Personal Opinions on Toddler Friendly Resorts

[jgrant.med]

Hi all,

Starting to plan our first trip to WDW, from the UK, as a family. At the time we plan to travel (May time), our additional passenger will have just turned 2. We're fully aware that travelling with a toddler presents different challenges but we're looking forward to visiting (properly), for the first time since 2017. He's already used to going on small rides in Europe (e.g. Europa Park / Efteling / Alton Towers) so hopefully he'll enjoy some of the things on offer at WDW.

I'm keen to gather your opinions on what you think are the best toddler friendly resorts are. Appreciate many review websites / blogs suggest the MK area resorts are best due to proximity to the Parks, whilst others suggest staying further afield & putting the relative savings into other things (be it using the Minnie Van service, or room upgrades).

My head was thinking that a MK Loop Hotel v Beach Club, but my heart was saying PoFQ as we loved our time their and reminisce about it a lot. I'm curious to see what others would do - we have no real preconceived ideas on the Resorts so are open to suggestion!

Many thanks for your sage advice!
J, H & E

 

[Smiley/OCD]

Hi! If you’re budget minded, Pop Century…great theming…if you want additional room, IMHO, you can’t beat Art of Animation…

 

[littleroo]

I vote for POFQ! We always stayed there when the kids were young. The pool area is great and the resort is relatively small which makes like easier with a stroller after a long day at the parks. IMO staying on property is worth it. We really enjoy the bus system and not driving anywhere. If we want to get somewhere faster we Uber. Good luck!!

 

[Calmdownnow]

No. to the Beach Club with a toddler in my view. The pool area is massive and gets very busy with guests from two hotels so you will be constantly chasing the little one in and out of sun chairs and people. Plus there is some deep water there so they will need a life jacket on all of the time. The beach area itself is accessible to non guests, so building sandcastles, running around the sand etc can be done without getting drawn into the hotel pool deck.

May is also getting wetter, so consider a resort where you can access amenities/QS etc indoors without getting your stroller drenched., That would rule out POFQ for me. Maybe take a look at what Wilderness Lodge has to offer.

 

[easyrowrdw]

The monorail resorts really are great with toddlers. You can walk your stroller on and off the monorail for two parks. The Contemporary (really close) and Grand (not quite as close) are both walkable to and from Magic Kingdom. I’m partial to the Polynesian for the theming and the outdoor space. Our kids loved it when they were little. Being able to avoid buses and being so close to MK (assuming you'll spend more time at that park compared to others) for midday breaks was really nice. Of course price is the major issue with these.

I’ve never stayed at FQ, but it does seem like a decent middle ground with more amenities than the values, but not as spread out as the moderates.

 

[HoustonHorn]

If it's in your budget, my preference for families with toddlers is the Contemporary. Odds are you'll spend the most time with kids that age at Magic Kingdom, and it's easily walkable from any location at the resort (the garden wing, which is the best value, is not that much farther away than the main tower or Bay Lake Tower). EPCOT is on the monorail. And you'll be able to watch fireworks and the electrical water pageant nightly for some "free" entertainment.