How to decide where to stay?

[tommac1]

I am travelling with wife and 3 kids 13,5,1

where is the best place to stay? I am trying to book with disney points and would prefer medium or better than medium place to stay.

Thinking old keywest? what are other options at around the same price / points range.

 

[PearlySwan]

Hi Tom, it sounds as though you are looking to book moderate to deluxe accomodations. Your choice will depend on a number of variables primarily involving your family's needs and preferences. For example:

1. What is your resort theming preference?
2. The Size of your Travel Party
3. The Length of stay for your trip
4. Which park you might be spending most of your time visiting
5. Will you be using the dining plan or not using it?
6. Will you be using Disney transportation or renting a car?
7. Does your 5 yr. old still nap? I would imagine the 1yr. still does.
8. Does your family like to take a break in the middle of the day or does your family go from rope drop (opening) until the park closes in the evening? IMHO the latter would be difficult to pull off with small children.
9. Do you have Park Hoppers or not?
10. Etc.


Here are the Moderate Resorts:

Caribbean Beach Resort (Hollywood Studios)
Port Orleans Riverside (Downtown Disney)
Port Orleans French Quarter (Downtown Disney)
Coronado Springs Resort (Wide World of Sports)
The Cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort (Magic Kingdom)



Here are the Deluxe Resorts:

Contemporary Resort (Magic Kingdom Resort with monorail access)
Yacht Club (Epcot Resort)
Beach Club (Epcot Resort)
Polynesian (Magic Kingdom Resort with monorail access)
Boardwalk (Epcot Resort)
Animal Kingdom (Animal Kingdom Resort)
Grand Floridian (Magic Kingdom Resort with monorail access)
Wilderness Lodge (Magic Kingdom Resort)



Here are the Villas which probably offer the best accomodations for a travel party of 5:

Wilderness Lodge Villas (Magic Kingdom)
Boardwalk Villas (Epcot)
Beach Club Villas (Epcot)
Animal Kingdom Villas Jambo House (Animal Kingdom)
Animal Kingdom Villas Kidani Village (Animal Kingdom)
Old Key West (Downtown Disney)
Saratoga Springs Resort/Spa (Downtown Disney)
Bay Lake Tower at Contemporary Resort (Magic Kingdom)


Almost all the resorts have a FAQ Thread dedicated to it here: http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=12

For more detailed info. on any particular resort/accomodation, visit here: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/Resorts/resortmain1.htm

And for general pictures/info. you can go here: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/

 

[tommac1]

1. What is your resort theming preference?
Going with three kids ... 13,5,1
I am thinking if we are getting the park hopper ... probably will do PH. Balanced between the parks ... we are thinking of doing parks one day ... the next day no parks ... then parks then no parks.

2. The Size of your Travel Party

5 ( but one is a 1 year old so she sleeps in a crib ).

3. The Length of stay for your trip

Somewhere between 5 and 7 days in disney

4. Which park you might be spending most of your time visiting

Magic Kingdom probably.

5. Will you be using the dining plan or not using it?

Still undecided if it is worth it or not.

6. Will you be using Disney transportation or renting a car?

I will probably have a rental as I do plan on going off property ... or is it not worth getting a car?

7. Does your 5 yr. old still nap? I would imagine the 1yr. still does.

No the 5 year old doesnt the one year old naps but sometimes can fall asleep in the stroller.


8. Does your family like to take a break in the middle of the day or does your family go from rope drop (opening) until the park closes in the evening? IMHO the latter would be difficult to pull off with small children.

We usually take breaks ... not so much for the kids but for us.


9. Do you have Park Hoppers or not?

We will probably do the park hopper.

 

[Jerry@dvcstore]

Old Key West is Great Resort. I am sure if you stayed there you would be happy. I own my DVC points there and LOVE it.