Choosing a deluxe

[shruley]

I am trying to narrow down some hotel choices for our trip next year. We are a family of 5 and although Caribbean Beach Resort may be a possibility (maybe I'll be feeling frugal when we finally book) I'm thinking we'd more than likely look at a deluxe. I think I have a top 3- Wilderness Lodge (would have to be a Villa- we're looking at Sept 2017 as travel date). Poly. Beach/Yacht Club. (Contemporary would also be a possibility?) I guess I kind of surprised myself as I don't have any "I REALLY want to stay at XXX" this time???

As far as location, I will have a 5 year old, 11 and 14 year old. We won't be going to the magic kingdom parties at night, and all I care about seeing there is Wishes, so although we might spend 3 mornings there, I don't forsee us spending more than one evening there (we would have park hoppers). We would want to do all the nighttime shows at the Studios and Illuminations. So I could see us being more in the Epcot/DHS area in the evenings. So picking a location by park seems to be a wash. It will be hot when we're there, so the pool at the Yacht/Beach club would be a big plus. We stayed at the Poly once and I LOVED the resort, but DH pointed out it might be fun to stay somewhere we haven't ever stayed before. We've eaten at the Wilderness before, and while over there I remember thinking it would be a resort we'd LOVE to stay at as well. It has great themeing. But I really liked the Boardwalk area at night as well.

We've been in Sept before. It's either HOT or WET. We know we will be going back to the room in the middle of the day, every day, either to cool off or change into dry clothes. Is there one that has consistently good transportation to ALL the parks? It was years ago that we were at the Poly and while the monorails were nice, waiting for a bus to go to like AK was painful. Can anyone give info to sway me either way? I'm thinking I may just given everyone in the family a vote and see where we end up!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

So picking a location by park seems to be a wash.

I don't know that it is. If you want to do the nighttime stuff at Epcot/HS, the Epcot resorts really aren't at all a wash. While it'd be a little more work to get to MK, there's something magical about walking OUT of a park after a nighttime spectacular and NOT standing in a transport queue.

Have you considered the Boardwalk, as well? Boardwalk rooms and studios sleep 5, and there's this clown pool...

 

[addiln]

It seems like your nights will be mostly around the EPOCT/HS area so I would go with either Beach Club or Boardwalk. Both of these resorts are within walking distance from those parks so you don't have to worry about the buses or you can take a boat if you want to do that. The pool at BC is great so that is an added plus. I always decide on my resort by where I am spending my evening at and what is the best way to get back to that resort. In the morning all the buses have seemed to be fine with wait times so that is never an issue for us.

 

[SillySallySews]

My vote would be for BC/YC if you plan to spend most of your time at Epcot in the evenings. They are a short stroll from the IG and it's so nice to be able to just walk back to your room at night instead of cramming on Disney transportation. The boats to Epcot/DHS are a nice option too. When we stayed at BC the MK busses were crowded in the mornings and late at night, but busses to AK were not crowded at all.

 

[hammie59]

BC/YC

 

[DVCAlisha]

I would recommend Beach Club, it also has a lovely sand-bottom pool which kids love!

 

[loves to dive]

Another vote for BC/YC but in a pinch I'd do BW too. Poly is nice but relying on that monorail annoys me. BC/YC you can walk to Epcot and HS or take the boat. You can bus to MK or if you are already in Epcot, hop on the monorail. You are going to have to bus to AK no matter where you stay, even AKL unless you have a car.

 

[Babsy]

I would do a split stay with either the Poly or WL then move to the BC. No resort is good transportation to all theme parks, IMO. The Poly has the best transportation with direct monorail access to both the MK and Epcot. The WL has the worst transportation, IMO, with only boat or bus to the MK and buses everywhere else. The BC has good transportation to Epcot and DHS which would work well for you. The main problem that I have with the BC and WL is that a lot of rooms sleep 4. At the WL you will need a deluxe room to sleep 5 and at the BC you will need to request a daybed (NOT guaranteed). If you end up in a room without a daybed they will provide a rollaway, but that will make a small room even more cramped. The good news is that with 5 in the room you would be given priority for a room with a daybed.

The Poly is nice because the rooms are huge and all come with a daybed so will easily sleep 5. The problem with staying ta the Poly is that it is not the most convenient when spending most of your time in the Epcot area.

Personally, I find the Epcot resorts to be very hot during warm weather due to lack of foliage. I prefer the shaded grounds at the Poly. However, Storm Along Bay would be nice in the September heat.

By doing a split stay you will take advantage of the benefits of both areas.

 

[shruley]

I don't know that it is. If you want to do the nighttime stuff at Epcot/HS, the Epcot resorts really aren't at all a wash. While it'd be a little more work to get to MK, there's something magical about walking OUT of a park after a nighttime spectacular and NOT standing in a transport queue.

Have you considered the Boardwalk, as well? Boardwalk rooms and studios sleep 5, and there's this clown pool...

I looked at the Boardwalk, I just didn't like it as well as the Yacht/beach club, and it seemed to cost a little more.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I looked at the Boardwalk, I just didn't like it as well as the Yacht/beach club, and it seemed to cost a little more.

