Where to stay with 5,4 and 2 year old girls

[mymadelynn]

Was wondering were to stay with my self dh and dd 2,4,and 5. Proably January 21 to 28 ish. For 5 night 6 days. I'd like to be close to magic kingdom I think. I would love to be near to monorail. Do they allow stroller on the monorail. I like the looks of the animal kingdom lodge. Dh won't be into taking the bus. I think we will be driving there. Our budget for tickets and hotel is about $2500. Do I need tickets for everyday I'm there. I'm think of just getting 4 day with the hopper do they allow that. Is there any benifit to the waterpark stuff for this age group. I think my kids would be just as happy in the hotel pool.

 

[Lilolvr]

Unless you can get a good deal at one of the monorail resorts, you may want to check out the WL since you can take a boat to MK as well as bus. You can park close to MK. You have to park at the TTC and take the monorail in so the boat is probably a better option. It's a bit cheaper too as far as deluxe resorts go.

 

[Mayl]

The other idea that we did a few years ago was get a cabin in Fort Wilderness. With your car it works out fine (we rented a golf cart, same difference). Again a quick boat ride to MK, but you have super privacy, full kitchen and lots of room in the cabin.

A big bonus to us was all the great kid friendly stuff they did at the main pool area. They had many games and things run by CM's there that our kids loved. The nightly campfire and sing along also.

We thought FW cabins was one of the best trips ever to Disney for us.

 

[GinnyFavers]

Definitely skip the water park add on feature, and stick with the hotel pool. There's a good chance the weather will be very cold, January is the time in Florida when it does get too chilly to swim for the most part.

Whether or not you want to cover all five days with park admissions is up to you, I'd base it on what time you get there your first day, and what time you leave your last. We like to come in, throw our stuff in the room and go right to a park, but we don't have three little girls! You won't save any money by getting four vs. five or six days on your passes, as Disney only charges a few dollars a day per person for extra days after four. They want you to stay longer and go into the park and buy more souvenirs.

As to resorts, the Contemporary is all torn up with construction for the next year or two, and I have over the years made it a policy to not stay at or send anyone to a Disney resort where construction is going on. My vacation dollar is too precious to deal with that.

The Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge (I think you mentioned that one?) only sleep 5 in their most expensive category rooms. But the monorail Deluxe resorts almost all standard rooms sleep 5 in two queens and a daybed. For the extra money you will have to shell out for the rooms that sleep five at WL or AKL, you might as well go ahead and stay at a Magic Kingdom monorail resort.

So, I would recommend either the Polynesian or the Grand Floridian, and my top pick for you would be the Polynesian. Kids adore the pool, there's a Lilo & Stitch character breakfast, a family dinner with Hawaiian themed loud boistrous hoopla going on in the restaurant that kids enjoy, and the transportation convenience can't be beat.

 

[spiceycat]

for tickets and hotels - asked for 6 day tickets

Polyn - $3,721.54
FW cabin - $3.052.20
WL standard room - $2,815.88 (this one was strange first it say it wasn't available - then it suddenly appears with all rooms available??)

all to expensive
POR - $2,217.38
with food added (of course you might not like this because of the table services)
$2,889.10

 

[spiceycat]

forgot
includes 6 day MYW hopper.

going to 4 days would only go to $2,200.36 instead of $2,217.38 at POR.

for $17.02 I would go with 6 days instead of 4.

 

[mymadelynn]

Anymore comments. What room would I have to get at AKL? I'm giving some thought to the asm family suite as well. And the cabins. What are the chances of getting a discounts on any of these.

 

[GinnyFavers]

January is a low season, a good time to go to snag good rack rates and discounts. Check the Disney Resorts board here for stickies at the top about rates and codes. Also, mousesavers.com is a great website for discount info of all kinds.

I don't keep up with discounts much anymore, there are two kinds, though, ones for packages and ones for room only. The packages are often general from Disney for everyone, or tied to using your Disney Visa. The room only are for annual pass holder, Florida residents, and AAA members, those are the most common.

If you use a good web-based travel agency that specializes in Disney travel, most of them will watch for rate discounts that come out after you book, and rebook you to retroactively apply the discount, if available, a nice service!

The rooms at AKL that sleep more than four are the Deluxe category rooms. They come in savannah, pool, and regular "view" for various prices. They will have a queen bed, a bunkbed, and a daybed. There aren't a lot of these to go around, so call asap if you're interested.

 

[byoung]

POR is you best bet.

 

[hthrbells]

I would suggest the Polly

 

[marivaid]

Am I missing something ? Since her youngest is under 2, she doesn't count as a 5th person in the room so they can go anywhere they want.

A standard room at AKL or WL Jan 21-28 with 6 day basic passes would be $2,624.20.

Keep checking for special offers!

 

[GinnyFavers]

Am I missing something ? Since her youngest is under 2, she doesn't count as a 5th person in the room so they can go anywhere they want.

A standard room at AKL or WL Jan 21-28 with 6 day basic passes would be $2,624.20.

Keep checking for special offers!

I guess they could have the 2 year old sleep in a pack and play, or get in bed with the other two kids... but it would be a queen sized bed with three kids in it.

I dunno... I find a Disney trip to be pretty exhausting, it's very physical, and with three kids I can't imagine not having a place to feel like you can really relax and rest at the end of the day.

I suppose they could bring a small air mattress, if they stay at AKL or WL, and put it on the floor between the beds. Most 2 year olds I know wouldn't stay there, though. They'd probably need to put one of the older kids on it.

 

[disneywith4boys]

Even at the Deluxe resorts, the monorail or boat only takes you to 1 or 2 of the parks, and the rest are bus. Do you plan on driving to the rest? As for water parks, with 3 small kids and only 2 adults, I'd be a little nervous. There is kid areas, but I found it hard to keep an eye on 2 with 2 adults. We'll be skipping them until all 4 are old enough to be safe on their own. Just paraniod about water safety!!