Port Orleans French Quarter started out as a romantic honeymoon spot for us. Now 11 yrs later, it works well for its quieter atmosphere for our two kids with ADHD and sensory issues. Plus, the food is fantastic!
Noelle W. I stayed there also (30+yrs.) ago and I really enjoyed my stay. I plan on Taking My Grandchildren Next Year I think that might be the right place.
My best friend has never been to Disney World and we are looking into planning a trip, it’s been over 10 years since I’ve been so a video like this would be great.
Brian Rollins Planning a post-COVID trip (??) with my adult daughter, would love tips on smaller but more convenient rooms. Don’t want super high end, but want to probably stay on site.
Something that usually isn’t mentioned: Military families!!! Stay at Shades of Green! It’s walking distance from the Polynesian, meaning walking distance from the monorail, and it’s a really nice hotel! Prices are based on rank. You also get all the normal Disney hotel perks.
Agreed. It's a fantastic hotel right there on Disney property. I wish somebody from the military would sponsor AJ so that she would get to stay there and could share her thoughts!
Go to the front desk and ask for the “Shady Shuttle.” It’s an extended golf cart that holds 6-8 people, and they will bring you right down to the crosswalk to the Polynesian. Really great for those extra hot days, or when you’ve had a few days in the park already and your legs need rest!
I just got home a couple of days ago from my first trip. I waited 35 years as well and these videos really helped me and my family have the best time ever!
For my family, it is Pop Century every time. As AJ stated, we use the room to sleep, shower and maybe the occasional dip in the pool. The rest of the time, we are in the parks and/or resort hopping.
We just got back from POP Century (60's section). It was cheap, loud and awesome. The kids loved all of the action. I would highly recommend for kids. We did visit Port Orleans French Quarter for the Beignet's; hands-down the best snack at Disney (in our opinion).
@@Goleyrob Exactly. When you are on a trip to the Disney parks, you are there FOR the parks. Now does that mean that people cannot have a great time just staying at a resort and not going into the parks at all? Not at all. If that is what you are planning to do for your trip, then you go for it. I may do that one day. But for now, Pop Century is where I lay my head at night then blast off to the next park the following day. I have not had the beignets yet, but that will change in December. 182 days to go.
We went for Christmas and stayed at Pop and it was perfect for us. It was in our budget which was a big deal for us because we needed two rooms. The transportation was pretty fast, and rarely packed. The rooms were newly refurbished when we went. The food wasn't the greatest but we mostly ate on the parks anyway. The staff was super nice and accommodating. It was a great experience for us, and probably where we'll go next time.
@@jamiesmith9922 Agreed, on all counts. The food, while not the best, is great when you want to want to have a resort day and not go anywhere. I like staying in a Preferred Room at the 50's building. It is very close to the bus stops and the main building.
its one of the best in my opinion my mom made me go there i thought i wouldn't like it but now i find myself in school wishing to stay there and going to Hollywood studios LOL 😂
When it comes time to pick hotels, my husband and I always choose Value because we're so rarely in the room... Pop Century always wins for us because of its direct transportation (as in, it doesn't stop at other resorts). We love it!
I thought I wouldn't spend a lot of time in my room when I took a vacation at Universal Studios. I booked at Cabana Bay, which is a value resort and even when I stayed at the hotel all day to use the pools, I wasn't in the room much. I understand that some people like to talk the in-laws into pooling money together so they wind up with a party of 5-8 people so they would need a very large room or a mini apartment. On the other hand, I don't get the point of splurging so much money on a posh spot like Grand Floridian, where prices can easily hit $700 per night. Over 3 nights, that's $2,100 per person. My vacation to Universal was absolutely nowhere near even $2,000...
Did you know that the swan and Dolphin resort Since is not owned by Disney but on Disney property you can pay for your room with points from Marriott hotels @DFBGuide
The deluxe rooms are sound proofed so that you hear very little around you. The value rooms may be less expensive, but you can hear everyone around you.
Our first trip it was AS Music. On a budget, not in the room very much, it was great. Not a fan of Disney busses so we drive. 2nd trip now DVC, AKL Kidani Savannah view. Oh my, what a difference! Spacious, extra comfy and animals outside the window! If we didn't have fastpasses to get to we may have just skipped the parks, haha! More time in the room beating the summer heat and it was so relaxing. Parking was so close to the elevator and a much shorter walk to the room. AKL was so quiet compared to AS Music. We very rarely heard other guests, it was very peaceful. There was a lot more commotion at AS Music, but we were on the 3rd floor so it could have been worse. It was fine for our first time, just a place to sleep. But now that we're repeat customers and not trying to see everything in one trip, we're grateful for the luxury of AKL and the more relaxed pace. Thank you DVC for making deluxe affordable.
As a solo Disney traveler, I tend to prefer the All-Star resorts. I'm rarely in the room and even though they are smaller, it is plenty of room for 1 - 2 people. (Plus they are all getting refurbished) For me, having a food court is preferable; just grab and go. If I want a nice sit down dinner, I'll go resort hopping from the parks. I usually get a standard room, which is usually tucked back in the resort and away from the more busy areas. Hint: always check the ESPN wide world of sports event calendar, as these events usually attract bigger crowds to the All-Star resorts (especially Sports - the big one is in December, Pop Warner championship + Cheer Competition).
For two young adults who only sleep in the room- we choose the value resorts! But my favorite value is Pop Century. The theme includes everything from movies to music! We love that you stay in the Disney bubble for notvtoo much money!
I used to stay at Pop Century, until I checked on the number of rooms at the resort. Pop has over 2,800, All Star Music has just over 1,600. I gave Music a try and while it is less themed, smaller food court and store, it is much quieter than Pop. I have stayed at Music 3 times now and it will continue to be my go-to resort!
Would you describe the beds on the firm side at the All Stars? I stayed at POP Century in Nov and found the beds too firm. I am planning a trip for next year and was considering trying one of the All Star resorts
@@ginacampbell2486 I am pretty sure they use the same mattresses at all the Value resorts. When I was at Music this year, the bed was softer than usual so I am guessing it was a bit older and worn soft!
We are a mother/daughter duo who just returned from our first trip to WDW. We were interested in a value resort with a room with two beds. When we saw AOA and that we could get a Little Mermaid room, we were sold. And we couldn’t have been more pleased. When we do Disney whether it is DL or WDW, we only need someplace to sleep that is clean and quiet as we are in the parks from open to close. So AOA was perfect for us.
My husband and I honeymooned at French Quarter and we loved every second of it! I would stay there again, but our next trip we really want to try the Contemporary 😊
Being one with mobility issues and muscle disease, it is also a totally different view of what works best for your needs. This is where distances from room to lobby/dining and also covered or indoor walking in between can be key in your choices. All Disney resorts and transportation are ada, but depending on your personal limitations, the level of ease in a wheelchair or limited space available on a bus or boat may cause delays waiting for the next one and may be at play with your choices if you make reservations, allow yourself extra time, especially at high peak times. The monorail is super easy and works best for me, but that means higher price for rooms. Again, as she said in the video, it is weighing everything. But I'm a research geek and love doing it.
We’ve stayed at every WDW resort (except the value resorts; life’s too short) before settling on the Yacht Club. Can’t beat it for quiet, service, area restaurants and its walk-in access to Epcot, our favorite park. We’ve been back to the YC about 10 times.
I hope you update this on June 18, 2019, when the official 2020 prices come out. I booked an AoA family suite for March 2020 and was SHOCKED to find that they're now $500+/night. So, gondolas are great, but they destroy the affordability of AoA for a family of six like mine. We'll probably split our stay between two regular rooms somewhere and the Cabins at FtW, which are still in the $300-400 range.
In 2012 when AoA first opened, the 520sf family suites were $249. 2015 cost $370. 2019 during holiday week $708 for Nemo rooms. SHOCKING! My niece has two boys ages 5 & 7. She and her husband are young professionals still paying off the tail end of student debts. They figure it's too far out of their budget even with the cheapest options.
