Help Me Narrow Down Our Resort Choices!

[disneymath]

We're planning a "maybe - but very likely" trip for August 2010. Travel party is 5 adults (parents, sis&bil, and I) and 3 nephews (who will be just over 3 and twin 16 month olds when we go).

BASIC INFO
We typically stay for 7 nights.
We will not have a car with us and will rely largely on WDW Transport.
We will have the dining plan.
We frequently travel together.
We won't be touring the parks commando style.
But, we will be out of the room(s) as much as possible.
We spend a lot of time together on a day to day basis.
But, we like to be able to "retreat to our own corners" if need be.

We've "streamlined" our resort choices somewhat, but hope that your advice/opinions/input will help us narrow things down some more. The cost factor is obviously something to consider, but we're more interested in the resorts themselves (atmosphere, what's in the room, what's on the grounds, transportation options, etc.)

If we all stay together in one room/villa, we've narrowed it down to:
* 2 Bdrm Villa (Bay Lake View) @ BLT
* Treehouse @ SSR (about $950 < BLT)
* 2 Bdrm Villa @ OKW (same price as Treehouse)

If we opt to split up, we've narrowed it down to:
* 2 - 1 Bdrm Villas @ OKW (about $980 > BLT All together option)
* 2 Junior Suites @ CSR (about $750 < OKW)
* 2 Wilderness Cabins @ FWC (about $1300 < CSR and about $120 < Treehouse @ SSR)
* 3 Preferred Rooms @ CBR (about $75 < FWC)

Thanks in advance for any advice / opinions you have to offer!

SMALL UPDATE:
Since our hearts rely lie with the WL, we are also considering the VWL. We have also pretty much decided that all 8 of us in one unit is not the best option.

[Phil'sFrontier]

Bay Lake Towers ftw!

[disneymath]

Originally Posted by Phil'sFrontier

Bay Lake Towers ftw!

Any particular reason?

[Phil'sFrontier]

Originally Posted by disneymath

Any particular reason?

3 reasons...Location, Location, Location! lol

Have a great trip too!

[dsaville]

In my mind BLT is the clear favorite b/c of the kids and transportation to the parks. We stayed at the yc and only had to use the buses to go to two parks and a nice walk/boat to the others. At blt you can walk to MK and monorail to epcot. I've been looking into a BLT for a june stay but I don't know too much about the others. I would think those would be ok as long as the bus transportation isn't a problem. We had young kids and a dbl stroller and it was nice not to have to mess with the buses all the time. But I do like the look of the tree house villas plus with 5 adults if every one stays in the same place bus travel wouldnt be so bad with kids, but it may be tough if only two people have three kids and everyone is at different resorts.

[themilesfamily]

I think the best options are:

2-bedroom at BLT
3 preferred rooms at CBR
2 Junior Suites at CSR

BLT:
It has great transporation to the parks -- you can get home fast when kids are cranky. Also, if you're on the dining plan, you're a monorail ride away from so many good dining options.

BUT....With only two bedrooms at BLT, someone, (probably you), will spend their entire time in the living room area. (I'm guessing sis, bil and kids will get the room with two beds -- mom & dad would get the room with one bed -- you get the living room.) What if the kids are up early wanting to run around? What if others are up early for breakfast and you want to sleep in? Is the lack of privacy going to bug you? If not, go with the 2-bedroom at BLT.

2 CSR jr. suites:
You and mom & dad could bunk together and have some adult space in one suite -- while sis & bil and kids could have their own kid-oriented space in another. A good breakdown if kids gets fussy and sis & BIL want to retreat to their own space for naps and such. There is also a good sitdown restaurant here (Maya Grill) since you're on the dining plan.

3 CBR preferred rooms:
You say you like to retreat to your separate corners from time to time. Three separate rooms gives you the most privacy and more of a chance to have some alone time if need be.

[patsfan101]

I would say stick witht he monorail. With the little ones it really makes a difference. Now I'm no help because I would say get two rooms at Poly, so don't listen to me!

From your options, my vote would be BLT.

