Today's Destination Disney is Hotels and Resorts.

I have A LOT of Disney knowledge on The All Star Resorts and some knowledge on the Coronado. All of the other resorts I have basically visited, eww and awed over, probably actually drooled over, and coveted staying at, but never actually laid my head down in one.


Now since we live only an hour of way from the front gates of Disney, we go there quiet often, but we've only stayed there a few times.

First off and probably most important! If I had the choice of spending A LOT of money on a hotel verses spending it on or in the Disney parks, I would DEFINITELY spend it at the parks.  Especially if it's your first time. You spend most of your time at the parks anyways and the resorts just become a place to lay your head at night.

When staying at Disney there's always a given. NO MATTER where you stay it's going to be pretty nice. Disney does NOTHING lack luster and all their hotels have something to bring a smile to your face.

I'll break it down this way.

For families with little ones
( big kids like this too)

I suggest the ALL STAR hotels. They are all themed hotels - Movies (My particular favorite), Music, and Sports.  These resorts are a lot of fun to stay out. Your surrounded by all kinds of great memorabilia of Disney stuff and it's very family friendly.

Awhile back we decided to splurge a little and stay at the Coronado Resort. It was a 'nice' resort to stay at but I was let down with the choices of where to eat.

I love how the All Star resorts have a central Food Court that always has a TON of options for the family to choose from. When we stayed at the Coronado we actually drove over to the All Star Movies to eat one day so we could just hang out there.

The pools aren't as exciting as the more expensive resorts but they are in fun shapes AND their heated year round.

The rooms are themed too and depending on which All Star you stay out, you'll have different comforters, light boxes and other fun stuff in your room.

For Families that want Luxury verses Fun:
The hotels that I like to gawk at our the Wilderness Lodge, The Beach and Yacht Club, and the Animal Kingdom. These hotels are truly BEAUTIFUL and if I never had to worry about money , I would stay in any one of these.

A fun, non expensive way, to experience these resorts is to visit during Christmas time. Starting the day after Thanksgiving, Disney  goes all out decorating their hotels.  Just about every year, our family takes a day and parks at the Boardwalk hotel ( you just tell the security that your there to see the decorations) and we spend the day checking out all the great decorations. Carousels made out of chocolate, beautiful Christmas trees made out of pointsetta's. Just breathtaking.

And don't leave the Beach and Yacht club without stopping by the Ice Cream parlor and ordering up the Kitchen Sink for the family. YUMO!!  I'll tell you more about that another time.