Where would you stay? Multi-generation work/vacation trip

[WaterLinds]

So it looks like we'll be headed back to WDW next year, and this time I'm trying to really plan ahead. But the trip would be in March, so we're already coming up to the one year mark, and I'm still nailing down dates and dithering about where to stay. Give me your suggestions, please?

The way too detailed background:
My husband has a conference in Orlando, so part of the trip will be work for him. We're still figuring out our exact itinerary--we want to fit in some beach time, too, and hope to head to FL well in advance of the conference if we can to have time for everything.

My mother will be coming with us, so she can help me with our kids (they'll be 3 and 7) when DH is working. Given that, and the fact DH will need decent sleep to function at the conference, ideally we're looking for a bit more space this trip. Multiple separate sleeping areas are a big plus.

Depending on length and timing of stay, our accommodations could be at least partly a business expense, so our budget might stretch farther than normal. A 2 bedroom villa would be amazing, although possibly too much $.

This past trip we stayed at POFQ and really liked it. We actually had a connecting room with the (other) grandparents and while not quite as nice as a villa/suite it worked. I know connecting rooms can't be guaranteed, though, so not sure if I want to count on that option next trip. But the compact size of the resort was so nice--I was thinking of AKV, but not sure we want to deal with all the extra walking?

The other thing that matters to the kids a lot is the pool. Splash pad area and slide are both pretty major requests.

I'm also looking into offsite options. We do like and make use of EMH, early FP booking, and magic bands (for payment, I know we can still use our existing bands for tickets/FP either way), but the $/Space trade off is significant. I'm also looking at the off site hotels that now have EMH/60 day booking privileges, although I know those currently only go through 2018. I know it will be a busy time in the parks (conference week is the start of spring break season, including TX--another reason we hope to come early and get a few days in ahead of the crowds), so having those extra perks would be really nice. We will be renting a car either way.

 

[Redarrow5150]

Based upon what you wrote I'd look into Baytower. Kids ages would be ideal being next to MK.

So it looks like we'll be headed back to WDW next year, and this time I'm trying to really plan ahead. But the trip would be in March, so we're already coming up to the one year mark, and I'm still nailing down dates and dithering about where to stay. Give me your suggestions, please?

The way too detailed background:
My husband has a conference in Orlando, so part of the trip will be work for him. We're still figuring out our exact itinerary--we want to fit in some beach time, too, and hope to head to FL well in advance of the conference if we can to have time for everything.

My mother will be coming with us, so she can help me with our kids (they'll be 3 and 7) when DH is working. Given that, and the fact DH will need decent sleep to function at the conference, ideally we're looking for a bit more space this trip. Multiple separate sleeping areas are a big plus.

Depending on length and timing of stay, our accommodations could be at least partly a business expense, so our budget might stretch farther than normal. A 2 bedroom villa would be amazing, although possibly too much $.

This past trip we stayed at POFQ and really liked it. We actually had a connecting room with the (other) grandparents and while not quite as nice as a villa/suite it worked. I know connecting rooms can't be guaranteed, though, so not sure if I want to count on that option next trip. But the compact size of the resort was so nice--I was thinking of AKV, but not sure we want to deal with all the extra walking?

The other thing that matters to the kids a lot is the pool. Splash pad area and slide are both pretty major requests.

I'm also looking into offsite options. We do like and make use of EMH, early FP booking, and magic bands (for payment, I know we can still use our existing bands for tickets/FP either way), but the $/Space trade off is significant. I'm also looking at the off site hotels that now have EMH/60 day booking privileges, although I know those currently only go through 2018. I know it will be a busy time in the parks (conference week is the start of spring break season, including TX--another reason we hope to come early and get a few days in ahead of the crowds), so having those extra perks would be really nice. We will be renting a car either way.

 

[LiveToTravelNicely]

Our January 16 trip was multi-family trip consisting of four adults and three kids. The three kids were 8-5-2 at the time. It cost us a lot of money for location, but we did the 2 bedroom at Baylake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort for the following reasons: 1) Location (for quick naps for the toddler), 2) BLT 2B has three full bathrooms instead of 2 like the other villas (perhaps some of the other villas have three full baths, but I remember at the time that BLT was most economical for location coupled with 3 baths), 3) we did not want connecting rooms, but instead wanted one space with a living area, and 4) we thought the bonus kitchen and w/d were great. This setup worked perfectly for us! DW and myself had the king room, DBIL and DSIL had the two queen room along with DN(2). DN(8) and DN(5) slept on the pullout in the living room.

 

[cedricandsophie]

Old key west has the biggest rooms around. Although Unlike bay lake or kidani there is only one bathroom in the one bedroom. But the two bedroom has two large bathrooms, huge kitchen, large balcony or patio,full size laundry room and a pull out couch plus pull out chair in living room and two queen beds in the second bedroom. Plus the pool is great with lots of kid activities.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I would look into renting points for a 2 bedroom villa. BLT would be super convenient for getting to the MK.

 

[LiveToTravelNicely]

Old key west has the biggest rooms around. Although Unlike bay lake or kidani there is only one bathroom in the one bedroom. But the two bedroom has two large bathrooms, huge kitchen, large balcony or patio,full size laundry room and a pull out couch plus pull out chair in living room and two queen beds in the second bedroom. Plus the pool is great with lots of kid activities.