Yes they are. Used to have the Disney Vacation Club and we would stay at the deluxe (Beach Club was our fav) Seeing the prices outside of the DVC is just insane :/
Your videos are sooo helpful!!! Love it thank you so much!! Last year, my boyfriend and I stayed off-site. We were at parks from open-close, so we figured it wouldn’t matter. However, after the week of Disney, we decided that next time, we would stay on-site. We didn’t rent a car or anything, so we used Uber and Lyft to get to and from the parks. It cost a lot more than we figured. Between the price of the room per night and all the Uber/Transportation, it would have been easier, more cost efficient and just better to stay on-site. The plan is to stay at one of Disney’s value resorts for our next Disney trip! Like AJ said, when planning, you have to see what’s best for you and your party. Try to take all things into account (dining, transportation, pools, etc) Good luck! Have a magical vacation!!!
If you are military, I'd highly recommend staying at Shades of Green on Disney property. You get most of the Disney perks (60 day Fastpass+ reservations, transportation) and beautiful accommodations for value price.
@@meganb3547 You do get extra magic hours at the parks. You dont get magic bands, but you can purchase them on your own and link them to your My Disney Experience account. You do not get the free dining plan. I'm unsure about the Minnie vans.
We have stayed at Coronado Springs, AK Lodge, Pop Century, Port Orleans, and Caribbean Beach (pirate room). When we ask our kids where they want to stay the choose Pop Century every time. They say that "It feels more like Disney there." We don't hang out in our room much at all because we spend the bulk of our time in the parks. This summer we are staying at the Yacht Club- location in proximity to Epcot and HW Studios.
Cher 73 My oldest daughter loves the Yacht Club walking to Epcot and HW studios is a huge perk and their pool is amazing! Don’t forget the friendship boats for tired feet at the end of the day roll on with the stroller no take down like with the buses.
Great synopsis for newbie Disney visitors! I've stayed in two deluxe, several moderate, and one value resort over the years. Value resorts, as you stated, are good if you are just using the room to sleep and shower. However, the walls are paper-thin (you can hear your neighbors' conversations, and each time they flush the toilet) and people tend to be loud into the late hours of the night. Moderates are a great value and and experience. My family and I stayed at the Wilderness Lodge when it was a moderate resort, and we loved it. Port Orleans Riverside is our favorite of the moderates, and have stayed there several times (once in a Royal Room). When we splurge on deluxe resorts it has been the Contemporary, and will be staying at Yacht Club this fall. I have also stayed at the Grand Floridian, which was amazing. Being on the monorail loop is a bonus that you definitely pay for. Keep up the great reporting, AJ!
MattU4970 You reminded of another reason why I really enjoy the cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds. They are all seperate . So you don't have to worry about loud people in the next cabin over. Also the cabins are considered a moderate value.
For our family of 4 having extra space is a priority and we did not regret spending the money on a family suite at Art of Animation (just a bit more than a standard room at a moderate resort). We had SO much space. I don’t think that can be over stated. You really would have to book two rooms to get that much space. It actually seemed silly when we booked it but it was nice to have the 2 bathrooms as well! We were able to have breakfasts EASILY in our room because of the kitchenette (with a regular sized sink to wash our resort mugs) and Disney supplied paper products. It worked great for us!!
Stayed at the new Grand Destino back in October and LOVED IT!! The rooms are huge and comfortable. And the roof top dinning at Toledo's was very good. Although, the acoustics for intimate conversation are terrible. But they now need to do something with the old lobby for the Coronado, it's now just a hallway connecting the new tower to the restaurants/food court and Panchito's gift shop. Consensus was we would both stay there again in a heartbeat.
We stayed 2 nights in a Savannah view room at AKL for the same price as 8 nights in a 2 storey, 4 bedroom (2 were kings with en suites with tiled showers and jacuzzi), 3 bathroom house with a pool and spa, billiards table, 3 large flat screen TVs, full kitchen with dishwasher, BBQ, garage and laundry. We rented the house through VRBO. The owner also provided an umbrella stroller, playpen and highchair at no additional charge. It was my daughter's 7th birthday, which I mentioned to the owner in an email and upon our arrival there was a Mickey and Minnie Happy Birthday balloon tied to one of the dining room chairs with a note that read "Have a great birthday in Disney World"! While I loved having my coffee on our balcony at AKL in the mornings and watching the animals, it really wasn't worth it. Travelling without children, I think would be more ideal when staying at a Deluxe resort. That being said, one of the highlights of that trip was seeing what animals we could spy each morning with the kids, but was that worth the $1000.00 price tag for 2 nights in a room we barely used? No. We could have driven there, got a breakfast at one of the nice restaurants or just a coffee to go and saw the animals for free from the lobby area.
Port Orleans French Quarter was a favorite of ours; spent our honeymoon there way back in 1992 when FQ and Riverside were two different resorts. Great theming throughout the Resort and the rooms were particularly well-themed for a Moderate. The bus stop was a huge plus, and the boat was a more relaxing form of transportation, particularly on your way back to resort and need a little time to wind down.
Bought a camper and stayed at Fort Wilderness from 2000 to 2009 then bought dvc. If you’re paying for rooms the camper at Fort Wilderness is the way to go. As long as your travel distance allows for it. DVC is ok but the annual dues diminish the savings significantly. Having stayed at most hotels on property imo Fort Wilderness campground is the best one. They seem to have more activities.
Fort Wilderness is our absolute favorite. Quiet and beautiful and Hoop-Dee-Doo is quite literary the most fun evening you can have at Disney! The cabins offer a little more space for not much more money, and the transportation is ALWAYS less crowded than any other resort we’ve stayed at. Highly recommended!
AJ, I love all of your videos, but this is the best explanation I've ever seen about choosing a Disney hotel. When people come to me and ask me where they should stay, I usually give them some version of these considerations, but I never feel like I've quite done it justice. I'm just going to send them a link to this video from now on!
I loved Coranado Springs and didn't find it to be that much walking, you rarely go to the lobby unless you're checking in/out and the grounds were beautiful. The bus ride also couldn't have been longer than 15 minutes.
I've stayed at Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Lake Buena Vista. Half the price of the value resorts a night. That pays for rental car and parking inside the parks. If you arrive an hour before the parks open, you get nice parking spot also. They also usually have a free shuttle running all day to and from the parks if you need to go back to the hotel during the day, or don't want to deal with a car. Parking is free.
Westgate vacation villas is a SUPER NICE place. My family and I stayed there, and it was wonderful! They have 13 or 14 on site pools and a HUGE 2 story water park. Only about a mile from magic kingdom, takes no time to get to any of the parks/lots of stores and restaurants. 💗 we just left there Friday and I'm already ready to go back.
We love the idea of resort hopping. We (2 people) are at a point where we’ve been to all the parks many times and done all the rides so we try to focus on the relaxing part of Disney. (Food, Hotels..) we’ve stayed at all 3 All Stars, Art of Animation, Port Orleans FQ, Saratoga Springs and Beach Club. Our next trip will be in September and we will try out Pop Century and Bay Lake Tower, can’t wait !
Please a video on 1. what things are open at the hard ticketed events ? I mean like firework shows or rides or food location ( shortly is it okay to go to a after hour event rather than regular hours ??? And do something else in regular hour time ?) 2. Early morning magic or after hours or other event/holiday 3.Expensive vegetarian food for DDP 4. Cheap vegetarian food 5. Good neighbour hotels 6. What ride to fast pass ?? What is the minimum days for a Disney cruise? Love your channel!!
It’s important to remember that just because one resort worked for your family 5 years ago doesn’t mean that it will always be the best for your family. We did Value rooms when my daughter was smaller because we didn’t need as much space and we didn’t spend much time in the hotel. Now we vacation differently and will spend the $ for moderate or deluxe because of that.
Saratoga springs is the best for our family of 6 in a 2 bedroom villa. We travel from the UK for 2 weeks generally and we've found it to be the perfect base!! The ease of buses and the locality to Disney Springs is perfect.
Love the Beach Club. The pool with the sandy bottom was fantastic, especially at night after we got back from the parks. Plus, love the boat rides. They always felt kind of romantic and magical.
We loved POFQ! I liked that it’s smaller & easier to get around for someone with mobility issues. Liked being able to take the boat to Disney Springs. Liked the atmosphere. I liked that it was close to POR & that you could use their facilities.
