Best room option for 18 month old so parents can still enjoy Disney from balcony after bedtime?

[ak517]

We are postponing our next trip yet again but this means I can put some more thought into our room options. We own VGF (direct) and AKV (resale), will be going in February 2025 starting President’s Day-ish and potentially staying through Princess Half (I would do the 10k), but we will probably pick somewhere available based on the 7 month window. People are me, DH, our son who will be 19 months at the time of the trip.

The crux of the issue is I am struggling to decide what resort we should stay at. The goals are two-fold: have a room with a space to put our toddler to sleep soundly and have a balcony with enough of a view for mom and dad to hang out after bedtime. We think Poly lake view studios could fit the bill to be able to watch the fireworks, but we might prefer a 1-bedroom just in case we decide to bring grandma. Alternatively, are the animals active on the Savannah at AKV after dark?

Anyway, what would you do? Has anyone grappled with a similar decision? Alternatively, what are the best balconies with a view in the DVC world that I could maybe get at 7 months, knowing we mostly definitely cannot get a Boardwalk view on our points

 

[AstroBlasters]

We are postponing our next trip yet again but this means I can put some more thought into our room options. We own VGF (direct) and AKV (resale), will be going in February 2025 starting President’s Day-ish and potentially staying through Princess Half (I would do the 10k), but we will probably pick somewhere available based on the 7 month window. People are me, DH, our son who will be 19 months at the time of the trip.

The crux of the issue is I am struggling to decide what resort we should stay at. The goals are two-fold: have a room with a space to put our toddler to sleep soundly and have a balcony with enough of a view for mom and dad to hang out after bedtime. We think Poly lake view studios could fit the bill to be able to watch the fireworks, but we might prefer a 1-bedroom just in case we decide to bring grandma. Alternatively, are the animals active on the Savannah at AKV after dark?

Anyway, what would you do? Has anyone grappled with a similar decision? Alternatively, what are the best balconies with a view in the DVC world that I could maybe get at 7 months, knowing we mostly definitely cannot get a Boardwalk view on our points

If you can swing it, 1bedroom theme park view at BLT… killer view at night and a ton of space…. walking distance to MK for afternoon naps….

 

[wendlle]

When I took my eldest Daughter at that age - she was 18 months old, I had also taken our youngest when she was 10 months old, we just let them sleep in the stroller.
I know this isn't an option for everyone but I can't imagine spending so much time in the room on vacation. Both kids had no issues being transferred to their beds once we got back to the room and slept all night from the days excitement.

 

[Haley R]

We are postponing our next trip yet again but this means I can put some more thought into our room options. We own VGF (direct) and AKV (resale), will be going in February 2025 starting President’s Day-ish and potentially staying through Princess Half (I would do the 10k), but we will probably pick somewhere available based on the 7 month window. People are me, DH, our son who will be 19 months at the time of the trip.

The crux of the issue is I am struggling to decide what resort we should stay at. The goals are two-fold: have a room with a space to put our toddler to sleep soundly and have a balcony with enough of a view for mom and dad to hang out after bedtime. We think Poly lake view studios could fit the bill to be able to watch the fireworks, but we might prefer a 1-bedroom just in case we decide to bring grandma. Alternatively, are the animals active on the Savannah at AKV after dark?

Anyway, what would you do? Has anyone grappled with a similar decision? Alternatively, what are the best balconies with a view in the DVC world that I could maybe get at 7 months, knowing we mostly definitely cannot get a Boardwalk view on our points

When ds was small we tried picking studios that had two bathroom areas. GF and Poly both worked for us. We put the pack n play in one of the bathrooms.

 

[CastAStone]

I think Poly is indeed the obvious choice for a studio.

I like AKV-Kidani as a 1BR option; the second bathroom can be the home of the pack and play. Downside is that the living room bed is a pull out couch.

The animals bedtime depends on the time of year and the species of animal. They also leave animals out later on nights they offer the starlight safari. Some animals do come inside their night time homes before sunset. We found the best viewing to be in the morning/sunrise.

