Help Us Decide

[hoffj070]

My DH and I need help deciding between five options for a stay in the second half of May. Our trip will involve the following:

· DH, DS who will be 2.5 years old, and myself
· Planning for 6 nights / 7 days with no parks on our arrival day and one other day during the stay (enjoy the resort and possibly Disney Springs).
· We have 5-day park hopper tickets.
· We are planning a half day at AK and HS with the rest of our time split between MK and Epcot.
· We have been on two trips previously and usually do rope drop at one park, go back to the resort for a few hours in the afternoon, and then go back to the parks late afternoon/evening.


Options:
1) Stay at Yacht Club for all 6 nights
2) Stay 3 nights at Port Orleans – FQ then transfer to Grand Floridian for 3 nights
3) Stay 3 nights at Port Orleans – FQ then transfer to Contemporary for 3 nights
4) Stay 3 nights at Yacht Club then transfer to Grand Floridian for 3 nights
5) Stay 3 nights at Yacht Club then transfer to Contemporary for 3 nights

We are looking for a trip where we can enjoy the resort and have easy access to the parks. A split stay makes us a little nervous to not have a room for one afternoon nap for DS. However, the idea of being close to Epcot part of the time and MK part of the time is appealing.

Debates between DH and I are: Is the Yacht Club pool appealing to toddlers or mainly older kids? Is a split stay an extra hassle? Does walking from Contemporary to MK outweigh the better pool area at GF? Do we need a rental car for the PO-FQ nights (or only if we wanted to do something off-site)?

Overall, the cost is $300 difference between the most and least expensive option, so we don’t want price to dictate which option we pick.

What option would you pick? Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

I would choose option 3
We love POFQ as it is compact/easy to get around. The pool and splash pad will be nice for a toddler. The boat to Disney Springs might be something that your DS would enjoy. If you're planning on a day or two at Disney Springs, the boat is a lovely option. Also, POFQ only has one bus stop which is nice IMO.
Contemporary - you can walk to the MK!!! This is the biggest perk of the Contemporary. A quick walk to MK is a huge benefit IMO. We love the pool at YC (stormalong bay is amazing, but a bit big and maybe too much pool for a toddler, although the sandy area is nice as is the toddler slide area)
Split stays can be easy if you use Disney to transfer your luggage (while you go and enjoy a park, then just take bus to your new resort afterwards and your luggage will be at your new resort) and we like to 'live out of our suitcases' rather than unpack too much if we are doing a split stay. We haven't stayed at GF (on my bucket list) but all of your options sound lovely!

 

[OneinThree]

If it's not at all price dependent, I can't see an upside to the POFQ options. Personally, I don't like split stays, but if you don't mind switching resorts, I'd probably go Beach Club (same pool as YC, but better themed, IMO) and CR/GF. Walking to the MK? I would choose either CR or GF irrespective of that, largely because MK is the first monorail stop from GF. The boat to MK is also a very nice ride. I believe both the GF and CR are must do's. That said, while there's nothing wrong with staying in the garden wing at CR, a theme park view in the tower is a game-changer, IMO.

 

[AllthingsDisMom]

I would choose option one or four! If you're going to do a split-stay, the MK resort area is the way to do it and GF is my favorite if BLT are not an option.

 

[loves to dive]

I'd do option 3. I love the Epcot resorts, we stay in them every single trip. We have been doing split stays for the past 4 years or so and have no problems with them. I'm not a fan of CR and with GF being the last stop on the monorail going to MK it's pretty easy. Going back to GF, it's the first stop on the boat it shares with Poly so there you go. As far as missing nap time the day of the move, if you go ahead and check in early on move day, they know you are there and you might get a room earlier especially if you aren't picky about location. Otherwise, if the little one is in a stroller, they can nap in that.

 

[polyqueen]

If I had a choice, and we often did split stays when our DS was a child, would be #4, but in reverse. GF first and then YC; have the excitement of the monorail resorts first and then wind down during the second half of the trip in the boardwalk area. The recreation staff at the YC (Raouf) is top notch, as is the toddler pool.

 

[Shellyred8]

I would go with #5, or perhaps do the full stay at the Contemporary.

