The Best Features of Disney Resorts - Which One Would you Choose?

Planning your next Walt Disney World holiday and can’t decide where to stay? 🏰✨Tonight, we are helping you find your perfect match by ranking the best Disney World resorts based on what really matters!We’ll look at:🌍 Location & Transport🍔 Food & Dining Options🏊‍♀️ Pools & Recreation🌴 Atmosphere & Vibe💰 Overall ValueFrom the monorail resorts to hidden gems off the Skyliner route, we’re sharing our personal favourites, experiences, and tips to help you plan your next magical stay.

Hope you Enjoy the Show.

Episode Transcript

(00:09):
Welcome to the Great British Nikki Waffle Live.
It's mid-october and we have a great topic to cover today as we
will be discussing some of our favorite resorts and their
features. So grab a drink and a snack,
because food will absolutely be mentioned and welcome to the
show. Hello, it is a Wednesday but

(00:56):
it's also the 15th of the month,which means we have a bog off
deal for you today. We are live.
And also can you talk about thatmaybe?
It cleared that up for some people, 'cause that might, that
people might is. That not enough?
That's right. So exciting to us, you know.
Hey, buy one, get one free. We're also live and we have a

(01:18):
podcast out. So the podcast this morning that
dropped is a fantastic question and answer session.
That was a new thing for us. So have a listen and then watch
this space because I'm sure we'll repeat it again in the
future and send us your questions.
So round the virtual table this evening, we've got Ben Becker,
John and Simon. Welcome everybody.

(01:42):
How is everyone? Good.
It's a Wednesday, so we're. Getting.
Halfway through the week. Right, hub day almost over.
Yeah, I'm missing traitors, I know.
Yeah, if we're not there, if I'msorry not to talk.
About that if everyone disappears halfway through the
show at 9:00. Yeah, we know why I'll be

(02:04):
watching. I'll be watching and seeing that
if it drops and things like thatwhen Traitor starts.
Yeah. And we'll, we'll, we'll e-mail.
You we know. We know your moves.
We understand. Do you know what I see got some
great friends in the chat already.
So we've got Heather was here before Simon I.
Think John was here before Simonas well.

(02:26):
Yeah, and Wendy as well, possibly so.
Everyone. Welcome in with Colton and he
has some Cheetos, Colton and you've got the crunchy Cheetos
or the like ones like like cheese puffs.
I need to know the difference because the crunchy ones are and
the flaming hot crunchy ones allthe way forward.

(02:46):
And Kenny is here. And John.
Just joins us as well. Hi, John.
Good to see you. Great friends in the chat
tonight, yeah? It's really good.
Can we just go back a step, Claire, because actually the mid
the mid month podcast actually was a really, it was something
quite unique. And I actually, I've said this

(03:08):
before, but when, when your eldest son is your biggest
critic and he texts to say that was a really great podcast.
And I'm like, oh, here we go, we're on.
We're on to something. But what he actually recognized,
I think something that Ben Becker and I did when we were
doing it, the questions were so good that we actually couldn't

(03:30):
answer them all in such an arrayof detail.
But we actually know that there's some of the questions
that we will come back to and wewill revisit either of the
podcast or as a Wednesday because the questions were so
good. We didn't want to keep it under
a four hour show. Oh, we could have gone.
We really could have gone, couldn't we?

(03:50):
And yeah, you know, it was so. It was so cool.
So, right, you say, Claire, the very fact that, you know, I
think already we're already sortof excited by that, by that
podcast, it means that it, it breathes life into what we will
produce in the future. And I'm pretty sure we did touch
upon villas and I think that sort of will go alongside what

(04:13):
we're going to talk about tonight as well.
So that the villa idea, I think once we get the the logistics
involved in it could end up being quite a quite a lengthy
episode as well. Again, so before we get to the
subjects, we're going to just cover 2 quick news things.
And it's not the news things that you think we're going to

(04:34):
cover. We're not covering that.
Ben news. Where's the graphic?
You didn't see me frantically pressing the mouse and.
It wasn't, I mean. Seriously can't get a staff

(04:55):
these days. Saint Robin's not here, but the
first. Oh.
Well, this isn't about. We missed this last week and
when I saw it, I was like, we didn't talk about this last week
and we absolutely should have done So the thing that I've
picked up that we we missed is that there is some amazing

(05:15):
chicken strip news. Yes, chicken strip is what I
said. So Disney has created 13 new
saucy chicken strips for you to enjoy in a Walt Disney World.
There you are. I I want to know how they come
up with these. Did they just like ask AI
ChatGPT give me 13 versions of chicken tenders and.

(05:39):
I mean, I haven't actually looked at this after.
They're like all different flavours.
Yeah, so they call them sauced. I think saucy is better and and
there is. A saucy chicken.
Strip. Yeah.
I feel like this is a very different.
Channel who fancies A saucy strip and.
You're under saucy fingers then,then.

(06:00):
Thank you, Simon. Nice to have you here.
Welcome everyone and. They're in a variety of
different places in Walt Disney World.
So there is honey Buffalo chicken strips and ranch
dressing there at the Backfoot Express, the sweet chicken Naoli
chicken strips, and they are in a multi.
They're in lots of different places.
So these are like chicken stripsthat have got either saw saw

(06:22):
some stuff on them, not just thenormal Disney chicken strips.
There's one that caught my eye was the waffle cone.
Right. And that seems to be at
Restaurant Thesaurus, which I'm not sure anyone who goes there
deliberately, but maybe they will know I.
Was surprised it's still around.Surely they're going to be
closing. It they're going to go to
Harambee market and I. Think they introduced something
new and it's closing. Yeah, I think it will ride

(06:45):
across so I must admit. And they also have them at the
Beaches Pool bar, which is the pool bar at the Grand Flow,
isn't it, John? That's the one that you
frequented last summer, that he.Frequented.
Well, for the 48 hours you were there, still quite a lot of it.
I have no idea what it's told. It's just I just knew they did
because they just did a good sangria that wasn't about.
It was. It's like, yeah, bring it over

(07:06):
at the. Second, there's also Buffalo
chicken strips, which are cosmicrays, so if you feel like
you've, you need to go. Brisk yourself and.
The ones that I thought sounded amazing, the lemon pepper
Parmesan chicken. Yeah, they are at Panacio's
village house. They look really good.

(07:26):
Over at Captain Cook's and everything Pop.
There are some goju Jiang glazedchicken strips.
So going to Korean. That's for me, that one.
That's, yeah, spicy Korean chicken strips.
We've got spicy, spicy strips aswell as saucy strips.
Like surprise to the amount of chicken strips I've just.

(07:49):
It's and the the words chicken strips are now standing a bit
strange to me because we've saidit so many times, but you can at
least say something too many times.
There's also BBQ chicken strips.I'm not going to even go there
with pineapple salsa. And they're a variety of
different places over Portland, Riverside and Gasparilla Grill.

(08:10):
The Mara as a roasted jalapeno cheddar chicken strip over at
Good at Elki West and spicy ranch ones at the Contempo Cafe.
You know, there's so many different options.
I'm not sure about the seaside chicken strips.
They've got their seasons with the seasoned aioli, crushed

(08:30):
pretzels and garlic that apparently makes you feel like
you're sitting at the waterside.I'm not sure those things make
me feel like I'm sitting. But they do sound nice.
I just think it's to be honest with you, I actually think to do
something different with this. Like we all like the standard
Disney chicken strips and we're all summer when we were there

(08:50):
and we're going to be work and we went to cast connections.
We bought the enormous fruit bagfrom the freezers.
It cast connections or chicken strips that are it was like 399
or something for a bag of like 250 frozen chicken strips.
The ones they said, right, it had to be done and we had them

(09:13):
in the freezer in the villa justin case someone was hungry.
But actually no one was that hungry, I have to say.
But they and I just think to to plus them and to offer something
different is is amazing. I actually think that it's it's
quite a good idea. You can still get the fame ones,
but you know those lemon Parmesan ones that I might have

(09:35):
to give them a go in December. I feel sorry for chicken guy out
of all of this. Well, their chicken strips are a
bit different, no anyway. Their chicken strips are the
same, you just have a different source that you can dip in.
These are covered in the sauce. Yeah.
I'm. Impressed that John Self has
actually tried all the differentflavours.
I know. I'm pretty sure it'll have

(09:57):
written about it as well, so. Which were the best ones?
John? Tell us which you like the most.
Which strip did you like the most?
See, I get myself into trouble in these situations.
It's like when you have a raffleand you say how much is it?
And the person selling tickets goes, they're a pound, a strip.
And I have. To reply with something, Yeah.

