I became obsessed with Walt Disney World resorts

[kavalkada]

The title says it all. While planning our thee day trip to Disneyland Paris next year I stumbled upon dfb on YouTube and became obsessed. I blame AJ from dfb 😀, I fell in love with her voice.
Everything was fine while I was watching just park videos. They looked lovely, but too crowded and frankly too complicated to navigate with long lines and Florida heat.
But then one day I stumbled upon Port Orleans French quarter resort video and it was love at first sight. I have seen that video dozen times already and each time I see it I am more in love.
And then I made a mistake of checking other resorts. Apart from few budget resorts, they all looked amazing. It looks like visiting different country every day.
I'm an early riser and every morning while everybody else sleeps, I am at Florida. I would like a vacation just visiting resort after resort, riding monorail and skyliner and boats, eating lovely food, resting by the pool, reading a book. I don't have to visit any of the parks. I mean, I have kids, so parks are a must, but you know what I mean.
Florida trip is for me once in a life time thing so I have plenty of time to plan and save (planning is sometimes better then the real thing).
Can anyone else relate? But me with your Disney world plans and experiences.

Oh Florida is amazing 😁🐭🎢

We went October 2019, and would possibly have been back before now if not for the pandemic.

We stayed at Caribbean Beach Resort which was lovely and perfect for the kids. We were lucky enough to have the dining plan so could eat at some fab places too!

I'd like to go back in 2024, but will have to see how it pans out!

I'll answer any questions you have if I can 😁 I do love a Disney chat!

Thanks. I’m all for good Disney chat. Is it really so lovely like it looks on the screen? Not the parks, but the resorts? What time of the year is best to go if you want to enjoy the pools and have nice weather and escape Florida heat?

We just come back from Florida. I LOVED it. No dining plan unfortunately so we spent a smalllll fortune on food but it was worth all the money.

we went for 3 weeks. 2 weeks in Disney and 9 nights in universal. We also did discovery cove, typhoon lagoon,sea world, Aquatica.

I'm pricing up Disney Paris for next year but we already have Cala Dor booked for July school holidays so we need to see if we can stretch to that too. It looks like it’s going to cost £1.2k to go in a quieter less sunny month including flights but not food and they have no offers on at the moment.

looking to go back in 2025/2026 when the new universal epic universe is open.

Well we come back in June. So it wasn’t long ago.

We also did a bit of resort hopping as we did pin trading.

The poly is beautiful but well above what I’m willing to pay when I need to fork out for 3 weeks worth of holiday 😅

@kavalkada honestly everything is as it looks! The resorts (and parks too) are spotlessly clean. No litter, everything clean, all looks freshly painted, grass cut etc. We went to a UK theme park last year and everything just felt a bit, scruffy 😕 but nowhere in Florida felt like that at all, it's really well maintained.

We went in October, for 10 days over half term, and the weather was amazing! Over 30 most days 🌞 we had a couple of downpours while we were there (when the rain came down, it really came down!)
But then the sun comes out and every where is dry in no time and you just carry on as you were.

Huge WDW fan and will recommend AllEars videos on YouTube (the ones with Molly!) and Tim Tracker also has some good resort tours but they're a few years old now.

We've been to WDW 3 times but only stayed on property once which was at Animal Kingdom Lodge for our honeymoon and it was amazing, by far the most amazing holiday. We've only ever been without kids (we had our first in lockdown) so loved to spend time Resort hopping, eating in the restaurants and drinking in the lounges!

We went at the end of October one year and it was perfect as we caught all of the Halloween events and decorations the first few days and then also all of the Christmas decorations and events! Weather was also lovely - high 20s/low 30s every day with no rain or storms (we do love the summer storms though!) We toured the resorts looking at the gingerbread houses although the trees didn't go up until later.

I think Poly would be up there as my ultimate Dream resort although we could never afford it. Would be great to be on a monorail resort. Oh or actually we also love the look at the Beach Club and its so close to Epcot and HS I actually think it would be amazing to stay there. The pool area is so good. However we love love loved animal kingdom lodge and would go back in a heartbeat. Other ones we looked at (and had booked 1 of before covid ruined our plans) are coronado springs tower and port Orleans French quarter, we love these two for different reasons.

Now we have a little one we'll probably stick to DLP for a few years, we've been twice recently once in Santa Fe and once in Sequoia Lodge. We do love DLP but the scale and immersion of WDW just can't be beaten we found.

I'm exactly the same haha.

I think if I won the lottery tomorrow I'd go there for as long as possible, start at the Polynesia and work my way around. Might skip the Contemporary though 🤣.

I've only been to the Caribbean Beach and loved it so much. Was planning to do Fort Wilderness but until they wise up on the covid rules I'm resigned to visiting via Youtube.

