First timer to WDW - resort advice, please help! Go for villa at WL or suite at GF?

[cwbrannon]

We are a family of 5, boy, 7, and twin girls, 5. It's our first time to WDW and our travel agent has booked 2 alternatives for us: 1 is a one bedroom suite at GF and the other is a 2 bedroom villa at WL. This is probaby a once in a lifetime visit for our family so the experience is more important to us than the cost. The WL villas are much bigger but not on the monorail; they also have a kitchenette. The GF rooms are more expensive, smaller and don't have the kitchenette but it's supposedly the best and on the monorail. I have to put my deposit down within the next couple of days and do not know what to do. Please, give me your thoughts.

By the way, we have been on a Disney Cruise and my family was SO impressed by all of the information that I knew about the cruise and how to make the trip more special. I got most of that info. from this board so I really thank you all and value your opinion!

 

[rileyroosmom]

Your two choices are sooo expensive (I know you say cost isn't important). I'm suggesting a room at the Poly. It is a very large room, comes with a dorm size fridge, 2 Queen beds and a day bed. With the age of your kids, the room is more than adequate sized. Since I'm sure most of your time will be spent at MK you can't beat the monorail access. The kids will love the Volcano pool and the sprinklers. If cost isn't a concern, you could book concierge and you would have breakfast options, snacks during the day and appetizers at night. Your room would have a view of the castle and monorail.
I hate to see people throw their money away! Doesn't matter if you can afford it, it just seems like such a waste!
Another cheaper option would be to rent points on a DVL. You could get a kitchen (if that's important to you), washer/dryer and even two bedrooms. I've never rented before, plenty of others have, and I'm sure even this option is cheaper than renting villas/suites through Disney.
Just my thoughts, I'm sure others will help out too. Good Luck!

 

[ducklite]

I would choose the VWL. You'll have more room, two full bathrooms, two private bedrooms plus a sleeper sofa in the LR if your son doesn't want to share a room with his sisters.

Also the kitchen is a fully equipped kitchen--full sized with dishes, flatwatre, pots and pans, glassware, serving utensils, you name it. It will make it easy for you to have breakfast and snacks in your room.

The master bedroom in the Villas is great--you'll have a king bed, jetted soaking tub and sperate shower, walk in closet...

And perhaps the BEST feature of the villa is the washer and dryer--you'll be able to throw a load in when you get up in the morning and it will be ready for the dryer before you leave for the parks. It's great to cut down on packing and take care of anything that gets spilled on before teh stain really sets in.

Anne

 

[scanne]

I agree with both posters above, but I do have a question.

Since there are many resorts that sleep 5 in a room, why did your TA suggest a suite/villa in the first place? Here is a list of resorts that sleep 5 in a room.

Grand Floridian (standard rooms)
Polynesian
Contemporary
Yacht Club
Beach Club
Boardwalk
Animal Kingdom Lodge Deluxe rooms
Wilderness Lodge (deluxe/jr. suite rooms)

If you want to be on the monorail, then I agree with getting a room at the Polynesian. These rooms are HUGE! There will be plenty of room, plus many of the rooms have just been recently refurbished with brand new designs. There are 2 queens and a futon type pull out bed. If your willing to splurge a bit, I too agree that going concierge lagoon view would be a great choice.

However, if you specifically asked your TA about rooms with 2 bathrooms, then I think a 2 br. villa is a great choice. The boat ride from the VWL/WL is nice and relaxing, and they recently added bus service to the MK from the WL. You can't beat the convenience of the 2 br. villa like Ducklite pointed out!

I just want to add one more thing - my dentist went to Disney for his first (and only time) about 5 years ago. He took his wife and twin daughters and they used a TA. He told me how expensive the rooms were that his TA was quoting him and to this day I firmly believe that his TA took advantage of his ignorance and budget to get the most bang for HER buck. He won't ever go back to Disney b/c he felt he got ripped off royally (and I think he did).

Just make sure that your TA is looking out for your best interest and not her bottom line.

 

[paladin]

I would also say the villa. While we have never stayed at VWL, we have stayed several times at BWV and just love it. The full kitchen is great to have, we used the washer and dryer a lot (and this is just with adults - with kids I would think they would be even more useful) and the jacuzzi tub is great. I highly recommend the DVC villas. As someone else mentioned, you might want to look into renting points; that would be less expensive then a cash reservation.

 

[swilphil]

I vote for the suite at GF. If this is really a once in a lifetime trip, you will be glad you stayed here. Plus with the size of your family, a 1 bedroom suite is plenty big. Being on the monorail is a big plus--and a thrill for the kids. GF is only a couple of minutes away from MK via the monorail. You also can take a boat back to GF from MK. I personally wouldn't worry about the kitchen. There are so many restaurants that you will want to try, especially if this is your one and only trip. FYI: Lots of say we are only going on one trip, but we end up going back again and again.

