so the transportation is a non issue........
The bus is part of the fun. Some drivers are hilarious.
I’m sorry but Animal Kingdom lodge will never be a “worst”, I don’t care how far away it is, it is worth it. Just cuz there’s the sky rail now, the distance has not changed 😂 the rooms, FOOD, and Savannah cannot be topped
I agree. AKL is the best of the best at WDW. Hands down.
AKL was our first stay at WDW (daughter had just become a cast member and we went to see her, so there was the discount) and wow! It's hard to beat when you see exotic animals everyday from your balcony! We had no problem getting around, even though it is a bit of a ride to get to and from places.
Completely agree. Has this person even stayed there?
DeMilo Young the woman in the video? Oh yes 9 times out of 10 it’s her favorite place to stay, she recommends the restaurants almost every video lol that’s what made it so shocking that it was on this list, and the only reason is for the distance because of the sky liners. Sounds like someone else at DFB Guide had her read this. I stayed at that resort because of this channel’s recommendation.
imtigger2 I had the worst experience at AKL in 2013 because we didn’t get a savannah room and the balcony overlooked the parking lot and the balcony was full of bird poop
i think its dumb that they charge you to park your car there at a hotel when you are staying there
I believe I stayed at a Wyndham. 150 bucks for the week staying parked there....
Screw Disney they stick it to you on everything!! How do you charge for parking? This is just greed!!
Hell nah,I be parking miles away if it means I don’t have to pay for parking XD
Yeah, that’s pretty low down
It’s called money if you owned a grated hotels you would charge parking
2020: I laugh at your plans and lists!
I just want to thank you for all your tips and advices. Me and my boyfriend are taking my grandson to WDW for 7 days in January, and because of your blog, we are feeling confident about our planning. Your resort and dinning tips has been so helpful in the planning of our vacation, and we can’t wait to try some of those restaurants thanks to your videos. Thanks A.J.
Nice vid! I had some ideas that I and some other followers would LOVE to see :)
1: favorite and least favorite Disney World/ Disneyland rides- I've wanted this for forever!
2: WORST restaurants for vegan food at Disney World- I'm vegan and loved the "Best Restaurants For Vegan/Vegetarians, and would love to see its counterpart.
3: Worst food items you've ever tried- a warning for your watchers, lol
4: This would be so legendary- RANKING every resort from favorite to least favorite, I would lose it if I saw this!
5: A ranking of all the lands- Fantasyland, Pandora, Asia, Galaxy's Edge, Tomorrowland, Main Street, Liberty Square, Future World, Toy Story Land, Dinoland, Discovery Island, Frontierland, Adventureland, (anything I forgot except for the Hollywood Studios lands- they would probably all be at the bottom because they aren't that unique, except for TSL and GE.
6: Ranking different resort restaurants
7: Ranking resort pools!
8: Your favorite and least favorite small places to see characters that don't tend to garner crazy long lines, (Thotful Spot, Meet Gaston, that kind of thing)
9: Disney World/land rides you'll never ride again
10: Epcot showcase lands ranked
11: Food that is only Instagram-worthy- not very good though.
12: Attractions that took place of other attractions that were better before
13: Character meals ranked!
14: Best cast member experiences you've had
15: Worst cast member experiences you've had
16: Restaurants getting better at DW/DL
17: Restaurants getting worse at DW/DL
18: Best disney attraction SONGS!!!!
19: Your view on the Parkeology Challenge (pleaseseee)
20: Best first date attractions!
21: Rides that are much better at night
Update: More I would love to see:
22: The best rope-drop strategy for each park
23: Best and worst table service restaurants
24: Best and worst counter service restaurants
25: The best ice cream at Disney World
26: Restaurants everyone hates that you love
27: Your favorite WDW gift shops
28: Attractions everyone hates and you love
I hope you take these suggestions to heart- They'd be SO cool to see! Love you, AJ!
If Yacht and Beach club is one of your options i would 110% recommend it. I stayed there last month and it was absolutely fabulous. As soon as you walk in there is an amazing smell and it’s so good having a character breakfast at the hotel and ale and compass has some amazing food (my favourite breakfast place). The pool is literally a water park it’s huge and amazing. It is a 2 minute walk to epcot and if you don’t want to walk 2 minutes you can take 30 seconds on the boat. You can walk to Hollywood 15 mins or take the boat that takes 8 minutes. You are also 2 minutes drive away from fantasia Mini golf. Everyday you get new amenities and anything you ask for comes with 5 minutes. you can also take the walk to Epcot then get on the skyliner to Hollywood! You can also walk into epcot and get the Monorail over to Magic Kingdom. I love it at the Yacht and Beach club and would definitely recommend it. With the rooms there is no bad rooms and they don’t play music till around 9 o clock so it’s not like other resorts where they play music at crazy time in the morning. Thanks AJ i used all your tips in Disney and it made such a difference!
