A child's perspective...

[septbaby]

Kids Get their own "resort" at GF: The Mouseketeer Club is open from 4:30 p.m. to midnight, and offers entertainment, dining and fun for children aged 4 to 12.

I believe this is common at the Deluxes. Kids would love their own getaway for people there own size!

 

[parith1114]

I agree with everyone else, it should be the parents pick. Most of a Disney vacation is about the kiddos why not treat yourself to the resort of your choice. I am sure that wherever you stay they will think it is the greastest hotel ever, and not because of the hotel, but because of the whole experience. Have a fabulous time!

 

[Tam1067]

My kids loved both WL and the Poly. There's a lot of kid friendly things at the deluxes.

 

[chasgoose]

I'm having the same issues.. While I want to stay at a mod or deluxe, I believe my kids will have more fun at Pop or Movies.. I really wish WDW would get on the ball with an upscale hotel that's more kid orientated!

To be honest, for most kids I bet the big icons at the values get old. When you get in the room, there is nothing really special about them except their small size and relative lack of amenities (I know if my family of four tried to stay in a value room for more than a few days we would end up killing each other). While the theming at the deluxes and moderates isn't quite as in your face Disney as the values, they are pretty well themed and have lots of cool aspects to excite kids. From the monorail (which is an attraction in and of itself) soaring right through the Contemporary tower to the savanna with real live animals at the AKL to the beach like tropical settings of the Caribbean Beach/Poly, they all have something to offer even if it isn't a giant Buzz Lightyear statue.

A much bigger concern for most kids than the theming is the quality of the pool (at least it was to me when I was that age). The moderates and deluxes all have amazing themed pool complexes complete with slides and some even offer sand-bottomed areas, zero entry, lazy rivers, etc. The values just have big pools with some cool statues and things around it, but they can't compare to the pools at the moderates and deluxes.

Almost all of the deluxes also have character breakfasts and kids clubs and other great activities geared towards children that can only be found at deluxe resorts. If you stay at the values, you won't get to do that as easily.

Aside from all the reasons above, why the moderates and deluxes offer just as much if not more for young kids, the fact remains that most kids don't care where they are staying as long as they get to go to WDW. Almost all of the hotels at Disney (with maybe the exception of the Contemporary, which makes up for its lack of theming with the amazing MK views and ) are richly themed and visually appealing to young children so you really can't go wrong. It isn't selfish to pick a hotel that you want in these circumstances because any hotel will be fun and exciting for young kids because it is in WDW! Believe me your kids would rather have happy parents at a moderate/deluxe than stressed parents in a cramped room at a value.

If you feel bad about dictating the resort choice with no input from your kids, to me the best plan for booking a WDW resort and still incorporating your children's input is to narrow the list down to resorts that you would feel comfortable staying at (based on price, comfort level, location, etc.) and then let your kids choose from that list. This way, your kids can feel like they have some say in the resort decision and can get excited for your choice, while you don't have to feel like you are giving anything up (the other bonus of this plan is it can help you make a decision when there are too many good choices).

 

[jessaboo]

I'll tell you that I was 17 last time I went, and the value resorts were MUCH more appealing to me. It was fun, and it had alot of colorful entertainment there while the adults of the group wanted to relax at the room.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

To tell you the truth, my kids have no desire to stay at a value. They love a hotel pool with a slide. And since thats a major part of our vacation, we will never unless we absolutely have to pick a value.

The kids love the BW area because of the entertainment on the BW when the parks close. My 9yo and 3 yo run from magician to magician. Both got picked to be in the show last trip, and they were in heaven.

We've stayed on the monorail also , which is very convenient with little ones. If you're gearing toward a moderate, we've stayed at POFQ. Great small resort with a nice pool and slide.

 

[fakereadhed]

We are going back to POP because my 3 yr old asks every single day if he can "go back to the bowling pins". I have to say that it is my least favorite place to stay so far, but he absolutely loved it. We are taking a quick trip just him and me, so that is what I picked. But for a family vacation we will definitely stay elsewhere. Mom and Dad need a vacation too and we did not feel at all relaxed among the giant icons, bright colors, and airport terminal lobby. I am not value-bashing, just saying that a relaxed Mom and Dad make for a happier family vacation overall, even if the kids like it better.

 

[winterman]

If you ask small children, "What did you like best about your trip to Disney World?" they will most likely answer. "The pool at the hotel!"

I am in the camp that believes the parents should decide where to stay. So, if you want to go Deluxe, then do so! My kids do just fine at the Polynesian, which is where my ife and I choose to stay

I agree. I have not stayed at any deluxe resorts but when I have visited for dinner, I have not seen any kids crying that they wanted to stay somewhere else. I think too many people are worrying too much about this. You are taking a family vacation at Disney World!!! The kids will love wherever you stay.

 

[jeepgirl30]

I took DD6 in Sept and choose movies. I had promised DH I'd do a very budget trip. I longed for CSR or a deluxe but DD's little jaw dropped the moment she saw our resort and declared it the "best ever". She loved the resort. I've asked her next time where she wants to stay and she says "the Perdita Hotel". We were in Pongo building and she thinks they are seperate hotels. We did go to the other resorts for meals but she isn't interested.

