best onsite resort

[Miggee]

Hi All,

I'm looking to add a WDW stay after my disney cruise in 2017, I'm from California so know Disneyland resorts well and have always stayed at grand californian for the location as i have little ones. so my question is that which is the best onsite hotel for disneyworld? we are a family of 5, no budget, looking for best location/view/experience. many mentioned AKL so the kids can experience the animals, but i understand that is far from MK? or should i split up the stays? i can stay anywhere from 4-7nights.

thank you all so much!

 

[Lynne M]

Entire books have been written in answer to your question.

"Best" is very much a matter of personal taste. If you take cost out of the equation, the two biggest drivers of resort choice are location and theming. So, I'd start with figuring out which theme parks you'll be spending the most time in, and then looking through the descriptions of the deluxe resorts on wdwinfo.com to get an idea of amenities and theming for each resort. Then, you balance out which is more important to you - a particular theme or set of amenities, or proximity to certain parks.

 

[kniquy]

Best is very much an individual opinion. If you have the option of doing a split stay i would actually consider doing a 1BR at AKL for 3 days (you will have the option to do laundry after your cruise) and then 3-4 nights a Poly. Both those rooms will accommodate your family size.

 

[LSLS]

Just to give a few options to you. AKL is very cool because it is so different and the Savannah view lets you wake up to the animals. But the main knock on it will be not having easy access to any park. Beach Club/Yacht Club is a great choice if you anticipate a large chunk of time at Epcot/Hollywood Studios, or if you want the best pool on property. If you want MK proximity, one of the three on the Monorail resort would probably be best. For view, you probably want a park view in the Contemporary. The nice thing about the three on the loop (Contemporary, Grand Floridian, and Poly) is that their themeing is so incredibly different you really won't see an overlap (so it's more which style you prefer).

 

[alex9179]

Close to MK and larger standard rooms will be found at The Contemporary, The Polynesian, and The Grand Floridian. We are also a family of 5 and enjoy the space they offer, without having to upgrade to suites or DVC 1-2 bedrooms.

We've stayed at CR and Poly. We enjoyed both with CR leading due to it's proximity to MK, the Theme Park View rooms, and our dining experiences. My children are huge fans of the monorail, as well.

Even though we will probably miss the space, our next trip will be in the EPCOT area. You're able to walk or use boat transportation to EPCOT and DHS and have a larger number of dining options available around the lake, between the 5 resorts located there.

There are fans of all. It's much easier to choose based on the conveniences that are important to you.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

The Poly for location to MK and it has all three modes of transportation; boat, bus and Monorail. Wilderness Lodge for location to MK and you have bus or boat for transportation. Animal Kingdom Lodge for the theme, I would recommend a Savannah view room. They are each great resorts; I also like the Poly for their restaurant Ohana and we all enjoyed the 'Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show', AKL for Boma brunch and if you can swing it (because of the cost) at the WL the sit down dinning area called 'Artist Point'. My three picks, but you can't go wrong if you go off my list for a different WDW resort, because you're in WDW

 

[Babsy]

You say you are a family of five, so many rooms at either the AKL or the WL will not accommodate your family (unless one is a baby/toddler, 2 or younger).

The best resorts for proximity to the MK and largest room size would be the Contemporary, Polynesian or the Grand Floridian. These three are all on the monorail loop, all have large rooms that usually have two queen beds and a day bed. The 'flagship' hotel is the Grand Floridian. All three have great dining options, good transportation and, as deluxe category hotels, have the best amenities of the WDW resorts. Theme park view rooms at any of the three monorail hotels will be expensive but lovely.

The Epcot area resorts have smaller rooms. Some rooms will have a daybed as well as two queens, but some may not. You should get a room with a daybed with a family of five (unless you have a toddler/baby included in that number). The resorts in the Epcot area are the Yacht club and Beach club or the Boardwalk. They have boat service to both Epcot and Disney Hollywood studios. If walking/boating to these two theme parks is more important to you than the easiest access to the MK, then this might be a better choice. As others have said it really boils down to location and theming.

As a general rule, It is my opinion that the MK area resorts work well for families with young children and the Epcot resort hotels are better for families with older kids/teens. Or, that was the way it worked for us, at least.

Take a look at pics online, read descriptions of the different deluxe resorts, consider which theme parks that you prefer and then you will have a good idea of which resort is best for your family. Good Luck!!

 

[KonaKaiTom]

If you have no budget -- I'd jump into one of the Polynesian Bungalows in a heartbeat!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-parfitt/peek-inside-disneys-2knig_b_7058918.html

Tom

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Whereas if budget were no object, I would do Lagoon View Club Level at the Poly, or Club Level at the Contemporary.