Amazing Antonia .... Stormalong Bay is the best Resort pool on property....😁😁
By far😉😉
Then pop into Beaches & Cream for some goodies, just make sure you book as it gets very, very busy..
I heard that the breakfast at Ale & Compass is very good. We went for dinner and were terribly disappointed. Flavorless food, pushy service and strangers a foot away on either side of us.
Yep beach club will forever be my favorite. So close to epcot and you have access to tons of restaurants and the boardwalk
I want a candle scent based on the lobby of Beach club
politechnology look into Wishes Candle Co.!! They make Disney inspired candles and I believe they have this exact candle you’re wanting! I’ve ordered their candles and they’re great and even have mystery pins inside😍👏🏼
My husband and I stayed at Pop Century last week. The room was very nice with the Murphy bed, so we had a table as well as the bed. 👍🏻 The Skyliner is right there - very convenient.
Andrea S good to hear that’s where we booked ours for August
One small correction: Starwood doesn’t exist anymore; Swan and Dolphin are Marriott now.
Adam Efimoff Bonvoy
Plus, Coronado Springs isn’t the only moderate with a hot tub.
Marriott just runs the hotel, they are actually owned by MetLife and the Tishman company.
Just because Starwood is owned by Marriott doesn’t mean it no longer exists.
How We Do Disney I noticed that too, cause I know POFQ has a hot tub too
I love Old Key West! Just feel the “welcome home” love there.
We just stayed at CBR this August and we loved it! Even without the skyliner being open we were very happy with the resort as a whole and how quickly we could get around to everything we wanted to!
Military families! Don’t forget about Shades of Green! Short walk to the Polynesian for the monorail, and all the same amenities that regular Disney hotels get.
Never underestimate Florida weather. When it rains, you don't have much cover to the monorail.
Shades of Green is always our go-to for Disney, it's so nice and affordable!
We love Shades of Green!! It’s location is good and the room sizes were awesome! We loved it and would absolutely stay there again and it didn’t cost an arm and a leg for everything!!!
And only for American service members. Not allies.
love Shades of Green! great pricing for both rooms and park tickets, bus availability, a decent dining plan, and great distance from Magic Kingdom and Ticket and Transportation Center!
I was amazed at how gorgeous Coronado Springs is! The lounges and restaurants are amazing!
It’s not really close to anything but it’s a great place to hang out and It definitely doesn’t feel like a moderate resort.
And Coronado has the best offers, never need to pay rack rate.
Last year I stayed at Coronado and it was so fun and cool
It's really a high end resort at moderate prices. The rooms are all awesome and comfy and the pool is amazing. I love it.
Its one of the best resorts on Disney property. Highly recommend
The new Gran Destino is absolutely gorgeous, I visited over the summer just to check it out and I loved it. I wasn't able to see any of the rooms but the grounds/lobby/restaurants are all top notch.
I absolutely disagree with Wilderness Lodge being “remote”. You only need a bus for Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Disney Springs. The Deluxe buses are never crowded like they are at moderates, so you get on the bus and go. We’ve had waits before at moderates where we’ve waited for 2 or 3 buses before it came empty enough for us to get on. The boat goes directly to Magic Kingdom where you can get a monorail to get over to Epcot. Still faster than the bus. We LOVED it when we stayed there because the transportation was fast and usually pretty empty.
I'm glad you commented on this it makes me feel better. We are going next year and staying at WL and I was nervous after reading reviews about the transportation being terrible.
You really don't even need a bus for Hollywood Studios, either, if you have parkhopping. After taking the boat to Magic Kingdom and monorail to Epcot, just walk through to International Gateway and then either take the boats to the Studios or the the Skyliner, or walk. I know it sounds like a lot, but taking in all the small details of Walt Disney World along the way is still better to me than just taking a bus.
Absolutely agree. Wilderness Lodge is amazing. Bus departure times are posted. You know how long the wait is. And FYI it’s never long. Taking a boat to MK is a fun way to get there.
