hotel hopping?

[flying_babyb]

If I go hotel hopping (i hear some of them look really cool inside and have pressed penny machines) would a 9 and 11 year old be bored? They dont nap,and neither do I but our parents do. I figured this would be fun to do if they wouldnt be bored.

 

[Perditamarie]

I think they would be bored....take them to the pool and everyone will be refreshed when nap time is over! If time and budget allow, a waterpark could also be very fun.

 

[MariDisney]

We spent our first night hotel hopping last year. My DD was 8 1/2 at the time. We ate dinner at 1900 Park Fare and explored the GF. There is a basin store there that is like heaven for a young girl. We then explored the other two monorail resorts. There are some nice shops and the grounds are beautiful. My DD really enjoyed it.

 

[Minnie]

You could make it fun by make a game out of it - collect a pressed pennie from each resort visited, take a picture of x at each resort, play a game in each arcade (DS's favorite).

Also some resorts are better for visiting than others. For instance does your children enjoy animals? AKL is a must do on our list each year. Gives us a relaxing, airconditioned time where we can relax and DS can enjoy the animals.

 

[TVetsch]

I've wondered about hotel hopping also! Can you just go around and look at the different hotels? We're staying at POP, but I'd love to see AKL especially. It'd be great to see the animals.

Also, I've been trying to figure out the monorail system. At DL and DCA in CA they go through the park and to the hotels...so it's kinda like a relaxing ride sometimes. But I've noticed in WDW it only goes to MK, around Epcot, and 3 hotels...is that right? So if you aren't at those hotels or going to MK are you allowed to ride? We're at POP, and going to Epcot and AK...so are we able to go on the monorail?

Thanks for any help!

 

[crisi]

You can go look at the different hotels. But transportation is an issue if you don't have a car. (You cannot pool hop, just to cut that off at the get go). Kids may or may not be bored, depends on the kids and the hotel. Obviously, AKL is a better "take a peek" hotel with kids than the Grand Floridian.

The hotels on the monorail make an easy loop and an easy MK break - Poly, Grand Floridian and the Contemporary. The WL is just a boatride away (there is a resort ferry loop as well).

Out the back door of Epcot, you can get to both the Boardwalk and the Yacht & Beach Club easily. The Swan and Dolphin are back there as well. The Boardwalk has entertainment out in the evenings.....

You can walk from DTD to SSR, and you can catch a ferry from DTD to PO/POR and OKW. PO/POR is one of my favorite resort to visit. You can rent a cane pole and fish for a reasonable fee.

The remaining resorts involve driving or taking a bus from one of the parks or DTD. AKL is worth a bus ride, but I think the remaining Moderate/Values I'd skip unless I had a car or a lot of extra time on my hands.

For most resorts there isn't a lot to look at. The lobby. Gift shop. Restuarant. The landscaping around the resort makes POR standout, and the Boardwalk entertainment makes Boardwalk stand out. The Yacht and Beach Club has Storm Along Bay - the coolest pool at Disney - visiting might involve a $400 a night hotel bill next time because of the pool.

 

[Magic Mom]

Why don't you just hang out in the parks while the parents nap?

 

[cassandrap83]

yeah, that sounds EXTREMELY boring, especially for a 9yr old and an 11yr old. Go hang out at the pool, or go to DTD. (or go to the parks)

 

[crisi]

I've wondered about hotel hopping also! Can you just go around and look at the different hotels? We're staying at POP, but I'd love to see AKL especially. It'd be great to see the animals.

Also, I've been trying to figure out the monorail system. At DL and DCA in CA they go through the park and to the hotels...so it's kinda like a relaxing ride sometimes. But I've noticed in WDW it only goes to MK, around Epcot, and 3 hotels...is that right? So if you aren't at those hotels or going to MK are you allowed to ride? We're at POP, and going to Epcot and AK...so are we able to go on the monorail?

Thanks for any help!

Yes, you can ride the monorail, although the only time you are likely to need to ride the monorail staying at Pop is if you park hop between the MK and Epcot.

 

[JOCAmom]

OP, the only time my kids enjoyed touring the resorts was when we went last year at Thanksgiving and all the Christmas decorations were up. The other times we tried to tour the resorts with them, they had no interest at all. But they didn't mind touring our own resort.

Where are you staying? Maybe we can give some things to do at your own resort.

 

[TVetsch]

One more question on the monorail...sorry to hijack, but you've been so helpful!

We are only able to go to Epcot and AK, since we're short on time. We've been to DL multiple times, but I'm curious how MK differs. Going through DL on the monorail, you see many attractions and get a good view of the park sometimes. Is the WDW monorail like that? Is it worth it just to take a ride and see MK as well as the loop on the Deluxe hotels? I won't want to drag the family to just see a bunch of roads, but if there's scenery..... Thanks for the help!

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

It must depend on the kid. My guys were just-turned 9 and 10 last fall and we resort-hopped a bunch of times. They loved checking out the different decor, grabbing squashed pennies, seeing the different pools, grabbing a snack, playing at the arcade, etc. We're a pretty laid back group, though, so YMMV.

 

[crisi]

One more question on the monorail...sorry to hijack, but you've been so helpful!

We are only able to go to Epcot and AK, since we're short on time. We've been to DL multiple times, but I'm curious how MK differs. Going through DL on the monorail, you see many attractions and get a good view of the park sometimes. Is the WDW monorail like that? Is it worth it just to take a ride and see MK as well as the loop on the Deluxe hotels? I won't want to drag the family to just see a bunch of roads, but if there's scenery..... Thanks for the help!

No, the MK monorail doesn't go into the MK. It goes from the TTC, around the Seven Seas Lagoon to what at Disneyland would be the plaza in front of the gates.

The Disneyland MK and the WDW MK are weird alternate reality versions of one another "wait, that doesn't belong there!" "What in the world is this?"

If you don't have time, don't ride the monorail. There will be plenty to do in Epcot and DHS without getting on the monorail or hopping resorts.

Here is something to remember. Disneyland was MK, one hotel and a golf course when it opened. The Disneyland parking lot is now California Adventure. The golf course is Downtown Disney. You can walk everywhere if you want.

Disney World is ten miles long and five miles wide. The MK is bigger than the one in Disneyland (not necessarily better or with more stuff, but it simply sits on more land). There are over 10,000 hotel rooms on Disney property alone. 82 holes of golf (used to be 99, they sold off a golf course). Horseback riding out at Ft. Wilderness.