I have started planning our next trip to Walt Disney World (yay!) for next September 2013. Yeah, it may be a year and a half away, but it gives us time to save up, and really think about how we can make this our best WDW vacation yet!
Disney’s Polynesian Resort
One question that came up immediately was where should we stay? It can be tough to figure out the WDW Resorts (if you need help deciding what level of resort would work best for you, check out my post on the WDW Resort Categories!), and after some intense deliberation, my husband and I narrowed it down to Disney’s classic Polynesian Resort, and Disney’s newest resort, the Art of Animation Resort
The Art of Animation Resort (What it WILL look like!)
Each resort had its pros and cons. The Polynesian Resort is on the monorail line which means the Disney Magic is just a short ride away, and it’s a beautiful tropical paradise where Hawaiian music plays and a fireworks viewing from their beach is an amazing end to any evening. Its main drawbacks for us were that they didn’t offer any regular rooms with king beds (just 2 queens), and the biggest negative about the resort is its cost – the per night room fee was nearly triple that of the Value level resorts, which meant that this paradise would cost us almost $2000 more for a week’s stay than the cheaper Resort options
The Art of Animation Resort is brand new (in fact it hasn’t even opened as of yet, the first rooms open later this month!) which means everything from the beds to the toilets will be new too! It is rumored to have a very different menu than the other Value Resorts, plus the bottom line is, it would make our vacation a LOT cheaper. The cons? The only transportation from this resort will be by Disney Bus, which can take a while and you can end up standing on a crowded bus for 20 minutes or more. Also, the rooms are small and aren’t exactly “romantic”, and are designed more for families than for couples like us. Also, with it being brand new, there are really no reviews to go by, so who knows how nice it will be?
The Extremely Kid Friendly Art of Animation Rooms
After weighing all the pros and cons, we have decided to go with the Art of Animation Resort. Between the $2000 savings and the promising food court choices, we are looking forward to experiencing this brand new addition to the Walt Disney World family of resorts. Yes, it will be crowded and loud, and yes we will have to wait for buses every time we want to go somewhere, but in the end, we think it will all be worth it
A typical room at the Polynesian (complete with balcony!)
As for the Polynesian, it really just didn’t make sense to spend THAT much more for a room that we will basically only be sleeping in. It is a beautiful resort, and we hope to someday be able to stay there, and I know there are tons of people out there who won’t stay anywhere else, but for now? We will keep visiting and hoping for our big lottery win, so that someday we can experience all the beauty and amenities a Deluxe Resort like the Polynesian has to offer
Most of all, we are just excited to be going to the Happiest Place On Earth!
Here is an official video
http://youtu.be/GW8fCs9a8Qc
Here is a fact sheet
http://allears.net/acc/faq_artan.htm
I hope these help a little. I am excited for you – I think it’s going to be an awesome trip!!
this is great thanks for the info!! And I am excited too – the thrill of staying at a new resort is the best!!
Very exciting!! When faced with this dilemma, I say, “Why choose”? Split the difference, and stay a few nights at each. That way you save some money, get to check out the new resort, and still experience the luxury of the Polynesian. And you can plan your days based on which resort you’re in. When you’re at the Polynesian, you hop on the Monorail to Magic Kingdom, and when at Art of Animation, you visit Animal Kingdom. Oh, and always end the trip with the Deluxe. It’s better to step up than down, and it leaves you with even more to look forward to! Have a great trip!
Dawn that is an interesting idea and I thank you for suggesting it!! It is something I will loOk into. What a great way to get the best of both worlds!! And I agree I would want to end with the Polynesian ha! Im going to research this option today!!
The other thing to consider – if you’re going in September and stay 5 nights you may be eligible for free dining. Shoot me an email if you’d like a hand with the planning!
Ha yeah it’s for 2013, but I am still hoping for free dining – last year that allowed us to upgrade to Moderate and we stayed at POFQ and ADORED it!!! Thanks for the offer I just may take you up on it!!
I love playing the pros and cons game! For me I would never have considered staying at a value resort as I love the themes of the deluxes…but Art has now made me question that…can’t wait to start seeing some reviews from actual real guests when it opens
Emma I agree with you I also can’t wait to hear what actual guests have to say about the new art of animation resort! And lucky you only staying at deluxe resorts ha, they are all so lovely!!
Hah – never mind – just noticed 2013! You’re really planning in advance!