1st time and very overwhelmed!!!!!!!!!!

[miche73ak]

We will be visiting in late Nov. I will be traveling with a 3 and 1yr old, also 2 grandmas .We would like to stay somewhere close so we can come and go and not be to far from a room. I have been looking at the BC Villas for the kitchenetts but have been told that Epcot is not geared for children that age. Does any of the MK resorts have kitchenetts? Can we do without a car while we are staying on Disney property. I know my 1 yr old will have no idea of anything going on but my 3 yr old loves anything Disney so I want her to experience the most to offer. If anyone has any suggestions or maybe a different idea on how to stay, PLEASE HELP. This is way to difficult. You can email me at elena0michelle@hotmail.com Thank you.

 

[Mommy Poppins]

Welcome to the DIS!! Sit back, take a big breath and relax. All things Disney can be found on these boards!! You have definitely come to the right place.

I am not sure if any of the MK resorts have kitchenettes. I am sure someone here will be able to tell you. The only exception I can think of would be the Wildlerness Lodge Villas. They are considered a MK resort, but not on the monorail. You would take a boat from there to the MK.

Again, welcome to the DIS Boards. Ask any questions here and you will get lots and lots of answers!

 

[sherry8253]

If you want a kitchen and prefer to be close to the MK, then my vote would also be for the WL Villas. The whole family will love the atmosphere, the boat ride to the MK, watching the geyser erupt, etc.

 

[susy]

WL Villas!!!! We will be at the WL in late Nov, too. Be aware that it will be very crowded for Thankgiving. The week before and the week after should be fine. If you get the travel channel, you may want to check out the great hotels episode on the WL. check the website for times.

 

[KSgirl]

Don't forget, the Ft. Wilderness cabins also have a full kitchen. However, they have one bedroom with a queen sized bed and one set of bunks, and then a Murphy bed can be pulled down from the living area wall. My family of 6 (4 children) stayed their quite comfortably, and I really loved the full kitchen. They are also less expensive than the villas. We rented a van to use while we were at WDW, which we found indispensible with the children--didn't have to wait if we needed to leave--but I have heard that the busses at Ft. Wilderness work well.

 

[Gillian]

The cabins are great, BUT, without a car you will have to take internal fort wilderness busses to get to the park busses/boats. It works very well, but with 2 kids & 2 strollers it can be a pain to transfer busses any time you want to go somewhere.

The villas at wilderness lodge are very nice. They are basically the same as the BCV. They have 1 queen bed and a sleeper sofa in th studio (all one room). The 1 BR has a king bed and a sleeper sofa in the living room, plus a full kitchen and washer/dryer. The studio might be a little tight with 3 adults and 2 kids, but at least you'll have a balcony for nap time.

Just relax & remember that planning is half the fun!

 

[Jen D]

I agree VWL will probably be best for you if you want to be closest to MK. But don't completely rule out BCV-- Epcot may not be as toddler-friendly, but it is great to have close by for dining options, and it may be a favorite park for the grandmas. You're close to MGM, too, and there is a great pool. Boardwalk is a great place for little ones to walk and run off steam. And transportation is decent to other parks.

Given you want to be close to MK, probably best to pick VWL, but BCV would also be a fantastic choice and I think you'd be happy there.

 

[honeymom]

My kids have always preferred Epcot to MK. Too much scary stuff at MK for their taste. Your 1 year old will care less either way (I took a 1 year old once). Your 3 year old will like Toontown and some of Fantasyland, but even a lot of Fantasyland is scary (have taken 2 1/2 year old and then same child at 3 1/2 to Disneyland). Have found that my kids actually seem to like resort time by the pools the best. Stormalong Bay is supposed to be terrific.

Also, the little kids like the crafts offered by Family Fun in the World Showcase.

 

[Magic2000]

I've been taking my DDs since they were right over a year old, and we've always had a great vacation!!! Your kids will have such a good time no matter where you stay!

My kids have also enjoyed Epcot - especially with the masks you decorate at each of the countries. We have quite a collection of these masks at the house now.

If a kitchenette isn't a must for you - consider staying at the All Star Movies! My youngest LOVES this hotel! The play area by Toy Story and 101 Dalmations is so cute! Allison could stay out there for hours!!! The pools are nice too (don't know how much swimming you'd be able to do in late Nov). You could get two rooms for more space, and have two bathrooms.

