Best Resort for Son's 1st Time!

[WDWChick]

My DH and I are taking my son to Disney for his 3rd birthday in Jan. We are leaving my then 6 month old home with my mother so we can have some bonding time with him.
Does anyone have any suggestions for the perfect resort? My Dh and I usually stay at the YC. But we thought with a little one in tow, we should stay at a monerail resort. But, I haven't seen any deals on them yet.
What do you all think???
Any suggestions???

 

[DisneyWorldDad]

You know, monorail resorts are cool and handy, but if you want to see his eyes light up, my choice is ASMovies, near Andy's room. The resort is so colorful and with all the big character statues and awesome pools, you really can't beat it. I'm not saying this because it is the cheapest, just because it is the best for kids! For a 3 YO, I would pass on the ASMusic or Sports because it wouldn't have the same effect.

DWD

 

[MJS]

We take an annual trip to WDW, and our preschooler has stayed with us at the GF, Poly, YC and BCV. When she was 3 we stayed at the BCV, and she LOVED Stormalong Bay! There is so much there for little ones. As you may know, transportation to the MK is poor from the YC/BC. If you do not have a car, my choice for a little one in terms of a monorail resort is the Poly. It is a great resort for kids.

We have also stayed at the WL, another good choice for kids with boat transportation to the MK. Also, don't forget FW. Each year we visit FW to ride the ponies, and our little one remembers that as her favorite thing at WDW! A wilderness cabin at FW is a nice family choice. FW has playgrounds, a petting zoo, nightly campfires (I think Chip and Dale visit), the Backyard BBQ character dinner, Hoop Dee Doo and more.

Have a great trip!

 

[dw123]

I think one of the best monorail resorts for pre-schoolers is the Contemporary! We brought our pre-schooler there this past spring and it was great! Having Chef Mickey's right there is a great thing - went there twice!

The monorail going through the tower just fascinated her - she'd watch it a lot. Being at the Contemporary means you're the first resort stop going the the MK - which means you have the best chance to ride up front and have the longest ride!

It's also great because it's the first stop when leaving the MK, which is important when a meltdown hits. We stayed in a tower room overlooking the MK, and we could be back in our room starting to unwind before the monorail even gets to the Poly!

If you stay in the tower, request and MK view - it's unbelievable! The best of any hotel we've stayed at. Our daughter watched the castle change colors each night, saw the electrical water parade, and even the fireworks one night - can't be beat!

 

[Kimberle]

I would second the WL! We just stayed there with our 4.5 yr dd. It's a wonderful resort for kids. Not to big so they get "overwhelmed". They have a wonderful kiddie pool (1 foot). My dd spend lots of time there.

The large pool is fun. You can also wonder over to the "quiet" pool.

Whispering Canyons is a fun resturant for kids. They have "pony races" and the wait staff has fun with the kids. (One group of kiddo's was "dressed" up as porcupines during our dinner. The waitress folded napkins around the tops of their heads and stuck straws around the back. It was so cute.)

Our dd really loved the boat rides. There are 2 boats. One goes between WL, FW & MK. The other between WL, FW & CR.

It's very easy to hop the boat to MK to either catch the monorail or eat at Chef Mickeys, Concource Steakhouse or CA Grill. It's also super easy to catch the boat to FW to eat at Trails End (wonderful, inexpensive buffet), go to Hoo Dee Doo, the pony rides or the little petting zoo.

We also stayed at CR when dd was 2.5. Though we really loved that resort too, I think the WL is better for kids. The monorail is nice, but there is no kiddie pool.

 

[CEDmom]

Another vote for WL. It is so peaceful there; a real break from the hectic parks. DD had so much fun playing on the beach and in the pool. She also loved just sitting on the rockers over by the villas. The boat to MK was a ride in itself.

 

[diathoney]

When our kids were little, we liked to stay at the CR. I'd request a north garden wing, garden view, ground floor. This made it easy for us to get to the food court, walk to MK (with kids in the stroller), and put the kids play ground area right outside the room. After a morning at the park DH and I would sit on the patio and watch the kids play on the playground. The kids would be too tired to stay at MK, but never too tired for the sandbox!

Mine didn't care for Epcot when they were small. They did like MGM - especially the Pizza Planet and the Bug's Life play area.

The CR rooms are nice and large. They're also bright and colorful. Chef Mickey's is a great place for kids. And the monorail is always a treat for kids. Mine just liked to ride around - not get off anywhere!

 

[confal1]

I stayed at the WL in March and loved it. The only thing I did not like was the pool was NOT the 0 depth entry. I am taking my 4 1/2 year old DD and my 3 month old son in Nov. and am staying at the Poly because of the monorail and the 0 depth entry pool. That way she can still play in the pool without me having to hold her the whole time or wearing swimmies. ( we are still trying to talk daddy into coming with us). My vote is for the Poly.

 

[LMEJ]

We leave on SATURDAY! We are taking my 3 1/2 year old son, while my 8 month old son stays home with my Mom. I have stayed at Deluxe, Moderate, and Value resorts, and in my humble opinion, the All Stars are the way to go with kids. My son is going to love the icons and Toy Story characters much more than he would appreciate Poly themeing or the luxury of the GF. There is certainly some convenience to the Monorail factor, but I personally don't find the bus system a big deal. I don't know why the Value resorts get such a bad rap. At less than $80 a night, you can't beat it. Have an awesome time!

 

[HM]

We've stayed in a lot of deluxes since our first trip to WDW (when we stayed at ASMu) and the kids still ask if we can stay at the All Stars or CBR again. That said...son likes WL best and daughter likes AKL.

Since your son will have nothing to compare the resort to, I think any one that you choose will be the right one for him. You have to be happy with the choice too.

-HM

 

[twinmomplus2]

My number one vote would be for Animal Kingdom lodge. The pool is a great zero entry ( watering Hole) The playground is one of the best I have seen. And where else can your preschooler open the drapes and watch a girraffe eating breakfast? I travel with twin 3 year olds and a ds9 and dd 16. For all 4 children the fave property hands down is AKL. When they turned 2 we stayed 5 days at Beach Club Villas and 3 at AKL. While they loved Storm a long Bay while we were there. When we left however, all they talked about was the AKL. We have stayed there our last 4 trips and will on our next as welll! Good Luck!