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Category Archives: Resorts
Ask Us a Disney Question: Late summer or early fall & which hotel is right for us?
Two questions (both for Disney World):
Which is the better month to go for a week in terms of being less crowded August or September?
We looked into all the hotels on the property and we thought Disney World Swan or Dolphin would be the most reasonable, good location, and best for pools and adults? Is that about accurate?
-Eric
Thanks, Eric! I think I can help you with both of your questions.
I can easily answer your first question: September. Especially in areas of the United States like the northeast, there are many schools that do not return for the Fall until after Labor Day so there are still lots of vacationers visiting Walt Disney World resort in August. That being said, August is historically less crowded than June or July so if you do decide to go for summer that would be the best month. On top of lower crowds in September you will also have Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and if you are there at the end of the month Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival.
The second part of your question is a little harder to address. Mainly because I do not think Swan and Dolphin are the best choice for adults or for the Epcot resort area in general, on the contrary, they would probably be my last choice. Let me explain. Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin hotels are not owned directly by Disney, which means that while they are located on Disney property and can be booked through Walt Disney Travel Company they do not have the same perks that Disney-owned hotels do and lack a little of the magic. The only theme park perks you get at these hotels is the ability to take advantage of Disney’s Magical Express (free airport transfers to and from hotel) and Extra Magic Hours (extra admission time before and after park openings set aside for guests staying at Disney World hotels). You would lose the chance to book any of the Disney Dining plans with your vacation, set up your Key to the World (room key) to include charging to your room, and you would not be able to send your purchases from the parks to your room as you do in other hotels.
If you are looking for a hotel in a good location with a great pool for adults, based on your choice of the Epcot resort area I would suggest either Disney’s Beach Club or Yacht Club. These adjacent resorts have an Atlantic seaboard feel and the Stormalong Bay pool is beautiful. It has a real sand-bottom as well as some nice water features. Yacht Club & Beach Club offer beautiful views and a short walk from Disney’s Boardwalk. Your access to Epcot is so amazing that when my husband and I stayed here we chose to walk through Epcot to monorail over to Magic Kingdom instead of waiting for the buses!
Now, that being said, a lot of people feel that Disney World’s deluxe resorts are not reasonably priced. If you look into the prices and feel it is too steep I would suggest looking into the Disney World moderate resorts. Both Port Orleans and Caribbean Beach have pretty short bus rides to all theme parks and offer beautiful themes that spill over into their relaxing pool areas. They are also larger resorts which helps give you more privacy.
If you have any other questions please feel free to Ask Us a Disney Question!
Top 5 Best WDW Pools
With summer just around the corner and the temperatures climbing steadily, I’m thinking about ways to cool off! Fortunately, Walt Disney World is home to some awesome pools to provide some relief from the heat. Check out my Top 5 Best WDW Pools!
1. Stormalong Bay-This pool, located at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, is like a mini-water park! The pool is gigantic with a sand-bottom which is a big hit with guests. There is also a lazy river and a waterslide resembling a fallen ship’s mast! Obviously, this pool is on a whole other level and is definitely the best pool at WDW.
2.Nanea Volacano Pool-The Polynesian’s pool is a big favorite. Here you swim in the shadow of an erupting volcano which also serves as a slide! This pool also features a beach entry, which means you can walk right into the pool, along with a waterfall as well. There’s also a childrens water jet play area nearby for more fun. If that all wasn’t cool enough, head to the pool at night to see Wishes over the Magic Kingdom and the Electrical Water Pageant from your pool.
3. Uzima Pool-Animal Kingdom Lodge’s main pool is 11,000 square feet! Uzima Pool also features a beach entry, as well as a water slide and nearby hot tubs for guests who either want to cool off or relax. Sometimes you can even see animals from the pool! This is a beautiful pool for a beautiful resort and popular with many guests.
4. Luna Park Pool-This pool at the Boardwalk Inn has a carnival, circus theme with an awesome slide called the Keister Coaster. This is a great pool for kids; but adults are also known to enjoy it too! Many guests say that this pool is one of the best things about the Boardwalk Inn so be sure to consider it on your next trip.
