I need help picking a resort! Never stayed on property!

[ChristopherFamily]

Please help! I want to book tonight but I have too many choices. I have not been to WDW in 8 years. I don't know which resort to pick. We are a family of 5 kids will be 9,7,2 at time of travel. We are looking at staying the first week of December. We will be staying 5 nights. My plan is to do mornings at the park return to the hotel in the afternoon for nap time and then hit the parks again. We have not been able to take a vacation in a long time so I want this to be fun, easy & enjoyed by the whole family.

Here are my choices: Due to the Military discount these resorts are all within the same price range but are all so different.

- AOA - Cars Suite - Love the theme rooms, heard skyline is open and the hotel would be great for the kids. Blue pool will be closed

-Animal Kingdom Villa Standard View - Worried my kids will be upset that we don't have a savannah view (none available for our dates) Worried a regular room would be too small for us.

- Boulder Ridge Wilderness Lodge Villa - know nothing about this hotel or area

- Beach Club - Garden View - love being able to walk over to Epcot & kids liked the pictures of the pool.

I have no idea what to pick. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[AnnaS]

With your kids ages, you might want to consider the closest to MK - perhaps Boulder Ridge.

Beach Club is excellent and you can walk to Epcot - literally a two minute walk. Great pool for the kids too.
AK - you can still view the animals from the lobby if you don't get a savannah view.

We have stayed at all in the DVC portion except for AOA. If you can stay, have you also considered Shades of Green?

Browse pictures/amenties/price, etc.

 

[Lynne M]

Given those choices, I'd go with Beach Club. The pool is the most elaborate resort pool on property, and the location can't be beat. Several other resorts within walking distance, walk or boat to Epcot and DHS, the Boardwalk is fun in the evenings.

As a second choice, the family suite at AoA, as it gives you more room than the standard resort room, and you're on the new Skyliner. The downside is that there's only one eatery at the resort (the food court), the pool is somewhat basic, and nothing's within walking distance.

With your family size, I'd probably not choose the two DVC studio options (Boulder Ridge and AKV). Those rooms will have one queen bed, a sleeper sofa, and a pull-out single bed. I like the studios for singles and couples, but when all the beds are pulled out, there's not much room to move.

 

[lorenae]

Beach Club! If I had the $$$$$, that would be my very first choice. Second choice would be Shades of Green, with two queen beds, balcony or patio on all rooms, and a sleep sofa. Nice pools too, and easy walk to the monorail or the TTC (plus they have buses), and walking over to the Polynesian. Also, great MK fireworks view from the top of the parking garage at SOG.

 

[ChristopherFamily]

Thank you all! I looked into SOG but with the Military discount I can stay at these other places for almost the same price.

 

[lorenae]

Thank you all! I looked into SOG but with the Military discount I can stay at these other places for almost the same price.

Well, it is a deluxe class resort, and much nicer than AoA, etc. It’s got more sleeping surfaces than many of the others as well, and it’s roomy. The pools are great. The access to the monorail is a big benefit (it’s across the road from the Polynesian) and it has coffee shops and restaurants if you eat at the hotel for breakfast or other meals. That’s why it would be my second choice right after Beach Club (and it was MUCH cheaper than the others, depending on the member’s rank/rate).

 

[VandVsmama]

Given your family & your situation, if it were me making the decision, here's what my preferences would be in order from top pick to bottom one:

1. Beach Club - because of the pool. Your kids will love it.
2. AoA - because of the bigger room and you can take Skyliner to 2 parks.
3. AK villa standard view - we stayed at Jambo house in summer 2018. The pool had a small water slide. My kids loved this resort. Even if you don't have a savannah view, there are many spots around the resort to see the animals. There's a really cool outdoor firepit where you can roast marshmallows at sunset. Many of the CMs are from Africa and there's a lot of really fun kid-friendly things to do at the resort throughout the day...drumming, African story-telling around a campfire outside, etc.
4. Boulder Ridge Wilderness Lodge Villa

 

[VandVsmama]

Well, it is a deluxe class resort, and much nicer than AoA, etc. It’s got more sleeping surfaces than many of the others as well, and it’s roomy. The pools are great. The access to the monorail is a big benefit (it’s across the road from the Polynesian) and it has coffee shops and restaurants if you eat at the hotel for breakfast or other meals. That’s why it would be my second choice right after Beach Club (and it was MUCH cheaper than the others, depending on the member’s rank/rate).

