After Boardwalk resorts, where's the best night life of DVC?

[AllieV]

With a little one that goes to bed early, we like to have close nightlife options. The boardwalk has been fabulous, but after many trips there, it's starting to feel like the same trip every time and I'd like to stay somewhere else. I'd also like a pool more suited to a toddler, with a small slide and maybe a bigger playground. I was considering switching to the Beach Club for a little twist.

I see SSR has a building that's close to downtown disney. Is it really walkable at night? What's at the Animal Kingdom? Do any places (besides BWV) have bars that stay open late?

How's nightlife at the Poly if we stay at BLT? GF had a decent bar we went to one trip. It was just a quiet, classy place; stayed open late.

Thanks for any input.

 

[disneynutz]

BCV or SSR are probably the best of the bunch for what you are looking for.

Bill

 

[Deb & Bill]

With a little one that goes to bed early, we like to have close nightlife options. The boardwalk has been fabulous, but after many trips there, it's starting to feel like the same trip every time and I'd like to stay somewhere else. I'd also like a pool more suited to a toddler, with a small slide and maybe a bigger playground. I was considering switching to the Beach Club for a little twist.

I see SSR has a building that's close to downtown disney. Is it really walkable at night? What's at the Animal Kingdom? Do any places (besides BWV) have bars that stay open late?

Thanks for any input.

Toddlers and Stormalong Bay don't really go to well together unless you stay on the YC side where the water is shallow and there are kiddie areas. On the BC side, you have the big slide (not good for a toddler), you have the deep areas (8' deep with a very swift current - not good for anyone but a strong swimmer), sinking sands (just plain annoying). You've got to really watch little ones at SAB.

SSR has some great water play areas for kids, just not at the Congress Park area that is closest to DTD.

 

[AllieV]

Toddlers and Stormalong Bay don't really go to well together unless you stay on the YC side where the water is shallow and there are kiddie areas. On the BC side, you have the big slide (not good for a toddler), you have the deep areas (8' deep with a very swift current - not good for anyone but a strong swimmer), sinking sands (just plain annoying). You've got to really watch little ones at SAB.

SSR has some great water play areas for kids, just not at the Congress Park area that is closest to DTD.

oh wow, I didn't realize. I thought SAB was supposed to be great for little ones. Thanks for this. You might've just saved me from a bad trip.

 

[krmlaw]

Allie our 2.5 yo LOVES stormalong bay. only place we will stay now. He spends all day in the beach pool. they also have a small waterslide that he loves as well. Its our fav of all DVC for toddlers and nightlife. Kidani village pool is a close second so I would look there too. They have a great kids splash area thats huge.

 

[AllieV]

Allie our 2.5 yo LOVES stormalong bay. only place we will stay now. He spends all day in the beach pool. they also have a small waterslide that he loves as well. Its our fav of all DVC for toddlers and nightlife. Kidani village pool is a close second so I would look there too. They have a great kids splash area thats huge.

Small waterslides are good . He had a love-hate relationship with the big one at the Boardwalk. The main issue was that climb up there. I wouldn't let him go alone but I needed to be at the bottom to catch him (that rush of water that pushes riders away from the slide also takes them under despite a life vest) and the rush of water at the top was too much for him to get onto alone if I went down first. So we had to wait for my hates-water-and-can't-swim husband to come with us. It was a lot of logistics.

I saw pics of Kidani and it seems great. But I didn't think there would be anything to do at night after the little goes to sleep (we get sitters or take turns staying in; camp dolphin was great at night to drop him off) and we don't want to bus it or cab it and be too far away.

I just read SSR is a full mile from DTD at its closest. How late do those boats run?

 

[mjc2003]

Toddlers and Stormalong Bay don't really go to well together unless you stay on the YC side where the water is shallow and there are kiddie areas. On the BC side, you have the big slide (not good for a toddler), you have the deep areas (8' deep with a very swift current - not good for anyone but a strong swimmer), sinking sands (just plain annoying). You've got to really watch little ones at SAB.

The giant kids pool in front of the YC section is about as big as all the other dedicated kid pools at all DVC resorts combined. We took my daughter for her 4th birthday, then her 5th, then became members before her 6th bday. So I would actually say that SAB and toddlers do go well together. My 3 year old LIVED in the kid pool last November. As for the lazy river, I don't agree that it's only for strong swimmers or that the current is swift; I swim it regularly with my daughter, did so when she was 5, sometimes we have a tube sometimes we don't. I think there is something for everybody though, so if the lazy river isn't for you there are other options.

This shows you that opinions are totally subjective. Deb considers SAB a bad fit for toddlers, we joined DVC at BCV and SAB was a big reason why.

When it's a hot day, the parks are crowded and you want a place to go, it's nice to have what amounts to a small water park (SAB) at your resort. Just my opinion.

 

[mikerobrewer]

SSR, specifically Carriage House and Congress Park, are walking distance of Downtown Disney. You can also take a boat from the SSR to Downtown Disney.

 

[jodifla]

BCV and Stormalong Bay are good for little ones. We spent many hours in the huge sandy bottom pool for toddlers, then would go across the sidewalk to the small slide on the back of the pirate ship.

It's trickier when your child is a little older and wants to run all over, because Stormalong Bay is huge.

 

[lions1995]

What's at the Animal Kingdom? Do any places (besides BWV) have bars that stay open late? QUOTE]

Animal Kingwom?? There ANIMALS over there.

 

[spiceycat]

have not stayed at Kidani yet - but AKL/V definitely has a good night life - lots to do and see in the lobby area.

 

[krmlaw]

i agree Jambo house has alot to do at night. so does kidani.