[Susanne]

We are planning a 5-7 day trip to WDW for our family: 2yr old, hubby and me, and hubby's parents (both seniors). I need help picking a resort that will suit everyone:

-in-laws will probably visit the parks most days (they are the ones that want to go to WDW)
-hubby and I will probably only visit the parks on one or two days, and just hang out and "relax" with our toddler

We'd like a resort with a nice pool, especially a good kiddie pool, a few choices of restaurants, and nice rooms where you can comfortably hang out while the baby naps in the afternoon. Easy access to the theme parks is important for the in-laws, who will be heading out most days, and won't want to figure out a complex transportation system.

Any recommendations are very welcome.

Thanks,

Susanne

p.s. Are there stores where you can buy basic foods like milk, bread and cereal near any of the resorts?

[mickey]

Susanne, welcome to Disneycentral! There are quite a few resorts that would fill your needs, but here goes. I would suggest either the Beach or Yacht Club, or the Boardwalk Inn or Villas. The Beach and Yacht Club has the best pool, and it has a great kids area and even a kids waterslide. It has great access to the boardwalk area and less than 5 minutes walk to EPCOT. They are both very nice resorts, and lots of fun. The Boardwalk Inn is just as nice, has the same benefits as the others with the exception of the pool (the pool is very nice at the boardwalk, as is the quiet pool) but is a lttle cheaper. Those resorts also are close to Disney-MGM, and you can get there by walking or by boat.

The nice thing about those resorts is there are nine or ten restaurants within five minutes, plus all the ones in EPCOT, you could eat somewhere different each night and not duplicate. Each resort has a gift shop that features souvenirs and standard food supplies. They are a little expensive, and the choice isn't great, but they are there. There are also two grocery stores just outside of WDW, but you would have to drive or take a cab.

Your other options would be one of the monorail resorts, you would have monorail access to the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, and obviously, the restaurants in the other resorts along the monorail. I just love the boardwalk area so much that I have a hard time recommending anything else.

Take a look at the map to get a good idea of where things are, and let us know if you have any questions.

WDW Map

[jeannej]

Depends on what Parks you want to be the closest to. The previous suggestion of the Epcot resorts were good. If you want to be on the monorail loop, then I would suggest the Contemporary or the Polynesian. My children loved the CR when they were young. I spent 4 days with them when they were 2 1/2 and 4 (by myself) at the CR. Never had a problem and everyone had a great time.

If price is a consideration, Port Orleans French Quarter is a small resort and meets your requirements. Close enough to DDD as well.

Hope that you have a great time.

jeannej

[PiratesFan]

Susanne, I am concerned about you just wanting to go into the parks 1 or 2 days. Is this your first trip or are you worried about your 2 year old enjoying the parks? I love the resorts, but would not want to spend such a large portion of my trip out of the parks considering the expense and relative infrequency of WDW trips.:)

[Susanne]

Hi PiratesFan,

Yes, the reason my husband and I would only spend a day or two in the parks is that I'm concerned about how things will go with our 2 yr old. Right now he naps 2-3 hours a day. That may change a bit by Sept., but I can't see long days at the park being feasible with him. If we go on the first day and it works out, we'll go again. Otherwise we're content to spend days at the pool and running around the resort. Grandma and Grandpa will babysit here and there to give us a few evenings out, and maybe even a day to do a park on our own.

We don't want to plan our vacation only around the parks in case our son is not up to it; 2 year olds have their own idea of what's fun, and it sometimes hard to tell in advance what exactly that "fun" will be. That's why it's important to us to be at a really nice resort, not just a cheap hotel for sleeping and showering between park visits.

Hope this helps to clarify our trip requirements!

[PiratesFan]

I do understand your thinking. My wife and I were in WDW last June with my 1 1/2 and 3 yr old daugthers. As for my youngest, she was afraid of Mickey in the Chef Mickey's Character Dinner. After a day of seeing everything she warmed up to the characters completely and even squeezed their faces. Going on rides with her was no problem, ie. Snow White, Peter Pan, Small World, Pooh, Pirates, Jungle Cruise, and in MGM, Little Mermaid and Bear in the Big Blue House (now Playhouse Disney). I guess it really depends on your child how they will be. When we went it was really hot (93-98). She melted a bit in the heat but we kept up with lots of cold water, juices, diaper and clothing changes. She napped in the stroller we brought, but we definately left the parks by mid-day for a cool down and rest period at the resort (Port Orleans Riverside) to return to the parks for a little while at night. I think that the most important mindset not to get into is to try to cram everything in from morning to night. My wife and I have done this in the past but w/o kids. We knew that this trip was going to be paced carefully, with as many jaunts to MK as possible. It worked out perfectly. If we had grandparents with us it would have been even better for my wife and me.

Since you are questioning which resort to stay at, consider this.

1. Your in-laws need easy access to the parks.
2. Your child is 2 and will be most interested in MK.
3. You need a nice place to stay for an unforseen amount of resort time
1+2+3 = Polynesian, Grand Floridian, or Contemporary. These rooms are larger than the moderately priced ones not on the monorail. I know the Poly has day beds that serve as a comfy couch to sit on. It is for the above reasons that we have booked the Poly for our next visit.

I think if you are on the monorail system, you could quickly and easily go back and forth from the MK and your resort. Additionally, you could take it to EPCOT if you so wish. The other parks will be a drive or bus ride away, but I don't think you should center your resort choice around EPCOT, MGM , or AK.

By the way, the worst part of our trip, concerning our 2 daughters was the eating part. They are extremely fussy eaters and it was dificult for us to accomodate their tastes. I like the fact that so many places to eat are only a monorail's ride away. See this thread for a discussion on youngsters in WDW.



