Best Place to Stay for Young Kids

[JulauDav]

Hello there. I am new to the group because I was informed today by my DW that I will be taking my family to Disney in November. I have been reading this site all day and I guess it will be around November 13 for 7 days. I may get lucky and get to see some of the X-mas decorations and a few other holiday perks from what I have read if we go during that time and I will not be there during Jersey week. I know this is a loaded question but could some of you frequent visitors provide me with a recommendation on which place to stay. I have a DS16m DD4 and DD6 and a DW**. I want the kids to have to have as much fun as possible not only in the park but at the motel. My thoughts are to stay at the park in case we tire the kids out we can come back, let them rest and then go back in. I am just beginning the research and I have about a million questions but I want to search for a bit before I post anymore questions. TIA

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

We stayed at WL and AKL last November 13-22. My children (ds5,dd4) loved both places. The WL has beautiful Christmas decorations that are up by the middle of Nov. AKL was equally impressive.

Young children will find magic in any WDW resort. You really can't go wrong with any of them.

 

[oogieboogie]

Welcome to the DIS!

Instead of going November, how about going during the first 2 weeks of December? Then you'd really get the Christmas decor, the holiday festivities, and you can go to MVMCP.

As far as where to stay, it all depends on your budget really. Disney has 3 categories of resorts - values, moderates, deluxes. The deluxes are the closest to the parks and have the most amenities and indoor corridors - out of the deluxes I would recommend Poly, WL or CR for your group. The moderates are a little bit more spread out (except POFQ) and have outdoor corridors. The pools have a slide which is a lot of fun. While the values are the least expensive of the bunch, it really appeals to the kid in all of us, with the big icons etc.

Since you're going with 2 adults, 2 kids, and an infant, I would suggest a moderate or a deluxe just in terms of space. The value rooms are not very big and can get quite cramped with a pack and play on top of everything else you're bringing.

Do ask away. Everyone here will be happy to answer any question you might have, even the ones you think are stupid.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

Welcome!! You are not too far from us!! I am a big beliver is choosing the resort for the adults because kids love ANY hotel. Kids as young as yours will be happy with ANY pool. Your time looks really good and crowds should be low. That is about time the Christmas decorations start to go up, but most are not lit till after thanksgiving. Budget is the major factor in choosing a resort. If you can swing it, I would choose a momorail resort for quick return to your room for breaks. The GF has a 0 entry pool the kids would love. Just a little less pricey, we LOVE the WL. THere is a boat that takes you to the MK, the contempoarty where you can catch the momorail, and to FW. If budget is a major factor, look at All star movie. A fun place for kids, but only offers bus service. Just be sure to stay on site!! Don't forget a few chatacter meals, and have a blast planning.

Jordans' mom

 

[2dogmom]

Ditto both above. I would chose a monorail resort if you can afford it. I stayed at WL and Poly this past trip, and I missed the monorail at WL. It is so easy to just wheel a stroller onto the monorail. If you are depending on buses, then you have to take everything and everyone out and fold them up.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

Kids love ALL of the Disney resorts. Go with what appeals most to you. We booked AKL for 8 days of our 10 day family WDW vacation last week just for the kids. Well, dh and I found AKL far more interesting than the kids (NOT that they didn't enjoy it). They enjoyed CSR at the end of the week every bit as much (dh and I loved it, too.)

 

[buzzmom3]

Welcome! I'm pretty new, too. Everyone is so nice and has really good advice. We stayed off site last year with my 2.5 DS. It was cheaper but after all day in the parks even a relatively short drive to our hotel on 192 was too much for my son. This year we're staying on site at SOG and can't wait to be closer to the magic!

 

[castlegazer]

WELCOME!!! I can not stress enough how you need to stay at the Fort Wilderness Cabins - you have a full kitchen (full sized fridge with all pots, pans, dishes, cooking utensils), a separate bedroom so that at night you can watch TV or hang out with your wife like an adult - not in the dark or reading in the bathroom like you have to do in motel rooms. You have awesome activities like the barbeque, petting zoo, trails, bike rides, beach, playgrounds - all right there at your resort - not to mention Hoop Dee Doo Revue. Plus you get to travel to MK via boat - so cool!

I love Ft. Wilderness. It makes a very relaxing part of your very hectic trip.

 

[sheepie mom]

Your budget will be the determining factor but I do agree that the monorail resorts will make it easiest to get to the MK and get back easily for some downtime in the afternoon if needed (plus there's also a certain magic to me just seeing them go by all the time).

We have stayed offsite and on. Our last trip (2001) we stayed at the cabins at FW because I thought it would be best. My DD2, DH and I shared the bedroom (DD slept on the lower bunk bed with a rail) and my mom slept on the murphy bed in the LR. We had plenty of space BUT got tired of taking a bus everywhere. Even to get to the water launch to get to the MK, you will have to take a bus and at night they are VERY crowded (SRO) and when you're trying to carry a sleeping child and a stroller, it's a real hassle. The pools are not themed either and will be a real disappointment if you're expecting one of the beautiful pools you see in the brochures. We had a car and used it a lot.

We're going again in September (with my mom too) and this time will all be sharing one room at the Poly - well worth the extra cost for the convenience and ambience (we're foregoing a trip to Maui to do this so I keep reminding them this is the next best thing...we've decided to wait until our DD is older to do HI).

 

[JulauDav]

Thank you to everyone for replying to my question. It is very confusing to me all of the choices to make. Thanks OOGIEBOOGIE and Mom to Jordan for the suggestion about moving it to the beginning of December. I am considering doing that for the MVMCP and all of the Christmas stuff. Plus it seems some of the rates for the resorts get cheaper at that time. I am probably going to try for one of the monorail sites like the Poly if we can make it work. Also the suggestion to remember the Character dinners was something I am beginning to research. With the cost of the character dinners is it worth it to go for one of the dinnin gpackages. I guess that is my next bit of research. I am also ordering the unofficial guide to Disney so i can readup on any hints there. Again thank you to everyone for providing input.This really is making things easkier.

 

[SylviaL]

I notice that you have young children, so you might also consider one of the Disney Home Away From Home resorts - VWL, BCV, BWV, OKW or SSR. The studios have a small refrigerator and microwave, the 1BR and 2BR have full kitchens. I have 2 toddlers who have many allergies and are picky eaters so it's ideal for me to have a kitchen. You can check the Disney Vacation Club Rent/Trade boards to rent points from a member which would be much cheaper than going through Disney.

VWL would probably work best for you so that you are only a short boat ride away from MK. Have fun planning!