Friends of mine have stayed twice at Shades of Green and their family loves it there. They really like the easy walk to the monorail at the Poly. They have 4 children, so the extra space that they have in the Shades of Green room comes in handy for the 6 of them!

 

[DVCjj]

Own at BCV and never stayed at AOA but think it must be wonderful for a family to have the room of a suite. BCV room is very nice but will be crowded for 5. The Marketplace for food is so limited and shares with the small gift shop.

We stayed at Riviera and took a skyliner to AOA food court Thought such a nice family resort. It is so easy to take the Skyliner to Epcot.

If you feel the need to be be by MK, you can’t beat a one bedroom at BLT. Fantastic. 2 washrooms and walk to MK.

 

[jvalic33]

Definitely Beach Club. We own there and have brought our kids there over the years at all of those ages. The 2 year old will adore the sand play area and that will give you a little reprieve for a bit if you spend some time at the pool. The 7 and 9 year olds, if they can both swim, will love the pirate slide. The only problem is the first time my kids stayed here they kept begging to go back to the pool and skip the parks!!!!!

With everything going on over at HS, you can't beat the access to that park and also Epcot! You can walk or take the ferry to both of those parks and it is just so very convenient.

If you want a cute character breakfast you have to go no farther than your resort. The beach costumes are adorable on the characters and while the food is not the best of the buffets, we enjoy it for the convenience when we're staying at BC. There is also a phenomenal a la carte breakfast at Captain's Grille which is in your resort and the lunch there is amazing. We also love the Yachtsman for dinner.

You have the amazing Boardwalk to walk through in the evening and the kids will all adore the acts on the Boardwalk and getting an ice cream and just relaxing before you walk over to your resort for bed.

The service at the BC has always been wonderful and they really seemed to cater to us as a larger family and made check in so easy when we arrived with all the kids of different ages.

We also love AK and you can't go wrong their either, however we do get a Savannah View room when we stay there and the in resort activities are amazing, but having not been in WDW for 8 years you will want to get over to the parks and AKV is just not as convenient. It's not terrible, but just a little bit more of a hassle.

IMO - Wilderness Lodge is not as convenient as some of the other resorts and I wouldn't even put AOA in a category that touches BC or AKV.

Hands down BCV and if you have specific questions about kids/ages and what they would like, feel free to ask. Our kids range from 4-13 so we have experience with all those ages there.

 

[Babsy]

With the age of your children, I would be inclined to pick either the Boulder Ridge villa or there AoA suite. The BRV is my first choice as it is a boat ride from the MK - a Theme park in which you will likely spend a large portion of your time. It is an easy and pleasant boat ride to/from the MK, but I believe that they also have a bus that is v very quick.

AoA would give you more space in your room and privacy for Mom and Dad in the nighttime, plus two bathrooms and a kitchenette. It also has the Skyliner to Epcot and. DHS. So, if you plan more time in DHS/Epcot, then this might be the better choice.

Akl is awesome! We often book standard or pool view to save $$$. There are lots of viewing areas to go watch the animals. Surprisingly, we have often had them entirely to ourselves! They have nice comfortable rocking chairs to relax in. There are also lots of activities at the AKL. the food choices here are amazing and the Quick service (Mara) is our favourite on property. Jiko is top notch as a signature restaurant, and Boma is a great buffet.

The BC is. nice and has a great pool b ut many people find it difficult to keep track. of their kids there and Dec isn't the best month for swimming.

Have fun choosing!

 

[Deb & Bill]

You are technically a family of four plus one under the age of three for this trip . If you book AKL-Jambo House, you'd have a view of either the pool or a partial savanna view. You'd be on the fifth floor. If you book AKV-Kidani Village, you have either a parking lot, pool or partial savanna view. AKV and BRV do not have a bed for a fifth sleeper in the one bedroom. BRV has a fold down murphy bed in the studio, plus one queen bed and one double sleeper sofa. The AKV studio will not have the murphy bed, just one queen bed and one double sleeper sofa. Both the studios have a microwave, toaster and coffee pot, plus undercounter refrigerator (maybe no freezer section). The one bedroom will have a full kitchen and a washer and dryer right in the villa.

