Best DVC Resort For Small Children (Ages 1-3)

[Honest John]

Potential DVC owner here (closing on a resale and waiting for Disney ROFR decision -- wish us luck!) with some first time questions:

Wondering what some of you think are the best DVC resorts for small children; in our family's case, we''ll be traveling with our two sons -- a 3 year old and a 1 year old.

Our home resort (assuming an uneventful ROFR and closing) will be OKW, which is where we'd like to stay on future trips when the kids are older or my wife and I are potentially traveling without children ~20 years from now. We've stayed at OKW twice and love it.

However, our one complaint about OKW is the bus system -- which can sometimes be slow if your room isn't near the Hospitality House. It's perfectly fine for adults, but with restless little ones trying to get out to and back from the parks, it might be a detriment. But we're willing to consider OKW this time as well.

Since we haven't even closed yet, we don't have any specific travel dates in mind, but we'll probably be taking our first trip as DVC members in early 2011 (sometime between January and March) -- probably for 5-7 days.

Any thoughts on what DVC resort is best for families with little ones? We'll probably book at OKW first and then try to switch at the 7 month window.

As for needs: we're planning on spending a few hours a day in the parks, especially earlier in the day. Our little ones are really early risers and can easily make park opening rope drops, but we'll need to go back to the resorts for midday rest/naps, and I'm sure our 3 year old would love to swim and play in the pool or on the playgrounds. So we'll be spending lots of time at the resort (but hopefully not too much time in the rooms, aside from sleeping/naps and some meals).

We may try to head back to the parks in the evening for fireworks/parades but again, with the very little ones, bedtimes come early. So proximity to the parks would be nice -- being able to watch the MK fireworks from our resort (if we could book BLT at the 7 month window) or being able to duck out of Epcot right after Illuminations and get right back to our room would have some significant advantages.

But again, we do plan on spending our afternoon and dinner time at the resorts, so the kid-appeal of the resorts/pool/playgrounds is important too.

We don't plan on renting a car, so we'll be using the Disney bus service. For whatever this is worth, we'll probably only eat one sit down meal (a character meal) if that...the rest of the time, we'll prepare food & eat in the rooms or grab counter service.

Here's what I'm thinking -- and here's where I could use some info:

Bay Lake Towers - MK would have tremendous appeal for our little ones, and proximity to MK would be very very nice. I've stayed at the Poly several times and being on the monorail is a wonderful luxury.

And it would be very nice to be able to watch the fireworks from the resort and then get the kids into bed shortly after, without wrangling the crowds + fighting for buses.

But how are the grounds? Are there any good open spaces for little kids to run around outside at BLT? I don't mind "resort hopping" from BLT to the Poly, where I know the kids can run around and play on the beach there. I believe that's a perk of the DVC membership, yes? -- being able to use the facilities (like the beach at the Poly) of other resorts?

Villas @ the Wilderness Lodge - Again, same general advantages of the BLT with regards to proximity to MK (albeit not quite as close). Plus I think there's more outdoor "space" and more places to play and walk around outside of VWL than at the BLT. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Animal Kingdom Lodge - I've never stayed here but I think our kids might get a real big kick of being so close to the animals. I hear the pool is wonderful and the pictures look gorgeous. Lengthy bus rides to the parks is a potential downside.

Beach Club Villas - Stayed here a few times; Stormalong Bay is amazing and I'm sure our 3 year old will fall in love with it. Proximity to Epcot and the Studios would nice, and we'd have a lot of fun taking afternoon strolls along the Boardwalk area, and we'd conceivably be able to have our 3 year old stay up for Illuminations/Fantasmic and still be able to get back to the room for bed at a reasonable time.

Boardwalk Villas - Same advantages as BCV, I think, minus Stormalong Bay (although the BWV pool area is wonderful too).

Old Key West - This is our potential home resort; I think the kids would love the main pool area and the kids' pool and the sandy playground, and the general ambiance of OKW, and they'd have plenty of places to walk to around the resort. Again, the lengthy bus rides would probably prevent us from getting back to the parks to do the nighttime stuff, but that's what future trips are for when they're a little older and can stay up later.

Anyone have any recommendations? Ever done the trip with kids this age and can share the wisdom of your experience?

 

[DisKimberly]

We stayed at BWV last november when our son was 8 months old, we spend most of our time at Epcot so it was great to walk there. Not having to take the bus was great-especially when he had fallen asleep.