If it weren't for the extra magic hours and some of the transportation, I would recommend staying off property. It boggles my mind just how mediocre and at times downright disappointing the Disney hotels are for what they charge. My experiences at the "moderate" and "deluxe" hotels were barely better better than the "value" hotels. Rooms are mostly small at any/all of their hotels, and their amenities just don't compare to most major hotels chains around the world. The prices they charge just aren't in line with what you get.
We stayed at the Contemporary and booked through DVC. We had a 2 bedroom which was nice because it had a kitchen. We did the dining plan so we didn’t have to worry about cooking, but we could bring back leftovers for when we wanted a snack or to store drinks. There were 7 of us but there were 3 full bathrooms and a washer and dryer. The multiple bathrooms helped with getting ready in the morning or before going out to dinner. It was the perfect set up for us. We brought in two pack n plays for the kids to sleep in, which went in the master. I think the master bathroom even had a tub for the kids.
Hey I don’t know if you’ve made a video on this but could you do a video about the best ways to go to Disney as a couple, with like the best deals +hotels for two people
Port Orleans riverside for a family of five is ideal. Great price for one room, spacious and good space for 5 people. The food court is amazing and it is so unique in Disney resorts to walk over to French quarter - using their pool and food court too! None of the bus rides are long (Epcot and Hollywood only 7 mins) a brilliant resort for slightly older families who don’t want heavy Disney character theming but still plenty of magic! Having purchases sent from the parks to your hotel is also a game changer
My family and I (5 people) stayed at All Star Music in Nov. They also had suites available. Pretty simple, basic decor. What I liked was the fact that the couch, armchair and ottoman all folded out into beds. Plus, we had a lot of space and weren't tripping over each other. Foodwise, it wasn't that impressive. I would to eat in the parks or off property. But, all in all, it was an enjoyable experience
My husband and I are camping in our RV at the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds in October. I know it will be perfect for us. Your videos have really helped me. Thank you!
We stayed at Ft. Wilderness last November and had a wonderful time. Next time I will bring more Christmas decorations for our RV though. You should see how people decks out their RV's! Talk about extreme!
Great video, as always. We just returned from seven nights at the Dolphin, and while the location was amazing (walking to Studios and Epcot!), there was a convention there the final couple of days and it really did negatively impact that "Disney feel" that families like ours look for. For our next trip, we are thinking of staying at a value resort (All-Star Movies) the first half, and a moderate or even deluxe for the second half (Animal Kingdom or Beach Club).
Heads up for the animal kingdom lodge: if you’re sensitive to smells skip this one. It’s AMAZING but be prepared when you step out into your balcony because it’s definitely the zoo scent you’re probably familiar with.
I will be staying at Pop Century for the 3rd time this October. I have enjoyed the resort. Cant wait for the Skyliner. I travel solo so dont need a huge room. I spend most of my time at the parks. I do have dinning reservations at deluxe resorts but use Disney transportation to get there. My sister and brother in law will be joining me for part of my magical vacation. They havent been to WDW in over twenty years and are staying at French Quarter. I last was at WDW in 2017. Im so excited to be going back to the magic in 127 days.
We love Fort Wilderness. We bring our great dane with us every time we stay and the cabins and fun walking trails are perfect! Everyone loves her and she always gets so much love.
We stayed at Pop Century and it was perfect for us!! Room was nice abs beds were comfy! Granted we really only slept there, we did utilize the food court a few times and we liked it.
Great video AJ! Lots of good information. My family of 5 stayed in a room at Port Orleans Riverside and loved it! We were close to one of the bus stops which made it convenient, and in a quiet corner. Would love see a video on neighbor hotels that have similar disney perks and shuttles!
We stayed at Kidani Village and I’d never stay there again. It was a 15-20 minute walk to the front desk and bus stop. The crowded bus ride home after fireworks was awful. It was March break, gridlock traffic and it took us almost 45 minutes to get back to the hotel. Never again. We do love Saratoga Springs. It’s great being so close to Disney Springs, the bus was never crowded. We loved it!
The best property for my family was a VRBO at less than $80 a night, full kitchen, 3 bedrooms 2 full bathrooms, 3 miles from Animal Kingdom. We spent less than $2200 for a full week including 4 day park hoppers, food, and transportation (I have a good car).
We did AoA in 2018 for Spring Break with our 7 year old and 4 year old and I loved the "close the door" aspect of the family suites. The parents have their room/bathroom just like at home and the kids could run wild in the open room space + the tub/shower for cleaning up. It was nice to also get ready early and not disturb them so they could sleep a little before hitting the parks for rope drop...again.
Yacht and Beach Club family for sure. I know you guys love the restaurants at AKL, but with the signature restaurants at Yacht and Beach combined with the boardwalk options, meals there are always fantastic. Combine that with easy access to two parks (nighttime shows every night) and the best pool, and we struggle to stay anywhere else.
When I stay at a hotel in WDW, it's either the Dolphin or Animal Kingdom Lodge. I like the Dolphin because of the view of the DHS fireworks and close proximity to both DHS and Epcot but I like Animal Kingdom Lodge more because of the theming and restaurants
We love Riverside. Both times we have stayed there, we’ve gotten terrific rooms in fabulous locations. Little wait for the buses & an awesome vibe. We liked the spread out feel of that resort.
The family suite at AOA was perfect for my family last Fall. My kids are 3, 8, & 15- we loved the space and the pools. Easy to take a mid day break and everyone was happy.
I’m doing a solo Disney trip in early 2022 and I’m splitting my time between pop century and contemporary. I can’t wait! I’m looking forward to using the skyliner at pop and the monorail at contemporary. It will be my first time staying at those hotels.
First time I stayed at Pop Century which was cheap option & good room, 2nd time this was unavailable so All Star Sport was next cheaper option and rooms were excellent. Midday we go back to room take some rest and then back to park about 3pm, unless we did Universal on that day. Hoping to vacation soon and yup All Star Sports again.
Great tips. Family staying off site --- Because of a surprise bonus we (3 kids and myself) stayed at the Caribbean Beach many years ago which has a fun pool, the 10 yr old son did not want to get out of it. That has really been the only time we spent much time at a pool on any vacation. Since then it is just way to expensive for us to stay in the park hotels and do several days at Disney and Universal so we stay off site at The Floridays Resort Orlando (condo style) and we get the 3 bedroom suite. So affordable and way more days for less than few days at WDW hotel. The master bedroom has a king and bathroom and the other two bedrooms each have two double beds and a second bathroom, a kitchen dining living room balcony and stackable washer dryer and the living room sofa pulls out and can sleep 2. We even brought one of the kid's friend one time. We bought groceries for breakfast a grab and go and oatmeal packets and lots of snacky stuff for the parks and evenings. We got to the parks early for rope drop and stayed to closing. I recently saw there is similar type hotel condo style with a Pirate ship with a slide in the pool but have no experience there, Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa. Great for larger families, grown children and their families vacay together, friends, etc. Check their websites for pricing and photos and floor plans and Google reviews and check them out.
My family did WDW for the first time last October (we're from the West Coast so usually do Disneyland), and stayed at the Swan & Dolphin. Was very reasonably priced for Disney (I think we paid about $250/night for a room with a king bed for my husband and me), and you still get all the perks of being at a more deluxe resort: free transportation, magic hours, and even one of the restaurants had a few characters during breakfast on the weekends. Likely will stay there if I ever go again.
As and adult Disney fan The boardwalk/yacht club is my favorite resort. Hollywood studios and epcot are my favorite parks so it's nice to be close to them. I always get dinner at epcot somewhere so that's nice. The boardwalk has great restaurants, the pool is basically a waterpark, tons of stuff to do on the actual boardwalk, and there's even a dueling piano bar. For a large family or one with little kids it might not be the best. But for a family of 4 especially one with older kids or teens I highly recommend it.
