Help please! Our friends and I will be traveling with a 12 month and 10 months old next SEptember. We want to stay 5 nights in a two bedroom at either Saratoga, Beach Club or Boardwalk. Could someone give pros/cons to these resorts with kids this age? We love them all, but aren't sure what we should be looking for for ease with our infants.
DVC Resort planning advice for new parents?
- Thread starter hmmerr02
- Start date
I have four children--- my oldest is six and my youngest is just a few weeks old.
The pros and cons in a large part will depend on the disposition of the children you are traveling with, IMHO. For us, SSR has actually been a fabulous resort with young children for a couple of key reasons---- zero depth entry pool and the playgrounds. The last time we went I had a 13 month old who was an early walker and very busy and independent. I've never managed to get him to enjoy a pool that he couldn't walk around in by himself (closely followed an inch away by a parent of course). Zero depth entry pools have been our lifesaver. The playgrounds were also a fabulous break from the busy pace of the parks, we spent hours letting the little ones run around there. They also greatly enjoyed feeding the swans and ducks that live in the ponds around SSR. (Although be warned...there was a mafia Swan who ate up all our bread and then hissed and chased us off once he realized we had no more food. I felt like we had been shaken down!
). The grassy areas by the lakes/ponds were great for letting them run around...we found lots of frogs and other interesting creatures in the grass at night.
The other thing we greatly enjoyed about SSR, but may not apply to you, was the ability to park our car directly outside our building.
While I have stayed at BW, I never did so with children. BWV and BCV are more "busy" I think---- there is less outdoor open space, but you have the boardwalk right there with lots of action and of course you can walk right into Epcot. I bet some families really enoy the ability to have a bunch of restaurants and shops right there and not have to take transportation or walk a long distance. For our family, SSR has been perfect simply because the personality of my kids. My two year old (the one who was 13 months at last trip) really needs downtime and quiet spaces if he's been in a really stimulating environment to avoid meltdowns, so we really need to space the parks with quiet downtime, which SSR provides to a T.
I bet there are lots of others with more experience at BW and BC who could speak to those resorts.
The pros and cons in a large part will depend on the disposition of the children you are traveling with, IMHO. For us, SSR has actually been a fabulous resort with young children for a couple of key reasons---- zero depth entry pool and the playgrounds. The last time we went I had a 13 month old who was an early walker and very busy and independent. I've never managed to get him to enjoy a pool that he couldn't walk around in by himself (closely followed an inch away by a parent of course). Zero depth entry pools have been our lifesaver. The playgrounds were also a fabulous break from the busy pace of the parks, we spent hours letting the little ones run around there. They also greatly enjoyed feeding the swans and ducks that live in the ponds around SSR. (Although be warned...there was a mafia Swan who ate up all our bread and then hissed and chased us off once he realized we had no more food. I felt like we had been shaken down!
). The grassy areas by the lakes/ponds were great for letting them run around...we found lots of frogs and other interesting creatures in the grass at night. The other thing we greatly enjoyed about SSR, but may not apply to you, was the ability to park our car directly outside our building.
While I have stayed at BW, I never did so with children. BWV and BCV are more "busy" I think---- there is less outdoor open space, but you have the boardwalk right there with lots of action and of course you can walk right into Epcot. I bet some families really enoy the ability to have a bunch of restaurants and shops right there and not have to take transportation or walk a long distance. For our family, SSR has been perfect simply because the personality of my kids. My two year old (the one who was 13 months at last trip) really needs downtime and quiet spaces if he's been in a really stimulating environment to avoid meltdowns, so we really need to space the parks with quiet downtime, which SSR provides to a T.
I bet there are lots of others with more experience at BW and BC who could speak to those resorts.
CapeCodFam
DIS Veteran
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We have plenty of experience here... 
For us it was all about the ease of strollers and sleeping babies. Little ones get heavy very fast when you have to carry them while sleeping.
If it were me, I'd stay at either BCV or BWV. That way, you can easily walk to Epcot or MGM with your strollers. It also provides you the option of taking the monorail (from the magic kingdom) to epcot and then walking to your resort. Again, if baby is sleeping, it's always easier (IMO) to avoid the bus. Setting up/breaking down strollers with a sleepy baby is doable. But, we prefered to avoid it.
Also, BCV has character meals at Cape May, the boardwalk has street performers at night and a great bakery. Both have options for ice-cream.
Best wishes for a great trip!
For us it was all about the ease of strollers and sleeping babies. Little ones get heavy very fast when you have to carry them while sleeping.
If it were me, I'd stay at either BCV or BWV. That way, you can easily walk to Epcot or MGM with your strollers. It also provides you the option of taking the monorail (from the magic kingdom) to epcot and then walking to your resort. Again, if baby is sleeping, it's always easier (IMO) to avoid the bus. Setting up/breaking down strollers with a sleepy baby is doable. But, we prefered to avoid it.
