Which Monorail Resort With Two Young Boys

[DarthGoofy]

This will be our first trip with our DS (ages 4 and 1). Which monorail resort do you think would be the best, and why? I am leaning toward the CR, but would like to hear from the experts.

 

[franw]

I'm not a big fan of the CR as I think it lacks the theming and magic the other resorts offer. My personal favorite would be the Poly which has great pool areas and a beach for the kids to play on.

 

[BCV23]

We've never stayed at the CR but if it appeals to you, go for it.

Our boys were 3 & 1 when we first stayed at the Polynesian and it's still their favorite...along with our daughter, DH and me! Very relaxing, beautiful. On a practical side if you plan on going to Epcot, it's a short walk to the TTC to catch the monorail. If you catch the monorail from the CR you have to transfer...not a big deal. However on the way back, you have to transfer and make the whole loop. If you're at the Polynesian, it's a quick and peaceful walk back to the Polynesian from the TTC.

We also have enjoyed our two stays at the GF. Again transportation isn't as convenient.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the three. Just pick and have fun!

 

[lexiluke]

I was faced with the same decision just last month and I chose the Poly. The tie breaker for me was the zero entry pool. I thought it would be nice if the young one could splash in the water without the fear of him falling into water over his head. The transportation is also slightly more convenient (which means a lot to us moms!).

 

[Mamu]

The Poly this resort is very kid friendly. A nice sand beach and a zero entry pool.

 

[ducklite]

I'm not a big fan of the CR. The farthest South wing rooms are such a hike you might as well be offsite. Ok, I exagerate a bit, but it's not convenient.

I agree with the other posters, the Polynesian is VERY kid friendly. Excellent pool, nice beach to play on, plenty of manicured lawns to run off steam on, Captain Hooks is open 24 hours a day--important for a middle of the night milk run.

Anne

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

CR!!!! I think there is a thread a page or 2 back that sums it up.
CR "is" themed-the monorail, Mickey and the MK are the theming!
DD enjoyed finding hidden Mickeys in the bedspread. The rooms are huge, each with a daybed(important so DS and DD could each have their own bed!). Standing on the 4th floor observation deck and taking pictures of MK and the monorail was fun too! Watching the fireworks from our room was magical. The pool is a blast with all the fountains to play in, kids loved that slide(more than WL and POR). The best fun center on property and the food center is open all the time. DH played in the arcade with the kids one day while I shopped upstairs. The elevators(Mickey) "talk" to you-even in the wings. I would request the Tower or the NG wing for convenience. Even if it rained, you would stay dry coming from NG wing to the tower-very close and covered. We walked to MK and monorailed back. The refillable mugs are a great value there-icees(slurpies) are wonderful! CR really is the heart of WDW-that is the resort I dreamed of staying at as a kid, and finally did this year ! That said, we are trying AKL in Nov, and will stay at the Poly one day. Love to try them all!

 

[becka]

We will be taking our 1 y/o son in February and I have decided to try the Polynesian if we can get good discounts (otherwise we will be at CSR). I am not the biggest fan of the theme but the close access to the monorail for both MK and Ecpot is a big plus as is the zero entry pool and beach.

 

[beattyfamily]

My vote is for CR Tower (mk view if possible) for your DS's!!!!

It's amazing!

 

[Demosthenes]

Your two boys, if they are like I was at that age (and most any other boy, or even grown man I've ever known) will be mesmerized by the Monorail gliding into the atrium of the CR. This is the hotel for little boys.

 

[TwingleMum]

My 1 yr old DS loved the contemp. Stay in the tower. We were able to get him in his pj's and take the elevator(which all little boys love riding up & down in and this one has Mickey talking to you)to the lobby where he had a ball running around the shops , lobby, saying hi to the other kids, watching fireworks and of course Chef Mickeys!!!. We were able to get on the monorail never leaving the hotel and riding around after dinner with DS in jammies in the stroller which just rolled on was awesome, he fell asleep watching the fireworks as we rode around and we just wheeled him up to the room. We stayed on the 14th fl and a magic kingdom view. He loved watching Cinderella's castle change colors from our balcony. He also loved going into the lobby for snacks. But this trip we're trying the Poly.

 

[XStAnt]

For two young boys, go with the Contemporary. I love the Poly, and would prefer to stay there myself. But your boys will love the monorail going through the hotel. When I was seven and stayed there I loved it, and could watch the monorail all day long. Get a tower room and they can sit outside the door to the room and watch the monorail.

The CR also has a great 24 hour food court, a huge arcade, and Chef Mickey's (a favorite restaurant for a character meal). It's a short walk to MK (and the first monorail stop on the way back). Getting to Epcot is fairly easy: one stop to TTC and switch to the Epcot monorail (returning is a little harder because CR is the last stop on the resort loop from the TTC).

The poly is good but I think a lot of the tropical theming is lost on young kids. The food court is very small and basic and the arcade is just okay. The volcano pool at Poly is probably better than CR and they do have 'Ohana's, another great restaurant for character meals.

You won't go wrong with any monorail resort. But, with the monorail going through the resort and its proximity to MK, CR is the best choice for two young boys, IMHO.

 

[Kimberle]

We, too, stayed at the CR. Our dd was 2.5. We really loved it. My dh loved to rent the boats.

We were in the Garden wing closest to MK. We could see the fireworks right from our window. The bus stop was only abt a 3 minute walk from our room.

This time, we are trying WL. Our dd will be 4.5.

 

[holcomb-mania]

My kids were a little older, so the Volcano slide really flipped their switch. But yours may dig the pool/beach combination.

And don't forget about the Neverland Club. Mine absolutely loved it.

 

[glo]

My twins were two when we stayed at the Poly. I absolutely loved it. It was quiet, and we were always able to come back for nap. Quicker access via monorail, ans we could walk to the TTC and ferry too. I thought it was extreme kid friendly, and they loved the Neverland Club.

 

[nataliesdaddy]

I would like to stay at the Polynesian but my little one won't let me. I have heard many good things about the Polynesian depending on where you stay in the hotel - But for me I would like to check out the Polynesian because my first trip as a child was at the contemporary and my last was at the contemporary - that being said... THE CONTEMPORARY ROCKS !!! my dd 7yrs old calls it "her hotel"

The pool is not zero entry but it is shallow all the way around. There is a nice duel curved slide to go down, a beach to dig in. A place to get munchies by the pool. Cute theming. The pool basically looks like a hidden mickey from the tower balconies. I don't know about the food court but unfortunately for me my kid found the game room which from what I hear is the largest game room on property. CHEF MICKEY"S IS THERE!!!!!! My daughter loved that place. And its Breakfast Lunch and Dinner Character dining - granted if your a grown up you will be overdosed on Mickey by your second day... but my daughter loved it. It is a nice stroll to the kingdom...or in my daughter and mine's case...a very short race to teh front gate - she liked seeing the monorail go through the hotel...and now that I think of it when I was a kid at 10 I thought that was just the coolest. And yep the elevators talk as you get in them.

The concourse has Walt DisneyWorld everywhere a couple of nice shops two nice restaurants, a shop to get sundries...heck my daughter even enjoyed the escalators even though we never had any use for them she did anyway.

One day I will stay at the Polynesian...soon as my daughter gets her fill of the Contemporary