Where would you stay? First visit with little kids.

[hockeydad21]

Given your needs: space due to a 1 year old, good pool and splash pad, assuming as little bus transportation due to having at least one stroller and not wanting to be folding it down if the little one is sleeping, not necessarily tied to MK area…

If money/points aren’t an issue, it’d be hard to not put Riviera and the new Poly Tower at the top of the list, but poly 1 bedroom might be tough to come by due to the newness of it.

• Riv has the Skyliner to 2 parks, great food, very good splash pad and pools, and beautiful rooms.
• Poly tower is brand new, has the monorail to Epcot and MK, will have 2 awesome splash pads and 3 good pools, and good food.

Other DVC resorts to consider with very good splash pads:

• Saratoga if on a budget. it’s a sneaky awesome resort if you have a car or don’t mind the bus loop, and plan on going to Disney springs to eat a few times
• Grand Floridian has a great splash pad, 1 good pool, and 1 okay pool, best restaurants on property and beautiful rooms. Getting to Epcot is a little more complicated than Poly unless you walk to the transportation center
• AKL has arguably the best splash pad of all the resorts, 2 really good pools, awesome food if you’re adventurous, but has the dreaded worst pull out sofa in all of DVC. The good news is you can get a standard view 2 bedroom for less than a 1 bedroom at either poly or Riv.

Resorts I wouldn’t consider:

• Boulder ridge and copper creek because boat and bus transportation will require you to break down your stroller. Just an ok splash pad
• Old key west, bay lake, beach club, and boardwalk don’t really have splash pads

 

[Canchaser143]

Here are my almost final thoughts:

Poly: I feel like a 1 bed will be out of the question since there are so few, standard studios are gone for the week I would like to go.
RIV: I do have enough points for RIV, just not sure I want to use all my points there, when we could walk to EP and HS at BWV for so much less! But these are my husband's favorite rooms, the twin pull out is great. Is it worth the splurge?
AKL: The need for a refurb is going to keep us away for now.
GFV: I love the look of this resort, but again SO MANY POINTS lol Not to mention the fact it shares a bus is wild for how costly it is.
BLT: I love how you can walk to MK and use the monorail to get to epcot, but hate how we will have no idea where they are at with the refurb. Theming makes me sad and does not scream disney vacation. I do know my 4yr old would love the little slide they have.
SSR: Love this place based on the race track theme and being so close to DS, we are foodies lol Just wish the bus situation was better, but I guess we could rent a car. Also a plus for the twin pull out.

That leads me to BWV, where the splash pad is really a kiddie pool, but there is the playground. My 4yr old would be happy with that. I have always overlooked BWV based on the food situation and lack of a regular quick service. But that point chart is AMAZING, especially being able to walk to two parks. Rooms are also basically new, but no twin pull out. Sad.

So as it stands I am torn between RIV, SSR and BWV!
Do we go YOLO for RIV, settle for the middle option of BWV, or the budget option of SSR! This hard. LOL

 

[hockeydad21]

Here are my almost final thoughts:

Poly: I feel like a 1 bed will be out of the question since there are so few, standard studios are gone for the week I would like to go.
RIV: I do have enough points for RIV, just not sure I want to use all my points there, when we could walk to EP and HS at BWV for so much less! But these are my husband's favorite rooms, the twin pull out is great. Is it worth the splurge?
AKL: The need for a refurb is going to keep us away for now.
GFV: I love the look of this resort, but again SO MANY POINTS lol Not to mention the fact it shares a bus is wild for how costly it is.
BLT: I love how you can walk to MK and use the monorail to get to epcot, but hate how we will have no idea where they are at with the refurb. Theming makes me sad and does not scream disney vacation. I do know my 4yr old would love the little slide they have.
SSR: Love this place based on the race track theme and being so close to DS, we are foodies lol Just wish the bus situation was better, but I guess we could rent a car. Also a plus for the twin pull out.

That leads me to BWV, where the splash pad is really a kiddie pool, but there is the playground. My 4yr old would be happy with that. I have always overlooked BWV based on the food situation and lack of a regular quick service. But that point chart is AMAZING, especially being able to walk to two parks. Rooms are also basically new, but no twin pull out. Sad.

So as it stands I am torn between RIV, SSR and BWV!
Do we go YOLO for RIV, settle for the middle option of BWV, or the budget option of SSR! This hard. LOL

I think it all depends. How many nights are you staying? How many days do you plan to go to the parks? Are you doing any parks more than once? What are your plans for sleeping arrangements - only asking because there are some studios where you can fit a baby's crib/pack n play in the 2nd bathroom. Also, is this a once in a lifetime trip to WDW or will you be back in 2-3 years?

