Disney Hotel for Anniversary

Parent Cafe
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<p>I’ve already gotten a thread going under the Contemporary, but want to get some lower priced options from folks out there.</p>

<p>We’re looking for a quiet resort, with nice views, not a lot of kids, and not too far from transportation.</p>

<p>We’ll be going around mid October 2012.</p>

<p>I’ve got a quote for the Contemporary, but I’m worried H is going to nix the trip because of price.</p>

<p>I’d like to have a backup plan that does involve staying onsite and enjoying the nice restaurants.</p>

<p>Restaurants we are planning to enjoy are at Boardwalk, Hollywood Studios, Africa, Polynesia, and Magic Kingdom, as well as Epcot, so we’re going to be all over the park on our dining choices.</p>

<p>We’re not drinkers or partiers, so will probably not visit Downtown Disney.</p>

<p>I love anything on the water, so a reasonably priced resort with a water view would be nice.</p>

<p>I have lots of recs for the new Coronado Springs, but I’m not crazy about the architecture, so I’ll skip that one, although I’ve heard it’s very quiet.</p>

<p>We’ll be going in mid October next year, and we’ll want a king sized bed.
We’d also like to get a meal plan so we can enjoy our meals and not worry about the cost.</p>

<p>Someone had asked about budget, so I’ll throw a number out there, of 4K max. We’d be staying a max of 7 days.</p>

<p>We’re only hoping no major car repairs happen in the next year.</p>

<p>Thanks for any input!</p>

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<p>Downtown Disney is not a party place…it’s shops, restaurants, Legoland, etc.</p>

<p>Port Orleans - French Quarter is on the water.</p>

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<p>I recommend the Swan or Dolphin, near the Boardwalk area adjacent to Epcot’s back entrance. I’ve seen deals for around $160 per night lately - less if you’re a nurse or teacher, I believe, though deals are often only offered for limited time periods.</p>

<p>For our 25th anniversary, we stayed at the Wilderness Lodge, which was the least expensive “deluxe” Disney resort at the time. Today I think the least expensive rack rate there is $250 for a standard room. The transportation requires some patience, but if you aren’t looking for immediate gratification in that area, you may love it. The views are lovely and it’s a fascinating building. It’s on Bay Lake, and transportation to the MK is by boat - we usually took the boat to the Contemporary and walked to the MK, which was probably a few minutes quicker. Buses provide transportation to the other parks, but we had a car and drove to Epcot when that was our destination.</p>

<p>It’s fun being in on your planning, Montegut. We’re going to want pictures, you know. :)</p>

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<p>I would second looking at Port Orleans. We stayed there back in the day when the neighboring resort was called Dixie Landings (I think they are now both Port Orleans). It was quiet and nice…and a bit away from the hubbub. BUT really if you are on the property, nothing is all that far.</p>

<p>If it’s still the same, there was some water conveyence to Downtown Disney from there.</p>

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<p>If you knew you could get a close-in building at Coronado Springs, it would meet your specs. Unfortunately … you never know, even with special requests. It’s a big convention hotel and the dining etc is at El Centro which is not centro at all.</p>

<p>I really liked Wilderness Lodge. The nice restaurant (Artist Point?) there is absolutely awesome. </p>

<p>I’ll be back at Disney next fall for a trade show and I am thrilled that it will not be at Coronado Springs. I hear my group has booked Yacht Club and I am really looking forward to it. I love the idea of being close to Epcot and would push for any place close to that park.</p>

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<p>*
I’ve got a quote for the Contemporary, but I’m worried H is going to nix the trip because of price.*</p>

<p>*
Someone had asked about budget, so I’ll throw a number out there, of 4K max. We’d be staying a max of 7 days.*</p>

<p>Does that include transportation?</p>

<p>Either way, it does look like you’re going to have to stay at either a Moderate or Value hotel in order to make it within budget when including tix and meal plan. Frankly, if you’re going to spending most of your time in parks, then spending extra money for deluxe hotels would be a waste. </p>