It might seem remote but it’s really not. Also if you can upgrade to club level the Old Faithful Club and the staff take your vacation to another level
Why would you want to take the dirty diaper smelling monorails. They are old, break down often and stink. So boat to MK, then monorail to the TTC then get on another monorail to Epcot.
The Jackal Smith I get the monorails are old, but I have never noticed a smell. They are quick and efficient. One of my favorite modes of transportation. And even with the connecting monorail at TTC, it’s faster than the bus.
when I step into Disney, it feels like a fever dream I get this really magical feeling inside
0:26 "2020 is a year of transformation for Disney World. So much has changed over the past year, and so much is still coming." HOW DID SHE KNOW?!?!
Honestly I never minded the traveling from Coronado. It is a beautiful hotel and it was much less crowded than other Disney hotels we have visited and the trend usually goes the less crowded the more perks we got and the friendlier the CMs were (also the buses are emptier so more seating).
If anyone wants to try Boardwalk I would recommended renting DVC points. The DVC rooms are newer and although they keep the old-boardwalk style, these are nowhere near as awful as the regular guest rooms (pictured in the video) - to pile on that tip BLT rooms are also newer than the Contemporary’s rooms.
I think if you are coming for a short stay where every minute counts then yeah the recommendations in the video will likely be very valuable to you, but if you are coming for a once in a lifetime long-vacation, (let’s say a week or more) where time doesn’t matter as much and where you’ll likely want to put in more resort time or simply if the comforts of your own resort are most important to you then this list is less valuable. AKL is probably the number 1 food resort on site, they have tons of activities to keep children occupied, there’s the animal views and the best in-room Jet tubs if you opt for a 1 bd and above. Same for the Wilderness Lodge Complex, if you stay at Copper Creek you can have a beautiful 1 bedroom that can beat most rooms in the skyliner resorts (save Riviera) and there’s a lot to do and see at the Wilderness Lodge. Also I love the skyliner but it is subjected to weather limitations that other forms of transportation are simply not. For instance, if a thunderstorm or sometimes a heavy water storm goes through they tend to stop the skyliner so you still need to plan accordingly to make it places sans skyliner and if this is the only reason you chose your hotel and are otherwise not super happy with the room and the amenities you are going to be very disappointed.
Family just stayed at All Star Music family Suite and it was completely renovated. 2 pull down murphy beds, 2 large bathrooms, it was very nice. Construction was going on in other buildings, but had zero impact on our trip. We stayed in Calypso 10 and would do so again.
Kidani Village is an exceptional resort for the very reasons that it was put on the worst list. It is great getting some peace and quiet at a resort after the craziness of the parks.
I agree! I stayed there several years ago with my family and it was wonderful. So peaceful in the mornings looking out at the animals. The bus ride honestly isn't that long...get a good conversation going and you'll be at the parks before you know it. So worth it! :)
Port Orleans riverside has a hot tub so Coronado is not the only moderate with one
French Quarter does too.
Caribbean beach does too, it’s just hard to find 😉 p
I was going to say, we were just at Riverside last week and there was definitely a hot tub.
@@tristanbowman7098 I was at Riverside last week too. Wish I was there now :)
I just got back from Port Orleans riverside it was awesome. The hot tub was perfect after a long day at the park.
We stayed at Wilderness Lodge in November. They're main complaint was time spend on transportation. In our 8 night stay we only had ONE time that we waited more than 20 minutes for transportation (it was waiting for the boat back from Fort Wilderness after the Hoop De Doo and one of the boats broke down, so they were working off of a single boat)! We took the boat every chance we got and the buses were extremely efficient when we needed them. I would NEVER put this on a "worst of" list. It's now our go-to resort.
7:35 Family Suites at Art of Animation are never cheaper than 2 standard Mermaid rooms.
Different season rack rate prices generally all work out to: Standard x 2 +12% = Family Suite price.
Just wrapped up a trip to Disney World and stayed at Caribbean Beach it was so nice to use the skyliner for transportation to and from parks, made travel easy and comfortable. Wasn't very hot during out trip so actually spent most of time in skyliner cold not hot. I agree with AJ the new transportation system has made the CBR a great place to stay.
When your booking your trip you have 3 decisions to make...
1.hotel 2. Tickets 3. Dining
Then decide which order of importance these 3 are and budget accordingly.
For my hubby and I it is..
1. Dining 2. Tickets 3. Room
So we would rather have deluxe dining rather than a more expensive hotel. So we book the all stars. We are there to sleep and change and that's it. Plus we can go and enjoy all the things at the other resorts.