 

[Canchaser143]

I think it all depends. How many nights are you staying? How many days do you plan to go to the parks? Are you doing any parks more than once? What are your plans for sleeping arrangements - only asking because there are some studios where you can fit a baby's crib/pack n play in the 2nd bathroom. Also, is this a once in a lifetime trip to WDW or will you be back in 2-3 years?

6 nights. Planning on doing atleast one day at EP and one day at MK. Then maybe some half days at the others or repeat of EP or MK. The goal is to not be park heavy and really just see if the vibe of WDW is for us. At DLR we are rope droppers, mid day nap, and then return for a couple hours type. No closing down the park for us lol What I am most excited about is all the stuff to do at the resorts like the pools since at VDH, we do not do much pool time.
If we decide WDW is too much work, this might be our only trip for a bit until the kids getting older.

My mom wants to join on this trip, so a 1 bedroom is necessary at least for this stay.

 

[cbailey1616]

Polly or VFG. Its invaluable to be on the mono loop with little kids. You can bounce between MK and your hotel with ease.

 

[kgou]

Here are my almost final thoughts:

Poly: I feel like a 1 bed will be out of the question since there are so few, standard studios are gone for the week I would like to go.
RIV: I do have enough points for RIV, just not sure I want to use all my points there, when we could walk to EP and HS at BWV for so much less! But these are my husband's favorite rooms, the twin pull out is great. Is it worth the splurge?
AKL: The need for a refurb is going to keep us away for now.
GFV: I love the look of this resort, but again SO MANY POINTS lol Not to mention the fact it shares a bus is wild for how costly it is.
BLT: I love how you can walk to MK and use the monorail to get to epcot, but hate how we will have no idea where they are at with the refurb. Theming makes me sad and does not scream disney vacation. I do know my 4yr old would love the little slide they have.
SSR: Love this place based on the race track theme and being so close to DS, we are foodies lol Just wish the bus situation was better, but I guess we could rent a car. Also a plus for the twin pull out.

That leads me to BWV, where the splash pad is really a kiddie pool, but there is the playground. My 4yr old would be happy with that. I have always overlooked BWV based on the food situation and lack of a regular quick service. But that point chart is AMAZING, especially being able to walk to two parks. Rooms are also basically new, but no twin pull out. Sad.

So as it stands I am torn between RIV, SSR and BWV!
Do we go YOLO for RIV, settle for the middle option of BWV, or the budget option of SSR! This hard. LOL

I LOVE BWV so that would be where I landed! I own at SSR and specifically picked SSR because I'd be fine staying there if I couldn't get in elsewhere, given the caliber of the refurb a few years back. BWV, SSR, or RIV would be how I rank them!

Edited to add: I am second guessing my enthusiastic vote for BWV since the 1BDs only sleep 4. Not sure if that would work with your group? If not, I would change my rankings to SSR, RIV, BWV out of the three you're eyeing.

 

[andyDVC]

6 nights. Planning on doing atleast one day at EP and one day at MK. Then maybe some half days at the others or repeat of EP or MK. The goal is to not be park heavy and really just see if the vibe of WDW is for us. At DLR we are rope droppers, mid day nap, and then return for a couple hours type. No closing down the park for us lol What I am most excited about is all the stuff to do at the resorts like the pools since at VDH, we do not do much pool time.
If we decide WDW is too much work, this might be our only trip for a bit until the kids getting older.

My mom wants to join on this trip, so a 1 bedroom is necessary at least for this stay.

If You are not going to be park-heavy, BWV is probably your best bet for two reasons. The first is being able to dip out of both Epcot and Studios for midday naps really quickly. It will be most like when you go to DLR, which could allow you to push through to a late nap or stroller nap for your youngest on the MK day. Second, there is a ton to see and do around Crescent Lake. Every night, there will be entertainment on the boardwalk; you can rent bikes, walk over to Yacht and Beach for food or ice cream at Beaches and Cream, watch Epcot fireworks from the bridge, Skyliner over to Riviera or Caribbean to cruise the hotels. If you can get a date night, Abracadabar and Jellyrolls are right downstairs.

The lack of a splash pad at Boardwalk is a stinker, but their community center is really good and has a lot of activities for kids to do, with a quiet pool just outside and a short walk from the main pool. The hallways are long, too, but our kids enjoy running down them while we take our time walking. The current lack of dining is a bummer, too, but with Yacht and Beach across the way and Swan and Dolphin around the corner, there are a lot of options a quick walk or boat ride away.

 

[hockeydad21]

6 nights. Planning on doing atleast one day at EP and one day at MK. Then maybe some half days at the others or repeat of EP or MK. The goal is to not be park heavy and really just see if the vibe of WDW is for us. At DLR we are rope droppers, mid day nap, and then return for a couple hours type. No closing down the park for us lol What I am most excited about is all the stuff to do at the resorts like the pools since at VDH, we do not do much pool time.
If we decide WDW is too much work, this might be our only trip for a bit until the kids getting older.

