Torn on resorts...help!

[AngieDnky]

I am so torn. We are coming to DW in Oct. with three boys (6, 4, 4mo) and just can't decide where to stay. I think we have it narrowed down to Animal Kingdom, Contemporary, Wilderness or Coronado (the only moderate with queen beds). What would you do?

 

[FirestoneRocks]

With 3 boys, I would stay at the Contemporary. The monorail is very convenient with the kids.

Have a great trip!

 

[ValinWV]

Although, I haven't stayed at the others. I would prefer the CR. We stayed there with our three. 4, 6, 15. It was really nice and convenient being at the monorail resort and walking to MK.

 

[Karlzmom]

i'm going to vote for CSR, as it seems to have the "deluxe" feel without the deluxe $$. Frankly, my last visit really made me question the "worth it" factor of the deluxe resorts. It seems they keep getting more and more expensive without a whole lots of service or enhanced facilities to match. YMMV.

 

[vettegirl]

Another vote for the CSR, the grounds are beautiful, dig site pool amazing and the price is the best value in all of DW.

 

[jerseymom473]

I vote for the WL. It is beautiful! We loved our stay there! It is an easy boat ride to MK. It is less expensive than most of the other deluxes and your kids will love the theme!

Also you can stay there (&AKL, and CSR) until your little one turns 3, then (like us) you have less choices on where to stay! Enjoy - they are all good choices!

 

[mom of 3G's]

I'd go with CR for the convenience of the monorial and also the walking path. And if your budget allows, go for the tower rooms so that you are in the same building as the monorail and food court.

 

[nmmom95]

I would say either CR or WL. The monorail is convenient, but like pp said, the boat ride from WL is really nice. Also, since it is not spread out like CSR, you can get to the restaurants/CS easily.

 

[Brook1099]

We have stayed @ CSR and Wilderness, and my kids still ask to go back to CSR. They loved the pool way better than Wilderness. The beds were very comfy, buses ran well, great overall resort. Request close to main pool.

Wilderness was nice the boat ride to MK is fantastic, resort is gorgeous as well, pool area was mobbed when we were there( Nov) so that made for a bad experience. I would certainly stay again though.

We donot like the feel of CR and wont stay there.

Thinking of AK this year.

tough decisions, we have been going for 7 years and still fret over this.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I really enjoyed AKL. You might want to try that while you still can if you think you'll be back to WDW in the future.

I do like the CR as well-you can't go wrong with that.


POFQ also has queen beds now so that is a great moderate choice if you want queen beds. I like how compact that resort is.

 

[KatMark]

Depending on when you are going, the POFQ is in the process of getting queen beds and the POR-Riverside will be getting them (both moderate resorts).

We have stayed at the CSR nine times and keep going back (we'll be there again in September).

We have stayed at the CR and it was okay -- nothing that brings us back, however. The WL holds no appeal to us at all, and we are trying tke AKL for a couple of nights this September before our stay at the CSR.

They all have their own themes, etc. I would go with the theme that appeals to you the most (and the cost).

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would go with the Contemporary because of the Resort Monorail access, walkway to the Magic Kingdom, the biggest rooms among the Deluxe Resorts and every Cast Member we have seen there has always been very friendly.

 

[kaffinito]

I am so torn. We are coming to DW in Oct. with three boys (6, 4, 4mo) and just can't decide where to stay. I think we have it narrowed down to Animal Kingdom, Contemporary, Wilderness or Coronado (the only moderate with queen beds). What would you do?

I'd go with AKL for the animals or with CR.

And POFQ just got a refurb and now has queen beds as well, so that one might be worth a look for you.

 

[Priskillet]

The thing to keep in mind is NO matter where you pick you are going to wish you had one thing another hotel had. It is a tough decision-But no matter that you will still love the hotel you are at!!!
I stayed at CSR-Loved it. The rooms are renovated and gorgeous. My only complaint with this one was how long the walk was from the room to main lobby. AND let me say like i did above, you will always have a complaint. ONe small thing or a big thing. But that is the BEAUTY of WDW-you just want to keep coming back and try all the diff hotels.
Last year we did the beach club. LOVED it too! Hmmmm only complaint. So many people there.
THIS year is BLT-afraid a little cause BLT and CR are so modern. I hear that some people feel less disneyish there. But I want to try it.