<p>I think you’re confusing Downtown Disney with Pleasure Island. Downtown Disney is an outdoor mall of stores and restaurants (including an amazing large LegoLand). Pleasure Island is where the parties and drinking goes on. However, if the Comedy place is still there, that is a family oriented venue at PI and is worth the visit for an evening…clean and funny.</p>

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<p>m2ck~ no, the comedy place is no longer there along with the nightclubs. They have changed it all to shopping and restaurants. We enjoyed the Comedy Warehouse and it was great for our kids, one of whom was under 18 then. But yes, DTD is a great place for shopping for all things Disney. Then you have to stop at Ghiradelli’s for an ice cream sundae!</p>

<p>That is one reason we really liked staying at POFQ - the boat transportation to DTD was a great alternative and made it very quick and easy. We went over there 2 or 3 times during a 5 day stay, after we were tired from the parks. POFQ was nice for our anniversary because it is smaller than the other moderates and values, so it was a bit quieter.</p>

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<p>My favorite place to stay is the Grand Floridian and because of the cost to stay you really don’t see a lot of kids. You have to be smart about booking but you can stay there for a moderate price tag. </p>

<p>I Liked the moderate hotel that was called Dixie Landing but the last time I booked there I got a room in the bayou section and my dd got bit by bugs all night sleeping in the trundle. Pretty sure they were not bed bugs but something left sores all over her legs and arms. Thank goodness is was only one night. I recommend Pop Century for a value hotel. </p>

<p>I don’t recommend the meal plan unless you love deserts and do not eat appetizers. I ran the numbers after my last trip and it cost me less to pay as I went and I got what I wanted instead of what they wanted me to have. I do think you come out just slightly ahead if you buy the most expensive item on the menu everytime at the most expensive restaurants and love desert. Often times you can not get a reservation for the better restaurants and you have to do lunch at those restaurants instead of dinner.</p>

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<p>Right now, the meal plan is being offered in some/many packages as a free extra, so it’s a good deal right now.</p>

<p>POFQ is nice and the boats to Downtown Disney are very convenient and a relaxing ride. There’s some good places to eat in DD as well.</p>

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<p>Another vote for French Quarter at PO. Smaller resort, so buses not as crowded, but I always rent a car because it is generally quicker to drive. Contemporary and Grand Floridian are nice for atmosphere, but if you will be in the parks, not worth the money. Look at moderate and value resorts. Just stayed at Pop Century and it’s the best of the value resorts. Nice food court, but not enough buses to cart the people. Despite the size, very quiet. Unless you get the food plan free, it is usually cheaper to pay as you go, plus it takes time to eat sit-down meals, just depends how much of the food you want to experience. Maybe just pick 2-3 nice places and splurge!</p>

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<p>Montegut, I’m attaching below news article because I know you are interested in Florida wildlife. Who needs to pay for a meal plan when you can fill your gut for free in Florida! It’s hard to believe some parents with children keep Burmese pythons as pets in their homes.</p>

<p>[Adult</a> deer found inside python in Everglades - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com](<a href=“http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/blogs/green-south-florida/sfl-python-digesting-a-deer-captured-in-everglades-20111028,0,3021159.story]Adult”>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/blogs/green-south-florida/sfl-python-digesting-a-deer-captured-in-everglades-20111028,0,3021159.story)</p>

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<p>

Actually, now you can - you can pay an extra few bucks a night to get a “preferred” location, which is in Casitas 1, 2 or 3.</p>

<p>Montegut, you could consider renting “points” from a DVC member and stay in a deluxe villa. These are often cheaper than moderate resort rack rate. Check out [David’s</a> Disney Vacation Club Point Rentals](<a href=“http://www.dvcrequest.com/]David’s”>http://www.dvcrequest.com/) - well respected and reliable. You could get a rental at Bay Lake Tower (depending on time of year and availability), which is right next to Contemporary, for less than a hotel room at the Contemporary. Or you could go with any of the other deluxe villas. </p>

