Boardwalk or Bay lake tower with little kids

[pinkxray]

We are traveling to WDW in Nov/Dec for a few days. We will also be doing a few days at Legoland so it will be maybe 3/4 nights at WDW with 1 day at MK. The rest of the time will be resort time and Disney Springs since the kids have never been.

We are currently booked at Boardwalk since we stayed have stayed in the MK area the last 3 trips. We have seen all the MK resorts with decorations but not the EPCOT area resorts. We have never been on the skyliner or seen Riviera yet. Part of me thinks stick with Boardwalk. The kids will like the pool, we can take the skyliner to Riviera to eat and then to AOA for DS to play in the massive arcade.
We can eat at Beaches and Cream and somewhere at the Boardwalk.

Then I think… well we are only going to MK. We can walk to MK. Have meals at FW or WL or Steakhouse 71. I just love MK resorts. Kids have not been to either resort.
They are 7 and 5. (I plan on waitlisting or stalking BLT if needed and our dates our flexible so I’m sure I’ll find 3 nights somehow.) Don’t care about room size or room really. More so things to do at the resort since we will have lots of down time and less park time.

 

[Robbie Cottam]

If you asked Beech Club or BLT

I would say that is difficult

But the board walk pool isn't the same as beech club. BLT pool is amazing like the beech club but still pretty cool.

As far as places to eat being on the monorail line is a huge plus. Jump on over to the poly for Ohana or captain Cooks, both really good. I guess 1900 park faire is closed. Still three great restaurants there. Do they really want to go to Epcot? Or do they want to be in the MK. BTW how little are we talking? If they want to go to MK mostly the walk makes things pretty easy... or the monorail if we're to tired to walk....

Lots of options to weigh, but unless they really want to do Epcot and HS... My vote would be BLT

The Skyliner is fun though. It is actually one of the reason my son used to sell me on RR

***sorry I missed they are 7 and 5..... that leads me more towards the mk

 

[Her Dotness]

At their ages, I wouldn't have cared one teeny little bit where we stayed or what resorts I saw or ate at.

I'd have been interested only in the MK and eating as much junk food as Mom would allow and Dad would agree didn't cost too much (which would be not much these days!). Oh, and buying toys, earhats and other Disney stuff.

< whispering > (You're thinking like a mom.)

Relax, don't overthink it, and have a magical time.

 

[TCRAIG]

If you’re only going to MK - then I would definitely stay at BLT for easy access…you may want to add or hop (if possible) to Epcot and (again - hopefully they’ll be back) see the Christmas decor and storytellers at world showcase then walk out the back to see Beach Club and the gingerbread/chocolate carousel…

 

[DeeBee3]

I have kids very similar to you (8 and 4). The easy access to MK is very tempting, but as they have already been to those resorts, I would go for Boardwalk. My kids love the boardwalk area. They like Epcot better than MK! We just stayed at Beach Club in April and Boardwalk last August. We liked both. No matter where you stay, you can enjoy resort-hopping and looking around.

Boardwalk for a new experience. The bus to MK is not that bad.

p.s. we also just enjoyed riding the Skyliner just for the heck of it. Looked around Riviera and came back. It's fun!

 

[PalmettoPath]

For me it would be BLT hands down. But the BoardWalk area is nice as well. Personal preference as there are benefits to both areas.

 

[gharter]

What park are you going to spend the most time at?
If the answer is MK, Bay Lake is the easy choice.
If an awesome sand bottom pool is more important, then Beach Club is he answer.
As adults going without kids now, we love Boardwalk (we own DVC there). Not what I would consider a great kids resort.

 

[landiscarrier]

I would say Boardwalk....to me BLT is like a Hilton not a very Disney like hotel (IMO) but the walk to MK is nice.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

BLT would be great for your MK day, but what about your resort-only days? Being able to see and hear the MK without entering could be really difficult, especially for children.

Also, trying to stalk/waitlist a resort for peak DVC season of early December sounds unpleasant. I'd keep what you have since your plans for the Boardwalk area and skyliner sound lovely, or possibly move to SSR since you want to do a lot of resort time and Disney Springs.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

At those ages, I could literally put my kids on the resort monorail loop for 2 hours and they thought it fantastic.

 

[Nabas]

Keep in mind the BLT has a terrible pool, probably the smallest at any WDW hotel.

Assuming your young ones want to swim, BWV’s Luna Pool is so much more enticing.

 

[DduzDis]

I have kids very similar to you (8 and 4). The easy access to MK is very tempting, but as they have already been to those resorts, I would go for Boardwalk. My kids love the boardwalk area. They like Epcot better than MK! We just stayed at Beach Club in April and Boardwalk last August. We liked both. No matter where you stay, you can enjoy resort-hopping and looking around.

