AvonleaCF
09-08-2018, 08:11 PM
Back home!
I still can't believe how fast the week went.
Travel back home went smoothly. Did the Magical Express with no issues. Flight was on time. Bumpy flight but otherwise non eventful.
Was very excited to get home to my kitty cats, who have been crawling all over me since I returned.
Anyhow, here are my final thoughts.
Solo travel:
Recommended if you have the chance!
Very safe traveling to and around Disney
Very easy if you're doing Magical Express and don't have to worry about driving
Can do what you want, when you want
Downside is I wound up doing way too much; if I were with someone we could have balanced each other but instead I was on go, go, go mode
Could get a little lonely, especially at table service restaurants, but I did encounter several other solo travelers
Contemporary Resort, pros:
Location, location, location! I'm not sure if I would stay outside the tower, but the MK view was worth every penny. And if you don't have a MK view room, plenty of observation areas to watch fireworks or just stare at the castle
Walkway to MK
Room was HUGE and bed comfy
Room was very quiet at night; after the fireworks ended you really couldn't hear anything at all, and I'm very sensitive to noise
Great amenities in the room; more than I've had any other Disney resort
Loved how everything was contained in one building and was easy to access. I could be inside my room and then down in the shops or refilling my mug in 2 minutes. When I stayed the Beach Club it could easily take 6-7 minutes. And all other resorts I've stayed at you have to walk outside
Great shopping. Great food selections
Contemporary Resort, cons:
Travel to/from Epcot was not pleasant. It took forever, especially the return trip. I expect the same is true for Grand Floridian. At least at the Poly, you can walk directly to/from the TTC and not transfer. The transferring is what made it such a pain
The hotel is ugly from the outside. There, I said it. It's not a pretty design
The grounds aren't that great either. Like, the pool is just surrounded my concrete. Sure, there's a marina, but it lacks the appeal of other resorts like Wilderness Lodge, Port Orleans, etc. I always try to walk around the grounds of my Disney resorts a few times each trip and this one there was nothing good to see
Buses shared with Wilderness Lodge and sometimes also Fort Wilderness
Hotel lobby (on the first floor) also really boring. No ambiance at all. That said, the 4th level concourse is pretty cool
Not nearly enough dresser drawers in the room. I was one person and barely had enough room; not sure how a family of 4-5 manages
I still can't believe how fast the week went.
Travel back home went smoothly. Did the Magical Express with no issues. Flight was on time. Bumpy flight but otherwise non eventful.
Was very excited to get home to my kitty cats, who have been crawling all over me since I returned.
Anyhow, here are my final thoughts.
Solo travel:
Recommended if you have the chance!
Very safe traveling to and around Disney
Very easy if you're doing Magical Express and don't have to worry about driving
Can do what you want, when you want
Downside is I wound up doing way too much; if I were with someone we could have balanced each other but instead I was on go, go, go mode
Could get a little lonely, especially at table service restaurants, but I did encounter several other solo travelers
Contemporary Resort, pros:
Location, location, location! I'm not sure if I would stay outside the tower, but the MK view was worth every penny. And if you don't have a MK view room, plenty of observation areas to watch fireworks or just stare at the castle
Walkway to MK
Room was HUGE and bed comfy
Room was very quiet at night; after the fireworks ended you really couldn't hear anything at all, and I'm very sensitive to noise
Great amenities in the room; more than I've had any other Disney resort
Loved how everything was contained in one building and was easy to access. I could be inside my room and then down in the shops or refilling my mug in 2 minutes. When I stayed the Beach Club it could easily take 6-7 minutes. And all other resorts I've stayed at you have to walk outside
Great shopping. Great food selections
Contemporary Resort, cons:
Travel to/from Epcot was not pleasant. It took forever, especially the return trip. I expect the same is true for Grand Floridian. At least at the Poly, you can walk directly to/from the TTC and not transfer. The transferring is what made it such a pain
The hotel is ugly from the outside. There, I said it. It's not a pretty design
The grounds aren't that great either. Like, the pool is just surrounded my concrete. Sure, there's a marina, but it lacks the appeal of other resorts like Wilderness Lodge, Port Orleans, etc. I always try to walk around the grounds of my Disney resorts a few times each trip and this one there was nothing good to see
Buses shared with Wilderness Lodge and sometimes also Fort Wilderness
Hotel lobby (on the first floor) also really boring. No ambiance at all. That said, the 4th level concourse is pretty cool
Not nearly enough dresser drawers in the room. I was one person and barely had enough room; not sure how a family of 4-5 manages