<p>As has been suggested on the other thread, check out the forums on [The</a> DIS Discussion Forums - DISboards.com - Powered by vBulletin](<a href=“http://www.disboards.com%5DThe”>http://www.disboards.com). It’s like a CC, but for Disney lovers. Everything I know about Disney I learned there!</p>

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<p>Thank you all for your input on this. I broke the sticker shock news to husband for the Contemporary stay, and he wants to do it. We’ll put aside something every week to make it happen.</p>

<p>I appreciate any help on cutting down costs besides the hotel room, especially as to whether there are ways to get free meals, so we can purchase a lower meal plan.</p>

<p>Thanks again for your comments. We will return with our son probably in the next few years, and we won’t spring for the Contemporary for that trip, but since it’s highly recommended to stay on grounds, I’ll tuck away this info to use when we eventually take that trip.</p>

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<p>If you check the disboards, you’ll find info on some grocery shopping/delivery services. Some people get a mini-frig in their room (IIRC, the cost is $10/night) and place an order to be delivered the day of their arrival. If you’re flying instead of driving, it could be worthwhile. I’d look into the possibility of getting not only a case of bottled water delivered, but also snacks/small meals such as yogurt, banana nut muffins, and cottage cheese w/ fruit cups. You’ll make up the cost of the 'frig rental on bottled water alone.</p>

<p>My parents always carried a travel bar (small case outfitted to hold two liquor bottles.) You might enjoy having a pre-dinner cocktail or glass of wine on your balcony while you enjoy the view, or some liqueur in the evening while you watch the fireworks. Bringing your own, or buying en route to the hotel if you take a town car from the airport, would save a good deal. </p>

<p>We’ve used the Magical Express transportation for the last few visits, but prior to that I booked with Tiffany Town Car. They used to (& may still) offer to make one brief stop at Publix or a liquor store on the way to the hotel. You may want to compare the cost of grocery delivery to the room vs. taking a town car that permits a stop on the way. The town car also saves you the delay of waiting while others board and are dropped off at their hotel(s.) </p>

<p>A big savings can be achieved by eating your main meal at midday instead of at night if you don’t get a meal plan. Most of the table service restaurants offer lunch, and the menus are pretty similar. We also found that rides are less crowded in the evening when many folks are having dinner, and we enjoyed them more if we weren’t really full from a big meal. At EPCOT it was fun to sample snacks from different countries throughout the evening instead of having a full meal. </p>

<p>Sigh…this is making me want to plan another trip NOW!</p>

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<p>Go to Mouseplanet.com for latest updates and info on Disney discounts.</p>

<p>You might want to make your reservations for everything – hotel and dining – as soon as they will let you which is 180 days out from arrival for Dining at some of the more hard-to-get-into places. They are now asking for a credit card # to cut down on the number of no-shows so be advised of that. [Disney</a> Dining & Reservations | Walt Disney World Resort](<a href=“http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/reservations/dining/]Disney”>http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/reservations/dining/) to set up your own. Not all seating is released through either the phone system or the internet, so if there’s a place that is showing as ‘not available’ try the other system. </p>

<p>As they are adding a huge new operation (Fantasyland Forest) in Magic Kingdom, I think the reservation board will be lighting up like crazy for the opening months which are projected to be coming in stages through 2012-2013. </p>

<p>My favorite hotels on-site include Port Orleans (refurbished rooms available) and Wilderness Lodge with access to the Parks by water. Downtown Disney is open – that’s the shopping/Dining area – while Pleasure Island (the nightclub zone) is being re-worked as of this writing. All the DD restaurants are available to be booked through Disney Reservations.</p>

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<p>

The charge is only for Value resorts: Pop Century, All-Star Sports, All-Star Music and All-Star Movies. The moderates and deluxes all have fridges in their rooms for no additional charge. (Contemporary is a deluxe resort). The studio villas have the mini-fridge along with a microwave and toaster. The one and two bedroom villas all have full kitchens.</p>