(10:24):
So let's move on from chicken strips.
And then you notice some exciting permit news.
Well, we always like a bit of permit news here, don't we?
And there's news where they've given us a map basically of a
new permit that the Magic Kingdom.
So you can see the area that is going to be covering where cars

(10:44):
land and villains. The the area that used to have
Tom Sawyers Island and the riverfront actually was
beautiful for that particular part of that.
But but go on. It looks lovely in blue, as
anyone watching on on YouTube will understand because we've
got a picture. But those on the podcast, I'm
sorry, I'm not going to. Describe it very well, but it's

(11:05):
very blue, yes. It looks just like water.
I I said that if he turned it 90° anticlockwise, it would look
like Wreck It Ralph punching a hole in Magic Kingdom.
Probably right? If you can't see it, go to
YouTube and you'll see the picture.
And then if you want more information as well, I'm just
reading it on blogmickey.com, but they've got all of the more

(11:27):
details of like the drain lines and all the sort of the pipe
work and everything and all the sort of stuff that might
interest anyone who's more focused on this expansion.
All the. Stuff that you you would have
thought that they would have thought about months and months
ago before they shot the whole thing.
I think I said this and I wasn'trant about it, but actually the

(11:47):
water course in that particular area took all the drainage from
the park and it basically went out that way.
So where it's going to go to now, who knows?
That Brown River running throughLiberty.
Yeah, yeah, it could be a realistic feature in the future.
Who knows? That's that's steaming.
That's what it. Is.

(12:08):
Oh yeah, that's obviously. Yeah, I forgot that one.
At no cost to Disney. Yeah.
Anyway, that's all of our news this week.
We are going to move on and havea chat about resorts now.
I, I take full responsibility for this idea today.
And I was thinking about the fact that some of you may be
thinking about the trips that you're taking next and whether

(12:30):
that is soon or, you know, two years in the future.
One of the things that always comes up and I've seen lots of
posts on forums and, you know, social media is which resort to
book. And I think one of one of the
challenges is when you're planning a trip to Walt Disney
World, there's so many differentresorts if you're going to stay

(12:50):
on site and they all offer something different.
They're all at a different pricepoint.
They've all got different features.
And so sometimes trying to decide which is the right resort
for you and the people in your party, whether you're a solo
traveller or a family, it can bereally difficult.
So today we're going to have a conversation about which resorts
have some amazing facilities andhelp you make an important

(13:14):
decision maybe and by that with rather than going by price
categories, I know before peoplehave talked, you know, we've
talked about value resorts and moderate resorts and deluxe
resorts and then deluxe resorts actually we're going to talk
about which resorts have a specific good thing, so.
I think that you can't start today, isn't?
It exactly and I think for me it's about what's important to

(13:37):
you when you're booking your trip.
What's the one, what's the thingthat would make you want to stay
somewhere over somewhere else. I'm not probably not explaining
it very well. It's going to be easier as we
go, so. Can I add as well, Claire, and I
think this is what maybe this ismaybe where people just
factoring in from the from the outset is the cost value of is

(13:58):
actually going to be the most pertinent point at which you
begin. Because if you if you have got a
budget for accommodation. And again, we brought this up in
the in the mid month podcast as well.
When we're talking about villas etcetera, you need to be very
aware of what your per night cost is going to be.
Because actually when it comes to it, that will take out a huge

(14:21):
amount of your budget and whether or not you can actually
afford to stay on site or go offsite will actually be that
heartbreak. You will have to sit and have
that conversation because actually, yeah, yeah, we're just
going to focus on Disney, Disneyresorts.
And actually I don't think thereis, there isn't an actual out

(14:42):
and out correct answer to this because it'll depend on what
your budget is. That's that's what I think.
I think partly budget and partlywhat's the, what's the thing
that we've made? What's your must?
What's your must? Do yeah.
What's your resort 1? The amount of trips that we've
been on, every trip is slightly different, so we might want a
different thing for this trip because we've got a different

(15:02):
time of year from being a different place.
To exactly that, yeah, yeah. So it will become clear as we
talk. I think we're still.
Let's start with an easy one sheloves.
Which resort do we think have has the best transportation
options? And I'm talking of not talking

(15:24):
about from the airport to the resort.
I'm talking about within the Walt Disney World complex.
Where do we think has the best trans?
Which resort has the best transportation links?
And boy, it's like an interview.Stunning.
Apprentice and I think Boardwalk.
Oh, OK. You can walk about hot on

(15:47):
Hollywood Studios. Yeah, there's only one bus stop,
so you're not having to stop at multiple stops or unless, unless
it's sharing with Beach Club andYacht Club sometimes does during
the day. Yeah, it does, yeah.
I mean, it's not like Caribbean beach for example, you've got
multiple stops. It's just the one, the bus is

(16:07):
the fairly frequent and you've got quick access to the sky
liner as well and the boats. Yeah.
So you've got multiple differentchannels and it's walking
distance to two resort to. Yeah, OK, Yeah, See, I would
have gone with, I thought probably Caribbean beach because
that was one of the proxim because of the fact that's the

(16:28):
turning. That's the the point on the sky
liner where you have to get off anyway.
So actually it gives you direct access to Epcot and to Hollywood
Studios. But the difference is you then
got to get a bus to everywhere else.
I suppose it's no different to yeah.
I'm going to, I'm going to pitchthis the other way, right, And
say that I think, I think one ofthe hotels that has the worst

(16:49):
transport options is Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Yeah, it's distant. How large is?
The perception of distance is not much more than All Stars,
right? But it's just it feels further
from everything. Feels like you're a camper.
Yeah, great, if you want quiet. It's a good to get to Universal
than it is to get to Animal Kingdom Lodge.

(17:10):
Yeah. Yeah, even even going to Animal
Kingdom's not that great. You should be able to walk from
Animal Kingdom Lodge. I know there's animals in the
way but never understood why they.
Would make it would make sense. Yeah.
Yeah, but you, I hate your spot on, Simon.
I think that's that for me, thatfor me time and time again.
And we thought that I would go and say on Kingdom Lodge, it

(17:32):
doesn't, it just doesn't tie up because you have to get the bus
or you have to take the car or you don't have to take an Uber.
You might as well just. Go 5 minutes further and stay
offside. Yeah, I'll surprise.
And actually, I think, I think the bus situation at Animal
Kingdom Lodge feels like it's got worse.
It is. Every time we've stayed there,
it's been the worst experience on a bus you've had.

(17:53):
So I just can't just say, Sean, we know you're staying at Animal
Kingdom Lodge in just a few weeks time, but we hope you have
a lovely time and a wonderful day.
Yeah. It's only on transport, right?
As as a resort, I mean, it's oneof our DVC resorts.
Like I'm not going to, I'm not going to knock in that much.

(18:13):
The resort itself and the food and the, the, the limbs and
everything great. I just find it disappointing.
The transport's not better. But yeah, totally sure.
But it's just the transport. Yeah, Yeah, it is.
And I'm going to say something completely different, ongoing
Polynesian. It's on the monorail.
Loop monorail loop. Also if you want walk to TTC to

(18:35):
go to Epcot. Yeah, you've got to.
Run around that way, then you'vegot a ferry boat and you can
walk to the Grand and that way around Magic Kingdom if you
want. If you're up early for jet lag
that first morning. I just think it's it has
everything. Yeah, I think, I think, I think
Becca's argument of Boardwalk ispretty, pretty sound.
But you know. Yeah.
I think that having, I think thefeature of all of those is most,

(18:58):
they've all got multiple different transportation
objects, not just a bus because I actually, I love Coronado
Springs, but you can. Only get a bus.
And. It's nearly.
It's nearly. It's nearly Animal Kingdom
Lottery. It's it's on the same, but is it
a better location? But we'll come to that.
Yeah, can. I go back to your one Claire as

(19:19):
well because that's Caribbean beach because of the sky liner
actually becomes a much better resort.
Yeah. In just an instant, because
actually previously it was it was an absolute pain in the
backside to actually get to and from.
If you play, you know, if you play a little bit canny with

(19:41):
with the sky liner, you can actually get into Epcot quite
quickly. But even if you want to get to
other parts, you can actually walk through Epcot and then go
to Animal Kingdom or whatever. It just opens up Caribbean Beach
for the first time. And actually I think it as a, as
a moderate, it now has a much bigger appeal.

(20:05):
And particularly when you're coming from the UK, it seems to
get sold a little bit more to usat times, at certain times of
the year, which might help some people plan as well.
So. And I think because it's right,
it's the Riviera, I put the samesort of transportation options
in the same thing. It's it's as close to depends on
where you are at the Caribbean beach, depends how close you are

(20:27):
to the Skylanders station because it isn't a big resort.
Yeah, we did. We did that when we at Sebastian
session, we walked round from Caribbean beach to the Riviera
skits. Yeah, that's Skyliner.
It was closer. Yeah, OK.
Yeah. So next one, which resort has
the best food options? So that can be table service,

(20:48):
quick service, food court, but not including lounges at this
point. Just keep that in mind for
future. But food?
Options Animal Kingdom Lodge. Take forever to get there, but
the food's goods. What you do?
Yeah, there's. A farmers anarchico in my

(21:09):
service used to be there was days now but it's still a good.
I just think for when I look at all of the other places, there's
a few that have got like one good restaurant or one good
quick service. I haven't had bad food and
that's both the Kidani or Jambo house.

