Hotel help

[disneyfirsttimer18]

We are in the very early planning stages of our first (and likely only) trip to WDW. We're wanting to go late February 2019.

We're a family of 5, so some resorts won't accommodate us in one room. I think we've narrowed our search down to WL, BC, YC or Poly. My DH thinks our kids would enjoy the pool more at BC/YC, but I am pulled to WL and Poly for their proximity to the MK. I would LOVE to stay at AKL, but only with a savanna view, which is pricier than I would like.

Which resort do you feel is best for a family of 5, for a likely only trip? TIA.

 

[GrandCalifornian]

Congratulations on your upcoming trip. The first thing to know is that you really can't go wrong. All of your choices are nice Deluxe Disney resorts and you will have a great time. Now to look at the differences... You might want to think about which park you will be spending the most time at. Poly and WL are near MK, and the Poly is right on the monorail which makes transportation to MK very easy. YC/BC are within walking distance of both Epcot and Hollywood Studios, which is nice, but you have a longer way to go (usually by bus) to get to MK. With Poly you could walk to the TTC to get on an Epcot monorail, saving you from having to take two monorail rides to get to Epcot. If your kids are old enough to enjoy Stormalong bay, that really is a nice advantage of YC/BC because it is an impressive resort pool. The others have pools with slides, but not the lazy river type thing that Stormalong Bay has. We really love WL because it is cheaper than the other Deluxes, still close to MK, and it has everything under one roof which is really nice in the rain. It isn't on the monorail though so you have to take a boat or bus to MK, but it is generally a short trip. With a Deluxe room at WL (which you'd have to do to fit 5 in a room) you won't have the cost savings, but the rooms are nice and big and you'd have Club Level access. You might save money at the Poly though with a standard room, which will accommodate five people.
Beware though, Disney trips can become addicting and it might not wind up being your only trip.

 

[maxiesmom]

How old are your kids? If they are around 10 or so and you plan on a lot of pool time, I would go with the Beach Club. If they are younger, I would go with the Poly. The reason being the pool at the Beach Club is massive. You can't see the whole thing from any one spot. Plus you have to cross a public sidewalk to get on the water slide. Not the best pool for younger kids, unless you can keep them in one small section. The Poly pool has a nice slide, and is zero entry. Plus they have added a cool splash area for younger kids.

 

[disneyfirsttimer18]

Beware though, Disney trips can become addicting and it might not wind up being your only trip.

Disney trips are VERY addicting. We went on our first trip to Disneyland 2 years ago and were planning our return trip before we left Disney property. We live a 12 hour drive from Disneyland, opposed to a 33 hour drive (7 hour flight) from WDW.

How old are your kids? If they are around 10 or so and you plan on a lot of pool time, I would go with the Beach Club. If they are younger, I would go with the Poly. The reason being the pool at the Beach Club is massive. You can't see the whole thing from any one spot. Plus you have to cross a public sidewalk to get on the water slide. Not the best pool for younger kids, unless you can keep them in one small section. The Poly pool has a nice slide, and is zero entry. Plus they have added a cool splash area for younger kids.

Our kids will be 11, 9 and 7 at the time of the trip. Good to know about the slide at Stormalong Bay. My oldest is a water slide junkie and his younger brother has to do everythinges he does, so the crosswalk is something to consider. Thanks.

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

Your family will not be able to be in one room at WL. A deluxe room would accommodate you, or a villa. It's our favorite resort, but as a family of five too our youngest will be four soon and we can no longer stay in one room there. I hope you have a good trip no matter where you end up!

 

[disneyfirsttimer18]

Your family will not be able to be in one room at WL. A deluxe room would accommodate you, or a villa. It's our favorite resort, but as a family of five too our youngest will be four soon and we can no longer stay in one room there. I hope you have a good trip no matter where you end up!

If we go with WL, it will likely be in a villa.

 

[alex9179]

We're a family of 5 and stayed at the Poly on our first (and assumed last) trip. We enjoyed everything about it. The transportation options were great and didn't have any issues. My DH and kids especially like the boat to/from MK. The monorail is like a ride to them and the short walk to TTC for the Epcot leg was great. We only had one day warm enough for the pool during our Oct/Nov trip and the kids were on the slide non-stop. The grounds are beautiful and the rooms are very large.

We're staying YC for my 4th, the family's 3rd, trip. I wanted to wait until I didn't have to keep an eagle eye on everyone because the pool is large enough that you can't see all of it. I think it's a great option for older kids and for people with park hoppers. Having two parks within such a short distance is a perfect reason to use them.

February is an unpredictable time in FL. It could be 87 or 47. I know that my kids would want to swim, no matter what, but I draw the line when they'll turn blue from cold. They're delicate . I would hesitate to make pool time one of the top 5 reasons to book a place when you can't count on warm weather. Also, pool rehabs often take place in the winter months. Keep an eye on the refurbishment schedule.

WL and AKL don't have standard rooms for 5. You'd have to look into DVC rentals or suites $$$.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Personally, I wouldn't pick a resort based on a pool for a February stay. The weather can be so variable, there is just no guarantee you'll be in that pool!

Of the resorts you mention, for a once-and-done trip, I would choose Poly. To me, staying at a monorail resort (particularly, one of the original WDW resorts!) is quintessential Disney. There is nothing like standing on the Poly beach and seeing the castle, space mountain, the monorail going by and the other monorail resorts. The theming is beautiful. We have stayed at almost all of the resorts and stay at the EP resorts mostly now (because that is our favorite park), but for our first trips, we always stayed in the MK area for that immersive "I'm in WDW!" feeling.

IMHO, unless you are going down the slide over and over again, the pool at BC/YC isn't that great.