Which is best resort pool or waterpark?

[disneypolybride2008]

Is it better to pay for the deluxe resorts with a fancy pool (my dd 4 only wants to go to the pool) or to a value resort but go to the waterparks? We also have a 1 year old. Our trip in April is deluxe split stay at the GF and YC. I really enjoyed the waterparks prior to having kids. I've never done a waterpark with them but we had a great time at the GF last October. Next October I am considering the waterpark option, but staying deluxe seems to be a waste of money to go off to the waterpark. Which strategy worked best for you?
thanks!

 

[roseaster]

At 4 and 1 I wouldn't bother with the water parks there didn't seem to us, at that age, enough for them to do to justify the costs. When they were older and met the height requirements they loved Blizzard Beach.

The pool at Art of Animation is really neat and perfectly designed for that age range.

 

[mjkacmom]

The pool at the BC/YC is great, especially the sandy beach. I wouldn't bother with a waterpark.

 

[monorailsilver]

The resort pool will be fine. I wouldn't do a water park until all 3 of my kids could swim, for me it wouldn't be fun to sit with a toddler in that section while my husband took my other two.

My kids were always fine just using the poly pool. Even when we did the waterpark in 2013, my kids played pool games and loved that!

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I bet you will enjoy the pool enough to not need a water park.

We stayed at BC in December of 2014. We loved the pool so much that we were willing to freeze getting back and forth to it.

The sandy bottom was incredible.

We also love the pool at GF. And plan on being in it this Nov/Dec.

 

[shm_helene]

The new pool area at Poly was awesome. My kids LOVED it (ages almost 3 and just turned 5). I would highly suggest it!!!!!!!

 

[cariann77]

My toddler loved the Art of Animation pool and Nemo splash pad. You definitely don't need to pay for a deluxe to have a great pool either. We also loved the pool at Caribbean Beach. They have a kiddie splash area with few kids sized slides. It was really perfect! No need for the waterpark at all.

 

[westie55]

IMO, water parks are best for kids who can do all the slides, etc. Little ones will be just as happy at the resort pool. Stormalong bay is great!

 

[DisneyOma]

Is it better to pay for the deluxe resorts with a fancy pool (my dd 4 only wants to go to the pool) or to a value resort but go to the waterparks? We also have a 1 year old. Our trip in April is deluxe split stay at the GF and YC. I really enjoyed the waterparks prior to having kids. I've never done a waterpark with them but we had a great time at the GF last October. Next October I am considering the waterpark option, but staying deluxe seems to be a waste of money to go off to the waterpark. Which strategy worked best for you?
thanks!

What are you going to do with the 1 year old at the waterparks? There's not much a toddler/baby can go on - the height limited toddler area, and the lazy river is all I can think of. Can they even go on the family raft ride? I wouldn't let them near the wave pools, especially Typhoon Lagoon.

 

[kreckl]

No waterpark for little ones! They will be fine at the pool~

 

[North of Mouse]

At those ages all they need are 'splash' area pools - anything else is over kill, as they wouldn't care, or know how to enjoy them - definitely not water parks.

 

[mjkacmom]

While I think a waterpark is overkill, all of my kids were on a swim team at the age of 4, and could swim really well. They spent every summer day in the oil.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

i just really enjoyed the waterparks, and the kids love water. I LOVE the garbage pail of ice cream, possiblity of seeing characters, showing the kids the snorkeling viewing area, and going on baby slides with DD4 and the kiddie areas, lazy river, shallow end of pool, that is what i was thinking. but i don't think i would pay to go ontop of a deluxe resort.. maybe a value resort..

 

[monkeymom1210]

we are pool people. the delux and moderates have pool and water slide where the values have a pool no slide so if you dont need the slide you can do the value and still have a great pool.

 

[5kidsmommy]

I would split the difference and do a moderate. CBR has a great pool and splash pad for the littles, the slides are fun (yes I went on them) and the hot tub is really nice. The rooms are far roomier than a value also.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

I would split the difference and do a moderate. CBR has a great pool and splash pad for the littles, the slides are fun (yes I went on them) and the hot tub is really nice. The rooms are far roomier than a value also.

i was thinking of the moderates, but then i either have a long walk to/from the room or have to get on the internal bus.

 

[Thing 1]

Little ones are so easy to please. A pool will be a pool to them. They will be too little for the slides on many of the pools and certainly for most of the water park. I would pick a resort that you will enjoy and the little ones will be happy with any pool on site! The plus of a resort pool over a water park is lots of short periods of times in the pool and your room right there when they are tired rather than a bus ride to get back after a long day at a water park. Its so easy to just pop in the pool at the resort for an hour for a park break or a hour before bedtime. Has your DD been to the parks before? If not, she might surprise you and want more time in the parks that you think.

 

[SnowWhite85]

Stormalong Bay at the Beach Club Resort is my favorite by far. It is almost a water park in itself without having to leave the resort. So much fun for the little ones and also the adults.

 

[Minnesota!]

We really love the Kidani pool area. There is a ton there, and it is a very lush setting.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

We really love the Kidani pool area. There is a ton there, and it is a very lush setting.

AKL looks so spread out.. how is the walk from the main pool to the Kidani pool area? do they have any transportation options within the resort, it looks so spread out? Also, what is there to do at night? If we book most of the other deluxes, then at night there is the water pageant, and/or fireworks. I am considering it for my next vacation in October