(21:29):
So as much as I hate one of the restaurants, I'm also going to
throw in the Contemporary because I think they've got
steak. Has 71 Contempo Cafe.
Chef Vicky's. Your favorite?
I was thinking about them, but then on the I don't remember

(21:50):
that I'm a signature restaurant there.
The Cali grill Cali grill it's. Gone downhill and.
I'm not saying I wasn't talking about the quality of the food, I
was talking about the options. Options.
I actually I would only out of those places, the only place I
would want to go is steak has 71.
But actually, what do you think in Tempo Cafe?
And it was fine. Just remarkable.

(22:12):
Going to throw out Polly if we're looking out for.
Heather in the chat has just said the Polly and I think you
know with the. There's characters while Lulu
Grill, they're all. Is that Canton as a lounge
maybe? It's more the bar bar grill
restaurants, isn't it? I'm going to put forward the

(22:32):
Grand Floridian just because I like, I like the restaurants
there. I used to love 1900 Park Buffet.
I've not been since it changed. But yeah, I love the quid
service there. It's got a couple of decent
table service. Grand Floridian Cafe is one of
our favourites for like brunch time.

(22:55):
So I I'd be torn between that and the Polynesian but.
Polynesian. Has just got some it's got.
It's got nice food there, yeah. I'm going to throw out Coronado
Springs as well. Well, yeah, we've got Toledo.
There's a Toledo, there's Three Bridges, there's Cafe Bricks,

(23:15):
there's. Rixpley.
Grammar Dye one grill. And then you.
Get you've got an amocado plus the quick service.
Yeah, they've got lots of options.
And then the. Food Marcelona Lounge and they
have a full of breakfast and some pastry.
There's quite a few. Nice, yeah.
I'm going to Chuck a different 1into the mix as well.

(23:36):
Just so you've all got a different.
Opposite. Just out, just out.
Well. We're eating.
A little bit the problem, the problem with the one I've got,
and that is the the food caught out of an animation.
Now I have not been there after COVID, so I don't quite know
whether or not it's still the same standard.
But it was the one thing that when we when we actually stayed

(23:56):
out of animation, it really surprised us.
Not just the choice of food, butthe quality of it and the price
point of it. So again, I've I've a read of
recent reviews because I haven't, but it was, it actually
surprised us and actually I think I actually think it was
one. I still go back to either New

(24:18):
England chowder and become, it remains one of the greatest
things I've ever eaten in Walt Disney World.
It was just beautiful. Don't think they do it at the
moment, but again, just something completely different
and it might just fit in with someone's budget just that
little bit more. But it's really easy to get sat
down. It was really easy to actually

(24:39):
as a family, if somebody wanted something different.
You were catered for quite readily.
And I think that was that was a real bonus when we went there.
Yeah, it's really hard to choose, isn't it?
I think Polly possibly is, you know, when you've got Crane
Cafe, Captain Cook's is amazing.I think, you know, Ahana, we've

(25:01):
talked about has maybe gone downhill a little bit recently,
but then you've got Wiley new ideas on I I guess that's got a
good spread. I don't, I don't know the
answer. I don't think there's, I don't
think there is one answer to us,but I think it's, it's good to
focus and, and you know, as Wendy says, there's too many
places to choose from and that'sa.
Good thing John's right. How many some votes?

(25:21):
Yeah, I agree. I that was that was on my list,
you know, with. Their topolinos prima piazzo.
Yeah, Pira Piazzo is amazing. I love my their vegan their
vegan breakfast. It's I had dreams about no.
But I haven't loved that. I feel like like a vegan

(25:43):
scramble there that I had dreamsabout before I went there.
Having had it, I couldn't wait to go back and have it again it.
Was the hair. It was.
Incredible. Do they have the vegan sausages
that they have up at Topolinos? Yes.
And the same ones they have, Thesame one that they have at Kona
Cafe? Yes.
I really like them. Yeah.
You like sausage? You like sausages, Clanos?
Vegan ones, yes. Any vegan?

(26:05):
Yeah, it's. Non meaty sausages.
I cannot continue this conversation, OK?
I'll just. I'm just.
Going to say, I'm just going to say thank you to John Self as
well because actually he's picked up on my point about of
animation and not being quite the same since 2020.
But we'll also say John. Yeah, I agree.

(26:26):
The ground flow signature dining, if that's what, if
that's what you're looking for actually, it really does surpass
an awful lot of other places as well.
And I think like Becca said earlier, I think if you look at
the signature dining, I think the Cali Grill doesn't quite
compare to what else is available on that monorail loop
as well. As many places we wouldn't go to

(26:47):
for food, I don't think there are.
So I'm going to say that everything pop left me
unenthused. I was going to say the All Star
food court. The thing is though, they do a
job. Let's face it, they are there
and they are functional. The food is fresh, it's hot.
There's nothing wrong with it. I just, I was a little bit it's.

(27:07):
Not something you go out of the way to go and have something
there other places. But you know what it at the end
of the day, if that, if that's where you're passing through on
the way to get to the bus, to get to break, you know, and
you're going to grab breakfast on the way past.
I also think that the food options at all Key West are not
amazing. Yeah.
Oh, you've just struck a button there, Claire I.

(27:29):
Think I know and. I, I can we can we include
Saratoga Springs in that as well?
Yeah, I. Think.
Really poor. Yeah, Olivia's has it, you know,
apparently has good days, but good food.
I can never say good food to go,which is just a window.

(27:49):
Terrible. Yeah, it's not great.
Yeah, I think the. Gurglings I mean go to see pace
is like a corridor so. I think the problem with both
those results, because they're so close to Disney Springs and a
lot of those, it's not an excuse, it's not an no.
I think they've just kind of gobble.
Everyone's going to go there anyway.
What's the point? Yeah, that's what's going wrong.
That's not the attitude you needto.

(28:11):
It's like they've gone, people are going to go Disney Springs,
so just save money and won't. Just won't bother trying, yeah?
I've got to say I was really disappointed with Saratoga and
I'm with old Key West, to be honest.
And we stayed in both, particularly when the kids were
younger. And you know, when you're
looking for, for something, you know, my kids have never been

(28:32):
fussy as in any way, shape or form.
So heaven forbid if you have a child that was fussy.
But it just wasn't the range though that you actually would
expect from a Disney hotel and and especially given the fact
that both of them are DVC based,you would assume.
Well, maybe that's why they're not.
People are cooking in that they've got full kitchen, so

(28:54):
they're. Going to the original plan was
for, yeah, people to be sort of cooking at home, but because
anytime we've stayed there, we've just, or more recently had
a car. So when we say the next time
it'll be like I'm eating off site, I wouldn't be using that
resort as a place to go for food.
No. OK, next choice.

(29:17):
The best pool? Oh, yacht on beach by a country
mile. And I know and I know your
Millie didn't like the sand bottom pool there, but I
actually love. I should come round to that.
I should come round to that. I like the pool because I like
watching people getting off the the the tubes of the lazy river
and not realizing it's 8 foot deep and disappear.

(29:40):
That made me I, I think, you know, like storm Long Bay is
amazing. I don't know if it's the best.
I loved it. I think for me, Polynesian, the
choice of pools that you've got there from new on the Island

(30:01):
Tower, yes, you've got the one by that sort of them granite,
the great ceremony house, which is really busy.
But then when you head towards sort of the DVC section, there's
another quiet all, and I just think that would be where I
would be going. Sean's comment just made me
laugh. Boardwalk pool has improved

(30:23):
since they got rid of the clown that you.
Vomit. Yeah.
That. Clown was we probably didn't
like it, we. Booked hall and garden view the
first time we stayed there and Ihad nightmares thinking like no
I'm so glad that we weren't we. Take garden in a in a Yeah, a
film. A Stephen King film?
No thanks. It's enough to know you've got

(30:45):
those nanny chairs in. The I actually think that, and
this is controversial after our last conversation, I quite like
the pools Old Key West because there are three, four different
pools and there's one that suitseveryone and they're close to
your room, so you haven't got a traipse all the way across the

(31:05):
resort to get to it. The main pool is quite nice.
It's a slide. There's a kids area, there's a
good hot tub and a good sauna inside the lighthouse And the,
you know, I think that there's plenty of deck space and it's
never too busy. And the pool at Turtle Pond is

(31:25):
great. There's a there's a bar there,
there's lots of shade. I think for me I quite like the
old Key West pools. Now good call, I'm buddy on that
I. Didn't do the big slide and.
Again, I would also run Saratogainto that I'd not hadn't thought
a range of different. Pools.
See, I'd argue against Sarah Tiger every time we've been to

(31:46):
the multiple pools there. Sorry, busy.
You could barely get a say. OK.
Last last time I stayed in Saratoga, we were in one of the
DVC blocks and the pool it was, it was crazy hot because it was
July, but the pool was like getting in a bath.
So it was like I was in a bath with a lot of friends.

