First trip to WDW... where in the "WORLD" to stay!?

[nine9d]

I convinced my DW to go to WDW for my DD 6th B-day in January. My DS is 8 now, and of course he will also be along for the trip. It will be a suprise to them both. We will be staying for 4N/5D and I didn't think that I would have this much trouble finding a place to stay onsite. There is just so dang many of them to choose from!! I want to make this a great experience for the whole family overall. I think we want to stay in a Moderate to Deluxe resort (but will not rule out value). This is one of my first posts so please be gentle with me, I know this is a loaded question and I probably have a lot more things to answer and ask here. Thanks for your help all.

 

[Bob P]

Hi and welcome to the DIS!

I would suggest that you start by visiting this website:

http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/faq_hot.htm

It contains an FAQ, pictures, a slide show, and reader comments on every WDW hotel. You should take your time going over the list and choose the one that appeals to you the most based on amenities, price, location, etc.

Also feel free to poke around these resort boards and see what others are saying about various resorts.

Good luck, almost-neighbor!

Peace,

Bob

 

[Laurajean1014]

A great first time World Stay would be Beach Club. It has a great pool, playground, minutes from the Boardwalk and minutes from EPCOT/WS and MGM. The cost is less than a monorail resort and depending on when you go, the cost could be obtainable and reasonable.

 

[nine9d]

Already some nice replies. Thanks. I didn't know that some resorts had monorails and some didn't. You learn something everyday I guess.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

If money isn't an issue for a first time stay I would stay at one of the monorail resorts (Contemporary, Poly or GF) or at Wilderness Lodge. They all have easy access to MK which is where you'll probably want to spend most of your time. My only suggestion would be to consider lengthening your trip. You won't believe how much there is to see and do.

 

[goofy4tink]

Well, since you have young kids, I would imagine that you will spend a lot of time in MK, so....if you are leaning towards a deluxe, you could try the Contemporary. It's on the monorail and you can walk to MK, via the path..it takes less than 10 minutes to do it. You can take the monorail to the next stop, TTC, and change over to the Epcot monorail line.
The Polynesian is fun and you could take a boat to MK and walk their path to the TTC for the Epcot monorail.
Or the Wilderness Lodge is terrific. You can take a boat to the MK. Buses to other parks. The Wilderness Lodge is a bit less expensive than the other deluxes. As is the Contemporary.
Now, if you opt for a moderate, there are some great choices. POR is terrific. Nice arcade, good food court and a table service restaurant. The rooms are a bit smaller than the deluxes. The main pool area does have a water slide that's perfect for the littler ones. THis was my dd's first water slide when she was there for her first trip to WDW for her 6th birthday!!! Now, it's pretty tame to her at the ripe old age of almost 12!!!
Beach CLub does have a terrific pool area but it is sometimes hard to keep track of little kids due to it's size.
And the values are great fun for the kids. My dd has stayed at POR, Contemporary, Polynesian, AllStarMusic, Pop, Beach CLub, Boardwalk.....although she loves our home resort of Boardwalk, she loves the theming of Pop and AllStarMusic!!! The rooms are small, just a wee bit smaller than the moderates.
Up to you....you are right, so much to choose from. Try to narrow it down a bit and we'll try to help some more.
Oh, and welcome to the DIS boards!!! This is a great place to learn and to share your knowledge. You'll be sharing info yourself before you know it!!!

 

[dsmom]

Welcome!! I live here in Florida so keep in mind it rains a lot here in January. I would pick a resort where you have some choices in case it rains. We stay every January at a monorail resort. Last January was the GF and we loved it!! The January before we stayed 14th floor CR. It rained and was miserable cold the whole week but we didn't care because the room and lounge were so great! We did the monorail loop a lot and got out and explored every resort on the loop.
My favorite value is the POP- I love it! My favorite moderate it the POFQ with CS a close second. My favorite deluxe it the GF for the MK area and the Yacht and Beach for the Epcot area. But really I love any hotel on Disney property!! Have fun deciding! That is half the fun.
BTW-Bob- Where do you live in Eastchester? My best friend from college lives there- I went to college at Pace Univ. in White Plains.

 

[ciera321]

I agree with Disneymomx7!!! If you can afford a monorail resort, what a way to start your "Disney Experience". By the way, this WILL only be the start. If your kids are anything like mine, once you take them to Disney World, that's where they will want to go (and me too!!!) from then on...
If the monorail resorts are more than you want to pay, then the Animal Kingdom Lodge is wonderful. All kinds of animals roaming the grounds, beautiful pool, great restaurants!!!
My moderate favorite is Coronado Springs. It has a southwest theme and wonderful pool with a great slide and playground, 2 gamerooms, a nice counter service restaurant and a sitdown restaurant. I hope you have a wonderful time on your first trip and that you love Disney World as much as most of the contributors to this board!!!

 

[Tikiman]

Polynesian!!!

Read why... http://www.tikiman2001.homestead.com/

 

[missypie]

I would choose one of the resorts on the monorail...Contemporary, Polynesian or the Grand Floridian, for easy access to the Magic Kingdom. You can walk frm the CR to the Mk in less than 10 minutes. I don't know if swimming will be a big factor in January...the Yacht Club and Beach club are great, but I'd save those for when you can enjoy the pool for sure.

