Parents of preschoolers and toddlers. . . help me decide

[wishesUT]

We booked the bounceback to return to WDW from September 25th-October 1st next year. We booked two rooms, one for my parents, and one for me, DH and our two sons. They will be 5 and 2.

This year we stayed at the POLY and we really liked it , but I have conflicted feelings about where to stay next year. My older son HATED the slide at the Poly and never went down it again after the first attempt . Both of the boys really enjoyed digging in the sand at the beach and we loved the easy access to the monorail. So for next year I am considering. . .

Poly
BC
WL
AKL
POFQ

The price savings at POFQ is tempting since we could upgrade to deluxe dining, but I really want to stay where we will be the most comfortable and where the boys will have the most fun at the pool. I think we may rent a car next trip, so transportation won't be as big as an issue.

Any opionions?

 

[rcraw45425]

GIven the ages of your boys, I'd recommend either WL

or YC/BC

the view from WL was a courtyard view room, 6039. IT had two queens. There are also rooms there with a queen and bunk beds if you like those (we don't for safetys sake)

At BC/YC, I'd recommend YC as you are more likely to get rooms with balconies(fullsized as opposed to maybe getting a step out only at BC). The pool there is zero entry with a sand bottom and mega water slide. The complex is called Stormalong Bay and is actually a mini water park with lazy river too.

I'd recommend deluxe if in the budget because you get inside corridors, kids clubs, table service dining (at POFQ you have to got to POR to get TS) and most of all: queen beds. Moderates have full beds and no balconies at all.

With your parents coming with you you might want to concider the EPCOT resorts, you can walk to EPCOt, boat ride to MGM. YOu have a ton of dining available over there too. Both are great locations with (in our opinions) fun pools that are small kid friendly. The slide at WL comes in in a pretty shallow area too, which I liked. All Disney resort pools have life vests available at no charge too.

 

[wishesUT]

Thanks rcraw45425
Love your pictures. They both look like beautiful resorts. I have stayed at the YC, but I was single then and didn't look at the resort in the same way as I do now that I have kids. I thought the BC sounded like it might be more "kid friendly", but after reading your comments I'm thinking the YC might be the better choice.

 

[klinlin]

My boys loved the pool, especially the slide. The location is great, and the reosrt was so relaxing. I had it booked for this years trip, but saved $$ with a code at BC.

 

[rcraw45425]

Personally, our girls (10 & 12 now) have always preferred the YC. I'll be honest, BC is a little bit closer to the International Gateway but every time we go over to dine at Cape May, the lobby area is total chaos, kids screaming and running wild. Once we even saw some, I kid you not, climbing the drapes on the breezeway from CApe May around the corner toward YC. Parents thought it was cute till the rod and cutains came crashing down. They quickly walked away. We have never stayed at BC but our upcoming trip will be our third YC stay.

WL is nice, there is a boat ride to MK and Ft. Wilderness, along with a resort launch that takes you to CR, from there you can hop the monorail to the other resorts and TTC for the EPCOT transfer, if you desire. At Ft. Wilderness there is a petting zoo, horseback riding and Mickey's Backyard BBQ dinner, (outside) along with the Hoop De Doo review and Chip & Dale's Sing Along Marshmallow roast. In the warm months they ofter show a Disney movie outside over there. There is also a trail to walk over from WL. They geyser erupts hourly from 7AM to 10PM too, and can be seen from the courtyard rooms:

At those ages, with a Double Stroller, it's hard to beat the convenience of the monorail, but these are some other options with decent transportation, although, if you drive you'll be fine since you have the parking pass. The boat at both resorts is big enough too that you don't need to fold the stroller, although you do on the resort launch. HTH

 

[rcraw45425]

My boys loved the pool, especially the slide. The location is great, and the reosrt was so relaxing. I had it booked for this years trip, but saved $$ with a code at BC.

We also booked WL for this trip (again), but as you we got a code (AAA) for YC making it cheaper than WL rack. That always seems to happen, for some reason we can never get a discount at WL. Oh well. Our first YC stay in Feb. '05 was $197 a night with an AP discount.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

Never stayed at WL...but want to

I second the above poster who is going back to the YC..shortly...I am so jealous!! lol

Please....listen....we had a toddler with us She loved the pool complex at YC/BC...the kidie area with ALL the sand....and its only about 2 ft deep if thta is some places...is on the YC side!!! We loved it...Kids are welcome everywhere!! You can see them in the pool as opposed to running through the lobby lol j/k

Our DD loved it!!!! And we have done the Poly....

 

[rcraw45425]

Our first Disney trip with kids was when ours were 11 months and 33 months. We stayed at the Swan (first time onsite, we were bitten even if it wasn't an"official" Disney resort). We loved the convenience of walking or taking Disney transportation with our double stroller. Subsequent trips followed quickly, we were hooked . The whole time they were in strollers we stayed either at the CR (loved the old theming and decor, not crazy about it now) or one time at the GF (wonderful, had a medical convention rate of $200, unheard of now). In Feb. '04 we stayed at the YC for our first time (AP holders, loved those AP rates). We actually went three times in '04,GF for spring break, POFQ in July (never again), ending with a split stay at the WL/Poly in October and did the Halloween Party. It is so much fun, but may be a bit much with your little one. The pool at YC does seem to be very child friendly, I saw tons of tiny ones playing in the sand bottom. There is actually a very shallow part just for them.

 

[hmillerbarilla]

I have a pre-schooler & a one year old & will be back for the "bounceback" in september too. We booked the Poly but after reading this the YC & BC sound great. I've been thinking about the pool there...
We always stay at the CBR and have loved it, since we always rent a car and transportation wasn't an issue with the double stroller. But, I believe the pool there will still be under construction next september.

You sure have a fun decision to make! Good luck!