[disneymath]

Originally Posted by dsaville

In my mind BLT is the clear favorite b/c of the kids and transportation to the parks. We stayed at the yc and only had to use the buses to go to two parks and a nice walk/boat to the others. At blt you can walk to MK and monorail to epcot. I've been looking into a BLT for a june stay but I don't know too much about the others. I would think those would be ok as long as the bus transportation isn't a problem. We had young kids and a dbl stroller and it was nice not to have to mess with the buses all the time. But I do like the look of the tree house villas plus with 5 adults if every one stays in the same place bus travel wouldnt be so bad with kids, but it may be tough if only two people have three kids and everyone is at different resorts.

We would definitely all be at the same resort - hopefully in close proximity if we choose a multiple room option.

While we've never stayed at a monorail or Epcot resort, we've never had any major issues with buses fromt the other resorts we've been too. (This will be trip 3 for the 3 yo and we managed his stroller on the buses relatively well the first 2 times.)

Since we try to keep the ratio of adults to babies at least 1:1, transportation should not be too much of an issue other than it can be time consuming. (The Treehouse apparently relies on an internal shuttle to get you to the main building/food options/regular WDW transit, so that is definitely a potential downfall just b/c it could make the trip to/from the room that much more complicated and time consuming.)

Originally Posted by themilesfamily

I think the best options are:

2-bedroom at BLT
3 preferred rooms at CBR
2 Junior Suites at CSR

BLT:
It has great transporation to the parks -- you can get home fast when kids are cranky. Also, if you're on the dining plan, you're a monorail ride away from so many good dining options.

BUT....With only two bedrooms at BLT, someone, (probably you), will spend their entire time in the living room area. (I'm guessing sis, bil and kids will get the room with two beds -- mom & dad would get the room with one bed -- you get the living room.) What if the kids are up early wanting to run around? What if others are up early for breakfast and you want to sleep in? Is the lack of privacy going to bug you? If not, go with the 2-bedroom at BLT.

2 CSR jr. suites:
You and mom & dad could bunk together and have some adult space in one suite -- while sis & bil and kids could have their own kid-oriented space in another. A good breakdown if kids gets fussy and sis & BIL want to retreat to their own space for naps and such. There is also a good sitdown restaurant here (Maya Grill) since you're on the dining plan.

3 CBR preferred rooms:
You say you like to retreat to your separate corners from time to time. Three separate rooms gives you the most privacy and more of a chance to have some alone time if need be.

You make some valid points. If we collectively decide that all of us in one room will work, then it seems hard to go wrong with BLT. But 7 nights = a lot of togetherness.

The suites at CSR seem appealing because they do break us up and would be less costly than two 1-bdrm villas. And, if I'm not mistaken, this option would give us a total of 4 bathrooms. But, can free dining be applied to the Junior Suites if it is offered in 2010? How about a 40% PIN if one of us is lucky enought to get one?

The 3 rooms at CBR (or any moderate) is the least costly option, but doens't really give us any "living room" type of space - which would be nice to have during downtime at the resort.

Ahh, decisions, decisions. (Really, I'm just so excited we're going back with my oldest nephew and taking the twins for the first time. My sis/bil had thought at first we should wait until all the boys were potty trained - but then they decided that that would be too long!)

Originally Posted by patsfan101

I would say stick witht he monorail. With the little ones it really makes a difference. Now I'm no help because I would say get two rooms at Poly, so don't listen to me!

From your options, my vote would be BLT.

Part of me is "worried" about taking the leap to a monorail resort b/c we might like it so much we could never go back to a non-monorail resort! We stayed at ASMu with a 6 month old and at AKL when he was 14 months old ... I think we would manage just fine w/o being on the monorail line, but I can see where it would be beneficial too.

The Poly is on our list for "one of these days".

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would also go with Bay Lake Tower because of it's overall location and with little kids that can not be beat.

[KatMark]

Originally Posted by disneymath

We would definitely all be at the same resort - hopefully in close proximity if we choose a multiple room option.

While we've never stayed at a monorail or Epcot resort, we've never had any major issues with buses fromt the other resorts we've been too. (This will be trip 3 for the 3 yo and we managed his stroller on the buses relatively well the first 2 times.)