Boardwalk for a new experience. The bus to MK is not that bad.

p.s. we also just enjoyed riding the Skyliner just for the heck of it. Looked around Riviera and came back. It's fun!

We have 9 and 6 yo DDs that have been going yearly since before each was 1 yo. You can't really go wrong with either (but you'll see in my sig I may be biased for these two choices). The BW area plan sounds solid and the bus really isn't too bad from BW to MK. We also take a midday nap so that adds to the bus exposure. We've had little if any trouble with the busses at BW.

I agree with a PP, don't overthink it. The kids will have a blast no matter where you stay.

 

[BillPA]

.

 

[Straulin]

We are traveling to WDW in Nov/Dec for a few days. We will also be doing a few days at Legoland so it will be maybe 3/4 nights at WDW with 1 day at MK. The rest of the time will be resort time and Disney Springs since the kids have never been.

We are currently booked at Boardwalk since we stayed have stayed in the MK area the last 3 trips. We have seen all the MK resorts with decorations but not the EPCOT area resorts. We have never been on the skyliner or seen Riviera yet. Part of me thinks stick with Boardwalk. The kids will like the pool, we can take the skyliner to Riviera to eat and then to AOA for DS to play in the massive arcade.
We can eat at Beaches and Cream and somewhere at the Boardwalk.

Then I think… well we are only going to MK. We can walk to MK. Have meals at FW or WL or Steakhouse 71. I just love MK resorts. Kids have not been to either resort.
They are 7 and 5. (I plan on waitlisting or stalking BLT if needed and our dates our flexible so I’m sure I’ll find 3 nights somehow.) Don’t care about room size or room really. More so things to do at the resort since we will have lots of down time and less park time.

BLT has the worst resort atmosphere in my opinion but walkable MK. Boardwalk has better resort feel but bus or drive to MK. Both require a bus/drive to Disney Springs. Between the two with only one day at MK and what sounds like a lot of resort / springs time, I would go Boardwalk. It has lots of restaurants and fun stuff going on.

That being said, have you looked at Saratoga Springs? It has boat and foot bridge access to Disney Springs and has very nice resort atmosphere. Better transportation to DS may be more utilized based upon your described plan. (Old Key West also has boat access but not walkable.)

 

[crisi]

One strange advantage of not being at a MK resort with little kids is the out of sight/out of mind factor. If the MK is a short walk away, it may be difficult to keep them focused on getting enough rest or hanging out in the room - you and they may just feel overstimulated by the very existence of the MK so close.

 

[kevtlas]

That being said, have you looked at Saratoga Springs? It has boat and foot bridge access to Disney Springs and has very nice resort atmosphere. Better transportation to DS may be more utilized based upon your described plan. (Old Key West also has boat access but not walkable.)

I have to agree that SSR or OKW might be a better fit for a mostly resort only stay. Both have multiple pools, and are more spread out for running around in my opinion.

If you’ve already narrowed it down to just BLT or BWV, I personally would choose BWV. We loved the access of the whole boardwalk area, and our girls really liked the pool.

 

[sethschroeder]

Resort stay I would be going to BWV over BLT. Pool is nice at BWV and you have more walking areas to roam around in that area as well. With BLT you could hop on the monorail but honestly I am not a big fan of BLT and its decor.

Unless you are staying with cash you likely won't be able to switch anyways.

Also you do have access to multiple ice cream shops walking as well from there.

 

[lovethesun12]

Based on what you said, if it were my decision, BLT.

 

[peabody58]

I'd recommend BWV. The DVC Activities Center is great, and has a quiet pool right next to it. You can use the Skyliner to visit the food courts at other resorts. You could even take the Syliner back to DHS, and then a nice boat ride back to BWV. Also, miniature golf is within walking distance from BWV. The buses to MK and back have never been an issue for us. Either way you decide, enjoy yourselves.

 

[pinkxray]

I wish I had seen all the replies for BWV before I switched to BLT! I was messing around on the site right after my 7 month mark to see what was available(had BWV standard studio booked since we own there). There happened to be a BLT standard studio available for my nights. Since it is pretty rare to see that in the fall at 7 months out I made the switch. We are low on points after our Aulani trip this month and Id like to get out of borrowing mode so studio it is.

I also saw the news that the Halloween party is back this year, so hopefully the Xmas party comes back. If it does I’ll bring the kids. We probably won’t be back to WDW in Dec. for few years after this trip. We will be at BLT Mon-Fri with one day at MK, one night at the Xmas party, hopefully Hoop de do followed by the Xmas carriage ride and maybe 1 day at Disney Springs. DS7 will celebrate his 8th bday that week so Chef Mickey seems like a good option.

Will save BWV for next trip and hopefully all the renovations are done.