Paris is still great though. Not quite as great, but I've been to the Santa Fe, Sequoia Lodge and (my absolute fave) the Cheyenne.

You really can't beat how immersive they are. The moment you arrive you get "that disney feeling" and I've been addicted to it since I was 8 years old 🤣

We had the most amazing Florida/WDW holidays when DC was small, we all loved them. We went four or five times over about eight years and generally booked a villa with private pool for the space.
Horses for courses but for us they were perfect family holidays (and we would generally go at October half term too. )
i'd love to go again even without kids. DH says we've 'done Florida' 😢 but the Gulf Coast and Keys are well worth another visit IMO.
Perhaps next year....

I've been to Paris twice and Florida twice.

They're just ok. I had a good time but it was nowhere near like the best holiday I've ever had. I wouldn't go back. It's just a load of people in costumes and spending your holiday queuing up for rides.

I've never stayed in a Disney Resort but the really nice ones look amazing.

If time allows on our next trip, I'm tempted to go and have a look around a few, just to smell them, if nothing else, as they all apparently smell gorgeous!

A few other YouTubers you might want to watch - Adam Hattan, Disney in Detail and Brogan Tate are all good. Adam has been really fortunate in his more recent trips and has stayed in some gorgeous resorts.

We always stay off site in a villa as the price difference for the really nice resorts is crazy (sorry but I draw a line at something like All Star Sports - it looks like a glorified motel to me and I'd like a balcony of my own at least).

We can have a 3/4 bedroomed villa with it's own private pool 25 mins away for less money. Yes, we have to hire a car too and pay for parking, but it still works out cheaper and the bus transfers would take more time than a car. We can also self cater and save some money on food.

I'm making it sound like I'm cheap, but I'm not - it just gives us more potential to spend on things like Savi's Workshop and Droid Depot and other merch! Travelling with only half a suitcase full this year with the intention of filling it with lots of lovely Disney and Universal things!

I'll continue to compare prices though, as I'd dearly love to stay in one of these beautiful resorts one day.

I don't think you're cheap, I think you're smart. I also do not like the look of all star resorts, especially not for that money.
Is there a villa you can recommend?

We've done Florida twice, first time at Port Orleans, second time in a villa. Although I did fully enjoy the resort as a first timer (the little boat, free films on lawn after dark, cheerfulness of staff) the restaurant on site was a bit canteen like and the rooms are tiny - all four of us in one room with a curtained off bathroom and no balcony. The DO NOT want you hanging around in your room relaxing 😀
Villa was huge and actually felt like a holiday as well as being a Disney trip. Summer holidays are so very hot. There is a lot of air con but it's so intense. Loved all the local chain restaurants and mini golf as well, it's non stop.
DLP is fun but not on the same scale at all. We found the French staff quite grumpy too- very different to American staff.

We've never stayed in the same villa twice! We like to try different places, but always book a villa with a nature reserve or lake view, like this one - Not one we've stayed in, but similar. We always book things independently, rather than a package deal. We had a quote for a package deal this time but it was £1,000 cheaper to do it independently and I've since saved another £250 by car hire prices reducing, plus we get to choose our own villa, rather than be allocated one.

We've been 4 times now and can say where we prefer to be based as we've stayed both ends of the 192. The blue circled part on the attached map is considered Davenport and it was just too far for us. There weren't too many nearby restaurants and it took ages to get to Universal from there, though it was quite convenient for Disney.

The green circled area is very popular, though we've not stayed there ourselves - these villas tend to either go quickly or are very expensive because they're so much closer to Disney. Would love to try one of these one day. Windsor Hills is one of the highest rated areas.

We normally stay around the red circled area. We've stayed at Eagle Pointe, Terra Verde and Lake Berkeley. There are lots of restaurants and supermarkets on the 192 at this end and it's really central for travelling to Disney, Universal, and both coasts.

I know it's currently early morning in Orlando, but current travel times are:

• Magic Kingdom - 24 mins
• Hollywood Studios - 21 mins
• Animal Kingdom - 29 mins
• Epcot - 26 mins
• Universal - 31 mins
• Seaworld - 28 mins
• Busch Gardens - 1hr 21 mins
• Kennedy Space Centre - 1hr 14 mins
• Orlando International Airport - 34 mins
• Melbourne International Airport (for Tui flights) - 1hr 19mins

Planning a trip to Orlando is like a military operation nowadays. I've already got our schedule planned out, including what we're doing on each day, have park reservations already made and have booked some activities in the parks already. I didn't manage to get a restaurant reservation that I really wanted as they're all gone, even 60 days in advance on the day the times are released.

It's a great holiday when you're there, but can be a mission to plan!

I can highly recommend this book to anyone travelling there - Brits Guide to Orlando

Oh and for loads of Disney forum based stuff, get yourself over to The Dibb...