Kathryn Dean I think you have 30 days to cancel if I remember correctly. And to change dates is nearly impossible unless its at least 6-7 months out. All dvc rooms are booked for almost the entire month of Dec already for a 5 day trip
Have been to DisneyWorld 5 times. Stayed OFF property 3 times ( Very Nice Places ). Stayed ON property twice ( Polynesian ) Personally I think ON Property is best
On site is the best way to go! I have stayed at moderate but honestly, value is the choice for me. I like All Star Music because it’s always hopping with great dancing tunes. If money was no issue, Animal Kingdom is my dream. I love that guests are immersed in the whole ambiance of the land.
We stayed at Caribbean Beach (just two adults) and really enjoyed it. Food was good. Once we figured out where to catch the appropriate bus everything is smooth sailing. We loved it . The themeing was fantastic and the cast members where so great and kind. We also really enjoyed the pools as well.
My Wife and I stayed at the Fort Wilderness RV Resort and loved it. Our RV Spot was easy walking distance to the boat dock. Excellent restaurant and easy drive from park to local shopping. The Rv Resort environment was so peaceful and beautiful.
My husband and I stayed at Saratoga Springs last winter. It was perfect for us. We had groceries delivered and ate breakfasts in our room. The restaurant on site had amazing food. As an older couple, we apprciated the quiet. Travel time to the parks was not a problem. Jeannine
Fantastic job as always, AJ! I've found that usually (not always, but usually!) those who end up at the wrong resorts did not want to do their own through research, or didn't thunk it was necessary. Believe it or not - there are still a TON of people out there who think you can just "show up" and do your vacation - no planning, no FP's, not ADR's, nothing - they think people like us are just stressed out OCD-ers. Seriously. Or they hears some good things abut ABC hotel from their uncle's father's sister's BIL, and go with that. Like you said - 1 place may be GREAT for 1 person or family, but no so great for another. Again - don't be lazy, or just go with the flow - do you research!!
The point about curious/animal loving kids for Animal Kingdom Lodge is the exact reason we're going to be staying there for our son's first trip with us! Sure hope he likes it!
Pop century worked really well for my partner and I on our honeymoon. We could put one bed up to create more space, we are kids at heart and it still has that Disney magic and the room still felt modern.
Kayla, how was the noise? Usually values have pretty thin walls... could you still sleep ok or did every person walking by wake you up? It’s what worries me the most...
@@danshowbizz We use a sound machine app during the night normally anyway, so it wasn't really a problem for us. I can't speak to the experience you would have if you don't use one of those in the hotel.
My husband and I love the Swan and Dolphin. The access to EPCOT and Hollywood Studio's can't be beat, and you can typically stay for half the price of the Beach Club, Yacht Club and Boardwalk. Plus you get most of the same perks you would get by staying at a Disney owned resort.
I absolutely love the bay lake/contemporary! My family goes there every year and amazing stay each time, the staff is also so kind and the food is delicious!
This was a great video, with a lot of very useful information and really useful, sensible discussions of the trade-offs and how to rationally go through the selection process. One suggestion for a future video is to look at a WDW vacation for a single adult or an older couple without kids. I'd very interested in knowing which, if any, on-property hotels offer good value if you don't need as much space as a family with young kids.
For our family of 8 Riverside worked out well. With connecting rooms, the pull down beds and one twin air mattress all the kids had their own bed which made a world of difference for good nights sleep for all of us. Not much room to move around but we didn’t spend much time outside of sleeping and showering inside our rooms. Food/pool/music/transpiration/grounds were all great. Would definitely stay there again!
I am strictly "Value" resorts. But I learned from this video that AOA has that walk-in kind of pool. That's a plus for me. I'll be at Pop this year but I will try AOA next year.
I've stayed in AOA for the past 2 yrs and again in 2021 but Pop this year... I love AOA.... and another thing bout AOA is there are speakers under the water so u can listen to music when ur up under
i would recommend staying at Shades of Green if you were in the military, it’s made for military families. my family and i always stay there when we go to WDW. it’s a secret hotel that is near the Polynesian ( i don’t think i spelt that right) Resort.
We were SO LUCKY to book a room at Port Orleans Riverside that we liked! Little did we know it was right next to a more private pool and the first bus stop! Long walk from the lobby, but WORTH IT!
One thing AJ did not say about staying off site and that includes Swan and Dolphinin that magic bands are not as useful. You cannot use your magic bands to pay for items in the park since they are connected to your room.
For as many people as you have going the valve resorts are perfect. We are here now and staying at All Star Sports. It's all you need. If you spend as much time in the parks as we do all you need is a place to sleep and shower. Most of all have fun!!!
My favorite hotel for general feel is Yacht Club, favorite for accessibility is The Contemporary and favorite for theme is The Polynesian! These are my 3 tried and true resorts.
Favourite Value- Pop Century-- they're renovating most of the rooms and staying there is a dream every time, really recommend:) Favourite Moderate- Port Orleans Riverside-- I loooooooove the Riverside theming, they also have the fold down single bed in some rooms. Favourite Deluxe- Beach Club (Villas)- If I could stay at the Beach Club villas every time I went I WOULD. Closest walking distance to Epcot, and more importantly the World Showcase, AMAZING pool, Beaches and Cream and just an over all very vacationy feel thats not BAM in your face Disney all the time:)
Great video, please stop telling people about my favorite resort port orleans French quarter. 12 days to go. French quarter is great,food close by, bus stops here first before riverside,and a great boat ride to Disney springs.
We often hotel hop while in Disney - that way you can stay close to whichever park you are going to. We love Animal Kingdom Lodge, but it is a long way away from the rest of the parks! So we will stay there for a couple of nights then move on...Also, bell services will move your bags to the next hotel so you can drop them in the morning before heading for the parks and they will be at your next hotel!
Port Orleans French Quarter started out as a romantic honeymoon spot for us. Now 11 yrs later, it works well for its quieter atmosphere for our two kids with ADHD and sensory issues. Plus, the food is fantastic!
My family stayed there once and it's the only one we stay at now. So quiet, and beautiful.
it really is the best! i'd take it over any deluxe
Noelle W. I stayed there also (30+yrs.) ago and I really enjoyed my stay. I plan on Taking My Grandchildren Next Year I think that might be the right place.
Hi AJ, you should do a video about Disney world for adults only. Like are the best places to stay, eat, activities etc. Without kids.
My best friend has never been to Disney World and we are looking into planning a trip, it’s been over 10 years since I’ve been so a video like this would be great.
Im a kid
That would be a great idea! an adult Disney trip . restaurants, golf, spas, etc
Damn childless millennials!
(JK, my kids are all grown now and would also love a video focused on an adults-only trip to WDW)
Brian Rollins Planning a post-COVID trip (??) with my adult daughter, would love tips on smaller but more convenient rooms. Don’t want super high end, but want to probably stay on site.
Something that usually isn’t mentioned:
Military families!!! Stay at Shades of Green! It’s walking distance from the Polynesian, meaning walking distance from the monorail, and it’s a really nice hotel! Prices are based on rank. You also get all the normal Disney hotel perks.
Agreed. It's a fantastic hotel right there on Disney property. I wish somebody from the military would sponsor AJ so that she would get to stay there and could share her thoughts!
Go to the front desk and ask for the “Shady Shuttle.” It’s an extended golf cart that holds 6-8 people, and they will bring you right down to the crosswalk to the Polynesian. Really great for those extra hot days, or when you’ve had a few days in the park already and your legs need rest!
should i take this chair?? It definitely is nice! And they have a buffet and like a bar that’s near the pool.
I completed Call of Duty at Veteran difficultly so I will be checking that out.
And the staff is great! I love staying at Shades!
22 days until my first ever trip! I’m SO excited! I’ve waited 35 years for this!
Amanda Porter yay, hope you have so much fun!
That's wonderful! You will have such a great time, Disney really does it right. I hope your trip is absolutely magical.
That Disney magic will make the wait worth it! Just follow AJ’s tips and you’ll have the best trip ever!
I just got home a couple of days ago from my first trip. I waited 35 years as well and these videos really helped me and my family have the best time ever!
So excited for you! Have a Magical time!!!
For my family, it is Pop Century every time. As AJ stated, we use the room to sleep, shower and maybe the occasional dip in the pool. The rest of the time, we are in the parks and/or resort hopping.