I definitely agree about the room. It's really just a place to crash for me. Having a pool is nice, but by the time I made it back to the resort the pools were all closed. The Skyliner was probably the biggest draw for me to Pop Century over All Star, though I would have liked to have tried one of those amazing cupcakes at All Star.
@@GreenmanDave ...we were going to change it up and book pop. But it is now significantly more than all stars. And since we drive in, we have a car. We will.use the skyline a time or to try it out.
Susan McKinney yes! We’re tickets, food, then room. So with a family of of 6 we have to be creative with rooms but we always choose the cheapest option. We choose tickets that make sense for us, but usually include park hopper so we can fit in more (or we think we do 😉) and food for us must be tasty but not quite signature. ❤️
@@johannakline2899 ...when I was a travel agent that is my advice to clients. Being a travel agent I have stayed in some 5 diamond hotels, while nice, were still a place I laid my head. When I talk about my trip I talk about having breakfast with mickey or minnie or meeting the princess at the castle or our rides but not much about my room.
Absolutely! Even for our honeymoon last year, my hubby and I booked a Value Resort! We knew we would only be there to sleep, and all of our awesome memories came from our time in the parks and amazing dining experiences!
We stayed at the Art of Animation Cars resort in October and it was terrific. We stayed in building 2, so we were close to the buses and to the skyliner. My sisters and I took our Dad for what turned out to be his last trip He really liked the skyliner and had no issues boarding his electric scooter. Highly recommend.
Carribean beach resort is a moderate resort and it does have a hot tub.. which I definitely enjoyed a few weeks ago 😁. Love all your videos! Great resource for Disney planning!!
I'm planning at staying at Pop century during my next vacation, All Star Movies was decent not many complaints there. I'll always pick a value resort at Disney just because I would rather spend my money on other things since I'm only sleeping there and I can still visit the other resorts if I want to
Thank you for mentioning solo travelers! I'm looking forward to staying at Pop soon and seeing how the skyliners impact my travel times.
The skyliner is awesome! I ONLY stay at Pop. IMO solo is the best.
It’s awesome not having to take a bus wish it went to all the parks and resorts
Just got back, pop is the best.
AJ, Thank you for your upbeat, positive, smiling voice. I look forward to the DFB videos. Husband and I planned in late Jan/early Feb a trip for Sept. hoping there is some assemblance of normalcy by then. Keep up the positivity, you and the entire DFB staff help me to see the light at the end of the tunnel. 😍❤🌺🤙
Not planning on going to WDW anytime soon... But I really enjoy watching your videos! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Fingers crossed they won't up the price for Pop Century now that the Skyliner is open. That's still our best bang for your buck hotel. And I'll admit I wasn't a Skyliner fan at first, but once we tried it out and realized it took WAY less time than waiting for a bus we were converted. Especially when you factor in the walking time because Pop Century is virtually the LAST bus station at every park.
Dont be scared of buss rides when choicing hotel if y are not gonna ran back and forth all day.
I stayed at All Star Music and it was a ten to fifteen minutes ride to go to basicly all the parks and its shorter than its take me to commute to my city centre.
Whata more important is getting rooms closer to the lobby. Youre legs are gonna thank you for that when you can skip the half a mile zombie walk back to youre room.
Also: Disney boot rides are great! Relaxing and fun way to get to a park or the Boardwalk. J.
We loved All Star Movies! We stayed there in May and everything about it was great! We stayed at POP in August and were very surprised that so many people LOVE it as much as they do. We did not like it at all :-(
All star music was the worst resort I ever stayed
*living my best porg life* We are the Porg, restistance is futile... ahum.
All star was good for what it was and had some great CMs but its down is that its only acceses by busses and quite basic in hotel room and theming. If you stay at Pop or AOA you wil have the perks of the skyliner.
The downs is also that there is very little amenities in the rooms and no USB ports - Bur I am sure they will change that in the refurb.
And busses aint that long but a covered or even movable walkwayas would help in rainy days. J.
Ryan F yes it is all star music problem 😒😒😒
I hope Animal Kingdom is good. We have just booked to go in June . Need to find a nice restaurant for wife’s birthday, maybe with a show?
Can anyone advise please! Thanks
We have always celebrated any occasions at Ohanas at the Polynesian. It's not a show per se but is a fun interactive experience. Though I haven't been to it in years my mom and nephew love the Hoop Dee doo revue at Ft Wilderness
We recently had a Birthday celebration at Takume Tei, the new signature restaurant at the Japan pavilion. It is pricey, but the service and the immersive experience are truly memorable.
anyone else just going through these vids cause they miss Disney World at times like these :/
I have been watching Disney video to ease my pain all year 😂 it sucks not knowing when we’ll be able to go back
We always stay at AOA and the Skyliner was a game changer for us, so much better than previous years of waiting on buses for every park.
