Best resort w/ toddler?

[luvmyboys]

Help please! I am planning our trip for last week in Sept, and can't decide whether to spend more money on a monorail resort. I'm anticipating either half-days at the parks or trips back for my DS' (will be 18 mos) nap.

Does the convenience of say, the Poly outweigh the $$$ benefit of the POP when it comes to carting around a little one?

I know my DH would rather save $$, but since this is his first trip, I don't want to "sour" him on the Disney experience w/ travel difficulties. Any advice would really be appreciated!

 

[GinaGrumpyDwarf]

In my experience we didnt stay on disney property when Mikayla was approx. 8 months and just in Dec (she was 2). She lasted longer than i expected for most of the trip...at 1am she was dancing with the mice from Cinderella at MK during our VeryMerryChristmas Party..lol.
I guess being on the monorail would be OK...if you have the $$
If not then you have to rent a car (approx 150-200 for the week) and the baby will fall asleep on the way to the hotel, but i hear that POP or Any of the ALL STAR resorts are great for toddlers...hope this helps!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Does the convenience of say, the Poly outweigh the $$$ benefit of the POP when it comes to carting around a little one?

At that age I would have to say yes. It would certainly make it a lot easier to get back for mid day naps and therefore increase the enjoyment of your vacation. To save some $$ you might consider a wing room at the CR or the WL instead of the Poly. You may also rent points from a DVC member to stay at the VWL. Good luck deciding!

 

[Suzanne74]

I would either stay on the monorail or rent a DVC members points and stay in a 1st floor studio or 1 bdrm at Old Key West. The main reason is walking, waiting for buses and having a small room are things that you won't want with a little one. We rented points for OKW 1 bdrm last year and it was perfect for our 2 yr old dd. You can park your rental car right outside of your door, literlly 10 steps and you are in your room and since you are staying in the park, you can park in any disney lot for free. OKW does have disney buses but since your rental car is closer than the bus terminal it made more sense to drive - very quick. dd would fall asleep on the way home in the car during the afternoon - I would just transfer her to the bed for her nap, then DH and I had the kitchen/liding room area to hang out watch tv, eat lunch. It was VERY nice. She slept well and then we would head back and she made it until the parks closed. This upcoming week we are staying at the Poly so I will let you know how that goes.

 

[Magic2000]

I would recommend the Polynesian, if you can afford it. If you would be going back to the hotel for naps with the baby (and your DH staying at the parks for a little while longer with your older child), it would be SO easy to just roll the stroller on the monorail than have to take the baby out of the stroller and fold it up to get on a bus. When my older girls were little, I would take the little one back to the hotel and get her settled down for her nap, and DH would stay for a little while longer with the oldest.

If you will all be going back to the hotel at the same time, then you may want to check out either Pop Century or All Star Movies. All Star Movies has Toy Story, and my DD loved 101 Dalmations. They have this huge "TV" with one of the little dalmations watching, and every time we passed, Allison would pretend she was on TV talking to the little dog! And she loved going to play by Buzz & Woody! Pop Century has a cute little kiddy pool, as well as the water jets!

Have a great trip!!!!!

 

[Grumpy'n'Goofy]

Are you going to driving to WDW? If not, you may want to consider the cost/hassle of renting a car vs. using disney transportation. We took our DD when she was 18 months, and absolutely loved the convenience of staying at a resort on the Monorail (Poly for us). It was nice not having to worry about standing in line to get on a bus, fold up the stroller, try and find seats, etc. Instead, we could just roll the stroller (w/ sleeping DD) right onto the monorail and be back at the resort in a few minutes.

Just my $.02, I'm sure you'll have a blast no matter where you decide to stay!

 

[linda_loo]

the Poly outweigh the $$$ benefit of the POP when it comes to carting around a little one?

We just got back from the Dolphin with 2 toddlers (18 months and almost 3 years), and the days managing our kids on the busses (MK, MGM/Epcot we took boat) were horrible. I won't stay at a bus-only resort with little kids again. Boat or monorail only.

 

[pixie dust 5]

luvmyboys
I just got back from wdw 4-23-05. I have three DS and we stayed at the grand floridian, which is right next to the poly. I would do it again in a heart beat. You are sooooo close to the mk. Once, when we needed our sweatshirts my DH went back to the hotel to get them and was back in no time. We took many breaks to go back to the pool mid-day and it was hassle free. I think you save alot of time traveling which means alot when your coming back at night and your all tired :: . You also can sleep in a little more in the morning because your closer then others.I'm not sure on this one but I've heard it's a long bus ride from some of the other resorts plus my kids thought the monorail was a blast. They even got to sit up front with the conductor and got their co-pilots licence! If you can do it, I would highly recomend it, you won't be sorry.Yes, it's more money but it's worth every penny! : :

 

[disneygoof]

It's very convenient to the MK, where you'll likely spend the most time with your son, and the theme is very boyish. Think, buy Davy Crockett hat at check-in and watch your son running around the lobby wearing it.

