Calling all Moms w/kids between 8 -12 yrs old

[pooh2001]

The Swan & Dolphin are deluxe resorts - have WDW resort early entry etc. Are close to EPCOT & MGM (boat ride away) They are right next door to the Boardwalk.

The pool has 3 parts. A quiet section, a volley ball area, and a main section with a slide going through rocks and a waterfall to play under.
You can rent pool toys for the day/hour....
A three-acre grotto pool with tropical waterfall and water slide
Swan boat rentals
Two Poolside restaurants
Water Volleyball
Staff supervised pool games
Two lap pools
Spring pool
Four whirlpools
Kiddie pool
Two sand volleyball courts
All pools are heated

Discounts available to teachers, nurses, AAA members and others.
from the S/D website....
Are you a teacher, nurse or member of the United States military? If so, please call (888) 828-8850 to learn about a very special rate* offered ONLY to members of your profession.


They just renovated all the rooms. All new heavenly beds. Rooms are a decent size. The Dolphin has the laundry facilities next to the game room. Some rooms have views of fireworks - EPCOT &/or MGM. Some rooms have balconies.
Guest rooms at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin have been redesigned with a fresh, contemporary look that reflects a luxurious sophistication designed by world-renowned architect, Michael Graves.
The centerpiece of these new rooms is the Heavenly Bed® - featuring a pillow-top mattress, a white goose-down comforter, 250 thread-count sheets, and five overstuffed pillows


Great places to eat in the resort and neighboring resorts.

Check out the website: http://www.swandolphin.com/intro.html

We have stayed at the Dophin and the CR. They liked the monorail of the CR,
but LOVED the S/D pool, the boats to MGM & EPCOT and the bikes on Boardwalk.

We get a teacher discount. See what rates are available to you

 

[Bon Bon]

I'd have to say the Wilderness Lodge. It's so beautiful there and the pool is great. I'm sure she'd love the geiser too. Plus you can take the boat right to the Magic Kingdom. If you get a chance to check out the Tea Party for her at the GF, she would probably love that! I hope all of you have a wonderful time! Especially your little Princess.

 

[polkadotminnie]

My oldest DD likes CSR, AKL and POLY. She thought the slide at POFQ was too little.

 

[cindy_k]

My now 12 year old DS, has stayed at Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, All Star Sports, All Start Music, Boardwalk, and the Yacht Club.

Of these resorts, he says he liked Animal Kingdom Lodge the most. We stayed there when he was 9.

His reason for like AKL are:

Boma - He really likes this restaurant.
Animals - We had a safari view.
Towel Animals - We received one each day we were there. (This is hit and miss with WDW resorts.)
Pool - He liked the pool but he said the slide is Ok. He says that Boardwalk has the best slide.

Have a Fun Trip,
Cindy in NY

 

[candleonwater]

I just asked my daughter (she's 8)... and her answer... "oh mommy, that's too hard!"... and then she proceeded to list all the resorts we've stayed at EXCEPT the all stars.

POFQ... she loved the layout, the water taxi, and the pool
BC... Character breakfast, walking to EPCOT, and the pool
AKL... the animals, and, yes, you guessed it... the pool

The common theme (in her mind) of these pools... the slides, hence the lack of joy about the all stars.

We're staying at CR in March, picked mainly because of the tower, and yep... the pool. Next stay, I'm leaning towards either the WL or Poly.

My vote would definitely go for the BC... the pool there is the best.

 

[westjones]

My twins (age 11) love Beach Club for the pool. Also, we love going to Beaches and Cream and getting the 'Kitchen Sink'!

If you get the Travel Channel try to watch (and maybe even tape--we watched it over and over again) the Great Hotel episode on Beach Club. Here is the next time it is showing.:

On Air (ET):

Jan 26 2005
@ 11:00 AM

Great Hotels
Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts - FL

Nestled on a lake within eyeshot of EPCOT at Walt Disney World, these fantasy-themed resorts turn back the clock to the turn-of-the-century summer homes of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Samantha enjoys the super-sized pool and a Kitchen Sink sundae.
tv :: g
cc :: cc


My second choice if your daughter is an animal lover is the Animal Kingdom Lodge (one of my DDs just loves animals and she went crazy when you found out she was staying there). They also are showing an episode on Animal Kingdom Lodge on Great Hotels on the Travel Channel:

@ 11:30 AM
Great Hotels
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge - Orlando


At Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, guests experience life in the middle of an African wildlife reserve complete with sightings of exotic animals. The hotel features a thatched roof-like lobby, original art and an indoor high-flying suspension

Someone mentioned the Grand Floridian. We have never stayed there, but it is one of my twin DD's dream to do that some day. They will be showing it on Grand Hotels too:

@ 11:00 AM
Great Hotels
Disney's Grand Floridian - Orlando


The perfect spot for an old-fashioned family vacation or a romantic getaway, Disney's Grand Floridian is a Victorian-style summer beach house. This hotel features a Walt Disney suite, complete with Walt's train collection and a Mickey Mouse footstool.
tv :: g
cc :: cc

 

[ladyarcher]

My 11 yr ld wants to stay at the AllStars again. But we're opting for CBR. If you're going to tell her in advance check out some of the slideshows on allears and see what she likes. Otherwise, the teen board was a great suggestion!

 

[CherCrazy]

The best pool is found by skipping the hotels and going to Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon!!! WooHoo!!

My kids would rather spend time there sometimes than even at the parks!! Can you believe it!!

 

[peacefulgirl]

I am into saving a buck for other things, like WATERPARKS !! and having that DISNEY feel at the resort. The ALLSTARS and POP are 100+% Disney, the decor is everywhere, huge and fun! I like POP the best, but if he is into sports, then ALSP is a must.

The pools at all these places were great, heated too! But keep in mind, we are not at the hotel much at all. Sleep, eat and take off. We did stay at the hotel one day last time, the POP, and swam and walked around all the buildings, it was fun. Plus we could see fireworks in the back by the lake and that was a treat too. Cant beat the price to be surrounded by Disney!

 

[#1hockeymom]

We just discussed this during our stay at CBR a few days ago.

My 11 ds loves AKL, and next in line would be the Swan/Dolphin (he prefers the Swan) followed by Pop. Pop even edges out the S/D in a few kid categories. WHY this order? I think it has a lot to do with feeling safe in the resort and it not being so spread out.

 

[Angel1]

We split a stay at YC and Poly last time, and for my kids (then 11, 8 and 3) Stormalong Bay blows them all away.

My kids were heart-broken to learn we can't pool-hop and visit SAB this time.

Hopefully they're enjoy the pool at POFQ, and enjoy having boating access to DTD.

BTW and FYI, values don't have slides...