Best DVC resort for a toddler/infant?

[mla973]

I have stayed at many WDW resorts, but on our next trip, we'd like to stay in a DVC studio, particularly for the kitchenette area. (We are former DVC owners.)

We just love Stormalong Bay, and are considering staying at BCV. Our traveling party will consist of two cousins (who will be 16 and 18 months at the time of the trip).

What resort would you recommend for that age range? I'm think the pool at BCV has a nice kids area with shallow water (and the sand bottom), which would be great for them. Also, all of the animals at AKV would be neat too.

I know there's not a ton else that they could do. The character meal on-site at BCV is a bonus as well (Cape MAy is one of our favorite WDW restaurants).

Thoughts/advice from those who have BTDT?

 

[HotdogDncrs]

Have you considered BLT? We have stayed there with our toddler a couple of times, and are going back in May with a 2 1/2 year old and 5 month old. We find that the convenience of being able to walk to and from Magic Kingdom, and take the monorail to the parks and other resorts is a blessing when travelling with a stroller. Besides, we also find that we spend most of our time at Magic Kingdom since there is the most there for little ones.

The pool at BLT offers zero entrance, so your little ones could sit and splash in whatever depth water you feel comfortable with. There is also a great splash pad with cushioned surface, so you don't need to worry about banged up knees!

As for restaurants, Chef Mickeys is always a hit with the little ones!

Good luck with your decision

 

[jade1]

BCV is a great choice. BWV also. BLT for MK stroller back to the room would be high on our list. Any of these reduce your bus rides and that is the most important for us-esp if strollers are involved.

 

[IllumFan]

We have a soon-to-be two-year old and given all our options, we choose the Boardwalk area with our small kids.

1. Pool area, as you mentioned, if you stay at BCV.
2. Many nearby and varied food options that you can walk to. When my kids are hungry now, they want to eat!
3. Lots of area for pushing the stroller if the kids won't nap in their room but will sleep in the stroller. Also, if the kids won't nap, it's easy to walk to Epcot and watch the World Showcase Players if you have a Park Hopper.
4. The ability to walk to two theme parks. Sometimes it can be a challenge to manage the strollers, kids, etc. on Disney transportation - not to mention the wait time. We like to stay at the Boardwalk area and walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studios but then again, we like to walk

Have a great trip!

 

[Sheepdog23]

if you have kids that need to nap, then AKV is great. It is usually very quiet in the villas and easy to get them to sleep during the day. The only down side is that you always have to take buses everywhere and they are not short rides. My little ones loved watching the animals all day ( my 1,5 yo was hooked) which made it very easy to calm then down when they were cranky and to occupy them if we wanted to relax a little. They also liked being able to play music with other kids. I think the boardwalk area is really practical if you want to be able to move around quite a bit without having to load and unload the stroller. The only downside is that you can hear the epcot fireworks from BC and they woke my kids every night. We have VWL as our resort and the kids love the decor in the hotel plus the boats to the mk and contemporary. Just go with your gut feeling and choose one that you would like and do not worry about the kids, it will work out. My kids are 3 and 6 and would choose VWL or AKV if they could. DD likes BCV most for the pool.

 

[WDWMom]

One thing you have to remember with BCV is the long bus rides because the resorts Swan/Dolphin/YC/BC/BW all share many buses to the parks. Now that is not an issue with EPCOT or DHS because of the boats, but everywhere is a royal pain IMO.

So it depends on where you are going to spend more time and how fussy the babies are. I understand about the pool, but they would be happy at any pool and most have zero entry these days or a kiddy pool.

 

[momof3poohlovers]

We went to Disney over Thanksgiving with our 12 month old who was 10 months old at the time. We stayed at BLT and I thought it was great for a baby. The monorail was so convenient. I found the buses a pain because they were super crowded and you have to fold up the stroller. With 2 little ones you are looking at either a double stroller or 2 strollers and it is hard sometimes to find room on the buses. I guess you need to look at which parks you will be spending the most time at. If you will be at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, BLT might be the best but if you will be at EPCOT and DHS then BCV's would be the best. Both resorts have great pools for little ones. I would not recommend AKV's because of having to take a bus everywhere but that is just me. Basically stay where you are comfortable and where it is most convenient for you.