Also, BCV has character meals at Cape May, the boardwalk has street performers at night and a great bakery. Both have options for ice-cream.
Best wishes for a great trip!
I think the biggest question is if you are renting a car, and secondly what your plans are for the trip.
If you are renting a car, I dont think the resort will matter as much, because it will be easy for you to get around on your own and not rely on Disney Transportation. Not that Disney Transportation is bad, but when your kids have hit the wall - it is much easier to get in your car for a 10 minute drive back to the hotel, than a potential wait and longer bus trip.
The zero entry pool is great at Saratoga. We just came back from BWV, and the kids area was small, but it also was not crowded. If you do rent a car - as the other post stated, at SSR you can park right in front of your room. At BWV, I just dropped my wife and daughter off out front and went and parked the car.
Bring your strollers (I am sure you will) and I dont see any problems as long as you get the kids down for their naps.
We just hit BWV - and the smartest thing we did was rent the car. I dont think the resort would have mattered as much. It was nice to be able to walk to Epcot (and I suppose the longer walk to MGM is fine too), but renting the car vs. waiting for buses/boats was a great benefit to us
If you are renting a car, I dont think the resort will matter as much, because it will be easy for you to get around on your own and not rely on Disney Transportation. Not that Disney Transportation is bad, but when your kids have hit the wall - it is much easier to get in your car for a 10 minute drive back to the hotel, than a potential wait and longer bus trip.
The zero entry pool is great at Saratoga. We just came back from BWV, and the kids area was small, but it also was not crowded. If you do rent a car - as the other post stated, at SSR you can park right in front of your room. At BWV, I just dropped my wife and daughter off out front and went and parked the car.
Bring your strollers (I am sure you will) and I dont see any problems as long as you get the kids down for their naps.
We just hit BWV - and the smartest thing we did was rent the car. I dont think the resort would have mattered as much. It was nice to be able to walk to Epcot (and I suppose the longer walk to MGM is fine too), but renting the car vs. waiting for buses/boats was a great benefit to us
Mich Mouse
Poly Loving Disney Bride
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I would definitely reccomend the BCV or BWV. The access to the parks is superior, giving you the opportunity to return to your room quickly for nap time for the little ones. (In fact, the child who will be ten months next September is not even born yet, so Congratulations on the pregnancy )
BC has the best childrens pool at WDW, complete with a sandy beach area, where if they are toddling around and go "Boom" they will land on the sand and not the concrete.
Staying where you will do the least amount of bus travel (lugging the stroller on the bus
) is also highly reccomended.
I think you will find an EPCOT resort to be best suited to your needs.
Happy Planning
)BC has the best childrens pool at WDW, complete with a sandy beach area, where if they are toddling around and go "Boom" they will land on the sand and not the concrete.
Staying where you will do the least amount of bus travel (lugging the stroller on the bus
) is also highly reccomended. I think you will find an EPCOT resort to be best suited to your needs.
Happy Planning
mbhoxsie
DIS Veteran
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- Dec 29, 2002
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- 801
We've done BWV with our DK's... Never had any issues...
Being near two parks is a blessing... (As others have said... Not having to break down the strollers and disturb the kids..) There is a playground and toddler pool at BWV as well..
We went pool hopping to SSR when DD was 1... She liked the zero entry pool and the Donald sprinkler... We haven't stayed there yet though since it opened..
Being near two parks is a blessing... (As others have said... Not having to break down the strollers and disturb the kids..) There is a playground and toddler pool at BWV as well..
We went pool hopping to SSR when DD was 1... She liked the zero entry pool and the Donald sprinkler... We haven't stayed there yet though since it opened..
/
Disney Doll
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- 28,883
I would do the Beach Club.
It's within walking distance to 2 major parks, plus all the activity on the Boardwalk and a great pool!
It's within walking distance to 2 major parks, plus all the activity on the Boardwalk and a great pool!
The playground of BW is right next to the pools and is usually wet, so unless the kids have their bathsuits on is not use. I;m not sure if at that ages the kids will actually use the playground, but at least you now know that little piece of fact.
Also, be aware that if you take the BW view, it is very noisy between 7 and 11 pm, and that can be a problem with kiddies at bedtime. Now, the convenience is that you have everything very close.
At SSR, you have to walk a lot to get anywhere, even if you are in the springs that is the closest area to the pool and restaurants, In september it rains a lot, so having the convenience of going to the store or a restaurant to eat, or even room service at the BW can work for you.
Also, be aware that if you take the BW view, it is very noisy between 7 and 11 pm, and that can be a problem with kiddies at bedtime. Now, the convenience is that you have everything very close.
At SSR, you have to walk a lot to get anywhere, even if you are in the springs that is the closest area to the pool and restaurants, In september it rains a lot, so having the convenience of going to the store or a restaurant to eat, or even room service at the BW can work for you.
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