Which hotel with little ones?

[julzinthebox]

Hi there, hoping for some help from the experts! We are a family of four travelling from Scotland in July 2019, first time with our kids who will be 6 and 3. We’re staying on property for the first 5 night, to be ‘closer to the magic’, take advantage of free dining plan and just make the kids’ first trip extra special. After that we’re in a Kissimmee villa for 9 nights. We’re torn between staying at the Contemporary or one of the more kiddie friendly hotels like Art of Animation or Pop Century. I love the idea of being so close to MK at the CR - but would the kids be missing out on the magic of one of the more fun hotels? We’re planning to visit Orlando every few years, but want to nail this first trip! Feel like we’ll already be asking a lot of two little boys with the heat, park trekking and general fun overload, so keen for things to be as easy and stress free as possible while we’re staying on property. Any advice much appreciated!

 

[AndyS2992]

Looking from a young kids perspective, they would definitely prefer the values with their bright colours and characters everywhere compared to Contemporary’s more upper class adult/business type of atmosphere. You’d save a ton of money picking a value too. However, Contemporary has a monorail running through it, Magic Kingdom can be seen from the window as well as the fireworks and Electric Water Pageant, character breakfasts are available, nicer bigger rooms, better transportation and so on. You can always visit the value resorts and walk around if you wanted to. Surprisingly tough question lol

 

[Smiley/OCD]

3 words...Art of Animation!!! We've stayed there 3 times, and LOVED it each time...Get a family suite at either Nemo (our favorite and the best pool is right there), Cars or Lion King. Just stay away from the Little Mermaid rooms because a) there are no suits in the mermaid complex and b) it's the furthest away from the food court. IOHO, AoA is the best themed resort on property. If you stay there, the family will be immersed in all things Disney 24/7. There are plenty of videos on this site and Youtube that will give you a tour of the resort and the rooms. Trust me, you and your family will LOVE it!!!

 

[PeakSeason]

The rooms at The Contemporary are larger than the rooms at the other resorts you mentioned. If you're putting 4 people in one room, I'd want the extra space. The children in my family love the feel of The Contemporary, with the monorail running through it, the view of Magic Kingdom on one side and the view of the beautiful lake on the other side. The ability to walk to and from Magic Kingdom seals the deal for us. In addition, the dining choices are fantastic when you take into consideration that both The Polynesian and The Grand Floridian are easily accessible by monorail.

 

[RememberWhen]

I would prefer the contemporary (we have stayed there with our then 3 year old). There’s nothing so lovely as being able to walk your sleepy 3 year old back to the hotel for a rest. You could consider renting DVC points and staying in a 1 bedroom. The extra space is fantastic. The only really far journey is animal kingdom. You could save that for later in your trip and just drive.

 

[Lets Respect]

I would look at Wilderness Lodge too. It has a lot of kid appeal

 

[Maddad]

AoA is amazing for young children. Characters everywhere and themed room areas. Transportation is available everywhere around the property. Just make sure to book plenty of character meals. My kids loved them when they were younger.

 

[LeighM]

If I was that age again, I would definitely prefer the theme of Art of Animation, along with their main pool. My mom would've enjoyed the suites with 2 bathrooms

 

[MaryJaneP]

Our first visit (and some subsequent trips) with young kids was to a garden wing room at the Contemporary. The real question seems to be maximizing competing priorities for both parents and kids simultaneously. We also think it is a hard question. Our answer was to be close to pools (CR had 2, we think it still does), close to MK (walking distance) and close to events the kids might enjoy (Monorail, EWP, Fireworks, Chef Mickey's, etc). One plus for us, that you may or may not have, is a family history of Contemporary. It is not cheap, and not themed as strongly as the other resorts mentioned, but the kids seemed to like it just fine and the parents were very satisfied too. Whichever resort you choose, we wish you a great vacation.

 

[Figgy1]

IMHO that will depend on how much park vs resort time you're planning and where you'll plan to eat on those days. If you're planning on a good deal of your time in the MK and eating at CM, Ohanna CRT and BOG I'd stay at the Contemporary. If you plan on lots of resort time and or hitting mostly the other parks AOA would be your best bet. It's location vs theme and you somewhat have to plan what you want to do with your days to make it work. I'd do the villa first to make everything more relaxing for everybody. We've done on to off and off to on property and the later is more relaxing. Sorry I couldn't be more help

 

[BASS]

Contemporary. Hands down. If your kids were older, then other hotels might be more appropriate (or cost-effective). But you--and your children--will appreciate the ease of access from Contemporary to Magic Kingdom. You'll save a lot of time and the headaches associated with bus service.