 

[jade1]

One thing you have to remember with BCV is the long bus rides because the resorts Swan/Dolphin/YC/BC/BW all share many buses to the parks. Now that is not an issue with EPCOT or DHS because of the boats, but everywhere is a royal pain IMO.

Depends on the time of year. Last week it was just Yacht and Beach only. Either way you need to group BWV into the same category. But with either you eliminate a bus ride entirely for 1/2 of your days most likely-maybe more. We did 1/2 a day at AK in 11 over XMAS-just not enough to do there and it is a bus from everywhere anyway.

Also depending on your planning/schedule-you can do a morining at EPCOT, then monorail to MK-eliminating yet another bus ride, or reverse depending on the time/park closings etc. Or if you have an ADR at EPCOT but do MK in the AM/Afternoon-monorail to EPCOT and walk back to BCV after. You can also do a lot of park hopping from EPCOT to DHS by boat with no bus rides on either end as well.

Even then, 4 stops can be very common at OKW/SSR, not sure of AKV-but a bus every single time you go to a park-not for us, esp with strollers.

 

[Dziactor]

We started going to BLT with my boy when he was 2. The monorail makes it so much easier as we can leave him in his stroller when he is napping. Definatly a must for me.

 

[kansas_wazzu]

We stayed at OKW in 2009. The ONLY thing that didn't work well for us was the main pool, since there was no zero-entry area. In 2010, we did Kidani, which has a fantastic pool and splash area for the younger crowd. A small slide, zero-entry, squirt cannons, waterfall buckets, the water that squirts from the ground, a small obstacle course, etc. They loved it.

Yeah, Kidani requires bus rides, but my kids thought that was a bonus!

 

[mickeys girl 52]

All the resorts are great. I love watching the toddlers having fun at the pools But I would have to vote for Beach Club. That age loves paying in the sand and just being in a low amount of water. You can't beat the sandy area at Beach Club with little ones.

 

[mla973]

Thanks for all of the responses. We will probably go to the parks just two days (MK and one other). I hadn't really considered BLT, but I will definitely look into it. We may/may not have a car (haven't decided about driving or flying... that's a whole other conversation!).

We have stayed at BWV and BCV and they are both great. My DS is a great sleeper, so fireworks are not too much of a concern. Although I suppose it all can change by fall!

Thanks again for the responses.

 

[Gramps 25]

We are bringing our first child to WDW in November. Traveling with the in-laws as well. Not sure which will be more challenging. We have a 1 bedroom for two nights at BCV (one home resort) and then a 1 bedroom at BLT for two nights (our other home resort). We are hoping once we hit the 7 month mark we can combine the four nights into a 2 bedroom (have to wait to buy extra points).

That being said, and as rookie parents, would it be better for us to bring our stroller along on the trip or simply toss the kid into a Baby Bjorn and use a stroller from the individual parks once we get there? That way there is no folding and unfolding, etc.

Thanks

 

[SassyLassy]

Thanks for all of the responses. We will probably go to the parks just two days (MK and one other). I hadn't really considered BLT, but I will definitely look into it. We may/may not have a car (haven't decided about driving or flying... that's a whole other conversation!).

We have stayed at BWV and BCV and they are both great. My DS is a great sleeper, so fireworks are not too much of a concern. Although I suppose it all can change by fall!

Thanks again for the responses.

I would definitely say the BWV then. We stayed there a couple of months ago with our 1 and 2 year old and it was great. If you only plan on hitting the parks a couple of days then you can use the great pools they have, we LOVE the community center and all the toys plus just walking around the boardwalk was great. Naps were really important to us and we stuck to our schedule but even with the fireworks I found that they were so tired at the end of the day that they never woke them.

I think BWV is a great resort for ppl with infants and toddlers. OH, and we use the pack and play they lent us which worked out phenominal. She slept in the PNP next to my side of the bed and our 2 YO slept between us in the master bed.

Have a great trip!