(32:07):
It was it. Was just too warm.
Who weren't my friends and it was just it was too warm for
some reason. It was it was as warm in the
pool as being sat out in the sun.
It just felt bizarre. That's so.
Funny that's it is a. Lot of stuff.
It's the random strangers. Oh yeah, that doesn't sound like

(32:29):
fun. Yeah.
It goes down my list. I think, you know, everyone's
immediate responses always be onBeach Club and I think for for a
really good reason. There, so I can't comment, yeah.
Yeah, Rodney Stilage actually isquite the one at Copper Creek's
always busy, but the one at Boulder Ridge is the one to go

(32:50):
to. Every time we've been by, it's
always been empty. Yeah.
Well, controversial one on that one.
OK, so the next category that I wanted to touch on was the best
resort for room choices. Not room size or what they look

(33:12):
like, but they're having lots ofdifferent categories of rooms
and so different options for different groups of travellers.
So whether that be a family of four, a family of five, a solo
traveller, a couple, what's got club level, what's got, you
know, family suites, things likethat.
So what do we, what do we think in terms of if you needed

(33:34):
something other than a standard king room or two queen room?
I never keep saying it. My brain just went to Polynesia.
I was going to say because you've got the two bathrooms.
But you've also got the new tower rooms.
So. You've got a separate shower and
you've got. Yeah, there's.
New Tower has got the duo studios, the normal studios, the

(33:55):
one bedrooms, 2 bedrooms. There are three bedrooms in the
normal collar, no? I think it's two-bedroom.
But it's also got. Bungalows.
It's got bungalows, which have also got the studios, 1-2
bedrooms and I think it's got club rooms as well, yeah.
So what about? So I would say I was going to
throw Coronado because you've got the standard village rooms

(34:19):
which are two queen room, 2 queen beds and you know, you're
asleep, they sleep well. They don't have a pull down the
tower rooms. You've got lots of categories.
So you've got a king, you've gota queen to get king to.
In the village you've also got aking as well and you've got like
prorated views as well and. And you've got, you've got club
level in, in Aristino as well ata moderate price.

(34:45):
So and. Possibly throw out Art of
Animation and it doesn't have the club room but it does have
the family rooms. It does, yeah.
Yeah. Family, that was that.
Was the one I was thinking of back there as just a different
kind of option and just sort of changing the the changing the
way out. And actually, I must admit the

(35:06):
beds, they were pretty impressive and actually more
comfortable than going to Port Orleans as well.
The rooms are on a par with and I don't like being on the
corridor with the bedroom. You know, basically your room
door with. Things up.

(35:27):
Yeah, it's just sort of, it's a really weird sort of thing.
Called Powell and Old Key West. Again, that's got studios 123
bed yeah, golf view as well yes and then the other place I was
going to mention was All Star music, which does the standard

(35:49):
room, but they also double them up and make a family suite.
So that's basically 2 rooms of the interconnecting door, but
you get the two bathrooms as well.
And they're really, really well priced actually.
So if you were thinking of Art of Animation because you needed
that space, then it's worth looking at the family rooms that
are All Star Music as well because actually they might be

(36:10):
more cost effective. I think I think you know, there,
there aren't huge numbers of them, but they are there.
So I think there are some results that have only got
standard king or 22 twin room. Think Portland's French Quarter
perhaps is only standard? Yeah, it's quite limited.

(36:34):
There's only nine family suites.Wow.
See this out here. Yeah, that's not very many.
You'd have to be quick to get one of them.
Yeah, yeah, I think, you know, there are there are lots of
resorts with different options and I think there's there's
plenty that have got like pull down beds as well.
So actually looking at a 2 bedroom resort at Saratoga or

(36:56):
Boardwalk, they actually sleep up to nine people.
They've got to be pretty friendly, but at that sort of
price point, especially if you're renting DVC points.
We we did, we did the tour Riviera where we got all, all
the room types and you got from like the our studio where you
can fairly swing a cat. So when like the three British
grand villa over 2 floors which has its own doorbell.

(37:19):
Amazing. I think the grand villas at the
Animal Kingdom Lodge are pretty impressive.
I've seen a couple of tours of those and they just look so
amazing. Talking of Animal Kingdom Lodge,
they are going through a refurb,so Kidani has literally just
started its refurb of the rooms from one end of the building and
it's to be over by next May for Kidani and Jambo starts after

(37:41):
Kidani should be finished in 2027.
Also, talking about Animal Kingdom Lodge, you do have that
Savannah view. But we'll come.
So let's talk about the other the other thing about rooms.
If we were to talk about room size or quality and value for
money, yeah. What do we think in terms of the

(38:02):
rooms that if you were to approach it in that way?
I think. I think.
It's making up those out of unmanaged family suites, yeah.
Or Coronado. Right, Grandestina.
Tower because I, I think that resort even in the the, the
village buildings, I think they feel more luxurious than just a

(38:22):
moderate resort. I think that it always feels
like you get it's a good value for money resort and the options
are just good. I feel like sometimes you don't.
I think sometimes the the view aspect is a bit overplayed
sometimes. I know people in DVC where they
will book whatever they will book the value rooms that

(38:43):
overlook a car park if it means to Disney.
Well, I think sometimes it's a little overplayed on the view
aspect being of of. Value value.
I agree. Because if you think Bay Lake
Tower, they they put such a value on on a theme on view room
and actually are you really in the room in reality?

(39:03):
How many people are standing in their room watching the
fireworks? You don't want to see that.
I prefer like you at Bay Lake anyway, it's prettier.
Yeah, and. Quieter.
You haven't got the. The I don't know, No, actually,
the electrical water pageant. Going round very loud, that's a
selling point in itself. Yeah.
I think you're right, Simon, andI think there are some amazing

(39:24):
views from standard rooms at Coronado.
And I know that when I was therein April, end of April, my my
cousin had a standard view room in Tower and it was one of the
corner ones. So she had ceilings, floor
windows on a. Few walls.
I wrote down the number of the room so I could request.

(39:45):
It was amazing and it was a it was a king room.
It was one of the ones the accessible bathrooms, which
means you don't get the split toilet and rest of the the
bathroom. But it was an amazing room.
So I think when you look at the.The size of the, the rooms in
the tower for the price and the way in which they're set out,

(40:07):
then you know the quality of the, the decor and, and all the,
you know, the, the way in which they're decorated.
I think it really is a such a good value resort and it does
get overlooked because it's convenient resort because it's
busy, because you can only get the bus.
And that's the point of today's conversation is actually, yes,
you can only get a bus from there, but actually your rooms
going to cost you 30% less and it's going to be bigger than,

(40:28):
you know the other places you might stay.
So it's about what's important to you, I think.
And because we put from ADVC perspective and we're looking at
points, I always find Boardwalk and really good middle ground
for a lot of the resorts. So it's not like booking that
Polynesian or Ground Floridian. But it was only a few more extra
points per night at Boardwalk than it was versus Saratoga.

(40:49):
And by being the room is a higher standard and it was
incredible just to speed like was spent about earlier about
where it is. Yeah.
And it's just if you can get that boardwalk view as well, you
get that lovely over the light and the beach.
They do charge you more for thatthough.
They do, yeah. You have.
But you can get, if you can try and get a garden view, one of

(41:12):
the side ones you can kind of lean round it's.
The same as a boardwalk view boardwalk.
The only difference now is standard way it's a car park or
the other view which is the same.
Then hangs Becca over the balcony.
By her tone, yeah, that's accordingly, yeah.
Yeah. OK, let's move on.

(41:34):
Something slightly more fun. Which resort has the best
cocktail? Important things, people.
Go on, Simon, you this is. I know where this is.
I know, I know exactly. I can tell you the worst it's
going to be. It's going to be a rumba, so
it's going to be Polynesian. Right I.

(41:55):
Didn't I mean tie the week? Yeah.
Hi, Tie. Yeah, I could.
Work my way through any of the Tambu lounge or the trader
sellers menus. Yeah, the hypophos of my time or
the in there? Well, the shrunken zombie heads,
any any of the yeah, it's an endless list, right?

(42:18):
I could drink cocktails there every single day.
And one, the only the one that will be second for me would be
the enchanted Rose glam fluid inbecause I think they have their
menu, their drinks menu is is interesting.
You don't. You don't always get that on
some hotel bars, but that's got a bit of imagination behind it.

