Help me decide, which resort with toddler and 12 year old?!

[radishtoaster]

Hi all, new to the boards but have lurked and used the boards as a source of information for a while. Finally made an account, yay!

We're looking to head to Disney between Sept and Nov but are having a hard time deciding where to stay. We have considered renting DVC points also, as we have couple friends who are in the club and have told us primarily about DVC resorts. We were last at Disney in 2020 just before pandemic and stayed at OKW but we found it to be slow with transportation and weren't super fond of the food or layout of the resort.

We will have a car but we would prefer to be in the Disney bubble, within walking distance to one of the parks would be ideal, we think. Our 12 year old has some learning disabilities and doesn't care for fast or high rides so I'm trying to decide whether it would be better to stay at one of the Epcot area hotel, if it's more worth it to stay near MK, or if some of the moderate (POFQ) or value resorts (AoA) would be a bigger hit with the kids even though the transportation is slower.
I should add that we're from the Northeast and we kind of find the BW, BC, YC to be very similar theme to a lot of what we find at resorts and hotels nearer to our home so my thought is that it's more exciting to get something themed in a way that's not super familiar to us, is that nutty?

We want to trip to be relaxing for us, we'd like to not drive to and from parks if we don't have to, but if that's faster and more convenient than I guess it makes sense?I feel like we keep going over the options but we're stuck at a standstill.

My questions are:
Do you find the theming to be super important to your kiddos?
Do the themed hotels have more kids activities at the resort?
Is it faster from AKL, AoA, WL, any park that doesn't have walking path to drive and then park and walk to parks vs waiting for buses?
Do your kids enjoy CR or BW even though the theming lacks (IMO)?
Would you stay near MK or Epcot with kids who aren't big on rides?

Any other advice or tips would be greatly appreciated!

 

[MamaMermaid]

Hi all, new to the boards but have lurked and used the boards as a source of information for a while. Finally made an account, yay!

We're looking to head to Disney between Sept and Nov but are having a hard time deciding where to stay. We have considered renting DVC points also, as we have couple friends who are in the club and have told us primarily about DVC resorts. We were last at Disney in 2020 just before pandemic and stayed at OKW but we found it to be slow with transportation and weren't super fond of the food or layout of the resort.

We will have a car but we would prefer to be in the Disney bubble, within walking distance to one of the parks would be ideal, we think. Our 12 year old has some learning disabilities and doesn't care for fast or high rides so I'm trying to decide whether it would be better to stay at one of the Epcot area hotel, if it's more worth it to stay near MK, or if some of the moderate (POFQ) or value resorts (AoA) would be a bigger hit with the kids even though the transportation is slower.
I should add that we're from the Northeast and we kind of find the BW, BC, YC to be very similar theme to a lot of what we find at resorts and hotels nearer to our home so my thought is that it's more exciting to get something themed in a way that's not super familiar to us, is that nutty?

We want to trip to be relaxing for us, we'd like to not drive to and from parks if we don't have to, but if that's faster and more convenient than I guess it makes sense?I feel like we keep going over the options but we're stuck at a standstill.

My questions are:
Do you find the theming to be super important to your kiddos?
Do the themed hotels have more kids activities at the resort?
Is it faster from AKL, AoA, WL, any park that doesn't have walking path to drive and then park and walk to parks vs waiting for buses?
Do your kids enjoy CR or BW even though the theming lacks (IMO)?
Would you stay near MK or Epcot with kids who aren't big on rides?

Any other advice or tips would be greatly appreciated!

I'd definitely do a DVC resort with those ages and requirements.

My kid is 5 and loves the resorts. He likes them all - except the Grand and Boardwalk. I'd pick the theme that's most appealing to you/your kiddos OR I'd choose based on proximity.

My kid loves Bay Lake Tower and the walk between there and MK is easy. The theme is very Disney, IMO.

The programming is pretty similar at all the resorts, minus AKL that has obivously unique things based on the animals.

You can't beat staying close to EPCOT or MK.

 

[loves to dive]

I'll give it a shot. Number 1 its going to depend on your budget but since you mention a few deluxe resorts I'm going to assume that's not an issue.

Is theming important to your kiddos? It depends on the kid. For mine, not really. We used to stay in Poly a lot when he was younger but only because the MK resorts were the only ones around at the time. Had the Epcot resorts or mods or values been there, we probably would have stayed in them. He liked a pool but slides didn't matter. People make a big deal about the YC/BC pool and he liked it as a teenager but it wouldn't have mattered had we stayed somewhere else.

