tinkerbellmagic
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2003
We never rent a car and always rely on Disney transportation, so here are my opinions.
If it was me, I would choose GF hands down over all of the other resorts, for the reasons that TJA and others have stated. Great transportation/close to MK - monorail/boat, great pools, character dining, nice cafe, nice foodcourt, and GF is pretty! I think the girls will love it. Everyone is different, but imo, GF is overall far more attractive than CR. I adore GF! We stayed at GF 1x.
Second choice would be Poly, even though you didn't mention that one. Awesome transportation - one of the best resorts transportation wise, close to MK - monorail/boat, nice theme, character dining at O'Hana, nice food court, and has the main advantages that GF has, PLUS you are in walking distance of the TTC, which will give you easy access to Epcot. That is really great! We have stayed at Poly 4x.
Third choice would be a tie for CR and Wilderness Lodge (even though you didn't mention Wilderness Lodge). While I'm not thrilled with the over all looks of CR, you really can't beat the WALK to MK. It is worth it's weight in gold!!! Imo, Poly and CR have the best transportation options on property. Monorail/boat to MK. Monorail to TTC to catch the Epcot monorail. At CR everything is under one roof! If you want to grab some food from the food court or go to the gift shop or go to Chef Mickey's, you don't have to walk outside in the rain or heat to get there. The food court is good. The grounds at CR are made up of a lot of concrete - imo, not as much lush greenery as some of the other resorts like GF, POLY, and WL. But that walk to/from MK makes me overlook any cons of CR. Gold, I tell you! We have stayed at BLT 1x. BLT is connected to CR by a walkway, so it is very much like staying at CR.
Third choice tie for Wilderness Lodge. I love WL. It is one of my all time favorite resorts. Amazing lobby! Close to MK by bus/boat, wonderful theme, new character dining, pretty good (but somewhat small) food court, lovely pool. Everything is under one roof! If you want to grab some food from the food court or go to the gift shop or go to character dining at Artist Pointe, you don't have to walk outside in the rain or heat to get there. We have stayed at WL 2x.
Now for where I would not stay:
I would not stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge because while it is a wonderful resort in so many ways, it is too far from MK, which is where you want to be most often. I am staying at AKL for the second time in May, but those long bus rides from AKL to MK got old pretty fast, especially during those late nights back from MK, when I stayed there two years ago. I would wait til your youngest is a bit older before staying at AKL if MK is your go to park. We have stayed at AKL 1x.
I would not stay at the Yacht Club. You have already stayed in an Epcot resort and I think you should give an MK resort a try this time for something different. Everyone loves the BC/YC pool, but actually I'm not a fan of the sandy bottom, lol. I know I'm in the minority. My grandson loved the pool. I have also read that it's not as easy to keep an eye on your kids at that pool. Would your kids love the pool? Absolutely! But they will love other resort pools as well. Plus, YC does not have a real food court. BC has some grab and go options though. With little kids, I like actual food courts. Maybe that's just me. We have stayed at BC/YC 2x.
I would not stay off site. Having to use a shuttle service without a rental car, would drive me bonkers, especially if you want to be close to MK. From what I have read, the shuttle services are not as convenient, they do not come as often as Disney buses do. Plus, you might want some Disney magic at your hotel and in your hotel room, plus all the perks that go with staying at a Disney resort - Magical Express, etc. Just my opinion. I haven't stayed off site since 1997, lol.
Have fun choosing! I absolutely love picking our resort!
If it was me, I would choose GF hands down over all of the other resorts, for the reasons that TJA and others have stated. Great transportation/close to MK - monorail/boat, great pools, character dining, nice cafe, nice foodcourt, and GF is pretty! I think the girls will love it. Everyone is different, but imo, GF is overall far more attractive than CR. I adore GF! We stayed at GF 1x.
Second choice would be Poly, even though you didn't mention that one. Awesome transportation - one of the best resorts transportation wise, close to MK - monorail/boat, nice theme, character dining at O'Hana, nice food court, and has the main advantages that GF has, PLUS you are in walking distance of the TTC, which will give you easy access to Epcot. That is really great! We have stayed at Poly 4x.
Third choice would be a tie for CR and Wilderness Lodge (even though you didn't mention Wilderness Lodge). While I'm not thrilled with the over all looks of CR, you really can't beat the WALK to MK. It is worth it's weight in gold!!! Imo, Poly and CR have the best transportation options on property. Monorail/boat to MK. Monorail to TTC to catch the Epcot monorail. At CR everything is under one roof! If you want to grab some food from the food court or go to the gift shop or go to Chef Mickey's, you don't have to walk outside in the rain or heat to get there. The food court is good. The grounds at CR are made up of a lot of concrete - imo, not as much lush greenery as some of the other resorts like GF, POLY, and WL. But that walk to/from MK makes me overlook any cons of CR. Gold, I tell you! We have stayed at BLT 1x. BLT is connected to CR by a walkway, so it is very much like staying at CR.
Third choice tie for Wilderness Lodge. I love WL. It is one of my all time favorite resorts. Amazing lobby! Close to MK by bus/boat, wonderful theme, new character dining, pretty good (but somewhat small) food court, lovely pool. Everything is under one roof! If you want to grab some food from the food court or go to the gift shop or go to character dining at Artist Pointe, you don't have to walk outside in the rain or heat to get there. We have stayed at WL 2x.
Now for where I would not stay:
I would not stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge because while it is a wonderful resort in so many ways, it is too far from MK, which is where you want to be most often. I am staying at AKL for the second time in May, but those long bus rides from AKL to MK got old pretty fast, especially during those late nights back from MK, when I stayed there two years ago. I would wait til your youngest is a bit older before staying at AKL if MK is your go to park. We have stayed at AKL 1x.
I would not stay at the Yacht Club. You have already stayed in an Epcot resort and I think you should give an MK resort a try this time for something different. Everyone loves the BC/YC pool, but actually I'm not a fan of the sandy bottom, lol. I know I'm in the minority. My grandson loved the pool. I have also read that it's not as easy to keep an eye on your kids at that pool. Would your kids love the pool? Absolutely! But they will love other resort pools as well. Plus, YC does not have a real food court. BC has some grab and go options though. With little kids, I like actual food courts. Maybe that's just me. We have stayed at BC/YC 2x.
I would not stay off site. Having to use a shuttle service without a rental car, would drive me bonkers, especially if you want to be close to MK. From what I have read, the shuttle services are not as convenient, they do not come as often as Disney buses do. Plus, you might want some Disney magic at your hotel and in your hotel room, plus all the perks that go with staying at a Disney resort - Magical Express, etc. Just my opinion. I haven't stayed off site since 1997, lol.
Have fun choosing! I absolutely love picking our resort!