5. Bowling Pin Pool-Located at Pop Century, this underrated pool at a value resort may seem like an odd choice. However, as many guests are budget conscious, value resorts are popular resort destinations with some really great pools. Pop Century’s bowling pin pool is literally shaped like a bowling pin, a feature which both adults and kids find to be really cool! The scenery is also great with a giant jukebox towering at one end of the pool. The bowling pin pool is also very clean and often less crowded than the 60′s Hippy Dippy Pool which everyone seems to flock to.
Now it’s your turn to tell us what your favorite pool at WDW is. Did yours make our list?
For more on the Disney Pools check out these articles:
Disneyland Paris: Hotel Santa Fe Review
This sign invites you to the Hotel Santa Fe
I was very excited about the Hotel Santa Fe when I researched Disney resorts at Disneyland Paris. The photos, the overall theme and concept, it all looked very cool. It’s not. I am very glad I went to all the Disney resorts and spent several days exploring them before staying at Disneyland Paris for a week long vacation.
I would consider the Hotel Santa Fe a value resort if you are comparing it to a Walt Disney World resort in Orlando. Also you need to understand that prices are much higher in France than in the US and with the weak US dollar it is even worse.
It is not quite this bad but a comparison to staying at a Motel 6 and paying the same price as the Grand Floridian is not far off.
To get a feel for the resort you need to watch the video and decide for yourself.
This hotel is about a 15 minute walk to the park. It is basically located behind the Sequoia Lodge. There is also bus transportation to the parks, but it’s probably faster just to walk.
The front desk area at the Hotel Santa Fe
As a guest you would arrive most likely by bus to the main check in building. Buses pick up at the RER station. This main build is a long narrow building with neon signs surrounded by pavement and a large parking lot in front and behind. The lobby is really just an area to get into a que line and either check in or check out. There is a character photo spot to the left when you walk in to take photos with one of the Disney Characters at set times.
This is really a cool photo, but it's about the only one in the area
There is a long narrow cement floor hallway, like you probably remember from your high school, that has a small arcade, restrooms, and a Disney shop. The hallway ends at a buffet style restaurant that looks almost like a slightly smaller Peppers Market from Disney’s Coronado Spring in Orlando. For breakfast each station in this food court has baskets filled with packets of butter, packets of jam, and more packets of butter.
Maybe I should have gotten the slice of ham
There is a spot that has hard rolls and small Chocolate croissants, a tray with some slices of ham, and three kinds of cereal. There is also some cubes of cheese. That’s it. It’s amusing walking around this massive space from station to station to see how many different ways packets of butter can be displayed. This “breakfast” is included in your stay. At lunch time these same stations offer a buffet for about 22 – 26 euros a person so $33 – $35
The Bridge from Hotel Santa Fe toward the parks
The worse part is the resort itself. It consists of outside lodge buildings that from the outside need a great deal of maintenance. Some building have graffiti, most the paint is coming off, or are very cracked. The grounds have signs that are old and falling apart, or covered in dirt and grime, Non of the water features, streams, ponds etc work, the landscaping, what little there is, is not maintained in some areas and some areas are just weeds.
I personally can not recommend anyone ever stay here.
Below are some photos of the resort but to get a true feeling for it you have to be there. It’s very sad. It’s hard to believe this is a Disney resort. Maybe a year from now things will be different at Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe, but I spent two days here and walking every inch of this property and just can not recommend this resort to anyone.
Parking and your lodge buildings
The entrance to one of the large lodge buildings
Related articles
- Howdy Folks, Come along to Disney’s Hotel Cheyenne (chipandco.com)
- Disneyland Paris: Resort Review Series – Hotel NY (chipandco.com)
Disneyland Paris: Resort Review Series – Hotel NY
I toured the Disneyland Paris Resorts (DLPR) this week and have put together a review, or more of a pictorial of these different unique resorts. The first resort I visited was Disney’s Hotel NY.
Disney's Hotel NY Ice Skating Rink (uses fake ice)
To give you a little background about the Disneyland Paris Resort area let me explain a little bit about how the resorts are laid out. The majority of the Disney resorts are around Lake Disney. If you come to the DLPR via the RER A train from Paris you arrive right in the center of the action. To your immediate right is the Disney Village and just though the Disney Village is Lake Disney and Disney’s Hotel NY.