GF is such a beautiful resort, and you have some good restaurants available there and at the other monorail resorts. You might want to look at the resort pictures on allearsnet.com to see which resort theme appeals most to you.

 

[TammiMcMan]

I'm also with the other posters who are questioning your need for a suite or villa. If you've looked at all your options and decided that's whats best for your family, then that's okay, but we're a family of 5 too and have had no problems with standard rooms at the GF, the YC and FW Cabins. The bedding situation in some resorts that accomodate 5 are 2 queen beds and daybed, or 1 queen, a daybed and bunkbeds.

A few other things to consider, is that the FW Cabins give you a small full kitchen and all the deluxes have complimentary refrigerators available. If you decide to stay in a suite at the GF, they come with full concierge benefits. That will give you access to a pre-planner who will take care of all your dining reservations, tickets, cruises, tours, etc. When you're at the resort, your room key will gain you access to both the main building and lodge concierge building. They have on-site staff to assist you from 7am-10pm and the lounges serve a variety of snack foods and drinks.

 

[Lives4Disney]

I was wondering the same thing as the above posters. I had to back up and reread your post to double check how many are in your family!! I thought the 2 bdrm suites would sleep 6 to 8 comfortably.

I have a family of 5 also. We have been comfortable in the rooms at the CR, Poly, GF, YC/BC. I think a suite is overkill. Yes it is nice, but since this is your first trip to WDW you will be busy at the parks and out having fun most of the day, not spending time in your room. A villa is probably nice for the w/d and kitchen, but who wants that on vacation?? (Maybe some do, but not me) I would much rather be on the monorail route.

The Poly, GF & CR are all on the monorail and the rooms have 2 queen beds and a daybed (CR & Poly's are twin sized - GF's is a bit smaller) The rooms are all pretty good size.

I would take another look at what standard rooms you can get for your family of 5 for less money. Then maybe it won't have to be such a "Once in a lifetime expercience" for your family. Once you stay at WDW, you WILL want to return.

Lives4Disney

 

[Janet2k]

Cwbrannon, as the others have mentioned, you don't need a suite or a villa for a family of five. There are other options. However, if you choose to go the suite or villa route, please feel free to PM (Private Message) me.

My family has stayed in 19 of Disney's resorts, including suites and villas (in particular, two different two-bedroom suites at the Grand Floridian). If I had to choose between a suite or a villa, I would choose a suite. You get a different vacation experience from a suite than you do from a villa. If you PM me, I will share my family's experiences with you (including photos of one of the Grand Floridian suites that we stayed in).

No matter what you ultimately decide to do, I hope you have a ~magical~ vacation. By the way, welcome to the Dis website's Resorts Board!

 

[Sammie]

Do the one bedroom suites have bedding for 5, I thought most had a King bed in them?

As Anne stated the villa Wilderness Lodge will definitely have a full size kitchen not a kitchenette, which is what the "studios" have. Just be sure your agent knows his/her stuff.

And I have to agree with the others, there are plenty of options for a family of 5. You could stay concierge at any of the deluxe resorts that accommidate 5 for a lot less than a suite.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

The 1BR Suites in the lodge buildings (including the one in Sugar Loaf) have 2 queens in the bedroom, and a queen sleeper in the living room. There are two additional 1BR suites in Sago Cay, which have a king and queen sleeper, but that is a seperate room category anyways.

 

[BCV23]

I would choose a monorail resort for your first stay. The Polynesian rooms are so comfortable for a family of five but your children are little and a GF room would be fine as well if that is the one that appeals to you.

I absolutely love having a W/D in our BCV but for a first time visit, there is nothing like the magic of a monorail hotel.

 

[jojomg]

I stayed at the deluxe room at the wilderness lodge and it was amazing..we had a bedroom with two queen beds french doors seperated the bedroom with a queen size pullout sofa...the rooms are on the corner of the building facing the water..the pools and the geyser...you can take the bus or the boat. I stayed at the gf and hated it..very fancy and our room was so loud I could hear everything in the building..our heat was stuck on and a repair man was in our room until midnight..Then at 6 am the started trimming the bushes .. I couldn't wait to get out...but if you want to be on the monorail I also would suggest the poly..the rooms are huge..the views are all beautiful..the pool is so much fun..a couple of nights in august my kids layed in the pool ,,it's one of those pools that are like walking into the ocean..and watched the fireworks...it was very beautiful and the monorail service is great..but won't you want to go to mgm and animal kingdom? because I have found that the deluxe resorts are not really worth it...we stay in the parks until they close and go back to the room and pass out good luck and have fun

 

[skent10]

We are a family of 6, so our options are more limited than yours. That being said, we chose a 2br villa at WL, specifically for the washer/dryer, 2 bathrooms, and kitchen (we like to eat breakfast on our own). We haven't been yet, but we always prefer a condo type accomodation when we vacation over a hotel. For us, it was an easy decision.