We picked AKV for a trip with our then-21 month old several years ago and he wound up sleeping in the bathroom. It went great. We also bought one of those like 2ish inch thick pack & play mattresses at an Orlando Babies R Us () and it made for much more peaceful nights. We had planned to just leave it, but we liked it so much we crammed it into our luggage.

 

[CarolynFH]

I like AKV-Kidani as a 1BR option; the second bathroom can be the home of the pack and play. Downside is that the living room bed is a pull out couch.

Doesn’t the Kidani 1BR have the sleeper chair in the living room too? My dad found that very comfortable at BLT. Obviously it only sleeps one person.

 

[CastAStone]

Doesn’t the Kidani 1BR have the sleeper chair in the living room too? My dad found that very comfortable at BLT. Obviously it only sleeps one person.

It does; I’ve never tried it out.

 

[ak517]

If you can swing it, 1bedroom theme park view at BLT… killer view at night and a ton of space…. walking distance to MK for afternoon naps….

Oh, this would be the dream!! Do people ever give these up at the 7 month mark?

When I took my eldest Daughter at that age - she was 18 months old, I had also taken our youngest when she was 10 months old, we just let them sleep in the stroller.
I know this isn't an option for everyone but I can't imagine spending so much time in the room on vacation. Both kids had no issues being transferred to their beds once we got back to the room and slept all night from the days excitement.

I'm more interested in rooms for after bedtime options when DH and I don't want to go to bed at 8PM or just watch TV! If I can get some fireworks or Electric Water Pageant in nightly, that would help us feel a little better for being cooped up.

The animals bedtime depends on the time of year and the species of animal. They also leave animals out later on nights they offer the starlight safari. Some animals do come inside their night time homes before sunset. We found the best viewing to be in the morning/sunrise.

Oh good to know about the starlight safari!! I'll have to look up info about that and if they offer it during our visit. I can't decide what I like doing more from the balconies at Disney: animal watching or people watching!


A follow up question, am I missing anything by not considering a Riviera 1-bedroom? I would probably end up in a preferred view based on availability.

 

[kilik64]

Cooped up by 8pm? Your kid will sleep in the stroller, just have one that reclines fully so they can sleep pretty easily.

I'd shoot for BLT, you could get by with a studio, stick the pnp in the galley kitchen.

 

[mistysue]

Oh, this would be the dream!! Do people ever give these up at the 7 month mark?



I'm more interested in rooms for after bedtime options when DH and I don't want to go to bed at 8PM or just watch TV! If I can get some fireworks or Electric Water Pageant in nightly, that would help us feel a little better for being cooped up.



Oh good to know about the starlight safari!! I'll have to look up info about that and if they offer it during our visit. I can't decide what I like doing more from the balconies at Disney: animal watching or people watching!


A follow up question, am I missing anything by not considering a Riviera 1-bedroom? I would probably end up in a preferred view based on availability.

I was actually going to say those Riv 1 bedrooms are amazing, and if you can get a standard view, we had two different fireworks shows from the balcony on our last trip.
We also didn't try it, but you may be able to fit a pack and play in one of the closets in there. The amount of room was massive, my 13 and 15 year olds wanted to move in because it was so spacious! The Poly shower room is great for that as well, so the baby is in their own room really.

I would book the AKL as that balcony is pretty nice, then swap over to either Riv (standard view) or Poly (lagoon view in the longhouses) if you can.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Oh, this would be the dream!! Do people ever give these up at the 7 month mark?



I'm more interested in rooms for after bedtime options when DH and I don't want to go to bed at 8PM or just watch TV! If I can get some fireworks or Electric Water Pageant in nightly, that would help us feel a little better for being cooped up.



Oh good to know about the starlight safari!! I'll have to look up info about that and if they offer it during our visit. I can't decide what I like doing more from the balconies at Disney: animal watching or people watching!


A follow up question, am I missing anything by not considering a Riviera 1-bedroom? I would probably end up in a preferred view based on availability.

https://www.dvchelp.com/page/bay-lake-tower-availability-charts

Pretty reasonable availability. Might be tougher this year with the refurb.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think Poly is indeed the obvious choice for a studio.

