(blues music)
- Hello, and welcome to Legacy Travel's Top Five.
Today we're talking about the top five resorts
in the Orlando, and Disney World area.
And I'm Philip.
This is Lesley, this is Alyssa.
- Hi.
(laughter)
- So, I may be a little bit out of my league.
I have been to Disney.
I like Disney.
I think the great, great trip,
but Lesley,
do you have any kind of Disney affiliation or anything?
- Yes.
I've worked at Disney
World, and Land.
So, I prefer World, personal preference.
So, a little bit of an insight.
- Alright, while you've never worked there,
have you ever been to Disney?
- A few times.
36 as of this May.
- So.
- So a few (laughs).
- She's been 36 times.
Anyway, I still hope my opinion is somewhat valid,
but these two may have me on that a little bit.
So, we're counting down our top hotels in the Disney area.
I'm going to lead off, okay?
- Yeah.
- My number five is the Waldorf Astoria Orlando,
and to be clear these are ones that are resort properties,
we're not talking about
a downtown Orlando business property.
These are ones that are in the theme park areas.
But Waldorf Astoria, it's nice.
It's really nice, maybe the nicest one on my list.
One reason I put it on there is that it is one
of our properties with our signature affiliation.
We get some special perks with.
So, people who book through us at that property
are gonna get things like upgraded room if available,
and they will get free breakfast,
which is huge.
At least with all the properties on my list,
the meals are gonna be expensive.
So getting a free breakfast is gonna be very big.
They have their free transportation to the park.
Here's another thing,
these two are gonna disagree with me probably.
I know my wife does.
She disagrees with me.
Sometimes I prefer not staying in the park.
And the reason is for the food.
The food in the park is gonna be a little bit
on the pricey side, and may not always be quite as good
when you get outside.
I know there are benefits staying in the park,
but for me I want to have at least one of my list-ofs
outside a park, Waldorf Astoria, very nice.
Is pricey, but it is a good property.
That was a lot more information
than I needed to do probably.
(laughter)
Number five for you Lesley.
- My number five is the Art of Animation,
which is a Disney property.
It's what they call a Value Plus resort,
'cause it is going to be budget friendly,
so on the value side,
but the plus side is that they have suite style,
one of the coolest pools I've ever seen
on the Disney property.
There's underwater speakers, and it's all Cars themed,
or Lion King themed, or Nemo themed.
And they even have lower priced rooms,
if you want to stay on Disney property in a nice hotel,
but maybe don't want to pay the prices of a luxury resort.
So, you still get all the Disney benefits,
and a really awesome pool, tons of activity,
just a really nice space.
- I'm glad you put one on there that is more of a value one.
None of mine are.
(laughter)
That probably says a lot about me, but I'm glad.
I have not seen that one, but I'm glad.
What's your number five, Miss Alyssa.
- I have to agree with Lesley.
I put Art of Animation, too.
- Did you really?
- I did!
- Did y'all compare notes? - [Alyssa] No, we didn't.
- We did just go to Disney together.
- Yeah, so we just saw this hotel together.
- [Philip] Did y'all stay there, or did you?
- [Alyssa] We didn't stay there.
- It's hands down my favorite Value property.
It's not only the newest property on Disney,
but it does offer the suites like Lesley was saying.
Up to six people in a room, and they're so spacious.
Two bathrooms, which is so rare coming across hotels,
especially in Disney.
So, it's great for families, and it's so well themed.
Very animated, like the name, you know, points to.
It screams Disney,
and it's the perfect well priced family hotel.
- So, two bathrooms in what, in the suite?
- In a family suite. So you can get ready.
- Wow, that is huge.
- Not as much closet space as I would prefer,
which I think is why it's number five,
but a good amount of sleeping space.
- Good reason.
- Alright, with number four, why don't you kick us off?
Number four, Miss Alyssa.
- Okay, my number four, so Disney, like Lesley was saying
has different levels.
There is Value, Moderate, and then Deluxe.
So, I kind of just went up from there.
Found a Moderate hotel, and it's my favorite one.
It's Port Orleans French Quarter.
Now I chose this as my favorite Moderate in number four,
because it's almost like getting double for your money,
because it's right next door to Port Orleans Riverside.
You have access to all their restaurants,
and there's a boat that goes in between the two.
The boat also goes ta, what is it called?
- Disney Springs.
- Disney Springs, yeah, that's my favorite.
There's a waterslide for kids, which is real fun.
You're starting to get that amenity
when you go into the Moderate hotel.
But it's just again well themed.
It's a nice laid out property,
and just overall a good hotel.
- Yeah.