Thats the only resort we have stayed so far, I would also love to hear other peoples recommendations for toddlers...?

 

[djp0630]

BLT!!! The ability to walk to MK is by far the greatest plus. Plus all the awesome dining on the monorail. We stayed there in Sept with my 1 & 3 year old and it was fabulous to be able to walk to MK, especially with a stroller. We are staying at BCV in May for something different, and to be able to walk to 2 parks (Epcot & DHS), but I think that for LOs, BLT has the greatest advantage.

 

[AndriaRose]

But how are the grounds? Are there any good open spaces for little kids to run around outside at BLT? I don't mind "resort hopping" from BLT to the Poly, where I know the kids can run around and play on the beach there. I believe that's a perk of the DVC membership, yes? -- being able to use the facilities (like the beach at the Poly) of other resorts?

We took our DGD(6) to BLT early Dec last year - and have no clue. When she let us spend time at BLT we were grateful to just sit and relax But I research in my spare time for future trips, and I would reccommend that if you stay at BLT or VWL, search out info on the Electric Water Parade. I'm adding that to a must-do list for next time.

I also found very interesting reading on Fort Wilderness. A petting zoo and pony ride (must go early), and campfire stories and wagon rides (late). We took a boat to FW from BLT, it was a lovely ride and ate at the buffet there. Very nice, and one of the few places I could get an ADR when I took 2 weeks to make up my mind on my ADRs. (2 weeks?? 2 months I could see, but I didn't think a couple weeks would matter. I wasn't planning on eating at the castle )

Oh, and I also read a really interesting bit about a pirates cruise that would be great for young boys. I'm thinking it originates from the GF. We bought an add-on at BLT just for spoiling our little grand-princess, and my research keeps finding great kid things near and around the monorail loop. Including an activity center inside BLT and later in years, rental boats at the docks.

 

[LSchrow]

i think BLT would best suit your current needs.
SSR, VWL, and AKV are all in second place.

BCV can be very noisy (we had multiple stays there, and consider it the noisiest - loud and constant - DVC). BWVs are beautiful, but like BCV, no easy trans to MK (btw, the BWVs offer quite a bit more than you had listed - lots of evening entertainment on the BW, community hall - which is a wonderful and underused attraction unto itself, yummy bakery, the quiet belle vue lounge, jellyrolls, ESPN, tennis, views of illuminatioNs and wishes from a BW view balcony, etc. standard view rooms are a great way to save points, also). both resorts offer easy access to EPCOT and DHS.

we loved OKW roominess, but found it too remote and (as others have said) too much like an old age home.

but everyone has different tastes, and the best way to find what you would prefer is to stay at, or at least visit each resort. else, all you will receive is as many opinions as there are ppl visiting the parks in a year . only you can decide which resort feels like home.
and remember that you can usually get another resort at 7 months during less busy times, so you aren't locked into your home resort forever. and, there is always the option of adding on at a diffeent resort......
hth

 

[Nanajo1]

BWV has space for the kids to run around but the play area over by the kiddie pool is not much. We had a boardwalk view last time and the kids loved all the nite time activities, magicians and jugglers. Some of them were chosen as assistants. In fact after we thought all the kids were asleep we found one 5 yo on the balcony watching a show!
OKW has the best "down time" play areas IMO. The beach area at VWL looks like fun.

 

[HETRICKL]

I vote BLT. They do have a grassy area to run around in. I can't remember if I saw a playground or not. They also have a toddler splashing area pool and a zero depth entry pool which is great for kids.

For me, being able to watch the fireworks from our room every night (with piped in music from the TV) is awesome. As you said, to get early bed times and fight the crowds you can't beat it and my kids are 6 & 9.

Also, at that age, you are probably spending most of your time at MK and it was an easy walk there and monorail ride back.

 

[sleepydog25]

BLT would be a nice choice for its proximity to MK and the Monorail, but I found the grounds a bit sterile and mostly concrete. It may very well be small-child friendly, but I do prefer greener areas.

SSR is nice, but like OKW, is a bit far out when depending upon bus service.

