Best Resort for a 1 yr old?

[*Wish*Upon*A*Star*]

Let me start by saying - I am a planner, in all senses of the word! LOL

DH and I are expecting our first child - a boy - on December 5th of this year.

Being the Disney lovers that we are, we were hoping to plan a trip to Disney during December of 2005 - right around baby's 1st birthday...

My dilemma is - which resort would you suggest?

We are trying to decide between the following:

Polynesian
Beach Club
All Star Sports
Pop Century

We are also trying to decide if we should ask Grandma and Grandpa to join us (built in babysitters! LOL). If we do, we would eliminate the Polynesian as one of our choices. And that would leave us with the choice of a two bedroom villa at the Beach Club Villas, or two rooms at either All Star Sports or Pop Century. For those of you who have travelled with young children, would you suggest bringing along Grandmas and Grandpas?

Also - for those of you who have travelled with young children - do you think a 1 year old is TOO YOUNG?

Thanks in advance for all of your suggestions!

 

[swilphil]

One year olds are the easiest age there is to travel with. They are quite content in the stroller and don't talk much so they won't complain LOL They really like just looking around and they are happy at any of the parks. We do take nap breaks every afternoon and that helps with the late nights and early mornings.

I would suggest staying at the Beach Club. We've stayed in the Epcot area twice with our two toddlers, and we love just being able to walk/boat to MGM and Epcot without folding up the stroller. You also can walk through Epcot and monorail over to MK. Do be aware that a 2 bedroom at BCV could be more expensive than 2 single rooms there. I do know that renting points at BCV for 2 studios is much cheaper than the 1 2 bedroom, but you may have to rent 11 months out so you can be sure to get 2 studios at the same time.
It would be nice having someone with you so you don't have to go on adult rides alone. Epcot's World Showcase is one of our favorite spots to let the little one get out of the stroller and wonder around a bit.

 

[confal1]

I think 1 is wonderful. I have been going with my DD since she was abou 8 mos. My DH hardly ever comes with us. We are going again in a few weeks. It will be DD who is 5 now, DS who just turned one and myself ( no hubby again). Anyways I love the Poly for the fact that you can put the stoller right on the monorail and the 0 depth entry pool so your one year old can sit right in the water and play. I thought about the BC and then I thought about my 1 yr old getting sand in his eyes and trying to eat it every 2 seconds and I thought this didn't seem like it would be relaxing at all. We are staying at the AKL this trip because both my kids love to look at the animals. Another plus for the Poly is if it is raining you can ride the monorail over to the CR for the great arcade or a meal at Chef Mickeys without having to get wet. They are all great resorts so have fun!!!!

 

[dylansdad]

3 month old Sean loved the GF

fav was cabana life at the pool

 

[anita46]

Best bet...a monorail hotel close to MJK

Poly is the most distinctive.

Can't miss with any of them.

 

[Nanu57v]

We are taking our future baby to Disney in Dec 2005 as well. He/she will be 9 months old then. We plan on staying at the Polynesian because of the ease of the monorail. The Beach club probably has the same ease because of its ferry transportation ease. I would definately NOT recommend staying at Pop or All Stars. It was such a hassle staying there last year and it was just my husband and I. It seemed like we were always riding busses or waiting for one. I can't imagine doing all that with a crying baby.

The reason we are going Dec 2005 is my parents are going to be there the same time. They are either staying at a value or a moderate. They like to stay longer at cheaper resorts than have a short trip at a nicer one. They're planning on 2 weeks at the All Stars right now. The built in babysitter concept appealed to us greatly. That way when they go back to rest in the middle of the day, they can take baby with them, and DH and I can ride Rock N' Rollercoaster.

 

[*Wish*Upon*A*Star*]

Thanks for all of your suggestions!

I think we probably will bring along Grandma and Grandpa - maybe make it an early Christmas present or something for them...

Now I am leaning towards either the Poly or the BCV... Still thinking about it, though.

 

[MinnieGi]

One is a great age to go to WDW!! We took DD for the first time when she was 14 months - she had a fantastic time and so did we. She was delighted by all the sights and sounds and loved the rides and shows.

As far as a resort, I would pick BCV from your list of choices. A two-bedroom there would be ideal with a baby and grandparents. Traveling with a baby I always found it ideal for have a kitchen to wash all those bottles and sippy cups. Not to mention that although babies do not eat huge amounts they do eat frequently and it is nice having a kitchen stocked with baby food and snacks. Also for mom and dad and the grandparents the fridge is nice to store water bottles, beverages, snacks and meal fixings if you so desire. Also your villa will have a washer and dryer which will come in handy for all of you but especially with a baby. The villa will also give everyone room to spread out and relax. Look into renting DVC points as a cheaper alternative than going through CRO.

