Too early to start planning our 2009 trip? heehee.. looking for feedback

[Freiden8]

We'll have a 2.5 yr old and a 4.5 yr old.

I was strongly leaning toward staying in the Tower at the Contemporary, since it's so close to the MK and because of the monorail access and Chef Mickey's.

However, AKL is just so beautiful of a resort and the kids would just love the savannah view. And, on another hand, staying at the BC would mean we'd have access to their pool...

what would you lean toward?

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

I can't help you with your question but I don't think it is too early to be planning. We are going September 2009 and I started planning a year ago

 

[TJA]

Since you have lots of time to think this through, I'll give you a few ideas to consider. We have been taking our twins to WDW since they were 7 months old, all the way through now at 4-1/2 years old. The resort that works the best for us is Beach Club. A big reason is location. With a double jogger (which you might have too...?), staying at the BC is wonderful because you can walk to Epcot, walk to boardwalk, walk or boat to MGM. If you are already in Epcot, you can easily catch the monorail over to MK. Personally, we love letting our girls rest in the stroller while we walk/boat/monorail between our resort and various parks. And we love watching Illuminations or Fantasmic at night and then simply walking back to our resort without having to deal with crowds or buses, and the kids can sleep in the stroller on the walk back. We also love the pool at BC. Have you seen it? There is a very large section that has a sand bottom and also mounds of sand in the middle of the pool and also on one end so the kids can play. Our girls love, love, love this area so much that it's hard to pull them away to go to parks. Another awesome part is having so many great restaurants within walking distance. There is the boardwalk and also all the Epcot countries. There is a character breakfast at BC too. Beaches & Cream is a fun ice cream snack restaurant that also serves burgers and stuff like that. We love to get ice cream each night and sitting next to the pool with it. On the boardwalk, there is entertainment such as magicians and carnival type games. And you can rent surrey bikes (kids go in the front section and can ring a bell) and ride around the lake -- this is especially pretty at night when Illuminations is going on.

Another thought is the Poly. The TTC is located next to Poly so you have direct monorail service to both Epcot and MK, no stops. You can see the Castle from the pool and this is especially pretty at night during and after Wishes when the Castle changes colors. The restaurants are excellent at Poly, rooms are large and newly refurbished. The resort itself has a comfortable, tropical feel to it. Ohanas restaurant is a family-style restaurant that has a great dinner and entertainment for the kids during dinner (coconut chase, hula hoops, etc.). It also has a character breakfast. Kona is a great restaurant also, and we actually enjoy the fast-food place too.

You mentioned CR and that is also a good option. Our favorite thing about CR is the ability to walk back and forth to MK. There is no easier way than that. You avoid all the crowds and lines. And Chef Mickeys of course is a huge plus. Our girls LOVE Chef Mickeys! We just stayed at CR in September for 8 nights and I think we ate at CM's 5 or 6 times. We also stayed in the tower with an MK view and it was fabulous to be able to watch Wishes and the water parade from our balcony. Honestly, I think this view of Wishes was the best view we've ever had and the first time we've ever seen the entire show in detail. Only downfall about CR is we don't have a cozy, warm feeling while staying there (like we do at BC and Poly), but CR is definitely a magical experience being right next to MK.

We stayed at AKL when our twins were 7 months old and didn't care for taking buses everywhere (2 babies, double stroller, lots of baby supplies....). So it's hard for me to comment on that resort. We do plan to stay there again in a few years when we don't have a stroller, etc. It is truly a beautiful resort with unique dining options. But for now, we are staying at resorts that offer walking/boating/monorail to parks.

Hope some of this info helped you. If you have specific questions, feel free to post. Happy planning!

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

We're in the same boat! We're planning a trip in May of 09 and I'm back and forth on our choice of a resort as well. I have never stayed at any of the resorts you mention but I can relate to how hard a decision it can be. I've tried to figure out where we'd want to spend the most of our time and pick one of those resorts but I also get "caught up in" the theming & looks of the other resorts so I just can't limit my thoughts to one area of disney. Thats what I did when we went in October and we stayed at the Poly - it meet our needs at the time - close to MK and the monorail. We loved being on the monorail - it made things so easy w/the stroller. So thats a huge plus for the monorail resorts. I was going to book the tower room at CR for our trip as well but I was a little concerned w/the balcony and our young kids. But thats me.

Good luck in your decision and have a great time planning.

