Best place to stay with toddlers?

[ljc3162]

We are planning on visiting disney next may and I was looking for suggestions on where we should stay. My husband would like to stay at one of the more expensive ones like Boardwalk Villas. I was just looking for pros or cons on this plan.

 

[mrstomrice]

If money isn't an issue, I suggest staying at a monorail hotel. It saves you travel time and the monorail is more convenient than the buses when it comes to strollers.

 

[mamaLori05]

I agree with the above post!!!! The monorail with strollers and sleeping kids is sooooo much easier!!!!! However if money is an issue, check out all star movies. The theming is soooooo cute and kid friendly!! Even if you don't end up staying there, I recommend going there for some pics. The kid's would love it!! We have some really cute pics of my dd "driving" the race car from toy story, one with my dd peeking around the door to Andy's room, and one with her sitting next to a dalmation and both of them are watching a huge tv. Tooo Cute!!

 

[everylastbreath]

I think it totally depends on which park you plan to spend the most time at. I LOVE the Boardwalk Villa's we stayed there last year with my whole family (including a toddler) and found it very easy to get around with him especially into Epcot, walked right in!! Plus I love the idea of having a Washer/dryer in the room (again- especially with a toddler) you can't go wrong with the boardwalk, but like other poster said, Monorail hotels are great too. This year we are staying at the Poly, because we plan on spending most of our time at Magic Kingdom, and with a toddler & Sr. on ECV, this is the best choice for us this year, but I would highly recommend the Boardwalk!

 

[wrighter]

I think I have to agree with your DH on this one. We have stayed in villas for both of our WDW trips and wouldn't have it any other way. (Our children are young, also.)

The biggest advantage is the space - we don't like to be crammed into a hotel room. We aren't the commando types - our touring plans are more casual and we don't try to do it all - so we're in our room a bit more than the average Diser. We order groceries from garden grocer and save money on food that way - not to mention we eat healthier food and get very few upset stomachs from too much park food. (We have "normal" breakfasts in the villa, have lunch at the parks, and sometimes have dinner at the parks but mostly in the villa.) The laundry room is such a benefit - you know how toddlers are. And having a whole other extra room to put them in at night gives mom and dad some time to breathe at the end of a very long day.

Many people find it advantageous to be on the monorail, therefore cutting out the bus ride. But honestly my kids actually enjoyed the bus rides - it was part of the adventure! If you really want to be close to MK, check out the villas at the WL. Otherwise, both the BWV and BCV are centrally located around Epcot - your bus rides shouldn't be too long to get anywhere.

You can PM me if you have other questions about this option - it has worked really well for us and don't know what we'd do if we had to stay in one room!

 

[Coconuts]

If money isn't an issue, I suggest staying at a monorail hotel. It saves you travel time and the monorail is more convenient than the buses when it comes to strollers.

Amen to that!!!! We stayed at the Poly when DD was just under 3 and it was ideal. The pool at the Poly is zero entry which my DD loved.

 

[pixie3]

We like the Boardwalk or Beach Club because we can get in and out of two parks quickly.

 

[EthansMom]

Just to give an alternate idea... My kids love, love, love Port Orleans French Quarter. Because it's a Moderate, the price may be more palatable to your pocketbook.

The theme is New Orleans with lots of whimsical dancing crocodiles around the pool. There is a cute little play area and the laundry is conveniently located near the pool.

POFQ is about a 15 minute bus ride from all of the parks and is the first pick-up and first drop-off any time the bus is shared with POR.

There is also a boat that picks up at POFQ to take you to Downtown Disney... where there are many shopping and dining choices including such kid favorites as Rainforest Cafe, McDonalds, Lego Store, Goofy's Candy Store. Downtown Disney is our family's fave choice for an evening of entertainment when we just don't have the energy to go back to the parks.

We've stayed at POFQ for our last few trips, starting when DD was 11 months old and always felt it was a great choice for our budget and family.

 

[_queenie_]

We like the Boardwalk or Beach Club because we can get in and out of two parks quickly.

The other pro to BC or YC is the sand-bottomed pool. The BC villas sound like a good option for you.

 

[Micka Mouse]

Just to give an alternate idea... My kids love, love, love Port Orleans French Quarter. We've stayed at POFQ for our last few trips, starting when DD was 11 months old and always felt it was a great choice for our budget and family.

ahhhh! I've been going back and forth between POFQ and CSR for weeks now , and I had finally settled on CSR. Now I have myself rethinking the resort, AGAIN!!!!!!! Oh, why oh why are there so many darn choices ????

I'd love your insight on POFQ, if you don't mind.

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[imthatgirl]

Just to give an alternate idea... My kids love, love, love Port Orleans French Quarter. Because it's a Moderate, the price may be more palatable to your pocketbook.

The theme is New Orleans with lots of whimsical dancing crocodiles around the pool. There is a cute little play area and the laundry is conveniently located near the pool.

POFQ is about a 15 minute bus ride from all of the parks and is the first pick-up and first drop-off any time the bus is shared with POR.

There is also a boat that picks up at POFQ to take you to Downtown Disney... where there are many shopping and dining choices including such kid favorites as Rainforest Cafe, McDonalds, Lego Store, Goofy's Candy Store. Downtown Disney is our family's fave choice for an evening of entertainment when we just don't have the energy to go back to the parks.

We've stayed at POFQ for our last few trips, starting when DD was 11 months old and always felt it was a great choice for our budget and family.

i have to second this!! for all the reasons mentioned and for the pure size of it. with toddlers you dont wnat to have to walk too far in your resort. you want/need everyhting right there when you need it. and this being the smallest resort, by far, it makes it the easiest to get around. plus the option of using 2 different pools both with slides is a bonus.

 

[Redbudlover]

anywhere on site!!! Seriously. Each WDW resort has its pluses for kids> Great gaudy icons, sandy bottomed pools, a beach to watch wishes, good food courts, monorails, buses, boats, walking, campfires, movies on the beach, restaurants, waterslides.

Look at what you love and look at your budget. You will have a wonderful time at any of the resorts....

 

[SnowWitch]

I would even recommend depending on the legnth of your stay to split your stay between the Poly (monorail) and then the BWV's or BCV's. Monorail to MK and bus to the AK while staying at the Poly and then boat or walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studios while staying at the villas.

We own DVC and have added 2 dd to our family over the last 2 yrs. So we having been longtime loyalist to the BWV's have started paying cash for 3-7 nights at the Poly at the beginning of our vacation and then moving to the BWV's for the last half of our vacation. It just makes touring easier with 2 little ones.

 

[katied]

1st choice for me is a 1 or 2 bedroom villa - either Boardwalk or Beach Club. The kitchen and washer drying, plus the extra play area (living room) are a huge perk with toddlers. We were there in May with 2 (DS at 13 months and DNiece at 23 months). It's also walking distance to Epcot or Hollywood Studios (or a boat ride).

The kids loved spending time walking around the Boardwalk area (which you can do from either BC or BW). The pool at BC was also quite nice - with the sandy beach area and very shallow areas, but the kids were so little, they were happy in the other less elaborate pools sometimes too.

If those are not an option, then a Monorail resort is you're next best choice (Contemporary, Poly or Grand Floridian). It makes it so easy to get to MK or Epcot with a stroller (and those were my two favorite parks with toddlers).



Good luck!