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wreindl
We are 2 families with 4 kids age 8 - 14 and want to spend 1 week in Disneyworld, Orlando. We definitely want to stay in one of the Disneyworld hotels. Can you tell me which one is the best for families - I have heard some are already really old and should not be used anymore?
Answer
It depends on what you want out of your resort. First of all you made a great decision to stay on property, there is not a resort or hotel anywhere around the Disney area that can hold a candle to what the Disney resorts themselves offer in terms of service and perks. Disney takes great care of their resort guests, whether you are in the value or the deluxe.
The decor of all of the resorts is outstanding, so it just depends on what you are looking for. Each of the families is going to need 2 rooms in most of the resorts, since they will only accomodate 4 people per room. The home away from home resorts/Disney Vacation Club resorts all have suites that accomodate from 4 to up to 12 people, so that could be an option. I also believe that the All-Star value resorts are adding family suites that can accomodate 6. Lets start with the values.
There are 4 different categories of Disney resort, value, moderate, deluxe, and Vacation Club. First, the value resorts are just that. They are expertly decorated, have huge pools, a good food court, but on the downside they are inexpensive so the rooms are on the smaller side and there is not a sit down table service restaurant. However, these are excellent choices for families. My favorite in this category is the All-Star Movies resort, with Pop Century a close second.
The moderates are a bit bigger than the values. The rooms are a little bigger, and they offer a sit down table service restaurant along with the food court. There is a large themed pool, but there is also smaller pools in each section as well. There are plenty of things to do in each of these resorts besides the Disney parks as well. Keep in mind that these resorts will probably only be able to accomodate 4 per room, so you will need 2. My favorite in this category is the Caribbean Beach resort. The resort itself is very large, but we loved our stay there.
The deluxe resort are the top of the resorts in price and amenities. These are the resorts that are located around the Seven Seas Lagoon in front of the Magic Kingdom, and are all connected by the monorail system (except for the Animal Kingdom Lodge, which is near the Animal Kingdom). These have so much to do, have multiple restaurants, and even have character meals (don't miss the character breakfast at Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary, regardless of where you stay! It is a favorite of ours.) My favorite in this category and my favorite overall is the Polynessian.
The Disney Vacation club resorts are the home away from home resorts. They have everything from a studio, one bedroom condo, two bedroom condo, to a grand villa (basically a townhouse that sleeps 12.) These come with a kitchenette (in the studio accomodations) or a full kitchen complete with utensils and everything you need to cook a meal. My favorite in this category is Saratoga Springs (and a close, close second to the Polynessian.)
There are a few websites you can go to and get tons more info. First, I would recommend going to the Disney website and using their resort comparison tool. You can compare the resorts in each category and decide what is going to work for you. You can even get a quote as to what your particular package will cost. Also, check out the disboards. The disboards is a message board website that is all about going to WDW. You can ask questions, get trip reports, itineraries from others guests, dining reviews, resort reviews, and tips from people who go to Disney often and know what they are talking about. Also, go to the bookstore and pick up the Birnbaum's guide to WDW. There are a ton of guide books out there, but that is the one that worked best for us.
I would also suggest that when you get your passes to the parks to at the very least add the Park Hopper option. It will add a small amount to the price of the passes, however it is worth the cost. The base ticket allows you to enter one park per day. With the park hopper you basically can come and go as you please. For example, if you were to go to the Animal Kingdom for the day, then decide you want to go back to MGM to ride Tower of Terror and catch the Fantasmic night time show (both must sees!) you would only be able to do that with the Park hopper option. It just gives you the ultimate in flexibility, which is what you want going to Disney.
Hope this helps, have a great trip!!
It depends on what you want out of your resort. First of all you made a great decision to stay on property, there is not a resort or hotel anywhere around the Disney area that can hold a candle to what the Disney resorts themselves offer in terms of service and perks. Disney takes great care of their resort guests, whether you are in the value or the deluxe.
The decor of all of the resorts is outstanding, so it just depends on what you are looking for. Each of the families is going to need 2 rooms in most of the resorts, since they will only accomodate 4 people per room. The home away from home resorts/Disney Vacation Club resorts all have suites that accomodate from 4 to up to 12 people, so that could be an option. I also believe that the All-Star value resorts are adding family suites that can accomodate 6. Lets start with the values.
There are 4 different categories of Disney resort, value, moderate, deluxe, and Vacation Club. First, the value resorts are just that. They are expertly decorated, have huge pools, a good food court, but on the downside they are inexpensive so the rooms are on the smaller side and there is not a sit down table service restaurant. However, these are excellent choices for families. My favorite in this category is the All-Star Movies resort, with Pop Century a close second.
