From: michelle@theloop.Central.Sun.COM (Michelle Donat SE Chicago Loop )
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Disney Resorts
Date: 4 Jan 1993 18:08:02 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Distribution: world
Reply-To: michelle@theloop.Central.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: theloop.central.sun.com

Over tha last four or five years, we have stayed in a few of the Resorts on Property, and one
of the Village Hotels, too....
Staying at one of the village hotels is a great help, especially during the BUSY times of the year
usually we go to Fla. during President's Birthday week, which I understand is winter break for
the East Coast schools (not in the Midwest, though).  This is supposed to be one of the really
busy times for the park. And then we went down Dec 29-Jan1 this year!!!
Big Suggestion- if you really want to go down during the Christmas craziness at WDW, the only
way to (possibly) keep your sanity is to stay on-property.  You can get into a park, regardless of
whether the lots are full (if you use WDW transportation), and it makes life a lot easier to go 
back to your resort and crash for a nap, or swim, or decompress.  I don't think we would have
gone to WDW during that time if we weren't on property, one way or another.

Our last two stays at the Resorts were at the Beach Club (2/92) and the Yacht Club (12/92).
We thought that the atmosphere at the Yacht club was considerably more formal than the
Beach Club, but not so that you were uncomfortable padding through the lobby en route to or from
the pool. 
One of the advantages of the Yacht club was that the shuttle tram stopped there-it really isnt far
to walk to/from EPCOT, unless you have a very sleepy 4 1/2 year old to carry -then it seems 
forever.  The pool seemed closer, too, as was the pier for the water launch to the Studios.
We did notice more people at the Yacht Club in suits! than we did at the Beach Club, although 
some of that may have been the season, too.  The advantages of staying at a resort, even when 
the cost may be twice what you pay off property are worth the cost.

Regards the other resorts, we REALLY want to stay in the Poly.... My wife considers heaven to be
the Hawaiian Isles, and this resort really appeals to her.  I wouldnt mind staying in the 
Contemporary, too if just for the easy access to the MK. We have also stayed in the 
Caribbean Beach Resort, and liked it very much.  The chance to walk around for a while (the
resort is HUGE) in the nice weather after a Chicago winter is great...

I saw a comment in another posting about the Annual Passports.  We have had them for about
two years, and they are great!  The cost, as I figured it out was about equivalent to a Five day
passport, and then a One day.  The original cost is about 35-40$$ more than a five day, but
the renewals are very close to the cost of a Five day. Also, with the Annual Passport you get
neat things like park operating hour schedules, and special offers for things like the Merry 
Christmas stuff on the two weekends before Christmas.  There is also an annual passport hot-line
for reservations, etc.  
Also, annual Passport holders can reserve EPCOT restaraunt times before you get there -i think it
is one or two days, not the three that resort guests get.  They also crack cast members up at the
Disney stores if you use them for your supplemental ID for your MKC card...!

John E. Donat
john_donat@cs-lp1.prime.com