We just got back from POP Century (60's section). It was cheap, loud and awesome. The kids loved all of the action. I would highly recommend for kids. We did visit Port Orleans French Quarter for the Beignet's; hands-down the best snack at Disney (in our opinion).
@@Goleyrob Exactly. When you are on a trip to the Disney parks, you are there FOR the parks. Now does that mean that people cannot have a great time just staying at a resort and not going into the parks at all? Not at all. If that is what you are planning to do for your trip, then you go for it. I may do that one day. But for now, Pop Century is where I lay my head at night then blast off to the next park the following day.
I have not had the beignets yet, but that will change in December. 182 days to go.
We went for Christmas and stayed at Pop and it was perfect for us. It was in our budget which was a big deal for us because we needed two rooms. The transportation was pretty fast, and rarely packed. The rooms were newly refurbished when we went. The food wasn't the greatest but we mostly ate on the parks anyway. The staff was super nice and accommodating. It was a great experience for us, and probably where we'll go next time.
@@jamiesmith9922 Agreed, on all counts. The food, while not the best, is great when you want to want to have a resort day and not go anywhere. I like staying in a Preferred Room at the 50's building. It is very close to the bus stops and the main building.
its one of the best in my opinion my mom made me go there i thought i wouldn't like it but now i find myself in school wishing to stay there and going to Hollywood studios LOL 😂
When it comes time to pick hotels, my husband and I always choose Value because we're so rarely in the room... Pop Century always wins for us because of its direct transportation (as in, it doesn't stop at other resorts). We love it!
LooksLikeCRicci THIS! Sleep, shower back to the parks. No need for us to have fancy rooms.
I thought I wouldn't spend a lot of time in my room when I took a vacation at Universal Studios. I booked at Cabana Bay, which is a value resort and even when I stayed at the hotel all day to use the pools, I wasn't in the room much. I understand that some people like to talk the in-laws into pooling money together so they wind up with a party of 5-8 people so they would need a very large room or a mini apartment. On the other hand, I don't get the point of splurging so much money on a posh spot like Grand Floridian, where prices can easily hit $700 per night. Over 3 nights, that's $2,100 per person. My vacation to Universal was absolutely nowhere near even $2,000...
Did you know that the swan and Dolphin resort Since is not owned by Disney but on Disney property you can pay for your room with points from Marriott hotels @DFBGuide
Yeah
I always do this
I get the same feeling walking into Animal Kingdom Lodge as I do when I see the castle in Magic Kingdom... it's home.
I’m the same with the Wilderness Lodge.
Mine is the boardwalk, helps that they say “welcome home” upon arrival!
Same for my family. Every time we go back we kinda think about staying somewhere else and just... can't. It's magical every SECOND we're there
When I walk in, I’m like “HELL YEAH, FOOOOOD” bc we never stay in the hotel, but we visit it to eat at Boma
The deluxe rooms are sound proofed so that you hear very little around you. The value rooms may be less expensive, but you can hear everyone around you.
Amy Doran This is such good info to know!!
Our first trip it was AS Music. On a budget, not in the room very much, it was great. Not a fan of Disney busses so we drive. 2nd trip now DVC, AKL Kidani Savannah view. Oh my, what a difference! Spacious, extra comfy and animals outside the window! If we didn't have fastpasses to get to we may have just skipped the parks, haha! More time in the room beating the summer heat and it was so relaxing. Parking was so close to the elevator and a much shorter walk to the room. AKL was so quiet compared to AS Music. We very rarely heard other guests, it was very peaceful. There was a lot more commotion at AS Music, but we were on the 3rd floor so it could have been worse. It was fine for our first time, just a place to sleep. But now that we're repeat customers and not trying to see everything in one trip, we're grateful for the luxury of AKL and the more relaxed pace. Thank you DVC for making deluxe affordable.
As a solo Disney traveler, I tend to prefer the All-Star resorts. I'm rarely in the room and even though they are smaller, it is plenty of room for 1 - 2 people. (Plus they are all getting refurbished) For me, having a food court is preferable; just grab and go. If I want a nice sit down dinner, I'll go resort hopping from the parks. I usually get a standard room, which is usually tucked back in the resort and away from the more busy areas. Hint: always check the ESPN wide world of sports event calendar, as these events usually attract bigger crowds to the All-Star resorts (especially Sports - the big one is in December, Pop Warner championship + Cheer Competition).
This was pleasant to watch. Throwing up a map now and then to show where each property is in relation to everything else cudda been helpful, imho.
Chantillian I wish there would be maps in every video. Would be super helpful.
Yes -it was also info overload I would love to see a video on each one!
Could always support them by buying their actual guides 😉
I mean, they do sell proper guides if you want more information. Really you can only expect so much from FREE content.
LordofFullmetal most mid level youtubers are pulling down 100,000k a yr from their revenue. I had no idea they had guides either:)
For two young adults who only sleep in the room- we choose the value resorts! But my favorite value is Pop Century. The theme includes everything from movies to music! We love that you stay in the Disney bubble for notvtoo much money!
I used to stay at Pop Century, until I checked on the number of rooms at the resort. Pop has over 2,800, All Star Music has just over 1,600. I gave Music a try and while it is less themed, smaller food court and store, it is much quieter than Pop. I have stayed at Music 3 times now and it will continue to be my go-to resort!
Would you describe the beds on the firm side at the All Stars? I stayed at POP Century in Nov and found the beds too firm. I am planning a trip for next year and was considering trying one of the All Star resorts
@@ginacampbell2486 I am pretty sure they use the same mattresses at all the Value resorts. When I was at Music this year, the bed was softer than usual so I am guessing it was a bit older and worn soft!
We are a mother/daughter duo who just returned from our first trip to WDW. We were interested in a value resort with a room with two beds. When we saw AOA and that we could get a Little Mermaid room, we were sold. And we couldn’t have been more pleased. When we do Disney whether it is DL or WDW, we only need someplace to sleep that is clean and quiet as we are in the parks from open to close. So AOA was perfect for us.
50 days left for our trip. Can’t wait to enjoy it with my family. Hope my kids are excited as I am.
My husband and I honeymooned at French Quarter and we loved every second of it! I would stay there again, but our next trip we really want to try the Contemporary 😊
The Contemporary is amazing for the fact that you can WALK to magic kingdom! Love it 😊
What a terrific honeymoon.. great choice!
Being one with mobility issues and muscle disease, it is also a totally different view of what works best for your needs. This is where distances from room to lobby/dining and also covered or indoor walking in between can be key in your choices. All Disney resorts and transportation are ada, but depending on your personal limitations, the level of ease in a wheelchair or limited space available on a bus or boat may cause delays waiting for the next one and may be at play with your choices if you make reservations, allow yourself extra time, especially at high peak times. The monorail is super easy and works best for me, but that means higher price for rooms. Again, as she said in the video, it is weighing everything. But I'm a research geek and love doing it.
We’ve stayed at every WDW resort (except the value resorts; life’s too short) before settling on the Yacht Club. Can’t beat it for quiet, service, area restaurants and its walk-in access to Epcot, our favorite park. We’ve been back to the YC about 10 times.
I hope you update this on June 18, 2019, when the official 2020 prices come out. I booked an AoA family suite for March 2020 and was SHOCKED to find that they're now $500+/night. So, gondolas are great, but they destroy the affordability of AoA for a family of six like mine. We'll probably split our stay between two regular rooms somewhere and the Cabins at FtW, which are still in the $300-400 range.
In 2012 when AoA first opened, the 520sf family suites were $249. 2015 cost $370. 2019 during holiday week $708 for Nemo rooms. SHOCKING!
My niece has two boys ages 5 & 7. She and her husband are young professionals still paying off the tail end of student debts. They figure it's too far out of their budget even with the cheapest options.
@@billybelcaro9585 it's ridiculous. i took my family to hawaii for less than a wdw vacation and i live in FL.
Monorail access is essential IMHO. That is, if you can afford those hotels. They are brutally expensive.
Dive Bar Casanova grand Floridian villas are 4-5k a night
Yes they are. Used to have the Disney Vacation Club and we would stay at the deluxe (Beach Club was our fav) Seeing the prices outside of the DVC is just insane :/
Your videos are sooo helpful!!! Love it thank you so much!!