Also I think taking the grandparents would be fun and that they would really enjoy seeing their grandchild having a ball in WDW. My parents and DH's parents have vacationed with us in WDW. DD is always delighted when they travel with us. We don't ever use them as babysitters but enjoy their company and love the memories we make for DD with them there.

 

[keith-atl]

Originally posted by *Wish*Upon*A*Star*
Let me start by saying - I am a planner, in all senses of the word! LOL

DH and I are expecting our first child - a boy - on December 5th of this year.

Being the Disney lovers that we are, we were hoping to plan a trip to Disney during December of 2005 - right around baby's 1st birthday...

My dilemma is - which resort would you suggest?

We are trying to decide between the following:

Polynesian
Beach Club
All Star Sports
Pop Century

We are also trying to decide if we should ask Grandma and Grandpa to join us (built in babysitters! LOL). If we do, we would eliminate the Polynesian as one of our choices. And that would leave us with the choice of a two bedroom villa at the Beach Club Villas, or two rooms at either All Star Sports or Pop Century. For those of you who have travelled with young children, would you suggest bringing along Grandmas and Grandpas?

Also - for those of you who have travelled with young children - do you think a 1 year old is TOO YOUNG?

Thanks in advance for all of your suggestions!

Our first trip with our daughter when she was 6 months old was the All Stars, we didnt know what to expect and just drove down the last minute and took a 5 day trip. I think all resorts are great for kids personally. Wilderness Lodge might be the best for you IMO. The boat to magic kingdom makes it ideal for people who have kids and with strollers, just a thought, but the value resorts are all good as well too.

 

[confal1]

If you choose the WL when I stayed there 2 years ago you had to fold up your stroller before boarding the ferry because it is a small ferry. It was kind of a pain especially on the trip back with all the junk you pile under the stroller. Have a great time.

 

[Geomich]

We did the Poly when DS was about 1 1/2 and we brought along Nana which gave us a little free time. (Nana has since made 4 other trips) We have always been able to get adjoining rooms.

The Poly was a good choice for us because we could just wheel the stroller right on to the monorail for MK and we would take a stroll over to the transportation center for Epcot. ( I actually have a very good picture of a character that took my stroller with DS sleeping and took him for a little walk)

He was easier at 1 then at 2yrs- he just stayed in his stroller and loved the characters- especially at meals.

 

[pam66]

When we went last year with my parents we stayed at the
BCV and it was great! Our DD was 3 at the time and we stayed in a 2 bedroom by renting points from a vacation club owner which is definitely cheaper then renting directly from Disney. We had plenty of room and the pool is awesome. They have a toddler section with a sandy bottom where they can sit and play in the water. There is a character breakfast in the hotel restaurant every morning which I loved. I had picked the Beach Club because there was stuff for a young child to do and we were close to Epcot and the Boardwalk for my parents to do things on their own. And , yes, they babysat for us too which was great Hope this helps.

 

[GeekChic]

if you can afford it, i definitely recommend a monorail hotel.

and i totally agree...our dd's first trip was 2 weeks after her 1st b-day and we all had a BLAST (we took aunt/uncle along for back up LOL) that was a great age, just take your cheerios and a sippy cup and swim diapers and you're golden! they'll be happy for hours. The characters LOVED her at that age and spent a LOT of time with her, she lapped it up, wasn't at all afraid!

Good for you wanting to take Gma and Gpa, they'll have a great time and precious memories if you can't swing the cost of the Poly or don't want to do one room then i would recommend that you go budget and stay at a value instead of a moderate; for the additional cost i just don't personally find the moderates to be much better. we stayed at the all star sports with my dd when she was 1 and we were fine there. had an umbrella stroller so it folded easily to go on the bus.

you'll have a great time. thinking back to that trip makes me miss my old siggy picture of dd and mary poppins, might have to put that back up LOL.

geek

 

[jeancbpugh]

Originally posted by *Wish*Upon*A*Star*

My dilemma is - which resort would you suggest?

We are trying to decide between the following:

Polynesian
Beach Club
All Star Sports
Pop Century

One year olds are fun at WDW. Just remember it won't be the same as your trips before children. Focus on the wonder on the baby's face while he watches everything, rather than running around the parks trying to go on all the erides. Take lots of breaks.

Which resort? Depends on which are your favorite parks.

If you love MK and Epcot best, stay at the Poly. Then you can move between the MK and the Poly and Epcot while the baby is sleeping in the stroller without waking him up. (You can roll the stroller right into the monorail with the baby inside it.) From the Poly you can take the monorail to the MK, or walk to TTC to take the monorail to Epcot. I used to love doing that when my guys were little. Then you can wander to your heart's content while they get their rest.

If you love Epcot and MGM best, stay at the BCV. Then you can walk to Epcot or MGM without taking a sleeping baby out of the stroller. (You have to take the baby out if you want to take the Friendship launches to the parks, though.)

With Pop Century and All Stars you have to take busses. Any time you board a bus, you have to take the baby out of the stroller, and fold up the stroller.