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callista
Citizen
Username: Callista
Post Number: 52
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 8, 2006 - 11:18 pm: | 
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Within my price range, of course! I am looking at the moderate ones, specifically the Port Orleans. Any words of wisdom? |
hismom
Citizen
Username: Hismom
Post Number: 483
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 9, 2006 - 8:44 am: |
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We stayed at the Port Orleans French Quarter a year ago and it was very nice. The rooms were decently sized and well appointed with the southern "theme" obvious with all the magnolias and plantation shutters. There is a huge water slide "park" and playground in addition to the pools in different areas - it is really a complex with clusters of buildings - more than a hotel. The rooms were actually nicer than the ones in the Contemporary where we've stayed before.
The only complaint I had was the wait for the buses to the various theme parks was long, especially during the "rush" in the morning and there is no other way to get to them other than driving yourself and paying again for parking. |
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 4188
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 9, 2006 - 11:01 am: |
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We've been very happy with the cheapo ones. We've done Pop Century and All Star Movies. My hubby is a sort of picky guy when it coomes to hotel rooms and he was happy, so that says a lot. |
twig
Citizen
Username: Twig
Post Number: 191
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 9, 2006 - 12:04 pm: |
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Depends on whether you have kids and their ages. Port Orleans is divided into two distinct sections: Riverside and French Quarter.
The French Quarter is intended to invoke thoughts of New Orleans. It is smaller, has only one pool with a slide that really is best for younger children, and because it is more compact, walking to/from the foodcourt is quick. The buildings are three stories tall and have only one elevator at one end of the building. There is no sit-down restaurant.
Riverside is supposed to reflect a journey up the Mississippi River with buildings modeled after large plantation homes at the bottom end of the resort and smaller more rustic buildings that are supposed to suggest the back Bayou regions as you go further up the river. Riverside has both a food court and a sitdown restaurant, a piano bar with a fun entertainer, a convenience store, an area where small kids can fish-and-release, and a larger pool with a great slide. There also are smaller pools in each cluster of buildings. (not the case at French Quarter) It is more spread-out so the walks to/from the main building in which the restaurants and stores are located can be a bit longer.
Since both sections are along a river, you can take a boat to Downtown Disney which is somewhat of a "ride attraction" by itself. And both areas are landscaped quite nicely.
I happen to like Caribbean Beach. It's the largest moderate (so there can be more walking unless you are in a building close to the main building) but the rooms are slightly bigger and it's nice to take a walk around the lake early in the morning before everyone else gets up. It also has a good central pool with a decent slide and a "cannon" that shoots water, smaller private pools in each residential area, a sit-down restaurant & a food-court, and a marina where you can rent boats to cruise around the lake.
I am not such a fan of Coronado Springs, the other moderate. It is beautiful but quite spread-out and requires a lot of walking. Also, because it is the Disney convention hotel, it is filled with people who are attending a business conference...kind of a different crowd than at the other resorts. Their food-court charges a mandatory service fee of 10% to your check (not such a popular concept) but there does tend to be a wider array of food choices there than at the other moderates. Has a great central pool area as well as a couple of smaller pools.
Good luck and enjoy Disney World
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bak
Supporter
Username: Bak
Post Number: 828
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 9, 2006 - 1:52 pm: |
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May I make a suggestion? Visit www.travelmagic.com and call the travel agents there. It doesn't cost you an extra penny to use these wonderful women's Disney experience, and they will customize everything you want based on budget and preference.
They're in Basking Ridge, and we've used them twice as have many of our friends.
Our favorite is the Polynesian, but that was before is was $500/night.
Good luck! |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 3195
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 9, 2006 - 2:12 pm: |
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Also check out the Unofficial guide to Disney. Priceless.
We actually stayed offsite at the Sheraton Vistana which is a timeshare resort. For about $200 a night we had a 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo with a full kitchen. The resort has a bunch of pools (one awesome kids pool) and a small playground. This helped us save quite a bit of money on eating out, though you have to pay for parking. It was faster to get to the parks than some of the hotels within Disney itself. I would stay there again.
Hubster missed the whole Disney experience and wants to stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge next time. We loved the Animal Kingdom park. |
phyllis
Citizen
Username: Phyllis
Post Number: 566
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 9, 2006 - 4:30 pm: |
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It certainly isn't moderately priced... but when my family spent 4 days at the Animal Kingdom Lodge last year we felt every penny spent was worth it. It was an amazing experience, esp for our four-year-old. Since it was the farthest on the property to most of the parks, we just drove. Even if you are parked a mile from the park, the trans run constantly without much of a line.
For what it's worth, I dreaded the whole idea of Disney, but we truly had an amazing family vacation. Really special. |
sac
Supporter
Username: Sac
Post Number: 3675
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 10:09 am: |
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Ditto re the Unofficial Guide. It has some fabulous hints and advice.
Also (I read about this in the Unofficial Guide and then I watched someone do it and it was "middle" season, not low!): Reserve at one of the lower or middle resorts - whatever you are "OK" with if that's what you get. Then, go to the higher end resort where you really want to be and try for an upgrade. If they have rooms available, you can check in there and pay for what you had originally reserved.
We stayed at the Contemporary Resort which is in the medium-high range. We chose it because it was right on the monorail and walking distance to the Magic Kingdom, so had the easiest access to more of the parks. The kids really liked it and it worked out great. (But I sure was jealous of the person I saw checking in next to me and getting the same thing I had reserved at half the price by doing the upgrade thing.)
Another "hint" (also from the unofficial guide and we did do this) - ask to ride in the front car of the monorail. Sometimes it is available and sometimes not, but if you get it, you have a great view! |
Chalmers
Citizen
Username: Chalmers
Post Number: 182
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 1:52 pm: |
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There is a website www.mousesavers.com with info on discounts at Disney World. They also offer free dining plans to entice visitors at various times of year. My cousin is getting the free food plan later this month. When I called Disney reservations a few weeks ago, they said if I gave them my e-mail address they would send me e-mails about discounts, like the free food plan. |
microgem
Citizen
Username: Microgem
Post Number: 71
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 5:01 pm: |
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This website is great for planning a trip to Disneyworld.
www.allearsnet.com
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Survivor328
Citizen
Username: Survivor328
Post Number: 7
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Monday, August 14, 2006 - 11:19 am: |
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I highly recommend the Westin's Swan and Dolphin. Only non-disney Hotel onsite that has access to all Disney transportation to the parks. And great restaurants inside as well as walking to the boardwalk. And you can use Starwood points! |
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