All the resorts have kids activities.

AKL is going to bus to all the parks, including AK. AoA has the sky liner to Epcot and HS but will bus to AK and MK. Just as an aside, I would stay in another value other than AoA because it's way more expensive then it needs to be. WL will boat to MK but bus to everywhere else. We always drive down, park our car and take Disney transportation to the parks. As far as faster a lot of factors there. Obviously, MK is going to be faster from GF, Poly, CR and WL. It's going to take longer from every other resort. Some will say the sky liner is faster then the buses to HS and Epcot but that could depend on time of day and lines at the transfer center if you have to use it. I'm not a fan and if I'm staying in a value or moderate, will purposely stay in those that don't have sky liner access.

 

[kylenne]

I should add that we're from the Northeast and we kind of find the BW, BC, YC to be very similar theme to a lot of what we find at resorts and hotels nearer to our home so my thought is that it's more exciting to get something themed in a way that's not super familiar to us, is that nutty?

I don't think it's weird at all. I find the theming at those resorts kinda meh for the same reason and tend to prefer the MK area ones just going on theme alone (also I just find the theming stronger at them, except CR).

I think any of the MK resorts would be a good fit for you tbh. MK has many more attractions that will cater to your 12 year old's preferences and you can always hop the monorail to Epcot for snacking around the world and the like. Poly specifically would be nice because you get the benefit of being at MK but can get the monorail direct to Epcot since the TTC is a 5 minute walk right next door, especially if you are staying in the DVC rooms. Even as a childless adult, I find MK is the most annoying/stressful park to get in and out of and one reason I like the MK resorts so much is you have multiple transportation options including walking (except WL). The relatively longer transportation times to the other parks really don't make a difference if you're driving (it's honestly negligible) and I would give up being able to walk to EP and HS for the ability to get home quickly from MK at night, especially if you have a kid that's not interested in thrill rides.

 

[Rory607]

Do my kids care about theming? Not exactly. Whatever resort we choose, I tell them cool things about it and they always seem to like it. If you are looking at deluxes, I would choose which park you want to be closest to and go from there. We’ve stayed at Poly and being right by MK was great, especially when the kids were really little. My youngest hates fireworks, so we enjoyed watching MK fireworks from Poly beach or club lounge.

We recently stayed at Yacht Club for the first time and absolutely loved that area and being able to walk to Epcot. We are huge Epcot fans and used the park hopper tickets to go grab dessert or spend a little time in World Showcase on several evenings. I wouldn’t pay money for a skyliner resort if your son doesn’t do heights.

As far as transportation, we never drive to the parks. Even when staying at a moderate with only busses, it was fine. We exclusively use Disney transport and it’s never been an issue for us.

 

[radishtoaster]

I'd definitely do a DVC resort with those ages and requirements.

My kid is 5 and loves the resorts. He likes them all - except the Grand and Boardwalk. I'd pick the theme that's most appealing to you/your kiddos OR I'd choose based on proximity.

My kid loves Bay Lake Tower and the walk between there and MK is easy. The theme is very Disney, IMO.

The programming is pretty similar at all the resorts, minus AKL that has obivously unique things based on the animals.

You can't beat staying close to EPCOT or MK.

Thanks! This is a big help. I was a bit concerned that BLT didn't have the theming or attractions for the little guys but it excites me to hear that they have good Disney theming. Since you've stayed here do you mind if I pick your brain about it?

 

[radishtoaster]

I'll give it a shot. Number 1 its going to depend on your budget but since you mention a few deluxe resorts I'm going to assume that's not an issue.

Is theming important to your kiddos? It depends on the kid. For mine, not really. We used to stay in Poly a lot when he was younger but only because the MK resorts were the only ones around at the time. Had the Epcot resorts or mods or values been there, we probably would have stayed in them. He liked a pool but slides didn't matter. People make a big deal about the YC/BC pool and he liked it as a teenager but it wouldn't have mattered had we stayed somewhere else.

All the resorts have kids activities.

