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.

Which has made me realise I have visited 12 Disney World resorts myself!

I loved reading those. I'm so excited. I would like to see Tokyo Disney, but when kids are older so we can see a bit of the Japan too. For now, I'm happy to stay in Disney bubble and enjoy all it has to offer.

I chose POR because it looks beauatiful, there are three resorts that are just a short boat ride away, not to mention Disney Springs. We can use not only our own feature pool, but the one of French Quarter too. Considering my kids will want to spend half a day at the pool, it is win, win for us.

Also there is a bus from Disney Springs to water parks, and I know we will spend at least three days there, so that is convenient.

And carriage ride in the sunset? Has anyone done that? I can't wait.

I can see myself walking early in the morning to French Quarter to pick beignets for breakfast, enjoying the stroll while there is noone else around. I do that all the time when we're travelling and those are some of my most favorite memories from my travels.

And so much other things that we want to do, but the list is already too long.

Does anybody know are there refillable stations at the pools at POR and FQ? What does minute maid lemonade tastes like? Both my kids love lemonade and chocolate, but do not like coke and sprite and things like that, so I'm not sure whether it is a good thing to invest in refillable mugs if they're not going to use it?

I'll have many questions, I'm sure.

You will have such a lovely time OP. How exciting. Fun fact - my partner proposed to me when we were walking along the river to POFQ at sunset. Beautiful.

I haven't stayed at any of the Florida resorts but one of our favourite Disney days was to visit all of the Magic Kingdom hotels in one day. We would get the monorail and boat and maybe have a drink in each. Also booked dining in the past at the Poly, Contemporary and Grand Floridian which is gorgeous. My daughter was 4 and dressed as Belle and she got treated to a tour of the resort. It was really sweet. All of the MK resorts are lovely and very contrasting.

This is honestly one of the strangest things I've ever read on Mn, and I've been here a while. I'm genuinely not being disparaging, OP (and other Disney enthusiasts), but can you say what it is that you find so appealing about this stuff? From what I can gather, it's not actually the theme parks that are enthusing you, OP, it's themed resorts that people stay in while going to the theme parks?

Loved the resorts myself @GentlemansRelish it's part of the experience. I've stayed at a few different ones but for instance we stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge and it's not just a hotel, there's loads going on. There were movies by the pool at night, watching the animals through night vision goggles, staff on hand to tell you about the animals you can see, making smores over a fire - staying at some of the resorts is a full experience. The resorts are themed, and they'll have foods and cocktails that you can only at that one resort, which is why people will go and visit other ones. At AKL it's the zebra domes, well worth a trip.

Refillable stations are in all quick service

it is a walk but the beignets are very nice

Minute Maid lemonade is just not fizzy lemonade. Also includes coffee, tea, hot chocolate etc. we buy 2 for the 4 of us.

as to why. The parks can be quite intense, taking time out on the monorail to experience the resorts is a calming lovely experience and they are experiences. The animals at animal kingdom lodge for example, seeing the lakes at the monorail/boardwalk

the boardwalk resorts are basically the walk between Hollywood and Epcot and if you have the refillable mugs you can get coffee/tea/lemonade and sit and rest saving money on buying drinks in the park.

character meets are there as well as are some lovely restaurants

No, it's all right, I don't mind.
These are my reasons why I want to go to Walt Disney World Florida:

It is not that I do not parks, I love them actually, especially darks rides. Pirates of the Caribbean is best thing ever, but I just do not want to spend all day in a park - from morning till midnight.

It has everything my kids will love. Half a day in the park, half a day by the pool, they will think they have gone to heaven. They're 4 and 9, will be 5 and 10 when we go, and have never been on a holiday like this. We have been to DLP and it was amazing, but it was a short break and nothing like two weeks in Walt Disney World.

I know it sounds crazy, but I really want to have a proper holiday and rest while in the parks. I know, I know. But listen, this is how I imagine one of my days (I know somebody will come and tell me it is a fantasy, and I do not know what I talk about, and that is truth, I do not).

So, waking up in the morning, having breakfast in the room, we'll order few things from Walmart when we come. I love that POR still have tables and chairs in the rooms.

Rope drop Magic Kingdom. Going on rides till 12.30, mabye 1 pm. We even want to visit Tom Sawyer's Island (I loved that book when I was a kid). Take the monorail to Grand Floridian and have lunch there (that one is easy to get a reservation even on a last day, so I thing we'll have no problems). It looks lovely and peacful and even prices are reasonable for Walt Disney World.

Taking the bus back to our resort. Rest in the room, go by the pool, enjoy a little bit with kids. I guess there'll be thunderstorms in the august, so return to our room when that starts.

Rest during thunderstorm, kids can watch tv (can you watch Disney + in POR, anybody know that or even Netflix).

After rest, go and walk around a little bit. Walk to French Quarterts to have beignets or take a boat to Disney Springs and have a dinner there. I would like to get a reservation for Boathouse. Go back and rest.

And I have fourteen days like this. I know, I do not know anything about it and things we'll never be like I imagine. But for the last few months I have been working so much so we can afford this trip and like to dream and plan. If that makes me sound a little bit crazy, well, I do not mind.

Have lunch in Grand Floridian Cafe, I mean, not some place where it is hard to get a reservation.
And sorry for my mistakes, english is not my first language.
I have now seen one mistake, things will never be like I imagine, uh, I hate it.

It looks like a perfect place to propose.

OP your plan sounds amazing and not at all unrealistic. In fact, that mimics our holidays there. Busy morning, restful afternoon. Some days do take proper rest days too or you and kids will be exhausted. Parks are amazing but it's so hot and tiring. Every few days we took a rest day. Lay in, pool, late breakfast, Disney springs for a wander. The stress of getting on rides can be a lot! You will have an amazing time. We are now booked for August/September too. Our first time with our child. Very excited.

