Grand Floridian with young kids?

[moose81]

We just decided to plan a WDW trip for June and we prefer to stay in the MK area. We've done the Poly for our last two trips so I'd like to try something new this time. I was initially going to book the Contemporary, but I just realized that we could book the Grand Floridian for only $22 more per night.

My kids are 5 and 2, so the ability to walk to MK is tempting but everything else looks nicer at the GF (pools, grounds, beach, plus my girl is a big fan of princesses). We'd be booking GF Outer Bldg Garden View (or possibly Lagoon for another $15 per day more). At the Contemporary, it would be Garden Wing Garden View.

I'm thinking the GF might be a better fit for us but is there anything I am not thinking of?

 

[hoffj070]

Our first stay with our son was at GF and the second was CR in the Garden Wing. We went back a third time and ended up going with the GF again. We loved both for different reasons. The two trips to GF were in months where it was warm enough to really enjoy the pool. Our son (2.5 on our last trip) loved the pools at GF. We love how relaxing the resort is and my husband enjoys the restaurants there. We also like walking to Poly for Dole Whip. When we stayed at Contemporary, it was Christmas time so we wanted to be able to walk to MK with the crowds. It worked great for that trip. It was a warm December, so we did get to utilize the pool. However, my son didn't have as much fun since CR's wasn't a zero entry pool and the water play area is not very exciting compared to GF. We have a reservation for September in case we go back this year with our son and we booked GF again due to the pool.

With that said, for a June trip, I would pick GF. The rooms are large at both. The bathroom layout is a bit different at each, but that shouldn't matter for kids those ages. Enjoy whichever you decide.

 

[DOMFAR]

GF all the way. Have you ever seen the distance from the Garden Wing to the main building at CR with little kids. its a walk.

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

GF all the way. Have you ever seen the distance from the Garden Wing to the main building at CR with little kids. its a walk.

If you are at the end of the GW, it can be a HIKE for sure. I would go GF. We stayed last year with our two young children. Nothing not to like!! Splash pad would be ideal for them also! Pools are rarely crowded too.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Everything @hoffj070 said!

My kids have been 1-8 in our travels (currently 4 and 8). I personally like CR better than GF overall (just appeals to me more) but there is no doubt the pool situation at GF is FAR superior to CR. Both GF pools have zero entry areas, the splash area is great. As a parent with little ones, I appreciate the ease and convenience of the GF pools.

Given your description of what’s important to you, I’d say GF would be a good choice.

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

GF all the way. Have you ever seen the distance from the Garden Wing to the main building at CR with little kids. its a walk.

Have you ever actually walked it? OMG. It is seriously a hike if you are at the end building. Insane IMO!

 

[mickeynut1]

We just decided to plan a WDW trip for June and we prefer to stay in the MK area. We've done the Poly for our last two trips so I'd like to try something new this time. I was initially going to book the Contemporary, but I just realized that we could book the Grand Floridian for only $22 more per night.

My kids are 5 and 2, so the ability to walk to MK is tempting but everything else looks nicer at the GF (pools, grounds, beach, plus my girl is a big fan of princesses). We'd be booking GF Outer Bldg Garden View (or possibly Lagoon for another $15 per day more). At the Contemporary, it would be Garden Wing Garden View.

I'm thinking the GF might be a better fit for us but is there anything I am not thinking of?

We've never stayed at the CR, but love the GF! As others have said, the GF has two nice pools, a great kids splash play area, and a good variety of restaurants. I don't think you'd be disappointed. Good luck!

 

[100acreHiker]

having stayed at both the CR and GF I would absolutely suggest you go with GF if you can. We stayed with our two then-young boys (ages 3 and 6) and again when they were 5 and 8 and they LOVED it. We did not care for the CR! I mean it's nice to walk to MK but after a long day it's also nice to take a boat between GF and MK and there's no boat to CR. Also, while the rooms were lovely at CR, the resort felt sterile to us, it was weirdly noisy in the main building and the air was stale and just off. It was fine but I won't go back with other options. We don't stay at the GF anymore since my boys are now 14 and 10 and love the Epcot resorts, but I do wish we could go back to the GF. We only go to MK for maybe a half to 1 day the whole trip now. The GF is a very lovely, friendly, absolutely exquisite resort. The quick service food is excellent (didn't care for the quick service at CR with Chef Mickeys right there), the pool is hands down my kids favorite pool in all of WDW (they like it even more than Beach Club) and it just feels special to be there.

 

[kiford]

If you are staying at GF, you can take the boat launch to MK from the pier near Narcoossees. We like to stay in Conch Key since it's the closest to the pier. We use it way more than the monorail to get to/from MK especially since a lot of people forget about it. It doesn't always run early early morning but we found it way more convenient and closer than using the monorail. We like the lagoon view but the garden view is quite pretty too. We also like the pool.

 

[rchampagne]

Another vote for GF. The walk from CR to MK is long when it's hot and humid. My kids also loved the splash area at GF, and the boat rides are fun for kids, too.
I'd actually choose Poly, but I understand that you want to try something new (we always try a new resort with each stay).

 

[buzznina]

GF is our families favorite resort, so of course it gets our vote But I will say that taking the monorail to/from Epcot was consistently bad for our 2 stays

 

[lala5176]

Definitely GF. Your little ones will likely enjoy the splash area and zero entry pools.
Contemporary is a great resort also but the pools and quick service seem so inconvenient to get to! We stayed in the Atrium club level but if we hadn’t I think I would have been frustrated with being in a garden wing room. Too far!
I think you will enjoy either resort for different reasons but until the children are older I’d go with GF! Have a great trip!

 

[Nancyg56]

I would choose the GF hands down.

 

[katyjeka]

GF is great with kids.

 

[pahoben]

Another vote for GF and second the boats. Much better to walk on the boat at MK to GF rather than dealing with a mob waiting for a monorail especially when the monorails are down.

 

[moose81]

Thanks for your thoughts, everyone! We are definitely going to go for GF now. Now I just need to decide if we should pay the extra for club level (sugarloaf, not the main building).

 

[mickeynut1]

Thanks for your thoughts, everyone! We are definitely going to go for GF now. Now I just need to decide if we should pay the extra for club level (sugarloaf, not the main building).

You won't regret it! Have a great trip .