Best place to stay around WDW

[AC168]

For a family of 4 coming from the west coast, where would you recommend staying for an 8 day trip in mid-April 2023? Two adults, two kids - one is 8 year old boy and one is 16 year old female. We will probably be jet-lagged and will want evening activities for the first few nights -- such as fireworks, electrical parade, etc. I doubt early entry to parks will matter much. We own DVC VGC resale and have some points we can use and also own Marriott Timeshare Points so we have some flexibility where we can stay. Because the adults may have to work for part of the trip, we'll book a 2 bedroom for sure and we usually prefer the nicer option.

Thanks for any suggestions! We've been to WDW once 10 years ago, and I remember it being a far larger and more complicated place than Disneyland and California Adventure.

 

[Donna M]

For a family of 4 coming from the west coast, where would you recommend staying for an 8 day trip in mid-April 2023? Two adults, two kids - one is 8 year old boy and one is 16 year old female. We will probably be jet-lagged and will want evening activities for the first few nights -- such as fireworks, electrical parade, etc. I doubt early entry to parks will matter much. We own DVC VGC resale and have some points we can use and also own Marriott Timeshare Points so we have some flexibility where we can stay. Because the adults may have to work for part of the trip, we'll book a 2 bedroom for sure and we usually prefer the nicer option.

Thanks for any suggestions! We've been to WDW once 10 years ago, and I remember it being a far larger and more complicated place than Disneyland and California Adventure.

There´s a lot of homework you need to do. Look at the resorts to see what type theme you like, what location: near a theme park, Disney Springs, certain transportation, or off site opportunities. Do you want to use the Marriott points and stay offsite? Can you get anyplace other than SSR with the Marriott points?

Go to the Disney website and look at what each resort offers in the way of fireworks etc. You are the best one to decide what resort works best for your family´s desires.

I love the cabins at Copper Creek for what you want, but they are pricey.

 

[cindy17]

For a family of 4 coming from the west coast, where would you recommend staying for an 8 day trip in mid-April 2023? Two adults, two kids - one is 8 year old boy and one is 16 year old female. We will probably be jet-lagged and will want evening activities for the first few nights -- such as fireworks, electrical parade, etc. I doubt early entry to parks will matter much. We own DVC VGC resale and have some points we can use and also own Marriott Timeshare Points so we have some flexibility where we can stay. Because the adults may have to work for part of the trip, we'll book a 2 bedroom for sure and we usually prefer the nicer option.

Thanks for any suggestions! We've been to WDW once 10 years ago, and I remember it being a far larger and more complicated place than Disneyland and California Adventure.

If you havent done so already, I'd check the resorts page on this forum. Theres reems of info of all the different resorts on property. As well as the official Disney page under resorts

 

[Lisa P.]

If by "mid-April 2023", you mean Easter week, it will be Crowded! So staying onsite at a DVC resort would provide valuable access to Extended Evening Hours - usually just at Epcot on Monday evening and MK on Wednesday evening. EEH are only available to guests staying at Disney Deluxe resorts, DVC resorts, Shades of Green (military), and the Swan, the Dolphin, and the Swan Reserve hotels. If you're interested in using a lot of Marriott points and saving your DVC points for another time, then you may want to look at booking a suite or connecting rooms at one of those 3 hotels. DVC points are high during Easter week and you may have only a few resort options for a 2BR at a DVC resort when the 7-month window opens (soon!). So do look soon at the differently themed DVC resorts, especially the larger ones which are more likely to have 2BR availability during a peak period - OKW, SSR, AKV, and possibly BLT or RIV - to see if any of them appeal.

If your mid-April trip is planned for the following week (i.e., after April 16), it'll be much less crowded since most spring breaks are done by then. So an offsite Marriott stay could be just as nice, IMO, assuming you'll have a car or plan to use Uber/Lyft frequently. The offsite Marriott Orlando World Center hotel is less than 2 miles away. All of these Marriott hotels do charge nightly resort fees. Also offsite, Marriott's Lakeshore Reserve vacation club is ~12 miles away. Both of these offsite Marriott properties are upscale with gorgeous pool areas. Lakeshore Reserve is a timeshare so it does offer 2BR villas and townhomes.

For evening activities, there are options whether you're onsite or offsite. After a MK day, see the electrical water pageant from any of the boat launch areas at MK or MK area resorts. After an AK day (earliest closing hours), plan to doing something in the Disney Springs area (below) if you don't have park hoppers. Even now, during a slower period, here are the hours for some DS area activities that are suitable with an 8 year old:

Disney Springs is open until 11 pm weeknights, 11:30 pm on weekends - usually later during peak crowd weeks.
Splitsville (bowling) in DS is open until 11 pm - reserve lanes in advance.
Fantasia Gardens and Summerland (mini golf) are open until 10 pm - may reserve time in advance.
AMC Disney Springs 24 Dine-In Theater is technically open until 11 pm, with some movies starting as late as 10:50 pm, and occasionally offering a PG film as late as 9 pm - also may want to buy tickets in advance, if going during peak crowd weeks.

There are more options offsite as well, if you'll have a car. HTH.

 

[sethschroeder]

You are in the DVC area.

For me I would stay at Boardwalk, Riviera, Beach Club, or Yacht Club in that order.

 

[AC168]

Thank you for everyone's great suggestions -- especially Lisa's detailed response!

Booking Marriott Vacation Club is fairly available (except Lakeshore).

DVC at 7 months out is significantly tougher, but doable. We're going to go with MVC Sabal Palms 2-bedroom for the first part of our trip and then AKV 2-bedroom Savanna for the second part of our trip.

Staying at Sabal in case there is a lot of traffic and with hopes that we will be able to use the new water park next door at World Center. Worst case, we'll go to Disney water park which isn't too far away either.

AKV 2-bedroom Savanna was the best we can do with our dates and the amount of points we had left. It probably would have made more sense to stay at Beach Club or Boardwalk as they are walkable to two resorts, but they were both sold-out on the dates we would be there. I guess there really is some pretty big benefits to buying where you want to stay and getting the 11 month window!