I'd argue specifically for Lake View.

 

[beccasmom]

I agrée that BLT and RR one-bedrooms are terrific. We were lucky enough to be in a BLT unit on two different occasions with terrific theme park views (parking lot in foreground though, no way around that) that was actually not officially “theme park” view, but lake view. That was a nice surprise and great fun.

We stayed in the RR one-bedroom last November and it was a huge amount of space for the two of us. Those rooms are pricey points-wise (we had some to spare and splurged), but are very nicely furnished and designed.

 

[sndral]

…
I like AKV-Kidani as a 1BR option; the second bathroom can be the home of the pack and play. Downside is that the living room bed is a pull out couch.

The animals bedtime depends on the time of year and the species of animal. They also leave animals out later on nights they offer the starlight safari. Some animals do come inside their night time homes before sunset. We found the best viewing to be in the morning/sunrise.

We picked AKV for a trip with our then-21 month old several years ago and he wound up sleeping in the bathroom. It went great. We also bought one of those like 2ish inch thick pack & play mattresses at an Orlando Babies R Us () and it made for much more peaceful nights. We had planned to just leave it, but we liked it so much we crammed it into our luggage.

AKV is due for a refurb. likely in 2025 - so the bed configuration may change.
Regarding the animals, generally most stay out on their savanna 24/7, they do visit their barns for an hour to an hour & a half each morning, but otherwise they are out. The one exception is on a very rare freezing night (like a once every couple of years freeze) husbandry will bring some animals in, not sure which ones except I know they house the Giraffes in the heated barns if it’s below freezing - of course if it’s that cold humans aren’t likely to be hanging outside on their balconies . Because it’s dark the animals are less visible from a distance at night. Some tend to bed down in a favorite place on the savanna & if your balcony is near that spot it’s pretty cool to see the same animal(s) return each night, others tend to move from spot to spot, so you’ll be sitting on your balcony looking at an empty savanna & suddenly a giraffe or two will slowly silently glide into view. I love staying at AKV, but if your goal is to see something from your balcony at night, AKV can be really hit or miss depending on where your villa is, so I’d probably opt for a more reliable location if a night time view is very important to you.

 

[ak517]

AKV is due for a refurb. likely in 2025 - so the bed configuration may change.
Regarding the animals, generally most stay out on their savanna 24/7, they do visit their barns for an hour to an hour & a half each morning, but otherwise they are out. The one exception is on a very rare freezing night (like a once every couple of years freeze) husbandry will bring some animals in, not sure which ones except I know they house the Giraffes in the heated barns if it’s below freezing - of course if it’s that cold humans aren’t likely to be hanging outside on their balconies . Because it’s dark the animals are less visible from a distance at night. Some tend to bed down in a favorite place on the savanna & if your balcony is near that spot it’s pretty cool to see the same animal(s) return each night, others tend to move from spot to spot, so you’ll be sitting on your balcony looking at an empty savanna & suddenly a giraffe or two will slowly silently glide into view. I love staying at AKV, but if your goal is to see something from your balcony at night, AKV can be really hit or miss depending on where your villa is, so I’d probably opt for a more reliable location if a night time view is very important to you.

Love this insider information!! Thank you!

 

[sndral]

Love this insider information!! Thank you!

You’re welcome, we loved going on the Wanyama safaris back when they were offered & we learned so much about AKL’s animal care/operations from the husbandry staff who were our guides.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

With our 2 DDs, we have been going to WDW since our 1st was 8 months old. At home, we have always put them to sleep with some sort of light and soft music playing and I think this has totally helped us on trips. We do not have to turn everything off and be quiet in our room once they fall to sleep, so we do not need a separate area to escape too. We have the TV on and DW and I would play card games etc. and it never disturbed our DDs, and we have stayed at all 3 levels. Plus sitting out in the heat, even at night is not something we like to do. LOL

 

[JackosinDIS]

I would go with the 1br theme park or lake view at BLT. Fairly easy to get at 7 months, great views from the balcony, you can watch tv without disturbing the little one. Plenty of space for all the stuff you need to take for 18 month old.