Delux resort planning questions

[Grendalynn]

We are in the beginning stages of planning a March 2008 family vacation. Our boys will be 17 months, 5 years and 8 years. We are trying to decide which hotel would be best? Here are my few cents on them...

The Contemporary: on the monorail and lowest in price of the Delux. Yet construction is happening and not as eloborate as the other Deluxes.
Polynesian: Stayed there last time, and many times as a kid, Always good.
Wilderness Lodge: only boat and bus service, but close to MK, great accomodations and atmosphere.
The Grand Floridian: would be nice, but just not inour price range.
Board Walk Villas: I like the looks of them, look close to Epcot and that leg of the monorail, but DH would liek to be on the Monorail by MK or at WL.

We were thinking boats are great and the monorail would be convenient with DS being in a stoller and on the monorail would be easy for naps and late nights. As someone said elsewhere, we can roll the stroller right on the monorial and boats. However, I need some help and would love to pick everyon's brain so to speak on the ins and outs. Thanks

 

[hvivona]

Have you considered the Yacht Club? Its in a great location; you're in walking distance to Epcot, short boat ride to MGM, quick bus trip to MK & AK. Plus, the kids love the pool! Is super cool. It has sand in the bottom of it and a huge sand pile in the center. each day a cast member comes out and leads the kids in sand castle building! It was a blast! The rooms were wonderful and the staff and mousekeeping were impeccable!

 

[Desnik]

The YC/BC share the "cool" pool, SAB, Storm a Long Bay. Either would be a great choice. If you are looking for larger rooms you could stay at the villas/DVC section of the BC. They are right around the lake from the BWI/BWV. It is a great location with MGM and Epcot within boat/walking distance. It would just be a matter of which decor you prefer. Personally we love the BW. We are DVC'ers and SSR is our home resort but there is just something about the BW area. Lot's of restaurant choices with all the resorts right there and 2 parks. Plus entertainment at night right on the BW. We have been going with our kids since they were 8/9 months old. Being on the monorail has never really mattered to us. We did stay at the GF once and loved it, but didn't think the other types of transportation was so bad compared to the monorail. We also really like the WL, but I really like the proximity of the BW/YC/BC resorts. We love going to Epcot at night just to watch Illuminations. We spend an equal amount of time at all the parks so being within walking distance to 2 parks works best for us. To be honest the POLY really does nothing for us as far as the theme is concerned. We have never liked the looks of the Cont, but with the renovations the rooms look fantastic! Plus you are in walking distance to MK which is pretty cool. I wouldn't be too concerned with construction there. Are you AP holders, maybe you can get a good rate at the GF. That's a great choice because it really is beautiful and nice to try at least once! Oh, keep in mind that even though you can walk to Epcot from YC/BC/BW, you go through the international gateway, where the countries are. So, you are a good distance from the park exit where you could take the monorail to the MK/TTC and resorts on the loop. With a family we love the DVC units for the extra room and washer/dryer! Lots of other reasons too! Good luck and let us know if you have any other questions.

 

[mericletwins]

We are in the beginning stages of planning a March 2008 family vacation. Our boys will be 17 months, 5 years and 8 years. We are trying to decide which hotel would be best? Here are my few cents on them...

The Contemporary: on the monorail and lowest in price of the Delux. Yet construction is happening and not as eloborate as the other Deluxes.
Polynesian: Stayed there last time, and many times as a kid, Always good.
Wilderness Lodge: only boat and bus service, but close to MK, great accomodations and atmosphere.
The Grand Floridian: would be nice, but just not inour price range.
Board Walk Villas: I like the looks of them, look close to Epcot and that leg of the monorail, but DH would liek to be on the Monorail by MK or at WL.

We were thinking boats are great and the monorail would be convenient with DS being in a stoller and on the monorail would be easy for naps and late nights. As someone said elsewhere, we can roll the stroller right on the monorial and boats. However, I need some help and would love to pick everyon's brain so to speak on the ins and outs. Thanks

I would skip all teh above in favor of the BC/YC. Great location, fantastic pool.

 

[camdensmom]

I would try posting this in the resorts forum. You'll get lots and lots of great advice over there. Everyone has always been helpful with my questions.

Unless you are ruling out the poly b/c you already stayed there then that would be my choice. It has a little of everything (beach, water sports, monrail). Also, I like that it is a quick walk to TTC.

