Help !!! First timer...

[dabsjad]

Helllo All !!

I am planning a 4 night trip to WDW with my sons (4 in Jan & 2 in Dec) & my husband..Could you guys give me some pointers as to which might be good hotel options for my sons..Any other advice would be greatly appreciated..
The travel dates I am looking at are 10-14 Nov or 1st week of December. Also how would the weather be then ?

Thanks in advance!
Ash

 

[safetymom]

What is your budget for rooms? Will you have a car or depend on Disney transportation.

The weather can vary that time of year from warm to colf. If you give us more details we will be able to help.

Welcome to the DIS.

 

[pennst8r]

Fall weather is usually great! Its not so hot that you bake, and it cools off at night.

As for the resorts...could you narrow it down a bit? Value, Mod, Deluxe? Resorts on the monorail make it easier with little ones. I didn't like CSR when our DSs were toddlers. POR is their current favorite, but I'm thinking that will change after YC this month! Haven't stayed at values, so someone else will have to chime in with their fav there. aw:

 

[Buzz2001]

THE PROS
No sharing bus service with other resorts
Centrally located with short rides to the parks
Largest hot tub on WDW property
Awesome main pool area with bar, snack bar, playground and kiddie pool
3 quiet pools
New shuttle service eliminates long walks to any of the villages
High speed internet service
WiFi available too
Free use of the gym
Spa
Fridge in the room
Coffeemaker in the room
Iron and ironing board
full room service menu
2 arcades
beautifully landscaped
central air, not a noisey wall unit

THE CONS
Full size beds (kings size beds are available)
one sink

IN THE MIDDLE
The Pepper Market is either a love it or hate it place. We love it but some folks just don't care for it.

Convention resort - some guests don't like seeing other guests at work. Doesn't bother us and helps keep the buses empty. GF, Cont, BW, Y & B Club are also convention resorts.

Check out my website below

 

[cjsmom5]

With that age children, if your budget can swing it, I would go for a monorail hotel. You will probably spend most of your time at the MK and that puts you very close with easy access to the park and your hotel for naps. Of the monorail properties I would choose the Poly. That being said, if a moderate is more in your budget then our recommendation would be the POFQ for the following reasons:

1) Smallest resort of the moderates, easy to get around, everything is close.
2) One bus stop for this resort. Sometimes it shares with POR but at FQ you are the first on and the first off -- nice for the little ones.
3) Boat to DTD. The kids will love it and DTD has some fun things for the little ones. If you go the first of Dec Santa is there for pictures, etc.
4) The pool area theme is perfect for that age. My DS loved the alligators with all their music and the slide is great for the 4 year old if they swim. The kiddie pool is nice, also.
5) The playground is perfect for that age.
6) With kids that age, though, a ground floor room is really nice as you don't have to wait for an elevator but we've been on all three floors. They are nice.
7) Moderates now all have refrigerators in room at no charge.
8) You can go down to POR and do some "Huck Finn" fishing for a small fee. Your 4 year old will love it. You rent the poles and buy the bait. Warning you get to put the live bait on the hooks.
9) The food court at POFQ is smaller than the rest of the moderates so is a bit easier to navigate with little ones but it has a nice selection of foods.
10) There are ducks and birds as well as squirrels by the river at the resort. My DS at ages 2-6 loved to walk along the river and watch them.

The weather, at least the first of Dec/end of November can be very nice -- in the mid 80's during the day and drop down to the 60's at night. That being said -- we have been there when it has hit the high 30's (with all that humidity it is cold) for a low -- brrrr!!!! There was not a hat or gloves to be found on Disney property. Thus, we plan for all types of weather and LAYER everything. But, overall, it is nice weather.

 

[speakupjc]

The WL - It has a boat to the MK and another option besides a bus to Epcot (ride the boat to the MK, get on a monerail at MK, ride it to the TTC, get off at the TTC and then get on the monerail to Epcot) and the cost is in between a moderate and a deluxe. The pool is beautiful and so is the theming.

 

[the kabuki]

Basically it all boils down to what you want to spend. Start with that first-values, mod's or deluxes'- then you can narrow it down from there.

 

[southjerseymom]

Another vote for the WL. My DS (2 at the time) still calls it "my hotel" and he still loves it!! Since you will be spending the majority of your time at the MK the boat ride makes it a great option. The price isn't as high as the other Deluxes but it has all the amenities. We stayed here in the "hotter" months and I always thought I would like to go back when it was a little cooler and I could appreciate the fireplaces etc. Really a great hotel to start off you Disney adventures! (of course, you will come home and start planning your next adventure!)
WL May 2003
Poly November 2004
BC May 2005
Disney 4 Day Wonder Feb 2006
BWI Feb 2006

 

[LouM]

My biggest piece of advice is to book your Disney Resort ASAP. I just tried yesterday for 12/3-12/10 and nearly everything resort is booked solid!

If you love Christmas, I'd suggest you go in December. The decorations are fantastic as are the special events.

I have found the weather to be cool in early December. We went Dec. 2004 and Dec. 2002. We wore pants and sometimes jackets and late at night (Mickey's Christmas party) we wished we had warmer coats and mittens. Bring plenty of layers.