We do split stays a lot, and really enjoy them, but it's only me and DH. It might be more of a hassle with a little one, since you will have more stuff to pack up. But once you pack up, you can just drop your bags with Bell Services and they will transfer your bags for you. So, that part is easy-peasy.

I suggest the full stay at the Contemporary because you can walk to MK and monorail to EP (with a transfer at the TTC).

Have a great trip!

 

[hoffj070]

This is helpful! We would love to stay just at Contemporary or GF, but we cannot find a room available in our budget for the full length of the trip (only club level and suites available). That is what's driving the idea of a split stay.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

My DH and I need help deciding between five options for a stay in the second half of May. Our trip will involve the following:

· DH, DS who will be 2.5 years old, and myself
· Planning for 6 nights / 7 days with no parks on our arrival day and one other day during the stay (enjoy the resort and possibly Disney Springs).
· We have 5-day park hopper tickets.
· We are planning a half day at AK and HS with the rest of our time split between MK and Epcot.
· We have been on two trips previously and usually do rope drop at one park, go back to the resort for a few hours in the afternoon, and then go back to the parks late afternoon/evening.


Options:
1) Stay at Yacht Club for all 6 nights
2) Stay 3 nights at Port Orleans – FQ then transfer to Grand Floridian for 3 nights
3) Stay 3 nights at Port Orleans – FQ then transfer to Contemporary for 3 nights
4) Stay 3 nights at Yacht Club then transfer to Grand Floridian for 3 nights
5) Stay 3 nights at Yacht Club then transfer to Contemporary for 3 nights

We are looking for a trip where we can enjoy the resort and have easy access to the parks. A split stay makes us a little nervous to not have a room for one afternoon nap for DS. However, the idea of being close to Epcot part of the time and MK part of the time is appealing.

Debates between DH and I are: Is the Yacht Club pool appealing to toddlers or mainly older kids? Is a split stay an extra hassle? Does walking from Contemporary to MK outweigh the better pool area at GF? Do we need a rental car for the PO-FQ nights (or only if we wanted to do something off-site)?

Overall, the cost is $300 difference between the most and least expensive option, so we don’t want price to dictate which option we pick.

What option would you pick? Thanks in advance for your help!

Of the options you've listed, I would choose option #4. The Yacht Club pool is really nice for toddlers, IMHO. They have a huge, shallow sand-bottomed children's pool plus some sand areas where they can dig (if you buy a child's meal at Hurricane Hannah's, it comes in a sand pail!). IMHO, walking to MK does not outweigh the better pool area at GF. Plus, GF, overall, IMHO is a much nicer resort than CR.

One thing to consider (if you haven't already), given your park plans, 6 nights at Poly would be ideal, IMHO. You will have a zero entry pool and children's splash area, the monorail to MK plus you can walk to TTC to get to EP. For your park plans, in terms of resorts, Poly would be the most convenient.

 

[CynBeth]

I would either stay at YC the entire time or do #5.

 

[SwanVT2]

Took DD to Beach club at age 3 and the pool was overwhelming .She was too small for the slide and much of the pool was too deep. She liked the sand a little bit but we enjoyed the quiet pool with her more. Last year at age 4 she LOVED the boardwalk pool kid area with the elephant and their quiet pool. She wanted to go on the boardwalk slide but it was closed for refurbishment. This year it is swan and dolphin. Next week! I like their shallow pool and I think she will enjoy the slide and walk in areas to swim. Just an idea..you could save some staying here!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Took DD to Beach club at age 3 and the pool was overwhelming .She was too small for the slide and much of the pool was too deep. She liked the sand a little bit but we enjoyed the quiet pool with her more. Last year at age 4 she LOVED the boardwalk pool kid area with the elephant and their quiet pool. She wanted to go on the boardwalk slide but it was closed for refurbishment. This year it is swan and dolphin. Next week! I like their shallow pool and I think she will enjoy the slide and walk in areas to swim. Just an idea..you could save some staying here!

Did your DD use the small children's slide behind the Flying Jib slide? That was the one my DS used when he was that little.

 

[SwanVT2]

Did your DD use the small children's slide behind the Flying Jib slide? That was the one my DS used when he was that little.

She did not want to go without me and they wouldn't let us ride together.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I love split stays between the monorail resorts and the Epcot resorts. I'm not sure I would do one for a six night trip though...it's a bit short especially with kids, just because there is more packing involved.