Need Help for surprise B-day for DD

[hohoz]

We want to surprise DD8 for her 9th B-day and take her for a long weekend to US/IOA. Her B-day is the Saturday after Thanksgiving and I know because of crowds I don't want to be there at that time. But I was thinking of going the 1st or 2nd week of December. We never stayed onsite there. So what I need from my Dis peeps is some suggestions.
Should we go late Thursday and hit the Parks Friday AM or should we travel Friday AM? We plan on coming back Sunday afternoon.
Which hotel would be the funnest for her. I was even thinking on splurging for club level since its only a couple of days. Worth it or not?
Which week would be less crowded?

 

[Darcy03231]

We just got back from a 5 night stay at the Hard Rock and my kids loved it! Theming in the hotel is great and they had a lot of fun at the pool - lots of games going on the afternoon/early evening. They also really liked the pool slide.

I would go Thursday night and be there to hit the parks on Friday am.

 

[re121258]

When my boys were 9 & 13 we stayed at the Hard Rock and they also loved it. Every afternoon we headed back from the parks for the activities around the pool.

Actually we are heading back in June, they are now 16 & 19, and we gave them their choice of hotels and they picked HRH again.

 

[hohoz]

Looks like HRH is the hotel choice of Kids. Thanks

Now just need to know about December crowds