Yes, we plan at least three days of full rest, after we acclimatize to Florida time difference and start sleeping normally.

Then it will be long sleep, breakfast at quick service, pool, rest, visit another resort for dinner.

You will have an amazing time, your dream itinerary is realistic- just don’t underestimate how hot it is in August!

That is the only thing I'm afraid of, I come from Mediterranean, so I'm not a stranger to hot summers, but I know Florida is something else.

In every case, I'm buying cooling towels before we go.

I am preparing for the worst, when it comes to weather.

This is my favourite thread ever! I love Florida, especially Magic Kingdom, its amazing!

I've been three times. I went in April/May 2007 and then in August 2015 and August this year. My favourite time to go is August as I love the heat. I'm always cold so its a nice relief not to be hot for a couple of weeks!

It's lovely to read there are people who love Florida heat, not many of those.

I would like them to open both water parks while we're there, but I don't hold my breath.

Haha! I absolutely love it.

Both were open the first two tines I went so you never know 😊

I rea
lt like the Grabd Floridian Cafe it’s a good choice. Stayed there once using DVC points for one night and it was amazing

try dole whip at the Polynesian as well

i admit we never do proper rest days always like to hit a park in the morning for early opening hours rest in afternoon then back out in the evening

visited all the deluxe resorts and would recommend a visit to all

Hi OP. So pleased that you’re getting to go.

Just back from 2 weeks stopping at Saratoga springs (with a night at hard rock for express passes for universal). DS (9) and I have jet lag - hence the time posting, whereas DH is snoring next to me!

It was my first trip and DH second but his was in the 90s so doesn’t really count as it’s changed so much 😁

The resorts are amazing, so clean and tidy - staff can’t do enough for you (all over Disney, not just resorts). I hadn’t realised ours was delux when we booked it, but really appreciated the extra hrs we got at Epcot and Animal Kingdom. I came close to booking POFQ but in the end paid a bit more to have a bigger room, outside space and be walkable to Disney springs. We visited POFQ on last day and do wish we’d stopped there as the pool area would have been great for our DS, the beignets made the boat trip worth it alone! Ours being a DVC resort had less of a hub vibe, the quick serve offer was poor as most people ate in their villas.

We also resort hopped to poly and grand flo (saw & smelt the amazing gingerbread house). They were beautiful but way too much for our budget, plus we loved being able to walk/ boat to Disney Springs in the eve.

you’ll have an amazing time. I’m sure you’re already doing so, but research everything. I felt really sorry for the people who rocked up to Tron and Guardians thinking they could just queue to get in and not knowing about the virtual queue system. “It’s Orlando time” and “Disneyworld & Orlando for Brits” Facebook groups we’re my go to for tips. Maybe worth setting up an account just for them? I lived through other peoples holidays blogs in the run up. Also recommend “ear scouts” youtuber for making things simpler to understand.

we’re talking of going again in a few years time. We’d definitely stay on site again and would rather save for a bit longer to do so. Maybe the itch to go will wear off by the time we’ve saved, but the memories will remain

OP, if there's a Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party when you're there then definitely try to get tickets for it. I'm sure they usually start around mid August and it's such a fun night.

Seeing this thread made me happy. Just got back from two weeks at POFQ, and rebooked for AKL next year (which is my all-time favourite and stayed there before). Disney is my happy place!

Haven't read the whole thread so I apologise if repeating.

If you love home from home (and have a biggish budget) consider renting at Old Key West (room tours on YT). David's Rentals (google) allow you to book Vacation Club rooms and villas at reasonable prices.

We'd relax thru the day - swimming, cooking lunch, etc - and then hit the parks from 4pm onwards when they started to cool down.

Just found this thread! I love Disney!
We’ve been 7 times to Orlando and always stayed in villas as found it easier when kids were small. Last year was the first time we’ve stayed on sight. We did a 3 week holiday with 9 nights Grand Floridian, 7 nights Anna Maria Island and 5 nights Universal. We booked the Grand Floridian through David’s DVC rentals.

We had such a fab time and will only stay onsite from now on. On the night we arrived, we chucked on some shorts and went straight to Magic Kingdom for a quick bite to eat and a couple of rides. The monorail pulled up just as the fireworks started and I burst into tears from happiness (didn’t help it was 1am UK time). Staying onsite with teens (17 and 15) was great as they could stay in the parks later if they wanted and hop on the monorail/boat/bus.

Next time I’d love to do a split stay.

Have you explored buying into DVC? You sound like the perfect customer for it. Let me know if you have any questions. I'm a white card member.

We’ve just got back from 11 days at Caribbean Beach Resort - it was a fantastic trip! CBR is a moderate resort so it’s not “the best” but it gets a really unfair reputation for being “too big”. I read so many reports of people complaining about how far they had to walk, but without wanting to stereotype, Americans aren’t known for their love of walking places 😜 We were in the Barbados section of the resort (where the “preferred” rooms are located) and we could walk from one end of the resort to the other in under 15 mins. We were 5 mins walk from the Skyliner hub (meaning we could be in Hollywood Studios in under 10 mins and Epcot in under 15) and in the other direction 2 mins walk from the bus stop to MK/AK/DS. We spent almost all of our time out and about in the parks so the room was just a place to sleep and shower, so it fitted our needs perfectly.

Also it was a bonus being close to the Riviera Resort so we walked over there a few times to eat at their quick service restaurant and on one occasion actually sat at a table next to Molly and Alan from Mammoth Club - squeee! I said hi to them and thanked them for their amazing YouTube videos and they were very sweet about it.