So either way look at them all. Let the kids look online too at the pools, arcades, playgrounds. See what they think. PICK one and try it. Next year or whenever you go back pick the next one. We all stress over this. I keep wanting to change my mind, but I need to just stick to it. I know. Us crazy DISers!


How many nights are you going? Have you thought of a split stay????

 

[Philleigh]

I would choose CR becasue of room size, proximity to MK, cool monorail thru lobby. We stayed at CR when I was a kid (with 3 kids) and my parents talked about how much they enjoyed not feeling cramped in the room. Second choice - WL (my personal favorite) because under one roof, boat directly to MK, and great theme - good point by pp about staying there while youngest under 3.

 

[Alabama Minnie]

If you can afford to stay at CR I would for the room size and convenience with the young children. We have stayed at AKL and CSR and IMO you would have as much room, or more, for the baby's bed at CSR. The furniture takes-up ALOT of the room at AKL IMO. I think WL rooms are the same size. We haven't stayed there.

 

[AngieDnky]

Thank you so much for all of your great advice. I think we now have it narrowed down to WL or CSR. Some have said the convention people are overwhelming at CSR and it doesn't have much of a family feel. Have you found this to be the case? We don't necessarily NEED to save the money. We just want a FANTASTIC experience.

We really think AKL is cool, but don't know that just the animals are worth all of the other issues: too far, too cramped, etc. And we think CR is just too modern for a Disney trip with kids.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Thank you so much for all of your great advice. I think we now have it narrowed down to WL or CSR. Some have said the convention people are overwhelming at CSR and it doesn't have much of a family feel. Have you found this to be the case? We don't necessarily NEED to save the money. We just want a FANTASTIC experience.

We really think AKL is cool, but don't know that just the animals are worth all of the other issues: too far, too cramped, etc. And we think CR is just too modern for a Disney trip with kids.

We've done CSR, CR and W,AKL.....biased towards WL...over 10+ stays there, best location and bang for the buck....has the subdued Disney feel and ambiance.....CSR, outside doors, convention resort, huge, long walks and buses.....not to our liking.

Bottom line, best priced and location WL......most expensive but more room CR......we prefer saving a few bucks and staying deluxe and like the boat to MK and FW and just being in the MK area, especially having boat access to the CR to catch the monorail to the other 3 resorts for shopping, dining and lounging.....

 

[KatMark]

Thank you so much for all of your great advice. I think we now have it narrowed down to WL or CSR. Some have said the convention people are overwhelming at CSR and it doesn't have much of a family feel. Have you found this to be the case? We don't necessarily NEED to save the money. We just want a FANTASTIC experience.

We really think AKL is cool, but don't know that just the animals are worth all of the other issues: too far, too cramped, etc. And we think CR is just too modern for a Disney trip with kids.

Absolutely NOT! Our kids loved it when they traveled with us (they are now 25 and 22 and don't go with us because of school, coaching, etc.). I always like to link this review for those with kids who question the "convention" aspect of the resort:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2490217

 

[Biggreen19]

Since you think AKL looks really cool, why not consider it as well? As far as room size, it's the same square feet as WL.

Keep in mind AKL is like 2 resorts in one, Kidani village and Jambo house. You can explore both resorts and use both pools, which I would think your boys would have a blast over at Kidani's water play area. There are numerous kid's activities planned throughout the day, 3 sit-down restaurants and one CS restaurant, plus the animals! I would think you would have a fantastic experience if you stayed at AKL.

I never really get the "distance thing", you are maybe 15-20 minutes at most to MK, it will take you just as much time to get to AK or DHS from WL, maybe longer since WL will share it's bus with other monorail resorts.

I have never stayed or visited CSR, so I cannot comment on it. I have never stayed at WL, but have visited and dined there a few times, I can say it's a beautiful resort, and I would think you would have a great time there as well.