Walt Disney World With Kids (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [22]
Helpful Hint
Fort Wilderness Campground is so sprawling that many families rent a golf cart to make it easier to get around.
Proximity to the Magic Kingdom:
Good, via bus or launch
Proximity to Epcot:
Fair, via bus
Proximity to Hollywood:
Fair, via bus
Proximity to the Animal Kingdom:
Fair, via bus
Pluses
+ Fort Wilderness offers tons of activities for kids: wagon rides, horseback and pony riding, and a petting zoo.
+ Hookups and tent sites, starting at $44, are your cheapest lodging options. The upgraded campsites start at $65 a night. Fort Wilderness Cabins start at $325 a night.
+ Groceries are available at the on-site trading post.
+ Fort Wilderness is pet friendly; dogs have a playground at the “Waggin’ Trails,” an off-leash play area.
Minuses
− A large number of people are sharing relatively few facilities; the pools and the beach can get very crowded.
− This place is so spread out that it requires its own in-resort bus system to get you from one area to another. You can rent golf carts or bikes, but make no mistake: Fort Wilderness is huge and hard to navigate.
Overall Grade: If you like to camp and can put up with a little inconvenience for great savings, this is a good option.
The Grand Floridian Resort
407/824–3000
Map location 2
Modeled after the famed Florida beach resorts of the 1800s, The Grand Floridian is possibly the prettiest of all Disney hotels, with 900 rooms ensconced among its gabled roofs, soaring ceilings, and broad white verandas. This elegant and stately lady is also the hub of many activities, including a variety of programs for children.
Proximity to the Magic Kingdom:
Excellent, via monorail or launch
Proximity to Epcot:
Good, via monorail with a change at the TTC
Proximity to Hollywood:
Fair, via bus
Proximity to Animal Kingdom:
Fair, via bus
Pluses
+ Convenient location on monorail line.
+ A private beach and marina on the Seven Seas Lagoon and numerous boating options.
+ On-site child-care center and programs for children.
+ On-site health club and full-service spa.
+ Exceptional dining. Citricos and Victoria & Albert’s are among the finest restaurants in all of WDW. If you have the kids along, check out 1900 Park Fare, which hosts breakfast and dinner character buffets.
+ Lots of special little touches, such as afternoon tea and live music in the lobby each night.
Minuses
− Starting at $465, these are the most expensive rooms on Disney property.
− The elegance puts off some families who feel funny trooping past a grand piano with squalling babies in their arms.
Overall Grade: Luxurious but expensive.
The Polynesian Resort
407/824–2000
Map location 1
Designed to emulate an island village, the Polynesian is relaxed and casual. Activities take place at the Great Ceremonial House, where all the shops and restaurants encircle a beautiful garden with orchids, parrots, and fountains. Guests stay in one of the sprawling “long houses” along the lagoon. “The Polynesian was worth every penny,” wrote one satisfied mom from Connecticut: “The rooms were gorgeous and we sat on the beach two magical nights in a row to catch the Magic Kingdom fireworks.” There’s no spa, but the excellent Grand Floridian spa is actually on a walkway between the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian—close enough that it’s easily accessible.
Proximity to the Magic Kingdom:
Excellent, via direct monorail, boat launch, or ferry
Proximity to Epcot:
Good, via monorail with one change at the TTC
Proximity to Hollywood:
Fair, via bus
Proximity to the Animal Kingdom:
Fair, via bus
Pluses
+ There’s a private beach with an attractive pool, plus numerous boating options. Canvas shells shade napping babies and toddlers digging in the sand.
+ The Kona Café is one of the best places for desserts in all of Disney World.
+ Excellent on-site child-care center.
+ The recently refurbished rooms