Aneille- we are in the same boat with excursions- we will have our 5yr old son and 3yr old daughter with us. She will be a newly turned 3 as her birthday is at the end of September. Sure hope we can get her potty trained by then so we can go in the pools!!!!
Does anyone have a favorite Disney resort that you like staying at for the kids? We are thinking of staying at one of the resorts on the Saturday we get back from the cruise. We can play all day at the resort and then on Sunday go to Animal Kingdom. I heard there is one that has a lazy river. Is that one nice? Is there a pool there as well?
The beautiful thing about
DCL is that they have an ear of the Mickey pool for those Non-PT kiddos!! It's wonderful! It's not a pool but more like a splash area. We loved it because it is right there and dad can go with the older child in the MP while mom sits on the ear side with baby/kiddo. I loved that there was an option for Tori when she was almost three on our first cruise because it would have killed her not to be able to go into the pool!!! AND don't forget
Castaway Cay! No rules there about NPT kiddos. Just remember to bring plenty of swim diapers because they are EXPENSIVE at the parks and on the cruise!!!!
Resorts....ah!!! SOme of our favs -
Value - POP Century - cool place, lots of pools and they are the best - not overcrowded and there is a great "baby" pool near the Hippy Dippy that mommy's and daddy's love because it's such a great lounging pool! Keeps you cool while you watch the kiddos!! THey also have a great food court. Believe they have their own bus unlike the All Stars so that's a plus, too!
Moderate - liked the Port Orleans resorts. Riverside is quieter and has an on site restaurant (and a food court, too) but French Quarter has a really neat kiddie slide and good baby/kiddo pool. PLUS you can get beignets there at the food court!!
Deluxe - MY FAVORITE!!!
Our all time fav is Wilderness Lodge because of the staff!!! Well, Whispering Canyon, the short boat ride to MK, the pools, and the quietness of it all do add into it!!!
That said, our next fav is AKL, where we will be staying after. Nothing like waking up to sit on your patio and watch the animals first thing!!! Boma's is a good restaurant (used to be better so we will see on this trip if it's improved or not). NOT a fan of Jiko's at all!! (personal experience - the food was not to our liking - too salty!- and the waiter dumped a whole tray of after dinner drinks on me - our 10th anniversary - and never offered anything except a short apology!!! Nothing like taking home liquored up clothes the next day on the airplane - drug dogs must've had a field day!!)
Stayed at the GF. Was a dream of mine since I was a kid....must say not a fun resort. The staff was a bit snooty and I always felt I had to shush Tori or tell her to be still. Didn't do the pools, was too cold. Best thing was seeing the celebrities (this is where they stay when they visit!). Saw Barry Manilow, Kelly Ripa (and family - Mark Consuelos really is cuter in person!!!) and heard that Johnny Depp had been there just a few days before!
Yacht and Beach club - this is where the lazy river pool is. There's also a sand bottom pool that doesn't really go more than 3 feet in depth. Fun pools, great atmosphere and TERRIFIC restaurants! Beaches 'N Cream with the icecream (Kitchen Sink is still a popular item on the menu!), and our favorite can't miss on any trip - Cape May Cafe! Great character breakfast in the mornings, and SUPERB clam bake in the evenings! They have steamers, peel n eat shrimp, etc but also tons of other foods - kids section too - for those that don't like seafood that much. They also have really good soups and desserts! Gotta try the Oreo Bonbons! Just as popular as the Zebra Domes at Boma's/AKL. Also great because you have a 5 minute walk to EPCOT's back door or a short boatride to Hollywood Studios! And don't forget the Boardwalk for a good walk to see things, too!!
Haven't stayed at the Poly, Contemporary (too noisy, I've heard) BoardWalk. Limited on info from the mods because I've only stayed at PO. Values, always go back to POP because we LOVE it there!
Hope this helps you a bit - sorry so long!!! Whew, now I've got to get Tori off to school!
Have a great day everyone!!!!
Suzie
It is called Karma.
and 
for her.
DD was 6 DS 9. Kids LOVED it. 
Then we have stayed at the Poly. Pools and beach good but AKL much better in overall atmosphere.. Those are both deluxe resorts. 
I have heard some good things about them. and you could save the $$$. 
