Second guessing my hotel choice

[Djsbride]

I posted not long ago about being in the early stages of planning. We're going to WDW for the first time November 27- December 3rd. My sons are going to be 8 and 5 during our vacation. Originally I was set on staying at the POR in a preferred room because I didn't want to walk 15 mins to go to the main areas, but later I found a travel agent with the magical deal and she gave me a great quote for my dates for WL. I was very excited but when she tried to book the room, the hotel was sold out . My other options were the POR in a standard room (which I don't want to do), the Polynesian standard room/view or BC standard room/view. I decided to book BC based on its proximity to Epcot and HS. My boys are HUGE Star Wars fans. They don't really care about princesses, Mickey and friends, or anything too girly. My #1 must do is have them do the Jedi training and hopefully immerse in all things SW. My husband is more excited about Epcot and HS as well. I'm excited about all parks and we're planning on visiting them all with no park hopper and have a rest day in between. The fact that the pool at BC looks amazing and my boys are little swimmers was also a deciding factor.

The reason I'm second guessing is because the hotel doesn't really wow me and I'm thinking if I'm better off sticking to my original plan of staying at the POR in a preferred room. BC looks huge and I'm afraid I'll be also doing ton of walking. If you were in my situation and given my choices, which hotel would you choose?

 

[dansdad]

I posted not long ago about being in the early stages of planning. We're going to WDW for the first time November 27- December 3rd. My sons are going to be 8 and 5 during our vacation. Originally I was set on staying at the POR in a preferred room because I didn't want to walk 15 mins to go to the main areas, but later I found a travel agent with the magical deal and she gave me a great quote for my dates for WL. I was very excited but when she tried to book the room, the hotel was sold out . My other options were the POR in a standard room (which I don't want to do), the Polynesian standard room/view or BC standard room/view. I decided to book BC based on its proximity to Epcot and HS. My boys are HUGE Star Wars fans. They don't really care about princesses, Mickey and friends, or anything too girly. My #1 must do is have them do the Jedi training and hopefully immerse in all things SW. My husband is more excited about Epcot and HS as well. I'm excited about all parks and we're planning on visiting them all with no park hopper and have a rest day in between. The fact that the pool at BC looks amazing and my boys are little swimmers was also a deciding factor.

The reason I'm second guessing is because the hotel doesn't really wow me and I'm thinking if I'm better off sticking to my original plan of staying at the POR in a preferred room. BC looks huge and I'm afraid I'll be also doing ton of walking. If you were in my situation and given my choices, which hotel would you choose?

Just as an FYI, from the furthest Standard View room you could walk to the main areas and back in 15 minutes.

Having said that, BC is an awesome resort and is quite a step up from POR.

 

[chris benton]

What is important to you in a hotel? If Epcot and DHS are priorities, it might make your life pretty easy by staying at BC/YC BW or Swolphin.
You can TRY to limit your resort walking concerns by requesting a room closer to where you want to be.

 

[Djsbride]

What is important to you in a hotel? If Epcot and DHS are priorities, it might make your life pretty easy by staying at BC/YC BW or Swolphin.
You can TRY to limit your resort walking concerns by requesting a room closer to where you want to be.

I want to have access variety of restaurants, and activities for my kids, comfortable bedrooms. My TA requested a room close to the elevator to minimize walking when she booked my room at BC.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

BC has far more wow than POR and it's not big at all. You will not be walking 15 minutes to get anywhere at BC - not the pool, bus stop, boat dock or EP. Literally, it will take you 5 minutes to walk to EP from BC. BC couldn't be more convenient.

 

[Djsbride]

BC has far more wow than POR and it's not big at all. You will not be walking 15 minutes to get anywhere at BC - not the pool, bus stop, boat dock or EP. Literally, it will take you 5 minutes to walk to EP from BC. BC couldn't be more convenient.

Perfect! Thank you, that makes me feel better.

 

[dansdad]

I want to have access variety of restaurants, and activities for my kids, comfortable bedrooms.

BC hits all 3 of these points!

 

[chicagoshannon]

If you're planning on eating most of your meals in the parks BC will be perfect. The biggest problem I have between the mods and deluxe resorts is the lack of variety in quick service. Quick service at the mods (and values) has many more food choices than at deluxe resorts. I have really picky eaters so need the biggest variety possible. If that is not a concern for you than BC is a fantastic choice.

 

[chris benton]

You also have the restaurants at the Boardwalk, and all o the other Epcot area resorts as well. They are all EASY walking distance of each other.
If you DO decide to stay in an Epcot area resort, at least entertain the thought of hoppers. When you are within walking distance to two parks, it makes planning so much easier.

 

[Djsbride]

If you're planning on eating most of your meals in the parks BC will be perfect. The biggest problem I have between the mods and deluxe resorts is the lack of variety in quick service. Quick service at the mods (and values) has many more food choices than at deluxe resorts. I have really picky eaters so need the biggest variety possible. If that is not a concern for you than BC is a fantastic choice.

We are planning on eating lunch and dinner mostly at the parks. My kids basically only eat hot dogs, mac n cheese, chicken fingers and corn dogs

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Beach Club and Yacht Club are my favorite resorts, I wouldn't switch. My son is obsessed with their pool, I enjoy their restaurants and lounge, and the location can't be beat.

