Help us pick a resort!!!

[mitzy150]

Hi all,
We are looking for advice, especially concerning things we may be missing or not thinking of for our upcoming Jan 2026 trip. Please do not take price into account, as we will weigh that in more solidly after as all below can be achieved within our budget. Any help is much much much appreciated.

We are: 3 adults (1 couple and 1 grandpa) with a 3 year old.

We are considering:
-Family Suite at Art of Animation
-2 Rooms at Pop Century
-2 Studios or 1 Bed at OKW, Saratoga, Kidani, Jambo House or Boardwalk
-Cabin at Fort Wilderness

Our Needs/Wants
-Somewhere decent with Quick Serve for Breakfast and Lunch (mostly for toddler)
-The more room space the better, but not too particular
-Central transport
-Comfortable sleep situation for 3rd adult
-Nice splash pad area is a bonus

We will likely have a car, but will mostly be using Disney Transport. We are not Disney newbies, but would be newbies to all of these resorts apart from Pop and SS (at SS we have only ever had a 2 bed so the room situation would be new). Thanks!

 

[mitzy150]

We are also open to other suggestions within a similar budget (either using cash for the non villas or points for the villas)

 

[nherbert]

These are the things to think about. Does the 3 year old need a bed or can use pack n play? Does the 3 year old share a room with parents or grandad? Do not recommend sofa bed for grandpa.

AoA - grandpa could have big bed, with parents on either pull-down or sofa and 3 year old in same space - noting the sofa is very uncomfortable. Not good for grandpa. Pull-down is high, would 3 yr old falling out be an issue is he a wriggler.
Pop - no guarantee connected, but grandpa gets own room and everyone gets a good bed.
Cabin - parents and 3hr old get room, with 3yr old in bunk. Grandpa gets own sleeping space in lounge (that bed is hard but ok). The lounge space is an awkward arrangement. You will need a golf cart if in cabins. Food might be an issue here, but cabins allow you to prepare own meals.
1 beds - the make up of beds is different in each 1 bed. We stayed at Kidani - loved it. The 3hr old could have sleeper chair, parents have sofa bed, grandpa have room. Sofa bed uncomfortable, but not as bad as AoA.
2studios - hard to get connecting studios, but other than that same as pop.
Any of the places except cabins will easily meet your food requirements. Cabins will need a golf cart to get to food.

 

[nherbert]

Consider all-star music family suite - has 3 good beds and good kitchenette, easy access to food if in family suite as near main complex. Would recommend music over AoA.

 

[jennab]

I’d recommend 2 studios at Jambo or Boardwalk (or any monorail resort). This will give you enough sleeping spaces and grandpa can have his own bed and bathroom. Now Jambo has a QS by pool. Boardwalk technically has a QS for breakfast but it’s a bit of a pain. The monorail resorts would be better for QS access over BW I think.

 

[Marthasor]

Boardwalk would be most convenient to parks, but the QS situation there is not good. Can you consider BCV instead? If not, I would probably do 2 studios at Jambo or SSR if you stay in the preferred section.

 

[kylenne]

Our Needs/Wants
-Somewhere decent with Quick Serve for Breakfast and Lunch (mostly for toddler)

This knocks Boardwalk right out, QS situation on Crescent Lake is the worst on property.

-Central transport

And this knocks out the Cabins and AKL. Cabins you’ll need a golf cart to get around and AKL is located roughly in Narnia.

Tbh in your situation with your criteria I would either do 2 rooms at Pop or one of the family suites at Music.

 

[DeeBee3]

I was going to say yes to Kidani because you get an extra bathroom in the 1 bedroom but the pull-out couch is terrible.

 

[cmbr]

Reading your family's needs, I think I'd look at the All Star Music family suites, like others have suggested. Two are murphy beds, but you have three queen size beds to go around.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Of the resorts on your list, 2 rooms at Pop makes the most sense. I agree with everything @kylenne mentioned.

In addition, I would consider a family suite at the All-Stars resort or 2 rooms at POFQ. Both resorts have a central transportation and good quick service meals. POFQ also has a great centralized pool area with pool, kids splash pad and playground all in one area that is very close to the QS. It is a quick walk to POR, its sister resort, with shared amenities for pools and food. You also have the boat service to DS.

 

[DWillowBay]

Consider all-star music family suite - has 3 good beds and good kitchenette, easy access to food if in family suite as near main complex. Would recommend music over AoA.