 

[barkley]

i'de strongly suggest if you can do a dvc rental to go for it. with 3 boys having even a 1 b/r would be a godsend. you would have 2 separate rooms for nap purposes (or in our case for tv access ), a nice kitchen-so even if you don't want to cook you can stock the fridge with snacks and such (we end up with lots of to-go boxes, and having the fridge and microwave are great), and the full washer/dryer means less packing (i use it as a hamper and then run loads while we're at the parks). then with the exception of the yacht club you'de have pool hopping privledges (unless it's a banned week).

 

[MiniGirl]

I, too, like the idea of renting points for a DVC stay. If you can get a reservation at The Villas at Wilderness Lodge, you have the best of both worlds. You could still have the roominess of the DVC and enjoy the boat to MK. The other DVCs are nice (very nice), but if being able to just push a stoller onto transportation for MK, they wouldn't work for you. They'd work for Epcot though. It really just depends on which parks you'll be going to and from the most.

 

[alloyd1170]

I dont have much experience with Poly (have only eaten there when I was 3). However, we ran into someone the other day who stayed there and she did not like it. She normally stays at CR and couldnt wait to go back there.

We stay at the CR all the time (this trip we are rv'ing it at Ft Wilderness). We have a now 5 yr old and ~20 mos old. I will really miss the monorail this trip, but we do plan to ferry over to CR and catch the monorail to Epcot. Dealing with two little ones and a big stroller on buses is a real pain, especially at the end of the day. In fact, on this trip, we are going to drive to MGM so we dont have to deal with the bus.

Yes there is construction going on at CR now (as far as I know, they are just moving the arcade, a store and some restaurants) which should be done within the year. Im not sure when the construction on the north wing area will start/end, but that shouldnt be much of an issue. We always get a room in the wings (now limited to the south) which is great for us. We can park our car right outside and not have to walk a mile to get something out of it like we had to do at GF. Yes its not as elaborate as the other deluxes, but for us, its Disney. I stayed there my first trip back in the 70's and both my kids have stayed there. We love watching the monorail come inside, eating at Chef Mickeys, and playing in the arcade. The rooms were redone last year and are really nice now too (plus they are big-unlike the rooms at GF). The other downside to GF is that depending on where your room is, you may have quite a hike to get there.

We will be staying at CR again in Sept and cant wait to go back. One stop on the monorail from MK makes for a much easier time returning to take a break (something weve only done once) and the lines for this monorail at the end of the day are shorter than the TTC lines. Also one stop to the TTC....

alison

 

[bellarella]

CR is more expensive than WL if you are looking at price.

Personally I don't like CR at all -- and if you are going by price you will be in a south garden wing, which could be quite a hike (not to mention it looked like those rooms would get boat noise).

We did WL with my 16 mos old son (and DDs 4 & 6). I loved the resort. We did miss the convenience of being right on the monorail, though (stayed at Poly last time). I think in warmer weather we wouldn't have missed it so much. The big thing was not seeing Wishes from the beach. Our DDs were old enough to want to see them, but too young to stay up to see them in the park. At Poly it was great that we could get back from the park and settle down and then watch them from the beach and then scoot the kids right off to bed.

 

[alloyd1170]

Compared to the hiking weve done at GF, the one at CR is nothing from the south wing. You can walk inside and then to the main building there is a roof over your head. We would grab a lite breakfast at the cafe just inside the door (though this and the arcade are moving this year sometime). A jump on the elevator will take you to the 4th floor (shops, Chef Mickeys, Steakhouse and soon to be arcade and cafe), and another elevator gets you up to the monorail. The elevators are a bit small and slow though. If youre taking a bus, you just walk past the front desk out to the front.

As for boat noise, the only sound Ive noticed is the horn which isnt that bad. To be honest, by the time we go to bed we are so beat we dont hear it. I hear more noise coming from the halls when a loud group comes back late at night. Never bothered my kids though. Depending on where you are too, you can watch the electrical water parade right from your room. You can catch Wishes from the 4th floor balcony just past the shops. Its also a great place to watch the monorails go in and out of the CR.

Many people dont like CR because of the bland and lack of Disney decor. Im not there for decor as we dont spend much time at the resort. Give me a place that has large rooms, easy access to most of the parks (monorail), some good shops, eating spots and a pool to cool off in and Im happy.

alison