Resort Recommendations for Family of 4

[PlaneJoy1]

Hi everyone-

I am contemplating a family vacation to Disney later this year. We had thought of taking another cruise, but I am starting to convince myself that Disney would be better. I was thinking sometime after labor day week so it would still be warm enough to enjoy the pools but maybe the crowds would be little lighter than the summer. Is my thinking correct? I have never stayed at on a Disney property and actually have never been around Disney for more than a day. (You can say I was a deprived child )

At the time of the trip, my children will be 8 and 3 (would turn 3 just before vacation). The 3 year old is VERY active, and will need her space to run around and be herself (under our supervision, of course).

Do any of the resorts have a pool area with a low water play place (like fountains, etc.)?

In your opinion, what would be the best place for ease of transporation between the attractions (I don't even know what there besides the monorail) and best activities with the kids?

I have looked into the Contemporary resort and a few others but just don't know where I should focus my attention. I am hoping maybe for your help in choosing 3 or 4 for deeper investigation. I don't have a specific price range in mind, though I would probably stay away from the Grand Floridean (for example), it just doen't seem like the best place for children.

Thanks, in advance, for your replies.

-joy

 

[estnh]

Take a look at the Poly if budget is not an issue. It is a very family friendly resort. It has its own monorail stop, great family restaurants, a zero entry walk in pool, beaches from which to watch the fireworks and the water parade, and a host of other wonderful features.

 

[goofy4tink]

First welcome to the disboards! Now, with the ages of your kids, I would think that the Polynesian would work. They do have a kiddie type pool area next to the Volcano pool. The Volcano Pool is zero entry so it is gradual, not going down a ladder or some steps. Very nice with little kids. There is the Neverland Club, a kids place where you can leave your kids at night for $10. an hour. Very nice. Decent arcade. You can take either a ferry boat over to MK or the monorail. There is a small food court for those quick snacks or light meals. You can walk via a short path over to the TTC and grab the monorail to Epcot quite easily.

The rooms at the Polynesian are fairly large, so that would be a plus. The Contemporary has rooms about the same size. At the Contemporary you will find a regular type pool with water slide. I'm sure there is a kiddie type pool but I never noticed. There is a play ground area for the kids also. Then there is the monorail actually going through the resort. Kids just love that. And you have Chef Mickey's right there but be sure to get a PS at the 90 day before you go mark! The food court area is being rehabbed there but I'm not sure when that will take place. You can take the monorail to MK or walk via a nice path. You will take the monorail to TTC and change over to the Epcot monorail for that park. The rest of the parks you take buses.

Let's see....yes, that is a nice time to go. The weather is still nice and hot and most people are back in school. We would love to go at that time but it is too early in the school year to take my dd out. Any other questions, just ask!!! Have fun planning!

 

[AndyMcV]

...We had thought of taking another cruise, but I am starting to convince myself that Disney would be better....

Oh Joy,

You are exactly right especially with an 8 and 3 year old. If you've never been there (for more than a day) especially on site you will ALL love it, especially your kids. They'll go bananas.

It is hard to tell you without having an idea of your budget. However here are my suggestions. First off I would look at a Disney deluxe resort or the Swan/Dolphin resorts (also deluxe but generally a lot less expensive). These are really nice resorts with lots of ammenities especially if you want to pamper yourself your first time on-site.

My first choices would be the Polynesian or the Contemporary due to the location right beside Magic Kingdom. Get a lake view at the Poly and wow you're right on the beach looking at the Castle with an amazing view. Every night you can also relax and watch the fireworks. At the Contemporary you're so close you can even just walk to the park. From both resorts you can also take the monorail right to the park. It's amazing and really really fun riding the monorail. Given with an 8 and 3 year old you'll be spending most of your time at Magic Kingdom (I bet).

My next choice would be the Beach Club/Yacht Club (side by side resorts). They don't have the monorail but they do have boats to Epcot and MGM and busses to all the parks. The pool there is awesome and probably the or one of the best pools Disney has. The location of these resorts is fantastic too. Your right beside Epcot and the Boardwalk. It's really nice and gives you that Disney feeling for sure.

