ISO Suggestions - which resort?

[ltmomof3]

Hi --
I am trying to plan a trip for my family of 5. First trip to WDW for us! We have 3 kids who will be 11, 9, & 8 in Jan 08 when we want to go. This limits us a little as far as which resort, I know. Friends are strongly suggesting the Poly (which looks absolutely gorgeous, but pricey) and others are suggestions a Family Suite at ASMu...I've also heard great things about WL, but I think we'd have to reserve a Deluxe room (also quite pricey)...I'd love to hear from more families of 5 or more who have stayed at one of these...I've been reading post after post on this site and am getting overwhelmed! Thanks!!!!

 

[MELSMICE]

We are family of 5 & have stayed at numerous Disney resorts.

The deluxes are, of course, great, but as you said, pricey.

If you want a full kitchen then I'd say to book a Fort Wilderness cabin. It's great to be able to get up & pop a bagel or english muffin in the toaster. If you don't care about a kitchen then I'd go with Port Orleans Riverside. It has a small dorm size fridge. You can't go wrong with either of them.

POR has more of a themed pool than FW. I think they are both quiet & serene, but I do think that POR has more to offer in the way of amenities at their main building.

Personally, with the exception of a few things (spa, workout room, etc.) I think POR is just as nice, if not nicer than any of the deluxes & we've stayed at all of them but the Grand Floridian.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The Contemporary Resort has large rooms with loads of room for families of five. If you get a wing room, it will not be as expensive as a tower room. But you will still be just walking distance from the MK. You'll have two queen beds and a day bed in your room. Plus just a monorail trip away from Epcot.

For our first trip to WDW we took our two nieces with us, so that made us a family of five. We stayed at the Polynesian and it was comfortable. Again, two queen beds and one day bed.

Moderates have two double beds in them. Except for POR which has some rooms with two double beds and a trundle bed (smaller, maybe twin sized or a bit smaller than that).

If sleeping is important to you and you need more room in bed, you'll want to consider at deluxe resort for the queen beds.

 

[lovesdumbo]

We are a family of 5 who have stayed at the Poly a few times. I really love the Poly-I love the atmosphere, the huge rooms and the convenience of boat & monorail to MK or direct Epcot monorail but now that my kids are a bit older (8, 6, and 4) I've decided to try POR this year. Last year we stayed at POFQ but we had friends with us so we had 2 rooms. My DH actually liked the quiet, relaxing atmosphere of the Port Orleans resorts better than the Poly.

I've stayed at the cabins and liked that they were big and quiet but the transportation wasn't great and they didn't have a "resort" or much of a Disney feel to them. I think for a first trip I would rather stay elsewhere.

I don't think we'll have a problem with the 5 of us in one room. We'll probably have one adult and one child in each bed and the 3rd child in the trundle bed.


Good luck with your decision!

 

[AJKMOM]

We are a family of 5 and have stayed at POR, with one person in a trundle bed; Ft. Wilderness cabins, which I really liked- 2 double beds and a set of bunks; AKL, more crowded but a beautiful resort; and the Contemporary, 2 Queen beds and a day bed. I liked having a kitchen, but Ft. Wilderness is more remote than some places. We had a car, so it was OK.

 

[duckfan78]

Hi --
I am trying to plan a trip for my family of 5. First trip to WDW for us! We have 3 kids who will be 11, 9, & 8 in Jan 08 when we want to go. This limits us a little as far as which resort, I know. Friends are strongly suggesting the Poly (which looks absolutely gorgeous, but pricey) and others are suggestions a Family Suite at ASMu...I've also heard great things about WL, but I think we'd have to reserve a Deluxe room (also quite pricey)...I'd love to hear from more families of 5 or more who have stayed at one of these...I've been reading post after post on this site and am getting overwhelmed! Thanks!!!!

Well being that you are going in Jan. i don't see how it would limit you to which resort. We always go in Jan. Either it be early mid or late jan, the parks are pretty much alot less crowded as the hotels.

We really loved Poly, it has such a great feel and your kids would love it. when you are out there at the pool or the beach, you hear the boats, hear and see the monorail and see the magic kingdom. just a whole disney feel.

we did stay at WL in early jan of this year. it does have a nice winter feel being that it will be cold from where you are coming from. and if you go early enough you will still see all the awesome christmas decorations.

id chose poly, if its your first trip, might as well go all the way.

