Not sure where to stay with small kids? Have some choices but not sure which one?

[sunnymom5]

I narrowed my choices to the ones listed below. I am looking for the one that would best suit my family. The youngest in our party are twin 2 year olds. I want something that is really kid friendly. I realize all of disney is kid friendly but some are more so. Also, what is the difference between Wilderness lodge and Animal Kingdom? Also, at the Animal Kingdom lodge is it close enough to walk into Animal Kingdom or do you still have to use Disney Transportation.

Wilderness lodge
Animal kingdom lodge
Contemporary
Polynesian

 

[ktlm]

You'll probably get more responses if you post this on the resort board. They are all kid friendly, but I would say WL or the Poly for that age. We stayed at WL with a 2 year old and she loved it there. We have also stayed at the Poly when she was 3, and at AKL pre-kid.

WL and AKL are similar and kind of have the same feel style wise. The pool at AKL is a zero entry, which is nice with kids. The big difference is the animals at AKL. There is no where else that you can go out on your balcony (Savanah rooms) and watch the giraffes. AKL is fantastic, but with 2 year olds you are going to want to spend more time at MK (I'm an overprotective mom and I also did not want my 2 year old out on a room balcony at AKL, which is my favorite part of staying there). WL is a short and nice boat ride to MK (one type of boat, you don't have to fold the stroller and one you do- we got lucky and got to roll on about 80% of the time), and the Poly you can roll the stroller right on the monorail to go to both MK and Epcot.

What is nice about WL is that everything is in one building, so when I wanted to run out to the gift shop or CS at night while DH was in the room with DD, I didn't even thick twice about it. At the Poly, our room was far from the Grand Ceremonial House (lobby, gift shop, restaurants), and I did not feel comfortable running around those grounds by myself at night- it was too dark and there weren't enough people on the paths. The Poly does have bigger rooms than WL, which can be a big plus with 2 kids that little. The Poly is more expensive than WL, so that may be a consideration for you too. AKL you get everywhere, including AK, by bus. You also have to fold the stollers up every time you get on the bus at WDW. We will definitely go back and stay at AKL again when DD is a little older, but for now we prefer WL or Poly. The style of the CR just doesn't really appeal to us, but some people love it.

 

[chrismb22]

We love the WL lodge with kids -- my friends loved the fact that they could just take the boat home from MK at night -- they said it was much easier than the bus. That's where we'll be staying next trip

 

[budbeerlady]

AKL is not within walking to AK, you would take the bus.

If you will be spending more time at MK and Epcot I would stay at Contemp just to have the monorail to jump on for naps. AKL is very nice, we liked it alot but its a longer bus ride to MK.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

I narrowed my choices to the ones listed below. I am looking for the one that would best suit my family. The youngest in our party are twin 2 year olds. I want something that is really kid friendly. I realize all of disney is kid friendly but some are more so. Also, what is the difference between Wilderness lodge and Animal Kingdom? Also, at the Animal Kingdom lodge is it close enough to walk into Animal Kingdom or do you still have to use Disney Transportation.

Wilderness lodge
Animal kingdom lodge
Contemporary
Polynesian

Small kids = strollers So I think a monorail resort would be your best bet. The polynesian is really a great hotel, nice zero entry pool and on the monorail or walk to the Transportation and ticket center for trips to Epcot. I always try to avoid buses if I can.

Contemporary is nice as well...we liked the bay lake towers but polynesian seemed a little more convenient.

I haven't stayed at either of the lodges Animal Kindgom is near the Animal Kingdom park, while Wilderness is closer to the Magic Kingdom...both of them are only accessible by bus. Animal Kindgom is a great hotel with animals roaming the grounds.

We tend to stay in the Epcot area (Beach Club) so the only place we have to use a bus to get to is Animal Kingdom. My kids have always loved Epcot so we like being about to walk there. We can also walk to Hollywood studios from there and walk thru Epcot to get to the Magic Kingdom on the monorail.

 

[crisi]

WL has the boat to the MK (in fact, it might only be boat to the MK).

AK - pros ANIMALS. OUT YOUR WINDOW. Nice zero entry pool. Best of the Deluxe food courts CONS: Bus to EVERYWHERE. At the edge of property. HUGE. If your room is at the far end of the resort, getting to the food court is a fifteen minute expedition.

WL - pros, GREAT THEMING. Cons - I LOVE this resort and chose it when my kids were small, but I can't think of any reason you'd want to except the theming. It isn't on the monorail. No zero entry pool. The fast food location is far too small.

CR - pros - indoors to the monorail, compact (relatively) for a Disney resort. Monorail to MK and Epcot (switch monorails for Epcot. Chef Mickeys is right there (do make reservations though). CONS: Possibly the least interesting theme for most people.

