first time visit- resort advice

[michimendo]

Hi, I'm started our first trip for Jan 2022... we have two girls, ages 5 and 6. What would be a great first time resort for us? I'm guessing we won't be using the pool a ton, so maybe a resort that has other amenities/activities. Great transportation and decent food would be a plus too. Based on my research so far, I'm thinking Beach Club, am I on the right track? Thank you!

 

[Marthasor]

BC is lovely, however, I tend to recommend a MK/monorail resort for a first visit if it's in the budget. IMHO, there is nothing like seeing MK and the castle from your resort. I would consider the Grand Floridian - it has a lot of good restaurants and activities plus the monorail and walking path to MK.

 

[The Foolish Mortal]

I would go with Beach Club

 

[Missingmypooh]

My 5 year old is obsessed with the suites at art of animation. They are very disney.

he enjoyed beach club (as do I) but it’s got more of a generic feel but, then again,we love love love walking right out the door to epcot!

 

[SarahC97]

If you're not going to use the pool, then BC or YC may not be the best choice. The Boardwalk area is nice, but it's not really that much of a wow factor for kids that young. It's more of a resort for an older crowd. My kids have loved the monorail resorts by Magic Kingdom the most, especially the Polynesian. It has a great atmosphere and a lot of resort activities that are really fun. I'm not sure when the construction there will be finished, though I believe it will be before Jan 22. If so, I'd go with the Poly or one of the other MK resorts. Wilderness Lodge is also a favorite, but obviously not connected on the monorail.

 

[CynBeth]

I agree about an MK resort. If they are all open by then you really can’t go wrong with any of them.

 

[Eastern]

If pool is not a priority I wouldn't do BC or YC unless you want proximity to Epcot and DHS. I agree with a monorail resort. Poly, GF, or CR have proximity to MK and multiple food choices via monorail. I also like the quick service at Poly and CR. Counter service at the Epcot resorts is not great.

Poly for tropical theming, CR for monorail wow factor and everything in one building, GF if there is a good deal going on.

 

[Cheburashka]

Hi, I'm started our first trip for Jan 2022... we have two girls, ages 5 and 6. What would be a great first time resort for us? I'm guessing we won't be using the pool a ton, so maybe a resort that has other amenities/activities. Great transportation and decent food would be a plus too. Based on my research so far, I'm thinking Beach Club, am I on the right track? Thank you!

Beach Club is all about the pool, so imo it's not the best choice for a family that won't use the pool much. I recommend Contemporary or Grand Floridian, because they will both be walkable to and from Magic Kingdom, and because the monorail should be able to take you to and from both MK & Epcot by 2022.

 

[_19disnA]

"Which resort?" tends to be based on your budget as well as how you enjoy a specific resort. Very subjective and you will find lots of different views. Some hotels are WAY more expensive then others. No resort is closest to every Disney park, so should think about which park(s) you plan to visit and look at the location of the various Disney hotels.

 

[cjsmom5]

We have stayed at most properties. Grand Floridian is nice and it is on the monorail - big perk. But, it isn't as magical. Pools are nice but again nothing spectacular. If fireworks view are in budget - providing they are happening - this can be magical for kids. Polynesian will be renovated by then. Pool is nice and little bit more themed. Enjoy the restaurants here - if they are open. The character bfast is fun. The food court type restaurant is nice. We enjoyed the Wilderness Lodge. Still deluxe with lots of theme. The geyser is fun to watch and there is a boat to magic kingdom. Rooms are smaller than the other deluxe in MK area. Nice playground here and a marina if you want to rent from there. Beach Club's location is nice for adults. The pool is fantastic. The slide is fun too. Sand bottom pool and beach for kids. Walk to Epcot and boat ride to Hollywood Studios. Very beachie feeling. Some rooms have smaller balconies than others. The water view is fun too. Love sitting on the balcony. Food offerings are nice with the new marketplace area there ... and the restaurants ... if open are fun. Character bfast, typically, is right there at the hotel. Boardwalk was not my favorite especially with kids. But if activities are back running it is fun to walk over there from the Beach Club to the boardwalk area in the evening. Our first magical experience with kids was at the Port Orleans french quarter - back when. The pool theming was magical. The red brick streets fun. Rooms were good for family of 4. But only bus transportation from this resort to the parks. Not sure when it will be open again.