But at AKL/AKV there are lots of viewing areas in the corridors or off the lobby areas where you can sit and watch the animals if you don't get the partial savanna view. You can take a boat from WL to get to the MK from BRV.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I would pick Beach Club. The proximity to EP and DHS alone make it a winner, IMHO. The rooms are spacious, the pool complex is really nice and you'll have access to all of the other restaurants and entertainment/recreational activities on the Boardwalk. There is nothing more convenient than being able to walk into EP and walk/boat/Skyliner to DHS.

 

[AnnaS]

I would definitely not stay at any of the resorts with 5 people if you are choosing to stay in a studio. I would pick AoA suites. Have not stayed here though so not sure how much my input means.

If you can stay in a 1BDR - (rent points) - then Beach Club is and always is my first choice (own here).

Good luck, let us know which one you choose

 

[TTA Rider Matt]

Beach Club all the way. The convenience of being able to walk to 2 parks is excellent, especially if you are planning to go back for mid-day breaks, you don't have to wait on transportation if you are at DHS or Epcot. The studio could be a little tight for 5 of you, but I think the perks of the BC make it worth it.

 

[Sue M]

My pic would be BC or YC. Location is great and rooms have 2 queen beds with some having a daybed too. I think they have more room than a DVC studio and you don’t have to mess around with pulling out beds. Both have food options for breakfasts imo that are adequate. I have a preference for the YC side as you are guaranteed a full balcony or patio.

 

[Little E]

Of your choices, I have only stayed at AoA. So, I can't speak to the other resorts, but I would vote for AoA, especially for the ages of your kiddos. The suites have two full bathrooms, and lots of space. The grounds at AoA, especially the Cars area, are so amazing! My boys felt as though they were walking onto the Cars movie set! The food court was great and offered a ton of options and both the main pool and the smaller Cars area pool were fabulous! We stayed pre Skyliner there, so it's great to have even more transportation options.

Wherever you choose, I hope you have a magical family vacation!

 

[nkereina]

- AOA - Cars Suite - Love the theme rooms, heard skyline is open and the hotel would be great for the kids. Blue pool will be closed

If price difference between this and your other resorts are negligible, I would rule this one out. We love AOA, but one of the reasons we love it is because the price point is less. The advantage AOA will have over your other options is that it has the most robust quick service options.

-Animal Kingdom Villa Standard View - Worried my kids will be upset that we don't have a savannah view (none available for our dates) Worried a regular room would be too small for us.

There are plenty of places to see the animals from at the resort. This is the next best option in terms of quick service options, and the pools are great here. Is the room you are considering in Jambo House? That would be my preference. The biggest con here is that you have to rely on bus transportation everywhere.

- Boulder Ridge Wilderness Lodge Villa - know nothing about this hotel or area

Boat service to MK, Contemporary, and Fort Wilderness which are great options. Being near the other resorts gives you easy access to other dining options. The theme of the resort is something most people love or hate. Those from the Pacific Northwest tend not to like it because they're used to it. We're from NY and love the theme because it reminds us of the Pacific Northwest, which we do not get to visit often. Wilderness Lodge also has some good TS dining options.

- Beach Club - Garden View - love being able to walk over to Epcot & kids liked the pictures of the pool.

Love this location for easy access to Epcot and DHS, but not sure I'd stay in a non-villa room with 5 people. The pool is notoriously awesome, but its worth noting that it does get very crowded because of the popularity of it. There are also blind corners of the pool with the shape of the lazy river, so some people complain about not being able to have eyes on their kids at all times from where they are sitting. There's also a section of the lazy river that's quite deep.

Of your options, my first choice would be Boulder Ridge Villa, then AKV Villa, then Beach Club, then AOA.

 

[DrunkJam]

I love WL, so that would be my first pick. BRV.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

WL BRV would be my first choice for a pre Christmas visit. WL is magical at Christmas
The boat to the MK is convenient and we’ve never had any bus issues to other parks at this time of year. The fireplaces offer a great place to enjoy a hot chocolate after a busy day.

BC is wonderful too! proximity to both EPCOT and HS is a true bonus! If the pool is a must, SAB can’t be beaten.
Having said that though... our last visit to WDW during a first week in December was too chilly for swimming - sun goes down about 4:30pm ish and it quickly became jeans & windbreaker time!