AKL is going to bus to all the parks, including AK. AoA has the sky liner to Epcot and HS but will bus to AK and MK. Just as an aside, I would stay in another value other than AoA because it's way more expensive then it needs to be. WL will boat to MK but bus to everywhere else. We always drive down, park our car and take Disney transportation to the parks. As far as faster a lot of factors there. Obviously, MK is going to be faster from GF, Poly, CR and WL. It's going to take longer from every other resort. Some will say the sky liner is faster then the buses to HS and Epcot but that could depend on time of day and lines at the transfer center if you have to use it. I'm not a fan and if I'm staying in a value or moderate, will purposely stay in those that don't have sky liner access.

Do you think the pool area that everyone claims is the best at BC/YC is worth it for a kiddo who likes waterparks? My 12 year old is part fish I think.

 

[radishtoaster]

I don't think it's weird at all. I find the theming at those resorts kinda meh for the same reason and tend to prefer the MK area ones just going on theme alone (also I just find the theming stronger at them, except CR).

I think any of the MK resorts would be a good fit for you tbh. MK has many more attractions that will cater to your 12 year old's preferences and you can always hop the monorail to Epcot for snacking around the world and the like. Poly specifically would be nice because you get the benefit of being at MK but can get the monorail direct to Epcot since the TTC is a 5 minute walk right next door, especially if you are staying in the DVC rooms. Even as a childless adult, I find MK is the most annoying/stressful park to get in and out of and one reason I like the MK resorts so much is you have multiple transportation options including walking (except WL). The relatively longer transportation times to the other parks really don't make a difference if you're driving (it's honestly negligible) and I would give up being able to walk to EP and HS for the ability to get home quickly from MK at night, especially if you have a kid that's not interested in thrill rides.

This is a huge help for me because I've been considering the Poly as well because of the mix of theming and proximity. My oldest is a but fearful of fireworks so being close to MK fireworks visible from a distance would be ideal for him I'd think.

 

[RoseGold]

You're too late to rent DVC for that trip. Especially for fall, which is peak DVC season, because the point requirements are relatively low.

You could maybe rent a confirmed reservation, there are several sites that have those.

 

[radishtoaster]

Do my kids care about theming? Not exactly. Whatever resort we choose, I tell them cool things about it and they always seem to like it. If you are looking at deluxes, I would choose which park you want to be closest to and go from there. We’ve stayed at Poly and being right by MK was great, especially when the kids were really little. My youngest hates fireworks, so we enjoyed watching MK fireworks from Poly beach or club lounge.

We recently stayed at Yacht Club for the first time and absolutely loved that area and being able to walk to Epcot. We are huge Epcot fans and used the park hopper tickets to go grab dessert or spend a little time in World Showcase on several evenings. I wouldn’t pay money for a skyliner resort if your son doesn’t do heights.

As far as transportation, we never drive to the parks. Even when staying at a moderate with only busses, it was fine. We exclusively use Disney transport and it’s never been an issue for us.

I relate to this, my oldest doesn't like fireworks either. Were you able to see/hear fireworks from EP or HS from BC/YC? I personally love the idea of walking to Epcot because it's by far the favorite for my husband and I. I guess I don't want to feel guilty bc I booked close to a park that we like more than what the kids can do, haha.

 

[radishtoaster]

You're too late to rent DVC for that trip. Especially for fall, which is peak DVC season, because the point requirements are relatively low.

You could maybe rent a confirmed reservation, there are several sites that have those.

Yup, this is what we're looking at, a couple of already confirmed res in our time frame. Just haven't pulled the trigger yet due to being indecisive

 

[MamaMermaid]

Thanks! This is a big help. I was a bit concerned that BLT didn't have the theming or attractions for the little guys but it excites me to hear that they have good Disney theming. Since you've stayed here do you mind if I pick your brain about it?

Of course! Happy to answer any questions. We are DVC members and go monthly or every other month

 

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

Hi all, new to the boards but have lurked and used the boards as a source of information for a while. Finally made an account, yay!

We're looking to head to Disney between Sept and Nov but are having a hard time deciding where to stay. We have considered renting DVC points also, as we have couple friends who are in the club and have told us primarily about DVC resorts. We were last at Disney in 2020 just before pandemic and stayed at OKW but we found it to be slow with transportation and weren't super fond of the food or layout of the resort.

