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For my "on the go" family, this may seem like an odd question. But i would like to know what everyone thinks is the most relaxing Disney resort. The one where you are content just to soak up the environment, can just hang out, and not feel the need to rush to the parks. I have my ideas, but i would love to hear yours. :mickey: Thanks!
For us, it's definitely Wilderness Lodge. While you do hear the uber-commotion in the lobby from Whispering Canyon, the rest of the resort is incredibly peaceful. While DS is having fun in the pool, DH and I love to just walk around & explore the wonderful views and quiet spaces. That's why we've made it our home resort the past five years - we actually feel we're on vacation! :mickey:
Wilderness Lodge. Can't beat it. After relaxing and exploring the resort, you can walk and explore the grounds.
Even though it is in the Moderate category, we found POR to be very quiet despite it's size. All the vegetation and meandering paths made the resort feel very peaceful.
We would say the Poly. They have beautiful hawiian music playing throughout the resort. Hammocks, sandy beaches. Even the lobby is relaxing with the waterfalls in the backround:cloud9:
Definitely Wilderness Lodge!
You can relax at WDW? I enjoyed my stay at AKL-Kidani. Though I didn't really relax a whole lot, it had lots of places to do just that. Sitting out on your balcony and watching animals is great. They also have a library where they have nightly discussions about countries the workers are from. And Kidani is a lot more quiet than Jambo house.
laying around in a hammock at the Poly sipping a cocktail was pretty relaxing! Was pretty awesome!
The Poly. It has a laid-back charm. GF is my favorite, but the Polynesian is pretty relaxing. Also, AKL. I feel relaxed just sitting in the lobby there, though I have never stayed there.
I believe you can make any resort relaxing if you really try. However, that being said, some are definitely quieter than others. Our WDW home for the last 5 visits has been the Wilderness Lodge. And my DW fave quiet place is the dock @ sunrise. She's w/her morning coffee every day.
WL for sure. Its a very peaceful, relaxing place to be. Except for Whispering Canyon Cafe, which can get pretty loud.
I would have once said the Poly because of its tropical vibe, but on our last few trips this place was anything but relaxing and quiet. Often times it was pure chaos. My newly discovered "must try one day" resort is Grand Floridian. I'd never given this resort much thought before, but on our last two trips we spent a bit more time there than in the past and it was the quietest, most relaxing resort we've been to. We left MK one afternoon to get out of the heat. Our first stop was the Poly for a drink, and it was loud and crazy in the lobby. Our second stop was GF for dinner and the difference between this two resorts was like night and day. The Poly had a buzz about it, while the GF was quiet and relaxed.
Animal Kingdom lodge gets our vote. The pool is amazing and sitting in the lobby, even though large, is relaxing at the end of the day:mickey:
We've found time to relax at most of the resorts we've stayed at.
Some of my favorites:
Polynesian
Wilderness Lodge
Grand Floridian
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Bay Lake Tower
Contemporary
Coronado Springs
Fort Wilderness
They all offer different opportunities for relaxation and we enjoy them all.
Most of the moderates and values do not make my list because one of the most relaxing spots for me is sitting on my balcony. The lack of balconies at those resorts tipped the scales for me. Coronado Springs made the list due to its outdoor lounge along the waterway. Fort Wilderness because of the porch rockers at Pioneer Hall - a favorite spot of ours particularly in our early tent camping trips!
AKL - without a doubt! The overall atmosphere is relaxed and far enough away from most parks that you actually feel like you're not at WDW. There's a lot to be said to be able sit on your balcony or the overlook areas on a rocking chair in the shade watching the animals walk by...and let's not foget about the evening fire pit. Completely Awesome!
beach club - great pool (and if you go up on the upper deck you can escape the somewhat frantic activity and noise of the pool). Also has a nice little loop to walk in the evening and the ability to catch a relxing boat ride at dusk.
My vote is for our home resort Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani Village. I think this is the only resort we have been about to relax at. :mickey:
We like Fort Wilderness. Beautiful scenery. Laid back vibe.
I would guess that it depends on your definition of "relaxing". DH and I find it very relaxing to slump into a few chairs in a bar/lounge with a cocktail or beverage of choice and just do nothing but people watch. Heck, we can do that just about anywhere! We don't need no stinkin' balconies or waterfalls! :thedolls:
That's kinda what i'm getting at. Plus there must be enough to keep my boys from tugging my chain to go do this or that, away from the resort.Quote:
Originally Posted by WDWCrazyKaren
While i love the Epcot resort area, the problem for me is that it is too convenient. Walking distance to 2 parks, Boardwalk entertainment and mini-golf is great, but it seems there is always something someone wants to do.....now. So i get very little rest there. Also there isn't the "immersive experience" that some other resorts provide. Sorry, but i never once thought i was at a New England beach house.
I am hoping that on our next trip we can slow down a little and enjoy the resort. Taking walks aroung the grounds, enjoying a drink at the lounge or pool bar, debriefing my fellow vacationers after a day at the parks, and having something to keep my sons occupied so they don't beg to ride Test Track or Rockin Roller Coaster one more time..... now that's what i'm talking about. :cool:
Thanks all.
