Confused newbie - Grand? Boardwalk? Animal Kingdom or Wilderness Lodge?

[itchin2go]

I have a mom with bad knees, and I can tell you that a monorail resort would be the best bet for her. I guess it depends on if you WANT to minimize walking or NEED to minimize walking. Of the ones you mentioned, I have only stayed in WL. While walking was not an issue AT ALL for my husband and I (and our 5 year old), the walking to and from bus stop and/or boat dock WOULD have been an issue for my mother.

 

[teentoddlermom]

Hate to be a party pooper...but as a daughter of parents with knee problems and bad arthritis everywhere else, there is no way to get away from a lot of walking no matter where you stay in WDW. You cover miles a day at the theme parks and every resort is so spread out. Would she accept an ECV? Is she planning on staying at the resorts while you go around? It will be hot when you're there too. I've stayed at all the resorts you mention and felt as if I did the most walking at the EPCOT resorts. I am not a fan of the monorail delays, but you probably should pick the Poly, or GF to for the least amount of walking. Request a building close to the monorail stop. When you take the monorail to EPCOT, you have to transfer from the resort monorail by walking down a long ramp, over to the other side, and walking up a long ramp. Maybe you could encourage her to consider the ECV or try to get her moving a bit more during the fall and winter to get physically ready for the exertion of a WDW trip.
Happy planning!

 

[Deb & Bill]

No one has mentioned the Contemporary Resort. The best thing here is the LARGE rooms. Two queen beds and a day bed. On the monorail. On the lake if they get tired of doing the parks.

We stayed at the BW once and didn't like it. The long corridors that are so narrow really turned me off.

I second the ECV rental.

 

[Kims Aunt]

Hate to be a party pooper...but as a daughter of parents with knee problems and bad arthritis everywhere else, there is no way to get away from a lot of walking no matter where you stay in WDW. You cover miles a day at the theme parks and every resort is so spread out. Would she accept an ECV? Is she planning on staying at the resorts while you go around? It will be hot when you're there too. I've stayed at all the resorts you mention and felt as if I did the most walking at the EPCOT resorts. I am not a fan of the monorail delays, but you probably should pick the Poly, or GF to for the least amount of walking. Request a building close to the monorail stop. When you take the monorail to EPCOT, you have to transfer from the resort monorail by walking down a long ramp, over to the other side, and walking up a long ramp. Maybe you could encourage her to consider the ECV or try to get her moving a bit more during the fall and winter to get physically ready for the exertion of a WDW trip.
Happy planning!

No one has mentioned the Contemporary Resort. The best thing here is the LARGE rooms. Two queen beds and a day bed. On the monorail. On the lake if they get tired of doing the parks.

We stayed at the BW once and didn't like it. The long corridors that are so narrow really turned me off.

I second the ECV rental.

Thank you for the ECV rental suggestions!! I never would have thought of it in a million years and, I believe you're both right it is an excellent alternative for someone with mobility problems.

 

[Cmbar]

Well obviously the AKL is out. You can't get anywhere without a bus. Epcot area is beautiful and fun, but there is a lot of walking in my opinion. And those halls are looooong at the BW. You said it has been over 30 years since you have been to Disney, so I assume that you have not seen MGM or AK yet, and possibly saw Epcot. (can remember when Epcot opened). I think the Magic for someone who hasn't been in a long time, is MK. To stay at a resort that you can see the castle or sit on the beach and watch the fireworks over the castle is just magical. If you add the toddler into the mix then a monorail resort is a wonderful perk for quick naps and such and you will spend a lot of time at MK with a small child.

We too loved WL but had to bus to three of the four parks. But we loved the boat ride. It will be getting hot around that time so I think your best bet is to stay at a monorail resort. Any of them are nice. Happy Planning!

 

[momimouse27]

I agree with the other posters who mention walking the halls at BW. We have stayed there and it wasn't one of my favorite resorts. The decor was beautiful and proximity to Epcot was great, however it truly was a very long walk to our room and I had quite a bit of trouble navigating the resort(we got lost trying to get to the pool) It is so great just to hop on that monorail and go! I would pick either GF or Poly. I second the ECV. My mom has knee trouble, and she always rents one while we are there. It makes her trip much more enjoyable.