I happen to love VWL, so take my comments with a big grain of salt.
- it's a quiet resort, overall. . perfect for napping kids (having had that experience not that long ago)
- there are beaches, nature trails, and a walking trail to Fort Wilderness
- the Hidden Springs pool is small but rarely crowded. . .it has no slide (if you want to use the main pool, you can and it does have a slide) but does have several areas where bubbles float to the top continuously as if springs were underneath your feet (thus, the monniker for the pool)
- Roaring Fork is an above average counter service eatery; Whispering Canyon Cafe might be a bit rowdy for the 1-yr old but your 3-yr old would probably love it
- easy access to FW via the walking trail (you can rent trolley bikes, too) or bus system, and as mentioned, they have a petting zoo, stables, and a buffet restaurant (though I've not eaten there)
- I've never had a problem with the bus system, and the Villas are close to the bus stop
- the boat ride to MK is a real pleasure, especially given the times you'd likely be traveling. They tend to get crowded later at night going to and from MK, however. But, the boats do give you a second travel option.
- the Electric Water Parade is cool for smaller kids, and can be seen from many locations at the WL, including the beaches
- you can see the MK fireworks from either the boat docks or from a couple of strategic beach locations. . .obviously, you aren't up close and personal with them, but they're still cool to see, anyway

Okay, that might be info overload, but that's my take on VWL. I'm sure wherever you stay, you'll enjoy it, however.
- there is a small hot tub next to the pool area

 

[hardingk]

BLT is great, but you might have a hard time getting a room at the 7mo window. They have a great area for kids to play with fountains that has rubber ground in a mickey shape for them to run around and the pool is zero entry. I wouldn't even take the monorail. It is so much easier to just walk to and from the MK. (It might even be a longer walk to the monorail then to the park depending on where your room is.)

AKV is great also. The bus ride is not that long and you only have 1 stop at Jambo if you are at Kidiani. The pool area is amazing. Zero entry and a whole area of stuff for kids. The animals are great (even if you just have a std room - you can seem from the windows in the hallway and when you go outside).

And BOTH BLT & AKV have 2 bathrooms in the 1bdrm's! We have a 20mo who had been to WDW several times and loves it no matter where she is bc she is at "A Mickey House" as she says!

 

[jmb910]

My vote is also for AKV. We love the 2nd bathroom in the one bedrooms, and our 2 year old LOVES the pool. I like being able to take her to play in the water and having plenty of areas to be in case one side gets too crowded.

The bus ride honestly is not that bad at all.

 

[spiceycat]

blt is nice love it. but it does not have a playground. neither does Polyn. not sure about GF. what WL says is a playground is only something small to climb on.

if you want a playground that is fine for young kids - BWV.

now BLT does have the splash area and a pool that kids simply love. between BLT and marina is an area with grass for them to also play (where the play ground was surpose to go). the problem is these are surrounded by concrete -

the beach on this side is a little better than the one behind BLT.
it is almost hidden -you have to go down steps to get to it. but kids could definitely play here. that say you would need to provide the beach toys.

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the playground at OKW are really for older kids. OKW will be great when they are little older.

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for some reason not sure of - DVC and playgrounds are not being included like they were.

don't know - maybe insurance costs?

too many guests have sued disney if there child was hurt playing?

they use to be at all the DVC resorts - not any longer.


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you can hop to playgrounds - most of the moderate have excellent play grounds - the closest one to BLT is POR

 

[disney ny]

I also vote VWL for many of the same reasons someone above just did! We stayed there this past summer with a 9 month old and a two and a half year old. The boats to MK are fantastic and while note as close as BLT it is almost as good. We were able to come back quickly for naps etc. in the afternoon. They also have the cubs den child care center with a craft each day and there is cooke decorating some days. When we were waiting to head tot he airport we took the two and a half year olf to the cubs den to do a craft. They were great. They even let us hang around and let him play with the toys for a long time as all our luggage etc. had already been picked up. We loved the place which is why we bought there just a few weeks ago! If not BLT or VWL for the closeness to MK then I would say BWV or BC for their closeness to EPCOT. All the others are bus only transportation.

 

[pditullio]

Depends on how much time you think you'll be in the parks.

If you think you'll be doing a lot of MK while they are still little, personally I'd recommend VWL over BLT, just because we find the atmosphere a little more homey and relaxed over the modern feel of BLT (which my 10yo loves now, we just added on there). And while the monorail is tempting, you do still need to schlep over to CR (not long, but with toddlers it's not short either), and the boat ride to MK (from VWL) is short and easy.

But when my guy was a toddler we did BCV a lot, and did our vacation one day on/one day off with the parks and interspersed the park days with pool days. You can't beat the sand pool at SALB for toddlers (IMO).