You can walk to both Disneyland Parks from all the Disney Resorts, except from Disney’s Davy Crockett Ranch which is a Ft. Wilderness like area with Cabins that is away from the main park.
So just like Disneyland you can walk from your Disney resort to all the entertainment options and parks.
Disneyland Paris Map
The first hotel you come to on Lake Disney is the Hotel NY. It is at one end of the rectangular shaped lake Disney and Disney’s New Port Bay Club is at the other end. The longer sides of the rectangular lake have the Disney Village on one side and the Sequoia Lodge on the other.
Disney's Hotel NY on Lake Disney
When you enter Disney’s NY Hotel from the back, lake side, you first see a large skating rink. The skating rink is made out of fake ice, sort of like the white plastic some cutting boards are made of. There are fountains close to the hotel entrance and modern architecture with earth tones and symmetrical square windows are prominent in the design. If you are familiar with Team Disney at Disney World, this building has a similar feel. The building is constructed to give a modern NY City skyline type feel while using earth tone colors.
I would consider this hotel a deluxe resort when compared to Disney World. The resort has several table service restaurants, a gift shop, indoor pool, and a convention center. I also want to mention that there is an indoor pool which I did not get photos of but will try to on my next trip to the resort.
The inside of the Hotel NY does carry the NY theme. There are large NY Mets and Yankees logos on the floor, framed artwork of NY landmarks and the different bars, restaurants and entertainment areas all are names after locations in NY.
The Main Lobby and Check in Area at the Hotel NY
I did not spend the night at the Hotel NY so I can not comment on the rooms. My overall impression is the hotel is nice, has a fun theme, is clean, and being a Disney resort hotel it put you right there in the action.
Now Prices in Paris are more than at Walt Disney World, so you should except to pay more for your room, meals, and other entertainment at Disneyland Paris.
It is difficult to not always compare Disney World and Disneyland in CA to Disneyland Paris. DLPR is different. I did not get that WOW factor when I walked in like you would get at the Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, etc. It is not that the Hotel NY is not nice, it’s different because it’s in Paris. The hotel spaces are mostly one floor so you do not walk into an expansive lobby.
Photo Tour:
There is a Character Spot at Each deluxe resort for autographs and photos. A Disney Photographer is there and you can take photos also.
Disney's Hotel NY City Bar
A play area for kids while you wait for your reservation. Nice Touch!
There is a small Disney Shop with Disney merchandise for sale
Part of the convention center
By the skating rink at the Disney Hotel NY
Also see the Disney’s Hotel NY Video.
Join me tomorrow for another Disneyland Paris Resort Review.
au revoir,
Steve Griswold
Also See: The How to Get to Disneyland Paris Article and Video
Pixie Vacations | www.PixieVacations.com | 678-815-1584 | Info@PixieVacations.com
Disneyland Hotel Debuts New Pool Area and Dining Locations
Disneyland Resort today announced the completion of significant upgrades to the Disneyland Hotel, marking a milestone in the landmark property’s current renovation project. A new courtyard, restaurant, bar, pool and water play area add immersive experiences to a Disneyland Resort vacation.
“This exciting renovation extends the immersion and magic of our park experience to this classic hotel,” said Tony Bruno, vice president Resort hotels and Downtown Disney. “We’ve woven important pieces of Disneyland park history into the Disneyland Hotel, particularly with the reopening of the pool and courtyard area. These nostalgic enhancements not only highlight the hotel’s unique heritage, but also our continued investment in the guest experience and our ongoing work to evolve the Resort and Anaheim into a world-class, multiday tourist destination.”
New Iconic Dining Locations
Tangaroa Terrace, a “fast casual” restaurant, and Trader Sam’s – Enchanted Tiki Bar take their architectural cue from the original Tahitian Terrace restaurant in Disneyland park and the Polynesian/Tiki architecture that was popular during the early era of the original hotel. Tangaroa Terrace features Island-inspired fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner including cinnamon-spiced oatmeal cakes with Island fruit compote, Hawaiian and Kalua pork flatbreads, and miso-glazed salmon, along with a selection of sandwiches, salads and “grab-and-go” items. Guests use an innovative, easy-to-use touch screen to select menu items, which are prepared to order and delivered to their tables either inside or on the large outdoor patio.