Good luck to you :) :angel :)

[mickey]

Susanne, we have five kids, and have been to Disney World with kids of all ages. We definitely have to take it easier with the young ones, but we still are in the parks for mos of the day, only taking a break for nap time/swim time. I definitely think you will find your little one will adore everything about WDW. There are also so many little hidden places to rest that have interesting things for little kids to do, so they can get out of the stroller and run around. One nice thing as well is that all of the "adult" rides offer the child swap feature. One parent can ride the ride, and then the other can get immediately on, so both of you can basically ride the ride in a couple of minute while the other waits with the baby.

As far as resorts, really, I guess it depends upon which park you want good access to. We always find ourselves in EPCOT at night, so being close to there is a priority for us. Any of the monorail resorts (Grand Floridian, Polynesian or the Contemporary) wil fit your needs, and will be close to the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, while the boardwalk resorts will be close to EPCOT and MGM, and a short busride away from the other two parks. All of those resorts are deluxe resorts, and have very nice pools, great rooms, great restaurants and a lot of other fun things for kids and adults alike. They are all priced about the same, with the exception of the Grand Floridian, so decide which theming you would like, and if you want to be on the monorail or not, and go for it. (By the way, you will pay about $40 per day per room to be on the monorail compaired to being on the boardwalk.)

[jeannej]

You have to know exactly what your child can take. One my first trip to DW with my children, my husband and I took our children (2 years and 3 years) to Magic Kingdom and MGM. We went mid morning and returned in the late afternoon. My son napped in the stroller. And we had plenty of drinks and snacks for the both of them.

About 8 months later, I took my daugher (then 4) and my son (just turned 3) by myself to DW. I stayed at the Contemporary Tower and spent the mornings and the evening there. I returned to the resort for lunch, a swim and naps. For some of our dinners, we ate in the hotel after riding the monorail to the MK and thne getting on the ferry to the TTC and then riding the monorail back to the hotel. The children and I were there for 3 nights and four days. One the day of our arrival. I didn't even go into the park but hung out at the pool. Spent two days in the park and then left the fourth day for the drive back home.

It was a relaxing, fun trip both my children recall vividly. We have stayed at the CR one other time with Dad and the Poly twice. Both resorts we conducive to traveling with little kids.

Our last trip we stayed at the CSR. My children were older (9&7)
and traveling on the busses wasn't an issue. They loved it!

jeannej:p

[trishb]

I'm in a similar situation!!!:D Our little boy will be 21 months on our trip. And,we will be taking my Mom. The deluxe resorts have the biggest rooms. Out of all the deluxe resorts, my husband and I thought about where we would be spending most of our time. The Boardwalk Inn won hands-down.
Nighttime entertainment close by, so we can slip out at night while our baby is sleeping: A private:love: hot tub and pool, more that enough night-clubs and bars, plus illuminations and EPCOT right there.

[scrooge 1942]

For my 2cents worth, I like staying in a resort on the monorail. Not only gives you access to most things, when the kids get really board you can always take a turn arround on the monorail and just "sight see" Maybe relax them enough for a nap.

Some one asked why you and your husband would only go parking one or two days, I must agree why waste the time and money to hang out by a pool? There is way to much to see and do here it is SOOOOOO woth it.

Scrooge

[lvbug]

Suzie:
Going into the parks just once or twice is really all we do sometimes too -- Just play it by ear. Sometimes the kids just aren't ready for it. It is alot of activity for some to handle.

But back to your original question--where to stay.
I have two great suggestions.

If you want to stay in the park Beach Club there is something for everyone there and it is in close walking distance to epcot and the boards. Your inlaws might like to even get out one night on their own and head to the Atlantic Dance Hall where Big Band/Swing music plays all night -- its a ton of fun. Oh and there is a adult pool that is quiet, incase they need to get away.

If you are considering staying out of the park, try the HYATT GRAND CYPRESS near downtown disney. Anyone that knows me here, knows I just love that place. Check it out (its a great bargain and beautiful resort, very close to disney with transportation provided).http://grandcypress.hyatt.com/property/index.jhtml

I hope this helps (I have no kids, but have planned our Family trip every year for 15 people -- 4 of which are kiddies) in my experience this is your two best choices.

Let us know. lvbug

[Goofette]

Originally posted by lvbug
If you want to stay in the park Beach Club there is something for everyone there and it is in close walking distance to epcot and the boards. Your inlaws might like to even get out one night on their own and head to the Atlantic Dance Hall where Big Band/Swing music plays all night -- its a ton of fun. Oh and there is a adult pool that is quiet, incase they need to get away.

Let us know. lvbug

lvbug, I Love Big Band/Swing music. I had no idea they had anything like that when I went recently. I'm going to have to find out more about that. I'm not familiar with the boardwalk, guess I need to be doing my homework. Thanks for mentioning that.

Oh, and about going to the parks. I ended up loving AKL so much that it was hard for me to leave it. I was always excited to get back to the resort at the end of the day. I think Disney resorts are gorgeous and know a lot of people who spend a lot of their day at the pools.

Susanne, are you using a special Canadian code to get a discount on your vacation?

[Susanne]

Goofette,

Yes, we are using the CDN@par rates to get a very good deal at the Polynesian ($1265 for 6 nights). I'd love to book a concierge room (probably good value for us as we'll spend a lot of time at the resort itself), but I don't think I can push my in-laws' budget any more than I already have, despite the @par rates! We really want to get connecting rooms with them (which I know isn't guarenteed, but we'll request it in advance and hope for the best), so we'll have to stay in a standard room too.

Susanne