 

[frdeb1999]

We always book 12-22 months out...just depending on the length of the trip. It's never too early IMO! The BC is wonderful and has a fantastic pool area. We are some what partial to the Poly...we love the monorail being right there. And the atmosphere is fantastic. Never stayed at the AKL so I can't help you on that one. If my kids were very little I'd opt for the ease of having the monorail right there.

 

[sandym718]

Definitely not too early!! We're planning for April/May 2009. We went April/May 2007 with kids almost the exact same ages as yours.

I debated mainly between the BC and Poly.

Went with Poly, mainly for the monorail, both to MK and Epcot. Both kids still napped and we went back for that each day. We spent the most time at those two parks, very little at MGM and AK. The kids LOVED the monorail and it was soooo quick and convenient. For Epcot, we walked over to the TTC, about 5 minutes, and hopped directly on. We also never folded up our strollers on it, very convenient!

Now, having stayed there - I can't imagine staying anywhere else!!!!!!!!!! It is so perfect. The theming is lush and so beautiful, just the landscaping is stunning. It really has a relaxed, island feel to it - it was like 2 vacations in one - busy theme park and then relaxed island/beach vacation. The pool is the BEST!! Zero entry, which is great, and the slide was awesome. That's all DS (the almost 5 year old) did!! DD did it a bit too. They can wear vests/swimmies on it. We swam every day.

Another perk, especially if you want to keep fairly consistent with bedtimes, is being able to watch Wishes and the Water Pagaent from the beach. A couple times we watched the Pageant, then showered and put PJ's on the kids, and went back out to watch Wishes. Then, straight to bed.

The food choices are great - Kona is awesome and we loved Captain Cook's! WE plan to try Ohana's in 2009.

I'd highly recommend considering the Poly.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

Definitely not too early!! We're planning for April/May 2009. We went April/May 2007 with kids almost the exact same ages as yours.

I debated mainly between the BC and Poly.

Went with Poly, mainly for the monorail, both to MK and Epcot. Both kids still napped and we went back for that each day. We spent the most time at those two parks, very little at MGM and AK. The kids LOVED the monorail and it was soooo quick and convenient. For Epcot, we walked over to the TTC, about 5 minutes, and hopped directly on. We also never folded up our strollers on it, very convenient!

Now, having stayed there - I can't imagine staying anywhere else!!!!!!!!!! It is so perfect. The theming is lush and so beautiful, just the landscaping is stunning. It really has a relaxed, island feel to it - it was like 2 vacations in one - busy theme park and then relaxed island/beach vacation. The pool is the BEST!! Zero entry, which is great, and the slide was awesome. That's all DS (the almost 5 year old) did!! DD did it a bit too. They can wear vests/swimmies on it. We swam every day.

Another perk, especially if you want to keep fairly consistent with bedtimes, is being able to watch Wishes and the Water Pagaent from the beach. A couple times we watched the Pageant, then showered and put PJ's on the kids, and went back out to watch Wishes. Then, straight to bed.

The food choices are great - Kona is awesome and we loved Captain Cook's! WE plan to try Ohana's in 2009.

I'd highly recommend considering the Poly.

Couldn't have put it better myself. After reading this post - it has taken me back to our trip in October and now I'm wondering why I'm considering staying somewhere else-LOL! There are so many pros to the Poly. I think the only cons are the lobby can be pretty busy w/kona cafe, ohana's, tambu lounge & the monorail all on the same level and the price.

 

[aussieinvasion]

Hi,
Were looking at going in August 09, and Ive been researching like crazy. Our littlies will be 3 and 5 1/2. I think we'll go for a 10 night split stay, 5 nights WL/5 nights BWI. Reason being close to MK for first part of trip and close to Epcot for second part of the trip. Were also following this with a 7 night cruise on DCL so the theming of WL and AKL greatly appealed to us also as will be very different.
If we dont go for this, it will be 5 nights AKL/5 nights BWI. DS loves animals and it seems to be a really unique place to stay.
If I could book the accommodation now I would, the wait is driving me bananas!!
Were gonna chance it and not take a stroller with us, and just rent one when we get there if we need to.
Mel

 

[TJA]

Hi,
Were looking at going in August 09, and Ive been researching like crazy. Our littlies will be 3 and 5 1/2. I think we'll go for a 10 night split stay, 5 nights WL/5 nights BWI. Reason being close to MK for first part of trip and close to Epcot for second part of the trip. Were also following this with a 7 night cruise on DCL so the theming of WL and AKL greatly appealed to us also as will be very different.
If we dont go for this, it will be 5 nights AKL/5 nights BWI. DS loves animals and it seems to be a really unique place to stay.
If I could book the accommodation now I would, the wait is driving me bananas!!
Were gonna chance it and not take a stroller with us, and just rent one when we get there if we need to.
Mel