THIS! We love the Music Suites. All the amenities of AoA (even 2 bathrooms) without the higher cost. Plenty of space and a kitchenette.

 

[elvispursley]

I would not do a 1-br at OKW. While Olivia’s good, the QS is not great, imo. Not to mention your room could be a very long trek to the HH. Even if you do meals in your room, I would not put grandpa on a sofa bed.

I might look at something like CBR and book a room with the 5th sleeper so all adults get a bed and the toddler gets the pull-down. You then have skylines access to 2 parks. When we took a grandparent with us when our boys were young, we stayed at POR and loved it (even if it was a little tight). Love the theming of both PO resorts.

 

[mitzy150]

Consider all-star music family suite - has 3 good beds and good kitchenette, easy access to food if in family suite as near main complex. Would recommend music over AoA.

I totally forgot about these, but will add it to my list. The toddler (honestly) will probably be ok in a pack and play or will end up in bed with us (as she normally does on trips when somewhere unfamiliar). Thanks so much!

 

[mitzy150]

I was going to say yes to Kidani because you get an extra bathroom in the 1 bedroom but the pull-out couch is terrible.

That's so helpful to know! We just did a Disneyland stay at the Grand Californian and the pull out was not terrible for my dad (we were only 3 nights) but even that was a lot and he switched the the pull down (which isn't an option at a lot of one beds in DW it seems)

 

[mitzy150]

Of the resorts on your list, 2 rooms at Pop makes the most sense. I agree with everything @kylenne mentioned.

In addition, I would consider a family suite at the All-Stars resort or 2 rooms at POFQ. Both resorts have a central transportation and good quick service meals. POFQ also has a great centralized pool area with pool, kids splash pad and playground all in one area that is very close to the QS. It is a quick walk to POR, its sister resort, with shared amenities for pools and food. You also have the boat service to DS.

LOVE POFQ (we've stayed their twice before) but with two rooms the cost is quite a bit more than the other options.

 

[ArielDreams]

I’m planning a trip with similar priorities (substitute grandpa for an infant!) Given your list, AoA suite would be my choice if it’s in budget. Skyliner, good QS, plenty of space! We are going with a studio at Boulder Ridge this time, but didn’t have to factor in a third adult like you.

 

[sponica]

I'd be inclined for 2 rooms at Pop, but that's because my husband would feel super uncomfortable sharing a room with one of my parents.

If we were inclined to share a room, we'd probably do either the 5th sleeper at CBR or the 5th Sleeper at POR. Parents get a bed, grandparent gets a bed and the kiddo can go in the pulldown.

 

[rdevans_2000]

Just throwing out an idea (maybe someone already suggested this)... Consider renting a DVC Villa at Old Key West. It was the original DVC property and they built the villas with TONS of room. You can rent direct from Disney or rent from a DVC owner through several online brokerages, or through DisBoards. Good luck.

 

[leebee]

I'd do two rooms at AKL/Jambo, as it's my favorite resort. I don't get why people think it's "so far" from everything. It's just not... unless you regularly stay at a MK resort. Food is great, resort is lovely, pool (and pool bar) are great, and you'll have plenty of space.

Next options would be either a family suite at AllStar Music or two rooms at one of the values. We like AllStar Music better than POP. It's a smaller resort, easier to get around. Food courts at both are pretty equal... uninspiring but more than adequate for breakfast or lunch. The murphy beds at ASMusic were wonderful! You wouldn't know you weren't on a "real bed" at all!

Don't do any of the resorts in the Epcot area. We loved Boardwalk Inn, but quick service food options are pretty dismal... there isn't even a QS IN the BWI, you have to go outside to get to it. Sure, you have to go outside at the Values, too, but let's talk about the price you are paying to stay at BWI vs AllStars!

Also don't do the cabin at FW. You'd have a kitchen, but you'd have Grandpa on the sofa bed in the living area, which the kitchen is part of, and you have to walk through the living area to get to the bathroom. Not a whole lot of privacy for whoever is sleeping in the living area, and if that person isn't the night owl of the family, you're gonna have to clear out of the living area and sit in the bedroom (with the 3yo, trying to sleep) until your bedtime.

We liked Saratoga Springs for the proximity to Disney Springs, but felt that food options at the resort were not optimal. Also, it's HUGE, so you'd want to make sure you had rooms near the clubhouse for the food court and pool.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

What about a 1 bed at BLT? It's got two full bathrooms a fold down twin and a Murphy bed queen in the living room after the reno. It's super close to MK, on the monorail loop and lots of quick service on that loop.