(42:41):
The fullest bit of beauty is amazing.
Get the lavender fog bag becausethat's.
I know people that go just for that.
They love that cocktail. I was like, no.
I'm not sure on best, but I knowwhat worst would be.
Was it Martha's Vineyard? That was that the worst drink or
is that the? Worst, yeah.
I mean I only have one. Do I have one or?

(43:05):
John, is Price factored into theequation?
No, this is This is just about the best drink the.
Sangria Tambu lounge Tambu lounge is quite nice.
The Lapu Lapu, isn't it the one that comes in a pineapple,
That's the one that everyone takes photos just.
Because it's it's nearly just neat.
Yeah, I I got. Pineapple, it's beautiful.

(43:26):
It just looks the most it's the most incredible thing to
actually I I can't, I can't drink it because it it does my,
my mouth. And however, yeah, when you sit
there and you actually see somebody actually sit, and then
and we actually did this and thelady who was beside us, yeah,
they did all that. Yeah, the pictures for

(43:46):
Instagram, things like that. By the time she got to the end
of the drink, and it was the first one, she was nigh on
falling off the stool. Oh, I get.
This and it was it just absolutely.
And it probably was off the backof like a theme park day, a
little bit of dehydration smacked in the face by some
quality rum and then and then suddenly finds, suddenly finds

(44:11):
that a feat don't work, you know?
It'll get it'll, it'll get you because Lapu Lapu is floated
with 151 rum. So you'll sit, you'll sit with
the straw in the bottom of the drink and you'll be happily
drinking your rum and pineapple juices and and fruit juice.
And then you'll get to the bottom and the last thing you'll
be drinking will be 75% AUV. Rum is the last bit that is just

(44:34):
going to wipe you out. They say it's a killer.
Yeah. Oh wow.
I always wonder how much gets absorbed into the pineapple.
But you should be allowed to eat.
Eat the pineapple. Yeah.
It's like, throw it away. Just bring me a spoon.
I think. I think that might be.
Something. There, and I am going to throw
in also the and I know it's not a cocktail, but it almost counts

(44:58):
is the gin selection at Barcelona lounge in in Grand and
Stephen Tower because they they have an amazing selection of
gins. According to one of the
bartenders, there are 30 different gins which he failed
to name when I asked him to, butthey they do have a really good

(45:23):
selection of gins. So if you're a gin and tonic
fan, they will make a bespoke corner for you and I think that
that that kind of counts as a cocktail she'll have.
Yeah, well, if you want to make it a proper cocktail, you can go
for a gin and Fanta lemon. That's always, that's always a
good one. No, it's not like gin and bitter
lemon. No, no, it's, it's, it's much
sweeter. I can't, I can't.

(45:45):
I don't do better lemon stuff. How do they operate the gin
there? Is it like choose your gin and
choose your mixer kind? Of pretty much, yeah.
So you can pick. You say I want a gin and tonic.
I'll say which gin you want. This is the conversation I had.
Have gin and tonic. Which gin do you want?
What have you got? Well, there's 30 different gins.
And I literally, I'd had a couple of drinks by that point
and I and he was a he I thought that he was a bit of an idiot

(46:11):
and he was quite cocky. And I just went, oh, name them.
So then he did, he tried and failed and I, I was on my own.
So yeah. But they do have a, they have a
number of different mixers They have, they have like the
grapefruit mixer, like the grapefruit soda, they've got

(46:32):
tonics. They've got all sorts of stuff.
So you can pretty much. Do the bottoms have sommelier
level knowledge of the Ginns? They do actually.
The two guys that have been there quite, quite reason for it
recently are really knowledgeable.
And if you say can you make me abespoke cocktail with gin, this
gin or whatever, they had the one that changed colour because
it's got pea flower in it. And so they did.

(46:53):
So yeah, I think they made a tequila Daisy, but you made it
with gin, with the Empress gin, which changes colour and stuff.
There's I think that is a good option.
If you're a gin fan, it's a goodplace to go.
Sounds good, I've not been there.
I mean that needs to go on my list.
The the stools at the bar are very.
Comfortable. Yes, we've spent quite a long

(47:14):
time. OK, let's move on.
John Self saying to Sangria University count, especially
with moving to Toledo, maybe that's different to the Sangria
flight that you can get in the in Three Bridges.
OK, we've touched on this slightly earlier.
Which resort has the this is this is going to come up with

(47:36):
some lots of observation The best location on property.
If you're picking a resort purely on location, doesn't
matter about the price, where would you choose?
What am I looking for? Well, if I'm looking for
something that's a bit more quiet and a bit more out of the
way, then I'm looking at the best friends in the Lodge.

(47:56):
If I've not got a car and I wantsomething that's fairly central
then Coronada the minutes from every park by bus.
It's a good central place. If I want to walk then
boardwalk. Yeah, I'm going to go Boardwalk
to just because you can walk to two parks, you can Uber drive,

(48:21):
bus to the others, and I just think that being on Crescent
Lake is one of the best places to be at Disney World.
I think for me, I would, I wouldagree being on Crescent Lake is
the, I think it's the best option, but I would probably go
Beach Club. I think just in terms of like a

(48:42):
closer closeness to the international gateway and the
it's almost like 2 minutes difference.
It's slightly further from Hollywood Studios, but it's
closer to, you know, you've got the lighthouse stop for the boat
and very quick to get to the skyliner and you can still walk
around to get to Hollywood Studios.

(49:03):
So I think for me, being on Crescent Lake far more than
being. On. 7 seas a goon.
I think that's quite contentiousfor a lot of.
People and. I actually feel that having,
having had the privilege of staying the Grand Flow last
year, but previously having had the privilege of staying in the
Yacht Club, I would, I would agree with you, Claire, because

(49:26):
actually I think the yacht and beach offers something
completely different. And it, it really, I, I always
feel it is just way, way beyond that.
And you and you have to, I thinkyou have to get over yourself of
the fact that as much as you'd like to think that I've got a
beautiful view of Magic Kingdom,you actually don't from any of
those monorail results. You can, you can't look it out

(49:50):
the window in on it. Whereas I think with the On
Beach Club, the proximity and the boardwalk, the proximity to
Epcot in particular, yeah, it's just second to none.
And it it, it actually changes your whole holiday.
And again, I think we tried thisthis summer in so much as the

(50:12):
fact that whenever we're gettingan Uber back to the Villa, we
wouldn't Uber from either Studios or from Epcot.
We'd actually come back to the Young Beach Club just purely for
the smell. I'm just smoking this down the
atmosphere and and actually waitfor you and.
Grab a drink from the shopping, Yeah?

(50:33):
I'm going to change my mind on more.
I want to go if I want people. Why?
Actually, I'm going to go to Wilderness Lodge.
Yes. That's what I was going to say
as. Well, gorgeous, the excellent
bars. Yeah, I mean Animal Kingdom
Lodge, but Wilderness Lodge. And it's gorgeous.
The. Recent stays it's just mine.

(50:55):
Mine would be Grand Floridian for me is like if if we're doing
things at Magic Kingdom or even at Epcot, that would probably be
my preference. Just if you're late in Magic
Kingdom is really good to to come back to something that is
first stop on the boat on the way out.

(51:16):
And that would that would definitely be one of my choices
for Magic Kingdom that but I kind of agree with the
boardwalk. Yeah, yeah, I think, I think
Magic Kingdom for me is not them.
It's not the be all and end all of my trip.
And I think I put up that John, you know, the question always
comes down to the importance, how important Magic Kingdom is
your trip. And for some people that you

(51:37):
know, if they want to stay late in Magic Kingdom multiple
nights, then I can see why beingat Grand Play would be perfect
because you can just wander around and it's a lovely walking
evening. And if you're not staying at the
Polynesian and you want a late night drinking till 1:00 AM,
yes, if he's right, it's perfect.
There you go. In science, what I want to be
doing? I'll make a note that that's

(51:59):
going on the the list. That's that's that's purpose, no
lesion. But for me, I would rather be at
Epcot watching Luminous and thenwandering back to the resort and
going for a swim or whatever. So I think, you know, there is
something about what, again, it's about what's important to
you, Which is your favorite resort, which is your favorite
part, where you're going to spend your evenings, and
actually, where do you want to be first thing in the morning?

(52:20):
For me, being on Crescent Lake, I absolutely, I mean, we stayed
at Beach Club for six nights in the summer and for two of those
mornings everyone else was as fast asleep and I got up and I
went for a walk around Crescent Lake in the like early as the
sun was rising tight and that was just so peaceful and
wonderful. Yes, there was a few people out

(52:40):
running which irritated me and mainly because I felt like I
should be. It made me feel I should.
Be running. And the most first is that
they've gone from once or twice and.
I felt really guilty that I wasn't running at that point,
but I had to wander around, grabbed a coffee.
It was just, it was so pleasant and just like the the sun

(53:04):
sparking over Crescent like at 738 o'clock in the morning is
just so beautiful. And I would rather see that than
Cinderella Castle. That's that's a personal
preference. Yeah, I'm, I'm, I'm very
similar, Claire. And actually I, I do feel it's,
it's actually a special place. Oh, that Colton.

