First Timer - Looking for Advice

[Richmond Hill]

This is my first time posting on DIS. Looking for advice on where to stay, here are the options: Grand Floridian, Comtemporary or Wilderness Lodge. Travelling with a 3 year old and 2 year, looking to go in early October 2009.

 

[yxe dad]

This is my first time posting on DIS. Looking for advice on where to stay, here are the options: Grand Floridian, Comtemporary or Wilderness Lodge. Travelling with a 3 year old and 2 year, looking to go in early October 2009.

Although I have only stayed at the Wilderness Lodge in your choices, I'll try to help.

If $$$ is no concern then I would stay at a monorail hotel. Your children will spend the most time at the Magic Kingdom and the monorail makes it really easy to go to and from the Magic Kingdom.

If $$$ is playing into the calculations, then the Wilderness Lodge is my favourite WDW resort and tends to be a little lighter on the pocket book. The boat ride to and from the Magic kingdom is very relaxing and you'll have the option of the bus there as well.

Oct is the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot, so you may want to make some dining reservations sooner then later.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

All three hotels are good options. I've stayed at the Grand Floridian and Wilderness Lodge and love them both. I don't like the Contemporary as much but it has many fans! If it was me, I'd probably pick the GF because of the convenience of the monorail. While the boat ride to WL is fun, October can have a lot of wind and rain, and then the boat ride is either not much fun or gets cancelled, and you're stuck with a bus ride back to the hotel. The monorail will run no matter what. You also have a nice selection of places to eat at the GF.

Teresa

 

[LadyKay]

My choice would certainly be a monorail resort with GF being my first choice. We have stayed there twice once in the main building and once not. I had two little ones at the time and we found that bringing our own double stroller from home was the best decision because we were able to wheel them right to the door of our resort (GF) without waking (they were dead asleep) them. Rentals are great except you need to leave them at the parks and carry sleeping children back to the resort. My 2 cents! Happy planning.

 

[PrincessMom4]

is there a particular reason for those choices?? only reason i ask is if you want to have a good budget and still some convenience of home (like privacy and a kitchen)..have you thought of the Fort Wilderness Cabins... It sleeps up to 6 people and it has a kitchen it and it feels like home...lots of space for your children to have.

 

[Richmond Hill]

Thanks! what exactly did you not like about the Contemporay - that was actually my preferred choice...

 

[Richmond Hill]

Thanks! Great tip on the stroller (I was thinking of renting) - For GF, main bldg or not?

 

[Richmond Hill]

Thanks! the reason I chose those hotels was from research in books (Frommers, etc) - I like the idea of the monorail for convenience, I liked the Wilderness Lodge because of theme (I am a little apprehensive about location)

 

[Richmond Hill]

Thanks! my main concern with wilderness lodge is transporation - I like the idea of being on the monorail - I wish they put the wilderness lodge on the monorail!

 

[LadyKay]

Thanks! Great tip on the stroller (I was thinking of renting) - For GF, main bldg or not?

We loved the main building at GF for the concierge service (truly a treat) but the outer rooms are great also. If it fits your budget I would highly recommend main building.

IMO Contemporary was awesome as well. You cannot beat the convenience of the monorail resorts. There are some fantastic restaurants at both locations.
If you can try and book a MK view from the Contemporary it's well worth the extra $$$.

 

[Luhts]

My vote is Contemporary! I have not stayed in any of the resorts you mentioned, but as a kid, we stayed in the Treehouse Villas (no longer in existence) and it was soooooo far out...I hated that as a kid. I remember reading the "DisneyWorld for kids by kids" book and the Grand Floridian was listed as the least favorite resort. I've also read lots of complaints about the bus service to the other parks, and how expensive everything is at GF. But as I said, I don't have first-hand experience here.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

What I don't like about the Contemporary: it just isn't as attractive to me - I don't like the concrete walls and the whole "feeling." Hard to explain, and obviously it appeals to lots of other people. I love walking around the grounds of both the Poly and the GF, looking at the gardens and the "theming' of the buildings. In comparison, the Contemporary feels kind of cold to me. If you go on the resort section, and look at the photo threads, you'll see what I mean.

But your taste may be quite different.

Teresa

 

[PrincessMom4]

Thanks! my main concern with wilderness lodge is transporation - I like the idea of being on the monorail - I wish they put the wilderness lodge on the monorail!

My hubby loves the monorail and wants something simple. We have 4 kids and don't want to be tracking stuff everywhere. We take the bus to the bus depot at the cabin then take the boat to the contemp or Magic Kingdom,

 

[Richmond Hill]

Thanks - noticed you are from London, My parents live in Byron... I'm thinking the monorail is key, was leaning toward Comtemporary with a MK view

 

[Jen M]

My choice would certainly be a monorail resort with GF being my first choice. We have stayed there twice once in the main building and once not. I had two little ones at the time and we found that bringing our own double stroller from home was the best decision because we were able to wheel them right to the door of our resort (GF) without waking (they were dead asleep) them. Rentals are great except you need to leave them at the parks and carry sleeping children back to the resort. My 2 cents! Happy planning.

Also the price to rent is $10 a day for a single and $18 for a double you will get a bit of a discount if you pre-purchase so many days in advance but they are on a first come first serve basis and there is a chance you might not get one.
We bring two umbrella strollers when we go. There are new ones out that not only fold up but then fold in and have a carry strap because most bus drivers won't let bring in an open stroller even if the child is sleeping. My son will be 4 while we are there in Sept and is over 40 lbs. I found a stroller at Toys R Us that will hold him and it is great. Here is a link to the strollers I bought.
http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=2933744&cp=2582969.2582969&parentPage=family
Also it is cheaper in the store. Costco also has a similar one that goes up to 40 lbs and it is $49.99. I bought it for my 1.5 year and have used it a few times now. I just love it.

 

[Jen M]

Last year we stayed at the AL Sports and it was nice. I would stay there again. This year we are going AKL wanted to try something different and part of the trip was a gift so we could do the extra.

If your children can handle staying up later what we did was let them sleep until they got up went to a park stayed until around 2 or 3 went back to our hotel let them rest while we got ready for dinner and would bath them while we were then went for dinner and stayed at whatever park we were eating at that night. I planned most of our dinners no later than 6 and booked according to which park was open late.

Also most of the kids stuff in MK is not busy after 7. Most rides we could walk right now instead of having to wait in the long lines like they had earlier in the day.