 

[Grumpy92]

Deluxe:
WL - Great boats to MK, Wonderful restaurants, beautiful resort
Poly - Monorail access, tropical theme, wonderful beach where you can watch the MK fireworks.
YC/BC - the best pool on Disney property, proximity to the best restaurants, just a short walk or boat ride to MGM or EC.
AK - has great rooms that overlook savannahs so you can watch the animals right on your balcony, storytelling around a campfire at night, may seem out of the way but the transportation is great.

Moderate:
POR or POFQ both are wonderful moderates. We like the smallness of POFQ and we can easily walk over to POR and use their facilities. Cute dragon pool and love the boat to DTD.

I know it is a hard choice. But think about the parks you want to visit, what amenities you are looking for and transportation.
Cant really go wrong with any of these resorts.

 

[jennymouse]

I agree with the others, try one of the monorail resorts for easy access to Magic Kingdom! I also agree that you need to stay longer. Figure 2 days for Magic Kingdom (at least) 2 for Epcot, and a day each for MGM & Animal Kingdom...it's good to have a rest day somewhere in the middle too.

Edited to add: Even if it means staying in a moderate or value resort to be able to extend your stay it's worth it. ALL of the WDW resorts are wonderful!

 

[3princesses4us]

We just got back from my first ever trip (I'm 33!) and we chose a moderate because we wanted to try something in the middle first. We adored Port Orleans Riverside. We stayed in Alligator Bayou and it was quiet and secluded at night, you can take a boat to Downtown Disney. Next time though we want to stay at the Wilderness Lodge, it just looks breathtaking and you can take a boat to the MK! What can I say, I like boats. :0)
Good luck with your decision.

 

[goofy4tink]

Polynesian!!!

Read why... http://www.tikiman2001.homestead.com/

Now, who would have guessed Steve would say that!!!! Aloha!!!

 

[Disney Anna]

My favorite resort is the Wilderness Lodge. I think this would be a good choice because:
a) close to MK
b) beautifully themed
c) deluxe resort, but without the outrageous prices of the other deluxe resorts. I think the Poly, GF are beautiful, but I can never justify the prices.

2d choice would be Port Orleans - Riverside, then French Quarter
a) beautifully themed
b) can take boat to Downtown Disney
c) fun stuff for the kids, like fishing and great pool
d) A great value.

 

[nine9d]

WOW! Thanks for all the great feedback. I think I am going to change the tone of the thread. We looked through a lot of the resorts and want to save a little more for this trip. So we are going to shoot for the moderate or value resort instead of the deluxe. These are some great reviews and I do appreciate it. For kids, which moderate or value resort is a good one? Are the values ghetto? LOL!

 

[goofy4tink]

WOW! Thanks for all the great feedback. I think I am going to change the tone of the thread. We looked through a lot of the resorts and want to save a little more for this trip. So we are going to shoot for the moderate or value resort instead of the deluxe. These are some great reviews and I do appreciate it. For kids, which moderate or value resort is a good one? Are the values ghetto? LOL!

Nope, not 'ghetto' at all!!! I 'own' at BWV and actually try to stay at either a moderate or a value at either the start of finish of a dvc trip. Usually the first week-end in order to save some of those expensive points for Fri/Sat nights. I love Pop...sure it's a bustling spot, lots of families having a great time!!! Same with the AllStars. The differences between the types of resorts is this....value-no water slides, no room service, smaller rooms and beds, no table service restaurants, no health spas. But, if these things really don't matter to you then you'll be very comfy at a value.
The moderates have a table restaurant (POFQ shares with POR), they have water slides and the rooms are a bit larger than the values (I personally don't see a sizable diff.). The really nice thing about the mods now is that some have a privacy curtain that blocks off the bathroon/vanity area from the sleeping area. My dd and I loved that at POR in June. In fact, she closed the curtain and had some private time back there..playing and reading!!!

It's a personal choice I guess. I have no issue with staying at a value resort at all. When you look at the money you are saving it makes it even better. Besides the theming is usually incredible. The deluxes are nice but for the most part the theming is more adult. Kids just love the values...in fact my dd, just about 12 now, likes AllStarMusic and Pop better than the Polynesian!!! Go figure.

 

[nine9d]

Great info. there goofy4tink. I would really appreciate more comments and feedback once everyone gets a chance. Thanks again.

 

[nine9d]

Anyone else?

 

[d4est]

We are first timers too, going Feb 1-7. We (I) picked Coronado Springs. I liked the fact that it is a tad more deluxe (according to what I've read), that it doesn't share buses with other resorts, and the pool/dig site area. My son (8) will just love it. I have read that the slide there is only second to the one at SAB. Of course, I am a history teacher and the ruins really appeal to me.

My only concern was the distance between the rooms and the different areas, but now they have added an internal shuttle! Problem solved.

On a different note...have you looked into any discounts? If you are a member of AAA, you can save some $$. You can book a room-only discount with AAA directly thru Disney. If you are interested in a package, you can still get the discount, but you have to book thru AAA.

Good luck with your decision! Either way, you can't go wrong...you'll be at Disney!