Marriott Suites easy DL access?

[kstand]

Hi, planning our first DL trip for this fall. I'm leaning toward Marriott Suites, since a huge priority is a room with separate sleeping and living areas. I have a 4 year old and a 1.5 year old. Don't want to have to go to bed at 8pm with them! Also I like the restaurant choices near the hotel as opposed to Marriott Courtyard (red robin, starbucks inside for quick breakfast). My young one is not a good sit-down restaurant baby. I chose Marriott since my husband requested a "nice" hotel rolleyes:thanks for the planning help, honey).

So my question is, is getting to and from the park pretty headache free here? I know it's only a few blocks away, but that can seem pretty huge with one or two tired, hot, cranky kids who need a nap STAT. Is the ART easy with little kids or should I just look to stay closer?

 

[skiingfast]

That's a really tough question. Little kids ART or being close?

Personally I'd stay close, you may need to get attached rooms or a suite. Both available on Harbor but not at every place. Easier than putting a tired kid in a stroller on and off a bus.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

If it was me, I would look for some place within walking distance and not worry so much about the "nice." Many of the motels just across the street are clean and adequate although in no way fancy, and many of these motels offer "suites" so that the kids can have their separate space.

We stayed at the Comfort Inn Maingate 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom on our first trip when my DSs were 3 and 5. Not fancy but clean and quiet, free breakfast, plenty of space for us to spread out, and we could close the door between the two rooms. All of these features looked great on paper. Why will I never do this again? I really disliked ART. I wanted to be able to just get up and go. I didn't want to wait at a bus stop or worry about if there would be enough room for us or try to time our coming and going to a tram schedule. Schlepping a bunch of stuff in a stroller is annoying enough, but then to have to take it all out and fold up the stroller...and if the kid happened to have fallen asleep in the stroller... Anyway, it was all really aggravating to me. We've stayed in walking-distance hotels ever since even though the boys have long since grown out of strollers. If this kind of hassle is a small enough price to pay though for "nice", roomier accommodations and you plan on spending a good amount of time back in your room or hotel enjoying the amenities, then to each their own.

 

[kstand]

Sound advice. Thanks, guys. Those were my exact concerns regarding the ART.

 

[disneydreamer74]

I totally agree about the shuttle. We wanted to stay at a nicer hotel last year, so we chose the Hyatt. Yes the hotel was fabulous..but the shuttle? what a hassle!! OMG! Too many ppl were trying to crowd on the bus and nobody controlled how many people got on. We were packed like sardines, stroller and all! A little girl I didnt know had to sit on my other knee to keep from fallilng on me b/c she was standing for the drive..it was uncomfortable and a hassle..so we opted to drive back and forth all week which is...yep, another hassle in itself! This year..we will sacrifice cushy hotels for one on harbor just for the convenient location..Good luck to you!