Third choice would be the Swan/Dolphin resorts. These resorts are really nice too and are basically right beside the YC/BC, Boardwalk and Epcot. We stayed at these resorts in 2003 and loved it. The pool is reall really nice and the resort is beautiful. Again with a great location with boats and busses for transportation. The reason we picked this resort in 2003 (and again this June) is mostly because of the price and the fact that it's a really nice resort. Typically you can get good discounts here and you're right in the middle of Disney. For example they have a special going right now July - September rates starting at $169 - $224. Check out the Allears S/D discounts page for more info. We used these codes to get us a great rate for June.

Well that's it for now. Write back if I wasn't specific enough.

Andy

 

[PlaneJoy1]

Thanks to each of you for your replies! Please keep them coming!

I know its difficult without knowing the budget, and while I don't want to pay the price of a new car () I do want this to be as easy and enjoyable of a vacation as I can plan. My kids are at such different stages of life (although they love each other very much) it can get difficult to find something to keep the whole family entertained.

I will look at the Poly, as well as the Swan/Dolphin. I've also seen pictures (outside) of the Cornado Springs Resort. I don't know where that one falls on the scale of Value to Deluxe, but it looked nice as well. Who am I kidding? ALL of Disney will be nice.

Thanks, again!

 

[copper68]

my thoughts are..

if you can afford deluxe.. then do it.. secondly, it depends on which parks you plan on spending most of you time at.. with your age kids i would think you'd be at magic kingdom most of the time and would therefore choose a resort on the monorail.. poly, contemporary, or grand floridian.. (i will second the previous posters here and go with the poly)..

your older child will love the volcano pool and slide, and your younger will adore the electrical water pageant..

also, not sure if you're aware, but we are all anxiously awaiting codes that come out periodically and help quite a bit on the price of your room.. the codes for nov will not be out for a while though, but hopefully you'd be able to get a code when they do come out to help out with the room price..

hope this helps.. welcome, and keep the questions coming..
also, i received my passporter today, have you looked into getting that? it has tons of info..

Leah

 

[EthansMom]

My children are a little younger, 1 and 3, than yours. But I chose Port Orleans French Quarter for our upcoming stay. It's in the Moderate price range, is smaller than some of the other resorts (and therefore closer to laundry, pool, etc.). There is sit-down restaurant at the hotel next door, Port Orleans Riverside. POFQ has a boat that will take you to Downtown Disney for more dining options. Access to the parks is via bus system or you could drive (parking is free for resort guests).

Personally, I would not want to stay in the Value resorts -- rooms are smaller, there are no sit-down restaurants, and the value resorts often have jr. high/high school kids on field trips/competitions/etc. staying there. I like to spend a few extra bucks and go Moderate.

You can check out the resorts and their amenities at http://www.disneyworld.com

One tip: when booking, ask for the AAA rate. You don't have to be a AAA member when booking, but do have to have the card for check-in. On my upcoming trip, I saved over $175 on the room price, which will easily pay for the membership.

Good Luck!

EthansMom (and Molly's too)

 

[Kae]

All the resorts are kid friendly. I would check out some web sites this one is great. I also like www.allearsnet.com. Get a couple of guides books. PassPorter is a great one, maybe have your 8yr old help out with some of the choices get the Birbaums for kids and order the DVD from Disney.

We love poly & that is the only one we have stay at with kids. We are staying at WL this June. DH & I have stayed at ASmusic, POFQ, & WL by ourselves.

We do like the size of POFQ. POFQ has a nice pool slide. My DS(who was 4)loved the neverland club at poly, he was not real keen on the slide at the poly.(loves to swim).

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I would plan the trip just before the little one turns three - no tickets to buy and eats free at buffets. BTW I have to tell you we always take our little ones to GF and it really is kid friendly. For your first trip I think you'll have a magical time no matter where you stay. Watch out though, we went for the first time with the little ones to GF because it was the Fairytale vacation package - pay for 4 stay for 7 nights. We though , well we won't be doing this for a long time again so let's go with the best. Long story short - we not only got hooked on Disney (now we go every year) we also got hooked on the Grand Floridian!

