Disney alone with a 2 year old?

[ilovefh]

I'm trying to take a trip back to FL. We just moved to NH from there in December. The only time we can get there is the 3rd week of April. I know it will be busy because it's the week after Easter but I'm not worried about that.

ETA: Ooops, I hit send too fast!



Anyway, we'd be going Saturday to Saturday. My friends are teachers and it is FCAT week so we would see them Saturday and Sunday and then evenings during the week. DH can't come because two other guys are taking vacation at that time and there isn't another time to go until next year because of his schedule, my teaching schedule and helping my sister at a camp this summer.

My friends have gladly offered for us to stay with them, but I don't want to infringe on their house during the week.

So here is where I am torn. Should we....

1. Stay at a DVC since we have points and if so which one? I think Animal Kingdom so DS can watch the animals and it is closest to one friend. If not Animal Kingdom which one would you stay at? We've stayed at all of them except Grand Floridian.

2. Stay at the All Star and save the points for our trip next February with the whole family. This is also decently close to my friends. This makes me a bit nervous because of the walking back to the room alone at night.

3. Stay at a hotel off property close to my friends, probably the Omni Champions Gate. Walking in from the parking lot alone at night makes me a bit nervous.

During the days I assume DS and I will be doing Disney, Universal and maybe Sea World. We have annual passes for Disney and Universal and Sea World has the $50 weekday pass because I didn't renew my teacher free pass. We may even take one of the kids to spend the day with us.

So what would you do?

 

[Chrispygal]

I'm trying to take a trip back to FL. We just moved to NH from there in December. The only time we can get there is the 3rd week of April. I know it will be busy because it's the week after Easter but I'm not worried about that.

ETA: Ooops, I hit send too fast!



Anyway, we'd be going Saturday to Saturday. My friends are teachers and it is FCAT week so we would see them Saturday and Sunday and then evenings during the week. DH can't come because two other guys are taking vacation at that time and there isn't another time to go until next year because of his schedule, my teaching schedule and helping my sister at a camp this summer.

My friends have gladly offered for us to stay with them, but I don't want to infringe on their house during the week.

So here is where I am torn. Should we....

1. Stay at a DVC since we have points and if so which one? I think Animal Kingdom so DS can watch the animals and it is closest to one friend. If not Animal Kingdom which one would you stay at? We've stayed at all of them except Grand Floridian.

2. Stay at the All Star and save the points for our trip next February with the whole family. This is also decently close to my friends. This makes me a bit nervous because of the walking back to the room alone at night.

3. Stay at a hotel off property close to my friends, probably the Omni Champions Gate. Walking in from the parking lot alone at night makes me a bit nervous.

During the days I assume DS and I will be doing Disney, Universal and maybe Sea World. We have annual passes for Disney and Universal and Sea World has the $50 weekday pass because I didn't renew my teacher free pass. We may even take one of the kids to spend the day with us.

So what would you do?

My first reaction was to suggest All Star to save points for your family trip, but I get the concern about walking to the room alone at night. I'd opt for Animal Kingdom Lodge because of this. At least their hallways are inside. Not that things don't happen inside, but there are more people around.

 

[mm1971]

I'm trying to take a trip back to FL. We just moved to NH from there in December. The only time we can get there is the 3rd week of April. I know it will be busy because it's the week after Easter but I'm not worried about that.

ETA: Ooops, I hit send too fast!



Anyway, we'd be going Saturday to Saturday. My friends are teachers and it is FCAT week so we would see them Saturday and Sunday and then evenings during the week. DH can't come because two other guys are taking vacation at that time and there isn't another time to go until next year because of his schedule, my teaching schedule and helping my sister at a camp this summer.

My friends have gladly offered for us to stay with them, but I don't want to infringe on their house during the week.

So here is where I am torn. Should we....

1. Stay at a DVC since we have points and if so which one? I think Animal Kingdom so DS can watch the animals and it is closest to one friend. If not Animal Kingdom which one would you stay at? We've stayed at all of them except Grand Floridian.

