If you upgraded to Deluxe for 1st time with 6 yr old, which resort and why?

[Kimmielee]

My DS (6) LOVES POFQ because of the boat to DTD and the Serpent slide... We started at All Star Sports, then POFQ.... if I went up to a Deluxe, which is best for his age group that he won't feel "lost" in due to size?

Contemporary to experience the monorail? Can you stay at Poly without the view of the Castle? Once you go up can you go back?

Your thoughts/experiences are appreciated!

 

[Demosthenes]

Speaking from the perspective of someone who exeperienced it as a little boy, there is nothing like the Contemporary. The monorail gliding through the loby still gets me to this day, and the scale and size of the hotel are awe inspiring to a little boy. You can't go wring with a tower room. You will either get a view of the Magic Kingdom (what can beat that?) or a view of the nightly water pageant and illuminations fireworks in the distance. It is really impressive to a little one. Of course there is also the huge arcade, the boat access to Fort Wilderness, and Chef Mickey's. Also, the pool is great for kids with a fun water slide.

Here's the downside, once you go deluxe, it is hard to go back. You'll love the balcony and inside corridors. The size of the room is wonderful. The convenience to MK and Epcot can't be beat. It is hard to ever consider a stay anywhere else.

 

[ngtotd_dtrt]

I agree...with those thoughts on the Contemporary, and that it's hard to ever go back to smaller rooms or less convenient locals...at least when traveling with small kids. Soooo...be careful!!

It's pretty magical to be in the Tower on the MK side...almost birdseye view of the castle changing colors all evening/night. Fireworks. Great view of GF. Sunsets. Really cool to look down and see the monorail in the lobby. Convenience. (Bay-side is nice too, but with kids, the MK-view thrills)

I'm also seeing a pattern of people loving the hotel they stayed in as a kid. Some LOVE the Poly, or WL, or CR, etc. Makes for very loyal customers, so you might be saddling your child with a lifetime of expensive disney trips. (I'm still blaming/thanking my folks )

 

[Kimmielee]

Thanks guys!! I just priced a tower room for the 4 days we'll be at WDW prior to our cruise... and it's about $1K higher... expensive is right... but my little one loves Magic Kingdom the best... being so close... wow... makes me think!!!

 

[ngtotd_dtrt]

There are room-only discounts at times which take about $65-90 off each night...some require having an annual-pass, some don't. I'd watch for those (the discounts seem to come out about 4-5 months ahead of target-dates, it seems). Hard to say how crowded the CR will be this year (in terms of discounts offered), since they're getting the new design in the rooms. I personally like the old look better, but the new one is sleek, and the rooms did need renovation. Keep checking mousesavers.com, and allearsnet.com, and these boards, etc. They announce the discount codes on rooms-only and packages as they become available. Be ready and book quickly when those codes are released.

Good luck, and have fun planning!

 

[vicceja]

Hi!

2003 we stayed at ASsp 2005 we stayed at POR AB Now our first Holiday Trip to Disney we will be staying at AKL Deluxe Savannah I chose this resort because the thought of stepping right outside our balcony and seeing the animals....very magical . It will probably be difficult to go back to a Value or even a Moderate after our stay

 

[3boyzmom]

Hi ... We took our 3 DS (2, 4, and 6) to WDW and stayed at the AKL last year. Despite being caught in a hurricane, the bots loved the AKL. My DS6 and DS2 both were captivated by the animals right outside our room and the 2 older boys really liked all of the kid friendly activities and cast members. We all enjoyed the great zero entry pool and water slide. Akl has a good food court and Boma and JIko both offer food choices for the less adventurous eaters. We really didn't mind the location - we never had any problems with transportation.

Good luck!

Stephanie

 

[Got Quattro?]

my daughter has stayed at Yacht CLub, AKL, WL, and Contemp, all between ages 18 months and 4.

We never felt limited by her age at any point.

