First Time Toddler Visit - best place to stay?

[bschrader]

We'd like to bring our 3 year old to WDW in September 2010. My husband and I are newbies to WDW and feeling a little overwhelmed by all the choices.

Our duaghter will definitely will need time and space each afternoon to decompress (as will her parents)! I've read other posts talking about the benefits of the resorts on the monorails, but wondered if the pools and play areas get totally crazy in the afternoons? Should we head for Wilderness Lodge instead?

Any thoughts pro or con would be greatly appreciated.

 

[kenny]

without knowing your budget, if you can afford a resort on the Monorail I say go for it. The convenience of the monorail can not be beat.

With a 3 year old you will spend more time at MK than any other park. The monorail access makes it so easy. If you child is sleeping you don't have to take her out of the stroller like you do on the boat to WL.

Plus the monorail gives you access to Epcot.

Personally don't think one resort is "crazier" than another.

With a 3 year old I would opt for the Poly or Contemporary personally but that is just my opionon.

Good luck.

Just remember to stop, take a deep breath and take it slow. While Disney is crazy and overwelming at times, it is a vacation. Know that you will not get to see and do everything in one trip. Pick the things that are most important and make sure you do them, but with a a 3 year old you will surely run into many diversions and breaks from your plan. Then again sometimes that is when the most magical moments take place.

Good luck.

 

[happymommy]

The first time we took my son, he was 3 (we left my DD with my folks, as she was 1 1/2, had just weaned herself, darn, and really took LONG naps, 4 hours sometimes, as well as slept 12 hours at least at night, and they live 3 hours from WDW).

We stayed at the GF (where my DH and I had stayed on our honeymoon). We got a great deal through SOG.

We brought a stroller that reclined nicely, so he could nap in it. My DS is ADHD, so gets over stimulated. He actually did so well at WDW I couldn't believe it. We never went back to the room during the day! We stayed 3 nights (were going to stay 4, but I had issues leaving our DD for so long).

Next year, we drove down with our kids, and stayed 11 nights. We got a BWV one bedroom villa. OMG, it was so nice. I LOVED the kitchen and the washer/dryer! Plus, my kids instantly LOVED Epcot so much, it is still their favorite park!

I guess my point is, that although I have loved the GF, I haven't been back there to stay. It can be expensive, and MK isn't our favorite park. We didn't need to go back to a hotel room during the day at all; there are so many places you can go and chill out. One afternoon (on our first trip as a whole family) we chilled out at the Bawa Bar at DAK - the kids were sound asleep in their double stroller (our Peg Perego tandem twin) and DH and I had a beer (or a few). There are so many quiet places, that really you can find one at any park or DD.

Now, I do LOVE the GF. It's just quite expensive. We really love the Boardwalk area with young ones. If you bring a stroller (which I've done until my DD was 9), you can walk to Epcot and DHS. It's so convenient.

I like a resort that you can walk somewhere. That is why I love the Boardwalk area - you can walk to either the Swan/Dolphin (deluxe at half the cost), the Boardwalk, the Yacht and Beach Club, plus Epcot and DHS. Bring a stroller and you are set. Plus, when you are heading back to your room (and most nights we are too tired for Illuminations, but love to see it one or two times a trip), the Boardwalk is lit up with cute entertainment. You won't find that anywhere else.

The monorail is great for MK, but anything else it's a pain. I won't stay at a monorail resort again, as MK is fun, but we only go there for a couple of hours at a time in the morning. (my son has asthma plus ADHD, so we get a pass for him to wait in an alternate area, he gets worn out).

 

[two-foxes]

I would rent DVC points from someone here on the boards. We own DVC and I am soooo glad we do with the kids now. The studios have a kitchenette and one / two bedrooms have a full kitchen and a washer and dryer. There is lots of space and most of the comforts of home which is great when you have little ones! You are bound to find some points to rent at a location you'd like. I would try for WLV, just to be super close to MK. Good luck!

 

[SalandJeff]

You obviously will need to consider your budget, but I would also recommend trying to stay at one of DVC resorts in a 1 bedroom if possible. If you are staying at a Moderate, I would recommend POR. It is a nice resort, nice food court, there is a large main pool, and a number of quiet pools.

I wanted to mention that you should not find the pools overly crowded (or anything else for that matter!) if you go in September. It is typically a slower month at WDW.

 

[Aminniedala]

You obviously will need to consider your budget, but I would also recommend trying to stay at one of DVC resorts in a 1 bedroom if possible.

I wanted to mention that you should not find the pools overly crowded (or anything else for that matter!) if you go in September. It is typically a slower month at WDW.

I'll second SalandJeff's answer. We took our 2 1/2 daughter to WDW this September and rented points for the Wilderness Lodge Villas. We had a a 1 bedroom and the extra space was great. It gave Dad a chance to watch TV or read while daughter and I took naps. Also, it gave us a chance to have breakfast before heading out to the parks.

We loved the Wilderness Lodge. There's a boat to the MK that is very convenient. Usually they have a large boat that you can push a stroller onto; our daughter fell asleep in the stroller on the boat a couple times! I've also stayed at the Polynesian and would say that wait and transit times are comparable between the boat and the monorail.

September is a great time to visit. It's one of the least crowded times at Disney.

Please feel free to PM me with any questions about taking a toddler to Disney or the Wilderness Lodge.