Something to also consider. There is a hot tub at Port Orleans Riverside, as well. So there are at least two moderate resorts that have them.
I understand a lot of people don't love Wilderness Lodge, (at least those I've talked too,) because of the travel inconvenience and distance. Some people think it's not very 'kid orientated,' but I'de like to give another take. Wilderness Lodge is a wonderful hotel, with great dining options, fun atmosphere, and great travel to the Magic Kingdom if you take the boat. It's one of the few hotels that can really accommodate to a larger family, (I'm talking 8+ in a room.) It also has something for everyone. The Disney theme is there, but not always in your face. It has the excitement for little ones and the history side for adults or older kids. Also, and this could just be me, it's not super busy. Since it isn't in the hustle and bustle, you can really relax and have space. It may not be right for you and your family, but I don't think Wilderness Lodge gets enough credit.
Thats where I always stayed before and will continue to.
I just got to Saratoga Springs and we were lucky enough to get one of the brand new renovated rooms and it is BEAUTIFUL! It’s spacious, there’s a ton of storage, and I love the fold down sofa bed!
Katie Fox had you booked preferred??
I stayed in Coronado when I was in the parade the pool was amazing and the sand around the lake was to! The food court offers many options!
We've always used Pop since it was centralized and convenient. One year we stayed at Caribbean in 2018 and while the rooms were nice and had ceiling fans, it was under construction and the lack of centralization was annoying. There were no elevators but the buildings were only 2 or 3 story so it didn't matter much. Too bad we're not allowed to go back to DW again since we're from Louisiana.
Caribbean beach was great at Christmas, as long as you stay away from tortuga. Started in Tortuga which has older beds and away from most amenities. Moved over to Aruba and it was great. Close to food and the skyliner right next to the building.
Honestly I love the bus system. Even from Animal Kingdom lodge I never find that it takes too long personally. My favorite is to stay in the Wilderness cabins and rent a golf cart. You can take it to the buses at the front or the boat to the kingdom. It's awesome when the weather is nice
I'm staying at All Stars Movie its cheap, convenient, and get all the magical perks. My wife and I will be at the parks all day anyways so doesn't matter as much to us to have the amenities
To me the resort I stay in is all part of my vacation experience. It makes a big impact on my trip where I stay.
Just got home fron a 10 day stay at movies. I thought it was a great resort. 2nd time I have stayed there.
Carly Gusto we are housed at movies as well. We are going for UCA nationals cheerleading competition. We booked through UCA. I’ve only ever stayed at Grand Floridian. I’m not expecting anything extravagant, but, like you, it’s only a place to sleep for us.
I've stayed at Deluxe resorts on all trips and it is really nice however being in the parks from open to closing I realized I'm only using them to shower and sleep in. Weve never even used the TVs in them lol. We do Deluxe dining always so I figured I'm going to save money on my next trip and do a value resort and spend it elsewhere, but to each their own.
Tassy McCormick went for food there it look lovely would like to try that one ourselves .
Corrections on the cheaper than renting two rooms if you stay at AOA. Renting two rooms in Pop Century will still be cheaper than AOA family suite. At least for us it was it's $100 a day cheaper. We going in june
I was gravitating toward boardwalk or port orleans, but the new pop century rooms are very cute. plus skyliner yay
I'm going in 2021
Laurie B. They r all so very good
Thanks for the info but for me, distance to and from parks bares no weight in the choosing of a hotel. The construction and refurbishment definitely would.❤️
First of all, I would like to say that this video is an extremely well put together production. It is absolutely shameful that Disney is going to charge all of its patrons to park at their resorts. Where in the world does the greediness end? Unbelievable!
Caribbean Beach has always been a favorite of ours ❤️ Definitely excited to go back now that the skyliner is up and running
Animal Kingdom Lodge is totally awesome. I stayed there in February and transit times did not bother me at all because I love animals especially giraffes.
Have to disagree with Wilderness making the worst list! Staying at Boulder Ridge for 18 days in January! Love how close it is to MK and the monorail resorts and it’s the best to see decorated for Christmas!
elricfreak13 we stayed there in December 2008 and loved the decorations but rooms weren’t our favs, but I’d love to give it another try!