 

[Yensid_MD]

Stay at the Beach Club. He will love the pool SAB. If you want to make it more affordable check out the Rent/Trade Board on the DVC pages here on the DIS.

 

[Evans Family]

Beach Club all the way...the pool is to die for and it will rival any of the parks in your 6yr old's eyes.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I was going to vote for the Poly. Close to MK (monorail or EPcot) lagoon view of the castle or garden view and you can watch the fireworks from the beach. Volcano slide pool and you can see the castle from the pool!

 

[DisneyFans4]

Once you go up can you go back?

NO, YOU CAN'T!!!!
ENJOY!!!!!

 

[Tinkbellfan]

AKL and WL would be less expensive alternatives in the deluxe catagory. The boat from WL to MK is a great ride. The pool is also not too big (ex SAB) so you can't loose your little one in it. It has a small water slide and every hour a gyser erupts next to the pool. I boat ride will also bring you to the Contemp. for different dinning options and access to the monorail!

AKL - to save some $$, you don't have to get a savannah view. There are plenty of places to see the animals. I have never stayed at AKL(maybe next year), but it was designed by the same person as WL and I love the themeing and peacefullness you feel. Both resorts have amazing lobbies.

It's hard to choose isn't it! I love all the deluxes (to the dismay of DH) and would also recommend BC or BW, but when it comes to saving some $$ WL or AKL is the way to go.

 

[MiknMinMouse]

My kids, currently 14, 7, and 1 love the Boardwalk. Their second favorite is the Wilderness Lodge. This year we're trying the Poly for the first time. I hear it's great for families. I wouldn't go to the GF. I was really disappointed with it. It's beautiful, but other than having the monorail I liked the rooms and service better at Boardwalk.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

AKL for the animals...all of my kids love it!!

 

[cjsmom5]

We have typically stayed at POFQ -- at least once/twice a year since my DS was 18 months -- he is 7 this year. Now, we split our stay between POFQ and AKL. He loves animals and absolutely thinks the kids activities at the AKL are wonderful. He enjoys talking with the guides who are from African, typically. And, he loves waking up and seeing the animals in the morning. The entire experience, if you really like animals, can't be beat at the AKL and yours is a perfect age. I think as he gets older we might make a move to the Epcot resorts for the pool area but one never knows.

And, yes, we do go back and forth between deluxe and moderates ... but we will probably never do the values again. Although after 3 years I am growing founder of the deluxes as I age and as my budget is able to handle it.

 

[Kimmielee]

cjsmom - what is the difference between Deluxe Savannah view and regular? They each state a view of the reserve... what is the difference, I wonder...

 

[3boyzmom]

The deluxe rooms are a bit larger than the standard rooms. They are all on the 5th or the 6th floor of the resort.


Stephanie

 

[cambra]

Hi!

2003 we stayed at ASsp 2005 we stayed at POR AB Now our first Holiday Trip to Disney we will be staying at AKL Deluxe Savannah I chose this resort because the thought of stepping right outside our balcony and seeing the animals....very magical . It will probably be difficult to go back to a Value or even a Moderate after our stay

Hi vicceja....the pic of your boys is ADORABLE!! We have two boys..and will be at Disney on my son's 7th birthday...where did you find that shirt your son is wearing!!! Too cute! We will be there in early November.

Thanks

 

[cjsmom5]

The regular savannah view rooms are on floors 2,3, and 4. Some say the view on these floors is better because as you get up to floors 5 and 6 the views are obstructed by the trees. Others really like the deluxe savannah view floors 5 and 6 and say the trees aren't a factor.

I'm not exactly sure how much bigger the deluxe rooms are than the standard rooms ... and again some say they really notice while others say they can't tell. We really like the Zebra and Kudo Trails. One thing you might want to requrest is to be close to the lobby area which is the middle of the resort. The resort is in a U and if you are at the far end of the U --- especially in the evening with a tired 7 year old -- that can be a long walk. We much prefer the Zebra trail side as it is close to the pool, lobby and to the foodcourt called Mara's.