If you are more interested in a hotel room than a villa, I'd investigate some of the many other hotels that can accomodate 5 guests in a room. With the age of your children, I wouldn't think the GF would be the best choice for the Disney theming experience at the hotels. I'm sure the GF is a beautiful hotel, but 5 and 7 year olds would probably get a bigger kick out of AKL or CSR, or the Poly, or just about any other hotel! If this is truly once in a lifetime, I'd pick a different hotel that would absolutely thrill ALL the members of my family.

At least to me, the GF is something maybe DH and I can do when we celebrate kicking the last kid out of the nest!

 

[pedro2112]

I'm sure the GF is a beautiful hotel, but 5 and 7 year olds would probably get a bigger kick out of AKL or CSR, or the Poly, or just about any other hotel! If this is truly once in a lifetime, I'd pick a different hotel that would absolutely thrill ALL the members of my family.

Every time we have visited the GF we have seen tons of small children having the time of their lives. Isn't it the GF that has the most activities of any Disney resort for kids? (Pirates Cruise, Princess Teas, Great Adventures in Cooking, etc..

I would think that GF is probably one of the best resorts on Disney property for small kids.

 

[skent10]

Every time we have visited the GF we have seen tons of small children having the time of their lives. Isn't it the GF that has the most activities of any Disney resort for kids? (Pirates Cruise, Princess Teas, Great Adventures in Cooking, etc..

I would think that GF is probably one of the best resorts on Disney property for small kids.

Yes, the GF does have tons of stuff for kids (all at add'l $ and advance reservations too!), but I was talking about Disney theming which I doubt many 5 and 7 year olds would notice at GF. That's what I meant by other resorts being better choices for kids.

The GF may indeed turn out to be the best choice for the OP and her family. But it seems she's basing her decision solely on fitting her family of 5 into the room. It seems to me her TA is limiting her choices way too much based on that. There are plenty of hotels that would work, size-wise, and may be a better fit for the Disney experience as well.

Just my .02

 

[Janet2k]

The 1BR Suites in the lodge buildings (including the one in Sugar Loaf) have 2 queens in the bedroom, and a queen sleeper in the living room. There are two additional 1BR suites in Sago Cay, which have a king and queen sleeper, but that is a seperate room category anyways.

Not necessarily true in regards to Conch Key. My uneducated ~guess~ is that the two different two-bedroom suites that my family stayed in at Conch Key ~might~ be able to be reserved as one-bedroom suites (the secondary bedroom would be locked-off). If that is the case, they would only sleep four people since both of their master bedrooms had a king-sized bed and their parlor rooms had a sofa sleeper. Of course, the option might exist to have a rollaway bed set up in the bedroom or parlor room, but that is entirely up to the Grand Floridian. Only they can determine how many people they want occupying their suites.

I hope this helped.

 

[Janet2k]

It is true that the Grand Floridian has excellent children's activities: the Grand Adventures in Cooking Class, the Wonderland Tea Party, the Pirates Cruise, and the My Disney Girl's Perfectly Princess Tea Party. I have actually booked my Grand Floridian resort reservations to coincide with my daughter's attendance of those activities (we normally stay in more than one resort on a vacation so I plan our resort reservations accordingly). It is much easier for my daughter to attend the activities if we are staying at the Grand Floridian since we never have a car while vacationing in Walt Disney World.

It is also true that one does not need to be a guest of the Grand Floridian in order to have their children attend those events. I don't know if the Original Poster even knows about those events, but it is nice that someone here brought them up.

 

[InstImpres]

Personally, I would recommend a different option to you. As other stated the Villas have many appeals and conveinces but you may also want to consider Beach Club Villas especially if your children love to swim. The pool is it's own water park. You also can walk to Epcot (in about the distance of VWL to the boat for MK) and take a boat to MGM.

Just my 2 cents

 

[Sammie]

Not necessarily true in regards to Conch Key. My uneducated ~guess~ is that the two different two-bedroom suites that my family stayed in at Conch Key ~might~ be able to be reserved as one-bedroom suites (the secondary bedroom would be locked-off). If that is the case, they would only sleep four people since both of their master bedrooms had a king-sized bed and their parlor rooms had a sofa sleeper. Of course, the option might exist to have a rollaway bed set up in the bedroom or parlor room, but that is entirely up to the Grand Floridian. Only they can determine how many people they want occupying their suites.

I hope this helped.

Thanks Janet, that is why I was confused. The suites I had seen had a King bed in the master bedroom and I was not sure about the sofa as to whether it was a sleeper or not.

For the cost of a suite I would not want to have to add a rollaway bed. I would rather have 2 garden views rooms over that situation.