please help plan a special trip

[mom25kiddos]

We are going on a very special extended family trip (our family is 7, my siblings family is 3 and my parents). It is meant to be a very special trip commemorating family. My family, and my siblings have been to WDW many times-always staying off site, so our plan to make this trip special is to stay on site. My mom has limited mobility and as such, we were looking at monorail resorts, but not certain if that is the best decision (and of course, given we stay off site, have serious sticker shock when looking at three rooms). We plan to go for a week, and the week before Christmas-we recognize it will be a zoo, but have serious time restrictions with kids school schedules (some of the kids can't be taken out for more than a day or two) and the trip needs to happen this year. So, my questions are, would the monorail resorts be worth it? Would we be better to stay at another resort for less $$? We don't expect to get free dining as it is too late, so are looking at the fall rates (dec 16 for one week). Age of the kids are two 12, 10, 5, 4, 2 at the time of travel, we would book 3 rooms and likely do 4-5 park days. What would you do? We are on-site newbies, and when I called because we were a large party, it was super painful to explore options with the agent, so need to chose and call prepared I think (she would look at a resort then be like, nope, booked, then go to another one, couldn't just pull up what was available). So, open to options and suggestions! appreciate the help-oh and animal kingdom is out for location. thanks!

 

[twocat]

If your mom has mobility issues, renting a scooter is probably her best option. That way, it won't matter all that much where you stay and your options really open up and you could save a great deal of money over staying at a monorail resort. If you are doing 4-5 parks, you WILL have to be on a bus at some point unless you drive yourself.

The other thing to remember is the parks are huge and it's not unusual to put on 4 miles in a leisurely day and double that for commando style.

Getting a scooter will really help several situations ie. resort flexibility, park touring.

Check the official Disney website for resort availability. It will show you all resorts and room types that are available for the date range you enter. Something the CMs on the phone can't do.

The other thing I noticed is you're a family of 7 and you have a 2 year old. That child won't be counted for room occupancy but you will still have 6 people that will count. One or two of them will have to be listed on someone elses room other than yours to maintain the occupancy level of 4 or 5.

 

[nherbert]

Have you thought about two family suites at art of animation, cheaper than deluxe on monorail by a huge amount. Even 3 suites a ton cheaper.
Other cheaper resorts that take 5 in a room with availability are POR, BWI, cabins at FW.

 

[mom25kiddos]

We do plan to get my mom a scooter or wheelchair and have done that before at DL. I won't be surprised if my parents only do MK and Epcot. We do plan on having two of our older children stay in my parents room (or with their cousin). We hadn't looked seriously at AoA just because of distance from the parks. We have primarily looked at GF, CR, and Poly, but the boardwalk area is also appealing because we like the atmosphere. Normally we rent a large house somewhere like Windsor Hills but on-site is the plan for now. Just can't decide on what location would work best for our families and whether it is worth the additional cost to stay on the monorail.

 

[Babsy]

The monorail resorts are awesome! The best choice for families spending a lot of time in the MK, especially. The rooms are larger and the convenience to the MK is unbeatable. Also, the three monorail resorts have very different atmospheres and are easily accessed by each other via monorail. So you have a big advantage for dining at different resort restaurants easily. For someone with mobility issues, the monorail is a dream. IT is so easy to drive on/off with a scooter compared to a bus. From the monorail resorts you can use the monorail to get to both the MK and Epcot which I imagine that your mother would love! It is also a big plus to be on the monorail with children, so it's a win win for everyone to stay here, IMO. It IS a LOT of $$$ though, so give serious consideration to budget. If it works with your budget, Hooray!

Another factor to consider in monorail resorts is the room size. With a large family like yours and a scooter to fit in the room like your Mom, large rooms really make things a bit more comfortable. FYI: The rooms sleep 5 plus a baby (your 2 year old), so you are not technically all able to sleep in one room. You can book one of your children in with your siblings family or with your parents. OR you could look into renting DVC. (not likely to get the DVC rooms at this late date, however). Monorail resort rooms are significantly larger than any other deluxe resort rooms.