Brent us too! Last trip we did Bay lake Tower which is excellent for walking to mk, Beach Club is our favorite Epcot resort and also love Old Key West for the size of the rooms. And we LOVE SeaWorld!!
Brent Saratoga is our favorite for being close to Disney Springs because we like the walk! But our son loves the pool at port orleans!
Brent oh my I haven’t updated my channel in a while but my family does go back a ways with Disney! I’m running the marathon so I hope it’s not too cold!! And yes- I’m the wife and I for sure make all the plans now 😂
elricfreak13 Boulder Ridge is fantastic!!! We loved it very much last September!!!😍
I stayed a Port Orleans Riverside and it felt like it was in the middle of everything and I loved it. The ride to magic kingdom and Epcot were kinda long but I never really minded too much. The rooms were so nice and there was a boat that could take you to Disney springs. The ride to animal kingdom was so short and the ride to Hollywood studios was decent as well. I would highly highly recommend staying there :)
Viewing this on March 28th, 2020. Right in midst of the COVID 19 mess. At this point, I wonder if there will even be any Disney visits for the remainder of 2020. Trust me, I want things to get back to normal too but it's not looking good! It's still refreshing to watch these videos though. It's a pleasant distraction to what is going on out in the world right now.
J. D. Yes
Love this channel! Note that Coronado is NOT the only moderate with a hot tub. They all have at least one.
Am new to the channel - is AJ ever on the channel or just voice over. Does she film these or is it stock footage? Just curious.
It’s all like this
AJ does not show her face in these videos to keep her reviews unbiased. If you google photos of AJ you will find some.
Those who oppose Animal Kingdom Lodge shall be destroyed.
I'll be going there for the first time in June. This video made me a little worried, as I have a bad back and they make it seem like the travel to other parks is quite a lot to deal with. Any advice would be very appreciated! 😊
Spiderific! The worst part about any of the travel is the wait. Honestly, the skylines are the best and quickest, but other than the monorail, all of the travel options are pretty pleasant.
The problem with the monorail is, it’s old, and it’s showing it’s age. It’s not the most comfortable thing in the world, and sometimes the lines for the monorail are insane, but it can be quicker than the bus. That said, the bus is by far, way more comfortable.
Spiderific! Disney transportation isn’t really that bad, even if you’re not at a resort with the best transportation options EXCEPT at park closing when the sheer volume of people all leaving the parks at the same time can overload the system. If you’re feeling achy and the bus line is a mile long, give yourself the permission to call an Uber/Lyft to come get you instead. The price of the ride is usually quite reasonable ($10 or less), and it’ll get you off your feet much more quickly than if you waited for the bus. If you’re not the type to close down the parks though, bus transportation will probably be just fine. The buses come frequently enough that you can usually find a seat on one outside of peak (I.e. opening and closing, though opening isn’t nearly as bad in my experience) times.
@@scottlarmore5038 Thank you!
@@xqueenfrostine Thank you for your advice I appreciate it!
I love Coronado Springs. The pool is the best and biggest!
Both Port Orleans resorts have hot tubs? I've been in them, lol
Shelby Chanel So does CBR.
Thanks for this video. I'm planning a trip for 2020 and this was great. I have a Disney Visa card so that 40% discount was huge!
Estrella Couret: Go on google and look for “Chase Disney credit cards”
I stayed at the Gran Destino tower in February and i absolutely loved it!
Went to Disney world for the first time with my family of 6 May 2019 & were returning February of 2020 super excited 🤗❤️😩
and now you're hooked..... I go at least once a year - sometimes twice.... I'm addicted...
L A S I can only manage to go every couple of years. Dem prices are crazy yo! Worth it, but dang... lol
@John Bell yes I did an it won't affect us
@@las6766 yes we are
@John Bell yes they are but I believe it's so worth it and do much to do and I feel like where so behind on what people that go annually know and their doing constant updates we would love to watch it grow and constantly experience the changes
Stayed briefly at Caribbean beach in February and now again in November. It's night and day. It took us 10 minutes to get from our resort room to inside the gates of Epcot via skyliner. Insane!! And all the construction noise is gone!
The Pop Century Resort felt like a home away from home. It will be our home resort for every Walt Disney World vacation.
I stayed at Coronado Springs on my honeymoon last year, and while we had to take a bus everywhere, it gave us a chance to relax before or after the parks - and the buses were all just lovely!
Did it take a really long time riding around? How early did you generally have to leave to get to the parks at opening? We are staying here for our honeymoon in March and I’m so worried about the travel times now!