We always use the Disney busses when on vacation. If we fly in, we use one of the towncar services to get to the hotel and back to the airport. We've never had to wait that long for a bus, and bringing a stroller on a bus really isn't that bad.

If you are flying in, make a stop at a store and get a foam ice chest so you can have some milk and juice in the room for the baby. Also pick up some easy breakfast items - donuts, cereal, breakfast bars, instant grits or oatmeal. Bring some plastic bowls and spoons and you're set.

Good luck - and remember - planning is half the fun!!!

 

[copper0426]

First take a breath and relax that should be what this vacation is all about.
That said, we have been taking my son since he was 3 weeks old. We have never had a problem with transportation at the world. I park the car when we arrive and that is it. I would say just be sure the stroller folds and you are good to go (most will slide under the seat). And with two GM'S to help it should be a sinch.

WL or BW Villas are probably the best places to stay the Cabins at FW are nice but the bus deal is a little more complicated not what a newbie needs. Remember also at that age the transportation is as much a kick for some kids as the rides. A trip is not complete if my Son now 7 does not get to ride At least 2 boats the Monorail and the Bus.

Sorry, had to make a couple of corrections DH typed original.

 

[ceecee]

You can get by without a car.......especially with 2 grandmas to help with the strollers! Just get the umbrella strollers and you'll be fine...I wouldn't take a larger hard to collapse. Your one year old will probably want to ride much of the time. My DD has loved Epcot and we have a mask that she has made from the time she was 3 until 6, she's planning on doing it again this year! Her favorite thing (besides some rides) was the "Dalmatian Hotel" ASMo and the pools! With the money you save you could eat out at the food court, use a cooler or rent a fridge for milk or whatever. If you really want a kitchenette (I personally don't like to even think about cooking on vacation!) Have a great time. Sounds like you will have a lot of help with the Grandmas!

 

[karebear1]

ALthough you may be overwhelmed right now- you will become very familiar with what you want and it will become easier. You have plenty of time.
If you are thinking of reserving a DVC resort (Beach Club VIllas, Old Key West, Villas at WIlderness Lodge and Boardwalk Villas) you should go over to the Disney Vacation Club Forum on this site. You can find it here:

www://disboards.com/forumsdisplay.php?s=&forumid=28

On this board you can find out all kind of info for those DVC resorts. You can ask about room size for your group, location etc.

Feel free to pm me if you would llike some help in making ressies or have other questions. I'll do what I can to help you step by step through the process. I know it can feel overwhelming, but really, it is not a difficult thing once you become familiar !

Karen

 

[puffkin]

Also, don't worry if you don't have a car. The WDW transportation system is very good. If you don't have a car and one of the little ones gets tired, your party can split up and use the busses to get back to the resort. Anywhere would be a great choice, but I would vote for the VWL too because of the proximity to MK.

 

[wdwfan]

I vote for BCV. With little ones, having the amenitiies of a beautiful resort makes your stay more comfortable. I love the pool. When my daughter was 3 she loved to play in the sandy beach part of Stormalong Bay. It really kept her occupied. She was able to swim in the children's pool with her life jacket on and enjoy going down the kiddie slide at the children's pool. It was nice having the dining options in the Boardwalk area for my husband and I. I have never stayed at the WLV. I am sure that they are beautiful too. It really just depends on what you like. Disney certainly has something for everybody!

 

[MJames41]

If you do choose Fort Wilderness, you do have another option (at around $40 per day) for transportation within Fort Wilderness itself (it is a huge resort), and that is the golf carts.

For your situation, it depends on which park you think you will be at most. If Magic Kingdom, then go with Villas of Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness, if Epcot or MGM, then go with Beach Club Villas or Boardwalk Villas.

Just my thoughts.

 

[swilphil]

Go for the Beach Club Villas!! We just stayed next door at the Dolphin with our 1 and 3 year old sons. The location is excellent, and the Villas are much nicer, better pool, etc. With the boat transportation to Epcot and MGM, we didn't even have to fold up our double stroller. We just rolled it to the back of the boat. Our 3 year old loved the boat rides, as well as Epcot and MGM. Epcot has Kidcot stations in the World Showcase and lots of room to run around. He seemed to be stuck in the stroller a lot at MK. He also liked Food Rocks, Journey into the Imagination, and the boat ride at Mexico. I regret we weren't able to spend more time at Epcot.

At MGM, there are tons of shows and indoor attractions to do, which is nice to do when they're tired, there's inclement weather, etc. Also we saw more characters there than at MK.