The moderates are a bit bigger than the values. The rooms are a little bigger, and they offer a sit down table service restaurant along with the food court. There is a large themed pool, but there is also smaller pools in each section as well. There are plenty of things to do in each of these resorts besides the Disney parks as well. Keep in mind that these resorts will probably only be able to accomodate 4 per room, so you will need 2. My favorite in this category is the Caribbean Beach resort. The resort itself is very large, but we loved our stay there.
The deluxe resort are the top of the resorts in price and amenities. These are the resorts that are located around the Seven Seas Lagoon in front of the Magic Kingdom, and are all connected by the monorail system (except for the Animal Kingdom Lodge, which is near the Animal Kingdom). These have so much to do, have multiple restaurants, and even have character meals (don't miss the character breakfast at Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary, regardless of where you stay! It is a favorite of ours.) My favorite in this category and my favorite overall is the Polynessian.
The Disney Vacation club resorts are the home away from home resorts. They have everything from a studio, one bedroom condo, two bedroom condo, to a grand villa (basically a townhouse that sleeps 12.) These come with a kitchenette (in the studio accomodations) or a full kitchen complete with utensils and everything you need to cook a meal. My favorite in this category is Saratoga Springs (and a close, close second to the Polynessian.)
There are a few websites you can go to and get tons more info. First, I would recommend going to the Disney website and using their resort comparison tool. You can compare the resorts in each category and decide what is going to work for you. You can even get a quote as to what your particular package will cost. Also, check out the disboards. The disboards is a message board website that is all about going to WDW. You can ask questions, get trip reports, itineraries from others guests, dining reviews, resort reviews, and tips from people who go to Disney often and know what they are talking about. Also, go to the bookstore and pick up the Birnbaum's guide to WDW. There are a ton of guide books out there, but that is the one that worked best for us.
I would also suggest that when you get your passes to the parks to at the very least add the Park Hopper option. It will add a small amount to the price of the passes, however it is worth the cost. The base ticket allows you to enter one park per day. With the park hopper you basically can come and go as you please. For example, if you were to go to the Animal Kingdom for the day, then decide you want to go back to MGM to ride Tower of Terror and catch the Fantasmic night time show (both must sees!) you would only be able to do that with the Park hopper option. It just gives you the ultimate in flexibility, which is what you want going to Disney.
Hope this helps, have a great trip!!
Looking for food and sightseeing in Birmingham, AL for an upcoming weekend trip?

xylem
Where to eat, what to do, places to have fun in and around Birmingham, AL on an upcoming weekend trip? I can find all the highly publicized places in guidebooks; I'm looking for a few insider's tips, sights and restaurants. Thanks!
Answer
Here are the newest user reviews about locations in Alabama. To read even more reviews, search for a specific city, hotel or attraction at the top of the left column on this page.
Orange Beach: Calypso Joe's: "Joe's was so-so"
Jul 22, 2007 BananaSouth, South
The atmosphere was really neat. The food was pretty good. The only problem was the service. We expected to wait for a table, that was alright. However, once we were seated, we didn't see a waitress for 15 minutes. We were pretty much forgotten about! The alcoholic drinks were $7 each. Our meals were $20 each. The whole tab came...
Huntsville: Best Western Rocket City Inn & Suites: "Overcharged"
Jul 22, 2007 suzyq6315, Florida
I was charged an additional $545.72. They charged me for another room. They did credit my card, but as you know these things do not show up for days and because of this my account was overdrawn and I had to sleep in my car for 3 nights and was unable to get to work until my boss put money...
Mobile: Cuisine of India: "Favorite Indian Restaurant in Florida Panhandle"
Jul 22, 2007 PensacolaRider, Pensacola
Modest little Indian restaurant in shopping center; minimial atmosphere, place could be cleaner, but very tasty Indian cuisine. We routinely travel 50+ miles from Pensacola to enjoy Sunday lunch here. Buffet for two, with nan, dessert and chai tea for about $20, excluding tip - it's well worth the trip. Food even better with recent new cook.
Birmingham: TownePlace Suites Birmingham Homewood: "Worst service ever!!!!!!"
Jul 22, 2007 rboz82, rboz82
Picture on Website is not fitting of this establishment. As soon as I walked in to the loobby to check-in I was unimpressed. The table and the floor were dirty, nobody was at the front desk to check me in( I waited 10 mins b4 anyone came) and there were no rooms ready(which wasnt a problem because I was early)....
Orange Beach: Tacky Jack's Tavern & Grill: "tacky jacks"
Jul 22, 2007 BigEdBirmingham, Birmingham,Alabama
Tacky Jacks is tacky,what else would you expect.But the breakfast is great and I've always had good,friendly service.The farmers omelet and a bloody mary are a great start to the day.