My number four is the Caribbean Beach Resort.
Not only does it actually have a beach on site.
It's also a moderately priced hotel.
So, all the Moderate hotels, FYI, have waterslides.
So, when you go up from Value to Moderate
the pool is a little more expansive,
and there's a waterslide on property.
Also, it has one of my absolute favorite restaurants,
Cape May inside, where you can dine with characters
for breakfast.
So, I just really love.
It's a very clean, beachy feel.
All the Disney properties are so well themed,
but this one just so, it's a little more relaxing.
It doesn't scream Disney as much.
But it's a really nice, great rooms, a beach right outside.
It's just a perfect location too, so that's my number four.
- It's interesting,
'cause y'all both did a Moderate property,
and I know from reading our client feedback,
that those two both get really great feedback
for Moderate properties.
That's interesting that y'all both honed in on that.
For me, my number four
is going to be the Swan/Dolphin Resort.
I'm gonna pick one.
I'll pick Swan over Dolphin.
It's in the Epcot area.
It is a Disney.
- It's not.
- It is in Disney.
(laughter)
It's called, like, the Disney
(talks over each other)
Anyway, Disney does not own it, Starwood is running it,
but it is right there at Epcot,
or right by Epcot.
- And they do have a boat ride to the front gates.
I mean you do get some benefits.
- The thing, also, that'll be interesting again,
and kind of give the theme of the breakfast thing
is for people who are Starwood members at a high level.
If you're a high level Starwood member.
You can use your amenity to be the free breakfast
at Swan, and on certain days of the week,
that is a character breakfast.
So, that'd be very, very good way to
use your amenity points.
Of the two, Dolphin is a Sheraton, and Swan is Westin.
So, I really prefer the Swan.
It's gonna be a smaller number of rooms,
as compared to Dolphin.
But you're getting the Starwood management
in the Disney park.
Even though it's not officially a Disney property,
but it is right there.
That is my pick.
- If we're on three, can I go three next?
'Cause that's my number three.
- Go for it.
Do it.
- I picked it because it's great because you're not paying
necessarily those higher Disney prices,
while still getting an amazing.
It's one of my favorite locations in Disney.
Well, everything you're just saying.
You still have that kind of feel like you're in Disney,
but it's not 24/7 Disney, Disney, Disney.
- Okay.
- So, that's my number three.
- So, someone's who's been there 36 times
is backing me up on my pick.
- Yeah.
- That's very exciting, very exciting.
What is number three for you?
- My number three was the Contemporary Resort.
What I like about this one is the location.
It also has my second favorite character dining (laughter)
restaurant inside, which is Chef Mickey's.
But that I find is one of the more moderately priced
character dining.
So, you're right there.
They have the best Mickey shaped mac 'n' cheese
in all the park.
(laughter)
And you get to meet Mickey. - [Alyssa] It's totally true.
- It is, it is.
But the monorail goes right through it,
so you can actually walk to Magic Kingdom from it.
You can ride the monorail to Epcot,
so you have two parks right there
that you can get to very easily.
I like it because of that, but I also like it because
it's just a very simple hotel inside.
Again, it's not gonna have Little Mermaids on the wall,
and Lion Kings which if you want that they have it,
but this is just like it sounds,
a very contemporary style resort.
Nice, and easy just for your walkable area.
So, I really like that one for number three.
- I'm not making any promises,
but maybe on a future top five video we'll countdown
the top five Mickey shaped macaroni and cheeses
all throughout Disney.
- 'Cause I've had them all.
(laughter)
- My number three is gonna be Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Specifically, the villas area, but both of them.
I really like this.
It's over in the Animal Kingdom area.
It's one of the newer properties, right?
It is very, very nice.
I've gotten to where Animal Kingdom grown on me.
When it first came out I wasn't as big on it,
but now it is grown on me,
and this resort is really good.
Really nice, and I'm big on it.
Really, really big on it.
Number two.
Why don't give us?
- My number two, which is probably gonna sound funny,
but it's probably the Grand Floridian.
I'm not a big luxury style traveler.
I like the Grand Floridian because it's just gorgeous.
I have nothing bad to say about it.
When I travel to Disney, I'm mostly in the parks all day,
and not so concerned with the hotel.
So, I love it because I think everyone should at least
go there, and experience it.
It's got a really cool, I think like a tea party inside
with the princesses,
so you don't have to go to Cinderella's royal table.
If you just want to meet the princesses
you're right there inside.
It's just a gorgeous property.
There's nothing really more to say about it,
but it would probably be my number two pick,
just because luxury is not always my thing.
