What resort with a one year old?

[labdogs42]

We are starting to plan a trip for February 2006 and I'm planning to stay at a Dinsey resort for the first time and take my one year old son. We've been to Disney many times, but only stayed on-site once and that was at the Swan (pseudo Disney resort!).

I don't think I can spring for the Grand Floridian, but I want to stay somewhere nice and baby friendly (fridge in room is a necessity, ease of transportation is also key). I'd like a king sized bed and a non-smoking room (it will just be three of us, me, DH, and DS). I've heard good things about Pop Century and also the Yacht and Beach clubs. If there is a good reason to spend some extra $$ I will, but if I can get a good room for less dough, that's always good.

I'd love to hear your recommendations -- you guys have been a great help so far and I just signed up yesterday!

 

[Goofy4]

What resort area most appeals to you? Epcot, MK, Values?

 

[MickeyP]

The best hotel with a baby is the Yacht or Beach club. They have refrigerators. Every room at the Yacht has a balcony. The pool-Stormalong Bay has a sand bottom and you ease into it. No steps, it's like a real beach, which is why we stay there. The Friendship boats take you to MGM or Epcot if you don't feel like walking and you can wheel the stoller right on. If you really hate buses, like me, you can leave Epcot and get on the monorail-again, just wheel the stoller on. As for AK, uh...........you will have to take a bus.

 

[labdogs42]

I was thinking about Yacht or Beach club! I din't know about the firdges or the balconies -- great info! Is there a view of any fireworks fomr either of these resorts? I knwo they are near Epcot, but I'm not sure about which direction they face. Thanks for the info!

 

[4theloveofdisney]

Since you only have one child and would possibly like to save some money, I would highly suggest All Star Movies. I can't imagine a funner place for little ones. There is a small kiddie pool and a whale that squirts water but not directly on your child - it's far enough away from the baby pool area. There is also another interactive play area in the Love Bug section and a decent playground. If you just do not want to do a "value" however, next on my list would be POFQ. There is a nice playground area, the resort itself is small and quaint and easy to get around in and there is a nice kiddy section as well. I noticed you mentioned Pop and I do have to say the baby pool is great - zero entry and the floor is made of a soft type of foam so if your little one falls, they won't have a scratch. It does however squirt a lot of water so also another consideration if your child doesn't like water. Lastly, we loved the pool area at SSR. The kiddie area, though not a pool, kept our little ones entertained for quite some time and we were allowed the luxery of being able to sit and watch. The main also has a zero entry area which would also be wonderful for your little one. Best of luck on your choices!!!

 

[bytheblood]

Pop Century, All Stars or the Villas.

 

[MickeyP]

I did forget to mention that at the Y&B Club, we had a waterview room, which overlooks the Seven Seas Lagoon at Epcot. You couldn't really see Illuminations on the water, but you got a great view of the fireworks!

 

[palmtreegirl]

Deluxe MK area-Contemporary resort- walk to the Magic Kingdom and you have the monorail.

Deluxe Epcot area- Beach Club- Great pool, walk to Epcot, boat to MGM.

Moderate- Port Orleans French Quarter- Small and compact resort, boat to Downtown Disney.

Value- Pop Century- Cute, affordable, great transportation and food court.

 

[Montana Disney Fan]

We have two kids and they've been with us on WDW trips when they were that age. There is really only one good piece of advice I can give you. You want to stay NEAR the park you plan on spending the most time at.

We love Epcot and stayed at BW and it was awesome. When our 1 y.o. was starting to "turn" we could bee-line it back to the room for some cool air, rest and relaxation.

Choose a room closest to the park you plan to spend the most time at. We've always requested a fridge be put in our rooms when we stayed at non-DVC resorts. They charge extra per day but it was worth it in our opinion.

Leave your expectations at home and just live in the moment while you're down there.

Have Fun!

MDF

 

[chrome64]

I highly recommend staying on the Monorail line. Magic Kingdom is always my favorite for little kids and being able to just hope on the Monorail is priceless. Not to mention that if you are like me, you probably haul a full size stroller, full size diaperbag, and all of the necessities of having a 1 year old! It's much easier to stay somewhere that will minimize your need of the busses. I believe that you can request to have a mini-fridge in any of the deluxe hotels now so that should not be a problem at the Grand Floridian, Contemporary, and Polynesian. Also, don't let the prices scare you away. Disney often releases discount codes for discounts off room only reservations. You might find that you can stay at a deluxe for the same price that you would have paid at a moderate! We went last summer with a two year old and got an unbelieveable rate at the GF with a AAA discount! Being able to go back to the rooms for naps was worth every extra penny that we spent!

The value resorts are great value to be on Disney property but, do keep in mind that they are in the most remote location and you will have to rely on the buses for transportation or drive each day to the parks. I loved the ability to push the stroller from the parks all the way to the room without ever having to fold it up! Where ever you decide to stay you will have a great time becuase it is Disney!!! So, just take all the advice that everyone has given you and pick out the pieces that mean the most to you!

Good Luck! (I've never been in Feb. but I'm betting that it will be too cold to swim, might want to check on that before basing any decisions on the pool)

 

[TinkerbellMama]

All I can tell you is that I do NOT recommend Pop Century with a 1 yr. old! We just got back with our 1 yr. old son (walking) and it was a nightmare and a half trying to get a bus home to Pop at night. The outgoing buses in the morning were fairly decent, but in the evenings I routinely stood with a sleeping (or worse, cranky!) baby in the cool air for an hour and a half waiting for a bus. Don't do it! Anywhere but Pop.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Value- Pop Century- Cute, affordable, great transportation and food court.

No offense, but on what planet does Pop have great transportation??? LOL, we had a horrible time with the bus system last week. No other resorts seemed to have such a terrible set-up as Pop. It was truly awful. Every 20 minutes, my foot. Never again.

 

[FSUGrad97]

We just got back from the Wilderness Lodge with our 2 year old daughter. We were on the first floor, and while some people may totally disagree with me, the ferry wasn't bad at all. In fact, many nights, my DD would fall asleep on the way back from the parks.

WL has refrigerators, and is close to MK.

 

[amarberry]

We stayed at Beach Club when our DD was 4 months old and Pop Century when our DD was 14 months old. Beach Club was nice and I loved being within walking distance of Epcot, but we had such a great time at Pop that we are going back in January when DD is 18 months old! Pop is such a great value and even with a little one, we didn't spend a ton of time in the room. We usually left around 8am and didn't return until 7pm or so (DD took great naps in her stroller at the parks). DD loved the toddler pool and the Goofy splash area. We did not have a bad experience with the buses at all in September, but we left for the parks early and returned before park closing.

If I were traveling with a one year old and were going to splurge on a deluxe hotel, I definitely stay at one of the Magic Kingdom resorts. You will be amazed at what a great time you will have with such a young child at WDW!!!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I would suggest any hotel on the monorail line, especially if you plan to do MK and Epcot. We just returned in September and DD was just shy of 2. It was heaven! To not have to fool with the buses alot, though we did spend most of our time at the MK.

YC/BC are awesome too,since they are within walking distance to Epcot and DS. I would decide what park you will do most then decide from there.