Gulf Shores: "family vacation"
Jul 22, 2007 GeorgiaNanabug, georgia
just got back from GS yesterday,had a very good time. we stayed at crystal shores west, very nice condo, very clean but had a very small pool much too small for a condo of this size.the beach was verry clean. the food was not as good as we usually have on vacation. please do not eat at shrimp basket it...
Orange Beach: Perdido Beach Resort: "Nice Stay"
Jul 22, 2007 brit_travel_fan, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
I attended a conference at the PBR last week (the 10th time I've stayed at the hotel in the past 15 years). The staff was friendly, as always. The food was generally outstanding, both at the catered conference events and in the cafes and Voyagers restaurant, and the prices weren't bad, especially for a beachside resort ($7 for a huge...
Decatur: Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites Decatur: "Good Hotel"
Jul 21, 2007 Andrew73, Tennessee
Stayed here two separate nights last week, I just walked in and they had a room, and even gave me a gift bag for being a priority club member the first night.I was surprised at how clean the rooms were, good water pressure in the shower and I received my wake up call on time, and they had a...
Huntsville: Hampton Inn Huntsville: "ood hotel good rates"
Jul 21, 2007 Andrew73, Tennessee
Me and a co-worker just walked in on a Sat night, 21:30 covered in coal dust from working on the RR all day and they had rooms for us. And it was only 80 per room. They
Here are the newest user reviews about locations in Alabama. To read even more reviews, search for a specific city, hotel or attraction at the top of the left column on this page.
Orange Beach: Calypso Joe's: "Joe's was so-so"
Jul 22, 2007 BananaSouth, South
The atmosphere was really neat. The food was pretty good. The only problem was the service. We expected to wait for a table, that was alright. However, once we were seated, we didn't see a waitress for 15 minutes. We were pretty much forgotten about! The alcoholic drinks were $7 each. Our meals were $20 each. The whole tab came...
Huntsville: Best Western Rocket City Inn & Suites: "Overcharged"
Jul 22, 2007 suzyq6315, Florida
I was charged an additional $545.72. They charged me for another room. They did credit my card, but as you know these things do not show up for days and because of this my account was overdrawn and I had to sleep in my car for 3 nights and was unable to get to work until my boss put money...
Mobile: Cuisine of India: "Favorite Indian Restaurant in Florida Panhandle"
Jul 22, 2007 PensacolaRider, Pensacola
Modest little Indian restaurant in shopping center; minimial atmosphere, place could be cleaner, but very tasty Indian cuisine. We routinely travel 50+ miles from Pensacola to enjoy Sunday lunch here. Buffet for two, with nan, dessert and chai tea for about $20, excluding tip - it's well worth the trip. Food even better with recent new cook.
Birmingham: TownePlace Suites Birmingham Homewood: "Worst service ever!!!!!!"
Jul 22, 2007 rboz82, rboz82
Picture on Website is not fitting of this establishment. As soon as I walked in to the loobby to check-in I was unimpressed. The table and the floor were dirty, nobody was at the front desk to check me in( I waited 10 mins b4 anyone came) and there were no rooms ready(which wasnt a problem because I was early)....
Orange Beach: Tacky Jack's Tavern & Grill: "tacky jacks"
Jul 22, 2007 BigEdBirmingham, Birmingham,Alabama
Tacky Jacks is tacky,what else would you expect.But the breakfast is great and I've always had good,friendly service.The farmers omelet and a bloody mary are a great start to the day.
Gulf Shores: "family vacation"
Jul 22, 2007 GeorgiaNanabug, georgia
just got back from GS yesterday,had a very good time. we stayed at crystal shores west, very nice condo, very clean but had a very small pool much too small for a condo of this size.the beach was verry clean. the food was not as good as we usually have on vacation. please do not eat at shrimp basket it...
Orange Beach: Perdido Beach Resort: "Nice Stay"
Jul 22, 2007 brit_travel_fan, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
I attended a conference at the PBR last week (the 10th time I've stayed at the hotel in the past 15 years). The staff was friendly, as always. The food was generally outstanding, both at the catered conference events and in the cafes and Voyagers restaurant, and the prices weren't bad, especially for a beachside resort ($7 for a huge...
Decatur: Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites Decatur: "Good Hotel"
Jul 21, 2007 Andrew73, Tennessee
Stayed here two separate nights last week, I just walked in and they had a room, and even gave me a gift bag for being a priority club member the first night.I was surprised at how clean the rooms were, good water pressure in the shower and I received my wake up call on time, and they had a...
Huntsville: Hampton Inn Huntsville: "ood hotel good rates"
Jul 21, 2007 Andrew73, Tennessee
Me and a co-worker just walked in on a Sat night, 21:30 covered in coal dust from working on the RR all day and they had rooms for us. And it was only 80 per room. They
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