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If you have stayed in one of the resorts in the Magic Kingdom area (Contemporary, Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge, Grand Floridian, Shades Of Green) which one is your favorite? What made this resort a good place to stay on your Disney World visit?

Answers posted to the list:

The only one of these I've stayed at is the Contemporary, which was a very nice hotel room, and the resort has good amenities. Liked the water activities. Hated the transportation options, especially to any place other than the MK. Taking the monorail, IMHO, is vastly overrated (but I'm not traveling with toddlers any more). We usually walked back and forth to the MK. I would stay there again, for the right price. I'd like to stay at theGF, but DH consideres it too fou-fou. :-) All in all, we prefer other locations on property. Chris

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My favorite is the Contemporary, Right close to the Magic Kingdom and a boat ride aay from fort wilderness. great Marina for rentals also

Dennis

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A Couple of years ago, we stayed at the Wilderness Lodge. We loved it, except for the nice wooded view we had of them building the villas! It was convenient to Magic Kingdom but nice and peaceful. Close to all the action without all the noise. We stayed at the Campground alot when we were kids and this is the same kind of feel without all the roughing it. We stayed at the contemparary as kids and it was fun, the arcade was the best and the snack bar at the arcade is better than any snack bars at the other hotels we have tried. Awesome nachos.

When we were growing up, I always wanted to stay at the Polynesian. This April we did the land and sea package and it was one of the options. It was a no brainer for me but we researched the other hotels and found out the Beach Club was better for kids, because of stormalong bay so I gave in. Eventually I will stay at the Polynesian.

Tiffany

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This question makes me want a disney vacation right now! The only Magic Kingdom resort we have ever stayed at was Contemporary, and we have stayed there twice within the past 15 years. We liked it because of many reasons. First, the rooms are a good size and very modern and cheerfully decorated. This past time, with 3 teenagers, they enjoyed the pool area, which is huge and has that pretty decent water slide. Nothing like Blizzard Beach, but still good for a resort pool. When they got sick of the pool, they headed for the arcade, which is pretty decent for a resort too. Plus, we ate breakfast there every morning before starting out for the day wherever, and always found everything we needed in there to begin our day.

I got some kind of plastic cup with the Contemporary logo on it here at home. I kind of remember getting it at this very nice gourmet coffee/cappachino bar on the first floor lobby. Also, we have very fond memories of some of the shows at the Contemporary, namely things like Jolly Holly Christmas Show a few years back. That turned out to be the best show we ever saw! And I remember when the very top of the Contemporary was called the Top of the World. It was a dinner theater and you could look out and see a beautiful view of the Magic Kingdom. I must admit I don't know what's up there now. Also, we enjoy Chef Mickey's in there too, since it moved out of the village marketplace. And not to mention, you can walk to the park. Of course, the walk home at night when your exhausted isn't so great, but still it's nice to know the magic kingdom is across the street practically. I am now wondering as I write this if you could see the magic kingdom fireworks from any room at the Contemporary. Also, they are on the monorail, so you can kind of resort hop that way, or if you get bored on a non-park day or a rainy day, you can just go for a ride to look out the window. You can do alot with the boats, they have all kinds of amenities there. I remember we saw the water parade one night during our stay there but I forget if we took the monorail over to Polynesian to do that. If I were to stay at another Magic Kingdom resort, I would very much love to try Wilderness Lodge, because of all the wonderful restaurants, cozy wooded atmosphere, and the peace and quiet.

Kathy

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I have stayed at the Polynesian twice and the GF once. At the GF we had a great room in Boca Chica overlooking the castle. You could hear the music from the MK on our balcony and it was a wonderful place to sit for the water parades. My husband found the room decor to be too frilly for his tastes. However I the customer service at the GF was not at all what I expected. They continually requried us to go the the front desk to reswipe our credit card. Often we would wait over 20 - 30 minutes in line just to do this. Our luggage took over 2 hours to arrive from baggage service. And further the hallways are very noisy.

My two visit to the Polynesian have been wonderful. All the staff were fantastic. We've had both the garden view and castle view rooms. Both rooms were great. The pool is amazing and the waterslide was a lot of fun. I loved watching the fireworks from inside the pool. My only complaint is I wish there were sinks outside the shower area. This would make getting reading with multiple people/children easier. Our 9 year old loved playing on the beach and pool.

Julie

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I don't like the MK resort area at all (too out of the way), but of those resorts my favorite would be the Contemporary - staying in the tower. I love the large rooms, the decor is a bit ugly but "fun", it's nice to be able to walk to the MK and have just 1 stop to the monorail for Epcot. The pool area is nice, it's an easy boat ride to WL to eat, and it was the first Disney hotel I ever stayed at (back when wdw was just the MK).

I've never been interested in staying at the Poly, and the GF isn't worth the premium in price. I stayed at Shades of Green once with a friend & hated it - rooms were large but furnishings were so tacky looking.

I felt like I was in a Holiday Inn (which is about what we were paying, but still - I'd rather pay more & be somewhere nice). Wilderness Lodge is gorgeous but the rooms were a huge disappointment. We checked in, saw the rooms, and moved to the Contemporary! Villas at Wilderness Lodge is another story - those are nicer, and I've stayed there a couple of times. It's great during the Christmas season.

Sue

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I've stayed in the Contemporary, Poly and Wilderness Lodge. My favorite has been the Wilderness Lodge. I prefer the transportation system there as well as the decor. My next favorite would be the Poly followed by the Contemporary. I've never stayed in GF. A bit too expensive for me.

lkw

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Being a DVC member, we stayed at Wilderness Lodge Villas which I absolutely loved!! It was the first time we took my then 4 year old granddaughter and it was marvelous. Great room, transportation was "iffy" at times (almost missed our Cindy breakfast-reservations made at dawn one morning 60 days out!), but great atmosphere. We also stayed at Poly. I always wanted to and we finally did, spending 10 days there. Would never do it again. Transportation to anywhere other than MK, was AWFUL, buses unreliable, rooms smelled musty and old. Can't beat the location, but WAAAYYY overpriced for what you get. Would never waste that much money/points on the Poly again. Give me Boadwalk or Beach Club or Wilderness Lodge any day.

Priscilla

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