(53:26):
Yeah. So Colton has thrown up.
He'd want to stay in a bungle atPolynesian.
Now, Colton, I've got some information for you because I
was on the ferry boat on the wayback from Magic Kingdom on the
last day. And I was talking with one of
the the boat crew with another couple of guests and they were
saying, oh, those, those Polynesian bungalows look
amazing. And he was saying don't ever
stay there. And they were like, why?

(53:47):
And he's like, they're really expensive, he said.
And the other thing is that the proximity to where the ferry
boats go from, they are really loud.
Number one, everyone can see in if you don't close your cans.
And if you want to use your hot tub, everyone can see you on
your hot tub. And Simon, I'm interested in
your thoughts because I know youstayed there, but those ferry

(54:10):
boats, they start. Very early.
Park opening, so if you are at 7:30 early opening, that's going
to start at 6:30 in the morning and they do have to honk when
they leave and then. I can't say I really remembered
it. Yeah, and on the way home,
especially if it's a late, if it's a late opening something

(54:32):
like Halloween party, you know those folks are going to be
going back towards to one 1:30 in the morning again making
noise. So I he said then they're
amazing, but they're not peaceful and they're not
relaxing, which is what they're badge to be.
So interesting conversation. Yeah, if you if you're going to

(54:52):
be in one, you don't want to be in the ones that are closest to
the the very terminal and you want to be on the ones that look
slightly further. Are they all the same price?
Yeah, there's no difference on points.
It's kind of just look of the drawers to.
Which one you get? What you're going to get.
I mean, some people would have the lights, you know, You'd have
the lights on and curtains open and fill your boots.

(55:15):
But you know this story that we found out about and was it the
Copper Creek Villas? They've got the Cascade cabins.
We did the, what was it the one of the firework parties we were
talking to sort of something, the crew and they were just
saying like be careful when you go past that.
You can see into everyone's a filler if they've got their
curtains over. Yeah.

(55:36):
And sometimes and and sometimes they'll send them out in the
morning just to remind people tokeep their curtains closed.
Some don't. Yeah, you can.
You see all sorts of things thatyou might not want to see.
OK, I. Mean yes, they're they're
expensive, but I I would stay inthem again they.

(55:58):
You're not going to say no, No, it's someone else's face.
I. Think everyone's done a couple
of Creek ones that yeah. That's just personal preference
I think. OK So what about thinking about
with bench and cocktails? Which resort has the best lounge
on property or selection of lounges to some have more than

(56:20):
one. Can I stick the Polynesian in
there again? I was sensing a theme.
Yes, of course, because you've got you've got Tabby Lounge and
you've got Trader Sands and now you've got I think why leave?
It counts as a lounge is yeah, I'm going to create Coronado
because all the alignment Coronado, that's just amazing.

(56:44):
Those paprika chips, Oh, I have dreams about them.
And the drinks are good. And he gets sat outside on one
of the big sofas and there's notreally loud Americans next to
you. It's amazing.
But you do get beautiful views. And Barcelona Lounge is awesome
as well, so really good. I'm not particularly fussy as

(57:04):
long as it sells beer and stuff like that.
I'm sorry, it's really it could be anywhere.
But that's why we're talking about this, because that isn't a
reason for you to pick a specific hotel.
Whereas for me, I might go, do you know what?
If I'm staying on my own, I might quite like to go to a
lounge for food rather than go to a restaurant.

(57:26):
So I would be picking somewhere that's got some options.
I think you're on an absolutely perfect point there, Claire.
And I think that is, that is definitely one thing.
If you are on your own, you wantsomewhere that you actually feel
secure, you feel safe, you feel as if you are familiar with the
surroundings as well. And I think that's, that's a

(57:47):
really, that's a cracking point.Sure, so good.
John Tyne for Martha's Vineyard.Even I wouldn't, I wouldn't even
go in there, Sean. That's basically.
They do sell beer, but it's beerwith 0 atmosphere.
Yeah, I, I was just kind of yeah, I definitely would.
I'd be moving on very quickly. I'd.
Rather go and sell Hurricane Hannahs.

(58:08):
I'd like to know what Disney described Martha's Vineyard as.
Ex airport lounge guide. We could write some tag, we
could get AI to write some tag lines.
Mostly that I think it's the Cruise Cup next door at the
Yacht Club's. OK.
And it's a yeah, it's a similar function, but it's.

(58:30):
Isn't that the Allen Compass Lounge now or?
No, it's still a cruise cup. That's the one that's on the
it's on the entryway to the to Yachtsman.
So you come up the steps, you goright to the Yachtsmolatic
reset. It has a big cabinet where you
can see the meat hanging. Oh, it's nice, yeah.

(58:50):
That's why I want. That's why I.
Want vegan? That's a great.
Who doesn't want to see? Who doesn't want hanging meat
when they're at a bar? I can't.
Oh, OK. It's only taken an hour to get
Claire. I know, I feel.

(59:12):
Well, again. Again.
I don't think Can has listened to last week's because she
hasn't messaged me about it. So OK, which I'm aware of time,
but we've got we'll do a couple more.
Which result has the best merchandise options and
shopping? Contemporary.

(59:34):
See, that was my image. And then somebody in my house
said to me, what are you talkingabout?
What about the? Somewhere else.
OK, I'm going Bayview gifts and every time I go in there there's
just something I was going to buy.
You're wrong, Ben. Because where should I be?
At the boutique at the AT. The yeah, I can get cola coffee,

(59:56):
Yeah. And.
Yeah, and the bugs the boutique is?
Polynesians winning tonight I think.
The Poly is winning and I would,I mean, it's one of the most
popular resorts. So people say, where's your
where's your ideal place to stay?
A significant proportion of people go the Poly, but we're
kind of uncovering why and I don't think anyone thinks about

(01:00:16):
it this carefully, but it it's got it's got everything, but the
boutique key for me is just the most amazing on site store.
I I love the fact that there is yes, I've got the Tommy Bahama
stuff in the back that they can afford, but they've also got
some really amazing resort basedmerch, which is.

(01:00:36):
Affordable, I'm going to pick something up against it and
that's going to be Riviera, the store of Riviera.
The the merchandise in that is incredible for resort specific.
That's just small store as well,but there is the amount that you
can fits so much in it and the amount of unique stuff they put
in it as well compared to some of the other bigger stores.

(01:00:59):
I've had very over grand. I feel like grand doesn't bother
when it comes to merchandise. It's.
Got like 3 stores. And no, they're not.
It's it's gone a bit Simply Southern.
If you know that brand, it feelslike like they've just gone
well, let's just change it to a Simply Southern store.
We just put their clothes in early.
Yeah. Yeah, I think your Pines
everywhere. I think Becca's on to something

(01:01:22):
here. And I think this is what sets
apart different shopping places in resort is how much you need
to resort, you can actually get.And, and I actually feel that's
something that, you know, you know, when you go back if a
number of years and you go into,even go into different Disney

(01:01:43):
parks and it would, yeah, it would have a bag for Walt Disney
World. And admittedly, it's got a
little bit bad, but then becomesthe the Disney Parks brand
because it saves them creating abag for different places.
And it really annoys me because actually it can't save that much
because actually if you want to buy a bag, I'd much rather I'd

(01:02:05):
walk Disney World on it rather than and now.
But having unique to resort merch that you can buy actually
costs me a lot of money. So Wendy's 3 in the chat,
Wilderness lodge and animal Kingdom.
Yeah. Is it the no the corksicle

(01:02:31):
bottles that they have in I'm I'm doing this because it looks
like a cocktail shake and the the ones that have looked like
almost like a wood grain that they have.
I love those, but they're like. Thin.
You don't know this. This is very expensive and well.
Wilderness will often have sizesthat you can't find anywhere
else. It's obviously we go on

(01:02:53):
property, but there's AT shirt or something that you find in
one source not in your size. Every time I've been to the one
at Wilderness Lodge, Oh, they'vegot my size.
Oh. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I, I think, you know, WildernessLodge is, it's an amazing story
and I've always felt that the cast members in there are
brilliant as well as they are really, really good.
I'm also going to throw in just as a wild card, the store at

(01:03:17):
Fort Wilderness, the campground,the one up by by the the one up
by the Hoop DD. So they have some really cool
merch that you definitely can't get other place.
They have Hoop DD merch and thenthey have a number of different
things that are specific to FortWilderness, which I really like.