@@ashleyd.1211 We were there in October, so it wasn't HUGELY busy, which was nice. As such, we rarely went to a park for opening. Early yes, but not opening.
I'd say the longest we were on a bus would have been 15 minutes to get to Magic Kingdom? It wasn't bad at all.
Daniel O'Hara oh awesome that makes me feel a lot better!
Ashley C. Make sure you guys get the “just married” buttons available either at the hotels or in the parks - there are perks to wearing them!
That hurt my soul when she said All Star Music. The new family suites are absolutely awesome
Corrections:
all moderates have hot tubs
All star movies renovations were completed in Sept.
Saratoga springs resort renovated rooms were into service back in September, if you request Congress park - you have a good chance at getting one.
The Disney Type. what are the new renovations? I'm staying there in Feb 2020.
@@katherinemichael9137 it's amazing. Check out herewiththeears. They have videos of the renovated SSR rooms.
We just got back from a Disney vacation and stayed at the Art of Animation. We LOVED it! The Skyliner was so awesome and we wished that we could take it to all of the parks. The only downside of AofA was the cafeteria which was pretty terrible, but luckily we only really had to eat there once. Also, we took a lot of DFB recommendations that really helped us throughout our trip, so thanks!
Savannah Lay-Fawks really! Aoa is known for having one of the better cafeterias. We are there last year and it was wonderful. They offer a lot of different things you don’t see at other places.
Swan and Dolphin are Marriott resorts now (Starwood no longer exists)
Just got back this week and we’re already counting down our next trip for May!! Our littles we’re obsessed with the skyliner from pop century!changed the resort for us!
Love your channel!
I was shook you said AKL! You can’t beat the AK! Yes it may be a bit far away but the atmosphere is unbeatable, it’s an incredible place to hang around and walk to explore. Not to mention the animals! Also you can join the lounge which is so fun (it does cost) as you get little buffet food and get to know cast members so well.
The rooms are super exotic also! It was my first ever Disney hotel experience and I adored it
I agree about Gran Destino. We didn’t really like it and we don’t have children. There was so much convention traffic that it took away from the Disney Magic. We could hear everything in the hallways while in our rooms which was a bummer and check in was hectic. I will say it’s beautiful, and super clean.
I take Wilderness Lodge over all the other resorts, boat to MK, buses to all the parks, beautiful resort, great food, pools, and scenery. It is one of my DVC properties
We stayed at Gran Destino, club level, one bedroom suite. The room was huge, even bigger than in some of the deluxes. However, when we drove into the portico, expecting someone to come out and greet us and take our bags, like in a deluxe, it didn’t happen. We of course had to schlep our own bags into and out of the room. The accommodations are beautiful, but it is definitely not a deluxe in terms of services offered.
You should do a video on the best pools at Disney 🥰🌊
Big blue pool, main pool at coranado and stormalong bay
Yacht Club has by far the best pool. Biggest sand bottom pool, hot tub, good food.
@@UhOhHereWeGo my favorite
The Cabins at Ft Wilderness are still my "default". Yeah you are farther away from everything, even Magic Kingdom despite the boat. From a cabin you generally have to first take the IN RESORT bus to get to the boat or the EXTERNAL busses, and then travel to the park.
But all that said its a wonderfully relaxing and laid back resort. The slower transpo almost aids in that laid back relaxing feeling. It also has Trail's End which offers a breakfast buffet and a really good one. Honestly this is one of the main reasons I choose it. I LOVE a good breakfast buffet and not many resorts have one. I'd love to know about others that do and how good they are. Plus the cabins give you an insane amount of space at a moderate resort price.
Coronado is not the only moderate hotel with a hot tub. Port Orleans Riverside has a hot tub.
Staying at the Caribbean Beach for Christmas and then cruising on the Fantasy for the New Year. Can hardly wait.
We really thought of staying at Coronado. We found a deal that made Coronado almost as cheap as a value resort so it was tempting...I think it would be quieter (maybe or maybe not) at Coronado. I'd have to check on their food; it it's good we might consider there even though it's not on the top of our list.
I like the remoteness of both the Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge. But, we always have a car so we can get around the property rather quickly.
Others have corrected the hot tub mistake so I’ll just add that the Polynesian has just started a room refurb project on the non DVC side. Disboards regulars have reported work being done in Rarotonga longhouse. As well, with the recent updates to security at Epcot meaning monorail guests no longer have to hit security twice, imo the Poly remains the best MK area resort for transportation.