Staying in the Epcot resort area will be a bit less money, perhaps, but the rooms are smaller and the transportation is not as good for your family. Yes, you can take a boat to Epcot and DHS, but the bus to the MK is the part that would stop me in your place. With so many young children you would be using the bus often to the MK which is fine, but not as easy.. Also, I found the boats to be a little more difficult to maneuver a scooter onto compared to the monorail. perhaps that is just me, though. Also, the Epcot resorts feel larger. If you have a distant room, you have long convoluted hallways to get through when going to the lobby or transportation. Usually, Storm Along Bay swimming pool is a big draw, but with so many children in your party, the meandering style of SAB might not be as good as the Pools at the MK resorts. The themed pool at BWI is quite a distance away from the BWI side (and has a really creepy Clown slide!)

Choosing between the three monorail resorts will be trickier, but perhaps availability and price might be a deciding factor here. All three are awesome and each has its own unique advantages. You really can't make a bad decision with a monorail resort.


If the budget really won't stretch to deluxe resorts, then I would consider a moderate resort PREFERRED ROOMS or POFQ. That will help keep you all in the same area of the resort which will be important for your group, I believe. With either CBR preferred or POFQ you will be close to everything like dining and transportation. CBR would be my first choice because the pool is great, there is a Table service restaurant and the tropical island atmosphere is so relaxing. POFQ is a small moderate resort so a standard room is fine here. Also POFQ only has one bus stop, which many people really like.

Good luck choosing!!!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I LOVE the EP resort area, but given your mom's mobility issues and the fact that she may only visit MK and EP, I would continue to look at the monorail resorts. It will be so easy for her to get the monorail to MK and EP.

It may be too late, but have you looked into renting DVC points for a some villas at BLT? That may be a more cost effective way to stay on the monorail. Otherwise, the CR garden wing rooms will be your cheapest option on the monorail if they are available.

 

[mom25kiddos]

Thanks for the fantastic advice. I hadn't really thought about DVC, but could try and look. Sticker shock is killing me on the monorail resorts, but honestly I am not paying for it as it is a gift. Also debating my parents staying at GF and rest of us staying elsewhere but perhaps that would be a bigger pain?

 

[toodycat]

My family traveled to WDW in 2012 witn my parents, both of whom have mobility issues. We stayed at the GF. The monorail was very convenient for them. They only visited MK and Epcot as you predicted might happen with your parents. Any monorail resort would work for you. You will probably fnd villas more comfortable and economical than three rooms.

 

[mmmears]

As another poster mentioned, you could save some money if you stayed at one of the Epcot resorts, but it would mean taking the bus to the MK (which would be harder with a scooter). You would have good access to DHS, so that may make it more appealing. I hear you on the sticker shock -- the monorail resorts are really expensive, but they will be the most convenient. You could look for a garden view room as that can save you some money, and you still get all the conveniences of being at a monorail resort. Maybe renting a DVC villa would be a good deal... I can't because I want to be able to cancel our trip, but if you are sure you are going it should save you some money.

 

[mom25kiddos]

I have sent a few emails to see about DVC but am gathering the odds are likely not very good. We are leaning towards GF as soon as I get over the cost. Want to be sure my parents can participate fully and really experience the magic.

 

[hsmamato2]

on the disabilities board there is lots of god advice for various hotels and scooter travel.... I personally think all Disney hotels do scooter travel very well, so you can look for places based on $ instead of a (sometimes working) monorail system. Last January we stayed at allstar music with my Dad and his scooter, and had no problems at all using the buses,etc. it was wonderfully easy- also love the Epcot resort area

 

[cbrown1007]

I think it's definitely worth the money to stay on the monorail. I think you'd be happy in any of the monorail resorts. The GF is the priciest, so I might suggest looking at Contemporary if the GF price kills it for you.

If you talk to a travel agent, they'd be able to help. It's our job to look at different possibilities.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

I second renting a scooter for Mom to ease the walking issues. I think the monorail is a fantastic resort area for a splurge trip. I'd look into the CR tower (MK view is fantastic!) or the Poly. GF if price is within reach. Honestly, you can't go wrong with any of the three. CR tower will be the only option besides GF Royal Palm Club ($$$) to have you actually IN the same building as the monorail, if that is a factor.