We own at BW and it's definitely our favorite of all Disney resorts. First, you can't beat being able to walk to two parks. Second, the nightlife/acts on the Boardwalk are great. You also have a nice mix of restaurants (ESPN, Big River, etc) right there. We also find that we really feel like we're on vacation without being too Disnied out.
Does the entertainment on the Boardwalk run all night (say to midnight)? My Dad is notorious for going to bed and wanting silence around the 9-10PM block, sometimes as early as 8! The rest of us vary depending on how we feel and what we did the day.
Your family will most likely find the Epcot resorts a perfect fit. When our kids were older they loved staying at the BC because of its proximity to Epcot and HS. The pools are great there, too. We stayed in the BCV's three times, and it is a perfect place for a large family. Having a full kitchen and a washer/dryer is great. The BWV's are nice, too. Both are walking distance to Epcot and HS.
All of the deluxe resorts except for WL and AKL sleep five adults. Although the WL and AKL rooms only fit four, they have bunk bed rooms, which can be a good option for some families. And they are the lowest priced of the deluxe resorts.
Yeah, I'm caught on which areas would be best for us to be near. Mom's got her heart on AKL because of the Savanna and Arusha rooms, but I'm thinking a Safari will curb that curiosity, plus the rest of us might not want to see animals outside in the middle of the night! What rides the boys will enjoy in the parks will probably be Buzz and the Mountains at MK, TSMM and RnR at DHS, maybe Mission Space at EP, and EE and the Safaris at AK. Assuming they're not just interested in dragging along a video console
The biggest issue is going to be bedding, I can tell that now. The pairings will have to be;
Mom & Dad - 1 Bed
DS 2 & DS3 - Bunk Beds or 1 Bed
DD & Me - 1 Bed
DS1 - 1 Bed
I'd happily take a sleeper sofa if it came down to it, and I'm sure one of the other siblings would too, but for the most part we're kind of huge (length wise) so beds are always a better bet. And the more bathrooms the better; we have two full baths at home and some days it just isn't enough by any stretch.
For us, it's the Poly for the following reasons:
- beautiful, tropical atmosphere
- large, spacious rooms
- all rooms come with a daybed
- the pool is great as it backs up to the beach with a distant view of the castle while swimming
- the beach is great for relaxing in a hammock watching the fireworks
- Captain Cooks is great for quick CS meals/snacks
- it's a quick 5-7 minute walk to the TTC to catch the Epcot monorail
- it's 2 monorail stops from MK
- it's convenient to the GF and CR for a variety of dining/shopping options
- it's relaxing walking around at night under the lit tiki torches
I LOVE the Poly. All the pictures I've seen (I've never actually been there
yet, going to visit hopefully in two days!) make it look like a paradise. But their price tag is re-ah-lee up there, even for me. But the GF looks just as marvelous. So does OKW. I'm so stuck, gah!
We have 2 favorites -- BC and Poly -- but considering the ages of all your family members, I'd go with BC or really any Epcot resort as I think that would be the perfect area for your family. The boys (and gals?
) can enjoy Espn Club on a nightly basis if they want -- it's right on the boardwalk and it's open late, maybe until 1:00 a.m. or so. When I took my own parents to Disney, choosing the BC was the best decision because it was perfect for them to stroll around the boardwalk, sit on benches near the beach, they loved Beaches & Cream each night for a fun ice cream treat....there is so much for all ages to enjoy. You can plan dinners in the Epcot countries each night and simply walk there -- it's great. You can also walk or boat to HS, another great perk. Bus to MK, or if you're already in Epcot near the front, just catch the monorail over to MK.
I'm really loving the sound of BC so far
especially given how close it is to everything, and the ability to let us older kids roam if we want, and let Mom and Dad just 'be' wherever they want. Plus, B&C, ugh, who doesn't love B&C?!
We have stayed at all the deluxe hotels except BWV, where we will be staying on our next trip. That being said my personal favorites are Beach Club, Grand Floridian and Wilderness lodge.Love the BC for atmosphere and location, the GF
for its beautiful decor and lobby and being on the monorail and the WL for its theme. They are totally all different but each are great. It just depends on what you are looking for and which one would appeal to you and your family most. Whatever you choose you really can't go wrong with any of them! Enjoy!!
I forgot about WL! Oh my gosh! It looks so homey and comfortable to me. I don't know how the family would take it, but then again, I'll be asking each of them which one they like and why, and using this post with all the advice and tips/suggestions to see if they still like it once they know the breakdowns involved in each. Thanks!
I highly recommend the Grand Villa at OKW. You can all stay together, a full kitchen for breakfast, snacks. A washer/dryer. And they are HUGE
We absolutely are going to need a full kitchen, washer/dryer combo for wherever we go. As much as I love to only eat out on vacation, my entire family is much more of a 'breakfast in the rooms, maybe return for a light lunch' sort of group, and we just can't do that in a room that only has beds and a microwave.
Plus for them, the more 'living space' the better. We don't need crazy Club Level amenities, so I'm not really looking up that avenue.
Thanks for all the input so far, keep 'em coming please!