OKW is definitely my second choice suggestion for OP. Way cheaper than BLT for nearly the same room, less one bathroom. Farther from the parks. Does OKW have a splash pad and slide? Just saw in OP that they would really like a splash pad. BLT has a pretty good pool with one toddler slide and one big slide, but I do not think it had a splash pad.

 

[crazylady]

BLT is an awesome location but the pool is pretty boring there. GF has a great Splash pad of the sky is the limit for your budget.

Personally, I'd look at two rooms at Caribbean Beach and ask for connecting rooms. CB hash a great splash pad. I think CB gets a bad rap as this huge resort but I feel like I've had longer walks at some of the deluxe resorts. If you spring for a preferred room you should be fine. People also complain about the buses at CB but with a car you'll have options if you find the buses don't work for you.

I'd also consider Saratoga Springs if you really wanted to stay on site in a village. The splash pad looks great and the resort is more reasonably priced. I would look at renting DVC points though.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I would look into a 2-bedroom at CCV or BRV (both at WL). It will give you the space you are looking for, a nice pool and splash pad, plus a boat to MK (and CR so you can walk there from MK).

 

[WaterLinds]

BLT is an awesome location but the pool is pretty boring there. GF has a great Splash pad of the sky is the limit for your budget.

Personally, I'd look at two rooms at Caribbean Beach and ask for connecting rooms. CB hash a great splash pad. I think CB gets a bad rap as this huge resort but I feel like I've had longer walks at some of the deluxe resorts. If you spring for a preferred room you should be fine. People also complain about the buses at CB but with a car you'll have options if you find the buses don't work for you.

I'd also consider Saratoga Springs if you really wanted to stay on site in a village. The splash pad looks great and the resort is more reasonably priced. I would look at renting DVC points though.

That splash pad at GF is definitely nice! Even renting points it's probably not in the budget, but it's tempting.

If we go the connecting rooms route I suspect we'll do POFQ again since we liked it a lot this time--small size, decent bus service, and a nice splash pad. But I'll keep CB in mind--there's currently a big renovation going on, right? I recall driving by the construction site there this last trip.

 

[WaterLinds]

Thanks for the suggestions, all! It's nice to have a few options to focus on when researching.

The location of BLT is definitely very appealing, but the pool may not be enough to entice the kids. This may be the last trip where our older kid can use the splash pad (if he isn't already too tall by next year...he's getting close), so that's close to a must have, although if we found the perfect spot at the perfect price without it we could skip it and do some water park time instead. I'll at least do some more homework about it before ruling it out!

 

[happymommy]

I've been many times, and first time I took my kids alone without my husband my kids were 4 and 6. Disney is the easiest place to travel with kids! I took them alone the next year to Hawaii, meeting my mom in LA for the flight, but no one helped me (I'm in Maryland).

I didn't take my kids to water parks there until years later, and even then, the pool at a resort was enough. Any resort has a pool that is fun for kids (but the first time I took my kids alone we stayed at AKL Kidani, and the zero entry was nice so I could keep an eye on them, as my youngest was TINY!). We've also enjoyed many trips staying at the Swan and Dolphin just the 3 of us, and they have nice pools.

Honestly, we may do one or two afternoons where we swim at Disney, so the pool is a secondary thing. I never considered the pool when selecting the resort, and I also never considered my kids. I chose where I wanted to stay. They always had a good time!

I'd look at two rooms as well. I'm a bit older now, and while I may consider "helping out" with grandchildren I personally am not keen on it on a vacation. If I did, I'd book my own room completely. We never took anyone to help out on vacations. It's so easy at Disney, especially at your kids' ages! I'd just get a room for each of you, so your mom can enjoy her privacy and a vacation of her own.

 

[WaterLinds]

I love taking my kids to Disney but I'd definitely never consider it easy! I find it way more exhausting than most trips I take with our boys. Plus with a four year age gap (and different interests/personalities) we need to do some dividing and conquering in the park--youngest can't do many of the rides the bigger kid loves, so we need two adults to be able to do things like that. It will be easier in a few years when that's less of a problem, I'm sure.

Whether we do two rooms or a villa my mom will have her own space. We travel with her frequently and do try to always give her space to take a break from us! She usually won't take a break, but it's good to have space if she wants it. However, if it's a non-adjoining room I think she'd just find it inconvenient--a lot more work to coordinate plans.

 

[dansdad]

Disney is the easiest place to travel with kids!

I completely agree with this! I've done 4 trips now with me being the only adult and 2-3 kids. I would never consider doing this anywhere else.

 

[clayfolks]

We just did 3 nights at the Poly and 3 at Kidani with grandsons aged 6,6, and 8. They much preferred the pool, slide, and splash pad at Kidani to the one at the Poly. Part of that may be that the pool at Kidani was less crowded. Also, Kidani has 3 full bathrooms in the 2 bedroom villa.

 

[crazylady]

That splash pad at GF is definitely nice! Even renting points it's probably not in the budget, but it's tempting.

If we go the connecting rooms route I suspect we'll do POFQ again since we liked it a lot this time--small size, decent bus service, and a nice splash pad. But I'll keep CB in mind--there's currently a big renovation going on, right? I recall driving by the construction site there this last trip.

 

[crazylady]

Yes but I think it is supposed to be done by your trip dates.