Good luck with your closing (and yay!)

 

[Microsoft5]

If your going to be at the parks for most of your stay, like out of the 6 days you stay, you go to the parks 4 then BLT is the best spot for the you, your wife, and the kids. BLT has lots of room for the kids to run around and they have a beach too! Also the Grand Canyon Concourse, the kids love seeing the monorail. BLT also has th convience of the monorail for MK and EPCOT. Cutting your bus days by 2. Then the bus service is ok at Contemporary/BLT. The Contemporary/BLT also have lots of restaurants that are adult and kid friendly, like Chef Mickey's and the Contempo Cafe. You also have as you know the Poly and Grand Floridian on the monorail to go to for restaurants and anything else you may need. BLT will endulge you in luxury and convience. It's my personal favorite! Going in August.

Hope this helped!

 

[nytimez]

My daughter is spoiled, she's been to a LOT of resorts and is only four years old now. Her fave is AKV, even when she was just 9 months old she would look out at the animals and coo at them.

We never ride buses at home, and since she's too young to go to school she hasn't ridden the school bus. To her, by two or 3 years old she was looking forward to the bus rides to/from the park and resort. It was like another ride to her. Go figure.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

We bought our DVC at BLT because of distance to MK and it's not so spread out. We have visited ALL the resorts, SSR was gorgeous and relaxing but probably more for an grownups only vacay! BCV was awesome because of the pool (our friends were staying there when we went so we got to visit), we are staying there is August. I have children similar age to yours, my 4 year old LOVED BCV. AK is a little too far out for us, but a gorgeous resort.

 

[dsneygirl]

My 3 year olds favourite resort is AKV by far. The pool/playground area at Kidani is amazing. He absolutely loves the animals and the activities with the cultural reps are awesome. The buses are a little more inconvienent but you only have 1 other stop and then you are onto your destination. I thought it was better than SSR where there are like 4 internal bus stops.


We stayed at BLT and he liked the room and the monorail but I was not impressed with the pool. It is zero entry but nothing too special.

I also love BCV, being able to walk to 2 parks with a stroller is fantastic!

 

[LIFERBABE]

Ssr has multiple soft playground areas, lots of manicured lawns and multiple splaygrounds. The main pool has fountains, zero entry, splayground and a child slide. As far as resort amenities for children of all ages we find SSR to be the most complete. Comm hall is great also and little ones like to Color and paint. Lots of paths away from main road for them to run also. 2 nd would be BCV. Can't beat the tot side of SAB for hours of fun or the beach. Dh and I would lounge for hours while the boys played on the beach. Akv is great also but my ds's are older now but my nieces and nephews loved the pool and animals so will have to rate that 3 rd.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Our DGC thoroughly enjoyed VWL. They were 1, 2 and 3 when they went for the first time. It was an easy boat ride with the strollers to the MK, and that was the main park they went to, but we did go to AKV once or twice. We returned to VWL for the next two years and then we branched out. For the ages of the kids, the springs pool with the bubbles was facinating. There was the small pool when they wanted just to play with pool toys. They loved seeing the animal prints in the cement, there were always bunnies and ducks around. We rented bikes or a surry a few times, and they enjoyed the playground and seeing the ponies and horses at Ft. Wilderness. We were also there on Halloween time and there were nice activities for them.

They did enjoy the cookie decorating and we went to the Cub Den with them in the afternoon. It was just a perfect place.

We did branch out, and their last stay was at BLT. The ME bus stopped first at WL and DGS announced "Great, this is my favorite place on earth!" Well, he and the rest of us enjoyed BLT, but VWL is our first love.He was the 2 year old the first time, and then he was 6. Time flies!!!!

Bobbi

 

[lucyem]

I would say BLT or BCV.

BLT because you have the monorail to Epcot and the walk to MK. Much easier with strollers and little ones. (I have never seen the pool)

BCV because of the walk to Epcot once again for ease of stroller and walking. The pool is also great. I know some parents complain about watching children at SAB but yours are young enough that will not be an issue.

My 4 yr old LOVES to sit and play in the sand at SAB. The kiddie lunches come in buckets with shovels and that is all my DS needs. We tend to use Epcot for eating and like to stroll there in the afternoon/evening. So BCV for us. I expect eventually as my boys get older we will check out BLT just for easy access to MK.