Your husband will probably love it too...

 

[swilphil]

If you want the convenience of a monorail resort without the cost of the Poly, I would highly recommend staying in the North Wing of the Contemporary. A Standard view is the least expensive, around $175 depending on the season if you can get a code. We stayed on the ground floor and loved not hassling with elevators and having the patio. You can walk to MK from the CR North Wing in about 10 minutes. The rooms are huge and the monorail is right there to go to Epcot.

Another option would be the Swan or Dolphin. We've stayed at both with two toddlers. We had great experiences there with the Bus to MK , and it was so easy to get to Epcot and MGM. They have some good discounts too.

 

[Robundrh2o]

Last year the week right before thanksgiving we stayed at Pop Century with DD (3 at the time) and had no problems getting back to the resort for naps/pool time. During the week we only had one issue with Disney Transportation and that was one night after viewing wishes there was a long wait for busses. But other than that there was usually a bus waiting to take us back to the resort. We are planning a trip right now for the week leading up to x-mas and will have a toddler and an infant and are staying at Pop again this year. I'm sure being on the monorail does have it's advantages but if your hubby is worried about the finances then I would say stay off the monorail and use Disney Transportation. just MHO.

 

[luvmyboys]

Thanks for all of the great advice everyone! It will really help me narrow down our options (and convince DH I know what I am talking about! )

I think I am leaning toward the Poly, as this is our first family vacation and probably the last big one until I am finished w/ law school... Not only will the Poly be convenient but also make our trip more special... & make DH want to return!!

If I could only keep him from seeing the bill.... A girl can dream, right?

Thanks again!

 

[Deborah_Mary]

Last year we took our dd's (5 1/2 years and 6 months at the time) and stayed a week at CR in the tower (MK side). It was WONDERFUL! We absolutely LOVE CR as it is SO convienent (even the wing rooms are too - tho a little bit further out...) being just a walkway away from MK and one stop away from TTC. It is also a fun thing that getting to WL or FW is just a short boat ride away too.

We will be leaving for our next trip (dd's will be 6 years and 16 months) in 2 1/2 weeks and will be staying at AKL for 4 nights and at Poly for 5 nights. We've done CR the last 3 years in a row, so we were ready for a change this year even though we do love it there (and we will return there without a doubt).

My other suggestion would be WL. It has the ferry to and from MK which is also a nice touch. In the future we WILL be trying it there.

Good luck deciding!

Deb*

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We absolutely LOVE CR as it is SO convienent (even the wing rooms are too - tho a little bit further out...)

Ah yes, but the wing rooms are less $$.

 

[Windy City Heather]

I have done both Poly and Yacht club with a toddler. There is no comparision to being on the monorail resort. The buses are a hassel with toddlers. Most nights my daughter (14 months at YC and 28 months at Poly) was asleep by the time we got to transportation. You HAVE to take them out of the stroller on the buses and fold up the stroller.

 

[cinderkay]

WE are also planning a trip in late sept. and deciding between the FW cabin with a kitchen and the poly with the monotrail. The only thing I worry about is when we return to the room at the poly and all 3 kids are asleep early in the room where do the adults hang out?
I worry that we will be tip toeing around the room so we don't wake up three toddlers at once. Atleast at FW we will have a seperate room. But I cant talk myself into giving up the monoril!!!
I can't seem to make up my mind!
Paula

 

[DeanDoug]

We recently stayed in the POP with our 2 year old... it was fine. However, we were pleasantly surprised that our daughter actually napped in her stroller in the parks (she was so exhausted, she konked out).

Although we anticipated it, we didn't need to drive back to the resort at all!

 

[luvmyboys]

The only thing I worry about is when we return to the room at the poly and all 3 kids are asleep early in the room where do the adults hang out?

I was thinking about this issue too.... If I stayed somewhere less expensive maybe I could get 2 rooms... Someone suggested renting DVC points too-- don't know a lot about that but it sounds like it might be a good alternative as well. SO MANY CHOICES!!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

The only thing I worry about is when we return to the room at the poly and all 3 kids are asleep early in the room where do the adults hang out?
I worry that we will be tip toeing around the room so we don't wake up three toddlers at once.

If you get a first floor room you can sit out on the patio. We had wine and snacks out there every night while enjoying our surroundings. Our kids were so tired at night I think a herd of elephants in the room wouldn't have woken them up.

 

[HLAuburn]

We are having the same debate for our trip next Feb. My daughter will be 18 months old, and although we thought the All Star bus transportation was great (it was just the 2 of us back then), we really would like the convenience of the monorail. But I just can't justify (at least to my husband ) spending $250+ a night. So...I think we have decided to stay at Wilderness Lodge. It's considered a Magic Kingdom resort, but instead of the monorail, it has a short boat ride to the MK (and from what I hear, you can roll the stroller on). The price is a lot less than Poly, too, so the difference should pay for a few nice dinners.

Either way, in Sept, you should be able to get some good rates. Have a nice time.