Trader Sam’s – Enchanted Tiki Bar, named after Trader Sam, Disney’s Jungle Cruise “Head” Salesman, recounts the story of his worldly travels through the artifacts and memorabilia he collected along the way. The bar features interactive special effects blended with classic Disney storytelling. Trader Sam’s serves a mix of signature cocktails such as the flaming Uh Oa, Shipwreck Island — perfect for sharing — and the Hippopotamai Tai. The creative appetizer selection includes panko-crusted Chinese long beans with Sriracha mayonnaise and tamarind-glazed Island pork shanks with green papaya slaw.
Rounding out the tropical experience, Trader Sam’s features live music performed on the patio each evening.
Guests also can relax next to a large, outdoor stone fireplace or enjoy the view of the new Cascade Falls and Old Unfaithful, both of which are reflective of the former Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland attraction in Disneyland park.
New Immersive Pool Experience
Guests of all ages can now enjoy a new, immersive water play area. With a nod to the iconic original park signage, “Disneyland” is spelled out in familiar blocks atop a platform supporting two thrilling water slides. Reminiscent of the original Monorail station at the Disneyland Hotel, at each slide’s entrance sits a replica Monorail Car that guests glide through as they twist and turn their way to the water below. The larger of the two main slides sits 26 feet high and stretches 187 feet, until it plunges into a splash pool. The second slide is 13 feet high and 112 feet long. For younger guests, the area includes a third, two-lane mini-slide that sits just 3 ½ feet high and is 19 feet long, as well as a series of small bubble jets in which to play.
A new, “D Ticket”-themed, 4-foot-deep pool is situated next to the new Monorail water play area. The “D Ticket” theme ties in the historic ticket books that were used in the early days of Disneyland to experience attractions, where each ticket received a letter assignment. In late 2011, the “E Ticket” pool will open at the Never Land pool site, which currently is under renovation.
The new pool area also features a Minnie Mouse-themed spa, which will match a Mickey-themed spa that is scheduled to open with the “E-Ticket” pool. In addition, three new cabanas are available; each features a flat screen TV, refrigerator, safe, phone, and ceiling fan.
New Themed Suites
The Disneyland Hotel boasts a unique collection of suites including the Mickey Mouse Penthouse, and the Pirates of the Caribbean and Fairly Tale suites. The newest additions are the Adventureland Suite, which offers guests a two-bedroom hideaway complete with a grotto in the master bathroom that simulates various settings through light and sound effects, including a rain forest and African savanna, and the Big Thunder Suite, where up to six pioneers are immersed in luxurious rustic accommodations inspired by Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disneyland park.
Guest Towers
In June, the hotel’s three guest room towers are being renamed for the distinctive lands of Disneyland. The Dreams Tower is becoming the Adventure Tower, and the Wonder Tower will become the Frontier Tower. Finally, the Magic Tower, which will be finished in late 2011, will transform to the Fantasy Tower. At the entrance of each tower, large marquees will feature classic artwork of Adventureland, Frontierland and Fantasyland identifying each building.
The Disneyland Hotel renovation is now nearing completion of its two-year transformation. The beautifully remodeled guest rooms feature exquisite Disney touches woven into the décor including a stunning new headboard with an artistically carved representation of Disneyland park’s famous Sleeping Beauty Castle, which serves as the focal point in each guest room. The background on the headboard uses fiber optics to create a magical skyline with fireworks – bringing the immersive park experience into the room. Along with the E-Ticket pool, main lobby and port cochere of the Fantasy Tower, the façade of the hotel’s convention center also will be completed.
The work at the Disneyland Hotel is a part of a larger expansion project underway throughout the Resort. Disney California Adventure park is undergoing a multiyear expansion project that includes new experiences, attractions and nighttime spectaculars, culminating in 2012 with the opening of Cars Land. The four-diamond Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa also underwent an expansion in 2009 that added 203 hotel rooms and 50 two-bedroom villas that are part of the Disney Vacation Club, marking the club’s West Coast debut.
Related articles
- New Pool Opening This Weekend at Disneyland Hotel (chipandco.com)
- Disneyland Planning for Disney World veterans (chipandco.com)