 

[Miggee]

If you have no budget -- I'd jump into one of the Polynesian Bungalows in a heartbeat!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-parfitt/peek-inside-disneys-2knig_b_7058918.html

Tom

wow, had no idea they have over water bungalows! reminds me of my honeymoon in bora bora!

 

[Miggee]

You say you are a family of five, so many rooms at either the AKL or the WL will not accommodate your family (unless one is a baby/toddler, 2 or younger).

The best resorts for proximity to the MK and largest room size would be the Contemporary, Polynesian or the Grand Floridian. These three are all on the monorail loop, all have large rooms that usually have two queen beds and a day bed. The 'flagship' hotel is the Grand Floridian. All three have great dining options, good transportation and, as deluxe category hotels, have the best amenities of the WDW resorts. Theme park view rooms at any of the three monorail hotels will be expensive but lovely.

The Epcot area resorts have smaller rooms. Some rooms will have a daybed as well as two queens, but some may not. You should get a room with a daybed with a family of five (unless you have a toddler/baby included in that number). The resorts in the Epcot area are the Yacht club and Beach club or the Boardwalk. They have boat service to both Epcot and Disney Hollywood studios. If walking/boating to these two theme parks is more important to you than the easiest access to the MK, then this might be a better choice. As others have said it really boils down to location and theming.

As a general rule, It is my opinion that the MK area resorts work well for families with young children and the Epcot resort hotels are better for families with older kids/teens. Or, that was the way it worked for us, at least.

Take a look at pics online, read descriptions of the different deluxe resorts, consider which theme parks that you prefer and then you will have a good idea of which resort is best for your family. Good Luck!!

great info! i will be sure to look into online pics and info. thank you!

 

[Miggee]

The Poly for location to MK and it has all three modes of transportation; boat, bus and Monorail. Wilderness Lodge for location to MK and you have bus or boat for transportation. Animal Kingdom Lodge for the theme, I would recommend a Savannah view room. They are each great resorts; I also like the Poly for their restaurant Ohana and we all enjoyed the 'Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show', AKL for Boma brunch and if you can swing it (because of the cost) at the WL the sit down dinning area called 'Artist Point'. My three picks, but you can't go wrong if you go off my list for a different WDW resort, because you're in WDW

thank you for the great info!

 

[Miggee]

Thank you all so much for the wonderful info! I will look into each suggestion and check out online pics and descriptions.!!!! cant wait!!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The thing to understand about the Bungalows is that while it sleeps 8, there are only two real beds. There is a King, a Queen, then a sofa bed and two pull-down beds. One of the pull-down beds is in the same bedroom as the Queen; the sofa bed and other pull-down are in the commons space. With 5 people, either someone will be sleeping in the living room, or they will be sharing in the bedroom with the Queen bed.

 

[Miggee]

The thing to understand about the Bungalows is that while it sleeps 8, there are only two real beds. There is a King, a Queen, then a sofa bed and two pull-down beds. One of the pull-down beds is in the same bedroom as the Queen; the sofa bed and other pull-down are in the commons space. With 5 people, either someone will be sleeping in the living room, or they will be sharing in the bedroom with the Queen bed.

awesome detail. thank you!

 

[KonaKaiTom]

The thing to understand about the Bungalows is that while it sleeps 8, there are only two real beds. There is a King, a Queen, then a sofa bed and two pull-down beds. One of the pull-down beds is in the same bedroom as the Queen; the sofa bed and other pull-down are in the commons space. With 5 people, either someone will be sleeping in the living room, or they will be sharing in the bedroom with the Queen bed.

Great point -- however, I noted that the OP indicated "we have always stayed at the Grand Floridian for proximity as I have little ones..." so, if the little ones are still little -- that would be a great spot!

Tom

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Great point -- however, I noted that the OP indicated "we have always stayed at the Grand Floridian for proximity as I have little ones..." so, if the little ones are still little -- that would be a great spot!

Tom

Right. It's just good to know the setup, as sometimes there is a desire to have some separation with little ones, or be able to use a common space after bedtime.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Contemporary Resort. We're DLR vets who recently became WDW APs, and we *LOVE* the vibe and proximity of the Disneyland Hotel when we're in Anaheim. We both think, though it looks completely different, that the Contemporary has kind of the DNA/the vibe of DLH. It's kind of uncanny. Just a real DLH "feel." I don't know how else to explain it. And just like DLH, you have easy monorail proximity and a short 10-minute walk to the front gate if you don't want to take the monorail.

If you want a GCH feel near MK, I'd do Wilderness Lodge, which is the resort the GCH was based on. You have a short boat or bus ride to MK from there. We like DLH better than GCH, though, and prefer monorail access if possible, so we'd choose CR.