Just a quick hi-jack of the thread (sorry!) but I noticed you said you are going to chance not taking a stroller for your 3 year old -- this raises a red flag to me because you mentioned staying at BWI. We love the Epcot resorts and one of the things we love the most is walking back and forth between the resorts and Epcot and MGM. Can your 3 year old do that? One night after Fantasmic, the line for the boat was about a mile long, so our kids (then 3-1/2 yrs old) curled up in the jogger and we walked back to BC. It was a great walk that DH and I really enjoyed. We bought a snack and drink and took our time walking and talking while the kids slept in the stroller. Anyway, that is one of our favorite options when staying at the Epcot resorts (being able to walk to the parks). Just wanted to mention that just in case you hadn't thought of it! Have fun, sounds like a wonderful vacation you are planning!

 

[aussieinvasion]

hmmmm not sure, now Im worried. I had thought of hiring a stroller but I understand this can be limited availability at the parks. Wondering if its possible to do stroller hire at the resorts? The thought of carting one around all the way from Sydney is very unappealing, and dont think we will need one on the cruise on the later part of the holiday.
Anyone know if this is possible?

 

[Freiden8]

hmmmm not sure, now Im worried. I had thought of hiring a stroller but I understand this can be limited availability at the parks. Wondering if its possible to do stroller hire at the resorts? The thought of carting one around all the way from Sydney is very unappealing, and dont think we will need one on the cruise on the later part of the holiday.
Anyone know if this is possible?

I can't imagine not having a stroller.. I'd recommend taking at least a light umbrella stroller. They are much easier to manuver than the rentals and you can gate check it at the airport. easy.

To everyone else, thanks sooo much for the advice. Now I'm considering the Poly! Ha! Only thing that I don't like about the Poly and the GF is that the layout of the resorts are so much like that moderates that a little part of me would be annoyed to have to walk such a distance - outside - to get to the main parts of the resort when I could do that at POFQ for so much less money. Thoughts?

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

hmmmm not sure, now Im worried. I had thought of hiring a stroller but I understand this can be limited availability at the parks. Wondering if its possible to do stroller hire at the resorts? The thought of carting one around all the way from Sydney is very unappealing, and dont think we will need one on the cruise on the later part of the holiday.
Anyone know if this is possible?

We didn't bring a stroller for our DD2 - we rented one from A Baby's Best Friend (abbf.com) and it worked out great. It was a Graco single stroller (they have other types, jogging, etc.) and it was delivered to our resort prior to our arrival. It was very easy just bundled it back up and left it at Bell Services for abbf to pick up. I did not want a stroller for the airport - it would have been just another thing to carry around. DD2 doesn't really like strollers anyway and she wanted to walk and pull her carryon just like her older siblings. It worked out great-I highly reccommend them. They have other things as well.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

I can't imagine not having a stroller.. I'd recommend taking at least a light umbrella stroller. They are much easier to manuver than the rentals and you can gate check it at the airport. easy.

To everyone else, thanks sooo much for the advice. Now I'm considering the Poly! Ha! Only thing that I don't like about the Poly and the GF is that the layout of the resorts are so much like that moderates that a little part of me would be annoyed to have to walk such a distance - outside - to get to the main parts of the resort when I could do that at POFQ for so much less money. Thoughts?

I don't know about the GF but I didn't think there was much walking at all at the Poly. I remember thinking to myself "this resort is pretty compact". Everything is fairly close but I suppose it depends on the longhouse you get - even then I don't think theres as much walking as some of the other resorts. We had the Tokelau longhouse which is pretty much in the center - a lot of folks like the Samoa longhouse as well. It is walking outdoors but some CMs showed us a shortcut from Tokelau to the GCH by walking through Rarotonga. This was great when we wanted A/C or it was pouring out.

I just posted a thread asking about POFQ which I would love to try. That resort looks pretty compact. If our family of 5 could fit in one room I'd book that in a heartbeat. But we would need connecting rooms which aren't guaranteed and I would be very upset if we didn't get them so we'll probably book a deluxe so we can all be in one room. The Poly is gorgeous and the PP's review brought back awesome memories. So now I'm off to the drawing board again . Good thing we don't leave for a while.

 

[Gizmo1951]

Our next trip will be May 2009
We are planning a family trip for our 35th Anniversay.
I thought maybe I was planning a lttle early but now I feel much better that others have started planning early too.