We will have a car but we would prefer to be in the Disney bubble, within walking distance to one of the parks would be ideal, we think. Our 12 year old has some learning disabilities and doesn't care for fast or high rides so I'm trying to decide whether it would be better to stay at one of the Epcot area hotel, if it's more worth it to stay near MK, or if some of the moderate (POFQ) or value resorts (AoA) would be a bigger hit with the kids even though the transportation is slower.
I should add that we're from the Northeast and we kind of find the BW, BC, YC to be very similar theme to a lot of what we find at resorts and hotels nearer to our home so my thought is that it's more exciting to get something themed in a way that's not super familiar to us, is that nutty?

We want to trip to be relaxing for us, we'd like to not drive to and from parks if we don't have to, but if that's faster and more convenient than I guess it makes sense?I feel like we keep going over the options but we're stuck at a standstill.

My questions are:
Do you find the theming to be super important to your kiddos?
Do the themed hotels have more kids activities at the resort?
Is it faster from AKL, AoA, WL, any park that doesn't have walking path to drive and then park and walk to parks vs waiting for buses?
Do your kids enjoy CR or BW even though the theming lacks (IMO)?
Would you stay near MK or Epcot with kids who aren't big on rides?

Any other advice or tips would be greatly appreciated!

I have so much to say in response to your question, so bear with me

First of all, I definitely recommend renting DVC as long as you're aware of the cancellation policies etc. We have exclusively rented DVC for our past 4 stays, and have two upcoming stays booked also on rented points. We have had wonderful experiences, and feel it's a great alternative to direct-booking. In my opinion, it's a high value for your money particularly in terms of proximity to the parks.

Which leads into transportation. My family puts high priority on convenient transportation to the parks. We really prefer to stay at resorts that give us plenty of transportation options ASIDE from the buses. This was really the push for us to start renting DVC, since the resorts that offer the best transportation options are deluxe resorts, and of course we were looking for a way to make that sizeable nut a little more affordable. Back when we started renting DVC, moderates (and values) were almost exclusively bus-only, but they've come a long way since then with the Skyliner, so if we were to stop renting DVC, we'd probably also consider a moderate along the Skyliner route.

So, after transportation, our next biggest priority is always theming. We have young kids (now 6 and 2) and are also from the Northeast, so I do get what you're saying about Boardwalk, Yacht Club, Beach Club. That said, we've had absolutely wonderful stays at each over those, along with the Grand Floridian and Wilderness Lodge. In terms of the kids, I don't find the over-the-top Disney theming (like Art of Animation) necessary for them to have a good time. Would they love it? Yeah, I'm sure they would, and I also know people who have stayed there and had great experiences. But my kids love Boardwalk, and being able to see Spaceship Earth from our balcony. Our daughter absolutely LOVES the fanciness of the GF They love the pool at Beach/Yacht Club. It's a lot up to preference of course, but I figure they get tons of characters and such in the parks, to the point where I wouldn't sacrifice convenience of transportation solely for that.

Also, my personal experience is that with small kids, Magic Kingdom is the priority and I prefer to be closer to MK for that reason. It's why our next two stays are at GF and WL. Magic Kingdom has the highest number of rides my youngest can ride. When my littlest is older, I'd love to do the Epcot area resorts again because personally I just love being able to eat dinner over there and just walk back to my hotel room.

 

[motherof5]

We love Animal Kingdom lots of activities at the resorts.

 

[Rory607]

I relate to this, my oldest doesn't like fireworks either. Were you able to see/hear fireworks from EP or HS from BC/YC? I personally love the idea of walking to Epcot because it's by far the favorite for my husband and I. I guess I don't want to feel guilty bc I booked close to a park that we like more than what the kids can do, haha.

We could see Epcot fireworks from our room’s balcony. Not a perfect view, of course, but enough to enjoy. I assume you would be able to see from the pool, too. I know you said you weren’t into the theming of Yacht and Beach, which I can understand. But the area is very peaceful and we really enjoyed it. There is also a fun character breakfast at Beach Club. And don’t feel guilty for choosing to be near what you like. It’s your vacation, too! Your kids will have fun no matter what.

 

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

This is a huge help for me because I've been considering the Poly as well because of the mix of theming and proximity. My oldest is a but fearful of fireworks so being close to MK fireworks visible from a distance would be ideal for him I'd think.