(01:03:40):
So I always make a point of going in there if we're going to
hoop. Excuse to go to port World News.
Yeah, been there in years. You need to go.
Thanks. We might in August.
The needs for hoop do you do? We might, in fact, Claire.
OK, so face, So what about resorts that have a really in

(01:04:05):
your face the best Disney theming?
And by that I mean someone who'sgoing for the first time and
they want to feel that Disney magic every minute of their stay
it. Will start of an amazing do.
You think? Which one is?
Pop What was the first time we walked into.
In Pop, you've got all the Mickey, you've got the yeah kind

(01:04:27):
of bed. You've got the first time we
walked onto Pop and this was, I don't know, 20/14/2013.
We're like, oh, we're not staying here.
And we just walked straight out of the resort because it was
just too bright. It was too.
Yeah, I mean. It didn't feel like Disney.
It didn't. Feel like Disney?
Because it was like, yeah. It's on the outside.
Come on, it probably doesn't if you go.

(01:04:50):
To of animation, you've got the giant past section and all of
the characters yeah and the Simba and but even.
Actually, when you think of the All Star Resorts, the theming
there is actually Disney focus, so you've got big characters.
Movies, I think, rather than in sports.
Or music, I mean, yeah, FootballStar Movies, maybe, Yeah.

(01:05:12):
Which is probably why it's the most expensive out of the three,
because don't be in one of the reason that just have obvious
Disney theming. I think sometimes for people,
they they want that that in yourfaceless of it, and it may not
be for everyone, but there is definitely a group of people who
want to they want to see Mickey heads everywhere and that's why

(01:05:34):
my brain went to pop because of the the theme inside the room.
So that's where you can like, I mean, you're not, you're not
going to spend a lot of time in the surroundings.
And I just think that that the overhaul that they did a few
years ago where they've added those light boxes behind the
mirrors and then like the the pull down beds, all the Murphy
beds, which have got those like hidden murals inside and some of

(01:05:55):
the artwork in the rooms is really, really cool.
Yeah, that's the thing. As we go up from like value to
moderate, the moderate to deluxe, it's just it's more
subtle. You have to find where that
Disney is. And as I know with the update
like Polynesian rooms to focus on Moana men in DPC, Lilo and
Stitch, it's not as obvious. It's just that they're in the

(01:06:18):
curtains. They're just, they're part of
it, but it's not in the resort as soon as you you go in.
So if you were to be contradictory to that, what do
you think is? Which do you think is the resort
that has like the most chilled vibe?
But by that I mean the least sort of in your face theming if
you wanted to go and. You that you weren't at just.

(01:06:40):
Yeah, you weren't at Disney, youwere just laid back.
And actually the Disney theming,I guess you could put Coronado
in the in the sorry previous category with all the three
Caballero stuff in the village. And if you were to go the
opposite end of the skecher intothat, you want to go somewhere
that's going to be really calm, really chilled, not going to
feel necessarily like you're going to be faced with Mickey

(01:07:03):
every two minutes. Not that we don't love him.
Where would you cheat? Going to say either Ugly West or
Saratoga Springs. Yeah, that was not more.
Subtle. Out of me thinks the grand.
That's not that's only for the new car.
But isn't it? Yeah, it's not it's not right.

(01:07:23):
It's like that put your bar there.
It doesn't That's that sounds like more Disney, doesn't it in
the lobby. I don't know, it just it from
the opposite of theming perspective.
I like the was the DVC building has like the Mary Poppins
fountain so that reminds you when you walk in there but in an
actual main lobby it doesn't feel like it's Disney.

(01:07:47):
So there's a few chat, there's afew people in the chat, said
Okey Wayne, I'll see you myself,said Riviera.
Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
That's true, yeah. It depends where you walk with
Riviera, because you've got the bit where you've got mosaic and
the tiling. If you're walking from the sky
liner, that's. Like, yeah.
But yeah. Saratoga.

(01:08:08):
Saratoga for me seemingly doesn't have that stronger tide
to Disney right. No, it's a.
Horse. It's not.
Unless you know, Disney horses anyway.
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, forgot, yeah, forgot
about. It's like going, it's like going
to entry, but. Cleaner and less clearing and
you don't well I was going to say you don't lose as much money

(01:08:30):
you absolutely you're very good.I, I think I would agree with
some people in the chat and go OK West.
And that's why I love it becauseit is because the golf course is
there and yet your balcony overlooks the golf course and
there are like Mickey heads cutting the in the wood
panelling outside. They are there, but it's not,
it's really subtle. It's very chilled because it's

(01:08:53):
such a big resort and spread out, you know, it just feels
quiet. There's lots of foliage which
cushions some of the noise. It feels like, you know, it has
that Vero Beach feel about it. It does feel like you're on, you
know, a really chilled, relaxingholiday and then you can come,
you know, you can contradict that by going to theme bars.

(01:09:16):
And so for me, I'll Key West is one of those places that I think
it isn't for everyone. You know, if we're talking about
room sizes earlier, you know, the rooms are enormous and the
price point is brilliant if you're Reagan points or you've
got, you know, if you're a DVC member.
But if you're looking for that out now, am I Disney?

(01:09:36):
Well, actually, you could be anywhere really.
So it isn't for everyone, but I love it because of that.
Relaxing. A bit of a balance, a bit of a
balance of some aspect of theming rather than just feeling
like you're Rosen Inn, yeah. Yeah, I mean if.
You get into Disney, you want tofeel like you feel like you've
got something. There's a little bit of market,

(01:09:57):
yeah, I'd say Rosen Inn about, you know, but.
But if you're paying the extra to stay at Disney, you want to
feel like you're there. And I I yeah, I think I think
you're right. There is.
There is a balance to be struck.I think you're the 1:00 to put
into the mix as well, which is quite strange because actually
it's it's kind of the flip side of being a beach club.
But if you go to the Yacht Club,which very much is down the line

(01:10:19):
of catering for conference people, that tends to not have
as much Disney connection. And it's not as in your face
because like I said, they're very much dealing for the big
massive conventions where peopleare just coming in from out of
town and and stuff. And that kind of waters down the
impact of it there. But yeah, that's there's too

(01:10:43):
many choices with this I. Know that's why I've.
Done this really interesting thing because.
You have too many results. Let's go last category.
There's the last one we'll do tonight.
Which resort has the best entertainment or activity
options? Can I suggest one that it's not
and it's not Wilderness Lodge when you go to do A to play

(01:11:06):
cornhole or someone broken the cornhole Ford and you have to
think on your feet because you're recording it for a mid
month. I'll put that into the mix.
Where do you think I'm going to say what wilderness?
I agree. Absolutely bang on this where I
would go. Yeah.
Definitely archery. There's horse riding.

(01:11:27):
There we could go to. Pinner on a show.
There's you can go visit the horse place.
They've got Segways. They've also got kayaking and
you can, yeah, we can go and youcan do the campfire.
The yes, Chippendales campfires sing along thing, you could go
and visit the horses at the Tri Circle D Ranch, which is an

(01:11:48):
amazing thing to do and see the calliope that's there.
That's so underrated. It's completely free just to be
there before 5:00. You can hire a golf buggy there
as well. Can't.
You you can hire a golf buggy, they've got horse, they've got
carriage rides, they've got which you know, and if you if
you hire a muggy in Halloween and Christmas, you can go and
visit everyone's can. We go kayaking there, yes, yeah.

(01:12:12):
And that's another thing that's complete.
Again, totally unique to that place as well.
I wouldn't. Have amazing.
Swollen then, right? Yeah, but.
I think, I think it must be OK, it must be safe because
otherwise it wouldn't. I hope so.
Someone's got better health and safety ball somewhere, yeah.
I I just think that Fort Wilderness because of the type
of resource it is, they really, and people don't think about

(01:12:34):
those options. So not necessarily you've got to
stay there, But if you were, if you were thinking about
something to do on a day that's a non park day, do you know
what? Let's not go to the outlet.
Let's go to Fort Wilderness and go kayaking.
Definitely it's it will cost yousignificantly less.
I think it's like $30.00 for an hour and a two person kayak.

(01:12:55):
Amazing. What a great.
Yeah. There are resorts that have
higher launch boats. Yeah, I was going to say that
because actually that's another thing that people miss that even
with Bay Lake, you can actually get a boat that will take will
take sort of five to 10 people. You can go and drive it
yourself, have a bit of fun for an hour and just basically go

(01:13:17):
and play with the ferry boats and then get tunneled off.
Yeah, you need to stay out of the way if.
You're going to do that, Take your driving license.
That apparently is the determining factor as to whether
you can drive a boat or not. Is it?
Have you told? Me, we've done, we've done the
boats a few times and once I didnot take my driving license with
me and we were there with Robin and Jackie and Robin and Jackie

(01:13:39):
had to be the drivers for the. Boat.
The only person with any boat driving experience is the one
that you're not letting drive. They give you a wristband, don't
they? So the person who drives has to
pilot the boat has to work. Yeah.
Yeah. Oh.
Wow. So I sat as passenger Princess
for that intake. Amazing.
I love that I would have paid money for that.

