Traveling Alone with a Toddler - Which Resort Would You Pick?

[WaltsMartini]

LOVE my husband - but he is NOT a Disney fan so I am planning a solo trip for next year - my son will be 2 years old.

So - if you were going it alone with a toddler, which resort would you stay in???

Some considerations:

• If I want to be amused while the kiddo naps or goes to bed early, would a deluxe with a balcony be a good idea? Or a waste of $$ if I might be too tired and just crash out with him?
• I would LOVE to stay at AKL Villas by renting points - but is this too far away from everything? Planned itinerary is 3 full days and 2 travel days - would likely do one day at AK and two days at MK, and maybe visit the Studios
• I would like a resort with a decent food court/ food offerings, as I'll likely have several lunches and all dinners there (will send a box of food ahead of time for my son)

My max is $1,000 for 4 nights, so it's either going moderate or renting points (unless you can sell me on a Value - I am afraid of being way too far from the bus and eating crappy food!)

 

[Shanti]

LOVE my husband - but he is NOT a Disney fan so I am planning a solo trip for next year - my son will be 2 years old.

So - if you were going it alone with a toddler, which resort would you stay in???

Some considerations:

• If I want to be amused while the kiddo naps or goes to bed early, would a deluxe with a balcony be a good idea? Or a waste of $$ if I might be too tired and just crash out with him?
• I would LOVE to stay at AKL Villas by renting points - but is this too far away from everything? Planned itinerary is 3 full days and 2 travel days - would likely do one day at AK and two days at MK, and maybe visit the Studios
• I would like a resort with a decent food court/ food offerings, as I'll likely have several lunches and all dinners there (will send a box of food ahead of time for my son)

My max is $1,000 for 4 nights, so it's either going moderate or renting points (unless you can sell me on a Value - I am afraid of being way too far from the bus and eating crappy food!)

Contemporary garden wing. No, the convenience is not a waste of money if you're always at the parks. It'll make you be able to sleep later each morning and get to sleep earlier each night on your MK days, due to the lack of long commute, as well as make it easy to take mid-day breaks. If you can't afford it, don't. But if you can afford it, book it.

 

[loves to dive]

AKL is not as far out as people think it is, the bus is pretty good and the rides not really that long. Given you are spending most of your 3 days at MK one of the MK resorts seems the best bet. I was a single mom and took my son from when he was around 2 1/2, usually if he was napping I was napping as well but a balcony is nice at night to have a glass of wine and relax. Have you looked into the prices at WL, since they are doing renovations right now the rooms tend to be less. If you can swing it, I'd go with Poly, it's very kid friendly and has a good QS. $250/night is going to be hard to swing at any of the deluxes the only time I've been able to do it is if WDW is doing a discount then stacking it on Orbitz with one of their discounts.

 

[Guyton dis lover]

LOVE my husband - but he is NOT a Disney fan so I am planning a solo trip for next year - my son will be 2 years old.

So - if you were going it alone with a toddler, which resort would you stay in???

Some considerations:

• If I want to be amused while the kiddo naps or goes to bed early, would a deluxe with a balcony be a good idea? Or a waste of $$ if I might be too tired and just crash out with him?
• I would LOVE to stay at AKL Villas by renting points - but is this too far away from everything? Planned itinerary is 3 full days and 2 travel days - would likely do one day at AK and two days at MK, and maybe visit the Studios
• I would like a resort with a decent food court/ food offerings, as I'll likely have several lunches and all dinners there (will send a box of food ahead of time for my son)

My max is $1,000 for 4 nights, so it's either going moderate or renting points (unless you can sell me on a Value - I am afraid of being way too far from the bus and eating crappy food!)

We go allot. We stay at value resorts. Moderate resorts and we camp. I have no problem with any value resort I have stayed at. You can ask for a close room and explain your reason. You will be set up close to the bus stop and the food court. I like the food court at Pop Century. Good Luck. Your Hubby doesn't know what he is missing.

 

[tami82]

I agree the Contemporary garden wing is great. If you can get a patio facing the pool beach area even better. We stayed there and the patio was great so the kids could sit outside and we were able to go to the pool area easily. We were even also able to see the electric water parade each night from the outside of our room and had close access to the beach area. If you can get a good deal I would recommend a monorail resort as it would be so much easier with a toddler. It's ok to have a trip with just your child if your husband doesn't want to go. I have taken mini trips every year with just me and the kids since they were babies and have some great memories.

 

[TravelingTotMom]

Are you planning on taking a stroller? Just keep in mind that you will need to fold up that stroller and carry that (and your son) on the busses.

With a stroller, if there is any possible way you can swing a resort on the monorail line, your transportation will be a whole lot easier. You can wheel your stroller right on to the monorail.