 

[Cmbar]

One other thing about the Boardwalk area is that they do have lots of restaurants but they are sit down ones. We like to have a quick grab and go place so we can get a quick soda or cup of coffee and maybe a quick hot breakfast. At the BWI/BWV they don't have anything like that and I was very dissappointed with that. At BC/YC they do have something like that though. At POLY and GF they have a quick bite place and at the GF it is opened 24 hours.

Just a thought.

 

[roryc]

I suggest you rent an ECV offsite and have it delivered to your hotel. Reservations should be able to recommend a good company. I can't recall the one we used for my father, but it was great.

I'd still suggest a monorail resort. My personal favorite is the Grand Floridian. If you rent the ECV offsite and have it delivered to your hotel, your mom will have the ability to ride around the resorts or anywhere else. The ECVs are very easy to load/unload on the monorails. Otherwise, they're available for rent first come/first serve at the parks, but they go quickly and you have to actually get to the park to be able to use them.

Renting offsite allows the ease of mobility almost everywhere.

 

[goodferry]

Another vote for the BWI, it's a beautiful resort, very close to everything. We have stayed at the Poly and BWI and I would pick BWI in your situation. We love the Poly, but it's really only close to the MK, although there is the option of the TTC and another monorail to Epcot.
BWI is a hard resort to find info on, it is smaller and doesn't get as much "press" on the Dis. The theming is beautiful, you could spend an entire day looking around the resort and not see everything! The transportation is great, I think a 3 year old would love it. The kids area at the pool is very nice. I am not sure I would feel comfortable with a child that young at Stormalong Bay, it's very large and spreadout, it's easy to loose sight of the kids. Of the MK area resorts, I would choose GF or the Poly.

 

[AlDubya]

We like to have a quick grab and go place so we can get a quick soda or cup of coffee and maybe a quick hot breakfast. At the BWI/BWV they don't have anything like that and I was very dissappointed with that.

Not really true. The Boardwalk Bakery has all of that and is not a sit down meal. You can find the menu here: http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_bb.htm

 

[Dis-Wiz]

I think that the Grand Floridian is probably the most convenient resort in Disney, and probably the most comfortable.

Why? Because:

~It's a direct 1 minute trip to the MK on the monorail.

~It's a direct 3-4 minutes back from MK on the boat.

~Has a monorail to Epcot (5-7 minute ride to TTC, then switch to Epcot monorail).

~It has probably the best lobby on property (great for relaxing after a long day in the parks), with a pianist and a 'Big Band'.

~The rooms are really big, and the whole themeing just so relaxing!

~It has a spa!

~Everything is close. Whatever building you get, it will be pretty close to the main building and one of the two pools.

~Has the highest rated restaurant in Central Florida, Victoria & Albert's. It also has Citrico's (business casual, very good food!), The GF cafe (great for breakfast and lunch), and 1900 Park Fare (a character restaurant). It also has Gasparilla Grill which is a counter service and is open 24/7!

 

[goodferry]

In addition, the Belle Vue room inside the BWI serves a continental breakfast. It is not sit down, I do not believe.

 

[SueM in MN]

I suggest you rent an ECV offsite and have it delivered to your hotel. Reservations should be able to recommend a good company. I can't recall the one we used for my father, but it was great.

I'd still suggest a monorail resort. My personal favorite is the Grand Floridian. If you rent the ECV offsite and have it delivered to your hotel, your mom will have the ability to ride around the resorts or anywhere else. The ECVs are very easy to load/unload on the monorails. Otherwise, they're available for rent first come/first serve at the parks, but they go quickly and you have to actually get to the park to be able to use them.

Renting offsite allows the ease of mobility almost everywhere.

You will find a list of companies recommended by DIS posters if you check out the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of the thread list on the disABILITIES Board.

All of them will deliver free of charge to your resort.