deluxe resorts-best for 5 year old

[ls_mcknny]

We are considering WL, Poly or Beach Club. We have a 5 year old. It is so hard to choose the best experience. Help!

 

[ngtotd_dtrt]

My opinion here shouldn't mean too much since I've not stayed at any of them, but we do love to check out other hotels and their pools, and we also have a 5yo. The Beach Club has a great pool for older kids...probably best in Disney, but it appeared to be 4.5ft deep everywhere. Maybe the Poly or WL will have pools with more shallow areas...both Poly and WL pools are visually great!

Beach Club is great for convenience to Epcot. Our older kids (DD9, DS7) liked Epcot a lot, but our 5yo (DS5) didn't get into the crafts (kid-crafts at each country) too much. Hope this helps.

Have fun!

 

[KeepSwimming]

I know you would prefer staying at a deluxe, but even after staying at almost every hotel on Disney property, my kids will still choose All Star Movies as their favorite. It has the best theming for kids and they relate to all of the memorabilia there with such enthusiasm.

I know the deuxes seem SO hard to turn down, but if you're going for kid-points I say ASMovies is the best choice.

 

[Tinkbellfan]

All three hotels are great. I guess I would also go with BC. Even though being on the monorail would be very convenient to MK, I usually go to Epcot for the afternoon and dinner. The walk back to BC is a snap. SAB, the pool at BC, does have a large area for kids. It is a sandy bottom area that is about two feet deep. The other areas of the pool are deeper, but my DD(5) wears her bubble suit to swim in those areas.

WL is really peaceful and beautiful, but the lack of food options at night for a family my only complaint. Poly would be my second choice due to the monorail and general theme. It also has a great pool for kids and watching Wishes from the beach is fun. Good luck deciding!

 

[3littleHalls]

We prefered the Poly due to the monorail and boat rides to the MK. DD LOVES falling to sleep watching the castle change colors. She loves the water parade and LOVES the volcano slide. Since we also had two younger ones(5,2, and 10mos at the time) we could watch the fireworks everynight from our room. We are staying AKL this time to try something new. The kids wanted to see the animals this time. Where ever you choose it will be magical!

 

[suzquig]

My vote is for the poly! Just returned from there with our 7,5,and 2 year olds. The monorail is SO convenient if you will be spending alot of time in the MK. We spent 3 of our 6 days there. You can catch the ferry from the MK back to the poly if the line is long at the monorail or if you want to try something new. The pool is also a huge hit...the shallow end is a "zero entrance" which means it is like entering from a beach. My 5 year old was able to go down the volcano slide with her swimmies without any problem. Hope any of this helps!

 

[beattyfamily]

I would choose the Poly for the monorail convenience. ( we LOVE MK and it would be worth it to us to be near it as our kids would stay there the whole trip).

I would chose the BC for the conveience to Epcot and MGM and their amazing pool if they were a priority to me.

Then I'd pick the WL if I wanted to be close to MK but didn't want a monorail resort to save money.

I think it depends on what's most important to you. Convenience to MK? Convenience Epcot/MGM and pool of BC? Or save some money and be 'near' MK with the WL?

Good luck deciding!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I'd go with the Poly. With a five year old you can't beat the convenience of the monorail. Also I think Stormalong Bay might be too much for a five year old while the Poly volcano pool would be great. You can watch the fireworks from the beach of the Poly and you're in monorail distance of CHef Mickeys, MK and 1900 Park Fare. Have fun wherever you choose.

 

[speakupjc]

WL - you still have an easy but way fun to get to the MK (the boat) and the money you will save will help you buy even more souvenirs for your family.

 

[MOMOFMNM]

The Poly is great for small kids!

We loved it soooo much...the transportation is great and there is not a "crowded" feel to the resort, is a relaxing atmosphere but it also is one with kids and a white sand beach to play in while watching Wishes. My 5yo loved the Leis they give you and she liked to say "aloha" to the CM's all day long!

I would consider BC but Stormalong bay may not be as small as you'd like for a 5yo (I have never been but the idea of a big windy pool and little kids scare me sometimes) maybe when they are older...

I also prefer the new remodeled look to the Poly rooms, very nice...

 

[swilphil]

Another vote for the Poly. The rooms are big, the pool fun, and it's convenient to MK and the monorail.

 

[erinz]

When my DD was 5, we went to the WL. She LOVED it. Espeically the waterfall in the pool!

 

[hoosll]

A vote for WL. This resort is SO close to MK and the boat ride is terrific for a boy. With a small child you will spend the majority of time at MK so stay close by.

Plus this gorgeous hotel is unlike any other hotel your son will ever visit. We can't bear to stay at another resort now.

Ducks in the swimming pool, hot tubs, convenient snack bar. Great babysitting club.

 

[Kimberly]

I don't think you could go wrong with any of these hotels. You'll kill yourself trying to find a "con" to staying at any single one of them. I would probably stay at the Polynesian though, just because when I was little, I LOVED riding on the monorail. For me, monorail = disney.

The activities at all of these hotels for little kids are great, but I'd probably say the beach club has the best pool. Some people really don't go on vacation for the hotel stay though...

 

[wendypooh]

Our DS is 5, and we've stayed at ASMo. and POFQ, the last 2 years. This year, HIS choice was AKL, so that is where we are staying. He loves animals, and even though it isn't on the monorail, it does have it's own bus service, and I believe it has a zero entry area of the pool. Our DS can swim, but he loves this type of pool, he can play with his toys!!!

Good Luck!!!

 

[pennyplanner]

I think WL is great for little legs. It is not as spread out as other resorts. Not to mention, close to MK and it has a great pool.

Enjoy!

--penny

 

[ls_mcknny]

We prefered the Poly due to the monorail and boat rides to the MK. DD LOVES falling to sleep watching the castle change colors. She loves the water parade and LOVES the volcano slide. Since we also had two younger ones(5,2, and 10mos at the time) we could watch the fireworks everynight from our room. We are staying AKL this time to try something new. The kids wanted to see the animals this time. Where ever you choose it will be magical!

Thanks for your feedback. We are thinking of staying on the concierge level of the Poly. Is it worth it to pay for a lagoon view. It sounds like you did.

Lisa

 

[ls_mcknny]

My vote is for the poly! Just returned from there with our 7,5,and 2 year olds. The monorail is SO convenient if you will be spending alot of time in the MK. We spent 3 of our 6 days there. You can catch the ferry from the MK back to the poly if the line is long at the monorail or if you want to try something new. The pool is also a huge hit...the shallow end is a "zero entrance" which means it is like entering from a beach. My 5 year old was able to go down the volcano slide with her swimmies without any problem. Hope any of this helps!

Is it worth it to pay for the lagoon view at the poly?

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

The POLY...my first and still my favorite!