BW can sometimes be easier to get because it is not a convention resort.

 

[shruley]

I would do a split stay with either the Poly or WL then move to the BC. No resort is good transportation to all theme parks, IMO. The Poly has the best transportation with direct monorail access to both the MK and Epcot. The WL has the worst transportation, IMO, with only boat or bus to the MK and buses everywhere else. The BC has good transportation to Epcot and DHS which would work well for you. The main problem that I have with the BC and WL is that a lot of rooms sleep 4. At the WL you will need a deluxe room to sleep 5 and at the BC you will need to request a daybed (NOT guaranteed). If you end up in a room without a daybed they will provide a rollaway, but that will make a small room even more cramped. The good news is that with 5 in the room you would be given priority for a room with a daybed.

The Poly is nice because the rooms are huge and all come with a daybed so will easily sleep 5. The problem with staying ta the Poly is that it is not the most convenient when spending most of your time in the Epcot area.

Personally, I find the Epcot resorts to be very hot during warm weather due to lack of foliage. I prefer the shaded grounds at the Poly. However, Storm Along Bay would be nice in the September heat.

By doing a split stay you will take advantage of the benefits of both areas.

I thought about a split stay, but it seemed like a hassle, and isn't it then considered 2 different reservations? At the WL, to make that work we would have to get a Villa. I looked right now for our comparable 2016 dates for when we hoped to go next year, and there are Villas open. Course maybe that's because of the construction? I hadn't given a ton of thought to room size I guess (or shade!) so that does give me some more things to think about.

 

[Shanti]

I am trying to narrow down some hotel choices for our trip next year. We are a family of 5 and although Caribbean Beach Resort may be a possibility (maybe I'll be feeling frugal when we finally book) I'm thinking we'd more than likely look at a deluxe. I think I have a top 3- Wilderness Lodge (would have to be a Villa- we're looking at Sept 2017 as travel date). Poly. Beach/Yacht Club. (Contemporary would also be a possibility?) I guess I kind of surprised myself as I don't have any "I REALLY want to stay at XXX" this time???

As far as location, I will have a 5 year old, 11 and 14 year old. We won't be going to the magic kingdom parties at night, and all I care about seeing there is Wishes, so although we might spend 3 mornings there, I don't forsee us spending more than one evening there (we would have park hoppers). We would want to do all the nighttime shows at the Studios and Illuminations. So I could see us being more in the Epcot/DHS area in the evenings. So picking a location by park seems to be a wash. It will be hot when we're there, so the pool at the Yacht/Beach club would be a big plus. We stayed at the Poly once and I LOVED the resort, but DH pointed out it might be fun to stay somewhere we haven't ever stayed before. We've eaten at the Wilderness before, and while over there I remember thinking it would be a resort we'd LOVE to stay at as well. It has great themeing. But I really liked the Boardwalk area at night as well.

We've been in Sept before. It's either HOT or WET. We know we will be going back to the room in the middle of the day, every day, either to cool off or change into dry clothes. Is there one that has consistently good transportation to ALL the parks? It was years ago that we were at the Poly and while the monorails were nice, waiting for a bus to go to like AK was painful. Can anyone give info to sway me either way? I'm thinking I may just given everyone in the family a vote and see where we end up!

Yacht or Beach Club would be best for this trip. Stormalong Bay is fantastic (they scan Magic Bands for entrance, so it's never overcrowded the way the Poly volcano pool gets), they have a nice set of restaurants, and they're in walking distance of both Epcot and HS. You can also walk to Fantasia mini-golf from there.

We stayed at the Yacht Club last July, and never found it to be "hotter" than the Poly, where we also stayed during the same trip. Poly is also not guaranteed to have convenient transportation, as the monorail is often down for maintenance and malfunctions these days.

I don't recommend a split stay. You've already stayed at the Poly once- try something new this time, without the hassle of changing resorts. Just relax and enjoy your wonderful resort near Epcot.

 

[shruley]

BW can sometimes be easier to get because it is not a convention resort.

I certainly would consider it I think, if the YC/BC weren't available. The pool there would be hard to pass up otherwise.

 

[shruley]

Yacht or Beach Club would be best for this trip. Stormalong Bay is fantastic (they scan Magic Bands for entrance, so it's never overcrowded the way the Poly volcano pool gets), they have a nice set of restaurants, and they're in walking distance of both Epcot and HS. You can also walk to Fantasia mini-golf from there.

Anyone have any idea how long the walk is from the Studios? I know how long it is from the IG.

 

[Shanti]

Anyone have any idea how long the walk is from the Studios? I know how long it is from the IG.

It takes about 15 minutes. Not as quick as Epcot, but better than an endless wait for transportation if there is a big crowd after Fantasmic.

 

[TJA]

Anyone have any idea how long the walk is from the Studios? I know how long it is from the IG.

It's about 15-20 minutes at a leisurely pace. There is also a boat that can take you back to BC that we'll usually take unless the line is too long...in that case then we just walk back. It's certainly nice to have that option so you're never stuck waiting in transportation lines.

I agree with the others that BC is a great choice for you. Nothing can beat being at the parks later at night and being able to just walk back to your resort -- it's great!!