I have 2 small children of my own. There's only so much they can take each day. The quicker you can access Magic Kingdom, the more time you have to maximize that [limited] period where the kids aren't unbearable and cranky!

Obviously, the downside is the price. But if that is of no moment to you, I'd pick Contemporary.

 

[righttrack]

All of the resorts do it up for kids. The Contemporary has a character meal (Chef Mickeys). If money is no object, The Contemporary. You'll spend a lot of time in Magic Kingdom and can walk or take the monorail there. Painted statues of characters only entertain so much.

 

[slappy magoo]

I hate to be this blunt, because I know it makes me sound like a jerk...but YOU are the grownup. YOU are paying for the trip, I'd presume unless your kids are child models and you're using their income. Your kids will be 6 and 3 and they're going to Disney World. Chances are, more than likely, they're going to be thrilled no matter where you stay, no matter what you do, and it will be YEARS before there's a thought of "wait, we could have done THIS and stayed HERE instead while we were there?"

Stay where YOU want to stay. Do what YOU want to do. They will more than likely have just as fine of a time - and at times be just as upset because they'd rather be over THERE doing THAT instead of HERE doing THIS - as they would be if you made an effort to cater every nanosecond of your trip to their whims and fancies.

Would your kids' minds be blown walking into AOA and seeing those giant statues of King Triton and the like? Yes, no doubt, and if you got a suite, they'd probably feel like they were living in the world's coolest clubhouse. And just as likely, they'll be exhausted and miserable the days where buses take forever to get them to a park, or back from a park, and make you more exhausted and miserable, too.

But most of our past trips have been spent, in part, at the DVC section of the Contemporary resort, Bay Lake Tower. One of those trips, my kids were close to the ages yours will be, my older was 6 and my younger was nearly 3. And they went batpoop crazy eating in, of all places, Contempo Cafe, because they got to see the monorail roll by (and believe me the batpoop craziness went to 11 when we actually dined in Chef Mickey's right next door). The idea that we're walking or taking a monorail to Magic Kingdom is what blows their mind. Every time I've awakened them or let them stay up a little later so they can see the Water Pageant is one of their favorite memories. That resort is so Disney to them, on one vacation where we didn't stay there, there was straight up legit separation anxiety (it passed, haha). For about a year after that particular trip, my younger would ask me on a fairly regular basis: "Daddy, maybe this weekend...we can go to Disney? And we can go to the hotel? And swim in the pool? And I can go down the slide and you can catch me?" That little baby slide at the Bay Lake Pool, a slide where many times she had to scooch herself down in order to get to the bottom was one of her biggest memories for a long time.

We spent a night in Art of Animation once, in a Little Mermaid room, having driven and arrived a whole day early. And they enjoyed it, especially the pool. Mom and Dad having to squeeze into a double, not so much. But if I ever talk to them about going back, they always ask if we can stay at BLT. It's never giving in to them because it's where *I* want to stay and they're along for the ride.

Contemporary rooms are significantly bigger (unless you get a suite at AoA). You're walking distance and monorail rides away from 3 character breakfasts and some of the best/most fun restaurants on property (to say nothing of the boat ride away to Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness in case you'd like to go to Hoop De Doo Revue one day). Hell there ARE restaurants on property, not just a cacophonous food court. You've got watercraft rentals and cool pools and great views and when you're at MK and want to take a break, you're a monorail stop away. You also have monorail access to Epcot. Any kid that you give that to, if they ever turned around and said "yeah, but I really would've preferred that pool where you can hear the music underwater," write those ungrateful curs out of your will.

 

[OneofThree]

I hate to be this blunt, because I know it makes me sound like a jerk...but YOU are the grownup. YOU are paying for the trip, I'd presume unless your kids are child models and you're using their income.

I hate to be blunt but -not everyone is so incredibly self-centered. One of the first things you learn when you have kids (hopefully), is that life is no longer about just you.

