First Trip to DisneyWorld

[Trakar]

We did the Disney Cruise two years ago and loved it!!!! Kids are 7 and 9 and are ready for a trip to Disney. We will be going Spring Break (yikes) and think we want to stay at a Moderate Hotel. Depending on price, it may even be a Value. I think at this age, Deluxe accom. is unnecessary, not to mention cost prohibitive right now. They will be more about the oohs and aahs of what they "see".
So any recommendations or "stay away from" will be appreciated!

Thanks for your help!!

[Joannelet]

You are going to LOVE IT!!! as well as your kids LOL
There really isn't much to stay away from but pick a resort based on what you want or need during your trip...based on what the kids will like etc.

Wilderness Lodge is great since it has wonderful restaurants inside etc. Port Orleans is a hotel I like as well.
Did you have a place in mind that you've wanted to stay at?

[Trakar]

I honestly have no clue!! I have friends who go all the time, but stay off site. They have recommended Wilderness. I have heard great things about Port Orleans Riverside and POP Century...ahhhh!!!!

I don't care that much about how great the food is. I don't want to wait forever for a bus to the parks or take forever to get there.

A cool pool and/or a big pool would be nice too.

[luvnwdw]

we've stayed twice now at the Caribbean Resort and love it, we went Dec 08 and the pool was complete, it's a pirate theme and awesome if your children are into pirates, the food court is pretty good, we never really waited that long for busses to the parks, the bridge over the lake is an awesome walk,
I can't really think of anything to stay away from. I would suggest you go on-line and research the parks, the 1st time we went in 07, my daughter and I were soooo overwhelmed by all that was offered and felt we missed 3 days just rying to re-organize our thoughts on it. It was a lesson learned and the trip in 08 was fantastic
have a wonderful time

[azcavalier]

How long are you staying, and are you driving?

One big word of advice (and something I know that many on here do). You and your kids will be much happier if you use the extra magic hours, and go to the parks when they open, eat lunch around 11:30am (to beat the lunch lines), then leave the parks for the resort shortly after. Take a few hours in the afternoon to enjoy the resort, wind down, go swimming, whatever. Then, head back out for dinner and finish off the evenings in the parks. Those few hours in the afternoon for the kids will make each day better, less exhausting, and so there will be less whining and fighting. Besides, what most kids really want to do is swim anyway.

As far as resorts go, the Value Resorts are nice, and not a bad choice, except that the pools are nothing special. So if swimming is a consideration, all the moderates have more interesting pools, with hot tubs and waterslides. All the pools are heated, too, so don't worry about it being to cool to swim. My kids have always found time to swim, even in December.

[MississippiDisneyFreak]

Truly, I don't think you can go wrong staying on any property onsite at DW....bus waits happen with all resorts, but I've never had a wait long enough to turn me off any resort and I have stayed at Pop, AS Movies and Coronado Springs. Probably the most efficient was Coronado Springs simply because there are bus stops spread around the resort. Also their pool is cool.....

[cajundisneyfreak]

You are going to love it! We always stay at a value resort because you can't beat the price and we are never in our room except to bathe and sleep.Are you doing the dining plan? That's a must have.lol Don't want to scare you but spring break is horribly crowded.Just go with the attitude that you know you want be able to see or do everything and you'll be fine.Besides there's always next time.We don't exhaust ourselves at the parks cause we take breaks like watching shows,parades,fireworks,etc.Also a nice table service meal is a nice break.I hope this helps.Feel free to contact me if you have any more questions.I hope you have a magical first trip.

[SallyMcQueen]

I really like CBR. The themeing is great and so is the pool. Like a PP we were there in Dec. 2008 and they had just recently finished the pool and its really nice, so is the little bar next to the pool. The food is noting great, but it works.

[RedSoxFan]

We've stayed at POFQ, AKL and CBR. I think CBR has the best pool (per my kids) out of the three of them. AKL has the best bus service in my opinion. All 3 resorts were very nice and I would stay at them again. As for the parks, just know that you can't do everything and just go with the flow. Utilize fast passes too. Also, make your ADR's well in advance if you want sit down meals. Have fun planning.

[Disney Doll]

There is a site called allears which has an extensive photo gallery on each resort. I always like to check the photos so you can see exactly what the theming is like. I've never had a bad experience staying on-site so for me it's more about seeing which theme appeals to me.