 

[PinCollector]

I agree with Kaye. POFQ has a smaller number of rooms than the typical resort but the pool area is "normal" or even "Larger" size. So, you're not crowded. They have a smaller pool next to the larger one, which is one of my favorite pools in the World.

I also like AKL.

Have fun!
PinCollector

 

[PlaneJoy1]

I have delayed in ordering/buying a Passporter Guide, but will do it this weekend ( I promise! ).

How do I get these codes for room rates? Are they available for September?

Little one turns 3 August 31st - won't the crowds be large? I guess we could go the last week and celebrate her birthday there.... hmmmm... not there's a thought. Okay, very excited now!

 

[copper68]

you can keep checking this website for codes.. they only come out for a certain amount of time every so often.. the existing codes were through 1/2-4/16.. they are expired now.. so, everyone on these boards are anxiously awaiting for new ones to be released.. however, they may not go as far as sept yet, so you may have to continue to wait for them as well, if any are released.. it's never guranteed that any will be released, but we all have our fingers crossed..

quoting from allearsnet.com..

Disney states:

The Lowest Attendance --

January (except New Year's Day) until just prior to Presidents' Week in February

The week following Labor Day until the week prior to Thanksgiving

The week following Thanksgiving until mid-December
More Moderate Attendance:
After Presidents' week in February through early March
Late April through early June (except Memorial Day weekend)
Columbus Day Weekend (October)
The first part of Thanksgiving week

Highest Attendance:
Presidents' week in February
Mid March through Late April ("Spring Break")
Memorial Day weekend
Mid June through Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day and weekend
Christmas week through New Year's Day

 

[teribell]

We will be going the last week in August also. Hoping for low crowds. My kids a little older though so we are going to try the BC because of the SAB pool. Last year we stayed at the AKL, they have animals on site, a nice zero entry pool, a kiddie and they have rooms with a set of bunk beds and a queen size. Your kids might enjoy that.

 

[rileyroosmom]

I have delayed in ordering/buying a Passporter Guide, but will do it this weekend ( I promise! ).

How do I get these codes for room rates? Are they available for September?

Little one turns 3 August 31st - won't the crowds be large? I guess we could go the last week and celebrate her birthday there.... hmmmm... not there's a thought. Okay, very excited now!

Make sure you read allears.net, they have excellent info on all the resorts as well as all the parks. I also recommend buy a book, maybe the unoffical guide or birnbaums.

No one knows if or when the codes will come out. Watch Mousesavers.com, that is when we all find out. No codes have been released yet.

I don't think the crowds will be large, most kids are back in school (in the south) or heading back in the next week in the north. It will be hot.

It's hard to recommend a resort without knowing what you are looking for and more importantly how much you want to spend. There is a wide range from values to deluxes. I think you should investigate it a little more and try and narrow what you want. Values are smaller rooms with 2 double beds and food courts and plain pools with no slides, good for budget trips. Moderates have slightly larger rooms with 2 double beds, food court as well as sit down restaraunts and themed pools with slides. Deluxe have very large rooms with 2 queen beds and a daybed(or 2 queens and bunk beds at WL and AK), smaller versioned food courts, sit down restaraunts, themed pools with slides and easy access to at least one park (ie, monorail to MK, or boat to MGM). So, as you can see, lots to think of right there!!

Good luck in your planning, do lots of research and then ask lots of questions, the answers can always be found here!

 

[PlaneJoy1]

All of you have just been the best group of folks out there! I REALLY appreciate the recommendations and information. I know that we will have a great vacation just because of all the things I learn on the disboards!

 

[Samsma]

We really like the convenience of the DVC resorts. We stayed at OKW in a one bedroom when my DD was 2 - about to turn 3, and the ability to keep snacks in the full size refrigerator, the washer and dryer, and being able to close the bedroom door for her naps and not have to sit on the DS and DH to be quiet was great. We are staying at VWL this summer because we just drive each other nuts in a small room.