 

[Lewanc]

Hi --
I am trying to plan a trip for my family of 5. First trip to WDW for us! We have 3 kids who will be 11, 9, & 8 in Jan 08 when we want to go. This limits us a little as far as which resort, I know. Friends are strongly suggesting the Poly (which looks absolutely gorgeous, but pricey) and others are suggestions a Family Suite at ASMu...I've also heard great things about WL, but I think we'd have to reserve a Deluxe room (also quite pricey)...I'd love to hear from more families of 5 or more who have stayed at one of these...I've been reading post after post on this site and am getting overwhelmed! Thanks!!!!

Hi There Mom of 3 -- Reading the disboards can sometimes become overwhelming, but it is good to get the input of others, who quite often have had the same questions. I have family who stayed in the ASMu Family Suites as a family of 6, and were comfortable. These suites don't offer the amenities of deluxe suites, the room sizes are small, and the decor is practical, but seem to have more space than standard rooms.

The cabins at Ft. Wilderness are nice, as they have a full kitchen. Bedding in the cabins in my opinion is uncomfortable (liveable, but uncomfortable). The bedroom is dark even with the lights on, with a double bed and set of bunk beds (the bedroom is a small for this arrangement). The living area has a pull down double bed, nice bathroom and sleeps 6. The theme of the cabins is to make you feel you are in the woods, and this has been accomplished, via the lighting. The most lighting is in the kitchen area which helps to illuminate the living area, and the bathroom has good lighting.

The Wilderness Lodge has a deluxe room (it may be called a junior suite), -- bedroom with two queen beds, and a queen pull out sofa that would suit your needs. The room also has a fridge, wet bar, & coffee maker.

If the Poly is your dream vacation, you could start checking now, and ask for any discounts that would be available at the time you will be visiting. The Poly has rooms with 2 queen beds and a day bed. AAA and travel agencies quite often offer discounts. You can also check out the discount section of the disboards home page. Just click on the DIS Home option at the top of this page. I have included three links below, the first for the cabins at Ft. Wilderness, the second for the ASMu Family Suites, and the third to the Polynesian. If for some reason the links below don't operate, use the DIS Home option, and you can check out much more information on all the resorts from type of accommodations to prices.

Whatever your choice, have a great vacation!!!


http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/resorts/ftwild.htm

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/resorts/asm-suite-review.html

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/resorts/polyrooms.htm

 

[ltmomof3]

Thanks for your responses...I hadn't even considered POR or FW Cabins. I love getting opinions from people who have been there, it's like getting the "inside scoop"!

I'll do more research on discounts and keep reading your suggestions as well as check out the discount link on the disboards homepage and possibly contact a travel service...does it matter which one?

Both the WL and the Poly look like they're more along the line of what I was hoping for, but I have to be concious of our budget.

Thanks so much!

 

[Luv4Mickey]

We are also a family of 5 and have stayed at the Contemporary and the all of the all stars and now the ASMU suites. I have to vote for the suites. They are awesome! Especially since this is your first time going to Disney. The all-stars give you the "disney" feeling. No, the are not "deluxe" resorts, but the suites are different. You have 2 bathrooms first of all, which is AWESOME! Secondly, the parents get their own bedroom, with a door that shuts and locks! Also, their is a small kitchen area that has the resort fridge, sink, lots of counter space and a microwave. That allowed us to bring food back to the room to munch on later or the next day! The other room has a sleeper sofa, a chair that makes into a single bed and an ottoman that converts as well. Therefore each child can have their own sleeping spot without having to share.
January is an awesome time to go because the crowd size is much smaller. Also, it makes using the bus and transportation system very easy. When we go that time of year we use the buses, but in the prime time of summer we rent a car.
Good luck, and you will have to let everyone know which resort you chose!

 

[SuzieN]

Hi there! I also have a family of 5. We stayed at POR last year and we all just loved it! The trundle bed is a bit small but if you're looking for your least expensive option this is it. My oldest was 9 at the time and he was actually the one who slept on the trundle - with no complaints. The resort is absolutely beautiful. There are a lot more things to do than at a value resort. I'm sure the deluxes are fantastic but for the price difference I'll tell you that POR is the nicest hotel [Disney or n0n-Disney] that I've ever stayed at!

 

[MELSMICE]

The trundle bed is a bit small but if you're looking for your least expensive option this is it.

We actually had a roll-a-way & not a trundle. We just folded it up every day. My 17 yr. old DD slept in it, with no problem at all.