Last year, my boyfriend and I stayed off-site. We were at parks from open-close, so we figured it wouldn’t matter. However, after the week of Disney, we decided that next time, we would stay on-site. We didn’t rent a car or anything, so we used Uber and Lyft to get to and from the parks. It cost a lot more than we figured. Between the price of the room per night and all the Uber/Transportation, it would have been easier, more cost efficient and just better to stay on-site. The plan is to stay at one of Disney’s value resorts for our next Disney trip!
Like AJ said, when planning, you have to see what’s best for you and your party. Try to take all things into account (dining, transportation, pools, etc)
Good luck! Have a magical vacation!!!
If you are military, I'd highly recommend staying at Shades of Green on Disney property. You get most of the Disney perks (60 day Fastpass+ reservations, transportation) and beautiful accommodations for value price.
Do you get magic mornings/evenings as well? Will the Minnie Vans come to Shades? I've been getting conflicting info.
@@meganb3547 You do get extra magic hours at the parks. You dont get magic bands, but you can purchase them on your own and link them to your My Disney Experience account. You do not get the free dining plan. I'm unsure about the Minnie vans.
We have stayed at Coronado Springs, AK Lodge, Pop Century, Port Orleans, and Caribbean Beach (pirate room). When we ask our kids where they want to stay the choose Pop Century every time. They say that "It feels more like Disney there." We don't hang out in our room much at all because we spend the bulk of our time in the parks. This summer we are staying at the Yacht Club- location in proximity to Epcot and HW Studios.
Cher 73 My oldest daughter loves the Yacht Club walking to Epcot and HW studios is a huge perk and their pool is amazing! Don’t forget the friendship boats for tired feet at the end of the day roll on with the stroller no take down like with the buses.
We loved Art of Animation Lion King...2 full bathrooms and a separate bedroom were priceless!!
Great synopsis for newbie Disney visitors! I've stayed in two deluxe, several moderate, and one value resort over the years. Value resorts, as you stated, are good if you are just using the room to sleep and shower. However, the walls are paper-thin (you can hear your neighbors' conversations, and each time they flush the toilet) and people tend to be loud into the late hours of the night. Moderates are a great value and and experience. My family and I stayed at the Wilderness Lodge when it was a moderate resort, and we loved it. Port Orleans Riverside is our favorite of the moderates, and have stayed there several times (once in a Royal Room). When we splurge on deluxe resorts it has been the Contemporary, and will be staying at Yacht Club this fall. I have also stayed at the Grand Floridian, which was amazing. Being on the monorail loop is a bonus that you definitely pay for. Keep up the great reporting, AJ!
MattU4970
You reminded of another reason why I really enjoy the cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds. They are all seperate . So you don't have to worry about loud people in the next cabin over. Also the cabins are considered a moderate value.
For our family of 4 having extra space is a priority and we did not regret spending the money on a family suite at Art of Animation (just a bit more than a standard room at a moderate resort). We had SO much space. I don’t think that can be over stated. You really would have to book two rooms to get that much space. It actually seemed silly when we booked it but it was nice to have the 2 bathrooms as well! We were able to have breakfasts EASILY in our room because of the kitchenette (with a regular sized sink to wash our resort mugs) and Disney supplied paper products. It worked great for us!!
Stayed at the new Grand Destino back in October and LOVED IT!! The rooms are huge and comfortable. And the roof top dinning at Toledo's was very good. Although, the acoustics for intimate conversation are terrible. But they now need to do something with the old lobby for the Coronado, it's now just a hallway connecting the new tower to the restaurants/food court and Panchito's gift shop. Consensus was we would both stay there again in a heartbeat.
I’ve stayed at probably 8 different Disney world hotels and my absolute 100% favorite is the Beach Club Resort.
We agree totally!
YesYes and yes
Staying there for 1st time coming up soon!!
Samantha C I love the Yacht Club as well I found that Beach club can be price higher so I have been finding better discounts for Yacht Club.
Or yacht club
We stayed 2 nights in a Savannah view room at AKL for the same price as 8 nights in a 2 storey, 4 bedroom (2 were kings with en suites with tiled showers and jacuzzi), 3 bathroom house with a pool and spa, billiards table, 3 large flat screen TVs, full kitchen with dishwasher, BBQ, garage and laundry. We rented the house through VRBO. The owner also provided an umbrella stroller, playpen and highchair at no additional charge. It was my daughter's 7th birthday, which I mentioned to the owner in an email and upon our arrival there was a Mickey and Minnie Happy Birthday balloon tied to one of the dining room chairs with a note that read "Have a great birthday in Disney World"! While I loved having my coffee on our balcony at AKL in the mornings and watching the animals, it really wasn't worth it. Travelling without children, I think would be more ideal when staying at a Deluxe resort. That being said, one of the highlights of that trip was seeing what animals we could spy each morning with the kids, but was that worth the $1000.00 price tag for 2 nights in a room we barely used? No. We could have driven there, got a breakfast at one of the nice restaurants or just a coffee to go and saw the animals for free from the lobby area.
I feel like I’m on my vacation already while watching your vids
madeline me too!!!
Pop Century is UNQUESTIONABLY the best value resort.
Port Orleans French Quarter was a favorite of ours; spent our honeymoon there way back in 1992 when FQ and Riverside were two different resorts. Great theming throughout the Resort and the rooms were particularly well-themed for a Moderate. The bus stop was a huge plus, and the boat was a more relaxing form of transportation, particularly on your way back to resort and need a little time to wind down.
Bought a camper and stayed at Fort Wilderness from 2000 to 2009 then bought dvc. If you’re paying for rooms the camper at Fort Wilderness is the way to go. As long as your travel distance allows for it. DVC is ok but the annual dues diminish the savings significantly. Having stayed at most hotels on property imo Fort Wilderness campground is the best one. They seem to have more activities.
Fort Wilderness is our absolute favorite. Quiet and beautiful and Hoop-Dee-Doo is quite literary the most fun evening you can have at Disney! The cabins offer a little more space for not much more money, and the transportation is ALWAYS less crowded than any other resort we’ve stayed at. Highly recommended!
AJ, I love all of your videos, but this is the best explanation I've ever seen about choosing a Disney hotel. When people come to me and ask me where they should stay, I usually give them some version of these considerations, but I never feel like I've quite done it justice. I'm just going to send them a link to this video from now on!
I loved Coranado Springs and didn't find it to be that much walking, you rarely go to the lobby unless you're checking in/out and the grounds were beautiful. The bus ride also couldn't have been longer than 15 minutes.
I’m looking at the new tower! Looks awesome
Port Orleans Riverside only has elevators in their deluxe princess rooms, not their bayou rooms. Important for those with ECVs. ☺️
I loved that you mentioned the "good neighbour" hotels! I'm planning a trip and it'll be a on site or a good neighbour for me!
Just make sure you check if there is an extra charge for parking and/or a resort fee at any Good Neighbor resort. They can aff up.
I've stayed at Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Lake Buena Vista. Half the price of the value resorts a night. That pays for rental car and parking inside the parks. If you arrive an hour before the parks open, you get nice parking spot also. They also usually have a free shuttle running all day to and from the parks if you need to go back to the hotel during the day, or don't want to deal with a car. Parking is free.
Westgate vacation villas is a SUPER NICE place. My family and I stayed there, and it was wonderful! They have 13 or 14 on site pools and a HUGE 2 story water park. Only about a mile from magic kingdom, takes no time to get to any of the parks/lots of stores and restaurants. 💗 we just left there Friday and I'm already ready to go back.
Christine French ..disney charges for parking now.
We love the idea of resort hopping. We (2 people) are at a point where we’ve been to all the parks many times and done all the rides so we try to focus on the relaxing part of Disney. (Food, Hotels..) we’ve stayed at all 3 All Stars, Art of Animation, Port Orleans FQ, Saratoga Springs and Beach Club. Our next trip will be in September and we will try out Pop Century and Bay Lake Tower, can’t wait !
Please a video on
1. what things are open at the hard ticketed events ? I mean like firework shows or rides or food location ( shortly is it okay to go to a after hour event rather than regular hours ??? And do something else in regular hour time ?)