Either way, have a great time! I've taken my two-year-old son up on day trips by myself several times, and we always have a blast! (I tend to be more "go, go, go!" than my husband, so we get way more rides in on those trips.)

 

[AshleeH]

I'm traveling with my daughter early next year and I'm splurging for deluxe with a balcony. I'm sure there will be nights I want to enjoy the fireworks and she'll need more rest. And those midday breaks when I don't nap with her, I can always take a book out on the balcony. Those factors work for me, so the extra price is worth it. I always wanted easy access to MK, since I'm sure we'll be there more days than any other park.

 

[brockash]

If you can swing the CR, then I'd def. do that, just for the convenience of being able to walk to/from MK with a stroller. I'd also be sure and request a ground room wherever you stay just so you don't have to deal with the elevator with the stroller.

 

[maramarrie]

For convenience, I would stay at a MK resort on the monorail so you can get to MK or Epcot without having to fold a stroller. For pure entertainment, I would stay at AKL. They have awesome pools, splash pad, crafts and activities, animal viewing 24/7, and my kids have always loved the nightly "Lobby parade." I have done 2-3 days solo with 2 kids (under 6) twice. Once we stayed at Contemporary for the Monorail/walking convenience and once we were at Yacht Club. I LOVED the convenience of YC to Epcot and DHS, but we spent most of our time that trip in Epcot, so it was a bonus. I am traveling solo with the kids (5/7 this time) for 5 days and I have decided to head "home" to AKL. We have stayed here more than anywhere, but it's been a few years and we miss it, so we are going to stay there. I'm looking forward to the craft activities and pool for them. It is farther from all the other parks, but mine are old enough (and I think I'm mentally prepared enough) to handle the buses without any issues. I hope you can decide on the perfect place for your trip!

 

[WaltsMartini]

Thanks everyone! Now I am torn - AKL or monorail resort... good points all about the strollers - I hadn't thought about folding that up and trying to get that and him on the bus without an extra pair of hands...

I'm thinking of doing an umbrella stroller - but that means I won't have the storage space or the ability to lower it down so he can nap...

 

[DizneyLizzy]

Last spring break my husband drove home and my son and I flew, meaning we had one extra day in the parks so he could get a head start on the drive home. My son had just turned 2. I'm not going to lie, it was definitely challenging being alone for just one day and one travel day with in WDW my son, but it was definitely fun. We stayed at OKW on rented points, and it was awesome. The resort is super chill for kids (and adults!) who need to decompress after park time and lots of stimulation. I loved having the balcony to sit on while he napped/went to bed early. I couldn't see fireworks, but I could read and relax in peace without worrying about waking him. Renting points at OKW is usually not that much more than a moderate, if at all. While it's not monorail adjacent, it's pretty centrally located to the parks, and especially close to MK and Epcot. I would request a room in one of the buildings near the hospitality house so you are close to that. They have a great playground and a tiny baby pool that was empty when we were there.

If $ were not object we would have definitely done the Contemporary for the convenience factor...but a room in the garden wing would have been $485 per night plus tax...and our OKW studio was about $250 per night, so it would have literally doubled the cost for us to stay there. This was Easter week so prices were probably at their highest. Even the Wilderness Lodge was close to $400 per night. OKW was the best way for me to get a balcony and deluxe amenities without paying the hefty price tags.

Also, folding a stroller and holding onto a 2 year old solo was tricky. Make sure whichever stroller you bring - umbrella or heavy duty - can be collapsed with one hand if possible. I never thought about this before because when my son and I go places by ourselves at home (museums, zoos, the mall, etc) I don't have to collapse his stroller until he is safely in the car seat! People were very helpful if I looked stressed. Ha.

One more tip - if you are going to do any character meals, do a non-buffet one. I don't know what I was thinking by trying to do a buffet by myself with a 2 year old! LOL. We had fun, but I think I ate one pancake the entire time - and that was one pricey pancake!

Good luck, and have a great time!

 

[Ndusmama]

Thanks everyone! Now I am torn - AKL or monorail resort... good points all about the strollers - I hadn't thought about folding that up and trying to get that and him on the bus without an extra pair of hands...

I'm thinking of doing an umbrella stroller - but that means I won't have the storage space or the ability to lower it down so he can nap...

I actually just saw an umbrella type compact stroller that folds with one hand. I will try to look it up and post link. I want to say it was a McClarren but I'm not sure

 

[Ndusmama]

Summer Infant 3D lite Convenience Stroller

 

[WaltsMartini]

One more tip - if you are going to do any character meals, do a non-buffet one. I don't know what I was thinking by trying to do a buffet by myself with a 2 year old! LOL. We had fun, but I think I ate one pancake the entire time - and that was one pricey pancake!

Good luck, and have a great time!

I never thought about making sure the character meal is NOT a buffet - GREAT call! That is definitely on our to do list.