 

[mickeymom22]

Your daughters might like a Royal room at Port Orleans Riverside. We stayed in one when my daughters were 15 and 9. They weren't really into the princesses, but they loved the room and all the details. I loved it too!

Have a great trip!

 

[Kelly014]

Polynesian is a great choice, our first stay there was with a 2 and 7 year old I think. You will definitely want to carve out a few hours at the pool at the very least, your kids are the perfect age for their splash play area and the volcano pool is great too. I think all deluxes (and even moderates) have great pools. Excellent food and fun activities, though your first trip will probably be a ton of park time so I wouldn’t worry too much about extra amenities. I love Animal Kingdom Lodge too. It’s farther out, but I think springing for a safari view room and dealing with no monorail is definitely worth it at least once with kids. It’s a gorgeous hotel and seeing the animals is really neat. They also have great food!

Edit: just realized you said January, so the pools might not be a factor because of temps. Ignore my pool advice!

 

[michimendo]

Your daughters might like a Royal room at Port Orleans Riverside. We stayed in one when my daughters were 15 and 9. They weren't really into the princesses, but they loved the room and all the details. I loved it too!

Have a great trip!

Yes! I've only heard good things... but seems like there is no set reopening date, such a bummer!

 

[Pinkshoos]

If by chance they open up Animal Kingdom Lodge, I’d say there. The animal watching is great. Also, Copper Creek or WL (same building). So much to do there.

 

[nkereina]

I agree that one of the main draws of Beach Club is the pool. You won't really appreciate the light beachy theme of the place in January when it tends to be cooler and perhaps not pool weather. That said, the location of Beach Club is another main draw of the resort and that is hard to beat.

Polynesian and Wilderness Lodge would be ones I'd suggest looking into. Both resorts have gorgeous ambiance, though very different, and both resorts are very different than what the region we live in is like so I think we really appreciate the uniqueness. Animal Kingdom Lodge is another one in this category, though I'd be hesitant to stay there if Jambo House isn't open yet. I also hate the location of AKL.

Alternatively, the Skyliner is also unique and Riviera or CBR would be a good location to experience that. Someone up-thread said POR, but that's currently closed and I'm not sure if they've mentioned re-opening or are taking bookings yet.

 

[mickeymom22]

Yes! I've only heard good things... but seems like there is no set reopening date, such a bummer!

Yes, bummer!

 

[chalee94]

For a trip focused on the MK (as trips with young kids tend to be), I would definitely vote for Bay Lake Tower or the Contemporary. The short walk over to the MK is unbeatable. (But the studios at BLT are very small, so avoid those.)

Beach Club is great for trips focused on Epcot - not sure your kids are the right demographic for a grand marnier slush or nuanced foreign cuisines, but you never know, I guess...

 

[Remyssoup]

Wilderness lodge . The inside is beautiful. You can do character story book dining at artists point . Good food and view at geyser point bar and grill outside if the weather is good . Take a nice boat ride to MK And it’s the most reasonably priced deluxe property they have .

 

[NashvilleMama]

Your daughters might like a Royal room at Port Orleans Riverside. We stayed in one when my daughters were 15 and 9. They weren't really into the princesses, but they loved the room and all the details. I loved it too!

Have a great trip!

this! We've stayed at a lot of different places and this was my both my daughters' favorite. My youngest also loves Pop Century as a top pick but if you have a Beach Club-type budget, I wouldn't go that route.

 

[DavidMagic]

For a trip focused on the MK (as trips with young kids tend to be), I would definitely vote for Bay Lake Tower or the Contemporary. The short walk over to the MK is unbeatable. (But the studios at BLT are very small, so avoid those.)

Beach Club is great for trips focused on Epcot - not sure your kids are the right demographic for a grand marnier slush or nuanced foreign cuisines, but you never know, I guess...

This x100. Location is super super important to us and could not agree more with your recommendations.