(01:14:00):
We need we need a logger that I I think I could sense the the
blood pressure rising. From everyone.
Yeah. Very much, I don't know.
I was, I was pretty relaxed. I didn't have to worry about
anything, just let them worry about the driving of the boats.
There's also things like at Coronado they have like the

(01:14:22):
Mosaic experience, they have Sangria University and there's a
few different things there that you can I.
Would say Wilderness Lodge has was a reunion station where the
Easter of like things like own photography classes and that
that was quite interesting. I don't know as you can do a
resort. Tour, can't you?
Yeah. Which is free.

(01:14:43):
Yeah, you can do ADVC resort formost.
Of DVC. Oh no, no, that's a no.
Just a resort tour. That's a different one.
They can. Go, you know, I'm looking the
lodges to some of the extra oneswhere you could get dude like
there was a nighttime safari. They still do the the one which
you get some drinks and snacks at GCO or Victoria Falls Lounge

(01:15:07):
and then you go on the the safari around the Savannah.
Yeah, but yes, so night vision goggles.
I can't remember it's called, but yeah, they do.
They still do that. They wouldn't love to have the
hidden Mickey hunts as well, yeah?
Yeah. Can I have a quick check, right,
just purely, I know, I know we're nearly out of time.
I think, I think this need needsto be shared as well.

(01:15:29):
Is there a resort that we haven't mentioned or have
mentioned very brief? Port Leon's Riverside.
Yeah, I. Think we're?
Very sorry, Port Orleans. No, I'm not.
Maybe it's just there's a reasonwhy it hasn't.
Actually, contemporary, we've only mentioned a couple of

(01:15:50):
times. Yeah, I'm surprised by.
Yeah, I think it's quite a. Blunt nature that we only
mentioned once as well, yeah. But.
Yeah, but it's it's got, yeah, but it's got, it's got other
things attached to it and think,I think we're.
I think Paul Lanes is the I think.
Paul Lanes and Contemporary are the ones for me.
That's a good point, yeah. I've been trying to just keep

(01:16:12):
just. Keep a bit of tally.
Yeah. And, and actually I wish you'd
done it at the start of the showbecause actually I really do
feel that those are the 2 results.
I don't feel that we we've really gone to town with and
probably and probably for good reason in some respects.
There are people who always bookthose results.
I'd love to know why people bookPauline's Riverside.

(01:16:32):
What have we missed? I stayed there once and for five
days. Yeah, you had a bad experience.
Took us longer to check in and it did sustain I.
Remember reading about. That yeah, creature sounds
habit. Our parents went there and they

(01:16:52):
moved from Pop because they weren't they, they had a pretty
disruptive first night at Pop and said we can't stay here.
And they moved to Pauline's and had a great steak.
I think it's, I think it's just one of those that's always
overlooked. I think that's it.
It's a bit sort of like it's middle of the road.
It's often overlooked by I thinksome of the other results now

(01:17:14):
that have more appealing given they've got better transport
options or or better or theming that is more appealing.
Yeah, I think it does have some plus points, right, I think.
It does, Simon. I don't.
I don't mean that. I just I feel it's a way to get
it's right. You went Yeah, I'm.
Just supposed to be really good there, but I have entertainment

(01:17:34):
that the noun just has to be amazing.
Every time we've thought about it and like been on Disney
holidays website, it's been PortAlliance has always been more
expensive than Coronado and Caribbean Beach.
So actually it's one of those like.
What are we missing out on that particular resort?
Why are we not rating it? Maybe that's a question for

(01:17:55):
people in the chat to share their thoughts here.
Simon, you enjoyed your state? Portland to research.
My cousin stayed there a couple last year when we were there.
I've stayed at Coronado. She stayed at Portland Riverside
and she said she wouldn't stay there.
She wouldn't pay extra to stay there again.
She felt it was like a glorifiedmotel.
But then some of those, you know, they've got the the royal

(01:18:16):
rooms, I think, which have got like the this Todd, she had one
of those rooms and she said it was fine, but the room wasn't
any bigger than, you know, a value resort and it just didn't
do it for her. So I guess it's.
Weird, isn't it? And actually, I, I wasn't, I
wasn't saying that it'd make mischief in any way, shape or
form. I just, I just felt as if we've

(01:18:37):
it's fascinating about so many different places tonight and so
many places that. Have different things to offer.
Yeah, but I'm, I'm pretty sure that people have have listened,
you know, if you've listened to this or watched this and you
actually you've got plans to go on a whole day and you're
thinking which one should I choose?
Would probably be no help at all.

(01:18:58):
Because we like all of them. That's true.
It's just weird though, isn't it?
It's. Weird.
The answer to everything is the Poly, I think.
Yes, yeah, it's a lot of things.Go there.
Go there. Through a drink and then and
then decide. We did have a question on
Instagram earlier about would you switch hotels?
So would you stay two nights at a deluxe followed by 12 at a

(01:19:20):
value resort? Because I know we've done
switching resorts in stay. I'd do it the other way around,
12 months at the value and then two nights.
Up. Oh, I thought you meant two
nights at a value and 12 nights at a deluxe.
Neither. Way.
That one, that one. But but yeah, no.
And then and. Especially as easy it is for to
dump your bags about surfaces. And I think that's the topic for

(01:19:41):
another show maybe is if you're doing multiple, if you're doing
resorts that says because you'llknow better, Becky, you've done
that loads. Simon, you and Robin have done
that loads. Maybe that's a that's a
conversation for another anotherday.
Yeah, I'll tell you what, Hannah, who asked the question
on Instant was really good at asking questions that leads to
other shows. So thank you.
Thank you. Hannah, well done.

(01:20:02):
Hannah, we should do that in themid month show as well.
So I think, I think we're yeah, just keep keep finding the
questions. Hannah.
Yeah, we'll be in until 20/20/30at this rate.
Just where your ideas start super bad.
Johnny's right must start at Lower Hotel.
That has been a lot of consideration about that right,
With the free water park thing is that's that's good.

(01:20:26):
If you've if you've got tickets for somewhere else and you want
a bit of Disney, then then stop at a Disney resort and get your
free water park there. Yeah.
Yeah. Well, I've really enjoyed
tonight's chat and I know we've probably haven't been
particularly helpful, but it's something we can revisit in the
future. And I'm sure that you've got
other bits about resorts you want us to talk about.

(01:20:46):
I'm aware we haven't talked about, you know, some of the
other things, you know, what's the car parking like and all the
important things. But if you've got things,
people. Are interested and I think this
might be something for the main podcast as well because actually
moving forward because there is so much within every single

(01:21:07):
resort that we could actually doeven just a 5 minute segment of
the podcast moving forward wherewe'll actually look at each of
the different ones month by month and and actually just to
try and help. Like keep a scale of two years.
I think it will. Yeah, exactly.
But but. And then there'll be another
result open. I was going to say it will
reflect on whatever it's called now.

(01:21:28):
It's going to be evidence thing.Depends how quick the builders
are, don't it? Yeah.
Yeah. And in terms of if you want to
find out what we're doing next or you want to listen to some of
our previous shows, you can findus on all good podcast providers
and YouTube channel. And hopefully you found us

(01:21:48):
before. If you haven't subscribed, do
you hit that subscribe button, Ring the bell?
If you're watching the podcast back, hit hype button because
that does things and it makes ita positive algorithm experience
for us and it really helps. We are always here.
I say that we're usually here ona Wednesday at 8:30 in the UK,

(01:22:10):
so 3:30 Eastern. And if you prefer to listen on
the go and thank you to those who are listening back to this
on a Friday or beyond, because this show on that we do live on
a Wednesday also is released as a podcast on a the following
Friday. So you can if you have missed
any of the important salient points, you can listen again,

(01:22:32):
which is which is always great. We really appreciate it if you
leave us comment, interact with us.
We love to hear your thoughts. So thank you to everybody who's
been in the chat. The chat has been on fire
tonight. I have loved every many of it
and thank you to everyone who's contributed.
It just shows that we've all gotdifferent views.
And I think that was where I came to with this particular

(01:22:53):
idea is that actually what I look for in a resort might be
different to somebody else. And it, what I look for in a
resort changes depending on who I'm travelling with.
So I just think that it, it's such an interesting topic and
it, it will change as as time goes forward.
So thank you very much to Simon,Ben, Becca and John for joining
me and, and humouring my twins trying to make me giggle

(01:23:18):
inappropriately. And we're talking about saucy
strips and. Make less sausages.
Jerk Jerk strips John Self. I did see that in the chat.
We can get away with that, but thank you to everyone and we
will see you soon. Let's see you now my wheels in
I'm. Dropping down the.