[mom2morgan]

We've been twice. We chose Port Orleans Riverside the first time because of the trundle beds since we had 5 of us at that time. I know exactly how you feel, because we'd read ALL the guide books and had NO CLUE what resort to pick! We were fully planning to take 2 rooms at a Value until the Disney fellow I talked to told me about the trundles. ANYWAY, we liked it enough that we chose to stay there when we went back. On that second trip, we travelled around and looked at other resorts, so now we plan to try a couple new (on our next stay we'll be going for 8 days - spending 4 at Carribean Beach and 4 at Animal Kingdom because we can't decide!) I guess my long, rambling point is that you can't go wrong, and "picking" isn't really easy on your first trip - AFTER you see the other resorts you might decide to get a bit more adventurous :-)

ps - we wouldn't do value because the rooms are just that bit smaller. Even at the moderate they're "cozy" for four people - I wouldn't want to be any MORE crowded.

[sndral]

CBR has the biggest moderate rooms, probably because it was the first moderate built. I really like CBR, love the theme, the grounds. I hear the tropical music when I step out by the main pool and all the great memories I associate w/ prior trips to WDW & CBR bring a smile to my face. It's a big, spread out resort, but each 'island' has it's own quiet pool and bus stop. The main pool is really nice.
POFQ is smaller, the pool not as impressive as CBR's main pool, IMO, but you can walk, take the boat or bus to POR and use that pool. POFQ & POR have a boat to DTD, which I really liked.
I've not stayed @ CS or any values, so have no opinion on them.
As others have noted, there are things to like about each resort. WDW is huge, so you are smart to research and learn all that you can before going!

[PrettyMinnie]

I noticed you mentioned POP. If you are going for a Value, that's definitely the way to go. The kids will love the atmosphere!

[dream6]

I agree with Pop! It's a really fun hotel - and it has it's own bus line so you don't have to drive around picking up other hotel guests. But definitely look at pictures online to see what may be the best choice for you and your family.

[lighteningqueen]

All Star Music is a great first place. They ahve movies at night by the pool the pools are great the themeing is so fun. Great game room etc. I see no need to pay for a mod or even a Deluxe your first trip. REASON. This IS your first trip and you will spend very little time at it and more in the parks with the days that you have. We did this our first trip and only saw the room from Midnight to 6 am We go in dec so park hours are short. But we use all the EMH for the parks and plan that day in that park when the time is longer. We also try and eat at that park that day for dinner so not to miss anything by traveling around on your precious time. You will be overwhelmed with all there is to do you will not get to do it all. We went again this past Dec and still have yet to do WS really..Epcot except to run thru it. I hope you can plan at least 6-7 days and repeat a favorite park or 2. We are doing POP this time and feel this will be our new hotel. The higher priced ones may seem nice and relaxing and they may well be , but with kids its all about theming and POP and the All Stars make you feel Disney. I will never forget 2 years ago when we walked out of the lobby to the room areas and were in AWE. It made us tear up from all the color and fun looking decor. Buses are really not bad at Music. But am looking toward trying POPs since they only share with themselves. Have a great time and just have fun..

[LVT]

Each of us will plug a favorite. We go every other year over Spring Break. 1. Pop 2. Up early and
3 Lots of ADRs. The ADR will get you off your feet to relax a bit. You do not have to eat a full meal every time.

[PetefromRI]

How long are you staying, and are you driving?

One big word of advice (and something I know that many on here do). You and your kids will be much happier if you use the extra magic hours, and go to the parks when they open, eat lunch around 11:30am (to beat the lunch lines), then leave the parks for the resort shortly after. Take a few hours in the afternoon to enjoy the resort, wind down, go swimming, whatever. Then, head back out for dinner and finish off the evenings in the parks. Those few hours in the afternoon for the kids will make each day better, less exhausting, and so there will be less whining and fighting. Besides, what most kids really want to do is swim anyway.

As far as resorts go, the Value Resorts are nice, and not a bad choice, except that the pools are nothing special. So if swimming is a consideration, all the moderates have more interesting pools, with hot tubs and waterslides. All the pools are heated, too, so don't worry about it being to cool to swim. My kids have always found time to swim, even in December.

Excellent advice all around.We always take afternoon breaks and it's just 2 of us adults.As everyone has said,you can't go wrong at any resort.

[thejens]

Although I do prefer the deluxe resorts, I have stayed at ASMovies and at Pop for just a quick visit. My kids really loved ASMOvies since it just captures the Disney theming so well. I did find that on my first trip to Disney I spent almost no time in the resort, so agree that a value is a perfect choice for a first trip. On the other hand, if you are going to be spending the afternoons at the resort AKL is a great one!

[stitchaholic]

we stayed value on our first trip, and it was ok because it was our first trip,and we were very busy running the parks.
the second time, we started off at POP ,but were really uncomfortable in the small beds and were looking for some R & R, we moved over to coronado springs,and so happy we did, the rooms were double in size,queen size beds,there are 4 busstops, and a huge pool with a jaguar slide, and a hot tub, it is a great value for a mod.
where ever you decide,have a great trip!