Poly - pros - love the theme. on the monorail. Really big rooms, great pool. Cons: The longhouses are spread out and you'll probably be walking a bit outside to get to the snack bar or the main pool or anywhere else. It lacks a Deluxe Dining location (not a huge negative when traveling with small kids.

 

[alyssa810]

A co-worker (fellow DISer and friend too) and I just helped another co-worker and friend with this same decision. Our friend was booking only about 2 weeks in advance, and had a really high budget (compared to our usual budgets) and we suggested BC which she and her family LOVED. They were bringing their 2 older children, who are 5 and 3, and they loved their trip.

My own opinions are similar to PPs. I've always wanted to stay at the Poly, but since we own DVC we tend to stay at DVC resorts now. I agree that the long houses can be very far from the "action" though, which is another reason why we haven't stayed here (besides cost) however we do spend a lot of time here, just enjoying the restaurants and buzz around the resort.

I would never stay at CR because I think it's way over rated and boring. We did check out the BLT area last trip, which seemed cool, but I'd rather use my DVC points at OKW. I do love the stores at CR though!

WL is super special to me! It was my first onsite resort, and it's where we were staying when we got engaged. I love the theming and the CMs always seem friendliest IMO! I love hopping on the boat for the ride to MK! I love the pool area; I love whispering canyon cafe too- what would a kid want more than all you can drink milkshakes!

AKL is a great resort too! My biggest complaint is the location- it's so far away from everything (except AK!). The pool is awesome, the restaurants are interesting, and the Mara has really awesome pumpkin soup! Like WL, the rooms can be far from the action, but at least you're still connected to the main building, as opposed to the Poly.

We always rent a car, and we try to avoid the buses as much as possible, but that's just us. If you have a car, where you stay doesn't really matter as far as getting around places; you don't have to worry about your kids being unrestrained in a bus that's going fast, and most importantly, you always have a seat!

I wouldn't discount the Epcot resorts- great locations as far as getting to Epcot and the studios. SAB might be too exciting for your little ones, but the pool at BWI is cool too, and the theming at all Epcot resorts are great! Beaches & Cream has the best burgers on property IMO!

 

[djp0630]

I would choose either Poly or CR since they are on the monorail. I really like the CR because you can WALK to the MK. That is priceless!! It is so easy, especially with young kids. I would also love to stay at the Poly!

 

[Veals_Family]

The farthest walk you have at the POLY is about 5 minutes. PLUS a few of the longhouses are closer to the TTC which then gets you to either the MK or Epcot!

We LOVE the POLY! Especially with children and the stroller!!! The food choices at the POLY are great as well as the beach, volcano pool, and watching Wishes on the beach....

 

[tjlovespooh]

We took DS on his first trip to WDW when he was 17mo and stayed at AKL. It's an amazing resort but very remote in terms of getting easily to/from parks. After that trip I really wished we had stayed at a monorail resort ... easier transportation with the stroller.

That being said, DS did love watching the animals from our room at AKL - and I'd love to go again in the future once my kids are a bit older.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[ktlm]

WL has the boat to the MK (in fact, it might only be boat to the MK).

Nope- you can do bus or boat between WL and MK. (You can also do boat to FW and CR from WL). My MIL's ankle and lower leg swelled up to the size of a watermelon after her 1st day at WDW, so she had to rent an ECV for the rest of the trip. Because of the ECV, they would take the bus back and forth to MK from WL while we took the boat. Most of the time we beat them back, so the bus generally took longer. There was one time they beat us back by about 5 minutes though.

 

[meg_twittles]

We went last October and stayed at AKL with our then almost 3yo DD. We loved it ! I really like the pool with the zero depth entry, but we spent most afternoons at the pool so that was important factor for us. The quick service restaurant was great also. I didn't think the bus rides were bad at all, plus you do not share a bus with any other hotel. Our DD loved being able to see the animals right out our window. Another thing about the pool is that it was open 24 hours, can you tell we love the water It was so nice to come back from the parks and jump into the pool!! Have a wonderful trip.

 

[VAN]

I think with 2 year olds I would choose the Poly. You will most likely spend most of your time at MK and you are connected by monorail or boat so it will be quick and easy to take a break in the afternoon.

Also at the Poly, you are just a short walk to the T&T Center and the Epcot monorail.

I do love the Epcot resorts and also WL, but think with the young ones you would want to be able to take short breaks from the MK if possible.

Also, I think the selection should also depend upon how much time you plan to spend at the resort vs the parks. If you plan to be at the parks most of the time, then the pool/beach amenities won't really matter.

The only thing about AKL is the location; otherwise, it looks to be a beautiful resort.