Since we try to keep the ratio of adults to babies at least 1:1, transportation should not be too much of an issue other than it can be time consuming. (The Treehouse apparently relies on an internal shuttle to get you to the main building/food options/regular WDW transit, so that is definitely a potential downfall just b/c it could make the trip to/from the room that much more complicated and time consuming.)



You make some valid points. If we collectively decide that all of us in one room will work, then it seems hard to go wrong with BLT. But 7 nights = a lot of togetherness.

The suites at CSR seem appealing because they do break us up and would be less costly than two 1-bdrm villas. And, if I'm not mistaken, this option would give us a total of 4 bathrooms. But, can free dining be applied to the Junior Suites if it is offered in 2010? How about a 40% PIN if one of us is lucky enought to get one?

The 3 rooms at CBR (or any moderate) is the least costly option, but doens't really give us any "living room" type of space - which would be nice to have during downtime at the resort.

Ahh, decisions, decisions. (Really, I'm just so excited we're going back with my oldest nephew and taking the twins for the first time. My sis/bil had thought at first we should wait until all the boys were potty trained - but then they decided that that would be too long!)



Part of me is "worried" about taking the leap to a monorail resort b/c we might like it so much we could never go back to a non-monorail resort! We stayed at ASMu with a 6 month old and at AKL when he was 14 months old ... I think we would manage just fine w/o being on the monorail line, but I can see where it would be beneficial too.

The Poly is on our list for "one of these days".

Yes, free dining is available for the junior suites at the CSR. They are great! We were upgraded to one last year for our 25th anniversary and we did have two bathrooms, two televisions, etc. It was terrific.

[disneymath]

Originally Posted by KatMark

Yes, free dining is available for the junior suites at the CSR. They are great! We were upgraded to one last year for our 25th anniversary and we did have two bathrooms, two televisions, etc. It was terrific.

Thanks Kathy! I was hoping you would stumble on this thread ... I knew you would know the answer to the CSR question! (Right now, a major downfall to CSR is the Pepper Market issue ... we managed fine as three adults this summer, but feel it would be much more chaotic with 3 little kids added to the mix.)

[disneymath]

So, we had streamlined things, but our hearts rely lie with the WL. So now we are also considering the VWL. We have also pretty much decided that all 8 of us in one unit is not the best option.

[sharadoc]

Hi. the VWL is a nice option. You have the boat to MK which runs pretty often. I have never stayed at BLT, but based on the layout and photos I've seen, I think it would take longer to get to the monorail in the main building than it would to walk to the boat, take the boat and get off in MK. I'd be curious to see if someone has compared the walk to MK vs. the walk to the monorail!

I'd vote VWL of all your options. I see you don't have any Epcot resorts in there, but we're trying the Boardwalk for the first time. We really like the central location.

[disneymath]

Originally Posted by sharadoc

Hi. the VWL is a nice option. You have the boat to MK which runs pretty often. I have never stayed at BLT, but based on the layout and photos I've seen, I think it would take longer to get to the monorail in the main building than it would to walk to the boat, take the boat and get off in MK. I'd be curious to see if someone has compared the walk to MK vs. the walk to the monorail!

I'd vote VWL of all your options. I see you don't have any Epcot resorts in there, but we're trying the Boardwalk for the first time. We really like the central location.

Hmmm ... never really considered how far we could be from the monorail at BLT. Thanks for pointing that out.

We did enjoy the boat from WL to MK ... and while the buses were a bit "roundabout" to other places, they never seemed to be too full.

Oh well, off to price out more options.

[ElizabethG]

I stayed at BLT this past August. It was amazing. It is about a 10 minute walk to MK and about 2 minutes to the monorail. There is a walkway right from the elevator bay of BLT to Contemporary 4th floor. It is not a long bridge. Another thing that BLT has over the other one room places is an extra bathroom (it has 3). You also get to use the pool at the Contemporary, so there are two great pools to switch between. Chef Mickey's is right there, plus all the other great restaurants on the monorail line are quick and easy to get to. That is the only place I want to stay now. We're going back in October 2010.