SSR or MK area resort

[Tink_83]

Clearly a significant difference between the options - but hear me out. We are a family of 6 currently book at SSR in a 2 bedroom. I will have a vehicle as I'm driving and the party consists of myself (clearly , my mother, DH, DD (12), DS (7) and DS (2). We are going the week after Easter and are now planning on 4 park days (with hoppers, mostly so the we can hop to Epcot with DH one night for dinner before he leaves as he has a work trip and will leave half way through the trip - but wants to primarily do AK and HS with the kids).

What has me rethinking all of this is the whole getting to the MK and back from the MK - the bane of every Disney vacation! So many times I have left the MK and looked longingly at the hotels near the MK and thought, I could be at the room by the time I have found my vehicle. I know that with Epcot we can at least use the monorail to get back to the room for the nights at Epcot - and this is what has me considering moving us to a MK area resort.

So I ask, space OR cram the family into two different rooms at a MK area resort. Thoughts? Also, our last day is a resort day and I'm planning on eating at the following (not all on the same day - although Ohana and one of the dinner options will be the same night):
Artist point for a dinner
1900 park Fare for dinner
Ohana for a very late breakfast

And the pool is VERY important for the older children and I would like the younger one to have a good toddler area that we can watch him in. Essentially is the space (and the two feature pools) worth it if we are rarely in the room (and is the washer and dryer worth it when I'm driving and will be packing clothing as if I'm moving to Disney instead of staying a week). Thoughts? TIA

 

[brockash]

Clearly a significant difference between the options - but hear me out. We are a family of 6 currently book at SSR in a 2 bedroom. I will have a vehicle as I'm driving and the party consists of myself (clearly , my mother, DH, DD (12), DS (7) and DS (2). We are going the week after Easter and are now planning on 4 park days (with hoppers, mostly so the we can hop to Epcot with DH one night for dinner before he leaves as he has a work trip and will leave half way through the trip - but wants to primarily do AK and HS with the kids).

What has me rethinking all of this is the whole getting to the MK and back from the MK - the bane of every Disney vacation! So many times I have left the MK and looked longingly at the hotels near the MK and thought, I could be at the room by the time I have found my vehicle. I know that with Epcot we can at least use the monorail to get back to the room for the nights at Epcot - and this is what has me considering moving us to a MK area resort.

So I ask, space OR cram the family into two different rooms at a MK area resort. Thoughts? Also, our last day is a resort day and I'm planning on eating at the following (not all on the same day - although Ohana and one of the dinner options will be the same night):
Artist point for a dinner
1900 park Fare for dinner
Ohana for a very late breakfast

And the pool is VERY important for the older children and I would like the younger one to have a good toddler area that we can watch him in. Essentially is the space (and the two feature pools) worth it if we are rarely in the room (and is the washer and dryer worth it when I'm driving and will be packing clothing as if I'm moving to Disney instead of staying a week). Thoughts? TIA

I mean if you can swing 2 rooms at the Poly; that'd definitely be ideal. Nice pool overlooking the castle and probably one of the better toddler/young kid pool area. Ohana is there and monorail to the other restaurants. We'd definitely pick 2 rooms at Poly over anything at SS.

 

[leebee]

DH and I liked SS, but we were on an adults trip and didn't use the pool at all, although it looked fun. We loved the proximity to Disney Springs for dinner every night, which is probably not a consideration for you.

DD and I did not like the Poly. Walking around the grounds from building to building to get anywhere, crowded QS restaurant, and loud, packed swimming pools reminded us too much of staying at POP, with a much higher price tag! DH and I enjoyed Wilderness Lodge, but it's only accessible by boat and they aren't very big. Not sure how long it'd take to get back to WL at park closing.

Honest opinion? I'd stay wherever I could find more space. Nothing kills a vacation faster for me than not being able to relax after getting back to my room after long days in the theme parks. I'm not sure how we survived the days when my sister, her two girls, DD, and I shared one room at POP (the youngest in a pack-n-play). Yes, it was awesome and amazing and snuggly, but it was also a week of endlessly tripping over shoes, sitting on the beds all the time when in the room, lack of privacy, on and on and on.

 

[Mirabell Rose]

I would think with 3 kids, splitting 2 rooms would be hard to coordinate. I like the separate bedrooms so if some want to sleep in later they can.

 

[byurick]

If this were me I'd stay at SSR as it will be easier to keep the family together. Getting two rooms at an MK resort there is no guarantee they will even be close to each other.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I would go with a MK resort. Wilderness Lodge would be the cheapest for 2 rooms.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I'm in the camp of keeping the 2BR at SSR. The accommodations would be so much more efficient and flexible. The washer/dryer in the room could greatly reduce your packing needs for the trip down, especially with 3 kids! Better to have the family together. The trip to the MK might not be as convenient, but there are definitely more pros with the 2BR setup - and the pool(s) at SSR are pretty nice.

 

[Marthasor]

I love having extra space and absolutely love having the washer/dryer and kitchen features at the villas. That being said, unless you are staying preferred at SSR, I wouldn't consider it. It's so spread out. Personally,I also don't want to be driving everywhere on vacation especially with three kids in tow. Have you checked to see if there are any villas available in the MK area? In your case, if you can't find a villa, I would opt for two rooms in the MK area.

 

[BostonEd]

Have you considered renting points for a 2 BR villa in BLT or WL? It will most likely cost more than SSR, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is close to the same price as 2 rooms at the Poly.