Hi op! You’re a person after my own heart. I’ve been to Florida a few times and have stayed on site at Disney and Universal. Love all the hotels (nest admit I haven’t been to the All Stars though).I adore the beautiful grounds, decor, pools, shops, food, the Disney touches. I’m not especially bothered by the theme parks, my ideal holiday would be to tour a few hotels (ideally Poly, Animal Kingdom, Port Orleans FQ, Beach Club) plus a visit to a park each evening when it is cooler and less crowded. Prices seem to skyrocket all the time so I’ll have to be content with memories and YouTube I’m afraid.

We’re taking our 5 year old in October for the first time. Hopefully we’ll get the Halloween / Christmas crossover in the parks and I’m SO excited! We’re staying at Margaritaville. I like the fact that it’s almost like a European style resort. There’s loads to do with the kids and it has Sunset Walk in walking distance, which has loads of restaurants and bars.

Went to Florida in 2005 … once in a life time holiday. Been back 8 times . Love it so much. Having a taster at DLP in September . Very excited !

And we never stay at Disney in Florida due to $$$$ we stay in Davenport at Bahama Bay which I book separately. Florida can be as expensive or as cheap as you can make it. Used to go in the summer when it was rainy and mucho hot. Last time we went in 2019 was October and it was absolutely perfect

And…. (Sorry to go on ) if you can go out of school holidays, flights with TUI from Birmingham in June were something ridiculous like £250.

Weve stayed at Polynesian a few years back-which was gorgeous but for ease of getting out and about we loved port Orleans French quarter.we will go back to POFQ next time to Florida.We used to stay a lot in villas on US27 which were great and did road trips but now I can’t walk too far it’s easier to hop on a bus/water taxi to travel between parks

As h I love me a Disney resort review

(Or a cruise review and today vegas hotel rooms and also vegas buffets)

I have been to Florida 10 or so times but never stayed on sight, usually I-drive and take shuttles.

I am determined to stay once -50th next years (me) so maybe animal kingdom resort for a few days. With a meal package. Then beck to I/drive to do universal stuff.

Though I believe guest benefits from being onsite are still not what they were pre-covid.

We’re WDW regulars and love being in the Disney bubble. We own DVC with home resorts at Boardwalk Villas and Copper Creek. Over the years, we’ve been fortunate to stay at most of the deluxe resorts but nothing beats the Grand Florian. It’s simply stunning and will be our splurge stay once we don’t need to take the kids or be limited to schools holidays.

It used to be that Disney encouraged resort hopping as they wanted you to visit and then hopefully book or in our case buy into DVC! Since the reopening, they seem to have got a bit tighter, especially if you drive to a resort. My friend was there at Easter and she said they had to prove they had a dining reservation for O’Hana’s before they were allowed in. However, I’m sure if you use Disney transport to visit, you’ll be fine. A good time to resort hop is at Christmas, the Grand Flo has an amazing gingerbread house exhibit.

We will be spending a couple 5 nights at the Poly followed by 7 nights at ‘home’ at Boardwalk when we go in 16 days time. I cannot wait!

We have French Quarter booked for later this year. Fanciest we’ve done is Animal Kingdom Lodge; simplest is All-Star Movies. Actually the All-Star resorts are absolutely lovely if you will be in the parks from rope drop to fireworks, which tends to be our style. But definitely stay in at least a moderate if you like more chilled out hotel time and not just a nice place to crash and wake up again. :)

Port Orleans Riverside has actually been our favourite so far - it’s not cartoony so gets a slightly different demographic and was just quieter. DS and I could do giant Mickey murals all day long but DH needs the switch off. So we booked French Quarter for similar but different. FQ is way smaller. And has beignets. Priorities.

We stay in the bubble mostly because driving is the last thing I want to do on holiday. I am all for the Disney bus service. But also we are just a family of 3 so can fit in any room. If you need more space it can really jump the cost on site so then villas make sense. (We did once do the family suite at Art of Animation though - it was more square footage than our London flat and basically felt like Lightning McQueen- themed luxury as a result.)

All the deluxe resorts have restaurants, bars, and shops so you can treat them like a day out even if you can’t manage a stay there. That is what we do for the Poly and Grand Floridian.

And agreed, AJ has the nicest voice in Disney programming! If DVC hired her to do that job where they stop you in the park to see if you want to hear more about the deal… they would need to build more timeshares.

We are off to Florida for Christmas and New Year this year...SO excited!! Staying in Caribbean Beach and Art of Animation with my 2 dc. Also having a night near universal too. Going for 2 1/2 weeks and can't wait!
We watch Tim Tracker and PC Dev every evening and I will admit I am obsessed with planning this trip!!