Disney with a 3 year old?

[TaraZ]

We will be heading to Disney next January-- my little girl will be three by the time we make the trip.

Honestly-- this trip is more difficult to plan that any other vacation I've planned-- including those out of the country!

I need help! Where should we stay? We are thinking Magic Kingdom... but where?

HELP!!!!

 

[Doogan]

You can stay at one of the on-site resorts or find off-site accommodations close by. We like to stay off-site when we go because we have found that it's easier on the kids if we don't go the parks on consecutive days. We like to go every other day and spend the off day resting and swimming. Also, we really like going to Sea World and Kennedy Space Center as a change of pace from Disney (heresy on this site, no doubt).

If you are going to stay on site, it really comes down to how much you want to spend. The resorts are really broken down by cost. Even the value resorts are really, cool, but they are also really crowded. We really like the Port Orleans, Riverside resort which is a moderate priced resort. The nice thing about staying at an on site resort is that you still feel like you are at Disney even if you are not in the park.

Hope that helps.

 

[Ella's Mom]

I think it would help everyone if you gave an approximate price you want to pay per night.

 

[TaraZ]

We are looking at the Deluxe Resorts... probably either the Grand Floridian or Polynesian. Initially I thought the DVC villas at the Wilderness Lodge would be good-- but I want a REALLY Disney experience, kwim?

 

[MistyD]

We are taking our DD in December and she will be 2 1/2. We are planning to stay at POFQ. We've stayed there previously and loved it. The only thing I know for sure that we are doing is the Princess Breakfast at Epcot and the Playhouse Disney character breakfast at Hollywood and Vine. DD loved Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and will LOVE that!

 

[Ella's Mom]

I don't think you could go wrong with Grand Floridian or Poly since they are both great hotels and on the monorail. We stayed at Poly last year and loved it. If you can afford it, definitely stay on the monorail with a young child. We spent a lot of time at MK and getting back and forth during the day was so quick and convenient. I stayed at GF many years ago. I like the tropical feel of Poly better but that's just a personal perference. I feel like Poly is more laid back. Whichever one you choose, you'll have a great time.

 

[EllaDisney]

I took my 3 year old in December and she had so much fun! We stayed at All Star Movies.

 

[JodyLynC]

My girls were almost 3 when we went a couple years ago. We stayed at the Poly mainly because we knew that we would be mostly going to MK and that if we needed an afternoon break, it would be close by.

The girls loved the Poly and loved dinner at O'hana. We had a couple meals next door at GF as well (the Park Faire breakfast w/Mary Poppins and dinner w/Cinderella.)

It was a bit pricey, but we wanted the convenience of being very close to MK.

BTW, we also did a day at Epcot and the girls still talk about making their masks at the Kidcot stations.

 

[TaraZ]

The convenience of the Poly or GF is why those are the top choices right now... we are thinking that the MK will be our main focus.

But tell me about thatmask making at Epcot! That sounds like it would be right up my DD's alley!

 

[brymolmom]

Don't forget the other parks though. I know MK has the most things appealing to the young crowd - but my dd4 (was 3 at last 2 visits) and ds5 LOVE the other parks too. They love EPCOT - test track, Soarin (if you think dd will be 40 inches b y then), turtle talk and Nemo, Cooking Nestle Cookies, The land boat ride (not sure why but they LOVE this one), Figment, Voices of Liberty, the crawling tubes at the let-out area of Mission Space. They also love MGM and AK!

 

[JodyLynC]

But tell me about thatmask making at Epcot! That sounds like it would be right up my DD's alley!

Details can be found here: http://www.stitchkingdom.com/kidcot

It is alot of fun!!

 

[K8T]

Hi there

We have just returned, having taken our DD 3 for the first time.

We stayed at the Beach Club. Basically because we like somewhere a bit special for our holidays and it was ideal in many respects.

We had a large room and both were double beds, so there was no worries about her falling out! There was a kettle in the room if we needed it - we didn't. along with a fridge and ironing board - there was a laundry downstairs with dryer. The bath was huge!

Downstairs is a small store/marketplace, where you can buy cereal, milk, basic groceries, pastrys etc., so we could get snacks and fruit, or do a simple cereal and fruit in the morning, before setting off.

Outside there is a great water complex with safe sandy beaches, we could sit and relax watching her in the shallow water - there was also a life guard who was very attentive. There is also plenty of space for her to wander around and run about, including a little beach to play in the sand and some swings.

There is a good diner/ice cream parlour. Character breakfast on site - although not good value or good food in our opinion. The Yacht club immediately adjacent was nicer, but it does mean you see characters in the lobby!

What did it for us, was the proximity to Epcot. Literally a five/ten minute walk in or out. We did the parks - she adored MK and there was plenty of there to keep her going for a couple of days. We could come back to the hotel and then go into Epcot for the eveningas it is open really late. (bring your own stroller, the Disney ones are hard and if she falls asleep you have to leave it at the gate). If she falls asleep when you come out, you can wander around the Broadwalk.

The buses to the parks were never full and are literally right outside the hotel.

If you get a balcony and you have come back earlier, when she is sleeping, you can grab some fast food from downstairs and sit outside with a bottle of wine!

It ticked all our boxes anyway!

Kate

 

[kileybeth]

My 2 and 4 year olds haven't quit talking about the "Hawaii Hotel" (aka the POLY) since we returned in September! They loved the pool , the restaurants (the POG juice), the monorail, the tiki torches, the totem poles. It certainly was all about Disney for them. They each brought home a huge Mickey and Minnie dressed in hula skirts/shirts. I will say their favorite park is Epcot though! They love MK don't get me wrong but they just really like all the cool stuff to do at Epcot. A CM was alwasy coming up to them and saying did you see this? or did you do that? would you like one of these? etc.

And if you can spring for it, go for club level. The lounge in Hawaii Longhouse is great for kids. Mine loved the tables and chairs in just their size and watching fireworks from up there. Oh and the goldfish gummy sharks!

Happy planning.

 

[TJA]

You can't go wrong with either Poly or GF. We haven't stayed at GF yet but have stayed at Poly 2x in the last few years. As you said, the price is not much different, so it's really just a matter of personal preference. I do believe Poly has the superior transporation with the TTC right next door. If you stay at GF, to get to Epcot you will take the monorail and then switch monorails at the TTC. If you stay at Poly, you can walk right to the TTC and monorail directly to Epcot, no stops. Know what I mean?

We eat at the GF when we stay at Poly, so I can give a little comparison in the vibes I get from both resorts. I feel that Poly has a relaxed tropical feel to it, like a hawaiin island. And I feel GF has a prestige feeling to it, very pretty and very classy.

 

[Mkrop]

We did the CR for the convience of the monorail. It was awesome to be able to just jump on that and be back in the hotel in flash, whether Epcot or MK. We didnt have to break down the stroller when DS fell asleep.

DS was 4 but he loved Epcot too, he was tall enough for Soarin, loved Nemo and Turtle Talk, he liked the Land ride too with the Mickey pumpkins, he also like the Spacehip Earth and the Mexico ride.

Our favorite character meal was Garden Grill at Epcot.

He loved the character meal at H&V with the Playhouse charcaters too at MGM

Have fun.