I like nice hotels, don't get me wrong,
but I don't need the top, top,
of the line just to stay there.
So, that's my number two.
- Whatcha' got?
- I copied.
- You did?
- Not on purpose.
I chose the Grand Floridian too.
Its just so classically Disney.
It's kind of iconic.
Like she was saying, monorail goes through it,
so when you're staying at that hotel
it's nice to just get on the monorail,
and see the other hotels.
Then you have access to their character meals,
and whatnot.
I love Grand Floridian,
because it is magical at Christmas time.
They have a life-size gingerbread house,
and the whole place just reeks of gingerbread.
It's so amazingly Christmassy,
and it's beautiful year-round of course.
They keep up the grounds real pretty,
and that's where the wedding pavilion is.
So, if you're lucky enough you'll see the
Cinderella's carriage going through for the wedding.
So, it's amazing, beautiful hotel.
Great location.
It's just perfectly Disney.
- Fantastic.
For my number two.
Let me see.
What do you got.
Everyone got their hands present?
I'll take away sharp objects.
My number two is Portofino at Universal Studios.
(laughter and sighs)
- What?
- It's a really great resort.
I think it is in the league of Grand Floridian,
and I'll hold on these tightly.
It's certainly the nicest property at Universal,
but it is a beautiful property.
Obviously, they style it after Portofino, Italy.
Trivia question, again, y'all Disney people
and know this, but do you know whose idea Portifino was
for the resort?
- Walt Disney?
- No, no.
(laughter)
- That would be a great trivia.
Spielberg, Spielberg's the one who wanted it
to be a Portofino themed resort.
My number two is a beautiful resort.
I think in the same league as Grand Floridian,
is Portofino in Universal, and while you're down there
you'll probably want to check out Universal also.
As long as you're down there.
- I won't fight that.
- To be fair I like Universal.
I just prefer staying at Disney, and going to Universal.
- I'm gonna do my number one first,
because my number one's already mentioned,
so it's not gonna be very fun I think.
I am shocked that Grand Floridian was y'alls number two,
'cause it's my number one,
so I'm really inching to hear what your number one is.
We stayed Grand Floridian a few years ago,
and it was really fantastic.
My best trip down there.
Interesting, our last two trips down there since then,
we have tried the budget, and moderate places,
and I hate 'em.
I really, really hate 'em.
So, probably not a good idea to go from Grand Floridian
down to the budget things.
I love Grand Floridian.
Everything about it is just fantastic.
So, I am dying to hear what your number one is.
- Mine is also been mentioned.
Mine is the Animal Kingdom Lodge.
- Oh, that's number one?
- That's my number one,
because of a lot of different things.
I love Animal Kingdom.
I've been obsessed with that park since it opened.
It's just my favorite.
I love the safari that you can do,
I love seeing the animals,
and the fact that you can literally walk out
onto your balcony,
and watch animals in this Serengeti-type feeling.
They're kind of just doing their own thing.
That to me, the theme of the resort, I feel like
is more important than sometimes the style.
But even still, I mean it's a very nice property.
You still have luxury amenities, the pool's really cool.
There's viewing points all over the property
where you can watch animals
if maybe your balcony doesn't have a great view,
but I just was blown away by the style,
and the theme of the resort.
Definitely my number one.
- It had a lot of stories behind it.
- Yeah, it's very cultural.
- What's your number one?
- My number one is Beach Club.
A lot of people haven't heard of this one.
It's not one you hear about as often,
but it's a little treasure.
It has in my...
Everyone's different with which perks they like.
My favorite are Hollywood Studios, and Epcot.
And this one is walking distance to both.
It's an easy five minute walk at max to Epcot.
It's a little healthier, maybe like 15 minute walk
to Hollywood Studios,
but it has this really adorable little ice cream parlor
kind of shop called, Beaches and Cream.
They have this big, it's called the Kitchen Sink,
and they literally put 20 scoops of ice cream,
a whole can of whip cream, and everything else
under the moon in there.
- You would like that (laughs).
- Yeah.
And that might be why it's my favorite.
But it's a New England style themed hotel.
I'm from up north, so it kind of feels like home to me.
Just an amazing location.
The best pool in my opinion.
It's got quicksand on the bottom in random areas.
- That's a good thing (laughs)?
- Well, only in the areas where it would be up to here.
It sucks at your foot a little bit.
It just takes you off guard.
It is scary a lot of the time.
(laughter)
But a really cool waterslide too.
Beach Club, that's my number one.
- Very good, very good.
Well, thank y'all very much for joining us.
I know I learned things I'm gonna try when I go there again.
So, we'll be back soon with the next top five.
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