2. Stay at the All Star and save the points for our trip next February with the whole family. This is also decently close to my friends. This makes me a bit nervous because of the walking back to the room alone at night.

3. Stay at a hotel off property close to my friends, probably the Omni Champions Gate. Walking in from the parking lot alone at night makes me a bit nervous.

During the days I assume DS and I will be doing Disney, Universal and maybe Sea World. We have annual passes for Disney and Universal and Sea World has the $50 weekday pass because I didn't renew my teacher free pass. We may even take one of the kids to spend the day with us.

So what would you do?

It sounds like from your description you would feel safer with option 1. The only reservation is that if you plan to spend a lot of time at Universal and Sea World, it may be easier and less expensive to stay off property. Just a thought.

If your friends are like mine, there would be no infringement at all, just a great week of time together. Only you can judge that. If that is truly not an option, then I would either go with #1 or stay off property at a central location to all 3 parks.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I would consider staying with your friends. We have house guest often, and are house guest often as well. Be the perfect guest and you will be welcomed. Bring or insist on helping purchase some groceries, have you own breakfast and snack foods and clean up after yourself. The money you will save on a room, you can offer to take one or more of their children with you some and treat them all to a nice dinner.

If you choose not to stay with them, I would choose to stay on site but you may have trouble getting a room at this late a date. It might be take what you can get. I am not a fan of the ASM but its a fine choice if you need a cheap room and being on site during that busy busy week will be important. If you choose to go DVC, I would choose bay lake towers if it has openings as its a stroller push from MK.

I would not choose off site alone with a toddler.

 

[DCbride]

We have Pop booked for 1 night the week before Easter and it is $204. We are then moving to the Omni Champions Gate for 5 nights at $160 a night. The Omni is much nicer for the money. And it sounds like you need a car anyway.

I get walking in the parking lot/back to room. I am very aware of my surroundings and have never felt unsafe at a Disney resort. And the Omni has a restricted parking lot.

I think it would be less complicated if you do your own thing and make plans to spend certain days with your friends. Testing week is really stressful and the thought of "entertaining" is not appealing to me after work.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I've done one solo trip with ds and stayed at Kidani. We had a great time, loved the pool area and watching movies there in the evening, seeing the animals, etc..

That said, I think I would save the points for a fantastic family trip and stay in a value. I wouldn't be concerned about returning to the room, it's not like staying in a Motel 8 off the highway.

 

[Ariel on Land]

DD(3) and I are going this fall. Since it's just the 2 of us, we are staying at pop and saving the extra $. I have always felt safe on property, and have ventured about alone late at night many times.

 

[ilovefh]

Thanks for your input everyone!

I think we've decided on Animal Kingdom. It's FCAT week for our friends and that's already stressful enough even without house guests.

But now I can't decide between Jambo and Kidani.

Do I want to be near the awesome pool at Kidani that is perfect for DS or The Mara for food at Jambo?

I really have no idea what this trip will be like. DS has been to Disney a million times but never on vacation really. Just a few hours or a day or two. Plus as of right now it will just be me and DS, no DH. We'll be alone during most days I think. I assume we'll hit the parks and I've already reserved our FP+ for the week. I also think we'd probably do breakfast in the room and have snacks.

So what would you do? Kidani for the great pool, or Jambo for the access to food?

 

[AmyBWV99]

Stay at kidani for the pool the Mara is a 2 minute walk away.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Ditto Kidani.

 

[ilovefh]

Thanks! I was leaning toward Kidani. Normally Jambo is my go to, but this summer we stayed two nights at Kidani and brought some friends. The boys were running down the hall and collided and our friend's little guy ended up with a trip to the ER and instructions not to get the glue on his cut wet so we didn't get to swim.

Since it is just the two of us I will be able to add them to the reservation and we can have an afternoon at the cool pool! The boys will be excited!