 

[catfan98]

We stayed at BCV last year and we loved it! You can’t beat the walk/boat ride to EP and HS. The pool is great and the resort itself is amazing - beachy and fun. We really enjoyed grabbing breakfast at BC Marketplace and sitting out on the covered patio area and eating in the mornings. If you have time, walk over to the Boardwalk one night, it’s a lot of fun and great entertainment for the kids. The Epcot Resort area, as a whole, is wonderful. I wanted to try AKL or WL for our upcoming December trip, but my husband and kids voted for the Epcot area. So, we’re staying there again, just at Boardwalk this time to try a different resort. You won’t regret your choice!

 

[Djsbride]

You also have the restaurants at the Boardwalk, and all o the other Epcot area resorts as well. They are all EASY walking distance of each other.
If you DO decide to stay in an Epcot area resort, at least entertain the thought of hoppers. When you are within walking distance to two parks, it makes planning so much easier.

Hmm interesting. I thought that hoppers weren't really suggested for people with small kids and/or 1st time visitors. I don't know if my boys will move fast enough to be hopping between parks but I might be wrong. I've never been so I don't know what to expect.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

You're on a perfect location for hopping. It's so easy to get to the AM EMH at Epcot and DHS, head out at lunch time for some pool time if it's nice out and back to another park for the evening.

 

[chicagoshannon]

We are planning on eating lunch and dinner mostly at the parks. My kids basically only eat hot dogs, mac n cheese, chicken fingers and corn dogs

My kids only eat mac n cheese, grilled cheese, and pizza (rarely) lol. For breakfast we really like the Boardwalk Bakery. They have some yummy Mickey shaped chocolate chip muffins my kids love.

 

[GPC0321]

Hmm interesting. I thought that hoppers weren't really suggested for people with small kids and/or 1st time visitors. I don't know if my boys will move fast enough to be hopping between parks but I might be wrong. I've never been so I don't know what to expect.

The reason the hoppers are so great when staying at Beach Club is because you're literally a 8-10 minute walk from Epcot. When you're so close to a park like that, it's nice to have the option to pop over to that park whenever the mood strikes. Plus you've got Hollywood Studios nearby as well (longer walk, but a boat ride will get you there fairly quickly). Your young boys may get bored trying to spend a whole day at Epcot, and might really wish they could go back over to Hollywood Studios to ride something or visit Launch Bay again or watch Galactic Spectacular again. (FYI, the real Star Wars immersion will not take place until Star Wars Land opens in 2019. So go ahead and start planning, LOL!)

The other thing is, if you walk over to Epcot and spend some time, you can easily hop to Magic Kingdom via the monorail too.

It really opens up where you can go and what you can do.

I haven't stayed at Beach Club (yet), but friends of mine stay there on most of their Disney trips (annually) and love it.

 

[Sepo]

You’ll love BC. You made the right choice.

The parkhopper idea is expensive but worth it when you want to pop into and out of Epcot. Weigh the cost against that; you can also upgrade later if u want.

 

[chris benton]

Hmm interesting. I thought that hoppers weren't really suggested for people with small kids and/or 1st time visitors. I don't know if my boys will move fast enough to be hopping between parks but I might be wrong. I've never been so I don't know what to expect.

"Moving fast?" I'm not following you. BUT, here's a scenario or two:
1. If your kids are early risers, Rope drop park A, beat the crowds, leave the park in mid afternoon, when the crowds are the worst, and the sun is the hottest, return to the resort to enjoy that pool you re paying for (when the sun is the hottest, and the crowds are the worst, and the hop to EP or DHS for a lazy "tour" and nighttime show. When you are only a few minutes away from two parks, hopping is pretty freekin simple. Also the International Gateway is a "chill" entrance for Epcot. If I stayed anywhere besides an Epcot area resort, I don't think I'd get hoppers.

2. Epcot or DHS am EMH? BREEZE. Absolute breeze. Ep opens at 8am for emh? You leave at 7:40am, and you'll be there before rope drop. Dhs - budget 25 minutes to walk. I'd budget something like 40 minutes for the boat (with wait time included.) You might get lucky and shave 15 minutes off if you don't have to wait for a boat. BUT, along with that, getting back to your room for a mid day break is nothing.

3. For the price you're paying, it might be wise to tag team the kids a few times at night. Again, 10 minute walk to World Showcase, 25 min walk to dhs. If the kids are dead asleep one night at 8pm, one of you could slip out and for a few hours and do some solo adulting at DHS or EP for a few hours and probably not be any worse for the wear. Especially if there's a pm emh at EP or DHS - again, your travel time is NOTHING.

Disney transportation can start weighing on your vacation time over the span of days. Epcot area resorts are pretty special because you can walk to two parks pretty easily. I mean Epcot Ig is just a breeze to get to DHS is about twice as far of a walk, but unless you catch a boat at the right time when you are leaving, walking back might be faster than the boat ride.

I guess I'd suggest to start thinking about what you'd like to do, and what's right for your family. Take recommendations of course, but, you don't have to go along with recommendations if it doesn't make sense for what you want to do. I know you probably already know this. For the price you are going to pay, make the choices that are right to you after thinking them through.

My opinion is that epcot are resort + kids that wake up early = hoppers.

Also, if you are a Costco member, take a look at their WDW packages.

 

[Sue M]

Beach Club is great! Request a room location near lobby elevator. The rooms that look out to the front of resort are standard.

 

[lmhall2000]

Walking the parks will be 10x the distance you walk at any of the resorts. We’ve stayed at POR and it was no more than our walk at the Poly. I think your kids would prefer pool area at BC and that would be enough to stay there. We’ve never found parkhoppers worth it, always saved that money to use on souvenirs, one park, one day, and maybe a water park if it’s warm enough.