Ohhhh boy. November 2019. So much we didn't know
We stayed at All Star Movies and one day while we were at Disney Springs we took the bus to the Caribbean hotel and we exited the Jamaica stop and rode the Skyliner to Ecpot. It was pretty neat!!
Ha, have a Coronado standard view room booked for part of our upcoming stay but I already anticipate the walking! We are staying at Pop Century for the other part of our stay though so 1 out of 2 isn't bad, lol! Thanks!
Leaving tonight for our first trip!! Already ready for 2020 😂😂
Marsh_mellow_ fluff I hopecypu have called them and reserved a slot on Magical Express? Those are priceless if you come by air. J.
We are driving so we won’t need Magical Express!!!
Have fun, eat well
OrangeChickenTaco Thank You!!!
Have a great time!! I'm leaving on my trip Monday on Mickey's Birthday!!
We are staying at Coronado Springs in February!! I figured it would pop up in the worst resort list. However- Man, we are getting our rooms for less than $200 a night, and I have been told over and over and over again that the buses are not a huge issue! I’m hoping for the best. We are visa card holders and explore the riviera, but most of the dates were eaten up already!!
Sheigh Ormord I was at Coronado a year ago and it was lovely! There were tons of buses so we never once had an issue with that and the rooms were beautifully renovated and quiet! You guys will love it! :)
@Sheigh Ormord We stayed there in Sept. The renovated rooms are gorgeous, & so is the new tower, but the buses are so badly & dangerously overcrowded that I emailed the hotel manager about it. Take your own car to the parks if you can.
I’ll be staying there in February as a couple and got a great deal too! So happy to get a moderate resort at a great discount.
that's a good rate! with these prices, finding a moderate for under $200 is awesome.
I stayed at Coronado earlier this year and loved it. Buses were completely fine. I never had to wait more than 5 min for a bus!!!!
I just got back from a trip to Disney world and my family was able to go to beaches and cream for ice cream before it officially opened for the soft opening
Me: Rewatches every video because I’m going in spring 2020 >:)
hubby and I are going Fall/Winter of 2021 for the 50th anniversary. :) we're also DVC members.
Gacha Krystal same! 😂
Me too!! So scared I picked a horrible hotel for our honeymoon! 😭 I haven’t been since I was 8 so I have no clue on anything
ohp- sorry about your trip
Or are you
If your an adults only group and stay at the value resorts...check to see if there are any competitions going on during the summer (baseball, cheerleading etc) because those groups tend to fill up the value resorts first....just a heads up if you dont mind that.
We JUST left the Art of Animation Resort & LOVED our Car Suite & the Skyliner! 🤗❤️ Already miss being there
Pop Century has been my home-away-from-home for more than 10 years. I don't plan on changing. I adore the skyliner. Now I only have to take a bus to DAK and Disney Springs.
I have a fear of heights so I am so scared to try the Skyliner, but it's looking like the best mode of transportation! My family stayed at Art of Animation in 2018 and loved it, but my husband was frustrated with the wait for the buses when heading back from the parks at night. I am looking forward to staying at Pop in April, and MAYBE I will be brave and try the Skyliner!
Carribean Beach, has always been a favourite. Stayed there when it first opened. Although, it did have an animal sanctuary, at that time. Still, been there since and have not been disappointed. Looks like they took out the fort in the center of the pool and replaced it with a pirate ship. The fort's cannon would fire a mild steam blast, as if defending against invaders. All part of the fun. Even transportation was a plus.
-JB
I went in April this year during construction at Coronado Springs and it didn’t bother us what so ever we where in the cabanas (closest rooms to the tower) and we barley heard anything, we absolutely love Coronado so much that next year we are staying again for my birthday! we even for fun walked around the whole resort and it was such an amazing resort. And the transport isn’t as bad as it seems haha.
Kidani Village has a Quick Service breakfast that was awesome. We did it twice before heading to the parks. It was LONG rides to each park, but the resort was amazing and we loved it.
Why didn’t you talk about any of the monorail loop resorts? The Polynesian is very very close to lots of the action as you have monorail access to MK and can take the very quick walk to the TTC to get the monorail to EPCOT. Also at the contemporary you can walk to MK.
Waaaait a second. Other moderate resorts have a hottub. I stayed at the French Quarter in September and went in their hot tub on the regular to soothe my feet.
Becky Weiss .... Yep, the “experts” aren’t as “expert” as they think they are🤔🤔😉😉