We actually find a stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge to be the most relaxing vacation ANYwhere - not just at Disney! The theme, the feel, the animals, the pools, and the restaurants are a perfect fit for what we like to do to relax...
I voted for either POFQ, or CBR.
Port Orleans French Quarter is relaxing because it is a smaller resort with less crowds.
Caribbean Beach Resort is my personal favorite! I love the relaxing island feel, Caribbean music, and sandy beach with hammock. It definitely transports you to the Caribbean.
For je, it would be a toss up between WL and AKL.
I must say that I deeply enjoyed my recent stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo House). I felt so relaxed while I was in the lodge. In fact, I regretted the full schedule of parks and reservations I had slotted, and instead, wanted some more unstructured time for wandering the grounds, enjoy the pool and 2 hot tubs, watching the animals, and just enjoying the various relaxtion nooks, as well as the luscious lobby space. Highly recommend!
Enjoy your future trip!
My vote goes to the CBR ..I know its not the best but
I love lying on the hammock by the lake watching the world go by with the light caribbean music in the background :cloud9: and the colourful buildings
Without a doubt the Wilderness Lodge!
No one has mentioned a value resort. We always stay at Pop I know the pool area and food court are bad, but the walk around the lake is realy peaceful and relaxing. DH and I like to take a drink and sit on the benches and watch the fireworks from the parks at night.
I agree with the posters who have said anywhere can be relaxing. Our stays at Pop have been relaxing and some of our time at Poly was not so relaxing. It all depends on what's going on. Crowd watching can be relaxing. Hanging out in the lobby can be relaxing. An early morning run can be relaxing. I think it's all a state of mind and not necessarily something tangible (too philosophical for this board?)
I've found several of the resorts relaxing, it's all in what you make it. Even at value resorts, there are out of the way spots to sit, rest, people watch, read, nap. Obviously, at deluxe there are more/larger areas for R&R. The BC has the beach area, & it has porch areas with rocking chairs. The BW has a nice porch overlooking the whole boardwalk. POR has gazebos, benches along walkways. AKL has some nice, almost hidden spots around the pool & jacuzzis.
My final vote is BC, for sitting on the porch, in a rocking chair at sunrise.
Ours would be Fort Wilderness, followed by the Wilderness Lodge. We love the atmosphere and pace of both:thumbsup:
For us it's either WL or AKL. To us they are both a little less hectic because they are more isolated.
Truth be told we've found any resort to be relaxing. Once we get to WDW we go into full vacation mode and leave the outside world behind.
Hmmm. At first I thought you wanted a resort where there wasn't tons for the kids to want to pull you to do, so I thought the cabins would be perfect. Then I read the part where you want enough for the kids to do to keep them from bugging you to go to the park. How old are your kids?Quote:
Originally Posted by MOJoe
My boys are now 17 and 12. My oldest wants to go back to the Beach Club. My youngest wants to go to AKL, and my wife votes for WL. :crazy:
AKL looks amazing and seems to provide what i'm looking for - that something special that quiets the call of the parks and leaves us satisfied just to relax at the resort.
However, after some weekend discussion, it looks as though the WL is a good choice for everyone. Remote enough for that isolated feeling, yet close enough to MK and the monorail resorts to be convenient for dining and entertainment. Plus, my wife voted for it. ;)
After reading some of the great reviews about AKL, i really want to stay there sometime. But for our next trip, it looks like i'm going to be relaxing at the Trout Pass Bar.
Our answer would be in this order:
POR
Wilderness Lodge
Fort Wilderness
Our last stay at the Pop was anything-but- relaxing to us. Lines for buses, the noise level at the Hall, no relaxing walks back to the room. During our stay, we went over to Fort Wilderness to do the Horse ride (which DD loved) and it just felt relaxed. No one seemed to be in a big hurry and we both commented how laid-back it was compared to Pop. We also took the boat ride from Downtown Disney to POR. Once again, we just seemed to be able to breath as we walked along the pathways. DH and I just felt relaxed there.
I guess it may all be on where your room is in relation to the bus stop, check-in hall, pool, etc. as to how much traffic you have going by your room.
At POR, there is the game room for the kids and they also have bikes and surrey bikes to rent - we'll do the surrey bike ride next time. Would be fun to rent a surrey and the whole family ride it. Our daughter at times would much rather be at the resort, swimming or at the arcade than be at a park.
Wilderness Lodge - there's the pool, activities in the lobby for the kids (arcade too), walks out by the boat pier, sit out on the back deck in a rocking chair.
Just my opinion,
Kerri
Have fun at Wilderness Lodge. We'll be trying it next year. :)
Disney's Grand Californian was particularly nice. We were in Disneyland in early December and it was cooold about 50 and rainy. They have a GIANT fireplace with comfy chairs in front in the lobby to warm up in front of and snooze after a big meal at Napa Rose, and a cozy bar right around the corner.
For us it is AKL. WE lOVE it! We felt so relaxed when we were there we ended up only spending every other day in the parks! I've NEVER done that EVER and probably never will again (unless we are at AKL again).