 

[wagner1225]

Well I guess you got some advice, we have been going to DW since it opened 73, I can tell you we are now very old adults, and I never get tired of feeling young even if my body says no, AOA last year and year before was a fun trip, We have seen them all, I never get tired of seeing the smiling faces of the kids enjoying everything, we were all adults these last trips, and let me say I have pictures going way back, what every you choose its put into the memory bank and its fun....P.S OneofThree said it correctly

 

[daisyduckie]

Hi there, hoping for some help from the experts! We are a family of four travelling from Scotland in July 2019, first time with our kids who will be 6 and 3. We’re staying on property for the first 5 night, to be ‘closer to the magic’, take advantage of free dining plan and just make the kids’ first trip extra special. After that we’re in a Kissimmee villa for 9 nights. We’re torn between staying at the Contemporary or one of the more kiddie friendly hotels like Art of Animation or Pop Century. I love the idea of being so close to MK at the CR - but would the kids be missing out on the magic of one of the more fun hotels? We’re planning to visit Orlando every few years, but want to nail this first trip! Feel like we’ll already be asking a lot of two little boys with the heat, park trekking and general fun overload, so keen for things to be as easy and stress free as possible while we’re staying on property. Any advice much appreciated!

I would probably pic the Contemporary. The pool is very well themed, and has a nice slide. And none of the value resorts have pool slides. Plus there is Chef Mickey's, which would be great if you can score an ADR. The Contemporary definitely feels Disney.

 

[Kristopher Rannells]

Contemporary. Hands down. If your kids were older, then other hotels might be more appropriate (or cost-effective). But you--and your children--will appreciate the ease of access from Contemporary to Magic Kingdom. You'll save a lot of time and the headaches associated with bus service.

I have 2 small children of my own. There's only so much they can take each day. The quicker you can access Magic Kingdom, the more time you have to maximize that [limited] period where the kids aren't unbearable and cranky!

Obviously, the downside is the price. But if that is of no moment to you, I'd pick Contemporary.

This poster hits the nail right on the head. Even at 6 but especially at 3 y/o the kids can only handle so much theme park and Florida heat before they need a break. I assume the Magic Kingdom will be the main park with littles that young, or at least I would make that to be the case for the days you stay at the Contemporary. When the kids need a break or have that meltdown, need a change of clothes due to an accident, or whatever the reason may be, you can get to the CR and back to the MK in the time it will take you to travel 1 way by bus to AoA. I would guess the time back from EPCOT may using the monorail may be just as fast as a bus to AoA.

 

[slappy magoo]

I hate to be blunt but -not everyone is so incredibly self-centered. One of the first things you learn when you have kids (hopefully), is that life is no longer about just you.

Right, you're the person who didn't read beyond my first paragraph and decided to pass judgment on what I wrote but *I'M* the self-centered one (reading comprehension - it's not just for breakfast anymore!).

Spoiler alert - I talked quite a bit about the fact that I have two kids, both of whom loved every trip we ever took to WDW. And to be honest I spend quite a lot of time planning the trip to make it as enjoyable as possible for both them AND my wife. But would I base where we stay on what the girls would want over what my wife and I would want? Absolutely not, because we're paying for the trip, we look for certain features and amenities, and they're so thrilled to be at WDW if they have to rough it by staying in a suite at Bay Lake versus a 260 sq. ft. room in a Value, then fine, let that be a chapter in the book they'll write about me one day as part of their therapy.

 

[OneofThree]

Right, you're the person who didn't read beyond my first paragraph and decided to pass judgment on what I wrote but *I'M* the self-centered one (reading comprehension - it's not just for breakfast anymore!).

Spoiler alert - I talked quite a bit about the fact that I have two kids, both of whom loved every trip we ever took to WDW. And to be honest I spend quite a lot of time planning the trip to make it as enjoyable as possible for both them AND my wife. But would I base where we stay on what the girls would want over what my wife and I would want? Absolutely not, because we're paying for the trip, we look for certain features and amenities, and they're so thrilled to be at WDW if they have to rough it by staying in a suite at Bay Lake versus a 260 sq. ft. room in a Value, then fine, let that be a chapter in the book they'll write about me one day as part of their therapy.

Read the whole post. Read this one as well, which really just confirms my own.

 

[crxbrett]

I don't have kids - BUT! - as a kid I loved staying at the Poly and visiting the Contemporary. I think I would have also liked Animal Kingdom Lodge and the All-Stars and Art of Animation as a kid as well had they been around back then. Fort Wilderness or Wilderness Lodge may have also been fun for me as a kid. Ft. Wilderness has a ton of stuff to do.