2. Early morning magic or after hours or other event/holiday
3.Expensive vegetarian food for DDP
4. Cheap vegetarian food
5. Good neighbour hotels
6. What ride to fast pass ??
What is the minimum days for a Disney cruise?
Love your channel!!
It’s important to remember that just because one resort worked for your family 5 years ago doesn’t mean that it will always be the best for your family. We did Value rooms when my daughter was smaller because we didn’t need as much space and we didn’t spend much time in the hotel. Now we vacation differently and will spend the $ for moderate or deluxe because of that.
These tips and guides are amazing. I'm still trying to get my kids and grandkids to Disney. I love DFB. AJ is a rockstar.
Saratoga springs is the best for our family of 6 in a 2 bedroom villa. We travel from the UK for 2 weeks generally and we've found it to be the perfect base!! The ease of buses and the locality to Disney Springs is perfect.
Love the Beach Club. The pool with the sandy bottom was fantastic, especially at night after we got back from the parks. Plus, love the boat rides. They always felt kind of romantic and magical.
We loved POFQ! I liked that it’s smaller & easier to get around for someone with mobility issues. Liked being able to take the boat to Disney Springs. Liked the atmosphere. I liked that it was close to POR & that you could use their facilities.
Staying at The Contemporary...vacation starts June 30! Cannot wait!
We are staying at the Campground at Fort Wilderness next month and CANT WAIT!!!! More space (OUR space) but still on property :) We.cant.wait!
Hi!! I think you should make a video discussing unique places to take photos at Disney!
Denver Lindsay check out Luis and his Disney Nuts channel. Really great info over there!
Taylor Brawner got it! Thank you!
I always stay at the double tree Hilton which is a good neighbor hotel. The shuttles come on the half hour and they’re super reliable! Love that hotel
What are the prices like?
If it weren't for the extra magic hours and some of the transportation, I would recommend staying off property. It boggles my mind just how mediocre and at times downright disappointing the Disney hotels are for what they charge. My experiences at the "moderate" and "deluxe" hotels were barely better better than the "value" hotels. Rooms are mostly small at any/all of their hotels, and their amenities just don't compare to most major hotels chains around the world. The prices they charge just aren't in line with what you get.
We stayed at the Contemporary and booked through DVC. We had a 2 bedroom which was nice because it had a kitchen. We did the dining plan so we didn’t have to worry about cooking, but we could bring back leftovers for when we wanted a snack or to store drinks. There were 7 of us but there were 3 full bathrooms and a washer and dryer. The multiple bathrooms helped with getting ready in the morning or before going out to dinner. It was the perfect set up for us. We brought in two pack n plays for the kids to sleep in, which went in the master. I think the master bathroom even had a tub for the kids.
Hey I don’t know if you’ve made a video on this but could you do a video about the best ways to go to Disney as a couple, with like the best deals +hotels for two people
Port Orleans riverside for a family of five is ideal. Great price for one room, spacious and good space for 5 people. The food court is amazing and it is so unique in Disney resorts to walk over to French quarter - using their pool and food court too! None of the bus rides are long (Epcot and Hollywood only 7 mins) a brilliant resort for slightly older families who don’t want heavy Disney character theming but still plenty of magic! Having purchases sent from the parks to your hotel is also a game changer
My family and I (5 people) stayed at All Star Music in Nov. They also had suites available. Pretty simple, basic decor. What I liked was the fact that the couch, armchair and ottoman all folded out into beds. Plus, we had a lot of space and weren't tripping over each other. Foodwise, it wasn't that impressive. I would to eat in the parks or off property. But, all in all, it was an enjoyable experience
My husband and I are camping in our RV at the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds in October. I know it will be perfect for us. Your videos have really helped me. Thank you!
We stayed at Ft. Wilderness last November and had a wonderful time. Next time I will bring more Christmas decorations for our RV though. You should see how people decks out their RV's! Talk about extreme!
@@dianeindovina1653 That sounds great!! We arrive on Oct 2nd. Would they still be focused on Halloween then?
@@tinawidmann8973 Yes! Bring your Halloween decorations, for sure!
Great video, as always. We just returned from seven nights at the Dolphin, and while the location was amazing (walking to Studios and Epcot!), there was a convention there the final couple of days and it really did negatively impact that "Disney feel" that families like ours look for. For our next trip, we are thinking of staying at a value resort (All-Star Movies) the first half, and a moderate or even deluxe for the second half (Animal Kingdom or Beach Club).
Heads up for the animal kingdom lodge: if you’re sensitive to smells skip this one. It’s AMAZING but be prepared when you step out into your balcony because it’s definitely the zoo scent you’re probably familiar with.
shocker
I will be staying at Pop Century for the 3rd time this October. I have enjoyed the resort. Cant wait for the Skyliner. I travel solo so dont need a huge room. I spend most of my time at the parks. I do have dinning reservations at deluxe resorts but use Disney transportation to get there. My sister and brother in law will be joining me for part of my magical vacation. They havent been to WDW in over twenty years and are staying at French Quarter. I last was at WDW in 2017. Im so excited to be going back to the magic in 127 days.
We love Fort Wilderness. We bring our great dane with us every time we stay and the cabins and fun walking trails are perfect! Everyone loves her and she always gets so much love.
We stayed at Pop Century and it was perfect for us!! Room was nice abs beds were comfy! Granted we really only slept there, we did utilize the food court a few times and we liked it.
Great video AJ! Lots of good information. My family of 5 stayed in a room at Port Orleans Riverside and loved it! We were close to one of the bus stops which made it convenient, and in a quiet corner. Would love see a video on neighbor hotels that have similar disney perks and shuttles!
We stayed at Kidani Village and I’d never stay there again. It was a 15-20 minute walk to the front desk and bus stop. The crowded bus ride home after fireworks was awful. It was March break, gridlock traffic and it took us almost 45 minutes to get back to the hotel. Never again. We do love Saratoga Springs. It’s great being so close to Disney Springs, the bus was never crowded. We loved it!
The best property for my family was a VRBO at less than $80 a night, full kitchen, 3 bedrooms 2 full bathrooms, 3 miles from Animal Kingdom. We spent less than $2200 for a full week including 4 day park hoppers, food, and transportation (I have a good car).
We did AoA in 2018 for Spring Break with our 7 year old and 4 year old and I loved the "close the door" aspect of the family suites. The parents have their room/bathroom just like at home and the kids could run wild in the open room space + the tub/shower for cleaning up. It was nice to also get ready early and not disturb them so they could sleep a little before hitting the parks for rope drop...again.
Yacht and Beach Club family for sure. I know you guys love the restaurants at AKL, but with the signature restaurants at Yacht and Beach combined with the boardwalk options, meals there are always fantastic. Combine that with easy access to two parks (nighttime shows every night) and the best pool, and we struggle to stay anywhere else.
When I stay at a hotel in WDW, it's either the Dolphin or Animal Kingdom Lodge. I like the Dolphin because of the view of the DHS fireworks and close proximity to both DHS and Epcot but I like Animal Kingdom Lodge more because of the theming and restaurants
Hi! Does it have transportation from the airport on the Disney shuttle?
We love Riverside. Both times we have stayed there, we’ve gotten terrific rooms in fabulous locations. Little wait for the buses & an awesome vibe. We liked the spread out feel of that resort.
The family suite at AOA was perfect for my family last Fall. My kids are 3, 8, & 15- we loved the space and the pools. Easy to take a mid day break and everyone was happy.
I’m doing a solo Disney trip in early 2022 and I’m splitting my time between pop century and contemporary. I can’t wait! I’m looking forward to using the skyliner at pop and the monorail at contemporary. It will be my first time staying at those hotels.
110days until my Disney trip thank you for all the help planning
First time I stayed at Pop Century which was cheap option & good room, 2nd time this was unavailable so All Star Sport was next cheaper option and rooms were excellent. Midday we go back to room take some rest and then back to park about 3pm, unless we did Universal on that day. Hoping to vacation soon and yup All Star Sports again.