My mom wants to join on this trip, so a 1 bedroom is necessary at least for this stay.

If you’re possibly doing Epcot and magic kingdom multiple times, then I definitely think poly is your best bet due to the ease of monorail to both parks. You could either go 1 bedroom at the new tower or get 2 longhouse studios and request they be connecting. 2 longhouse studios will also give you the most space, but you won’t get a kitchen.

 

[BlueGreen5]

Here's a vote for Riviera, if you can manage it.

• You're going to need to take a bus from any resort. No resort can access more than two of the parks via a non-bus option. Riviera can access two parks via a non-bus option (Skyliner), so it's as good as any in that respect. The busses you will take are direct between the single Riviera stop and a park -- no other stops (this is not always true anywhere else -- everywhere else either has multiple stops or might stop at multiple resorts during non-peak times).
  
  
• Riviera's splash pad is excellent for a 4yo.
  
  
• Riviera has a zero-depth entry pool which is excellent for a 4yo.
  
  
• The sight lines at Riviera's pool are open, so you could sit with the 1yo and watch the 4yo swim.
  
  
• There is a character breakfast there, but the menu is definitely more for a sophisticated palate. There is also a character breakfast at Beach Club, which accessible via a short Skyliner trip and is your much more standard breakfast buffet fare.
  
  
• The rooms are large - definitely large enough for a crib without feeling the least bit crammed.
  
  
• Getting coffee in the morning does not require you to go outside the building. That's a big deal because you or your mom can run downstairs while the other one stays with (hopefully) sleeping kids.
  
  
• Riviera has walking access to Caribbean Beach Resort, so that's something else to do.
  
  
• The Skyliner also goes to AoA, which is a really fun experience for a 4yo.
  
  
• The lack of theming at Riviera is going to be lost on a 4yo and certainly on a 1yo.

 

[Canchaser143]

Here's a vote for Riviera, if you can manage it.

• You're going to need to take a bus from any resort. No resort can access more than two of the parks via a non-bus option. Riviera can access two parks via a non-bus option (Skyliner), so it's as good as any in that respect. The busses you will take are direct between the single Riviera stop and a park -- no other stops (this is not always true anywhere else -- everywhere else either has multiple stops or might stop at multiple resorts during non-peak times).
  
  
• Riviera's splash pad is excellent for a 4yo.
  
  
• Riviera has a zero-depth entry pool which is excellent for a 4yo.
  
  
• The sight lines at Riviera's pool are open, so you could sit with the 1yo and watch the 4yo swim.
  
  
• There is a character breakfast there, but the menu is definitely more for a sophisticated palate. There is also a character breakfast at Beach Club, which accessible via a short Skyliner trip and is your much more standard breakfast buffet fare.
  
  
• The rooms are large - definitely large enough for a crib without feeling the least bit crammed.
  
  
• Getting coffee in the morning does not require you to go outside the building. That's a big deal because you or your mom can run downstairs while the other one stays with (hopefully) sleeping kids.
  
  
• Riviera has walking access to Caribbean Beach Resort, so that's something else to do.
  
  
• The Skyliner also goes to AoA, which is a really fun experience for a 4yo.
  
  
• The lack of theming at Riviera is going to be lost on a 4yo and certainly on a 1yo.

My this vote has a ton of good points!

 

[BlueGreen5]

My this vote has a ton of good points!

Per my SO, I’m neurotic and intolerable to travel with. I overanalyze everything. My shortcomings are your gain.

But honestly, the bottom line is if your goal is to experience the resorts, you’re not as concerned about maximizing park time to the extreme, and you’re a foodie, then - between RIV, SSR, and BWV - I think you’re going to be happiest in a standard view room at RIV. Don’t splurge for the preferred view unless you have to.

 

[hockeydad21]

My this vote has a ton of good points!

You definitely won’t be disappointed with RIV if that’s what you choose! It’s beautiful and has lots of great food options onsight. Also a quick Skyliner to the boardwalk’s restaurants which are great.

 

[robinb]

My answer is this: your kids are too young to have any preference. They will happily swim anywhere. You should pick the resort for yourself. You say you want to be near the MK in a 1br.. In that case, I would probably choose VGF. It’s bigger than BLT and the Polynesian doesn’t have 1BR. I like WL, but the boat transport is a pain.

If the MK was not a deal breaker, I would go with AKV Kidani for the cool pool for little ones (and who doesn’t like animals?) or BWV/BCV/RIV for the adult proximity to Epcot.