This will be our second Disney trip with the kids. This time, they'll be 7 and almost 4. Last time they were 4.5 and 11 months, so it was massive double stroller time, and we chose to stay in the Poly for ease of transportation. This time, we're thinking of going from Jan. 30-Feb 6. It looks like Splash Mountain might open by the end (it's supposed to be closed only through Jan 30), and Little Mermaid won't close until Feb 2nd, so we're good, right? We don't mind missing Kali River Rapids. Is there any reason not to go at that time?
We're trying to decide on the resort. We have a nice budget, so price is not our top priority, though it's always wonderful to save money! I've only ever stayed at the Poly, Contemporary, Grand Floridian, the Swan, and the Dolphin. I know nothing about the other resorts! Our first impulse was to stay at the Contemporary for transportation access. The Poly was PERFECT for transportation, but we stayed there last time and are tempted to try something new. DH and I are both attracted to the Wilderness Lodge but are worried about transportation times. We figured that if we're going to have to take buses, why not stay at a moderate (probably POFQ) or value (no clue!) and save a lot of money. Then we thought we might rent a car, and that might change things drastically, but I don't know. Is driving faster than the buses, or will we end up sitting in traffic and taking trams from miles away?
If cost were not the biggest issue, you didn't care about having a suite or kitchen or whatnot (and so wanting a DVC option) or care a whit about the pool or restaurants (we do counter service, mostly), where would you stay? Last trip we did come back to the hotel in the afternoons for "naps". I'm not sure we'll do that this time, though I definitely enjoyed having that rest. We do love good theming, so that's a top priority (and a strike against the Contemporary), but speed and ease when getting to and from the parks are paramount. We really did hate the buses last time with our huge BOB, but we'll just be bringing umbrella stroller(s) this time. We'll be visiting MK and EPCOT two days each, DHS and AK one day each, and we'll be back again to WDW in another three years at the outside, so it's not a one-and-only trip. Should we venture outside the monorail loop, or will we regret it? If we do stay elsewhere, where should we stay and why? Should we rent a car or just use Disney transportation?