Best Resorts

[AndrewsJ]

You will get as many different t answers are there are members and one member in particular will always try to sway you into offsite accommodations and to just illegally use onsite resort pools (I wouldn't but that's just me). With all of that said here are my favorites.

Art of Animation or Pop (I really like almost everything about the new room refurb at Pop)

Port Orleans for sentimental reasons even though I think Coronado Springs is nicer.

Animal Kingdom Lodge

 

[JHASdiz]

I'm lovin all the help!! I expected to get different answers from everyone and that's exactly what I wanted. I was hoping for different reasons why you would stay at a certain resort for my lil family. I've only stayed at 3 of the resorts... I loved one of them (CR) disliked one (Saratoga) and one of them has been refurbed since (Poly).

 

[JHASdiz]

We find all of the prior posts informative and have stayed at most of the places mentioned. Given the ages of the kids and the presumption that the visit will be focused on MK, it is our belief that serious consideration needs to be given to the Contemporary. The access to the monorail, walking to MK, the minimal theming, the modest pools, and Chef Mickey's may help set a reasonable excitement floor for a young family. We know it is very expensive. We also know it is less awe-inspiring than other resorts. We would rather ramp up our experiences than ramp down. We happen to like the CR ourselves.

This is actually my favorite resort.

 

[correcaminos]

Thanks! I'm really glad you mentioned that bc I wouldn't have thought of that. Also we will most likely have small strollers with us so staying close to a park would probably be important.

It's not impossible to do it with smaller strollers on the bus. I just liked avoiding it. Boats and monorails were the easiest for us with them. Doable just we avoided certain resorts until I didn't have to lug one on the bus every single time

 

[Tinkerbell397]

Your children are very young so I would say that the Contemporary would be your best bet for the deluxe resort.....when you get home from the Magic Kingdom on the monorail, you are inside and home. Any of the monorail resorts would be fine due to the convenience to the park where you will probably spend more time.....the Magic Kingdom.

 

[SyracuseDisneyFan]

I agree the monorail resorts are probably your best choice.

 

[Mizner92]

With young kids, you may be spending most of your time at MK. Depending on the stroller situation, we found it easiest to stay on the monorail line. That's not to say using the buses is out of the question. Just something to consider.

 

[LadyBirdV]

With kids that young, staying on the monorail is a HUGE convenience if you can swing it - my vote would be for the Poly. I love the relaxed island vibe, the big rooms, and the volcano pool and splash play area is awesome. Watching the fireworks from the beach and thus avoiding the crazy crowds at night in Magic Kingdom is wonderful.
We also love Animal Kingdom Lodge, but honestly I wouldn't want to spend a full week there with very young kids - the rooms are a bit small and it's big so there's a lot of walking - and taking the strollers on the bus to go everywhere gets annoying.
Once my kids are really older (like all 6+), I may switch to Beach Club for the Stormalong Bay pool, but to me it looks like it would be stressful with little kids because it's SO big.

 

[DisneyDefenders]

If you have kids who love pirates, also consider Caribbean Beach Resort. The pirate themed rooms are very well done and it is currently undergoing a refurbishment that could bring a new strong wind to the resort's sails!

Also, if you're already splurging to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge, might as well get a savanna view room for an experience you can't get anywhere else on the planet, unless you stay in the middle of the wild in Africa. Otherwise, you might as well be staying in any other resort where you can't wake up with a view of beautiful wildlife.

Lastly, let's all keep our fingers crossed for the new Star Wars resort to become a reality and be as awesome as we are all speculating it can be!

 

[John park hopper]

Caribbean Beach resort is very nice but keep in mind construction is going on and won't be complete until early 2019. Available food is being served in a tent which is not too bad it is buffet and the tent is AC'd and prices are reasonable. Was there in May due to construction it just did not have the Disney feel so if you plan on spending time at the resort my recommendation is POR

 

[surfsupdon]

Because you have young children, I would avoid Yacht, Beach, BoardWalk.

A MK monorail Resort should do the trick. Kids love tropical. I'd pick Poly!

 

[LAKid53]

Value - Pop since rooms are being refurbished and they have a coffee maker!

Moderate - POR

Deluxe - Poly. Largest rooms on property, great dining, pools, lovely resort and Dole Whips - the only place you can get the pineapple & vanilla ice cream mix. And a nice adult version of a Dole Whip. Plus monorail to 2 additional resorts and two parks. And if you don't mind walking, you can walk over to the TTC to catch the monorail to Epcot, rather than taking the resort loop and changing at the TTC to the Epcot monorail.

 

[SyracuseDisneyFan]

I'd like to add that I stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge back in May. I loved the theme in the rooms and seeing the animals was super cool.

 

[DiSnEyF@n]

Yacht and Beach Club 100%

 

[aw14]

My DH and I have been talking about taking our little ones (ages 3 and 1) sometime soon and we want to explore all of our options. I'm sure all the resorts have their own benefits but I'm asking for your expert opinions as I've only stayed in a couple resorts. What is the best resort for a family of 4 in each category and why?

Based solely on my experience
Value: Only stayed at all stars and they are all the same imo
Moderate: POFQ was our absolute favorite. Its the quietest and has a nice theme and only 1 bus stop
Deluxe:
We have stayed at Contemporary, Animal Kingdom and Polynesian. We are also trying the Beach Club in November. Out of those I would say Poly or Animal Kingdom just for the theming alone

 

[CaptainAmerica]

We find all of the prior posts informative and have stayed at most of the places mentioned. Given the ages of the kids and the presumption that the visit will be focused on MK, it is our belief that serious consideration needs to be given to the Contemporary. The access to the monorail, walking to MK, the minimal theming, the modest pools, and Chef Mickey's may help set a reasonable excitement floor for a young family. We know it is very expensive. We also know it is less awe-inspiring than other resorts. We would rather ramp up our experiences than ramp down. We happen to like the CR ourselves.

You might be the first person ever to book a Disney resort based on its lack of theming.

 

[DisneyDaver]

If you can afford to go deluxe, I like the Contemporary best ... location, location, location. My wife and I are tentatively planning a WDW visit for early 2019 when we will have a 3 year old and a 15 month old (baby due this October) and we will stay in the Contemporary. With kids that age, we will likely spend at least 2 or our 5 days at MK and the Contemporary will be the most convenient resort for heading back to the hotel for naps for the 15 month old and going to and from MK.

Though many other recommend it, the AKL would be my last choice of the deluxe reports. It is far from all the parks except AK, making it the least convenient with a 1 year old.

 

[Mickey5150]

I know people recommend AoA if you have children but unless you are staying in a suite you will have a really long walk from your room to Animation Hall. All-Star Movies doesn't have quite the same level of theming but it still is filled with larger than life Disney characters. Also the rooms are much closer.

 

[disneyworlddad]

Will will be going in June of next year with a 3 year old and 1 year old and we chose POFQ. We have stayed there before with a 1 year old. We loved it because of the compact size. The rooms were not far after we got off the bus and we were in one of the farther out buildings. The pool area is nice. They also have a water play area that kids seem to like, mine didn't because there was too much water falling from above and he doesn't like getting water in his face. I think he will like it more this go around because he has started taking swim lessons and is getting better. The food court is also a short walk and they have live music that we all listened to one evening in the lounge.

 

[MissPixie]

Back in the year 2000 when I was 4 I stayed at Caribbean Beach with my parents and don't remember anything about it. So this July myself, my 2 year old son, and boyfriend stayed at The Animal Kingdom Lodge Savanna View and it was wonderful. My 2 year old son loved seeing the animals and the beauty of the resort was breathe taking.