Disney veterans - can you help me pick a place to stay?

My family , boys 3 and 8, are planning to go to Disney in June for 5days/6nights. I'm thinking of staying at Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom. I had planned on Polynesian because I've read transportation is super easy and fast, but the only have garden view rooms available. I have also considered The Carribean or Port Orleans, but have read mixed reviews. Can you please offer you picks and the reason why. Any help will be greatly appreciated!Disney veterans - can you help me pick a place to stay?
If proximity to the parks is most important, stay at the Polynesian or Port Orleans (French Quarter - it's quieter and less crowded). The Polynesian has Monorail access to Magic Kingdom and Epcot, and French Quarter is in the Epcot area (centrally located on Disney Property).



I personally have had great experiences with Port Orleans and would recommend it in a heartbeat. The buses pick up Port Orleans guests first, so when you're leaving from the resort, you'll get to sit down, and let them off first, so you'll have less time to stand on the way back (sometimes you will have to stand up on the bus, but there are lots of handrails to hold on to).



Also, if you need a bed rail for your 3-year-old, call 1-407-939-7429 and request that a bed rail be added during your stay (you can also make your reservation during this time).



I hope you have a great trip!
I stayed in Coronado Springs and really enjoyed it, although I am sure all of the Disney Resorts will be fine.Disney veterans - can you help me pick a place to stay?
Both Lodges and the Poly are superb choices. AKL is only serviced by bus. WL at least has a boat to the MK in addition to buses.



I would choose the garden view at the Poly - that's what we're doing in December! Monorail service to the MK and you can walk to the TTC to take the Epcot monorail.



Can't wait!



Good Luck!
How much time are you going to spend in the room? How much is your budget? I've stayed at the Port Orleans French Quarter and really enjoyed it. It's beautiful and we didn't encounter a lot of noise while there. It's also a reasonably priced (for Disney) moderate resort.Disney veterans - can you help me pick a place to stay?
I'm a Disney Cast member, and I have had the opportunity to stay at Disney's Animal Kingdom and I would say this is a great place for you and your boys.



What's great about any of the Disney Resorts is that they all have buses to get to anywhere on Disney Property that you need to go.



The reason I think you should stay at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is because it will be a great experience for your boys. While walking around the resort you will have the opportunity to see the animals from Animal Kingdom at your resort, and if you get lucky, you can even see them while looking out your room. It's a beautiful place and your family will feel like you're in your own oasis.



Whatever you choose for your resort choice read into the theme of the resort. Every resort has a different theme, and you should pick the one your family would want to experience. Whichever you choose I'm sure you'll enjoy it, the Disney experience is like nothing other.
You are making a great decision to stay on property. I have gone to Disney quite a few times and stayed in many of the resorts, so here are our favorites and few others you may be interested in.



I know you didn't mention the value resorts, but if you are considering them I would suggest the All-Star Movies resort. The rooms are on the small side, but the decor and themes of the resort itself are awesome. They have a Toy Story wing that your kids would love (mine did!) Food court, no sit down restaurant, huge pool. A possibility if you want to go that route.



In the moderate level resorts my favorite overall is the Caribbean Beach, with Port Orleans - Riverside a close second. The Caribbean Beach resort is very quiet and relaxing, with each individual section having it's own quiet pool (so you don't have to necessarily go to the big pool.) There is also a good food court, a sit down restaurant, and the service was outstanding. Caribbean beach also has it's own lake/lagoon where you can rent the little water sprite boats and go for a ride. I would check first though, because when we were there a couple of weeks ago I think the Caribbean Beach main pool was under renovations. I am not sure if it was done, or if not when it will be finished. Riverside is very much the same, just a different theme (and no boats that I remember.)



The deluxe resorts are tough to pick. Overall of the deluxe resorts my favorite is the Polynesian resort. I just think that is the most beautiful resort on the Disney property, and there is so much to do at the resort it is unbelieveable. Plus there is just something about seeing the fireworks over Cinderella's castle from the resort with the Seven Seas Lagoon right in front of you. Plus you are on the monorail system, so you have easy access for the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, but you will still need a bus for the other parks. The Animal Kingdom Lodge is also very good, but try for a savanah view so you can see the animals.



Another route you could go is the Saratoga Springs resort. The resort is a Disney Vacation Club resort, and considered a "home away from home" resort. Each room comes with either a kitchenette or a full kitchen on top of the other Disney amenities. You only have trash and towel service, not a mousekeeper coming in and cleaning every day, but that is not a big deal. I have stayed here twice over the last year and we love the place. It is our home resort for the DVC. My kids love it too (ages 12 and 7.) The pool is huge, there are pools in each section, there is plenty of food options, and you are a short walk to Downtown Disney. I will be staying here for each visit from now on.



Everyone has their favorites, you need to pick one for you guys. No matter which resort you pick you can't go wrong.



I hope this helps. Another suggestion for you is to check out the disboards. The disboards is a message board website that is all about going to Disney. You can get resort reviews, advice on any topic, restaurant reviews, tips and tricks, trip reports and much more. I learn something new each time I go on. I put the link below.



Have a great trip!!
You can not go wrong with the Wilderness Lodge especially for this age group. The Whispering Canyon Cafe is one of the restaurants my nephews love most. The Animal Kingdom is nice also.
Animal Kingdom is a bad choice. It is really inconvenient and with a 3 year old the last thing you want is to constanty be waiting for Disney buses in the hot Florida sun.



The polynesian is great and is so fast to Epcot and Magic Kingdom. With a 3 and 8 year old, my guess is that is where you'll be spending most of your time.
I really love the idea of Animal Kingdom. Have you considered the Contemporary? They have a monorail inside the hotel... Super convenient. Also, you could look into the campground. They have private log cabins that are super cute. You can walk to the boat that can take you to Magic Kingdom. Or you can hit the Contemporary and jump on a monorail. I'm pretty sure that you have to take a bus to Animal Kingdom, though. So, any resort you choose will be inconvenient in some way or another.

Also, Wilderness Lodge has a great swimming pool from what I remember.

Sorry, I am unfamiliar with Port Orleans and Carribean. I've only been to the "main" resorts, not including Animal Kingdom. Whatever you choose, rest assured that you really can't go wrong. While you are there, you can visit the other resorts and figure out which one you want to stay at next time!
You definitely have to stay at the Contemporary Resort! It's older, but one of the all time classics. The monorail runs right through it. How easier could transportation get? There are also views of the park. Try these websites: http://hotels.about.com/od/disneyworld/p鈥?/a> and http://hotels.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsi鈥?/a>
Transportation from all resorts is easy if its by bus, monorail or boat. If you plan on spending a lot of time at your resort then either Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge would be best. I have stayed at the Port Orleans Riverside for the last 5 trips to Disney and find it to be very charming with a beautiful landscape of the deep south. IF you are planing on spending your time at the parks all day the higher priced resorts are really not worth it. I hit the parks when they first open on an early day at 8 am and leave when they close. so I am not in the room much. I would rather save the money on a moderate resort and use it for other things. The Port Orleans has boat service to Down Town Disney and is a nice relaxing ride to get to that area and enjoy a meal at ther many restaurants and do some shopping.



http://www.panoramio.com/photo/5001599

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/3435020
wilderness lodge is great very pretty--love the lobby----is a boat ride away from mk~~~~~~~