She was amazed by the pool as well. The ironic thing is the main pool was closed and we could only use the Duck Pond or Mighty Duck or whatever its called! She thought it was just the greatest.

I choose Movies with 2 priorities, money and DD's interest. I've read the comments how it should be the parents choice and my choice was to put DD's interest first and make this trip all about her. Next time we go it will be the whole family so we will have other priorities. I'm sure DD and her lil bro will be thrilled with any hotel as long as they get the chance to see Mickey, Minnie, the Princesses and Buzz Lightyear!

Good luck in your decision.

 

[haleofafamily]

I just asked my 9 yr old DS which resort he liked best out of As Sp, SSR and OKW. I really thought he would choose Sports because he still talks about the icons, but he couldn't decide between the other two because of the slides at the pools. So if your children like to swim, I would pick a place with a good pool and slide.

 

[PrejeanPrincess]

When I asked my dd6 which resort she wanted to stay at, she replied "I want to stay at WL that is where my servants are". We had turn-down service and they did cute things with all their stuffed animals and left chocolates on their pillows, so she thinks she had personal servants at WL. But all my kids are excited to try AKL this trip.

I also agree with other posters who said make your decision based on which resort you would like. The kids are going to have a blast at any of the resorts.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

MY DD's are 5 and 7. We have been goign each year since older DD was 2.5. We have always stayed at a Value when we have gone with them with the exception of this past May when we stayed at POR. They were so disappointed. They ave loved All Star Movies because of the movie themes, but were really into POP. They wanted to stay at POP in May and were sad that we were at POR. To my children, nothing was interesting at POR. Nothing stood out as great, it was a boring resort for them. At POP or All stars that are tons of giant ICONS that they know and can play on or in. So instead of dishing out some extra money, i can save a bit to stay at a value that they would rather be at anyway. I really don't care where we stay on the property as long as we are having a good time.

 

[ToyStory]

My oldest son now 9 1/2 still talks about the time we stayed at the All Star Movies (age 4) over staying at the CR and POR. He wanted to stay there again, but we said no. Mean parents we are. I know my youngest age 4 would love it there too, but DH refuses to stay there.

When booking this vacation originally I had us staying at WL, he was indifferent and kept on saying he wanted the Movies. After numerous changes to our plans we are now staying at CSR and my son is looking forward to it especially seeing the Dig Site. For our 4 year old and I feel CSR would fun to him for the kiddie pool and playground. I am sure he will be following his big brother going down the slide too.

 

[tmarquez]

My DD is 4. We've stayed at each resort you mentioned, except the AKL (going to try that one in a few months). DD likes WL best out of those...bunkbeds, a waterslide at the pool, eating at Whispering Canyon, having a balcony to sit our on and not as much walking as at the values were the things she says she liked best.

Her real favorite though is the cabins at Fort Wildreness.

 

[Tink3Belle]

My son liked the Hot pool at CSR. He couldn't stop talking about it therefore e had to stay at a moderate with a Hot Pool! (Or Jacuzzi to the rest of us.)

 

[YEKCIM]

We took our daughter for the first time in 2004, when she was 5-1/2, and stayed at the Caribbean Beach. Since then, we've stayed at the Port Orleans/French Qtr, All Star Movies (Toy Story) and the Contemporary (business meeting). We head back in a couple weeks, for four days at the All Star Movies. Honestly, each one of the places we've stayed had something appealing for a child, and I think she enjoyed each of our stays, but for different reasons. At the Contemporary, for example, the water slide at the pool was a big draw for her, while the overall theming at the All Star/Movies was much to her liking, too.

We typically spend most of our time in the parks, anyway, so whatever the resort has to offer is really just icing on the cake, and not a huge factor in deciding where to stay.

~YEKCIM

 

[MickeyNicki]

When my 2 nieces (4 and 11) watch the planning video they always pick the ASMo...it just appeals to them more

 

[fairestoneofall]

My DD 5 loves ASMovies. But then, last time we stayed part of the time at SOG and she loved it (even though there is very little theme at all). Basically, as long as it has a pool and a bus to get her to MK, she's happy. She is looking forward to staying in a monorail resort next time. Other than that, she doesn't much care.

 

[bigbabyblues]

My kids seem to like whichever resort we're staying at. They loved ASMo when we stayed there, it was their favorite. When we stayed at CBR, they liked it, but asked to go back to ASMo. This last trip, we stayed at Pop, and now they say (mostly the 6-yo) that they like it even better than ASMo, but WAY better than CBR.

DH and I will make the final decision; more like I will make the decision, DH goes with it, as long as we have the money saved to pay for it. That said, we do like the value resorts, to it's really not a problem for us.

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

We have stayed at every level now and both of my kids will always ask to stay at WL first as that's their favourite!

We did our first stay at a value in May (ASMu) and they informed me that the icons were cheesy and the pool was terrible with no slide and could we please not do a value again. I have to agree with them but that's just our opinion.

I'm sure wherever you choose to stay you are in Disney and if you make the best of where you are and what you have you will have a great vacation!!