 

[beccasmom]

Have you considered renting points for a 2 BR villa in BLT or WL? It will most likely cost more than SSR, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is close to the same price as 2 rooms at the Poly.

I second this suggestion. Boulder Ridge at the WL is very nice and recently updated. We stayed in a 2-bedroom last fall and loved it. We haven’t stayed at the CCV section of the WL, but that’s another alternative. It’s a beautiful resort with great pools.

BLT is a nice resort and very convenient to the MK. Keep in mind it is currently under renovation if that is a consideration for you. However, the pool area at BLT is underwhelming for kids IMHO. BLT units have an extra full bathroom off the living room (along with the bathrooms connected to the bedrooms), which is very convenient.

 

[Mle8308]

Are you going after Easter of this year, 2025? You may be restricted to what is available, since Easter is getting close. April vacation in the Northeast starts the week of 4/21, which is the week after Easter. Very popular week for northerner's to go to WDW. What options are you seeing as available? We might be able to better offer suggestions based on what are actually options you can book.

 

[BostonEd]

Are you going after Easter of this year, 2025? You may be restricted to what is available, since Easter is getting close. April vacation in the Northeast starts the week of 4/21, which is the week after Easter. Very popular week for northerner's to go to WDW. What options are you seeing as available? We might be able to better offer suggestions based on what are actually options you can book.

That's only partially true. A big chunk of New England public schools (MA, VT, ME) has that week off. But not RI, CT, or NH. I'm not sure about the rest of the northeast, but I know NY and NJ do not generally have that week off. And I'm pretty sure about PA as well, or at least eastern PA around Philly.

Of course, throughout the rest of the northeast you may have some school districts that still tie their vacations to Easter. The bigger problem is the rest of the country. There are still a lot of school districts that tie their vacation to Easter, even when it is late like this. So, yes, that will be a very busy week.

 

[Mle8308]

That's only partially true. A big chunk of New England public schools (MA, VT, ME) has that week off. But not RI, CT, or NH. I'm not sure about the rest of the northeast, but I know NY and NJ do not generally have that week off. And I'm pretty sure about PA as well, or at least eastern PA around Philly.

Of course, throughout the rest of the northeast you may have some school districts that still tie their vacations to Easter. The bigger problem is the rest of the country. There are still a lot of school districts that tie their vacation to Easter, even when it is late like this. So, yes, that will be a very busy week.

Agree, that's why I said it starts in the Northeast that week.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I'm pretty sure there are large groups heading from various parts of the northeast to Disney for spring break throughout March and April. The week before and after Easter will be especially busy because of vacation time for so many. But spring breaks are spread out in March and April.

 

[BostonEd]

Agree, that's why I said it starts in the Northeast that week.

Yeah, the Northeast. Three states in New England is not the whole Northeast.

 

[Mle8308]

Yeah, the Northeast. Three states in New England is not the whole Northeast.

Exactly, that is why I said it starts in the Northeast, I do not consider either PA or NY Northeast, traditionally that is mid-Atlantic. But whatever...

 

[BostonEd]

I grew up in NJ, outside of Philly. PA & NJ is most certainly the "northeast". Mid-Atlantic is a designation similar to New England... more specific.

Anyway, I think we're in full agreement that the week after Easter will be one of the busiest of the year.

 

[Tink_83]

Are you going after Easter of this year, 2025? You may be restricted to what is available, since Easter is getting close. April vacation in the Northeast starts the week of 4/21, which is the week after Easter. Very popular week for northerner's to go to WDW. What options are you seeing as available? We might be able to better offer suggestions based on what are actually options you can book.

There are still options in my price range at both WL and GF that I would consider. There are also options at the contemporary but the pool makes that an option. So 2 rooms at either WL or GF - really WL give me two rooms the entire time. GF I would have my mom and two kids in one room for the first part of the trip and then when my husband leaves we would all be in the same room (youngest stays with us being 2 and all...).

My initial concern and the reason I booked at SSR was that I didn't want to have to deal with everyone in two separate rooms, then I started to reconsider and here I am . Essentially, proximity to MK and/or monorail or drive to the parks and then if my mom leaves with the youngest have her take the minivan service.

 

[Tink_83]

Just to follow up - I appreciate all of the advice. Sorry if I wasn't more clear in the initial post. I'm really down to SSR, GF or WL. With the options coming out:
SSR - 2 beds NOT preferred - but I am OK with walking, we don't plan to eat breakfast at the resort unless it's in the room and I can walk on the resort day to the pool (well, I say that now)
GF - 2 separate rooms for the first part of the stay and then when my husband leaves for his work trip my mom will move into the one remaining room and there will be 2 adults and 3 kids in one regular room at the GF
WL - 2 separate rooms the entire stay

It really comes down to do others find the proximity of the resort to the MK and/or the monorail to be worth the loss of space. I've never stayed at any of these resorts so I'm just looking for opinions to try to better inform my decision

 

[Mirabell Rose]

I love having extra space and absolutely love having the washer/dryer and kitchen features at the villas. That being said, unless you are staying preferred at SSR, I wouldn't consider it. It's so spread out. Personally,I also don't want to be driving everywhere on vacation especially with three kids in tow. Have you checked to see if there are any villas available in the MK area? In your case, if you can't find a villa, I would opt for two rooms in the MK area.

Stayed at SSR earlier this month in non-preferred. Right next to the Paddock pool and bus stop and right across the bridge from the restaurants and feature pool. Didn’t need to drive around at all.