 

[dvcnewgirl]

Just a thought but wouldn't the pool at BC keep a 2yo running a lot, I think it would be hard to relax there with such young children. ( I have not experienced it just wondering). POFQ is my fav with young ones it is so small and quaint (and I am cheap! ) but my daughter loved the slide and it was easy to get around. Good Luck with whatever you do!

 

[mom22boys]

My older son HATED the slide at the Poly and never went down it again after the first attempt

Sorry, OP, I know this is off topic, but why did your older son hate the slide? Was he only 4 this year? My boys will be almost 8 and just turned 5 for our next trip in May 2008 and the Poly is one of our top contenders right now. I am guessing the newly 5 year old might not like the slide, but I was hoping our almost 8 year old would love it.

Besides the Poly we are also considering the WL. My only concern with the WL is the transportation. I have heard conflicting reports about the bus service. I was thinking if we stayed at the WL we would rent a car. Any thoughts anyone?

Like you, YC is also on my list of places to stay some day, but I think we will hold off on this one until our younger DS can thoroughly enjoy SAB.

Thanks!

 

[alldiz]

My choice is WL....
place is so beautiful and relaxing...

Awesome lobby with tons of nooks and crannies to explore....
Fun pool...
WCC cafe a lot of fun....

Was your son scared of the poly slide....if so the POFQ slide
is the tamest of them all.....

I would not recomment the BC....very large pool area...with 2 children wanting
to do 2 different things you will be running and NOT relaxing.
Happy Planning
Kerri

 

[ldo]

It's not a huge slide at Poly, but it might be "too big" for a 5 yr old---but by 6+, most kids would love it. MY 7 yr old spent hours there.
We also like AKL pool. Slide might be easier for a 5 yr old. Nice playground right be pool area (with only 1 way in/out to corral a 2 yr old). I think playground has sandy bottom(??), so you could bring sand toys.

ps--when my kids were in the 5 range, I put life jackets on them for the slides and they felt more secure, as they did not go under when they came down. I know Poly and Saratoga springs have have life jackets--so I assume all Disney pools have them--you have to check them out. Esp. good when you are trying to watch a smaller child, as well.

 

[aljack33]

My DD was 4 when we last took her and she will be 5 when we take the next trip. I really wanted to change resorts this time, but I just cannot give up the Poly for the convenience of the monorail. I don't know what we would have done with her if we had to wait for buses towarded the end of the night. As it was my DH had to carry her from MK and Epcot to the monorail sleeping. We are doing a split stay next April at the Poly and BC - Baby steps as far as moving away from a monorail resort!

I am hoping when she is 6, we can try another resort all together. We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Poly, but it would be nice to try some others too. It's all about convenience for us at this age.

 

[jel0511]

Here is another option, how about the GF? My guess is that you DS didn't like the slide because it's all enclosed and in the dark and pretty rough. I've been on almost every WDW resort slide and the Poly's is probably the roughest, I'll never do it again! The GF gives you the same convenience as the Poly, and the slide is MUCH tamer and all outside. Also, I vote no for the YC/BC, since the slide is HUGE and not suitable for a non-swimmer (as you can't wear floatation devices on it). They do have a shallow area with sand, but I'm not a fan. It's not real sand, but manufactured silicone beads (small like sand) and are very scratchy. Also, I didn't like the birds from the lake coming into the pool and doing their business, it just didn't seem very clean to me. There is a small slide for little ones, on the side by the big slide entrance, so that pool isn't relaxing at all.

 

[wishesUT]

Thanks everyone for your very helpful input.
My son didn't like the slide at the Poly because of the tunnel that you go through. It really frightened him! Otherwise we really loved the resort. It is so beautiful and relaxing!

I think I'm leaning towards WL or YC and still possibly POFQ for the cost savings. I don't know about the YC slide though, since you can't wear a lifejacket and the slide is long. My boys thought wearing the lifejackets was great (they pretended to be firemen whenever they had them on). The hard part about going to Disney is there are so many wonderful places to stay it's hard to choose. But I guess that's the best part about it too!

I think I'll check out the specific resort threads and see if I can narrow it down.

 

[MissMagnolia]

The slide at the Beach Club scared the @$!!% out of me. They tried to tell me that my 3 year old would be fine. HA! No chance. Having said that, the BC pool is fantastic. They do have a smaller slide that the kids loved.

 

[wishesUT]

The slide at the Beach Club scared the @$!!% out of me. They tried to tell me that my 3 year old would be fine. HA! No chance. Having said that, the BC pool is fantastic.


Well, if it scared you it certainly isn't for my will be 5 year old.

Does anyone know whether there is a beach at the WL where my 2 year old could dig in the sand? I honestly think that digging on the beach at the Poly was the highlight of his Disney vacation.

 

[MissMagnolia]

See my photo of the BC pool - all sand but not the yucky sand that sticks to you. It was fantastic. I was finally able to get the photos to work. They do have a smaller slide that the children did love. I think the photo I have of it is not on this computer, but my 3 year old and 6 year old really enjoyed it. MUCH smaller and just as fun.

If you want sand, then the pool at the BC/YC is the way to go.

 

[RLRDA]

I would consider AKL, especially if your kids like animals. You can see the animals whether your room has a SV or not, although SV is very cool....you wake up in the morning to giraffes and zebras (among others) walking beneath your balcony. There are outside areas to view the savannas as well.

The resort is gorgeous, lots of activities for the kids, the pool is zero-entry which is great for little kids (a few of your choices might be zero-entry (BC?) but I don't think WL is if memory serves me). The slide at AKL is on the mild side.

AKL, to some but not me, seems "far away" so having a car to feel connected to the rest of WDW might be another "pro".

We loved staying there. We have also stayed at WL and love it there, too, but my "vote" would go to AKL.