Great tips. Family staying off site --- Because of a surprise bonus we (3 kids and myself) stayed at the Caribbean Beach many years ago which has a fun pool, the 10 yr old son did not want to get out of it. That has really been the only time we spent much time at a pool on any vacation. Since then it is just way to expensive for us to stay in the park hotels and do several days at Disney and Universal so we stay off site at The Floridays Resort Orlando (condo style) and we get the 3 bedroom suite. So affordable and way more days for less than few days at WDW hotel. The master bedroom has a king and bathroom and the other two bedrooms each have two double beds and a second bathroom, a kitchen dining living room balcony and stackable washer dryer and the living room sofa pulls out and can sleep 2. We even brought one of the kid's friend one time. We bought groceries for breakfast a grab and go and oatmeal packets and lots of snacky stuff for the parks and evenings. We got to the parks early for rope drop and stayed to closing. I recently saw there is similar type hotel condo style with a Pirate ship with a slide in the pool but have no experience there, Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa. Great for larger families, grown children and their families vacay together, friends, etc. Check their websites for pricing and photos and floor plans and Google reviews and check them out.
My family did WDW for the first time last October (we're from the West Coast so usually do Disneyland), and stayed at the Swan & Dolphin. Was very reasonably priced for Disney (I think we paid about $250/night for a room with a king bed for my husband and me), and you still get all the perks of being at a more deluxe resort: free transportation, magic hours, and even one of the restaurants had a few characters during breakfast on the weekends. Likely will stay there if I ever go again.
As and adult Disney fan The boardwalk/yacht club is my favorite resort. Hollywood studios and epcot are my favorite parks so it's nice to be close to them. I always get dinner at epcot somewhere so that's nice. The boardwalk has great restaurants, the pool is basically a waterpark, tons of stuff to do on the actual boardwalk, and there's even a dueling piano bar. For a large family or one with little kids it might not be the best. But for a family of 4 especially one with older kids or teens I highly recommend it.
Look to buy from dvc owners! We’ve stayed many times at the boardwalk and pricing is 50-60% less than Disney price.
Kathryn Dean I think you have 30 days to cancel if I remember correctly. And to change dates is nearly impossible unless its at least 6-7 months out. All dvc rooms are booked for almost the entire month of Dec already for a 5 day trip
Have been to DisneyWorld 5 times. Stayed OFF property 3 times ( Very Nice Places ). Stayed ON property twice ( Polynesian ) Personally I think ON Property is best
On site is the best way to go! I have stayed at moderate but honestly, value is the choice for me. I like All Star Music because it’s always hopping with great dancing tunes. If money was no issue, Animal Kingdom is my dream. I love that guests are immersed in the whole ambiance of the land.
We stayed at Caribbean Beach (just two adults) and really enjoyed it. Food was good. Once we figured out where to catch the appropriate bus everything is smooth sailing. We loved it . The themeing was fantastic and the cast members where so great and kind. We also really enjoyed the pools as well.
My Wife and I stayed at the Fort Wilderness RV Resort and loved it. Our RV Spot was easy walking distance to the boat dock. Excellent restaurant and easy drive from park to local shopping. The Rv Resort environment was so peaceful and beautiful.
My husband and I stayed at Saratoga Springs last winter. It was perfect for us. We had groceries delivered and ate breakfasts in our room. The restaurant on site had amazing food. As an older couple, we apprciated the quiet. Travel time to the parks was not a problem. Jeannine
Fantastic job as always, AJ! I've found that usually (not always, but usually!) those who end up at the wrong resorts did not want to do their own through research, or didn't thunk it was necessary. Believe it or not - there are still a TON of people out there who think you can just "show up" and do your vacation - no planning, no FP's, not ADR's, nothing - they think people like us are just stressed out OCD-ers. Seriously. Or they hears some good things abut ABC hotel from their uncle's father's sister's BIL, and go with that. Like you said - 1 place may be GREAT for 1 person or family, but no so great for another. Again - don't be lazy, or just go with the flow - do you research!!
The point about curious/animal loving kids for Animal Kingdom Lodge is the exact reason we're going to be staying there for our son's first trip with us! Sure hope he likes it!
Pop century worked really well for my partner and I on our honeymoon. We could put one bed up to create more space, we are kids at heart and it still has that Disney magic and the room still felt modern.
Kayla, how was the noise? Usually values have pretty thin walls... could you still sleep ok or did every person walking by wake you up? It’s what worries me the most...
@@danshowbizz We use a sound machine app during the night normally anyway, so it wasn't really a problem for us. I can't speak to the experience you would have if you don't use one of those in the hotel.
My husband and I love the Swan and Dolphin. The access to EPCOT and Hollywood Studio's can't be beat, and you can typically stay for half the price of the Beach Club, Yacht Club and Boardwalk. Plus you get most of the same perks you would get by staying at a Disney owned resort.
I absolutely love the bay lake/contemporary! My family goes there every year and amazing stay each time, the staff is also so kind and the food is delicious!
This was a great video, with a lot of very useful information and really useful, sensible discussions of the trade-offs and how to rationally go through the selection process. One suggestion for a future video is to look at a WDW vacation for a single adult or an older couple without kids. I'd very interested in knowing which, if any, on-property hotels offer good value if you don't need as much space as a family with young kids.
For our family of 8 Riverside worked out well. With connecting rooms, the pull down beds and one twin air mattress all the kids had their own bed which made a world of difference for good nights sleep for all of us. Not much room to move around but we didn’t spend much time outside of sleeping and showering inside our rooms. Food/pool/music/transpiration/grounds were all great. Would definitely stay there again!
I am strictly "Value" resorts. But I learned from this video that AOA has that walk-in kind of pool. That's a plus for me. I'll be at Pop this year but I will try AOA next year.
I've stayed in AOA for the past 2 yrs and again in 2021 but Pop this year... I love AOA.... and another thing bout AOA is there are speakers under the water so u can listen to music when ur up under
There are standard rooms at AOA too.They have some rooms in line with All Star price points.
i would recommend staying at Shades of Green if you were in the military, it’s made for military families. my family and i always stay there when we go to WDW. it’s a secret hotel that is near the Polynesian ( i don’t think i spelt that right) Resort.
We were SO LUCKY to book a room at Port Orleans Riverside that we liked! Little did we know it was right next to a more private pool and the first bus stop! Long walk from the lobby, but WORTH IT!
431 days! We’re staying at AKL and it’s our dream resort. I’m so excited as it’s our first time going!
One thing AJ did not say about staying off site and that includes Swan and Dolphinin that magic bands are not as useful. You cannot use your magic bands to pay for items in the park since they are connected to your room.
Thank you! This was a much needed video, especially for large families!! 😀❤️ Also visited Port Orleans French Quarter... it was awesome!
Though there is a lot of walking involved, we enjoyed the Tree House’s at Saratoga Springs for a larger group.
Sometimes, you are in my head. I have to plan for a 2020 family trip for13! This really does help
For as many people as you have going the valve resorts are perfect. We are here now and staying at All Star Sports. It's all you need. If you spend as much time in the parks as we do all you need is a place to sleep and shower. Most of all have fun!!!
My favorite hotel for general feel is Yacht Club, favorite for accessibility is The Contemporary and favorite for theme is The Polynesian! These are my 3 tried and true resorts.
Favourite Value- Pop Century-- they're renovating most of the rooms and staying there is a dream every time, really recommend:)
Favourite Moderate- Port Orleans Riverside-- I loooooooove the Riverside theming, they also have the fold down single bed in some rooms.
Favourite Deluxe- Beach Club (Villas)- If I could stay at the Beach Club villas every time I went I WOULD. Closest walking distance to Epcot, and more importantly the World Showcase, AMAZING pool, Beaches and Cream and just an over all very vacationy feel thats not BAM in your face Disney all the time:)
Great video, please stop telling people about my favorite resort port orleans French quarter. 12 days to go. French quarter is great,food close by, bus stops here first before riverside,and a great boat ride to Disney springs.
We often hotel hop while in Disney - that way you can stay close to whichever park you are going to. We love Animal Kingdom Lodge, but it is a long way away from the rest of the parks! So we will stay there for a couple of nights then move on...Also, bell services will move your bags to the next hotel so you can drop them in the morning before heading for the parks and they will be at your next hotel!