My oldest is also anxious about fireworks. She refused to watch them from inside the parks, but she did enjoy seeing them from our balcony at the Grand Floridian (our room was a standard view DVC studio, but had a pretty nice view of the fireworks!). This time we are bringing noise cancelling headphones and also showing her videos of the fireworks (with the surround sound on!) to hopefully pique her interest and also desensitize her a bit.

 

[RoseGold]

Were you able to see/hear fireworks from EP or HS from BC/YC?

If you look at the map, you can see this is mostly impossible from these resorts. Where it is visible, it will not be great.
Well, obviously you can see the really high ones from pretty far out, but to see most of the show, you have to go to the bridge between BW and BC.

 

[Marthasor]

Hi all, new to the boards but have lurked and used the boards as a source of information for a while. Finally made an account, yay!

We're looking to head to Disney between Sept and Nov but are having a hard time deciding where to stay. We have considered renting DVC points also, as we have couple friends who are in the club and have told us primarily about DVC resorts. We were last at Disney in 2020 just before pandemic and stayed at OKW but we found it to be slow with transportation and weren't super fond of the food or layout of the resort.

We will have a car but we would prefer to be in the Disney bubble, within walking distance to one of the parks would be ideal, we think. Our 12 year old has some learning disabilities and doesn't care for fast or high rides so I'm trying to decide whether it would be better to stay at one of the Epcot area hotel, if it's more worth it to stay near MK, or if some of the moderate (POFQ) or value resorts (AoA) would be a bigger hit with the kids even though the transportation is slower.
I should add that we're from the Northeast and we kind of find the BW, BC, YC to be very similar theme to a lot of what we find at resorts and hotels nearer to our home so my thought is that it's more exciting to get something themed in a way that's not super familiar to us, is that nutty?

We want to trip to be relaxing for us, we'd like to not drive to and from parks if we don't have to, but if that's faster and more convenient than I guess it makes sense?I feel like we keep going over the options but we're stuck at a standstill.

My questions are:
Do you find the theming to be super important to your kiddos?
Do the themed hotels have more kids activities at the resort?
Is it faster from AKL, AoA, WL, any park that doesn't have walking path to drive and then park and walk to parks vs waiting for buses?
Do your kids enjoy CR or BW even though the theming lacks (IMO)?
Would you stay near MK or Epcot with kids who aren't big on rides?

Any other advice or tips would be greatly appreciated!

Answers to your questions:

1. No - my DS15 has been going to WDW since he was 1 and has stayed at almost all of the resorts. A toddler won't care at all and won't really notice. Depending on the child, the less stimulation the better (they will get a LOT of stimulation in the parks). As DS got older, convenience and proximity to parks trumped all - no one likes waiting for and sitting on buses.

2. No - every resort has different activities, but the less themed resorts (I think you are referring to the EP resorts?) have a ton of activities for kids.

3. I would not recommend driving to MK. Driving is ok to all other parks. If your toddler doesn't need a car seat, taking uber/lyft/Minnie Vans is more convenient.

4. I would not recommend CR - it feels like an airport hangar. If you want to stay near MK, I would do Poly or GF. WL is fine, but the rooms are small - the boat to MK is lovely. Our absolute favorite resorts are YC/BC and BWI (or BCV, BWV - BCV being our absolute favorite). I am from the Northeast and I don't think these resorts lack theming at all. I stay in EP resorts 85% of the time. If I want more "theming" we will go to a resort for dinner or other activity (dinner at Poly, AKL or WL, for instance)

5. I would recommend the EP area for kids who aren't big on rides. Nothing beats being able to walk right into EP and just stroll around without having to deal with more transportation.

 

[radishtoaster]

If you look at the map, you can see this is mostly impossible from these resorts. Where it is visible, it will not be great.
Well, obviously you can see the really high ones from pretty far out, but to see most of the show, you have to go to the bridge between BW and BC.

This is what I thought when I was looking at the map, and from previous experience in the area. I just wasn't 100 sure.

 

[robinb]

Do you think the pool area that everyone claims is the best at BC/YC is worth it for a kiddo who likes waterparks? My 12 year old is part fish I think.

The pool at BC/YC can be problematic. The beachy toddler area is very nice but the rest of the pool is very big and the slide entrance is actually outside of the pool area and across the sidewalk around the lake. It is impossible to stay with the toddler and even keep half an eye on an older child. My DD was an excellent competitive swimmer when she was 12 and even I became somewhat worried about her while swimming at that pool.